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Following is a question by the Hon Leung Fu-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):
Question:
Regarding the supply and demand of quarters for the officers of disciplined services (other than the post-tied quarters and operational quarters designated by departments for their staff), will the Government inform this Council :
(a) of a breakdown by the types of disciplined services, the grades and locations of the quarters, the numbers of quarters supplied, demanded and allocated as well as the average quarters vacancy rate in the past three years, and the anticipated supply and demand in the next three years;
(b) of the current average waiting time for various grades of staff in the disciplined services before they are allocated quarters;
(c) whether there is specific stipulation in the existing policies that the Administration is required to allocate quarters for the staff in the disciplined services within a certain period of waiting time; if so, of the details;
(d) whether it has assessed the need for measures to shorten the waiting times; if the assessment outcome is in the affirmative, of the target waiting times; if it is in the negative, the reasons for that;
(e) whether it has assessed the reasons for a relatively high vacancy rate for some of the quarters, and of the solutions; and
(f) whether it will allocated flats under the Home Ownership Scheme that are now vacant or expected to be completed soon for use as quarters for the disciplined services; if so, of the specific arrangements and implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that ?
Reply:
Madam President,
Before replying to the individual questions, we would like to point out that, according to existing policy, disciplined services' "departmental quarters" are allocated to eligible applicants subject to the availability of resources.
Eligible staff of the disciplined services can apply for different quarters in order of preference. The departments will allocate the quarters in accordance with an established points system. The waiting time of individual applicants will vary, depending on the departments in which they are serving, their rank, seniority, number of children and the particular flats of their preference.
(a)(i) Demand and supply of quarters :
The demand and supply of departmental quarters of the various disciplined services are showed in Annex 1.
As regards the grades and locations of the quarters, please refer to Annexes 2,3,4 5, 6 to 7.
(a)(ii) Number of staff who are allocated with quarters :
Over the past three years, a total of 3 592 staff members of the disciplined services have been allocated with quarters for the first time. Details are as follows:
Hong Kong Police Force 2 015Fire Services Department 608
Correctional Services Department 434
Immigration Department 243
Customs and Excise Department 287
Government Flying Service 5
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Total 3 592
(a)(iii) Average quarters vacancy rate:
The average quarters vacancy rates of the various disciplined services over the past three years are as follows:
Hong Kong Police Force 3.20%Fire Services Department 0.14%
Correctional Services Department 6.00%
Immigration Department 2.54%
Customs and Excise Department 0.53%
Government Flying Service 3.00%
(a)(iv) The anticipated supply of quarters in the next three years:
Bearing in mind the question of resources, it is envisaged that there will not be any additional units in the next three years.
(a)(v)The anticipated demand for quarters in the next three years:
The demand for quarters depends on the number of new recruits, retirees and outgoing staff, as well as the marital status of serving officers. Assuming that the change in staff numbers and the mix of married and unmarried members of staff in the next three years are similar to those in the past, it is envisaged that there will be on average an annual increase of around 500 eligible applicants in the next three years. Details are as follows:
Inspectorate Rank and
File
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Hong Kong Police Force 6 0
Fire Services Department 6 55
Correctional Services 10 86
Department
Immigration Department 51 199
Customs and Excise 12 57
Department
Government Flying 8 Nil
Service
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Total 93 397
(b) For the current average waiting time for various grades of staff in the disciplined services, please refer to the following table:
Inspectorate/Officer Rank and File
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Hong Kong Police Force 2 years 3.7 years
Fire Services Department 1.6 years 5 years
Correctional Services 4.3 years 4.7 years
Department
Immigration Department 1.4 years 6.6 years
Customs and Excise 4.1 years 5.7 years
Department
Government Flying 0.3 year Nil
Service
(c) As explained at the beginning, quarters are provided subject to the availability of resources. Hence, there is no stipulation on the longest waiting time for quarters.
(d) As stated above, quarters are provided subject to the availability of resources. Thus, there is no stipulation on the longest waiting time, nor is there any particular measures to shorten the waiting time. However, the Government will regularly review its policies on departmental quarters, with a view to assisting staff members in meeting their housing needs in the most appropriate ways.
(e) Apart from those awaiting allocation and maintenance, some of the quarters have higher vacancy rates because of their remote location, below-standard unit size, older age and inadequate complementary facilities.
To enhance the quality of the vacant quarters, the Architectural Services Department carries out maintenance and renovation works on them regularly, and amalgamates adjoining units of smaller size where conditions permit, in order to allocate them to eligible applicants.
(f) The Government is looking into the proposal of using some flats under the Home Ownership Scheme for reprovisioning old departmental quarters. No decision has yet been made; there are no specific arrangements or implementation timetable.
End/Wednesday, February 12, 2003
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