Housing Bureau Launches Special Allowance Scheme for Light Public Housing Households

HB launches Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing

In anticipation of the progressive completion of Light Public Housing (LPH) projects for intake, the Housing Bureau (HB) announced today (September 3) the launch of the Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing (Trial Scheme) to assist LPH households in need to adapt to the new neighbourhood more quickly.

The Trial Scheme provides a one-off special allowance for households of LPH to alleviate the pressure arising from expenditures during removal and adaptation to the new living environment and community (such as children's school transfer, purchasing furniture and electrical appliances, re-establishing community networks). There is no restriction on the use of the allowance so as to allow households to meet their own needs in a more flexible manner.

The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, shared this good news during a visit to the mock-up units for the Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long LPH today. The visit was joined by around 70 members of the public who are interested in knowing more about and applying for LPH. She said, "As the households moving into LPHs are lower-income grassroots with most urgent housing needs who may not be able to afford the expenses arising from removal, the HB has successfully applied to the Commission on Poverty (CoP) for a funding of $89.88 million from the Community Care Fund, with a view to providing the households with timely support. It is estimated that the Trial Scheme will benefit as many as 21 000 households."

The amount of allowance depends on the number of family members living together in the household and the location of the LPH. The amounts of allowances are listed in the table below:

Location of LPH

Urban and Extended Urban (including Tuen Mun)

New Territories (including Yuen Long and Sheung Shui)

Household Size

Special Allowance Amount ($)

1-person

1,900

3,850

2-person

2,900

5,850

3-person

3,800

7,600

4-person

4,500

9,050

5-person

5,200

10,400

6-person and above

6,250

12,550

The Trial Scheme is targeted at households who have successfully applied for and moved into the first eight LPH projects to be completed (i.e. Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long; Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok; Area 3A, Tsing Fuk Lane, Tuen Mun; Olympic Avenue, Kai Tak; Sheung On Street, Chai Wan; The Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad No. 2 Primary School, Kwun Tong; Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Ma Kam Chan Memorial Primary School (Choi Yuen Annex), Sheung Shui; and former St. Joseph's Anglo-Chinese School, Kowloon Bay). Subject to the response to and implementation of the Trial Scheme, the HB will consider applying to the CoP for extension of this two-year scheme to cover the remaining LPH projects in due course.

Households which have submitted applications for LPH with the need for the special allowance may, upon acceptance of the offer and passing the eligibility verification, apply for the Trial Scheme through the operator of the respective LPH projects. The households receiving the allowance will be required to reside in the unit for at least one year. Those who have already benefited under the Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Transitional Housing will not be granted the special allowance for LPH.

Ms Ho added, "The project teams of the HB and the Architectural Services Department are making every effort to take forward the LPH projects. The first two projects at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long and Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok are expected to be available for intake starting from Q1 2025. I appeal to all eligible persons who would like to move into LPH to submit their application as soon as possible, if they have not yet done so, and take the step towards improving the living environment for themselves and their families."

Details of the Trial Scheme will be uploaded onto the LPH website of the HB (www.hb.gov.hk/eng/lph). For enquiries, please call the Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing hotline at 3464 0811, or send email to lphtssa@hb.gov.hk.

HB launches Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HB launches Trial Scheme on Special Allowance for Households of Light Public Housing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 15) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

"The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

"Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

The public should adopt the following precautions:

Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;

Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;

Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;

For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;

Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and

Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

​The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):

Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;

Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;

Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;

Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and

While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

​If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

​The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111),heat strokepage andUV radiationpage; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.

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