The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) today (May 8) put forward acquisition offers to owners of two private property interests and removal arrangements for tenants of the Blue House Cluster. The Development Bureau welcomed HKHS's proposals.
The Blue House Cluster comprises nine buildings along Stone Nullah Lane, Hing Wan Street and King Sing Street. Four of them are Grade I historic buildings and four are Grade II buildings.
A spokesman of the Development Bureau said, "Given the uniqueness of the Blue House Cluster project, the Government adopts an approach which places greater emphasis on the social network in preserving the Blue House Cluster so that 'both the Blue House Cluster and the occupants are retained'.
"The affected eligible tenants may opt to stay behind in the Blue House Cluster after renovation of the buildings, or move out of the cluster. If they opt to stay behind, they will form an integral part of the social network in the preservation scheme for the Blue House Cluster."
To implement the project, the HKHS assists in acquiring the two private properties in the Blue House Cluster. Upon completion of the acquisition, the acquired properties will be handed over to the Government for preservation and revitalisation together with the government properties in the Blue House Cluster in accordance with the mode of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme.
For eligible tenants of government properties who opt to move out, the HKHS will provide ex-gratia payment or rehousing (rehousing is only applicable to domestic tenants). For eligible tenants of private properties who opt to move out, the HKHS will, upon completion of property acquisition, make the relevant arrangements.
"If acquisition, rehousing and other arrangements go smoothly, we intend to invite non-profit making organisations to submit applications for preserving and revitalising the Blue House Cluster in the second half of 2008," the spokesman said. "The Government will provide assistance to the selected non-profit making organisation in renovating the buildings and improving the living conditions of those tenants who opt to stay behind, including providing basic sanitary facilities. The organisation will also arrange interim housing within the vicinity of Wan Chai district during renovation of the buildings in the Blue House Cluster."
In February, the Development Bureau invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from eligible non-profit making organisations for preserving and revitalising the Blue House Cluster. Four EOIs were received. The Development Bureau also arranged for the organisations to brief the affected tenants on their proposals on March 26.
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:15
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