ENG-2006 — Page 258

210 Housing

vacant for a prolonged period due to various reasons. During the year, 2 044 households were successfully rehoused under this scheme.

Home Ownership

Sale of Subsidised Flats

Since 1978, more than 443 8004 subsidised sale flats have been sold to households of eligible families/persons at discounted prices under the Government's various subsidised home ownership schemes. Among these were the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS)/the Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS) and the Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) under the HKHA. To support Government efforts to consolidate its housing policies and to minimise intervention in the property market, the HKHA halted the TPS following the sale of Phase 6, ceased the production and sale of HOS flats from 2003 onwards and terminated the PSPS. All unsold and returned HOS flats would not be sold as subsidised housing flats before the end of 2006. However, to address the situation of surplus HOS flats remaining in its possession, the decision was made in early 2006 to sell 16 600 surplus HOS flats in phases to eligible applicants. Two sale phases, comprising about 2 000 to 3 000 flats each, were earmarked for each of the three years from 2007 to 2009. This arrangement prevents the launching of a large number of flats in one batch and minimises any impact on the private residential market. The HKHA will continue to keep an eye on changes that might warrant adjustments to the announced sales programme.

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 2006, the Government achieved its target of reducing the waiting time to two years or less for single elderly applicants. 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 for flats in the New Territories will normally be allocated flats within two years.

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

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Including flats sold by the HKHS. Of the 443 800 flats sold since 1978, 57 300 flats can be traded in the open market as at end December 2006. These flats are not counted as subsidised sale flats under the current definition.