The Housing Authority will enhance the pedestrian access, repair and maintenance service in public rental housing estates to improve tenants' living environment and help create job opportunities.

Its Subsidised Housing Committee today decided to shorten the work programme of adding lifts, escalators and footbridges in estates to four years, from the originally planned five years.

New lifts will be added to 35 blocks - mostly seven storeys high with no lift services - in 12 estates. All lifts over 25 years of age will also be replaced according to their breakdown rates, safety, comfort and energy efficiency.

An overall work programme will be formulated after feasibility studies and consultation are completed at about 20 estates located at hillsides to evaluate the need and priority to add lifts or escalators at external areas.

Work cycles to be shortened

The total maintenance scheme in-flat inspection and repair will be developed into a regular programme, and some work cycles will be completed in four years, not the original five.

Thorough inspection will be conducted every 10 years for estates aged 20 years or more. For those aged 10 years and above, there will be a general inspection every five years.

Dedicated in-flat technical teams will be formed in districts to promptly respond to tenants' repair requests.

For estates preserved under the comprehensive structural investigation programme, the programme will be conducted again in the next 15 years to review whether to redevelop or preserve them.