Wah Fu residents urged to co-operate to speed up redevelopment works

A day after announcing redevelopment plans for the Wah Fu Estate that have for years been under consideration, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has called on its residents to quickly agree on relocation places so that the project can make headway.

But many elderly residents in the 47-year-old Aberdeen estate were likely to refuse to move, a district councillor has warned.

Wah Fu, built in the 1960s as one of the city's earliest public rental housing estates with comprehensive facilities, used to be dubbed a "luxurious estate for commoners". Situated near the affluent Pok Fu Lam neighbourhood, flats on the higher floors have sea views.

But the buildings have deteriorated over the years. In 2008, the government launched a record HK$180 million repairs and maintenance project after it decided against demolishing the 9,000-home estate that houses more than 20,000 people.

Yesterday, Leung announced plans to redevelop Wah Fu. He also lifted the development moratorium over five nearby sites south of Pok Fu Lam to allow the building of 11,900 public rental housing units and Home Ownership Scheme flats.

Speaking during a phone-in radio programme, the chief executive stopped short of saying if Wah Fu residents would be offered the chance to move into the new homes in the district.

"There are many factors to consider, including transport arrangements, he said.