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Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, in the Legislative Council today (October 20):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of elderly single persons, non-elderly single persons and families currently waiting for public rental housing (PRH), with a breakdown by the waiting time;
(b) and of the number of PRH flats to be provided for the above two types of single-person applicants in each of the next five years, with a breakdown by District Council district; and
(c) whether the authorities have new measures to provide more PRH flats for these single-person applicants so as to shorten their waiting time; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) are committed to achieving a target of maintaining the average waiting time for the provision of public rental housing (PRH) for low-income families with housing needs at around three years. As at the end of August 2010, the average waiting time for PRH rehousing for general Waiting List (WL) applicants and for elderly one-person applicants was 2 and 1.1 years respectively. The target in respect of the average waiting time is not applicable to non-elderly one-person applicants. Under the Quota and Points System (QPS), the priority of PRH allocation to these applicants is determined according to the points they have. The higher the number of points they have, the earlier they may be rehoused.
My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) As at the end of August 2010, there were about 74,100 family applications, 4,800 elderly one-person applications, and 55,700 non-elderly one-person applications under the QPS on the WL.
The waiting period for the above applications refers to the time between registration until flat offers or end of August 2010, but excluding any frozen period during the application. Applications may be frozen for various reasons, including where applicants do not fulfil the residence requirements, applicants being imprisoned, at the request of the applicants pending arrival of family members for family reunion, etc. For these family applications, elderly one-person applications and non-elderly one-person applications under the QPS, the average waiting period was 1.5, 0.6 and 2.4 years respectively.
(b) At present, the HA does not have PRH units that are specifically constructed for one-person applicants. One person applicants may be allocated small flats which may also be allocated to two-person families.
Turning to the new production figures for small flats in the coming five years according to the Public Housing Construction Programme (June 2010):
In 2010/11, it is estimated that there would be a total of 13,700 new units to be completed in Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin and Sai Kung. About 21% of these units would be small flats that could be allocated to one to two person families.
In 2011/12, it is estimated that there would be a total of 11,200 new units to be completed in Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin. About 23% of these units would be small flats that could be allocated to one to two person families.
In 2012/13, it is estimated that there would be a total of 16,700 new units to be completed in Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun. About 23% of these units would be small flats that could be allocated to one to two person families.
In 2013/14, it is estimated that there would be a total of 14,400 new units to be completed in Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin and Sai Kung. About 22% of these units would be small flats that could be allocated to one to two person families.
In 2014/15, it is estimated that there would be a total of 18,300 new units to be completed in Kwun Tung, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin, Northern New Territories and Yuen Long. About 19% of these units would be small flats that could be allocated to one to two person families.
For efficient use of public housing resources, the HA may also allocate Housing for Senior Citizens (HSC) Types II and III units to one-person applicants. As at end August 2010, there were about 430 such units that could be allocated to one-person applicants.
(c) With the aim of allocating limited public housing resources in an objective and effective manner to those with the most pressing housing needs, applications for PRH from WL applicants are presently split into three different categories, namely ordinary family applications, elderly applications and non-elderly one-person applications. In respect of singletons applying for PRH, the non-elderly one-person applicants may apply for PRH under the QPS. Under the current system, they may also apply for PRH with their family members as general family applicants. In this regard, to encourage the younger generation to live with their elderly parents, the HA has put in place various enhanced housing arrangements to foster family harmony. The arrangements include:
(i) under the Harmonious Families Addition Scheme, eligible adult offspring (including singletons or those with family members) are allowed to be added to the tenancies of elderly tenants. As at the end of August 2010, 5,620 elderly tenants have had their adult offspring or adult offspring together with their family members added to the tenancies; and
(ii) under the Harmonious Families Priority Scheme, the younger generation may apply with their elderly family members for a PRH flat in any WL District of their choice and enjoy a credit waiting time of six months. Alternatively, the younger generation and their family may apply with their elderly family members for two nearby PRH flats in non-Urban Districts. They can also enjoy a six-month credit waiting time. As at the end of August 2010, there were 7,930 Harmonious Families Priority Scheme applications on the WL enjoying the additional credit on their waiting time. Since the implementation of the enhanced arrangements in October 2007, about 5,650 households have been rehoused.
As for elderly one-person applicants, the HA has accorded priority for PRH rehousing for elderly applicants. Elderly one-person applicants can apply for PRH under the Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme, and their average waiting time for PRH rehousing is shorter than that for general applicants. On the choice of WL Districts, elderly households (including elderly one-person applicants) are allowed to choose any one of the four WL Districts, including the Urban District, in their PRH applications. The HA also provides one-stop services for elderly applicants aged 60 or above. Applications and vetting can be processed in one go.
Eligible elderly or non-elderly one-person applicants with pressing housing needs may also apply for the Express Flat Allocation Scheme (EFAS) or Compassionate Rehousing (CR) on the recommendation of the Social Welfare Department for early rehousing. On average, some 800 and 700 one-person applicants were allocated PRH flats through the EFAS and CR respectively in the past three years.
Ends/Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:22
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