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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Housing Authority will continue to allocate the biggest share of the planned public rental housing (PRH) supply, at 63.1% of the year's provision, to waiting list applicants in 2007-08.
The authority's Subsidised Housing Committee today (May 15) approved the allocation framework of providing 31,700 PRH flats for eligible families, out of which 20,000 flats will go to waiting list applicants. The remaining 11,700 flats will be allocated to various categories.
"Compared to last year's planned allocation of 29,700 flats, it represents an increase of 2,000 flats or 6.7%," the Chairman of the Subsidised Housing Committee, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, said.
A maximum of 1,600 flats would be allowed for non-elderly one-person waiting list applicants as agreed previously to set the maximum annual allocation for the category at 8% of the number of flats to be allocated to waiting list applicants subject to a ceiling of 2,000 flats.
Under the Comprehensive Redevelopment, Estate Clearance and Major Repairs Programme for 2007-08, 2,700 flats have been allowed for the redevelopment of Wong Chuk Hang Estate, the clearance of So Uk Estate and the thinning-out programme for the redevelopment of Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate. Another 20 flats have been set aside for tenants affected by major repairs.
Four hundred and eighty flats have been allowed to cater for the rehousing needs generated by various clearance programmes, including squatter clearance, Urban Renewal Authority projects and Interim Housing trawling exercises.
As for overcrowding relief and transfer needs, 1,500 flats have been set aside for Territory-wide Overcrowding Relief and Living Space Improvement Transfer Scheme Exercises. Another 4,000 flats will be reserved for various transfers.
"We will closely monitor the situation and flexibly deploy the total allowance of 5,500 flats under this category to meet changing circumstances," Professor Cheung said.
"The yearly allocation of 2,000 flats for compassionate rehousing will be maintained," Professor Cheung said, adding that additional flats would be made available to meet extra demand, if required.
Ends/Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:40
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