Demolition details of Choi Hung Estate bared

Stacy Shi

The 11 blocks comprising the iconic Choi Hung Estate will be demolished in three phases starting in 2028, with the redevelopment expected to be completed in 2048 at the earliest, the government revealed.

According to papers submitted by the Housing Department to the District Council yesterday, the first phase of the public estate's redevelopment plan will begin in 2028 and the government will finish relocating all residents by 2043.

All 7,400 affected households are expected to be rehoused in the same Wong Tai Sin District.

The first phase of the redevelopment will involve three blocks - Pik Hoi House, Kam Pik House and Tan Fung House - as well as two vacant school sites, with about 2,100 families required to move out first and be placed at Mei Tung Estate.

"The new Mei Tung Estate, which is expected to start taking in residents in 2028-29, will provide 2,450 units for the first phase of relocation, accommodating about one-third of the affected Choi Hung Estate residents," the paper said.

The residents will have priority in buying subsidized flats of the housing project on Wang Chiu Road.

Construction work will commence once the site has been cleared out.

It will provide 3,200 units by 2035-36 to residents of four blocks - Kam Wan House, Hung Ngok House, Kam Hon House and Pak Suet House, which will be demolished in the second phase.

The last four blocks - Chui King House, Kam Wah House, Luk Ching House, and Chi Mei House - as well as a car park will be demolished by 2043 after relocating residents in the second phase.

The redeveloped Choi Hung Estate will be able to accommodate 9,200 households by 2049, representing a 24.3 percent increase from the current 7,400.

Speaking to the media, Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-biu urged the Housing Authority to offer extra help to elderly residents as they will be facing difficulties in moving out.

The Wong Tai Sin District Council will discuss the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Housing Department is expected to give its approval to the redevelopment proposal by the end of the year.

Also at the press conference, district councillor Mok Kin-wing said he welcomed the proposal, adding he would inquire with the government on the finalized timeline of the relocation plan.

"We will also propose to reserve as many flats in the second and third phases of the redevelopment project as possible for residents affected by the first phase demolition," Mok said.

Some residents are willing to move out as they have lived in the estate for a long time, but some feel it is hard to say goodbye as they are already used to living there. Some said transportation is convenient.

Yip, 65, who has been living in Kam Pik House for 50 years, supported the redevelopment as it could "increase the number of flats and reduce the waiting time for public rental housing."

But Yip expressed reluctance about relocating, citing the convenience of Choi Hung Estate in terms of transportation and shopping. He said he hopes to move to the second or third phase of the redevelopment project.

He also hopes the estate's rainbow wall could be retained after redevelopment.

stacy.shi@singatonewscorp.com