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Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (March 8):
Question:
I have received complaints about the lack of facilities such as handrails or pedestrian ramps in such public places as walkways and lift lobbies in some public housing estates ("PHEs"), which causes difficulties to frail elderly and mobility-handicapped persons, with some even falling and injuring themselves. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of cases involving people falling in the public places of PHEs in each of the past three years and, among them, the number of cases involving the elderly and mobility-handicapped persons as well as their percentage in all such cases, together with a breakdown by the injuries sustained by these persons;
(b) whether it has reviewed the adequacy of facilities designed to facilitate access by the elderly and mobility-handicapped persons in the public places of various PHEs; if so, of the result of the review; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether it plans to add these facilities; if so, of the details of such plans; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
My reply to the three-part question is as follows:
(a) In the three years from April 2002 to March 2005, the number of accidents involving people falling in the public areas of public housing estates and the number of cases involving elderly people are as follows :
Financial Total Number Number of elderly
Year of Cases people involved
2002-03 48 22 (46%)
2003-04 69 35 (51%)
2004-05 67 33 (49%)
Statistics of cases involving physically disabled persons are not available.
In most cases, these accidents resulted in sprains or bruises. Breakdown by seriousness of the injuries is not available.
(b) The "Design Manual: Barrier Free Access" promulgated by the Building Authority in 1997 sets out the requirements for the design of access in buildings to cater for the needs of people with disabilities. All new public housing construction works tendered out since April 1998 complies with the stipulated design requirements.
In 2001, the Housing Department conducted a comprehensive inspection to review the access provisions in public rental housing estates and the access facilities for the elderly and the disabled. An improvement programme has been drawn up to provide such facilities as handrails and ramps along major access staircases, dropped kerbs, tactile strips and signage for major common facilities.
(c) As at November 2005, the installation works described above have been completed in 91 housing estates, with 1 500 metres of ramps and 3 100 metres of handrails installed. The improvement works for the remaining 69 housing estates will be completed in 2006-07.
If necessary, additional facilities will also be provided to elderly or disabled tenants to meet their individual requirements, for example, altering toilets for wheelchair users. In November 2005, the Housing Authority approved a package of measures to enhance the services and facilities for visually-impaired persons in public housing estates, including provision of tactile guide paths and installation of "voice synthesizers" in lifts. The improvement works will commence in 2006 for completion within three years.
In view of the ageing of public housing blocks, the Housing Authority has recently launched the Total Maintenance Scheme. The Scheme aims to provide comprehensive maintenance services for public housing estates. The Housing Department will take this opportunity to examine and implement the Estate Improvement Programme and conduct a comprehensive review of the improvement needs of older housing estates. The Housing Department will look into the need for additional access provisions, facilities for the elderly, better landscaping, and recreational and sports facilities etc. with reference to the demographic profile of the estates and in consultation with the Estate Management Advisory Committee.
Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:26
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