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LCQ12: Laundry racks in public rental housing flats
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     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Chi-chuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (June 22):

Question

     The Housing Department (HD) is carrying out a programme for installing laundry racks to replace laundry pole holders free of charge for the tenants of rental units of 162 public rental housing (PRH) estates. In reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on April 27 this year, the authorities indicated that the laundry rack replacement works (replacement works) had been completed for 18 estates and were being carried out in another 31 estates, and it was expected that the whole programme would be completed in 2017. It has been reported that some PRH residents are not satisfied with the design of the new laundry racks. They have pointed out that the new laundry racks are small in size (about the size of six pieces of A4 paper only), and only 60 per cent of the rack area can be used for hanging clothes as both ends of the rack are blocked by window frames. In addition, the space between the nylon ropes is so narrow that a laundry rack can at most carry only four pieces of thick clothing. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the latest progress of the replacement works, including the respective names of the PRH estates in respect of which (i) the works have been completed, (ii) the works are in progress, (iii) the works have not yet commenced but the works contracts have been awarded, and (iv) the tendering exercises for the works are yet to be conducted (set out in a table), and the names of contractors which have been awarded such contracts;

(2) whether HD has, prior to its decision on the implementation of the replacement works, consulted PRH residents to understand their actual needs, tailor-made the racks to fit in the space available on the external walls of different estates when designing the new laundry racks, and provided the most practical design from the perspectives of the residents; if HD has, of the names of the PRH estates consulted by HD, the number of residents and the names of the residents' organisations (if any) consulted in each of such PRH estates, as well as the dates on which the relevant consultation exercises were conducted (set out in a table);

(3) of the number of complaints about the design of laundry racks received by HD so far, the number of complaints which have been followed up and the details of the follow-up work; and

(4) whether HD will suspend the replacement works so that it may consult (afresh) PRH residents on the design of laundry racks and improve the design of the racks in accordance with the consultation outcome before resuming the remaining works?

Reply:

President,

     As mentioned in my written reply to the question raised by Dr Hon Priscilla Leung on April 27, 2016, subject to the availability of resources and structural feasibility of the buildings concerned, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) would introduce measures to improve existing public rental housing (PRH) units with a view to enhancing the living environment of PRH tenants. To this end, the Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) of HA approved in February 2014 the replacement of the pole holders with laundry racks in rental units of PRH estates and unsold rental units of Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) estates free of charge. The programme involves a total of 162 estates.

     My reply to the four-part question raised by the Hon Chan Chi-chuen is as follows:

(1) As at end of May this year, the replacement works in 23 estates were completed (See Annex 1).

     Replacement works in another 33 estates are being carried out and are scheduled for completion within this year (See Annex 2).

     Meanwhile, HA has awarded contracts for the replacement works in 104 estates (See Annex 3). Contractors are actively preparing to commence works soon and the replacement works are scheduled for completion next year.

     For the remaining Ap Lei Chau Estate and Fu Shan Estate, as the estate redecoration works will soon commence, the laundry racks replacement works will be conducted concurrently with the redecoration works of the external walls of the buildings so as to reduce costs by sharing gondolas to be used at work and to minimise disturbance to residents. Redecoration works in these two estates will be tendered out in the middle of this year and are scheduled for completion next year.

     Based on the current progress, the Housing Department (HD) anticipates that all laundry rack replacement works will be completed next year as scheduled.

(2) HD understands that residents may have different views on the design of the laundry racks. However, in order to fully utilise the space available for drying on the external walls, avoid disturbance caused by future maintenance, and maintain a neat and tidy outlook of the buildings, HA will provide the most suitable laundry racks with the largest laundry area with reference to the building types and in compliance with the requirements under the Building (Minor Works) Regulation, taking into account actual circumstances, site conditions and available space in individual estates.

     Before commencement of the works, HD will brief the Estate Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) of the relevant PRH estates about the design of the laundry racks and collect their feedbacks on the replacement works. HD will make appropriate adjustment and take follow up actions according to the actual circumstances. Up till now, HD has completed consultations with EMAC of 82 PRH estates. Besides, if residents opt not to replace their laundry facilities, HD will not force them to do so.

(3) Upon receiving complaints from residents regarding the laundry racks, HD Estate Management Office staff would endeavour to provide detailed explanations and take appropriate follow-up actions. HD does not maintain statistics on the residents' complaints against the design of laundry racks.

(4) HD appreciates the concerns of individual residents in relation to laundry racks. However, the design of the new laundry rack is subject to the constraints of existing building design, the requirements under the Building (Minor Works) Regulation and the safety use of laundry facilities. When taking forward the decision of the SHC of HA to replace the pole holders with laundry racks for rental units of PRH estates and unsold rental units of TPS estates free of charge, HD will listen to the views of PRH tenants and other stakeholders, and proactively explore other enhanced facilities, for instance, to consider providing additional laundry facilities for residents' use, with a view to fostering a safe and sustainable living environment.

Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:41

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