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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Housing Authority (HA) 's Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) today (29th November) approved maintaining unchanged the monthly charges for private cars at 76 carparks, while increasing monthly charges at 33 carparks with occupancy rates at "90% or above" by 5% from January 1, 2008.
"The mild increase in monthly charges, ranging from $30 to $90 depending on regions and types of carparking spaces, affects about 3,600 spaces at the top tier representing about 18% of the HA's available monthly private carparking spaces. The majority of carpark users would not be affected," explained the chairman of the CPC, Mr. Liu Sing-Cheong.
"In considering the adjustment, we have made reference to the latest monthly charges of carparks in both the private and public sectors. In view of the recent improvements in general economic conditions, a mild increase of 5% in the carparks with the highest occupancy rates is deemed appropriate," said Mr. Liu.
The HA maintains some 26,700 parking spaces in 109 non-divested carparks. Under the existing three-tier distribution, 33 carparks have occupancy rates at "90% or above", 58 have occupancy rates at "50% to below 90%" while the remaining 18 carparks have occupancy rates "below 50%".
In view of high occupancy rates and to align with the market level, the CPC also approved today an increase in the monthly charges for motorcycle spaces in all HA carparks by $20 per space. The new rates are $270 for covered spaces and $220 for open spaces.
There are about 2,800 monthly motorcycle parking spaces in 87 carparks. The average occupancy rates are 89% as at September 2007.
On hourly charges, the CPC endorsed an increase in the normal hourly charges by $1. The new rates are $12 per hour in urban/suburban carparks and $8 per hour in the New Territories.
"However, the reduced rates between the hours of 11pm and 7am will be maintained at the existing level of $8 per hour in urban/suburban car parks and $5 per hour in the New Territories; the hourly rate for motorcycles will also be maintained at $2 per hour," Mr Liu said.
"As for the day-pass parking (from 8am to 8pm) implemented in 2006, the charges will be increased by $5, to $60 for urban/suburban carparks and to $45 for New Territories carparks to reflect the increase in demand and to optimise financial returns to the HA," he added.
The CPC also approved the continuation of the parking coupon discount scheme with a bulk purchase discount of 20% for 50 parking coupons or its multiples. In addition, the committee approved maintaining the monthly rates and hourly charges for Light Goods Vehicles at existing levels.
Ends/Thursday, November 29, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:13
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