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Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (May 4):
Question:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) launched the Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme (CSIP) in 2005 to ascertain whether the blocks in public rental housing (PRH) estates aged more than 40 years were structurally safe and whether it would be worthwhile to keep such blocks through repair and structural strengthening works, or else they would be demolished or redeveloped. Also, CSIP would identify the extent of repair and strengthening works required to sustain those blocks for at least 15 years and the estimated costs arising therefrom, as well as the costs of other improvement options. The first stage of CSIP covered 10 estates, with 32 more added in 2008. The entire programme is expected to complete in 2018. Regarding the progress of CSIP and the redevelopment of the PRH estates concerned, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information concerning each of the estates for which the structural investigation as well as the required repair and structural strengthening works have been completed (set out in a table):
(i) the name of the estate;
(ii) the number of blocks in the estate;
(iii) the number of flats in the estate;
(iv) the date of completion of the estate;
(v) the respective years in which the investigation commenced and completed;
(vi) the average age of the blocks when the investigation commenced;
(vii) the details of the repair and strengthening works;
(viii) the average estimated expenditure on the repair and strengthening works for each flat;
(ix) the actual expenditure on the repair and strengthening works for each flat; and
(x) the actual expenditure on the repair and strengthening works for the estate;
(2) of the name of each of the estates the investigation for which has been completed but the repair and strengthening works have not been completed, and the following details of the works concerned: (i) the latest progress, (ii) the actual expenditure incurred so far and how that figure compares with the original estimated expenditure, and (iii) the expected completion date of all the works;
(3) of the name of each of the estates the investigation for which is in progress and the expected completion date of the investigation; the name of each of the estates the investigation for which has not yet commenced and the expected commencement date for the investigation;
(4) whether HA has compiled, in respect of those estates for which both the investigation as well as the repair and structural strengthening works have been completed, statistics on the annual average expenditure on repairs incurred for each flat since the completion of the works concerned; if HA has, whether HA has found a situation that the expenditure on non-structural repairs for the flats in aged estates was higher than that for the flats in younger estates; if so, of the difference;
(5) whether HA will implement a new investigation programme upon the completion of CSIP; if so, of the details; given that it has been more than 10 years since the launch of CSIP in 2005, whether HA will carry out a new round of investigation for the estates the investigation for which was completed many years ago (e.g. Choi Hung Estate, Wo Lok Estate); if so, when the new round of investigation will be launched; and
(6) given that some estates (e.g. So Uk Estate, Wah Fu Estate) covered in CSIP are being redeveloped/will be redeveloped soon, and the redevelopment of aged estates may increase the supply of PRH flats in urban areas given a stringent supply of land resources in urban areas, whether the Government has any plan to reserve decanting resources in urban areas for the redevelopment of aged estates in future; if not, of the measures in place to prevent the recurrence of situations similar to that of Wah Fu Estate in which the commencement of its redevelopment programme has been delayed for a long time due to problems of decanting resources, etc.?
Reply:
President,
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) launched the Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme (CSIP) in 2005 to ascertain the structural safety of Public Rental Housing (PRH) estates approaching or over 40 years old, and to assess the repair works needed for sustaining those estates for at least 15 years and the cost-effectiveness of such repair works.
My consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Wu Chi-wai is as follows.
Details of repair works for PRH buildings and the corresponding costs are affected by many factors. Apart from the age of the buildings, it also depends on the building design, structural conditions, locations, maintenance conditions as well as other site conditions. Hence, it would be inappropriate to simply compare the repair costs by building ages. There are 52 685 units in the 14 estates with structural investigations and structural repairs and strengthening works completed. The relevant cost of works is $355 million, or on average $6,740 per unit. Details of these 14 estates are at Annex 1. After the completion of the necessary structural repairs and strengthening works, the annual maintenance costs of these 14 estates in 2015-16 are around $237 million, or on average $4,500 per unit.
A total of 14 estates have undergone structural investigations, but the corresponding structural repairs and strengthening works have not yet completed. The actual cost of works incurred for these estates so far are about $75 million. Details of these 14 estates are at Annex 2. In addition, the Housing Department (HD) is conducting investigations for Shun On Estate, Wan Tsui Estate and Tai Wo Hau Estate, which are scheduled for completion this year. HD will also start investigations for Shek Wai Kok Estate and Lung Tin Estate this year. Investigations will be carried out for Sha Kok Estate, Tai Yuen Estate, Sam Shing Estate, Ap Lei Chau Estate, Yau Oi Estate and On Ting Estate in 2017 and 2018.
After completion of the first-round of CSIP (First CSIP), HA will implement another round of CSIP, details of which are being worked out. Since the First CSIP has already assessed the structural conditions of the estates concerned for future 15 years, the investigated estates will undergo the next investigations within 15 years after the First CSIP. The exact investigation schedule will be fixed in accordance with the actual circumstances of the estates.
Redevelopment will instantly reduce, instead of increase, PRH supply. As stated in the Long Term Housing Strategy promulgated in December 2014, while redevelopment may increase PRH supply over the long term, it will in the short term reduce PRH stock available for allocation. This will inevitably add further pressure on HA's ability in maintaining the Average Waiting Time target at about three years. Hence, redevelopment can at best serve as a supplementary source of PRH supply. In addition to the structural safety and cost effectiveness of repair works as per the findings of the CSIP, HA will also take into account other factors such as build-back potential and the availability of suitable rehousing resources in the vicinity of the estates in considering redevelopment of any aged PRH estates. If HA decides to redevelop individual estate or building in future, it will consider various factors including the availability of suitable rehousing resources and will, in accordance with the established practice, allow sufficient time to consult the relevant District Council, and give sufficient advance notice to affected tenants well before the clearance operation.
Ends/Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:35
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