HOUSING
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Redevelopment
Since the launching of the HKHA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme in 1988, 515 housing blocks have been redeveloped to improve the living conditions of some 173 300 households. In 2001, 55 blocks were cleared and 25 900 households were rehoused. Over the next five years, another 51 old blocks will be redeveloped.
Housing for Groups in Special Need
The Elderly
An elderly person who prefers to live alone can apply under the Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme and be allocated a public rental flat within three years. The Government has pledged to reduce the average waiting time of elderly singletons who wish to live by themselves to two years by 2005. Two or more elderly persons who are willing to live together may apply under the Elderly Persons Priority Scheme, and be allocated flats within two years.
There are two priority schemes for public rental flats which encourage households to live with and take care of their elderly members. Applicants with elderly parents or dependent relatives aged 60 or above under the Families with Elderly Persons Priority Scheme are allocated flats three years before normal allocation in the district of their choice. Alternatively, they may also apply under the Special Scheme for Families with Elderly Persons for two separate flats in the same block in new towns two years before normal allocation. Applicants are also encouraged to include their elderly members in applications for the Home Ownership Scheme, Private Sector Participation Scheme and Home Purchase Loan Scheme when their priority status will be upgraded.
To help low income elderly households living in non-self-contained private flats or temporary structures, the Government pledged in the 2000 Policy Address to help eligible elderly people to apply for public housing. All eligible elderly households. which submitted applications by the end of March 2001 will be offered public rental flats by the end of 2003.
A pilot Rent Allowance for the Elderly Scheme was introduced in August 2001 to give eligible elderly applicants an additional option of rental subsidy in lieu of public rental flats. An initial quota of 500 was set.
The Senior Citizens Residence Scheme is an innovative housing scheme for the elderly under which the HKHS will build community-based housing developments comprising self-contained flats with specialised support facilities and services for 'lease-for-life' to middle income senior citizens. Two sites in Tseung Kwan O and Jordan Valley have been allocated to the HKHS.
To enable the private sector to make the fullest possible contribution towards meeting the demand for housing, a pilot scheme is being developed to encourage the private sector to provide affordable, purpose-built accommodation with integrated care services for elderly persons.
Cottage Areas and Squatters
Cottage Areas consist mainly of single-storey structures built of stone or less permanent materials on hillsides. The four remaining Cottage Areas, housing about 1 300 people, were cleared in 2001.