The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, February 18, 2022 is 94.8 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng Chau-pei and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, in the Legislative Council today (February 16):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that flats put up for sale by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) under the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) have always received overwhelming responses from members of the public. Some eligible applicants who have applied over the years but have been unsuccessful feel hopeless about home ownership. Regarding applications for HOS, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the following information in respect of each of the HOS sale exercises launched by HA in the past five years: (i) the number of flats put up for sale, (ii) the number of applications received, (iii) the number of oversubscriptions, (iv) the number of applications invited for flat selection, and (v) the categories of applicants (in the order of flat selection priority);
 
(2) of the respective numbers of applicants in each of the HOS sale exercises launched by HA in 2019 and 2020 who were first-time applicants, second-time applicants, and those having applied for three times or more (set out in a table); and
 
(3) whether it will review the balloting mechanism for HOS applications, so as to increase the chance of success in a ballot for those applicants who have been unsuccessful for a number of times (especially "other nuclear family applicants"); if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     My reply the question raised by Hon NG Chau-pei, Stanley is as follows:
 
(1) The sales information of the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) sales exercises launched by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) from 2016 to 2020 is set out in the Annex.
 
(2) HA does not maintain relevant information on the respective number of applicants in each of the HOS sales exercises launched in 2019 and 2020 who were first-time applicants, second-time applicants, and those having applied for three times or more.
 
(3) Before the launch of each sale exercise, HA takes due consideration of the prevailing circumstances and views of stakeholders in determining the quota and flat selection order for different categories of applicants. The existing arrangement is a pragmatic approach in view of the strong demand from different categories of applicants. 

     The Housing Department learned today (February 15) that a Housing Manager had tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

     The Housing Manager who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 today worked at Housing Department's Shek Yam East Estate Office located on G/F, Yam Hing House, Shek Yam East Estate, Kwai Chung and Ha Kwai Chung District Tenancy Management Office at Wing C, G/F, Shek Cheung House, Shek Lei (II) Estate, Kwai Chung. She last worked in the office on February 14. She did not have contact with the public recently while performing duties. She had been wearing masks and following relevant disease prevention measures at work.

     The Housing Department has arranged to thoroughly clean and sterilise the offices in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).

     The Housing Department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its disease prevention measures and quarantine work.

     In light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Yuen Long District, Eastern District, Islands District, North District and Sham Shui Po District, the Home Affairs Department (including the Yuen Long District Office (YLDO), the Eastern District Office (EDO), the Islands District Office (IsDO), the North District Office (NDO) and the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO)) today (February 15) distributed a total of about 4 920 COVID-19 rapid test kits (rapid test kits) to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The YLDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Hung Foon House for voluntary testing through the property management company of Hung Fuk Estate.

     The EDO also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Hing Wah (I) Estate and Hing Wah (II) Estate for voluntary testing through the estates' property management company and the Housing Department.

     The IsDO also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Yat Tung (II) Estate for voluntary testing through the property management company of the Estate.

     The NDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Ching Ho Estate for voluntary testing through the property service management office of the Estate.

     In addition, the SSPDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Hoi Ying Estate and Hoi Lok Court for voluntary testing through property management companies.
      
     The Home Affairs Department made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect the infected persons and their families. However, the Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the Government's compulsory testing requirement.

     For more information on rapid test kits, please view the following demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection, the Department of Health: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk.

     â€‹The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.