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LCQ12: Barrier-free access and facilities in public rental housing estates
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     Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (December 16):

Question:

     Recently, some members of the public have relayed to me that quite a number of public housing estates currently lack barrier-free access and facilities (e.g. lifts, escalators, footbridges and ramps), causing inconvenience to residents with impaired mobility. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the names and locations of the public housing estates where addition or modernisation works in relation to barrier-free access and facilities commenced in or after 2011 and have been completed, as well as the items covered by the works concerned (set out in a table); and

(2) of the names and locations of the public housing estates where addition or modernisation works in relation to barrier-free access and facilities are in progress or planned to be carried out, the items covered by the works concerned as well as the dates on which the works commenced/anticipated to commence and anticipated to be completed (set out in a table)?

Reply:

President,

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) endeavours to enhance barrier-free access and facilities in public rental housing (PRH) estates to meet the needs of residents, especially the elderly and persons with disabilities. We are proactively reviewing the barrier-free access and facilities of existing PRH estates and are implementing improvement programmes to ensure all residents having equal access to premises and use of facilities in PRH estates.

     My reply to the two-part question raised by the Hon Albert Chan is as follows:

(1) To improve accessibility, HA has, since 2010, implemented a barrier-free access and facility improvement programme for premises under its management, covering PRH estates and commercial facilities to follow the requirements laid out in the Government's Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008 as far as practicable. The improvement works involve providing ramps, suitable handrails and tactile guide paths connecting main estate entrances to major facilities within estate area, entrances of domestic blocks, etc. Those works have been completed.

     At the same time, HA has implemented a Lift Addition Programme (LAP) in existing PRH estates as lifts constitute a major part of barrier-free access facilities. The programme enhances existing pedestrian access by adding lifts in common areas and adjacent to existing footbridges within PRH estates.

     LAP is carried out in two phases. Stage 1 involves the provision of 70 lifts and 18 footbridges in 29 PRH estates under HA, with a total construction cost of $740 million. This phase has been completed and the list of the 29 estates involved is at Annex A.

     In addition, HA has completed a lift modernisation programme for lift facilities in existing PRH estates to facilitate persons with visual and hearing impairments. Improvement items include the provision of illuminated visual indicators, tactile and braille call buttons, audible signals, etc.

(2) After the completion of the aforesaid LAP Stage 1, HA has launched Stage 2 which involves the provision of 13 lifts and nine footbridges in its eight PRH estates, with a total estimated construction cost of $290 million. Construction works of all these projects have commenced and are scheduled for completion in phases by 2017. The list of the eight estates involved is at Annex B.

     Furthermore, some lifts in existing PRH blocks could not reach all floors due to technical constraints at the time of construction. HA is conducting system check-ups for lifts commenced operation for 25 years or more and scheduling associated modernisation works based on their conditions. Upon completion of the system check-ups and where the building structure permits, HA will add lift openings for floors currently without one to improve barrier-free facilities in PRH estates. This lift modernisation works is an on-going programme and HA will continue its endeavours to implement this programme.

Ends/Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:09

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