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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) today (October 16) approved the mild adjustment of the monthly car park charges for 2014, while other charges including the hourly charges, Day Pass charges (from 8am to 8pm) and 24-hour Pass charges would remain unchanged.
It is an established policy to charge market licence fees for the HA's parking spaces. As the HA's market research indicates that its current monthly car park charges are in general below the average market level, the CPC today endorsed a moderate increase in the monthly parking charges in 2014.
The monthly parking charges for private cars will be slightly increased by 4 per cent, from $1,040-$2,160 to $1,080-$2,250 for covered spaces and from $830-$1,780 to $860-$1,850 for open spaces. As for light goods vehicles, the monthly parking charges will also be increased by 4 per cent, from $2,420 to $2,520 for covered spaces and from $1,860 to $1,930 for open spaces. Regarding monthly parking charges for motorcycles, there will be an increase from $350 to $380 for covered spaces and an increase from $280 to $300 for open spaces.
"The approved increases are moderate and the resultant car park charges will on average still be slightly below the levels of the majority of car parks in comparable sectors," a spokesman for the HA said.
As for the hourly parking charges, Day Pass charges and 24-hour Pass charges, the research indicates that the HA's charges are comparable to the average market level. Therefore, the CPC endorsed that the three charges would be maintained at the current levels.
The following discounts currently in use for monthly parking will continue to apply to the 2014 car park charges:
(a) a 15 per cent discount under the floating parking system with a view to optimising the utilisation of parking spaces;
(b) a 40 per cent discount for part-time parking from 6pm to 8am of the following day; and
(c) a 50 per cent discount for disabled persons who live or work in public housing estates/Home Ownership Scheme courts.
"Members also approved the continuation of the parking coupon discount scheme for the HA's shop tenants with a bulk purchase discount of 20 per the cent for 50 parking coupons or its multiples to boost patronage," the spokesman added.
To support the Government's policy to promote wider use of electric vehicles (EVs), members approved to continue to offer free parking for EVs during electricity charging at hourly parking spaces up to a maximum of two hours, and to charge the utility companies a nominal licence fee of $1 per annum for their EV charging facilities installed at the HA's car parks.
The CPC approved in August 2012 to provide free parking to shoppers of the regional mall Domain, Shopping Spine and Yau Lai Shopping Centre subject to spending requirements, in order to attract shoppers from outside the region. At today's meeting, members agreed to continue this provision.
The HA's monthly car park charges for private cars are subject to a three-tier charging system based on occupancy rates (namely Tiers 1, 2 and 3 for occupancy rates at 90 per cent or above, 50 per cent to below 90 per cent, and below 50 per cent respectively) with different charges. The new car park charges under the three-tier charging system for 2014 will be determined in accordance with the occupancy rates based on records from August to October 2013. Monthly parking charges for private cars at some car parks may be adjusted accordingly.
The HA's car park charges are reviewed annually and the approved charges will take effect from January 1 of the following year. The HA makes reference to the current market level including car park charges of other public bodies and comparable private sectors in determining its car park charges, with a view to maximising occupancy and optimising returns. The HA had some 27 600 parking spaces in 124 car parks as at end September 2013.
Ends/Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:26
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