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Following is a question by the Hon James To and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, in the Legislative Council today (May 2):
Question:
In January 2009, the Government reported to the Panel on Housing of this Council that the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) would take forth a plan to enhance the existing pedestrian access in identified public housing estates (PHEs) (enhancement plan), under which new lifts, escalators and footbridges would be provided in external areas of housing blocks within PHE boundaries to connect elevated platforms with large-level differences, and lift towers would be added in existing housing blocks in PHEs which were built without lift service. The whole enhancement plan was expected to be completed in 2012. At the same time, the Government also indicated that it would continue to implement the lift modernisation programme in PHEs to replace aged lifts of over 25 years which were currently in use (modernisation programme). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of PHEs needed to be provided with new lifts, escalators and footbridges under the enhancement plan; the number of PHEs in which the relevant works were completed each year; regarding PHEs in which such works have not yet completed, of the present work progress and the anticipated completion dates; if such works cannot be completed within this year as scheduled, of the reasons for that;
(b) of the number of housing blocks in PHEs which were built without lift service and lift towers have already been added at present, broken down by year when lifts were added and by housing estate; the latest progress of the works for the addition of lifts which have not yet completed and the anticipated completion dates; if such works cannot be completed within this year as scheduled, of the reasons for that;
(c) given that the Government indicated that it had awarded contracts in 2009 for the modernisation of 124 lifts in eight PHEs and such works were expected to be completed in phases in three years, of the annual number of PHEs for which the modernisation works were completed each year; the latest progress of such works which have not yet completed and the anticipated completion dates; if such works cannot be completed within this year as scheduled, of the reasons for that;
(d) apart from PHEs covered under the enhancement plan and modernisation programme, whether the Government will extend such plan and programme to other PHEs; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(e) given HA's recent announcement on the redevelopment of Pak Tin Estate in Sham Shui Po, in which the works for the addition of lifts were completed earlier, how the Government's improvement plans for PHEs will tie in with redevelopment plans in the future (e.g. whether new improvement works will commence only after redevelopment projects for PHEs are confirmed), so as to avoid wastage of resources?
Reply :
President,
To enhance the pedestrian access in public rental housing (PRH) estates to cater for the needs of PRH tenants on barrier-free access, in particular the elderly and the disabled persons, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will provide additional lifts, escalators and footbridges in the external areas of PRH blocks within estate boundaries to connect elevated platforms with large-level differences. Where technically feasible, the HA will also add lift towers to PRH blocks which were built without lift services. This enhancement programme is scheduled for completion in 2012.
My reply to the five-part question is as follows:
(a) The HA will install a total of 26 lifts, 6 escalators and 18 footbridges in the external areas of PRH blocks within estate boundaries of 19 PRH estates. As at end April 2012, 7 lifts and 6 escalators were installed. The remaining works are under construction, and are scheduled for completion in 2012.
(b) The HA will install 44 lifts in the PRH blocks without lift services in 12 PRH estates. As at end April 2012, 15 lifts were installed. The remaining works are under construction, and are scheduled for completion in 2012.
(c) The HA awarded contracts in 2009 for the modernisation of 124 lifts in eight PRH estates and the work was launched in accordance with the planned schedule. As at end April 2012, the modernisation works for 55 lifts were completed while another 29 lifts are under construction, and are scheduled for completion in 2012. For the remaining 40 lifts, the works will be carried out in phases so as to accommodate the needs of the tenants. The HA expects that the relevant works will be completed in phases from the second quarter of 2013 to mid-2014.
(d) The programme of installing additional lifts, escalators and footbridges in the external areas of PRH blocks within estate boundaries to connect elevated platforms with large-level differences; and adding lift towers to PRH blocks which were built without lift services is in full swing and is scheduled for completion in 2012. The HA will re-examine the need for similar enhancement works for other PRH estates upon completion of the current programme.
The lift modernisation programme for existing PRH estates is a continuous rolling programme. The HA will appraise lifts which have operated for over 25 years. The replacement time table is planned in accordance with the conditions of the individual lifts. The HA's present target is to carry out the modernisation works for about 100 lifts in PRH estates each year.
(e) For those PRH estates aged at about 40 years, the HA will conduct Comprehensive Structural Investigation, so as to consider whether clearance and redevelopment, or Estate Improvement Programme (EIP) should be carried out for the estates concerned. To better utilizse resources, the HA will not carry out EIP for individual estates before a decision on redevelopment is made. Having decided that there is no redevelopment plan for an estate, the HA will carry out EIP for the estate concerned.
Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:01
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