Source: Hong Kong Information Services
(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)
The Government will give landlords of units at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po an annual rental subsidy of $150,000 for two years, with the cash being paid in instalments of $75,000 every six months.
Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing made the announcement at a media session this afternoon, stating that the measure is a sensible, practicable and effective solution.
“Many residents, actually, they wanted to have another option of a rental subsidy to be given to them, so that they can, from the private market, rent suitable accommodation which can fit into their daily routines, such as going to work, going to school, going to the doctor’s.
“Because many residents, they have lived in Tai Po for a long time, and they have their social network there, so if they stay in the transitional housings elsewhere in Hong Kong, they have this problem of social dislocation.
“And also we have surveyed the stock of our accommodation, public housing accommodation in Tai Po, and actually we do not have any more such units left. So, we think a sensible and practicable and effective solution is really to offer them this rental subsidy, which we think it is not an excessive demand. It is reasonable.”
The rental subsidy will also extend to landlords of units at Wang Chi House, the only block of Wang Fuk Court untouched by the fire. Mr Cheuk explained that this is because they are also affected due to residents not being allowed to return to the building yet.
In addition, a one-off relocation subidy of $50,000 will be issued to both landlords and tenants to help them move to private accommodation.
The subsidies will be disbursed from Monday in phases.