Vacant non-Domestic Premises in Public Housing Estates for Welfare Lettings

The Housing Department (HD) regularly provides the Social Welfare Department (SWD) with an up-to-date list of vacant non-domestic premises in public housing estates which may be available for welfare lettings to NGOs. This list can be viewed here .

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Application procedure

If you are interested in applying for any premises, please submit in writing, together with proof of the charitable status of your agency and details of the proposed welfare services, to the HD [Attn.: Senior Housing Manager/Non-domestic (Headquarters)] at Podium Level 1, HKHA Customer Service Centre, No. 3 Wang Tau Hom South Road, Kowloon (Fax: 2794 5005).

Documents required for HD's processing

1. Registration document under the Companies Ordinance or Societies Ordinance;
   
   
2. Memorandum / Article of Association;
   
   
3. Proof of non profit-making status, i.e. a Letter of Exemption issued by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance is acceptable; and
   
   
4. Details of the proposed welfare services, including both English and Chinese service names of the proposed welfare service, nature, scope and target of services, manpower deployment, funding arrangement etc. to facilitate the HD to seek comments and recommendations from Government departments concerned.
   

Note: If the NGO already has a welfare tenancy with the HD under the same name, documents in (1), (2) & (3) in above are not required.

 

Enquiries and site viewing if you have any enquiries on leasing procedures, please cotact the following offices in the HD:
   

District	Subject officer	Contact Tel. No.
Kowloon, Sai Kung & Tseung Kwan O, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun	Ms TANG Sau-chun Mr LEUNG Wing-fai	2794 5361 2794 5358
Hong Kong Island, Islands, Shatin, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, Fanling, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, Ma On Shan	Mr LAM Sui-hin Ms WONG Mei-ngan	2794 5371 2794 5360

For site viewing, please contact the relevant local staff as shown on the list.

Important points to note

1. The premises are not reserved exclusively for welfare lettings. The HD will try other means of letting at the same time, such as commercial leasing of the vacant premises. Please check with the HD before submitting an application. Applications will be processed in the sequence of receipt of the formal written applications by the HD.
   
   
2. Consultation with local residents, Estate Management Advisory Committee and Owners Corporation etc. on the proposed welfare use may be required.  Likewise, consent by the Independent Checking Unit for change of use may be required.
   
   
3. For housing courts under the Home Ownership Scheme, and estates under the Tenant Purchase Scheme / Buy or Rent Scheme and estates on lease grant, consent by Director of Lands for change of land use for the proposed welfare services may be required.
   
   
4. SWD will be consulted on the applications from the social welfare point of view for HD's consideration, but the final decision on letting still rests with the HD. For services not under the purview of the SWD, the HD will seek recommendations from the relevant Government departments and authorities before leasing.
   
   
5. HD will charge full market rent for premises used for administration offices, practice areas, other non-direct welfare services, or commercial and retailing activities.
   
   
6. Concessionary rent will be offered to successful applicants.  The current rate is $45 per square metre per month exclusive of rates and Government rent (if any).
   
   
7. All welfare premises let at concessionary rent are to be let in the existing condition.
   
   

Considerations by SWD

1. The NGOs must be prepared to receive visits by the SWD staff to the premises from time to time.
   
   
2. For premises approved for running subvented welfare services, the SWD will reimburse the NGO with payment of rent and rates.
   
   
3. For premises used for running non-subvented welfare services, the NGO may apply to the SWD for reimbursement of rent and rates through the annual allocation exercise, but here is no guarantee that the application will be entertained in full or at all.
   
   
4. Except for rent and rates subsidy described above, no other additional recurrent subvention will be provided by SWD.
   
   

5. For enquiries, please contact the following officers in the SWD.
   
   
   

    

Service	Subject officer	Contact tel. no.
Elderly	Ms CHEUNG Yun-ping, Mary	2892 5509
Family and Child Welfare	Mrs Claren TAM	2892 5271
Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services	Ms WONG Lai-wan, Wernesa	2892 5655
Youth	Mrs Fanny TSUI	2892 5112
Corrections	Mr Ng Kim-ming, Humphrey	2892 5111