Type of Housing
1991
1996
2001
Number
% of total
Number
% of total
Number
% of total
Public rental housing
2 234 565
40.5
2 391 857
38.5
2 135 624
31.9
Housing Authority 
subsidized sale flats(1)
415 540
7.5
691 895
11.1
1 080 377
16.1
Housing Society 
subsidized sale flats(2)
2 587 287
47.0
17 117
0.3
51 315
0.8
Private permanent housing(1) (2)
2 912 626
46.9
3 284 001
49.0
Temporary housing
197 767
3.6
124 617
2.0
72 035
1.1
Non-domestic housing(3)
76 020
1.4
69 254
1.1
79 142
1.2
Total(4)
5 511 179
100.0
6 207 366
100.0
6 702 494
100.0


Notes :
(1)
Housing Authority subsidized sale flats included flats that can be traded in open market in the 1991 Population Census and the 1996 Population By-census. These flats are classified under "Private permanent housing" in the 2001 Population Census.
(2) Housing Society subsidized sale flats were classified under "Private permanent housing" in the 1991 Population Census and no separate figures were available then. In the 1996 Population By-census, Housing Society subsidized sale flats included flats that can be traded in open market. These flats are classified under "Private permanent housing" in the 2001 Population Census.
(3) Since the counting rules for quarters in hospitals, penal institutions, and student dormitories adopted in the 1991 Population Census, the 1996 Population By-census and the 2001 Population Census are different, caution is required in making comparison. For example, students living in individual rooms in student dormitories were regarded as living in "domestic households" in the 1991 Population Census and the 1996 Population By-census; whilst they are regarded as living in "collective households" in the 2001 Population Census.
(4) The figures exclude persons living on board vessels.

Concepts and Definitions for the 2001 Population Census