The Housing Authority's Development Committee today (Thursday) considered tenants' concerns over redevelopment and the feasibility of adjustments in the allocation of housing resources.

The Committee noted concerns raised by tenants, local concern groups as well as District Board and interested parties since the announcement of the five-year Redevelopment Programme in May this year.

"Their major concerns relate to the timing of redevelopment and expectation of tenants for local rehousing, especially in cases where new blocks are being built near their homes," a spokesman for the Housing Authority said.

The Committee looked carefully into requests put forward by tenants of Kwai Chung, Tsz Man and Valley Road Estates in the past months, taking into account such factors as the supply of new flats, the adverse effects on other redevelopment projects, clearance operations and Waiting List quota.

"Adjustments to the Redevelopment Prograrnme should be considered only in exceptional cases to avoid unfairness to others who are patiently awaiting their turn," the spokesman explained.

"This helps to explain why redevelopment of Kwai Chung Estate Phases 2 to 4 and Phases 5 and 6, scheduled to be cleared in 1998/99 and 1999/2000, could not be advanced," he said. 

New flats in Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung District in 1997/98 and 1998/99 are already rescrved for Kwai Chung Phases 2 to 4 and 5 to 6 respectively but new flats in 1996/97 are intcnded to meet demands form Shek Lei and Kwai Fong Estates.

"However, the Department is currently examining the feasibility of tile use of two nearby sites for small household blocks. If feasible, the production from these sites would come on stream in 1998/99, such could ease the pressure for small flats in the district," he added.

Regarding Man Chun House of Tsz Man Estate, the Committee agreed that the Department should make every effort to start the re-housing operation in 1997/98 instead of 1998/99 and to make the best use of the available new fiat supply in the District.

New flats in the Kowloon East District, where Man Chun House is located, will be shared among residents from Upper Ngau Tau Kok, Yau Tong, Sau Mau Ping, Lam Tin and Lei Yue Mun.

As regards Valley Road Estate Phase 2, the Department will recommend to the Development Committee for inclusion in the programme at next year's review. Clearance of this phase cannot be advanced because it is not technically feasible to advance the completion of the reception accommodation.

End/Thursday, September 7, 1995
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