The Housing Authority will adopt a package of measures to improve occupancy rates at retail premises in 181 public rental housing estates or Home Ownership Scheme courts.

More flexible terms of letting by advertising short-term lettings through instant open tender or direct negotiations on a first-come, first-served basis will be introduced under the following conditions:

* retail premises of up to 70 square metres in size offered to let unsuccessfully in open tender exercise at least three times for a standard term will be let for 12 months;

* the premises will be put forth for letting by open tender under which the lease can be terminated by either party by one month's notice;

* payment of one month's rent in advance and a rent deposit of one month only will be required;

* one month rent free period will be granted to the short-term lettings; and,

* on expiry of the 12-month period, application for extending the lease to a standard three-year term may be considered subject to rental re-assessment.

Extra concession

To address the high vacancy rate in the conventional wet markets, extra rent-free concession will be offered for long-standing vacant shop stalls which have been offered to let unsuccessfully at least thrice at open tender exercises.

The extra rent free periods, ranging from two to six months, will be granted for letting of long vacant market stalls depending on the vacancy periods. They will be granted in stages to deter abuse of the concession.

The authority will also adopt a proactive approach to solicit non-Government organisations to take up long vacant retail premises and car parks due to overprovision of such facilities for development of other community services.