ENG-2007 — Page 255

Housing 207

Better-off Tenants

Better-off tenants are required to pay higher rents. At the end of December, there were 22 400 households paying higher rents. The subsidy saved under these policies amounted to some $221 million in 2007. In addition, tenants who had lived in these estates for more than 10 years with household incomes and assets exceeding the prescribed limits, or who chose not to declare their household assets, are required to move out. During the year, 1 120 better-off tenants including 794 households who acquired their own flats under the various subsidised home ownership schemes, returned their public rental housing flats to the HKHA.

Redevelopment

In 2007, some 1 800 families living in housing blocks at Wong Chuk Hang and Lower Ngau Tau Kok (II) Estates which were due for redevelopment, were rehoused. Since the launching of the HKHA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme in 1988, 559 housing blocks have been redeveloped and the living conditions of some 188 300 households have been improved.

Estate Clearance

In March 2006, the HKHA announced the clearance of So Uk Estate in two phases. The rehousing of Phase 1 tenants will be completed in April 2009 and Phase 2 tenants in April 2012, involving a total of 13 400 people from 5 000 families. During 2007, some 270 families (including both Phase 1 and Phase 2 tenants) were rehoused.

Sustainable Public Housing Stock

To ensure the sustainable development of public housing resources, the HKHA introduced the Total Maintenance Scheme in 2006, an innovative and proactive approach to good maintenance. Inspection Ambassadors carry out flat inspections and make arrangements on the spot for minor repairs or improvements to the flat. The scheme also provides for a flat-to-flat maintenance database, strengthening of research and development in building diagnostic methodology, maintenance technology, and a maintenance hotline. To help tenants to keep their flats in good order, guidelines are displayed in posters and literature along the education path at Tai Wo Hau Estate and in mobile booths in other estates to publicise the maintenance programme. By the end of 2007, some 80 000 flats in 18 public rental housing estates had been inspected, and maintenance work carried out on flats that needed it.

The HKHA made good progress in implementing the Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme for 40-plus or about 40 years old estates to make sure they are structurally sound and economically sustainable. Inspections were completed on six estates by the end of the year. One estate needed to be cleared while improvements for the other five estates were required. The work is being carried out to prolong the life of these estates by at least 15 years.

The HKHA has an ongoing Estate Improvement Programme for providing quality service and a good living environment for their tenants. This includes providing

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