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Housing for the elderly

Two Members have asked the Government to accord priority to the elderly's housing need. I wish to point out that we have already introduced various preferential schemes to give elderly applicants priority allocation. For example, an elderly singleton on the Single Person Waiting List can normally be rehoused within two years of registration if he or she is willing to accept hostel accommodation or flats in the extended urban areas or the New Territories. Elderly couples or singletons who apply in groups of two or three will also be allocated housing within two years. Eligible families with elderly members will be allocated housing three years earlier than normal. In addition to these arrangements, the Government has pledged to:

(a)

(b)

rehouse, by 1997, the 4,000 elderly single people who were on the waiting list in 1993; and

build, over the next four years, an additional 22,300 flats for the elderly on four new urban sites and in a number of existing public housing

estates.

All these arrangements, which we are pursuing vigorously, will go a long way towards meeting the housing needs of the elderly.

Conclusion

In conclusion. Mr President, I would like to reassure this Council that the Government and the public housing agencies are fully committed to improving housing conditions in Hong Kong, and that we are doing a great deal of positive and constructive work to meet the housing needs of the community.

Thank you.

End/Wednesday, March 29, 1995