On offer: This year 62.4% of the 33,000 public rental housing flats will be available for Waiting List applicants.

The Housing Authority has approved the provision of 33,000 public rental housing flats for 2005-06. They consist of 22,300 new flats and 10,700 refurbished ones for eligible families. About 62% will be allocated to Waiting List applicants.

Despite the shortfall of 5,300 flats, down 13.8% on last year's figure, the authority pledges to maintain the average waiting time at around three years.

Committee chairman Ng Shui-lai said the public housing plan takes into account anticipated supply and demand for the coming year.

"We will closely monitor any change in circumstances and every effort will be made to keep to our pledge to maintain the average waiting time at around three years," Mr Ng said, adding that any spare quota from other categories will be re-allocated to Waiting List applicants.

Restriction relaxed

To maximise utilisation of housing resources, the ad hoc arrangement relaxing the restriction on district of choice will continue. This will allow eligible Waiting List applicants to switch their choice of district to urban areas when flat supply becomes surplus.

Under the Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme for 2005-06, a total of 2,400 flats in Shek Pai Wan Redevelopment Phase 1 will be allocated for early rehousing of tenants affected by the Wong Chuk Hang Estate redevelopment. Another 400 flats will be set aside for tenants affected by major repairs.

Meanwhile, 1,100 flats have been allocated to the Clearance Category to cater for rehousing needs affected by squatter clearance, Urban Renewal Authority projects and interim housing trawling exercises.

For overcrowding relief and transfer needs, 1,000 flats have been set aside to reflect the reduced applications from overcrowded families, which stand at 6,300. With the reduced supply of new large flats, 4,000 flats will be set aside for transfers.

Mr Ng said: "The yearly allocation of 2,000 flats for compassionate rehousing will be maintained. Additional flats will be made available to meet extra demand, if required."