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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Housing Authority (HA) will concentrate its efforts in 2010-11 on building and maintaining quality homes; fostering harmony and a caring community; upholding rational and effective use of public resources; and enhancing effective use and attractiveness of commercial properties.
At a regular open meeting today (January 21), Members of the Housing Authority endorsed the Corporate Plan for 2010-11 which sets out the above four main themes of HA's work for the year.
A total of 94 key activities and 15 key performance indicators were covered under these four themes.
"This year, we will continue to closely monitor the factors affecting public rental housing (PRH) demand and adjust the rolling PRH production programme regularly to ensure an adequate supply of flats to keep the average waiting time at around three years," a spokesman for the Housing Authority said.
In planning and designing new PRH development, the authority would optimise greening and provide a healthy and hygienic environment. The authority would continue implementing enhanced harmonious family policies to promote mutual family support and care of the elderly.
To help fight against the spread of Human Swine Influenza, the Housing Authority would step up cleansing services and management measures in PRH.
"We not only aim to maintain a quality standard of property management and maintenance, but also care for the well-being of our tenants," the spokesman said.
In 2010-11, the authority would conduct the first PRH rent review under the new rent adjustment mechanism. The Housing Authority would also strengthen its tenancy management to safeguard against abuse of public housing resources and promoting public awareness on cherishing public housing resources.
For the commercial properties, the authority would prioritise enhancement programmes for its shopping centres according to their strengths and weaknesses. Improvement measures for two old shopping centres, Lai Yiu and Fu Shan, would be formulated in the year.
Apart from endorsing the 2010-11 Corporate Plan, members also approved the 2009-10 revised budget, the 2010-11 proposed budget and noted the financial forecast for 2011-12 to 2013-14.
Despite a projected overall consolidated surplus in its recurrent accounts in the budget and forecast period, the cash generated there could just about meet the Housing Authorityˇ¦s huge construction expenditure in the corresponding period.
Overall, the authority has sufficient financial resources to provide public rental housing to families in need during the budget and forecast period, though the authority had to be mindful of the challenges ahead, in particular the fluctuations in investment returns and construction costs.
The Housing Authority will continue to exercise prudent financial control and ensure cost-effective use of its resources in meeting its policy objectives.
Ends/Thursday, January 21, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:51
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