Of Kwai Tsing District Council the 3Rd Meeting
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Summary of Discussion of the 3rd Meeting of the Housing Affairs Committee (2013) of Kwai Tsing District Council The 3rd meeting (2013) of the Housing Affairs Committee (HAC) was held on 4 June 2013. The major issues discussed are summarized as follows: Confirmation of Minutes 1. Minutes of the 2nd meeting (2013) of HAC were confirmed with amendments. Introduction of Paper Kwai Tsing District Housing Estate Management Plan 2013/14 of the Housing Department (Proposed by the Housing Department) (HAC Paper No. 20/2013) 2. Representative of the Housing Department (HD) briefed Members of the paper. Members expressed their views and enquiries in the following areas: (i) Enhancement of education and publicity on abuse of public rental housing resources. (ii) Relaxation of prosecution of elderly smoking cases. (iii) Improvement and addition of public housing facilities in Kwai Tsing, including temporary clothes hanging areas, toilets for use of wheelchair-bound tenants, lifts that could reach all floors, air-conditioners in the lobby, repair of anti-burglary grilles and suitable facilities for elders. (iv) Inadequate water supply was caused by low water pressure. (v) Repair and maintenance policy. (vi) Policy on pet keeping. Suggestion of posting information on tenants who were permitted to keep pets for monitoring purpose. (vii) Provision of HD annual reports and work plans for Members’ reference and review. (viii)Speed up the transfer in the Territory-wide Overcrowding Relief Transfer Exercise and the Harmonious Families Transfer Exercise. (ix) Solutions to lack of recreational facilities due to plot ratio control. (x) Potential harms caused by “problematic” residents to other residents. (xi) Use of free wifi without password. (xii) Clarification of management responsibilities with other departments. 3. Representatives of HD thanked Members for their views and said that HD would give due consideration to the feasibility of their suggestions. They explained the definition of abuse of public rental housing and said that HD would investigate all cases. Prosecution of smoking cases would follow repeated advices. Temporary clothes hanging areas would be demarcated in housing estates, but yet the period could only last for one to two months due to impact to the estate environment. Revitalization works in Kwai Shing West Estate had been in progress. Illegal dog keeping had been included in the Marking Scheme for Estate Management and information on approved dog keeping tenants was posted on the notice board of each block. Caretakers might inform HD staff of any suspected illegal dog keeping. Regarding those residents who might do harm to others, HD would adjust the mode of management but would not allow any citizens to be homeless. They explained the difference between the Territory-wide Overcrowding Relief Transfer Exercise and the Harmonious Families Transfer Exercise and the relevant relocation requirements and priorities. Plot ratio control was a statutory requirement which HD was bound to follow yet HD would seek relevant information from the Lands Department for further study on the increase in plot ratio. Estate management boundary was established by surveyors and should be easily identified. Free wifi with a password aimed at prevention of cyber crimes. The water pressure issue would need further examination. Repair of anti-burglary grilles would be enhanced. Discussion Items Request to reserve some public housing units of the newly completed Shek Foon House in Shek Lei Estate for transfer of residents of Shek Wai House and Shek Yi House suffering from unfair flat allocation (Proposed by Mr LAM Siu-fai, Mr LEUNG Kwok-wah and Mr WONG Bing-kuen) (HAC Paper No. 22 and 22a/2013) 4. A Member introduced the paper and pointed out that residents of Shek Wai House and Shek Yi House had been living in an overcrowded environment due to the mistaken design of units and therefore hoped that some units of newly completed Shek Foon House would be reserved for their transfer. Representative of HD explained the residential densities in public housing estates and said that he would carry out a site inspection and report to HD Headquarters. 5. A Member said that similar problem existed in Kwai Chung Estate and suggested special transfer within the district. He also reminded HD to allocate suitable units to families with different needs. Another two Members and Chairman also requested HD to take family composition and privacy consideration into account during unit allocation. Potential health risks posed to the residents by the telecommunications equipment on rooftops of public housing blocks (Proposed by Mr WONG Bing-kuen) (HAC Papers No. 23, 23a, 23b and 23c/2013) 6. A Member enquired about the regulation and responsibility of the abovementioned telecommunications equipment. Representative of the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) said that OFCA would issue licences to telecommunications service providers subject to two criteria: 1) no interference would be caused; 2) compliance with radiation safety requirements. A telephone hotline was set up and OFCA staff would measure the radiation level upon receipt of complaints from the public. OFCA would continue to work with DH to avoid unacceptable risk to public health. 