【明報專訊】THE PRICES of the latest batch of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats have been set at 70% of market levels. Most of the flats in the urban area cost almost HK$10,000 per square feet, with prices ranging from HK$1.59 million to HK$6.3 million, which do not come across as easily affordable to ordinary working people. The objective of the HOS policy is to help low- and middle-income households in purchasing homes. It is an important housing policy that serves to maintain social stability and enhance social mobility. However, since the selling prices of HOS units are pegged to market levels, the rocketing property prices in recent years have also made HOS flat prices rise with the tide. With its pricing far exceeding the home purchasing power of low- and middle-income households, supposed to be the targets of subsidised housing, it seems the HOS policy has already deviated from its original objective. With 2018 marking the 40th anniversary of the implementation of the HOS policy, perhaps it is time to examine whether there is room for changing the HOS pricing formula.