The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:  
 
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (September 29) reminded members of the public that the four-week application period for the Sale of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Flats 2020 (HOS 2020) and the White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM) 2020 (WSM 2020) will close next Wednesday (October 7) at 7pm. Applications submitted after the application period will not be processed.
 
     "Based on the experience of last year, a large number of applicants tend to submit their online applications shortly before the close of application, particularly a few hours before the deadline, and the online system would be very busy. To avoid difficulties in logging in or delays in completing the applications, applicants are urged to submit their online applications as early as possible to ensure successful submission before the deadline," a spokesman for the HA said.
 
     The spokesman reminded applicants that they should have all required information on hand before filling in the online application form. The information includes the identity document(s) of the applicant and all family members (if any), the total household monthly income and the total household net asset value, as well as valid credit card details.
 
     "Applicants should choose the correct online application form (Green Form or White Form) and the scheme type (HOS, WSM or both) for filling in. For family applicants, they should provide particulars of all family members," the spokesman said.
     
     Online amendments of information are not allowed after the applications are confirmed and payments are completed. If applicants have filled in any incorrect information, they should inform the HA's HOS Sales Unit in writing or via a designated amendment form (available for download at www.housingauthority.gov.hk/hos/2020) to correct the information given (with the application number or identity card number specified) on or before the close of application (October 7).
 
     For paper-based applications, White Form applicants, holders of a valid Green Form Certificate and households of the Hong Kong Housing Society should submit the completed application forms, together with the required documents, to the HA Customer Service Centre (HACSC) in Lok Fu by post or by hand before the close of application. For submissions by mail, the date of submission will be determined by the postmark. Households of the HA are required to submit their completed application forms to their respective estate offices before the close of application.
 
     "Although applicants may choose either to submit paper-based application forms by post or by hand (locations that accept submission of completed paper-based application forms are listed in the Application Guides) or to submit online applications for HOS 2020 and WSM 2020, they are strongly encouraged to submit online applications to maintain social distancing," the spokesman said.
 
     For details of HOS 2020, please visit the designated website for HOS 2020: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/hos/2020. For details of WSM 2020, please visit the designated website for WSM 2020: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/wsm/2020.  
 
     The spokesman reminded members of the public to read the Application Guides before applying. Online applicants may refer to the online application demonstration video to understand the procedures of online application before filling in the form. Members of the public can call the 24-hour HA Sales and WSM hotline on 2712 8000 for matters relating to application for HOS 2020 or WSM 2020.
 
     The application period for HOS 2020 and WSM 2020 has been extended from the usual two weeks to four weeks to cope with the situation arising from the COVID-19 epidemic. As at 5pm today, the HACSC at Lok Fu had received a total of about 15 000 paper-based applications for HOS 2020 and WSM 2020. As for online applications, 127 000 had been received for HOS 2020 and 69 000 had been received for WSM 2020.

Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:22

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