Provisional LegCo Panel on Housing

Provision of public housing for the elderly persons

Purpose

This note informs members of the provision of public housing for the elderly.

Background

2. Over the years, the Government has done a great deal to meet the housing needs of elderly people. Our aim is to enable them to lead an independent and dignified life in the community as far as possible.

Registering the elderly on the Waiting List

3. We encourage elderly people living in sub-standard private accommodation who have not yet registered on the Waiting List to apply for public housing. To this end, various publicity campaigns have been launched and home visits have been made to appeal to them to register. Housing Information Centres have been set up in five districts with concentrations of elderly population, namely in Yau Ma Tei, Tsuen Wan, Wanchai, Hunghom and Sham Shui Po to help them to apply for public housing. These centres provide elderly people with easy access to information on public housing. As a result of these efforts, over 22,300 elderly people have been registered on the Waiting List since October 1993.

Priority for the elderly

4. We always encourage families to live with and take care of their elderly members. Elderly persons can join their younger generation to apply for public rental housing flats under the Families with Elderly Persons Priority Scheme1 under which allocation will normally be advanced by three years. Those who prefer to live by themselves can apply for public rental housing flats under the Single Elderly Persons Priority Scheme2 or the Elderly Persons Priority Scheme3. So far, over 33,000 elderly people have benefited from these schemes.

Compassionate rehousing

5. We also exercise flexibility in genuinely deserving cases for compassionate rehousing on medical or social grounds, upon the accommodation of the Social Welfare department. In the past five years, over 3,000 elderly people have been rehoused under compassionate rehousing.

Flats for the elderly

6. In order to meet anticipated demand, we plan to make available 30,000 public rental flats suitable for allocation to elderly people from 1997-98 to 2001-02. Elderly applicants for public rental housing have three choices in terms of their preferred district. Subject to the availability of resources, allocation is made according to their choice of district.

Financial assistance

7. Safeguards are in place to provide financial assistance to the needy, including elderly tenants, in financial hardship-

  1. elderly tenants with temporary financial difficulties can apply for rent assistance under the Rent Assistance Scheme4 operated by the Housing Authority; and
  2. elderly tenants with long-term financial difficulties can apply for assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance administered by the Social Welfare Department which covers a rent allowance5 .

Feasibility of offering an ex-gratia payment to elderly persons who are willing to give up their public rental flats and live elsewhere

8. Using financial inducements to encourage elderly persons to vacate their public rental flats could give rise to abuse. For example, this will attract elderly persons who are not in genuine need of public rental housing to come forward and register on the Waiting List, thereby prolonging the average waiting time of elderly persons in genuine need for public rental housing. We consider it will inappropriate to offer an ex-gratia payments to elderly persons who are willing to give up their public rental flats.

Service for the elderly

9. We will continue to improve facilities and services to meet the special needs of the elderly people living in public housing estates and to offer them appropriate assistance. Self-contained flats, Housing for Senior Citizens units6 and shared accommodation are provided to meet the different needs of elderly people. We have also improved the design and fittings of accommodation for the elderly, including laundry racks, fluorescent lights, handrails in shower rooms and non-slip tiles. Under the Housing for Senior Citizens Scheme, a 24-hour warden service is provided. Social functions and gatherings are organised to promote mutual care and social contact among the elderly.

Elderly Commission

10. In his inaugural address on 1 July, the Chief Executive announced that an Elderly Commission would be established to formulate policies and co-ordinate the delivery of services for the elderly persons. The Elderly Commission was formed on 30 July 1997. The membership and terms of reference of the Elderly Commission are at Annex 1 and Annex 2.

11. The Elderly Commission has set up an ad hoc committee to study issues on housing and residential care for the elderly. Its membership and work programme are at Annexes 3 and 4 respectively.

Conclusion

12. In sum, we have taken many proactive and positive steps, backed up by substantial resources, to meet the housing needs of the elderly people so that they can live a comfortable and dignified life.