Clearance and rehousing arrangements for redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate Phase 1b advancing as planned, supporting residents' smooth transition to new community
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (April 17) announced the clearance and rehousing arrangements for the redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate (WFE) Phase 1b, which covers Wah Cheong House, Wah Tai House and Wah Kin House. While implementing the redevelopment plan, the HA will provide full support to affected tenants to ensure their smooth relocation to their new homes so that they can continue to enjoy comfortable and fulfilling lives.
Ample 59-month notification for relocation
The HA's Strategic Planning Committee, Commercial Properties Committee and Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) approved the relevant clearance and rehousing arrangements today. From today until the target clearance date in March 2031, affected tenants of these three buildings will have a notification period of as long as about 59 months to make detailed planning and preparations for a smooth relocation.
Preserving community ties through rehousing in reception estates
Neighbouring public housing development projects on Wah Lok Path and in Wah Fu North will serve as reception estates with anticipated intake in 2028 and 2030 respectively, providing a total of 2 243 units, more than enough for the approximately 1 980 affected households currently living in Wah Cheong House, Wah Tai House and Wah Kin House. This arrangement preserves community ties and a sense of belonging while helping residents adapt more quickly to their new environment. Affected tenants may also opt to move to surplus units at the reception estate for the redevelopment of WFE Phase 1a on Wah King Street or to the recovered public rental housing (PRH) units in any districts, subject to availability.
Professional care for elderly residents
The HA has been attentive to the needs of elderly residents. Taking into account that over 20 per cent of the households in the three buildings are all-elderly households (all members being aged 60 or above), an on-site Professional Community Service Team will be set up to provide one-stop support services to the affected households, in particular the elderly persons, and will maintain close communication with the estate tenants to assist them in vacating their current flats and adapt to the new living environment.
Honouring heritage and local character
WFE has a unique and deep-rooted local cultural heritage. Since 2018, the HA has been engaging residents and stakeholders through in-depth dialogue. By listening to residents share their life stories and memories about WFE spanning over the last half-century, the HA will explore incorporating the distinctive features of WFE into the redevelopment plan and design at an elevated level so as to preserve the unique identity and sense of place of WFE as the community evolves.
Domestic Removal Allowance and priority flat selection
All domestic tenants affected by the clearance will be offered a Domestic Removal Allowance ranging from $10,350 to $33,050, depending on the household size, to help meet part of their moving expenses. Eligible one-person and two-person households may also opt for cash in lieu of rehousing to a PRH unit under the Alternative Rehousing Allowance, with the rates endorsed by the SHC today standing at $79,440 and $98,400 for one-person households and two-person households respectively.
Affected domestic tenants in Wah Cheong House, Wah Tai House and Wah Kin House who wish to purchase subsidised sale flats (SSFs) in lieu of rehousing to PRH will be accorded priority in the flat selection in SSFs sale exercise(s) launched before the target clearance date, including the Sale of Home Ownership Scheme Flats 2025 and the Sale of Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme Flats 2025.
Refurbished vacant units for PRH applicants
As the reception estate on Wah Lok Path is expected to be completed in 2028, some tenants affected by the clearance of WFE Phase 1b may move out earlier. Their original housing units will be left vacant for a longer period of time before the end of the target clearance date. To ensure the wise use of public housing resources, those vacated flats in better conditions will be refurbished for rental to PRH applicants under short-term tenancies. Such tenancies should commence no less than 24 months before the target clearance date to ensure effective use of refurbishment resources while maintaining the overall redevelopment schedule.
The HA will announce the latest updates and developments in due course based on the progress of other phases of the WFE redevelopment.
Source: AI-found images
