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Answer:
Mr President,
The planned redevelopment of Kwun Lung Lau Phase I and Tanner Hill Estate will affect 1,119 families currently living in these estates. According to the present plan, these families will be rehoused by 1999 to enable the redevelopment to go ahead. Phase II of the redevelopment of Kwun Lung Lau will affect another 1,354 families, who will be rehoused by 2003. The total number of residents affected is 8,804. The Housing Society has carefully considered the rehousing needs of these families and has been able to offer them a variety of choices to match their affordability levels and personal preferences.
The Housing Society has drawn up plans which would cater for the rehousing needs of all families affected, although some of the families are likely to make their own arrangements as past experience has shown. We estimate that about 80% of the families will choose rental housing in flats in other estates of the Housing Society on Hong Kong Island and 20% will prefer to purchase flats under the Housing Society's Flats for Sale Scheme. The Society will make available sufficient flats in both categories to meet the likely demand. In line with the Government's policy of encouraging home ownership, it has accorded first priority to these families to purchase flats under the Flats for Sale Scheme. Additionally, all families affected are offered a removal assistance package to facilitate their relocation.
The Housing Society's current rehousing arrangements ensure that the needs of families affected by the planned redevelopment are met. Nevertheless, those families who wish to apply for the purchase of Home Ownership Scheme or Private Sector Participation Scheme flats built by the Housing Authority or loans under the Authority's Home Purchase Loan Scheme may do so as Green Form applicants.
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