Shenzhen, one of the most expensive cities in China, is poised to borrow a page from the playbook of Singapore for providing more subsidised homes, ditching the Hong Kong model the Chinese city has followed for more than two decades since private home ownership reforms were rolled out.

Shenzhen, known as China’s Silicon Valley, will offer 1 million government-subsidised homes at as low as half of the prevailing market rate, according to a consulting paper issued by the Housing and Construction Bureau of Shenzhen on April 29.

“Shenzhen would like to be a pioneer seeking a scheme more like Singapore, separating more affordable homes to average individuals seeking a place to live,” said Li Yujia, senior economist with the Real Estate Assessment and Development Research Centre, Shenzhen – a research arm of the Shenzhen government.

The measures are regarded as Shenzhen’s dedication to carrying out what it vowed to do June last year – offering 1.7 million homes by 2035, of which 60 per cent will be government subsidised.

In 2018, government-funded homes in Shenzhen made up less than 20 per cent of housing stock, according to Li, compared with 45 per cent in Hong Kong and more than 80 per cent in Singapore.

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