The Small House Policy (Chinese: 小型屋宇政策), also known as the Ding Rights Policy (丁權政策), is a specific land grant scheme in Hong Kong, introduced by the British colonial government in 1972. It grants indigenous male villagers of the New Territories, aged 18 or above, the right to build a "small house" on their ancestral land. This right, often referred to as a "Ding Right" (after the traditional Chinese character 丁, meaning "male adult"), can be exercised once in a lifetime.
Under the policy, an eligible indigenous male villager can construct a three-storey building with a maximum total floor area of 700 square feet (approximately 65 square meters) per floor and a height limit of 8.23 meters (27 feet). The policy was initially conceived to address the housing needs of indigenous villagers and to maintain social stability in the New Territories following rapid urbanization. It allows beneficiaries to build a house on private land at a concessionary premium (or sometimes free of charge if built on certain types of ancestral land) or to apply for a grant of government land for this purpose at a concessionary rate.
Over the decades, the Small House Policy has become a subject of significant debate and criticism within Hong Kong society due to various issues:
- Discrimination: It is widely criticized for being discriminatory on grounds of gender, as only male descendants of New Territories indigenous residents are eligible. It is also seen as discriminating against non-indigenous residents of Hong Kong who do not possess such land rights. Legal challenges have been mounted regarding its compliance with the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance.
- Land Use and Environment: The policy has been blamed for inefficient use of scarce land resources and for contributing to the destruction of green belt areas and natural habitats in the New Territories, as houses are often constructed on previously undeveloped land.
- Speculation and Abuse: Concerns exist regarding the commercialization of Ding Rights. Instances have been documented where eligible villagers sell their rights to developers for profit, leading to the construction of large housing estates rather than individual small houses intended for personal residence, thereby undermining the policy's original intent.
- Sustainability: With a continually growing eligible population and finite land resources, the long-term sustainability and fairness of the policy are frequently questioned. The number of outstanding Ding Rights far exceeds the available land.
Despite repeated calls for its reform or abolition from various sectors of society, the policy remains largely unchanged. This is primarily due to strong political opposition from indigenous villagers' organizations, who view it as a protected customary right. While the Hong Kong government has acknowledged the need for review, it has historically faced significant political challenges in implementing substantial changes to the policy.