LCQ10: Provision of social welfare facilities in public housing projects
26.4.2023

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 26): Question: As pointed out by the then Chief Executive in the 2020 Policy Address, apart from purchasing private premises for welfare service purposes, providing social welfare facilities in future public housing projects is a practical and feasible option, and the Government has invited the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society to work with the Development Bureau to explore increasing the plot ratio of these housing projects, so that about five per cent of the gross floor area can be set aside for the provision of social welfare facilities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the gross floor area and plot ratio of various new public housing projects to be completed in the coming five years; (2) whether it has estimated the number of social welfare facilities that will be provided in the public housing projects mentioned in (1), as well as the service purpose and floor area of each facility; and (3) whether the authorities have considered consulting the relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to non-profit-making organisations in the social welfare sector and District Councils, on the provision of the social welfare facilities mentioned in (2); if so, of the timetable; if not, the reasons for that? Reply: President, In consultation with the Housing Bureau, a consolidated reply to the question raised is as follows: In response to the measure announced by the Government in the 2020 Policy Address, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) will reserve premises equivalent to about five per cent of the total domestic gross floor area (GFA) in future suitable public housing development (PHD) projects for welfare use, on the premise that the public housing supply and other ancillary facilities will not be affected (Five per cent Initiative). According to the forecasts as at December 2022, it is expected that the PHD projects to be completed by the HA and the HKHS in the next five years (from 2023-24 to 2027-28) will provide a total domestic GFA of about 5 848 000 square metres. As the majority of the PHD projects to be completed by 2025-26 has entered an advanced stage of development, the total GFA of about 185 000 square metres reserved by the HA and the HKHS, providing about 180 welfare facilities, in the aforesaid projects to be completed in the next five years is slightly less than five per cent of the total domestic GFA. The effect of the Five per cent Initiative will be better reflected in projects to be completed in 2026-27 and beyond. As for the use of the facilities, the HA and the HKHS will, in accordance with the existing mechanism, make reference to the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, and take into account views of the concerned departments/organisations, including those of the Social Welfare Department, in the course of planning new PHD projects. Welfare facilities in the projects to be completed in the next five years include residential care home for the elderly, child care centre, Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre, Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services Centre, etc. The details are at the Annex. The provision of relevant facilities and floor area may be subject to changes during the detailed design and construction stages. The Government will conduct local consultation during the planning stage in accordance with the progress of various welfare facility projects. Generally speaking, local consultation includes consulting the District Council and/or relevant local organisations and personalities. For projects involving application for planning permission, the Government will consult members of the public in accordance with the Town Planning Ordinance (Cap. 131).