Flat Selection for Wang Fuk Court Owners Begins Today, Offering Over 4,400 Units Across Ten Development Projects

Flat selection for Special Sales Exercise for Wang Fuk Court Owners commences today

The flat selection for the Special Sales Exercise (SSE) for Wang Fuk Court (WFC) Owners has commenced today (September 29) with the first batch of applicants of about 35 households participating in today's session.The Housing Bureau has earlier commenced the issuance of invitation letters in batches according to the priority sequence determined by the computer-generated random ballot. Applicants will successively attend flat selection sessions to select and purchase the units offered under the SSE in accordance with the dates and timeslots specified in the letters. The entire flat selection process is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Wang Fuk Court, Photo source: reference image

Ample time for smooth flat selection and exhibitions to help grasp project information

The flat selection sessions are held at the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme Sales Unit (GSH Sales Office) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) in Kwun Tong. With empathy as the priority, the Government will allow ample time to explain and assist applicants throughout the entire flat selection process so that they can make their selections smoothly with complete reassurance. To help applicants gain a better understanding of different projects, a sales exhibition for the SSE has been set up at the venue, featuring exhibition panels and other information on each development project as well as the project models for the development projects at Chung Nga Road West in Tai Po, namely Yan Nga Court and Hiu Nga Court, displayed for the first time.

The Special Sales Exercise for Wang Fuk Court Owners, Photo source: FB@Winnie Ho

Advancing long-term housing arrangements and facilitating flat selection to help residents rebuild their homes

Upon expiry of the deadline for WFC owners to accept the Government's acquisition offer on August 31, a total of 1 971 owners (99.3 per cent) from the eight buildings from Blocks A to H of WFC had signed and returned the "Letter of Acceptance" to confirm their intention to sell their titles to the Government. Among them, about 1 700 owners have chosen to participate in the SSE.Following the smooth completion of the ballot session for the SSE on September 15 and the commencement of the flat selection today, the scheme has been assisting affected owners in rebuilding their homes in an orderly manner.

Applicants who have signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase to confirm the sale of their WFC titles to the Government legally will be invited to the flat selection sessions. If the titles of the owners' WFC flats have not yet been assigned to the Government, a new flat under the SSE will be reserved for the owners during the flat selection stage. The HA/ Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) will enter into an Agreement for Sale and Purchase or a Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase with the owners for the new flat purchased only after the completion and execution of assignment.

Photo source: reference image

Over 4 400 units across ten projects offering abundant and diversified choices

The Government has reserved over 4 400 flats in a total of ten development projects of the HA and the HKHS for owners who have sold their titles of WFC flats to the Government to purchase or to participate in the "Flat-for-Flat" arrangement. The ten development projects are located in Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak, Kam Tin, Tseung Kwan O, Ping Shan, Tung Chung, Tai Po, Fanling and Kwun Tong with saleable areas ranging from about 26.0 square metres to about 52.0 sq m (about 280 square feet to about 560 sq ft) with a total of about 2 800 larger flats with saleable area of 37 sq m or 400 sq ft or above, accounting for over 60 per cent. As the number of flats reserved far exceeds the number of WFC owners participating in the SSE, owners with different flat selection priorities will enjoy abundant and diversified choices.

Sales brochures and project information

From now till the end of the flat selection period of the SSE, applicants and related persons participating in the SSE may obtain sales brochures and price lists of respective development projects at the GSH Sales Office. The information can also be downloaded from the SSE website (www.housingauthority.gov.hk/ssewfc). Applicants interested in visiting the SSE sales exhibition may contact members of the Engagement Team, or call the Government's enquiry hotline for the WFC long-term housing arrangement plan at 2129 8133 to make a reservation.

Wang Fuk Court, Photo source: reference image

Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early for Mainland's National Day Golden Week

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (September 29) on the traffic and public transport (PT) arrangements for the upcoming National Day Golden Week of the Mainland (October 1 to 7).

As the passenger and vehicle traffic at land boundary control points (BCPs) will significantly increase during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week, especially amid the expected inbound peak on Sunday (October 4) afternoon and evening when waiting times for PT services will be longer, the Transport Department (TD) urged cross-boundary travellers to plan their trips early and properly, allow sufficient travelling time, avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible and heed the latest broadcasts at major stations and BCPs.

The Transport Department, Photo source: reference image

Enhancing services for travel convenience

The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:

• The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times from September 30 to October 7 based on passenger demand;

• The train service of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link between Hong Kong West Kowloon and designated Mainland stations will operate additional trips (see details at the 12306.cn website);

• The frequencies of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) will be increased to an average of about one minute and two minutes respectively during peak hours;

• The quota of cross-boundary coaches will be increased to strengthen services; and

• The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land BCPs will also be increased beyond the normal weekend level, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.

MTR, Photo source: reference image

Travel during non-peak hours

It is anticipated that the waiting time for PT services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Travellers should avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible. Passengers are advised to maintain order while queuing and heed the advice of on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting the HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic, and the traffic at Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads has become very busy during holiday peak periods. They should use PT services as far as possible, plan their trips early, allow sufficient travelling time and remain patient while waiting.

As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the Mainland's National Day Golden Week to secure smooth access for PT vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Photo source: reference image

Information dissemination

To plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions of major connecting roads to BCPs and the inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time traffic conditions of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest updates on various land BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and HKeMobility. PTOs and relevant departments of BCPs will also disseminate the latest information to passengers through public announcement systems and other channels at major stations and BCPs.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and PT services across various districts, BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demand.

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.

Photo source: reference image