Provision of Mobile Facilities in Public Rental Estates | Hong Kong Housing Authority and Housing Department

The existing mobile facilities generally refer to the provision of charitable activities or medical and community services through mobile vehicles which are parked at open areas within Housing Authority (HA)’s estates ^{Note 1}. Estate management staff would identify suitable location for parking the mobile vehicles with reference to local circumstances. The designated parking locations are in general easily accessible and with minimal disturbance to the pedestrians and nearby residents.

TYPES OF MOBILE FACILITIES

The activities and services currently provided by the mobile facilities are summarised as follows –

(a) Mobile Community Activities

Mobile community activities are the activities held for the purpose of education, promotion of moral／social／physical well-being of the community, and any other purposes considered as beneficial to the community, such as mobile exhibitions and education buses. They are usually organised by the voluntary agencies, non-profit making bodies and Government Departments at irregular intervals.

(b) Mobile Libraries

To address the needs of those districts with population below the planning standard for the setting up of a district library, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has been running mobile libraries in various districts to fill the gap. Through dialogues held among this Department, the LCSD and local dignitaries, parking locations have been identified in some estates under HA’s ambit to support the static library network. Mobile libraries provide service about once or twice bi-weekly.

(c) Mobile Chinese Medical and Physiotherapy Services

Provision of mobile Chinese medical and physiotherapy services is generally applicable to estates without Chinese medical clinics or physiotherapy services respectively in the HA’s properties. These mobile services are essentially provided by various charity and Non-Governmental Organisations since 2006. The vehicles are equipped with various medical equipment including lifting platform to serve the disabled. A wide range of medical services including acupuncture are provided. We are now making available parking spaces in some estates to enable the running of these services, mostly one to three times per week.

(d) Mobile Post Offices

We have made available parking spaces in some estates for the Hongkong Post to operate their mobile service. Notwithstanding the limited space available within the post van, a wide range of postal service is maintained to address the daily needs of the residents at an interval of two to three times a week.

(e) Mobile Banking Service

Mobile banking is a new mode of banking service in Hong Kong, and has been operating since November 2015. This service is currently run by three banks and operates from Monday to Saturday, moving between more than thirty estates to meet the banking needs of residents.

Standard Charges

Depending on the nature of mobile services and their charging arrangement, the venues concerned are either offered at nil charge, or charged at cost rent or commercial rate as set out in the following table –

Standard Charges	Charging Principles	Activities／ Services Provided
Free of Charge	Non-profit making activities and not involving commercial／advertising activities No charges to be levied on the participants	Mobile Community Activities Mobile Libraries
Cost Rent	Not to engage or allow commercial／advertising activities within the designated venues The existing fee is collected on a daily basis and is subject to review annually on a cost-recovery basis	Mobile Chinese Medical and Physiotherapy Services
Commercial Rate	Activities or services of commercial nature Based on market assessment, venue fee is assessed by our estate surveyors	Mobile Post Offices Mobile Banking

LETTING ARRANGEMENTS

We have been adopting a flexible letting approach in accommodating these mobile services provided by the concerned operators. In general, the term of licence granted for each application will not exceed six months. The operators will be required to obtain all licences／permits from relevant Government Departments／Authorities, take out adequate insurance and indemnify HA against all damages, losses and claims in connection with the carrying out of the approved activities at the designated venues. The above letting arrangements will be reviewed from time to time to address the market requirements and the level of demand for such services in future.

APPLICATION

Please contact the estate management office concerned for detail of application.

^{Note 1} It does not cover the Tenants Purchase Scheme Estates, Buy-or-rent Estates and Home Ownership Scheme Courts where Owners’ Corporations have been formed, and DMC Manager-managed Estates.