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To implement its Total Maintenance Scheme (TMS), the Housing Authority (HA) has started recruiting some 60 In-flat Inspection Ambassadors (IIAs) to conduct home visits in public housing estates, identify any repair needs inside the flats and arrange follow-up works.
The HA endorsed the TMS last year to boost the quality of maintenance and repair services in public rental housing (PRH) estates. HA Member, the Hon. SIN Chung-kai, while officiating at the launching ceremony of the Scheme today (January 14), remarked that a three-pronged approach has been adopted to ensure successful implementation of the TMS. It consists of (i) proactive identification of maintenance needs; (ii) prompt response to maintenance requests; and (iii) strengthened publicity and education for PRH tenants on maintenance issues.
Mr SIN said, 䩕Although the Housing Department (HD) is able to schedule timely maintenance and repairs for the public areas in the estates, it had, in the past, to rely on the tenants to report on defects inside the housing units before it could make any rectification. This had caused some potential maintenance issues to deteriorate before they were attended to.蒅
He expected the TMS would help resolve this problem and called for cooperation among HD staff, maintenance contractors and tenants to ensure proper maintenance of the PRH stock and a quality living environment for all.
The HD has deployed staff from various professional disciplines within the Department to take forward the initiatives under the TMS. Some 60 IIAs are also being recruited to visit all PRH households in the coming five years.
The IIAs will inspect the flats thoroughly to identify any needs for maintenance. Works orders will be placed on the spot to ensure the defects are fixed soonest possible. They will also record the condition of the flats in great details so that a maintenance database can be built to facilitate better coordination of future repair works.
To bring convenience to the tenants and boost the success rate of gaining access, the IIAs will conduct home visits not only during office hours, but also in the evening, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Tenants are also welcome to make appointments in advance for the in-flat inspection.
The in-flat inspection will cover 30 estates each year. The priority of inspection depends on the age of the housing blocks ﷿ the older they are, the earlier they will be attended to. (A list of estates to be inspected in the first two years is attached.)
In parallel with the proactive in-flat inspections, the HD will also step up its estate maintenance inspections, including daily patrol by Estate Assistants, technical inspections by maintenance staff and appraisal by professional staff to identify building defects and maintenance problems in common and external areas.
To improve efficiency in handling maintenance requests and complaints, a Maintenance Hotline providing one-stop service for tenants from receiving requests and complaints to clearing of complaint cases with tenants will be set up.
The HA has endorsed a total expenditure of $6.3 billion over five years for implementation of the TMS. It includes an annual spending of $1.257 billion on maintenance and repair works and $18.2 million per annum for employment of the IIAs. To ensure repair requests are handled speedily and effectively, the HD has to employ more workers through its maintenance contractors. It is estimated that about 1 000 new jobs will be created in the local construction industry.
Mr SIN expected with the implementation of the TMS, not only would the service level be improved, but operating costs could also be reduced in the long run. He said, 䩕If defects are detected and rectified at an early stage, dilapidation can be prevented and unnecessary expenditure on major corrective maintenance in future can be saved. The life span of properly maintained buildings can be extended, allowing us to fully utilize our housing resources.蒅
At the ceremony, Mr SIN and other officiating guests also opened the first Maintenance Education Path (MEP) at Tai Wo Hau Estate.
The MEP is one of the key initiatives to enhance tenants﷿ education on maintenance issues. Tenants can find a lot of useful information there on the proper maintenance and correct use of the fittings inside their flats.
After the ceremony, all the guests and participating tenants were guided through the MEP by the IIAs on duty.
The MEP is open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays (closed on public holidays). Tenant groups can call 3162 0420 to make appointment for organized visits.
Ends/Saturday, January 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:09
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