The Housing Authority's Commercial Properties Committee has endorsed the extension of the two-hour free parking scheme at the authority's shopping centres until the end of the year.

The scheme offers one hour of free parking for customers who spend $100 or more and two hours for spending $200 or more.

Committee Chairman Walter Chan said this is the third extension of the scheme since its introduction in April 2002 as it is well received by commercial tenants, shopping centre customers and carpark users.

The scheme has obviously contributed to the use of parking facilities and is conducive to increased business activities at the authority's shopping centres, he added.