******************************************************

The Home Affairs Department's (HAD) second purpose-built singleton hostel for bedspace apartment (BSA) residents will start construction soon in Sai Ying Pun under a project incorporating a multi-purpose community centre.

Officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex project today (Tuesday), the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau, reiterated that it was Government's aim to provide eligible singletons with suitable accommodation in areas with which they were familiar.

"We have made every effort in various aspects to provide accommodation for residents living in BSAs registered with HAD's Licensing Authority to ensure none of them will be made homeless as a result of the full implementation of the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance in July this year," Mrs Lau said.

"The first singleton hostel built by the Department is the Sunrise House in Shun Ning Road, Sham Shui Po. It will take in lodgers later this month.

"At present, there are about 400 singletons living in BSAs in the Central and Western District and neighbouring areas. The new hostel project in Sai Ying Pun will provide some 270 places for them," she said.

The hostel will take up three floors under the same roof with the district community centre in the 7-storey complex at the site of the Old Mental Hospital (OMH) in High Street.

Mrs Lau added that another singleton hostel was being planned in Smithfield, Kennedy Town.

"In addition, another singleton hostel in Bailey Street, Kowloon City is being planned. More singleton hostels are under consideration in other districts, including Kwun Tong, West Kowloon Reclamation and Sham Shui Po."

Apart from these purpose-built multi-storey singleton hostels, the HAD has converted premises in different parts of Hong Kong into singleton hostels. These hostels, managed by the Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS), offer alternative accommodation to displaced BSA residents at relatively low charges at $430 per month.

"The HAD and AVS review the operation of these hostels regularly with a view to improving the residents' living environment. For example, we have adopted a revised design for some recently renovated hostels to provide as much privacy to residents as possible," Mrs Lau said.

Mrs Lau noted that the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex project was significant not only in providing alternative accommodation for BSA residents, but also in providing better social welfare and community support facilities in the Central and Western District as well as in preserving a valuable part of Hong Kong's architectural history.

"The new complex will provide much needed community facilities, including a day nursery, an outreaching social work team unit, a day activity centre, a group work unit, a care and attention home for the elderly, a hostel for the severely mentally handicapped, and an early education training centre," she said.

Mrs Lau added that this project would help preserve Hong Kong's heritage as the facade and verandah of the original OMH had been declared a protected monument by the Antiquities Advisory Board.

"Featuring both the Renaissance and Victorian architectural styles, the facade forms part of the Hong Kong heritage trail and will now be successfully preserved for future generations," Mrs Lau said.

Costing about $386.6 million, the whole project is expected to be completed by March 2001. It is designed by the Architectural Services Department and will be constructed by Gammon Construction Limited.

Other officiating guests were the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Pau Shiu-hung; the Group Managing Director of Gammon Construction Limited, Mr Martin Hadaway; the Director of Gammon Construction Limited, Mr Ho On-sing; and the Deputy Director of Architectural Services, Mr Kwan Pak-lam.

End/Tuesday, September 8, 1998

NNNN