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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Chairman of the Housing Authority (HA), Ms Eva Cheng, visited Sau Mau Ping Estate and a nearby housing site today (September 17).
To keep herself updated on developments in public housing projects in the district, Ms Cheng toured a construction site that had been allocated for the development of large-scale public rental housing (PRH) and supporting facilities at Anderson Road.
Ms Cheng noted that site formation work was progressing well and the formed land would be ready in phases starting end-2011 for the construction of 23 blocks. These would provide a total of 17,556 PRH flats and other community facilities including open spaces and educational, recreational, social welfare and medical institutions for a population of approximately 48,300 upon completion in 2015/16.
Footbridges, covered walkways and lift towers will also be built to ensure a pleasant pedestrian environment and good connections between the new estate and neighbouring Shun On Estate, Shun Tin Estate, Sau Mau Ping Estate and Po Tat Estate.
With the number of PRH applications on the Waiting List standing at 130,000 currently, the HA must be vigilant in ensuring sufficient flat supply to meet the demand for housing and maintain an average waiting time of about three years. It will make good use of all its existing stock of land for construction of PRH.
Ms Cheng then visited an elderly couple and their family of five who are longtime tenants of Sau Mau Ping Estate. The family told Ms Cheng that their living environment had improved significantly since they were rehoused from their old flat to the existing one when Sau Mau Ping Estate was redeveloped.
Before she left Sau Mau Ping Estate, Ms Cheng visited Yan Kwong Social Service Centre and chatted with a group of primary students attending a tutorial class there. Set up in 2004, the centre serves over 600 member families in the estate promoting family harmony through various activities and services.
Ends/Friday, September 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:57
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