Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi said on Thursday that his office would assess whether there were stages in the process that could be expedited, as well as the prospect of improving procedures for the recovery of flats.

“The current government has been making every effort to increase public rental housing supply to satisfy people’s housing needs, and its efforts are delivering tangible results,” he said.

“If public rental housing flats are recovered and refurbished in a timely manner for reallocation to the families on the wait list as soon as possible, it would not only shorten their waiting time but also enhance their sense of happiness and contentment.”

Chan said the investigation would focus on the workflow of the Housing Department and the Hong Kong Housing Society.