The Housing Department is considering how it can comfort the ageing tenants of old public housing estates that are being neither sold nor redeveloped. One possibility is to refurbish their flats. Other options include resettling elderly tenants in new housing blocks near medical, social and transport facilities. Of Hong Kong's 163 public housing estates, 62 are more than 20 years old. About one-fifth of public housing tenants, or about 420,000 people, are aged over 60. Choi Hung Estate, Shekkipmei Estate and Tai Wo Hau Estate stand out as the three estates with the greatest elderly populations. Deputy Director of Housing Stephen Poon Shing-chi said those estates were unlikely to be sold to sitting tenants under the Tenant Purchase Scheme as maintenance costs would be too high for owners. But the estates were unlikely to be redeveloped in the near future, and tenants could feel abandoned as their children moved to other districts. 'We are thinking of a number of creative solutions to tackle the problem,' Mr Poon said. 'Recommendations will be made by the end of this year to the Housing Authority. 'We are thinking of refurbishing their homes with facilities fit for the elderly,' he said. 'And we are looking for appropriate sites in the urban areas which have medical, social and transport facilities to keep abreast with their needs.' A more accessible location might also entice the younger generations to live with their parents or grandparents, Mr Poon said. Housing activist and Society for Community Organisation director Ho Hei-wah welcomed the move, saying it was aimed at helping the elderly, who had problems adjusting to new neighbourhoods. 'If the Housing Department considers housing problems in Hong Kong as a whole, it should expand the project to 50,000 single elderly currently living in private properties too,' Mr Ho said.
