Government refutes inaccurate reports
In response to media reports on the long-term housing arrangements for Wang Fuk Court, a Government spokesman said today (March 13):
Today, the media quoted some individual Wang Fuk Court owners as saying that upon receiving acquisition payments after selling their titles to the Government, or upon obtaining the keys to new flats under the Special Sales Exercise or "Flat-for Flat" arrangements, they would have to move out of the transitional housing within 30 days without any further rental grants. These claims are unfounded. The Government will continue to provide affected owners of Wang Fuk Court with accommodation and rental grants before they have finalised their long-term housing arrangements.
The Housing Bureau, Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Housing Bureau emphasised that operating organisations of transitional housing projects have all along been providing flexible move-out arrangements to the residents in need. The 30-day period is no hard-and-fast rule, but operating organisations will flexibly allow residents with genuine needs (e.g. pending completion of renovation works and moving to the new homes) to continue temporary rentals of the transitional housing units. This arrangement applies to all Wang Fuk Court residents no matter they choose to arrange their own long-term accommodation, or they opt for the Special Sales Exercise or a "Flat-for-Flat" arrangement.
On the rental grants, the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced in December last year that it will provide owners of each unit in Wang Fuk Court with an annual rental grant of $150,000. The grant will be provided for two years and disbursed on a semi-annual basis, with each payment being $75,000.
For owners who choose to sell their titles and receive cash payment without participating in the Special Sales Exercise, rental grants will be provided up to the date on which the relevant funds are credited to their account. Owners may make their own long-term housing arrangements with such cash payments. Rental grants received before the credit date will not need to be refunded, but no further grants will be disbursed thereafter.
If owners opt to participate in the Special Sales Exercise, rental grants will continue to be provided up to the intake date of the subsidised sale flats (i.e. the date on which the keys to the flats are collected). By then, their long-term housing needs would have been properly addressed. Any rental grants received prior to the intake date will not need to be refunded, but no further grants will be disbursed thereafter.
The Housing Bureau's "engagement team" will clearly explain the relevant arrangements to the owners of Wang Fuk Court. Should the owners have any questions, they may contact the "engagement team" at any time.
Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The President of Legislative Council (LegCo), Dr Starry Lee, as well as members of LegCo Panel on Development and other Members conducted the third visit to the Northern Metropolis (NM) today (September 10) to gain insight into the latest planning and development of the Kwu Tung North (KTN) New Development Area (NDA), the efforts to conserve the ecology of and historic buildings in NM, and the Administration's measures to promote urban-rural integration.
Accompanied by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, and the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, Members first observed the construction sites of the public housing estate Kwu Chun Estate, several private housing projects, and the MTR Kwu Tung Station at the newly constructed Road P1 in the KTN NDA. They were also briefed by the Administration on the overall planning and development concepts of the KTN NDA, as well as the latest development progress of housing, transport infrastructure, and the Government joint-user complex and general office building in the district.
Members learnt that Kwu Chun Estate is among the first batch of public rental housing projects in the NDAs of the NM, with phase one comprising about 5 000 units that will be ready for intake in phases starting from the third quarter of this year. The Kwu Tung Station is also expected to commence service in 2027. Members exchanged views with government officials on the construction of community facilities, such as markets, shopping centres, public transport facilities and schools in the NDA, and urged the Administration to ensure that community facilities are in place when residents start to move in to meet the needs of local residents.
Members also visited the Sik Sik Yuen Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre Eco-Learn Institute in Kwu Tung. Built in 1933, the Lady Ho Tung Welfare Centre provided medical services to local villagers until its closure in 2005. The Centre was subsequently accorded Grade II historic building status, and then revitalised into an ecological learning institute in 2023. Members toured the ecology and cultural history exhibition hall and the outdoor areas, which features facilities including an eco-pond and a Chinese medical herbs garden. Members were also briefed by the Administration on policies regarding revitalisation and conservation of historic buildings, as well as the revitalisation and conservation process of the Institute.
Accompanied by the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong, Members also visited the Long Valley Nature Park and the nearby Yin Kong Village to learn about the Government's efforts to promote urban-rural integration and ecological conservation in the NM. Members noted that, to promote urban-rural integration in the NM, the Governmentproposed establishing a $200 million "NM Urban-Rural Integration Fund" as a pilot scheme to support non-governmental organisations to take forward urban-rural integration projects, as well as piloting the relaxation of planning restrictions on "Village Type Development" in Yin Kong Village, allowing houses within the village to be converted into restaurants, retail shops or guesthouses, with a view to boosting economic activities in villages and tourism development.
Members welcomed the Administration's implementation of various measures to promote integration of villages and NDAs when planning the NDAs in the NM. They exchanged views with the representatives of the Government on how to assist villagers in retrofitting their houses for engaging in economic activities, as well as the infrastructure upgrading works, such as transport and sewerage, required to cope with the additional economic activities.
A total of 64 Members attended the visit. In addition to members of the Panel on Development, other non-members also attended.
Click here to watch the video highlight of today's visit.
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LegCo Members visit Kwu Tung North New Development Area in Northern Metropolis Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
