Tenants are scheduled to move into their flats in the government’s high-rise rental residential building for senior citizens on Plot P in Areia Preta district from October 15, after it was inaugurated by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng yesterday.
The government said that as of yesterday afternoon, 920 flats have been chosen by successful applicants.
The housing estate, the first of its kind in the government’s housing programme, aims to help senior citizens living in low-rise walk-ups improve their living quality.
Construction of the 37-storey building comprising 1,815 studio-style units got off the ground in December 2020 and was completed in January this year. The government ran its application period for renting a flat there between November 6 and December 31 last year, during which around 1,500 applications were submitted. The government started its process in early July for successful applicants to choose their flats. The flat-selection process is still ongoing.
An inauguration ceremony was held on the housing estate’s second floor yesterday afternoon, which is used for clubhouse facilities, where its inaugural plaque was jointly unveiled by Ho as well as Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Director Zheng Xincong, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário, Ao Ieong’s chief-of-cabinet Ho Ioc San, Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai, Public Works Bureau (DSOP) Director Lam Wai Hou, and Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long.
Delivering a speech during the ceremony, Ao Ieong said that in addition to providing a comfortable environment, the Plot P seniors’ rental housing estate is also equipped with barrier-free facilities as well as those featuring smart elderly care and smart homes.
The policy secretary also noted that the housing estate is equipped with various facilities such as a clubhouse and a health facility, also with emergency support services to be provided.
According to an IAS statement yesterday, about 150 people attended yesterday’s ceremony such as government officials, representatives from social service organisations and community associations, members of the government-appointed Senior Citizen Affairs Committee, and senior citizens organised by community associations.
After the ceremony, the chief executive, the liaison office director, and other local government officials joined a tour of flats and various facilities in the housing estate. The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), the public entity running the government’s programme on the estate, also organised a tour for other guests and journalists.
The housing estate has four podium levels from the ground to third floors. The ground floor will be used for the operation of four shops, one of which will be a supermarket, while the first floor will be used for dining facilities comprising a Chinese restaurant, a “cha chaan teng” (traditional Hong Kong and Macau-style café), and a buffet area.
The podium’s second floor will be used for a clubhouse and a health facility, while the third floor will be used for an outdoor podium garden and indoor sport facilities.
As seen by the Post during yesterday’s media tour, the second floor’s clubhouse facilities include two karaoke rooms, a gym, a reading room, and a hall for Cantonese opera.
As seen during the tour, the third floor’s indoor sports activity area includes three table tennis tables and two snooker tables.
Yesterday’s IAS statement said that the housing estate’s various podium facilities are scheduled to come into operation on October 15, when the bureau will start arranging for the first batch of tenants to move into their flats.
According to yesterday’s media tour, the “cha chaan teng” will start its trial operation on Saturday next week.
The housing estate’s health facility on the second floor, to be run by the Health Bureau (SSM), will primarily provide seniors living there with health consultation and education with the aim of encouraging them to stay in good health.
Yesterday’s IAS statement said that the health facility, which is still being decorated, is scheduled to open at the end of November.
According to yesterday’s media tour, an area of the clubhouse will first be used for the Health Bureau’s health facility on a temporary basis after the estate’s operational start at the middle of next month. The health facility will be relocated to its permanent area on the same floor after its decoration is completed.
Guests such as Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (fourth from right), Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau Director Zheng Xincong (fourth from left), Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U (third from right) and Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário (third from left) unveil the inaugural plaque of the Plot P seniors’ rental housing estate yesterday. – Photo: IAS
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (front) looks at the view from a flat of the building during yesterday’s tour. – Photo: IAS
Seniors joining yesterday’s tour play table tennis in the estate’s indoor sports activity area. – Photo: Tony Wong
