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The Housing Department's comprehensive improvement works programme will create a barrier-free living environment for its disabled and elderly tenants in public rental housing (PRH) estates.
"We hope that with the aid of purpose-built facilities, our disabled and elderly tenants can be better integrated into society," the Assistant Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Bay Wong, said.
The $20 million improvement works programme covering all 160 public rental housing estates was rolled out in 2001. Under this programme, improved facilities rendering barrier-free access for wheel-chair bound tenants such as ramps, handrails, dropped kerbs are provided.
The works in 127 public rental housing estates have already been completed over the past five years and work in the remaining 33 estates will also be finished by mid-2007.
"In public rental housing estates with the largest number of elderly tenants aged 65 or above - Sau Mau Ping Estate, Pak Tin Estate and Choi Hung Estate - facilities and landscape improvements were designed to cater for the elderly. Benches, sports and recreational facilities such as foot massage paths and out-door fitness equipment were also installed," Mr Wong said.
Apart from the additional facilities in common areas, the Housing Department has also carried out flat alterations in accordance with elderly tenants' individual needs or as advised by their therapists.
"On average, alteration works for more than 10 units in each public rental housing estate are completed every year. These involve lowering door thresholds, replacing thresholds with ramps, widening toilet doors, improving toilet layouts and shower facilities, re-positioning toilets and electricity switches."
In parallel, the department has embarked on an improvement works programme catering to the special needs of the visually impaired.
"The $100 million programme involves installation of tactile warning strips, tactile guide paths and voice synthesisers in lift cars; tactile marking and braille on all lift buttons, lock pads and letter boxes," Mr Wong said, adding that the programme, which started last year, would be completed by end of 2008.
Ends/Sunday, February 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:01
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