The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     Ballots were drawn today (October 5) for the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s Sale of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Flats 2023 (HOS 2023) and White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM) 2023 (WSM 2023). The Chairman of the HA's Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC), Ms Cleresa Wong, officiated at the ballot drawing.

     "During the application period, the HA received a total of around 172 000 applications for HOS 2023 (comprising around 131 000 White Forms and around 41 000 Green Forms (GF)) and around 78 000 applications for WSM 2023, of which around 144 000 for HOS 2023 and around 72 000 for WSM 2023 were received online," a spokesman for the HA said.

     The ballot drawing conducted today is to determine the applicants' priority sequence for HOS 2023 and WSM 2023 based on the last two digits of their application numbers. For applicants holding the same drawn digits within the different application categories, their order of priority will be randomly generated by computer. The HA will, in accordance with the order of priority, invite White Form applicants and GF applicants holding a valid GF Certificate to submit the income and asset declaration form and supporting documents within a specified period for detailed vetting, so as to ascertain whether individual applicants meet the eligibility criteria for HOS 2023 and/or WSM 2023 and the final priority for flat selection of eligible HOS applicants.

     The following three categories of flats are put up for sale under HOS 2023:

(1) New HOS Flats

     A total of 9 154 flats from six new HOS developments, namely Kai Yuet Court in Kai Tak; On Ying Court, On Lai Court and On Wah Court in Kwun Tong; Siu Tsui Court in Tuen Mun; and Long Tin Court in Yuen Long;

(2) Rescinded HOS Flats for resale

    Around 60 rescinded flats from Kam Chun Court (in Ma On Shan) and Kai Cheung Court (in Diamond Hill) sold under the HOS 2020; Yu Nga Court (in Tung Chung) and Yu Tak Court (in Sha Tin) sold under the HOS 2022 as well as any additional rescinded flats from the above four HOS developments as identified up to about two months before commencement of flat selections; and

(3) Recovered Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) Flats (for GF applicants only)

     A new batch of recovered TPS flats (estimated to be about 400 flats). The final number and detailed flat list will be drawn up around three months before the flat selection of HOS 2023.

     "The HA estimates that notifications will be sent in batches starting from the first quarter of 2024 to invite eligible applicants of HOS 2023 according to their priority under the application category to select flats for sale under HOS 2023 at the HA Customer Service Centre (HACSC) in Lok Fu. When it comes to an eligible GF applicant's turn for flat selection, he/she may select an HOS flat or a recovered TPS flat subject to availability of flats," the spokesman said.

     "Sales brochures (and sales pamphlets for recovered TPS flats) covering greater details and price lists will be made available for public collection at the HACSC in Lok Fu and viewing on the HA/ Housing Department (HD)'s designated websites seven days before commencement up to the end of the flat selection period for HOS 2023. During the same period, project models on the new developments and doll houses of HOS typical flats, virtual videos of samples of HOS flats, virtual reality tours of the interior of samples of recovered TPS flats, exhibition panels and other information on HOS developments and TPS estates will be available for public viewing at the HACSC in Lok Fu and on the HA/HD's designated websites," the spokesman said.

     During the flat selection period, photos and video clips of the interior of all recovered TPS flats for sale will be provided at the HACSC in Lok Fu and on the HA/HD's designated websites. Arrangements will be made with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the viewing of the recovered TPS flats put up for sale under HOS 2023 as far as practicable. 

     "The HA estimates that approval letters will be issued to successful applicants of WSM 2023 in the first quarter of 2024 for them to apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (CEP) within six weeks from the issue date of the approval letters. The CEP is valid for 12 months from the issue date and the holder is entitled to purchase a subsidised sale flat (SSF) with premium not yet paid within the validity period," the spokesman said.
 
     The ballot results for HOS 2023 and WSM 2023 have been uploaded to the dedicated webpages on the HA/HD's website (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/hos/2023 and www.housingauthority.gov.hk/wsm/2023) respectively. Applicants who have submitted online applications will receive email notification of the ballot results following the ballot drawing ceremony.

     The randomly generated order of all applications will be uploaded to the dedicated webpages tomorrow (October 6). It will also be displayed at the HACSC in Lok Fu, the estate offices and District Tenancy Management Offices of the HA, the rental estate offices of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS) and the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department from tomorrow. Applicants may also call the HA Sales and WSM hotline 2712 8000 for enquiries.

    Earlier, taking into account the positive response of recovered TPS flats in past sale exercises, the SHC decided in June 2023 to regularise the sale of recovered TPS flats so as to accelerate the sale of unsold flats in TPS estates. Furthermore, in July 2023, having regard to the demand for WSM quota, the utilisation rate of the quota, etc, the SHC decided to maintain the quota for WSM 2023 at 4 500, for successful applicants to purchase SSFs with premium not yet paid in the HA's HOS Secondary Market or in the HS's Flat-for-Sale-Scheme Secondary Market.

Ends/Thursday, October 5, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:30

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