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The government therefore became a provider of public housing by
default. This path may have been motivated in part by public relations rea-
sons, to put a humanitarian face on its actions to clear squatter housing,
but this secondary reason subsequently became the main justification for
the continued growth of the public housing programme. After the social
disturbances of 1967, the public housing programme became the cen-
trepiece of a policy to restore public confidence and calm the community.

There could have been other strategies, but these were not ex-
plored. Hence, Hong Kong’s housing strategy has lacked any forward-think-
ing goals. Moreover, it is characterised by a high level of government in-
volvement in the housing market.

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