Community Care Fund to provide subsidy for owners' corporations of old buildings

The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund (CCF) Secretariat:

The CCF rolled out a new assistance programme today (October 4) to provide a subsidy for owners' corporations (OCs) of old buildings with a view to enhancing support for them for better building management and safeguarding of public safety. The programme will also encourage more buildings to form OCs.

The Home Affairs Department (HAD) will implement this three-year programme. Each eligible OC may apply for the subsidy on an accountable basis in respect of the designated items carried out and/or expended during the three-year implementation period. The CCF will subsidise up to 50 per cent of the actual expenses for each designated item, and each eligible OC can apply for a maximum amount of $20,000 subsidy during the three-year period.

The designated items eligible for subsidy are registration or filing fees at the Land Registry and procurement fees of third party risk insurance for the public areas of buildings; expenses for regular inspection of fire safety and electrical equipment; and expenses for clearing fire escapes once a year.

The target beneficiaries should be OCs of residential or composite buildings aged 30 years or above. The average rateable value of the residential units of buildings in the urban areas (including Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan) should not exceed $120,000, while that of buildings in the New Territories should not exceed $92,000.

The HAD has initially identified the OCs meeting the criteria and has already invited them by mail for applications. Those OCs which did not receive written notification from the HAD but consider themselves meeting the criteria may request the HAD for a review.

The guide and application form for the programme are available at Public Enquiry Service Centres of the District Offices or can be downloaded from the HAD's dedicated website on building management (www.buildingmgt.gov.hk).

For enquiries, please call 2835 2500 or email to bm_enq@had.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, October 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:30