HA to maintain car park charges at existing levels for one year

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
 
     The Commercial Properties Committee (CPC) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (November 23) approved to maintain the existing charges of the HA's car parks for one year from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021.
 
      "Our market research indicates that both the monthly and hourly car park charges of most of the comparable car parks in 2020 have been maintained at the 2019 level, and that HA's current car park charges for all vehicle types are in general within the range of comparable car park charges at the market level," a spokesman for the HA said.
 
     "In line with the market, CPC endorsed to maintain the existing monthly and hourly car park charges (including Day Pass and 24-hour Pass charges for private car parking spaces) for all types of vehicles for one year."
 
     The HA reviews the charges of its car parks annually, and the approved charges will take effect from January 1 of the following year. Last year, due to the difficult economic environment, the HA maintained its car park charges for a year. This year, car park charges are maintained again, which means the charges for 2021 would be maintained at the 2019 level.
 
     For private cars, the monthly charges for Tier 1 fixed parking spaces are from $1,640 – $2,890 for covered spaces and $1,350 – $2,390 for open spaces. The monthly charges for light goods vehicle parking spaces are maintained at $3,140 for covered spaces and $2,420 for open spaces, while coach/bus parking spaces are at $4,050 for covered spaces and $3,020 for open spaces. The monthly charges for motorcycle parking spaces are $560 for covered spaces and $430 for open spaces.
 
     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 to be adopted for the charges in 2021 will be based on the occupancy rates from August to October 2020. The discounts for monthly charges for private car parking spaces at some car parks may be adjusted accordingly. If the occupancy falls to a lower tier for three consecutive months during the year, the rate of charges will be discounted.
 
     "In May this year, in line with the Government's relief measures in response to the pandemic, the CPC approved a 75 per cent rent concession to car park users for the monthly parking of commercial vehicles for the period from April 1 to September 30, 2020. In September this year, the rent concession was extended to March 31, 2021," the spokesman said.
 
     "The HA has been offering a 20 per cent discount to its shop tenants for the bulk-purchase of 50 parking coupons or multiples thereof. The CPC today endorsed to enhance flexibility in offering the 20 per cent discount for bulk-purchase by the HA's shop tenants of not less than 50 parking coupons at one time (i.e. no need for a multiple of 50) starting from 2021 to promote patronage of the HA's shopping facilities," he said.
 
     To support the Government's policy to promote wider use of electric vehicles, the CPC approved to continue the existing concessionary arrangements of offering free parking for a maximum of two hours during electricity charging of electric vehicles at hourly parking spaces, and charging the utility companies a nominal licence fee of $1 per annum for their charging facilities installed at the HA's car parks concerned for the year of 2021.
 
     In reviewing its car park charges, the HA makes reference to the current market level including car park charges of other public bodies and comparable private sector, with a view to bringing the charges within the market range. The HA had some 31 900 parking spaces in 177 car parks as at the end of September 2020.