community
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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Members of the Housing Authority (HA) today (25 October) endorsed a number of improvement measures for the visually impaired persons (VIPs) in public rental housing (PRH) and Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) estates.
"There are around 73,000 VIPs in Hong Kong with 52% of them (about 38,100) living in PRH estates," a spokesman for the HA said.
"As a caring landlord, we will try our very best to help the VIPs fully integrate into the community," he said.
The following facilities will be provided:
a. Tactile guide paths throughout estates, including tactile warning strips for stairs and ramps;
b. Voice synthesizer, tactile marking and braille letters on call buttons inside lift cars;
c. Tactile marking, braille letters to ground floor door-phone and combination lock panels;
d. Upon request from tenants, braille letters to letter boxes;
e. Enhanced illumination level at specific locations and contrasting colours in bollards, thresholds and periphery walls; and
f. Enhanced communication between the visually impaired residents and Estate Management Offices.
Details of these improvement works will have to be worked out in consultation with the local Estate Management Advisory Committees and the Hong Kong Blind Union.
"It is expected that the improvement works will be completed in the next three years," the spokesman said.
To address the special needs of the visually impaired residents, Housing Department (HD) will visit these residents and update their information regularly. Cassette tapes of publicity pamphlets and periodic estate newletters wil also delivered to these residents.
The HD has been applying provisions for the disabled for all building contracts tendered out since April, 1998.
Facilities such as tactile guide path from Service Centre for the Blind to public transport terminus; voice synthesizers; tactile marking and braille letters on call buttons inside lifts and ground floor door-phone and combination local panels have been provided in all estates built after 2001.
"Provision of dropped kerbs and ramps with tactile strips at the top and bottom handrails and signs of major common facilities in all existing PRH estates have been completed in 91 PRH estates and are progressing in 69 estates," he said.
"Facilities for disabled households will also be provided on request such as alteration of toilets within flats for wheelchair users," the spokesman said.
To ensure that tenants in TPS estates can enjoy the same services, subject to the Incorporated Owners' (IO) consent, HD will request the management agents appointed by the IO to implement the same measures as those by PRH estates.
Ends/Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:40
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