HONG KONG - Chinese mainland and Hong Kong should strengthen communication and learn from each other on public housing programs, Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang said here on Tuesday.

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang (R) receives a briefing from Eva Cheng, the Secretary for Hong Kong's Transport and Housing, on the design and living environment of public housing in different eras during his visit to the Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre August 16, 2011.[Edmond Tang/China Daily]

Accompanied by Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Li visited the Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Center Tuesday afternoon, and listened to the briefing on Hong Kong public housing programs by Eva Cheng, secretary for transport and housing of Hong Kong.

According to Cheng, Hong Kong public housing programs have gradually come to maturity through years of development. Currently about 30 percent of Hong Kong residents are living in 747,000 Public Rental Housing units and 18 percent of them in 391,000 units of Home Ownership Scheme flats.

Li said Hong Kong has built a set of institutional arrangements in terms of public housing. Currently, public housing in mainland is under rapid development. Hong Kong and mainland should strengthen communication and learn from each other in this regard.

While listening carefully to the briefing, Li asked questions about the construction, operation and funding of public housing in Hong Kong. Li said public housing in mainland has just started and its construction, management and operation need to be improved.

After the briefing, Li said he had a "deep impression" and " better understanding" of Hong Kong public housing programs.

"If you have detailed materials I'll bring them back to departments concerned for further research," he told Cheng. ?

The Hong Kong Housing Authority is in charge of developing and implementing a Public Rental Housing program and government subsidized housing programs. These programs seek to achieve the city government's policy objective of meeting the need of people who cannot afford private housing.

Besides Public Rental Housing units, Home Ownership Scheme flats are earmarked for sale to low-income qualifiers at discount prices with the land value similarly subsidized.