The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Commercial Properties Committee of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) yesterday (December 5) approved to maintain the existing car park charges for one year from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.
"Based on available market data, our research indicated that there was a general increase of about 8 per cent on average in the car park charges for comparable car parks, which took part in the first half of the year up to June 2019. Such available market data, however, have not taken into account the effect of the latest difficult economic environment since June 2019," a spokesman for the HA said.
The spokesman stressed that in this connection, it was prudent for the Committee to defer the review of car park charges for 2020 and maintain the existing charges for one year.
The HA reviews its car park charges annually by making reference to the car park charges of other public bodies and comparable private sectors with a view to bringing the charges within the market range. The HA had some 31 600 parking spaces in 169 car parks as at the end of September 2019.
The HA's monthly charges for private car parking spaces are subject to a three-tier charging system with different discounts based on occupancy rates (namely Tiers 1, 2 and 3 for occupancy rates at 90 per cent or above, 50 per cent to below 90 per cent, and below 50 per cent respectively).
"The tier adopted for the charges in 2020 will be based on the occupancy rates from August to October 2019. The discounts for monthly charges for private car parking spaces at some car parks may be adjusted accordingly. If, subsequently, the occupancy rate falls to a lower tier for three consecutive months, the discount for the charges will be increased," the spokesman said.
"The process for allocation of parking spaces for 2020 has commenced, and individual car park users will be notified for completion of the signing formalities for the one year licence and the approved charges," the spokesman added.
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