7. Representative of DH explained the differences between radiations from telecommunications equipment and ones from X-ray or nuclear energy. The standard OFCA had adopted was accredited by the World Health Organization and no sufficient evidence showed that harm would be posed to humans by the radiation within that standard. Representative of HD said in response that HD had no exemption but had to comply with OFCA requirements. HD would process all cases according to established procedures. 8. Some Members enquired about the figures and safety requirements about radiation and equipment while some requested a clear explanation of the radiation to residents. Most criticized HD for inadequate transparency of the assessment and approval, and suggested informing residents of the installation in advance. Other Members suggested a ceiling for the number of equipment and installation in places away from residential areas. Some Members asked whether HD had charged for installation of such equipment. A Member asked about transfer of residents due to physical or mental consequences. 9. Representative of OFCA replied that operators had to comply with OFCA radiation safety requirements. Representatives of HD said that rent would be charged from the service providers and the numbers of rooftop telecommunications equipment could be published. HD believed that the equipment was safe upon issue of licences by OFCA and therefore no ceiling of numbers was necessary. Transfer could be arranged for residents with proofs from doctors or Social Welfare Department (SWD). HD would further consider the locations and aesthetic appearance of the equipment. Representative of OFCA explained the licence issuing procedures and requirements. The service providers had to ensure maintenance of the safety level and to submit reports. OFCA would assess the compliance of service providers before issuing the licence and monitor their performances. Problems of suspension of salt water supply in public housing estates (Proposed by Mr LAM Lap-chi) (HAC Papers No. 21 and 21a/2013) 10. A Member briefed Members of the papers and requested HD to provide the number of suspension cases as well as the figures of the suspension in public housing estates and to add floor salt water valves. Another Member said that improvement had been noted in a Cheung Ching Estate block and therefore requested installation of floor valves in other blocks. 11. Representative of HD replied that they would study the request. Salt water supply valves had been installed in the high, middle and low levels of new and some public housing estates. A Member requested proper repair of water mains and improvement of the salt water pipes of cross-shaped blocks of public housing estates while another requested an in-depth examination of each suspension. Chairman said that measures had been taken by HD to improve the problem and hoped that HD would study the feasibility of addition of valves. Questions on Local Issues Title problem of the triangular park at the junction of Ching Mui House, Chung Mei Road, Tsing Yi (Proposed by Mr Lee Chi-keung, Alan) (HAC Papers No. 24, 24a and 24b/2013) 12. Representative of HD said that HD was working with the Lands Department (LD) on the repair arrangement of the park. LD Representative said that they are responsible for 25% of the park and would explore with HD the feasibility of handing over this portion to HD for management. Title problem of the vehicular access at the entrance of Ching Yeung House, Chung Mei Road, Tsing Yi (Proposed by Mr Lee Chi-keung, Alan) (HAC Papers No. 25, 25a and 25b/2013) 13. This issue was handled with Agenda item 6. Information Papers Housing Department’s statistical returns and progress reports on housing affairs in the District (March to April 2013) (HAC Paper No. 26/2013) 14. A Member was concerned about the high number of lift breakdowns in Tai Wo Hau Estate and the worst grading of the management company categorized by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. HD Representative said that there was improvement after replacement of parts and HD would follow up. 15. Other Members raised questions about the duties and operation of the task force, the transfer cases of Tai Wo Hau Estate and the plot ratio issue. HD Representatives replied that the task force would carry out prosecution against illegal pet keeping, falling objects and littering in public housing estates. The transfer requests of Tai Wo Hau Estate were plenty and the estate manager had already tried best to reserve units for transfer. Plot ratio was a statutory requirement and HD would consider the feasibility of additional facilities. Report on housing affairs in Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi District (as at April 2013) (HAC Paper No.