ENG-2006 — Page 257

Housing 209

Phase 2 tenants in August 2011. A total of 13 400 people from 5 000 families will be affected.

Sustainable Public Housing Stock

To ensure the sustainable development of public housing resources, the HKHA introduced a Total Maintenance Scheme in 2006, an innovative and proactive approach to maintaining its public rental housing estates in good order. In-flat Inspection Ambassadors are employed to carry out in-flat inspections and to arrange minor touch-up works on the spot. Works orders for major repairs will be placed immediately to ensure the defects are corrected as soon as possible. The scheme also introduces new initiatives which include the setting up of a flat-to-flat maintenance database, strengthening of research and development in building diagnostic methodology and maintenance technology, setting up a maintenance hotline and mapping out a promotional and educational plan. The scheme targets 30 estates each year.

Another initiative to sustain the existing public rental housing estates is the implementation of a Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme. Checks are carried out on housing blocks in public housing estates which are about 40 years old or above to see if they are structurally sound and economically sustainable. For housing blocks which

blocks which are structurally

are structurally safe but which require improvements, appropriate works including structural strengthening, recasting or normal concrete repair will be arranged. Otherwise, demolition of the blocks will be considered. Steps will also be taken to improve the overall environment of these estates to ensure they can last for at least another 15 years.

The HKHA also undertook a series of Estate Improvement Programmes to deliver quality service and enhance the living environment of selected public housing estates. The initiatives included improvement works to meet the needs of people with impaired eyesight, installation of additional lifts, lift modernisation, lighting improvement, and provision of leisure and landscape facilities.

Allocation

In 2006, 29 574 rental flats were allocated by the HKHA and the HKHS to various categories of applicants. Of these, 11 204 were new flats and 18 370 were refurbished ones: 61.94 per cent were allocated to waiting list applicants, 5.24 per cent to tenants affected by the HKHA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme, 0.81 per cent to families affected by clearances, 1.91 per cent to junior civil servants, 24.54 per cent to sitting tenants for transfers (including overcrowding relief), and the remainder to victims of fire and natural disasters and compassionate cases recommended by the Social Welfare Department.

Flats are allocated in accordance with the order of registration and applicants' choices of district. Applicants are required to satisfy comprehensive means tests (covering income and assets), domestic property tests and a residence rule before being admitted to public rental housing. To speed up the letting of some less popular flats, the HKHA launched the Express Flat Allocation Scheme and invited all eligible applicants on the waiting list to select a flat from among flats which have been lying