According to a study titled "Housing Affordability for Graduates of Different Generations with University Degrees in Hong Kong," Hong Kong's real estate market has experienced remarkable growth over the past 35 years.

The property price index has risen from 26.3 points in 1987 to 369.7 points in 2022, an increase of more than 13-fold. The rental index has also increased nearly 2.8-fold during the same period. In contrast, the inflation index has only increased by 2.2-fold, significantly lower than the growth in the real estate market.

The study also found that when measuring the price increases from 2012 to 2022, property prices for units with a usable floor area of less than 40 square meters increased by 87.3%, while those with a floor area ranging from 40 to 69.9 square meters increased by 82.6%.

The report also points out that among the new generation of university graduates, i.e., young people aged 20 to 24, the median initial income is 17,424 Hong Kong dollars. While this is higher than the 2017 figure of 15,856 Hong Kong dollars, their income growth has significantly lagged behind the increase in property prices, reducing their ability to afford homeownership compared to the older generation.

In response to this, the New Youth Forum is urging the government to take measures to alleviate the high property prices burdening young people, including increasing the supply of subsidized housing.

They also note that due to the extremely buoyant state of the real estate market, even with government adjustments, it is challenging to reduce the burden on young people looking to buy homes.

Hong Kong's real estate market has experienced remarkable growth over the past 35 years, particularly with significant increases in property prices and rents, far outstripping inflation.

Meanwhile, the income growth of young people has not kept pace. The government should take more measures to alleviate the burden of high property prices on young individuals, ensuring they can establish a stable life in Hong Kong.