Applications for surplus HOS flats Phase 5 start tomorrow (with photos)
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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:

     Applications for the sale of surplus Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats Phase 5 start tomorrow (October 30). The Housing Authority invites eligible persons to submit applications on or before November 12, and balloting will be conducted next month to determine the sequence of flat selection.  It is expected that flat selection by eligible applicants will begin in December.

     A total of 1,392 flats will be offered for sale, comprising 370 unsold flats in Yau Chui Court Stage I, Yau Tong and 1,022 scattered flats.  These scattered flats are mainly returned flats and they are located in seven courts in Kowloon and the New Territories.  Among them, Kam Tai Court (404 flats) in Ma On Shan and Tin Fu Court (378 flats) in Tin Shui Wai have the larger number of flats for sale.

     Sizes of the flats range from 26.1 to 82.6 square metres in gross floor area (or 19.6 to 60.4 square metres in saleable area). Their selling prices, being set at a discount of 30% off the market value, are from $460,040 in Po Ming Court, Tseung Kwan O, to $2,295,500 in Yau Chui Court Stage I, Yau Tong (please see the table attached for details).

     "A range of flats of different sizes, layout designs and prices at various locations are available to cater for the needs of different families," Assistant Director of Housing (Housing Subsidies), Mr Wong Bay said today (October 29).

     "As the unsold flats have been completed for several years, some of the fixtures and fittings may not look brand new," Mr Wong said. "For environmental protection reasons, we will not replace them as long as they still function properly.  Nonetheless, pre-sale defects rectification and maintenance works have been carried out and a one-year defects liability period will be provided."

     "The returned flats will be sold on an 'as-is' basis. General checking of the building, services installations and cleansing work will be carried out before handing them over, but no defects liability period will be provided for these flats," he said.

     During the application period, on-site show flats in Yau Chui Court Stage I, Yau Tong and Tin Fu Court, Tin Shui Wai as well as some "designated returned flats" in Kam Tai Court, Ma On Shan, will be open for visits.  In addition to an exhibition at the Housing Authority Customer Service Centre (HACSC) in Lok Fu providing sales information of all the courts on sale, exhibitions will also be held in Kam Tai Shopping Centre of Kam Tai Court and Chung Fu Shopping Centre of Tin Fu Court on the concerned courts for the convenience of visitors.

     Sales information and application forms can be obtained at the HACSC, public rental housing estates offices, Sham Shui Po Housing Information Centre and Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department during the application period. Sales information can be viewed and application forms be downloaded from the HA/Housing Department (HD) website (www.housingauthority.gov.hk). Interested parties can also call the HA sales hotline on 2712 8000 for information.

     For the returned flats, reference photos showing the internal conditions of individual flats will be shown on the HA/HD website and at the HACSC from October 30 and DVDs containing these reference photos will also be mailed to eligible applicants.

     In addition to the 1,000-plus flats for sale by the HA as mentioned, applicants may choose to purchase also two resale flats in Kingston Terrace, Tuen Mun, of the Hong Kong Housing Society. Visit their website (www.hkhs.com) for further information, or phone 8107 0123 for enquiry.

Ends/Thursday, October 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:48

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