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A Comprehensive Structural Investigation conducted by the Housing Department has found that all buildings in Choi Hung Estate in Wong Tai Sin and Model Housing Estate in North Point are structurally safe.
However, structural repair and improvements works will have to be carried out at the two estates to sustain the buildings for the next 15 years.
At Choi Hung Estate, structural repair and improvement works will be carried out in various locations of the buildings including the construction of lifts at the three seven-storey blocks of Kam Hon, Kam Pik and Kam Wah.
For Model Housing Estate, local repair works are also required. However, it is technically not feasible to provide lifts at the lower blocks.
The total cost of the repair works for Choi Hung Estate and Model Housing Estate is $83.32 million and $1.05 million respectively.
Completed between 1962 and 1964, Choi Hung Estate comprises 7,455 flats in 11 domestic blocks, of seven to 20 storey high. There are seven blocks in Model Housing Estate. Two blocks of 20 to 21 storeys containing 422 flats are 27 years old. The other five blocks of five to six storeys containing 245 flats are 52 years old.
Last year, the Housing Department launched a Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme for public rental housing estates of ages about or over 40 years of age seeking to ascertain whether that the housing blocks are structurally safe and economically sustainable.
Investigation of the first two estates, So Uk and Sai Wan Estates, was completed in January 2006. Investigation of the second batch, Choi Hung and Model Housing Estates, commenced in February 2006 and is now completed as scheduled.
Ends/Friday, October 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:26
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