The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
Sale of Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) Flats 2018 (GSH 2018) is now receiving applications. The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (January 2) reminded applicants to submit applications before the deadline on January 10, 2019.
The HA has been piloting a streamlined application procedure for those Green Form applicants who have applied the Sale of Home Ownership Scheme Flats (HOS) 2018 (HOS 2018) who wish to apply for GSH 2018. Earlier the HA sent a letter and an SMS message to individual HOS 2018 valid Green Form applicants, notifying them that their HOS 2018 applications would be carried over to GSH 2018. The letter enclosed a reply slip and declaration form, requesting them to complete these two documents to indicate their consent:
(1) to carry over their HOS 2018 applications to GSH 2018;
(2) to allow the HA and Housing Department to use their personal information on HOS 2018 application forms for the processing of GSH 2018 applications; and
(3) to return their existing public housing units upon successful purchase of GSH flats and to abide by other application requirements.
"We will assume the applicants agree to carry over their HOS 2018 applications to GSH 2018 upon receipt of their completed reply slips and declaration forms. There is no need for them to submit GSH 2018 applications separately. However, if they wish to change their family composition or applicants for GSH 2018 of their own accord, they have to submit fresh applications," a spokesman for the HA said.
The HA will review the streamlined arrangements having regard to the operational experience of the pilot with a view to considering further streamlining for facilitating applications for HOS and GSH flats in 2019.
The HA will later send another SMS to remind applicants again of the above procedures.
If the applicants are residing in HA's public housing units or rental units of the Housing Society, they have to submit the reply slips and declaration forms to their respective Estate Offices or District Tenancy Management Offices.
For valid Green Form Certificate applicants, they have to submit the reply slips and declaration forms together with the original copy of the green form certificate to Kwun Tong GSH Sales Unit either by hand or by post.
Recipients of the Rent Allowance for the Elderly Scheme should submit the reply slip and declaration form to Kwun Tong GSH Sales Unit by hand or by post.
For new GSH 2018 applicants, if they are residing in HA Public Rental Housing units, in line with established practice for previous subsidised sale flats schemes they are required to submit their application forms to their respective Estate Offices/District Tenancy Management Offices for verification of eligibility. The Estate Offices will forward the verified and endorsed application forms to GSH Sales Unit in Kwun Tong for follow-up. There is no need for the applicants to submit the application forms to the GSH Sales Unit in person.
For applicants residing in rental units of the Housing Society, they are required to submit their application forms to their respective Estate Offices for verification of eligibility. Applicants have to submit their application forms with the Estate Office's endorsement to the GSH Sales Unit in Kwun Tong, either by hand or by post.
For those applicants holding valid Green Form Certificate, they have to submit the application forms either by hand or by post to the GSH Sales Unit, together with the original copy of the Green Form Certificate.
For staff of the Housing Department Estate Assistance Grade holding a valid Letter of Assurance issued by the Department and Rent Allowance for the Elderly Scheme recipients, they need to submit their applications to their respective Estate Offices and Rent Allowance for the Elderly Scheme dedicated team at Applications Sub-section for follow-up.
The spokesman reminded the applicants to carefully read the "Application Guide" and the "Note for Submission" enclosed in the application form, and to follow the stipulated arrangements in submitting their applications.
The GSH Sales Unit is located at 1/F, Pioneer Place, 33 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong. Its opening hours are 8am to 7pm from Monday to Sunday (including public holiday) during the application period. The HA Customer Service Centre at Lok Fu will not accept GSH application forms.
Details of GSH 2018 will be available at HA website: www.housingauthority.gov.hk/gsh/2018. For enquiries, please call the HA's Sales hotline 2712 8000.
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