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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Housing Authority has approved a set of rehousing and associated arrangements for domestic and commercial tenants affected by the clearance of Block 22, Tung Tau (TT) (I) Estate in Wong Tai Sin, while setting June 2012 as the target clearance date.
¡§Adequate new public rental housing (PRH) estates within the district are coming on stream to meet the rehousing demand of the affected households,¡¨ a spokesman for the Housing Authority said today (March 27).
The Strategic Planning Committee of the Housing Authority last year endorsed the clearance of the housing block with 906 flats completed in 1965, on consideration of its structural condition, the financial implications of extensive repair works required and the nuisance of the repair works likely to cause to tenants.
At a joint meeting of the Housing Authority's Commercial Properties Committee and Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) today, members approved rehousing, cash allowance and related arrangements for the 840 affected households, comprising about 1,400 people, and 30 commercial tenants.
About 1,300 flats in Tung Tau Phase 9 scheduled for completion in late 2011 will be made available to rehouse the affected households. Other resources for rehousing include the nearby new estate at Tung Tau Cottage Area West due for completion in mid-2010, and refurbished flats in other estates ready for the purpose of early thinning out.
¡§Though it is not the policy of the Housing Authority to rehouse the affected tenants to a designated reception estate, we will allow tenants to move to PRH flats in any districts of their choice subject to availability,¡¨ the spokesman said.
All domestic tenants will be granted an ex-gratia Domestic Removal Allowance ranging from $3,756 to $13,561, depending on the household sizes, to meet part of their removal expenses.
¡§One-person and two-person households may also opt to receive a Singleton/Doubleton Allowance of $37,330 and $48,310 respectively in lieu of rehousing to a PRH flat,¡¨ the spokesman said.
¡§Apart from the choice of moving to PRH, households who wish to purchase a Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flat will be accorded priority in the upcoming sale of surplus HOS flats in accordance with SHC¡¦s decision,¡¨ the spokesman said.
At present, there are 29 graded shops with monthly term tenancies and they will be granted an ex-gratia allowance (EGA) at a rate of $9,326 per square metre.
¡§If these commercial tenants choose to lease other Housing Authority retail premises in markets through restricted tenders, they will be given a three-month rent free period, or a lump sum of $80,700 in lieu of the restricted tender opportunity,¡¨ the spokesman said.
A Rehousing Team and a Community Service Team (CST) will be set up and stationed on-site to take care of tenants¡¦ rehousing and social needs.
¡§While the Rehousing Team will be run by staff of Housing Authority, the CST will be operated by social workers of a non-government organisation. The latter will serve as a bridge between the authority and the tenants for maintaining effective communication, explaining detailed arrangements to tenants and mitigating misunderstanding,¡¨ the spokesman said.
Physically connected with the TT Block 22, Po Yan Catholic Primary School would be retained in-situ, taking into account that the school was structurally safe, the wish of the school and the parents, the spokesman said.
A liaison group with representatives from the school, Education Bureau and the Housing Department has been formed to ensure the school is operated under a safe environment.
Ends/Friday, March 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:40
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