The Housing Authority's divestment plan constitutes an important sector of its financial arrangement, Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Leung Chin-man says.

Speaking at a building maintenance research agreement signing ceremony today, Mr Leung said the long-term future of the authority's financial position faces many uncertainties.

"In the first place, it is not possible to ascertain the timing for the listing of the Link Real Estate Investment Trust and secondly, the court ruling on the authority's decisions to defer the public housing rent review will cast a far-reaching effect on our budget," he said.

In the production of public rental housing, the authority needs a five-year plan to maintain the average waiting time at three years.