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Answer:
Mr President,
There are about 42,700 elderly singletons living in public rental housing estates managed by the Housing Authority. About 11,700 of them are living in flats planned for redevelopment in three years' time or thereafter; of these, about 4,000 are living in Mark IV blocks. The numbers of elderly singletons who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients are given as below:
Elderly singletons who are CSSA recipients
Number of elderly singletons
CSSA recipients
Elderly singletons living in public rental housing estates
42,700
32,000
Elderly singletons residing in estates
11,700
8,700
which are due for redevelopment in
three years' time or thereafter
Elderly singletons residing in Mark IV blocks which are due for redevelopment in three years' time or thereafter
4,000
3,000
The incident of the elderly singleton in Sau Mau Ping Estate killed in a fire caused by the short circuit of a mosquito extinguisher last year was an isolated one. The victim was a CSSA recipient who refused the offer to install an emergency alarm system for personal reasons.
The Housing Department has written to all elderly singleton tenants informing them of the procedures involved in applying for the installation of emergency alarm systems. Department staff make regular contacts with these elderly tenants by telephone or through home visits to encourage and help them to apply.
Ent