7,000-flat rehousing shortfall revealed

Only about a third of the 10,000 households affected by redevelopment will be rehoused in public flats, the provisional legislature heard yesterday.

The Land Development Corporation said last month that 10,000 households in 26 urban redevelopment projects would be affected.

But the Housing Society has only earmarked 3,000 flats for resettlement.

Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands Bowen Leung Po-wing said not all tenants would be eligible for resettlement.

'Some of the tenants are property owners or have income above the limit,' he said. Others would prefer to take cash compensation and live elsewhere.

The amount of compensation would generally be enough to purchase a 10-year-old flat.

Mr Leung said relocation within the same district would be 'almost impossible' as the redevelopment districts were already overcrowded.

Reclamation in West Kowloon should provide 1,600 flats for rehousing, with Tseung Kwan O and Ma On Shan providing 1,400.