The Housing Authority has made arrangements to help relocate tenants affected by the clearance of So Uk Estate in Sham Shui Po. While there will be sufficient new public renatl housing estates coming on stream in the district to rehouse them, tenants may choose to move to such flats in any district, subject to availability of suitable vacant flats.

The authority announced the clearance of So Uk Estate on March 30. It will be cleared in two phases with 10 blocks in the north to be cleared in Phase I in November 2008, and the remaining six blocks in the lower platforms in Phase 2 in August 2011.

About 3,500 new flats in Un Chau Estate Phase 2 and 4, scheduled for completion in February 2008, will be made available for the 2,600 affected households or 6,900 residents under the Phase 1 clearance.

The remaining Un Chau flats and 1,600 new flats in the Cheung Sha Wan Flatted Factory redevelopment site scheduled for completion in March 2011 will be available for the 2,400 households or 6,500 residents under the Phase 2 clearance.

Affected tenants who prefer to buy a Home Ownership Scheme flat will be given priority in the upcoming resumption of sale of surplus HOS flats in early 2007.

Removal allowances to help cover costs

All domestic tenants will be granted an ex-gratia domestic removal allowance when they move. Those who leave their flats before November 2008, including those under the Phase 2 clearance, will get an allowance of $2,670 to $8,080, depending on household size. Allowances for the remaining Phase 2 tenants will be reviewed in early 2009.    

One-person and two-person households may also opt for a singleton/doubleton allowance of $37,330 and $48,310 in lieu of rehousing to a public rental housing flat.

The 17 three-year, fixed-term commercial tenancies in operation will get an ex-gratia allowance equal to 15 times the monthly rent. Their rents were frozen when the clearance was announced and will be reviewed every six months to take account of population decreases that might negatively affect their business.

Commercial tenants who want to re-establish business in other Housing Authority retail premises may participate in open tender or restricted tender exercises. A three-month rent-free period will be given to displaced tenants who lease the authority's market retail premises through restricted tender. Those who choose not to take part in restricted tender will be granted a lump sum of $72,700 in lieu, subject to bi-annual review.

Social workers to help ease concerns

Six welfare facilities in the estate will get help finding suitable accommodation in other estates. An on-site rehousing team and a community service team of social workers will be available to help address tenants' concerns.