18 -
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
of the total number of complaints received by the Housing Authority about water seepage problems in public housing and Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats under its management which have been occupied for less than three years, together with a breakdown of the causes of water seepage; and how many of such complaints have resulted in repair work being carried out;
of the ten public housing/HOS estates occupied for less than three years having the largest number of complaints about water seepage problems, together with the names of the respective contractors;
whether the Housing Authority has put in place any regulating mechanism to ensure that water seepage problems will not occur in public housing and HOS flats as a result of the negligence of the contractors or defects in building design; if so, what such mechanism is, and why water seepage problems still occur frequently; and
what measures the Housing Authority has taken to improve the quality of public housing/HOS flats in order to prevent the occurrence of water seepage problems after the flats are occupied?
Answer:
Mr President.
Water seepage problems in newly completed public housing estates involve ceilings, windows, external walls and expansion joints. Common causes are the varying standards of workmanship on surface drainage and tenants' unauthorised modifications which damage waterproof materials and surface drainage in the toilet, kitchen and balcony areas. Given the short notice, it is not possible to include in this reply details of complaints about water seepage in all public housing rental estates which are less than three years old. This information will be provided separately as soon as possible. As Home Ownership Scheme flat owners themselves are responsible for maintenance works, the Housing Department does not keep a record of such complaints.
Upon receipt of complaints about water seepage in public housing rental estates, estate management staff will refer them to the District Maintenance Office of the Housing Department for follow-up action. However, if the defects are found within the Defects Liability Period (j.e. within one year of flat completion), repair work will be undertaken by the main contractor.