ENG-2005 — Page 258

216 Housing

Home Ownership

Sale of Subsidised Flats

Since 1978, more than 433 0004 subsidised sale flats have been sold to households of eligible families/persons at discounted prices under the Government's various subsidised home ownership schemes such as the Home Ownership Scheme/Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme under the HKHA. In support of the Government's efforts to consolidate its housing policies and to minimise intervention in the property market, the HKHA decided to halt the Tenants Purchase Scheme following the sale of Phase 6, and cease the production and sale of the home ownership and private sector participation scheme flats indefinitely from 2003 onwards. All unsold and returned flats under the two schemes. will not be sold as subsidised housing before the end of 2006.

Housing for Groups in Special Need

The Elderly

An elderly person who prefers to live alone can apply for a public rental flat under the Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme. In 2005, the Government achieved its target of reducing the waiting time for the single elderly to within two years or less. Two or more elderly persons who are willing to live together may apply under the Elderly Persons Priority Scheme. Applicants under the scheme who opt to live in the New Territories will also normally be allocated flats within two years.

There are two priority schemes for public rental flats which encourage families to live with and take care of their elderly relatives. Applicants with elderly parents or dependent relatives aged 60 or above under the Families with Elderly Persons Priority Scheme will have their flat allocation advanced by up to three years. Those who apply under the Special Scheme for Families with Elderly Persons for two separate flats in the same estate in the new towns will have their flat allocation advanced by up to two years.

Under a pilot scheme called the Senior Citizen Residences Scheme, the HKHS launched two projects in Tseung Kwan O and Jordan Valley in August 2003 and September 2004 respectively, providing purpose-built housing with integrated health care facilities for senior citizens in the middle-income group. The units in the projects. are leased to eligible senior citizens on a 'lease-for-life' basis in line with the concepts of 'healthy ageing' and 'ageing in place'.

Squatters

The number of squatters and squatter structures has been reduced in recent years through rehousing and clearance programmes. The criteria for rehousing squatters after clearance have been relaxed. Since December 2002, families who have resided in registered squatter structures for two years and met the prescribed income and assets limits have been rehoused in public rental flats. Squatters who wish to

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Including flats sold by the HKHS. Of the 433 000 flats sold since 1978, 54 600 flats can be traded in the open market as at end December 2005. These flats are not counted as subsidised sale flats under the current definition.