13 May 1999

Ms LEUNG Siu-kum
CAS(1)2


Dear Ms LEUNG,


In preparation for the meeting of the LegCo Panel on Housing to be held on 7 June 1999, I would like to raise the following questions. Please refer them to the Housing Bureau and request an early reply in writing.

Removal of original fixtures in Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats

1. Many prospective owners have removed the original fixtures provided by the Housing Authority (HA) in their HOS flats, such as bath tubs, wash basins, flushing toilets, wall tiles, floor tiles and even the flooring, before moving in. Considering that,

• the objective of the provisions in the Building (Planning) Regulations (Cap. 123) regarding fixtures in kitchens and toilets is to set down relevant requirements for developers to provide a suitable living environment for residents; and
  
  
• some prospective owners of HOS flats need the fixtures provided by HA,

will the Government consider allowing prospective owners of HOS flats to choose whether they want HA to provide such fixtures in their flats before installation work proceeds?

2. It is learnt that a trial project has been implemented for Blocks E and F of Phase 19C of HOS (i.e. Tin Shing Court in Tin Shui Wai) to allow prospective owners to choose the colour of their fixtures, such as worktop of kitchen cabinets, counter top of bathroom vanity unit, as well as kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors. HA will invite prospective owners to choose the colour when they choose their flats. Has the Housing Department (HD) conducted any review on the implementation of these measures? What are the results? Given that HA may allow prospective owners to choose the colour of their fixtures, will HD also consider letting prospective owners choose whether they want HA to provide such fixtures in the first place?

LAM Pui-yee
for Hon LEE Wing-tat
Chairman, LegCo Panel on Housing