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The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) today (November 24) approved the slight adjustment of two types of carpark charges for 2012, namely the monthly charges and 24-hour Pass charges, while other charges including the hourly charges and Day Pass charges (from 8am to 8pm) would remain unchanged.
It is an established policy to charge market licence fees for the HA's parking spaces. As the HA's market research indicates that its current monthly carpark charges are in general below the average market level, the CPC today endorsed a mild increase in the monthly parking charges in 2012.
The monthly parking charges for private cars will be slightly increased by 3 per cent, from $980-$2,040 to $1,010-$2,100 for covered spaces and from $790-$1,680 to $810-$1,730 for open spaces. For light goods vehicles, the monthly parking charges will also be increased by 3 per cent, from $2,280 to $2,350 for covered spaces and from $1,760 to $1,810 for open spaces. Regarding monthly parking charges for motorcycles, there will be an increase from $300 to $330 for covered spaces and an increase from $250 to $270 for open spaces.
The HA's research also indicates that there have been some mild increases in the whole-day charges for comparable carparks. As such, the CPC approved increases in the HA's 24-hour Pass charges in 2012, from $80 to $90 for Regions A (Hong Kong and Kowloon) and B (Sha Tin, Ma On Shan, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tseung Kwan O), and from $60 to $65 for Regions C (Tsing Yi, Tai Po, Fanling and Sheung Shui) and D (Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Tung Chung and Outlying Islands).
"The proposed increases are moderate and the resultant carpark charges will be more in line with the market level," said a spokesman for the HA.
As for the hourly charges and the Day Pass charges, the research indicates that the HA's charges are comparable to the average market level. Therefore, the CPC endorsed that the hourly charges and the Day Pass charges would be maintained at the current levels.
The following discounts currently in use for monthly parking will continue to apply to the 2012 carpark charges:
(a) a 15 per cent discount under a floating allocation system as determined by the local management to optimise utilisation;
(b) a 40 per cent discount for part-time parking from 6pm to 8am of the following day; and
(c) a 50 per cent discount for disabled persons who live or work in public housing estates/Home Ownership Scheme courts.
"Members also approved the continuation of the parking coupon discount scheme for the HA's shop tenants with a bulk purchase discount of 20 per cent for 50 parking coupons or its multiples to boost patronage," added the spokesman.
Moreover, the HA's monthly carpark charges for private cars are subject to a three-tier charging system based on occupancy rates (namely 90 per cent or above, 50 per cent to below 90 per cent, and below 50 per cent) with different concessionary charges. The new carpark charges under the three-tier charging system for 2012 will be determined in accordance with the occupancy rates based on the most recent three months' records available on November 1, 2011. Monthly charges for private cars at some carparks may be adjusted accordingly.
The HA's carpark charges are reviewed annually and the approved charges will take effect from January 1 of the following year. The HA makes reference to the current market level including carpark charges of other public bodies and comparable private sectors in determining its carpark charges, with a view to maximising occupancy and optimising returns. The HA had some 27,200 parking spaces in 119 carparks as at the end of September 2011.
Ends/Thursday, November 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:15
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