Annex to Executive Summary : list of recommendations

Increasing flat supply (Chapter 3)

To update regularly projected flat requirements, using the model operated by the Working Group on Housing Demand (paragraph 3.7).

To look at opportunities, subject to an assessment of infrastructural capacity and environmental impact, to increase land supply for housing by -

(a)
rezoning land in selected locations, previously designated for industrial or unspecified community uses, which are surplus to requirements;

(b) identifying potential new development sites on the periphery of planned or developed urban areas to which new roads and infrastructure could be extended without undue difficulty; and

(c) redeveloping suitable old flatted factory estates of the Housing Authority (HA) (paragraph 3.13).

To explore options to increase the density of development in -

(a) comprehensively designed new development areas where existing community services and infrastructural capacity permit; and

(b) individual residential sites which have spare capacity (paragraph 3.14).

To speed up housing production by continuing -

(a) to act efficiently and effectively through the Housing Project Action Team to remove bottlenecks in the production of new flats;

(b) to look at further ways to improve and speed up procedures for the approval of housing projects and related land transactions; and

(c) to ensure that housing related infrastructure projects, such as water supply, sewerage and transport links, are funded and completed in good time (paragraph 3.16).

To continue to make every effort to utilise fully the permitted development density in both new and redeveloped HA (and Housing Society estates), in particular through the design and layout of the blocks on individual sites (paragraph 3.20).

To monitor the capacity of the construction industry and, if necessary, to take early measures in consultation with the Construction Advisory Board and the Construction Industry Training Authority, as appropriate, to alleviate any specific constraint which may arise (paragraph 3.21).

Maximising the contribution of the private sector (Chapter 4)

To take all reasonable steps to streamline and speed up Government procedures for the approval of private housing projects and related land transactions, and to apply these procedures flexibly and pragmatically (paragraph 4.4(b)).

To provide, subject to a detailed feasibility study and a pilot scheme, an increasing proportion of subsidised home ownership flats by way of mixed development (paragraph 4.10).

To continue to monitor the operation of the private housing market and to take action, where appropriate, to protect the interests of consumers (paragraph 4.14).

Encouraging wider home ownership (Chapter 5)

To continue to operate the Home Purchase Loan Scheme as a flexible and cost-effective means of encouraging home ownership (paragraph 5.8).

To invite the HA to consider widening its existing "transfer block" scheme to provide more opportunities for home purchase among both existing and qualified prospective public housing tenants, subject to both demand and available supply (paragraph 5.15).

To support the HA's proposal to provide a monthly mortgage subsidy to Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme tenants during the first three years who choose to buy new rental flats in reception estates (paragraph 5.16).

To allow public housing tenants to apply for the purchase of Sandwich Class Housing flats on equal terms with families living in private housing(paragraph 5.20).

To invite the HA to work out the details for a new scheme to sell suitable existing rental flats to public housing tenants at affordable prices (paragraphs 5.24).

Providing public rental housing for those in genuine need (Chapter 6)

To ensure that the allocation of public rental housing is based on genuine need, to invite the HA to work out details for arrangements -

(a) to require all prospective tenants to undergo a comprehensive means test, covering both income and net assets, before entry; and

(b) to offer interim housing to families displaced by clearance operations who fail the means test for a limited period of, say, one year, and to give them priority for the purchase of Home Ownership Scheme flats or the grant of Home Purchase Loan Scheme loans, subject to meeting the normal eligibility criteria (paragraph 6.13).

To ensure that the continued enjoyment of public rental housing is based on genuine need, to invite the HA to work out details for arrangements -

(a)

to require the adult members of a deceased tenant's family (with the exception of the surviving spouse) to undergo a comprehensive means test before the grant of a new tenancy, and, where necessary, to pay extra rent; and

(b)
to require adult members who fail the means test to pay market rent and to allow them to remain as tenants for a limited period only (paragraph 6.15).

To minimise the pre-emption of the supply of public rental flats, to invite the HA to consider -

(a) to confine any further redevelopment of HA estates, following completion of the HA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme in 2005, to selected blocks determined by need, and having regard to structural conditions and build-back potential;

(b) to require applications for transfer which would involve the allocation of an additional flat to be made through the Waiting List;

(c) to make no further change to the current space allocation standards for public rental housing until outstanding demand on the Waiting List has been substantially met; and

(d) to require eligible households living in interim housing to register on the Waiting List in order to help ensure a more equitable allocation of public housing resources (paragraph 6.16).

(To ensure that public housing rents truly reflect tenants' ability to pay, to invite the HA to consider measures -

(a) to set and maintain rents for new public rental estates (of Harmony block design) at a level sufficient to achieve median rent-to-income ratios of 15% and 18.5% (for the relevant space allocation standard);

(b) to increase rents for existing public rental estates progressively to achieve and maintain median rent-to-income ratios of 15% and 18.5% (for the relevant space allocation standards), having regard to relative estate values, over the period to 2006; and

(c) to review and revise the existing Rent Assistance Scheme as necessary to ensure that adequate assistance continues to be available to those families facing genuine hardship (paragraph 6.21).

