*****************************************
Following is a question by the Hon LAU Wong-fat and an oral reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva CHENG, JP, in the Legislative Council today (2 July):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the current total number of public housing estate ("PHE") blocks which do not have lifts installed, together with a table setting out the names of the PHEs where such housing blocks are situated, the age of such housing blocks and the number of units involved;
(b) whether it will reconsider providing lifts in the PHE blocks which do not have lifts installed at present to facilitate the mobility of the elderly, disabled persons and other mobility-handicapped residents in PHEs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether the Government will, upon receipt of applications for transfer from the elderly, disabled persons and other mobility-handicapped residents who are currently living in PHE blocks without lifts, assist them in transferring to other housing blocks with lifts in the same PHEs or PHEs in the same district?
Reply:
Madam President,
My reply to the three-part question is as follows:
(a) At present, there are 32 public rental housing (PRH) blocks without lift services in the territory, all of which are located in 11 aged PRH estates and involved some 5,960 flats. These PRH estates are aged from 28 to 47 years. Details of these blocks are set out at the Annex.
(b) The addition of lifts in completed PRH blocks involves complex engineering works and techniques. The major considerations include the loading requirement brought by the works towards the overall building structure, the identification of a suitable location and the impact of the works on the underground public utilities. The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) is actively exploring the feasibility of adding lifts in PRH blocks and has commenced lift addition works in individual buildings. For example, installation works in the west wing of Hing Wai House of Tai Hing Estate was completed in June 08 and works in the east wing of the same building is scheduled for completion in December 08. Besides, the HA will consider the feasibility of installing lifts in these PRH blocks when implementing Total Maintenance Scheme and conducting comprehensive structural investigation on PRH estates aged over 40 years.
Apart from the installation of addition lifts, given that some existing aged public PRH blocks are not provided with lift services on every floor, the HA will retrofit an entrance on each floor when carrying out lift replacement programme subject to the structural condition of the building.
(c) The HA is always concerned about the housing needs of the elderly and disabled persons. As such, the HA will take the initiative to offer them PRH flats which are more conveniently accessible and will also allocate larger flats to families with disabled persons with special needs.
Under the existing transfer policy, the HA has been accommodating to the needs of the elderly or disabled households as far as possible and make appropriate arrangements for them. If the PRH blocks are not provided with lift installation, or the blocks are situated at a higher level or with narrow passages that are causing inconvenience to the residents concerned, the HA will arrange transfers for them to flats in the same estate where lift services are provided, or to flats in other estates which are more conveniently accessible, subject to the availability of resources.
Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:41
NNNN
