The Housing Authority (HA) announced today the clearance and rehousing arrangements for the redevelopment of Sai Wan Estate (SWE) and Phase 1 of Ma Tau Wai Estate (MTWE), under which affected tenants have more than 40 months to move out of their units.

The clearance and rehousing of SWE will be carried out in one go, with a target clearance date of September 2029.

Phase 1 of the Ka Wai Man Road public housing development nearby will serve as the reception estate, providing sufficient public rental housing (PRH) units for SWE tenants to move into together with their neighbours.

MTWE will be redeveloped in two phases, with Phase 1 clearance covering Geranium House and Narcissus House. The target clearance date is July 2029.

The To Kwa Wan Road public housing development and part of the new Mei Tung Estate public housing development will serve as the reception estates for tenants affected by the Phase 1 clearance.

The HA noted that it will reduce the number of redevelopment phases from three to two, therefore significantly shortening the rehousing period for all MTWE residents from 14 years to seven years.

There are diverse rehousing options. Affected tenants may choose to move either to reception estates or to suitable and refurbished PRH units in other districts, and will be accorded priority to purchase subsidised sale flats launched for sale before the target clearance date.

Affected households will be offered a Domestic Removal Allowance ranging from $10,350 to $33,050, depending on the household size, to help cover part of their moving expenses.

Eligible one-person and two-person households may also opt for cash in lieu of rehousing to a PRH unit under the Alternative Rehousing Allowance, with the rates at $82,700 and $100,220 respectively.

Meanwhile, tenants who have special circumstances may apply for transfer to a unit in Phase 2 of MTWE. The applications will be considered with discretion.

To preserve featured shops with cultural affinities in the estate, the HA will identify shops with unique characteristics and values of retention through community engagement exercises, and engage the shop tenants in bidding for new commercial premises reserved in the reception estates or the redeveloped estates by way of restricted tenders.

Moreover, all eligible commercial tenants affected by the MTWE Phase 1 redevelopment will be offered ex-gratia allowances equivalent to 15 times the monthly exclusive rent as specified in the tenancy agreement applicable on the day of the formal announcement of the clearance, and will be allowed to participate in the restricted tender exercises to lease selected vacant shops in the HA's existing retail facilities.

If the retail tenants choose not to participate or are unsuccessful in the restricted tender exercises, they will be granted a lump sum payment of $113,500 in lieu.