Govt urged to intervene in estate relocation plan
Tenants of a private housing estate in Shek Kip Mei that will be redeveloped urged the government on Sunday to intervene in a plan to compensate and relocate them. Residents of the 58-year-old Tai Hang Sai Estate said the company that manages it, the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation, had not consulted them before announcing rehousing arrangements earlier this month, and their plans were not reasonable or transparent. For example, they said the firm broke its promise that residents could apply to rent or buy a new flat in the redeveloped site without having to go through a means test. "The pamphlet we received did not explain why there is such a change," said one of the representatives Wong Pik-kuen.  The tenants also said they should be allowed the option of moving into a public rental unit, but they now have to rent a flat before 2029, if they choose not to get a one-off grant. They said although they will get an allowance to pay for rent in the next five years, some of them could end up losing the government subsidies they are receiving because they would go over an income limit. The representatives said around 230 of the 1,200 households in the estate have expressed to them that they want to postpone the deadline for them to accept the relocation arrangement. They said the tenants were anxious since the corporation said it would take back their flats by December if they did not indicate their approval by August 2. Tam Kwok-kiu, a former district councillor helping the tenants, said they hope to negotiate with the corporation and the administration. "Actually we have asked them – the Settlers Corporation and the government to hold some meeting. They didn't [respond]. I think that's because the corporation had not yet started the redevelopment programme," he said. "But now that it's starting, I think it's time. No stakeholders – including the corporation and the government should refrain from talking and negotiating about the arrangement."