Blissful life-tenancy flats in high demand

A Housing Society residential block aimed at middle-class seniors has received 500 applications for 312 flats each costing between HK$1.2 million and HK$2.65 million for a life tenancy.

Blissful Place on 8 Lee Kung Street in Hung Hom is the third project of the society's Senior Citizen Residences Scheme. It comes 20 years after its last project, Jolly Place in Tseung Kwan O, which was completed in 2003.

It is expected that Blissful Place will welcome the first batch of residents as soon as July.

Half of the flats are with one bedroom and the remaining 144 are studios. Floor areas are between 235 and 403 square feet.

Applicants must be aged 60 or above and Hong Kong ID card holders who have resided in the city for at least seven years.

For a single elderly tenant paying the minimum HK$1.2 million the monthly rent would compute to HK$5,000 if they lived in the flat 20 years. The sum would double if they passed away just 10 years after moving in.

Tenants can complete the payment of HK$1.2 million within one, four or 12 months. There is also a 6 percent discount, or HK$130,000 less, if they do so in one or four months.

The rent does not cover a HK$3,000 monthly service charge. Housing Society sales and marketing general manager Peter Or Oi-bon said the financial choices provide maximum flexibility for applicants.

"We understand we have to cater to the different needs of the applicants," he said. "Some need more time to handle their own financial affairs, so they need more time to pay off their entry contribution."

Blissful Place features an outdoor sky garden, a clubhouse with leisure facilities, a gardening area and an indoor fitness area. It also has a care home plus medical and rehabilitation centers.

All flats are designed with elderly-friendly features such as low door curbs and movable kitchen cabinets for wheelchairs.

Bedrooms have a care-on-call device that allows residents to communicate with medical staff in an emergency.

The society's elderly services general manager, Carmen Ng Ka-man, said the project is also equipped with an "integrated care link system" that allows tenants to also receive emergency support through a portable device with a locator system.

"Whenever the tenants are in need of emergency help they can simply press a button," she said.

Or said the scheme has around 500 people on the waiting list, and besides Blissful Place they can wait for flats to become vacant in the society's earlier projects, Jolly Place and Cheerful Court in Ngau Tau Kok.

Similar projects are also underway in Fan Ling, Kwun Tong and Shau Kei Wan. The Fan Ling project is expected to be completed by next year, providing 261 flats.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com