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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 Blocks 1,2, 3 and 12 of Pak Tin Estate at Sham Shui Po, with target clearance date set at April 2014.
"Adequate new public rental housing (PRH) flats within the district can meet the rehousing demand of the affected households," a spokesman for the Housing Authority said today (April 26).
The Strategic Planning Committee of the Housing Authority early this year endorsed the clearance of four housing blocks of Pak Tin Estate with 953 flats completed between 1975 and 1978, on consideration of the build-back potential of the estate upon redevelopment in addition to the findings of the structural conditions and economic viability under Refined Policy on Redevelopment of Aged Public Rental Housing Estates.
At a joint meeting of the Housing Authority's Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) and Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) today, members approved rehousing, cash allowance and related arrangements for around 900 affected households, comprising about 2,800 people, and 33 commercial tenants.
ˇ§We will reserve an adequate number of flats for the affected households from the new flats in Shek Kip Mei Phases 2 and 5. Other resources in Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate in Kwun Tong District due for occupation in mid 2012 can also be made available for the purpose of early thinning out. Opportunities will also be made available for early moving-out by affected households to vacant flats in other estates if they wish to move early. We will do our best to accommodate tenants' requests provided that matching resources are available," the spokesman said.
All domestic tenants will be granted an ex-gratia Domestic Removal Allowance (DRA) ranging from $3,970 to $14,485, depending on the household sizes, to meet part of their removal expenses. As the notice period of redevelopment is not more than 30 months, the affected households will also be granted Special Ex-gratia Allowance at the same rates as the current rates of the DRA.
"One-person and two-person households may also opt to receive a Singleton/Doubleton Allowance (SA/DA) in lieu of rehousing to a PRH flat," the spokesman added. Today's joint meeting has endorsed the revision of the SA/DA rates, and the revised rates will be applied to the affected households of Blocks 1,2,3, and 12 of Pak Tin Estate and HA's new PRH estate clearance projects as well as government clearances to be formally announced after today until the next revision. The revised SA and DA rates are $40,560 and $50,230 respectively.
At present, there are 33 shops with fixed term tenancies affected by the clearance of Blocks 1,2,3, and 12 of Pak Tin Estate. As the notice period of redevelopment is not more than 30 months, they will be granted Special Ex-gratia Allowance equivalent to three months' exclusive rent in addition to the Ex-gratia Allowance equivalent to 15 months' exclusive rent.
"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 $99,000 in lieu of the restricted tender opportunity," the spokesman said.
The joint meeting has also discussed views expressed by some Members that the Housing Department (HD) should explore whether there is room to reduce the time required for the whole redevelopment programme.
"The HD will carefully explore the feasibility of this proposal, particularly whether rehousing resources can meet the requirements.
"As for the affected shop tenants and non-government organisations, the HD will keep in close contact with them to provide assistance as far as possible so as to minimise any disturbance that the redevelopment may bring to them," the spokesman said.
In addition, 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 dispelling misunderstanding," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, April 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 21:51
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