XN000022-1997-02-26 — Page 42

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Interim housing

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the use of re-developed public housing for interim housing, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

of the amount spent by the Housing Department in converting each of the re-developed public housing blocks to interim housing units;

of the difference between the converting cost of interim housing and the cost of constructing a brand new public housing block of similar sizes during the same period of time;

of the estimated years of occupancy of these interim housing units before they are demolished;

of the method of determining the rents of these interim housing units, and whether such method is different from that of other public housing units;

whether there is any difference between the management practice for interim housing units and that for other public housing estates; and

whether periodic inspection on safety standards of these interim housing units will be carried out by the Housing Department?

Answer:

Mr President,

The Housing Authority has so far refurbished two public rental housing blocks evacuated under the Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme for use as vertical interim housing. Both blocks are located in Kwai Chung. The first block was refurbished in 1994 at a cost of $31 million (or $40,800 per flat), and the second block, refurbished in 1996, cost $31 million (or $37,000 per flat). By comparison, the construction cost of a standard Harmony 1 rental block is approximately $320 million (or $290,000 per flat) at December 1996 prices. The two interim housing blocks can be occupied for this purpose for at least five years.