The "United Court" transitional housing project in Tung Tau, Yuen Long, will be open for application from 24 January (following Monday) to 23 February 2022 (Wednesday). Single persons or families who have been waiting for public rental housing for at least three years and are in imminent need of housing are eligible to apply. The Welfare Council expects to meet with applicants in early March and announce the ballot results on 26 March. Successful applicants are expected to start move-in in June this year. Interested parties can download the application form from the website uc.skhwc.org.hk and apply online, by email, post, or in-person with the required documents.
Various household types to meet the needs of different people
Located at Tung Tau, Yuen Long, the "United Court" project is one of the largest transitional housing projects in Hong Kong, with a total of 1,800 units in eight 4-storey blocks built using the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method. The units range from 1-person, 2-person, 3-person, 4-5-person and barrier-free units, with over half being 2-person and 3-person units. Flat sizes range from about 130 sq ft to 324 sq ft, and the monthly accommodation allowances range from $2,370 to $4,950, which is below market rent and not more than 40% of the prevailing Public Rental Housing income limits. The period of occupancy is two years. If the tenant has special reasons or exceptional hardship and genuine need after the expiry of their tenancy, the Welfare Council will try, as far as possible, to accommodate them until the first allocation of public housing. The project is expected to operate until 2028 and will benefit around 5,000 families over the tenancy period.
Transport and amenities
The "United Court" is conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from the entrance of the estate to the West Rail Yuen Long Station, and there are minibus and bus stops adjacent to the estate to facilitate commuting between Yuen Long town centre, Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories and the outlying islands. A wet market, a large shopping centre, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and recreational facilities are all available in the estate's vicinity, making it convenient for residents to live, go to school and work.
Jane Lee, Director of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, said, "The smooth progress of the development of the United Court is attributable to the concerted efforts of the Government, the business sector and the community. The overall planning of the project makes good use of public space. It is complemented by the provision of social services so that both soft and physical aspects of infrastructure can be used to improve the housing environment of the tenants and cater for their physical, mental and spiritual needs while at the same time helping them to build up a mutual support network. The Welfare Council hopes that the project will help people on the waiting list for public housing and the underprivileged to live with greater peace of mind in the New Year".
Adam Kwok, Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, said, "SHKP recognises the community's strong demand for housing and is committed to making the best use of our resources to improve the living conditions of grassroots families, in the hope that Hong Kong will soon be free of sub-divided flats. Thanks to the support and cooperation of all parties involved, the United Court will be ready for occupancy two and a half years after its announcement. We sincerely hope that the United Court will become a warm transit point for grassroots families and help them meet their short-term housing needs".
The project's success is due to the concerted efforts of the Welfare Council, Sun Hung Kai Properties and the Transport and Housing Bureau. Sun Hung Kai Properties leased a 200,000-square-foot site at Tung Tau, Yuen Long to the Welfare Council in early 2020 at a nominal rent of one dollar for the construction of the "United Court". The Transport and Housing Bureau is responsible for monitoring and allocating nearly HK$1 billion to the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council for the construction of the "United Court" and provides policy support for the project. The Welfare Council is responsible for the design, operation, and management of the "United Court" and the provision of various people-oriented community services to the residents.
To learn more about the project:
https://www.skhwc.org.hk/en/strategic_initiatives/transitional-housing/