To provide suitable, small sites to the Housing Society for the construction of affordable housing for sale or rent to eligible elderly persons (paragraph 6.26).

To support the measures being taken by the HA to increase the supply of small public rental flats for allocation to eligible single persons (paragraph 6.27).

To encourage the private sector to provide affordable housing to single persons, with priority being given to the elderly , and to welcome suggestions on how this may best be achieved (paragraph 6.28).

To invite the HA to adopt, as guiding principles for clearance operations, proposals -

(a) to continue to encourage squatters and roof-top dwellers who are eligible for public rental housing to register on the Waiting List ;

(b) to continue to undertake squatter clearances to ensure public safety and to meet development needs, and to plan and co-ordinate clearances well in advance to ensure that sufficient rehousing resources are available;

(c) to explore the feasibility of clearing all the remaining Cottage Areas, subject to the availability of rehousing resources;

(d) to consider the feasibility of clearing all squatter areas on mixed lots in urban areas, subject to the availability of rehousing resources; and

(e) to continue to rehouse, in accordance with existing eligibility criteria, persons who are made homeless by the demolition of roof-top structures (paragraph 6.32).

To support the HA's initiatives -

(a) to phase out existing, traditional Temporary Housing Areas as soon as possible, and, in the meantime, to improve their standards to provide residents with decent, hygienic accommodation;

(b) to provide interim housing as far as possible through the use of old public rental housing blocks on the fringe of the urban area; and

(c) to continue to examine the feasibility of other forms of interim housing (paragraph 6.36).

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(a)	rezoning land in selected locations, previously designated for industrial or unspecified community uses, which are surplus to requirements;
(b)	identifying potential new development sites on the periphery of planned or developed urban areas to which new roads and infrastructure could be extended without undue difficulty; and
(c)	redeveloping suitable old flatted factory estates of the Housing Authority (HA) (paragraph 3.13).

(a)	comprehensively designed new development areas where existing community services and infrastructural capacity permit; and
(b)	individual residential sites which have spare capacity (paragraph 3.14).

(a)	to act efficiently and effectively through the Housing Project Action Team to remove bottlenecks in the production of new flats;
(b)	to look at further ways to improve and speed up procedures for the approval of housing projects and related land transactions; and
(c)	to ensure that housing related infrastructure projects, such as water supply, sewerage and transport links, are funded and completed in good time (paragraph 3.16).

(a)	to require all prospective tenants to undergo a comprehensive means test, covering both income and net assets, before entry; and
(b)	to offer interim housing to families displaced by clearance operations who fail the means test for a limited period of, say, one year, and to give them priority for the purchase of Home Ownership Scheme flats or the grant of Home Purchase Loan Scheme loans, subject to meeting the normal eligibility criteria (paragraph 6.13).

(a)	to require the adult members of a deceased tenant's family (with the exception of the surviving spouse) to undergo a comprehensive means test before the grant of a new tenancy, and, where necessary, to pay extra rent; and
(b)	to require adult members who fail the means test to pay market rent and to allow them to remain as tenants for a limited period only (paragraph 6.15).

(a)	to confine any further redevelopment of HA estates, following completion of the HA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme in 2005, to selected blocks determined by need, and having regard to structural conditions and build-back potential;
(b)	to require applications for transfer which would involve the allocation of an additional flat to be made through the Waiting List;
(c)	to make no further change to the current space allocation standards for public rental housing until outstanding demand on the Waiting List has been substantially met; and
(d)	to require eligible households living in interim housing to register on the Waiting List in order to help ensure a more equitable allocation of public housing resources (paragraph 6.16).

(a)	to set and maintain rents for new public rental estates (of Harmony block design) at a level sufficient to achieve median rent-to-income ratios of 15% and 18.5% (for the relevant space allocation standard);
(b)	to increase rents for existing public rental estates progressively to achieve and maintain median rent-to-income ratios of 15% and 18.5% (for the relevant space allocation standards), having regard to relative estate values, over the period to 2006; and
(c)	to review and revise the existing Rent Assistance Scheme as necessary to ensure that adequate assistance continues to be available to those families facing genuine hardship (paragraph 6.21).

(a)	to continue to encourage squatters and roof-top dwellers who are eligible for public rental housing to register on the Waiting List ;
(b)	to continue to undertake squatter clearances to ensure public safety and to meet development needs, and to plan and co-ordinate clearances well in advance to ensure that sufficient rehousing resources are available;
(c)	to explore the feasibility of clearing all the remaining Cottage Areas, subject to the availability of rehousing resources;
(d)	to consider the feasibility of clearing all squatter areas on mixed lots in urban areas, subject to the availability of rehousing resources; and
(e)	to continue to rehouse, in accordance with existing eligibility criteria, persons who are made homeless by the demolition of roof-top structures (paragraph 6.32).

(a)	to phase out existing, traditional Temporary Housing Areas as soon as possible, and, in the meantime, to improve their standards to provide residents with decent, hygienic accommodation;
(b)	to provide interim housing as far as possible through the use of old public rental housing blocks on the fringe of the urban area; and
(c)	to continue to examine the feasibility of other forms of interim housing (paragraph 6.36).