The government on Thursday unveiled an initial redevelopment plan for Choi Hung Estate, which will take 15 years to complete in three phases.

Some 2,500 households will be the first batch of residents to be affected and they can either move to Mei Tung Estate in Wong Tai Sin, or opt to purchase a subsidised flat at a block on Wang Chiu Road that’s currently under construction.

Housing secretary Winnie Ho gave the details following a Housing Authority committee meeting, during which members agreed to start looking into redeveloping the 60-year-old estate.

Ho said the remaining 4,900 households will also be taken care of.

“After the first phase has been relocated, there is space to be redeveloped within the Choi Hong Estate area, and so the redeveloped area in the first phase can absorb residents of the second phase. And then after the area in the second phase is redeveloped, it can absorb the third phase,” she said.

“For the businesses, they have the priority to bid for other shopping arcades in newly-developed public estates in other areas.”

Ho said housing officials will meet with Choi Hung Estate residents soon to gather their views on the redevelopment plan.

She said the consultation is expected to be completed by the end of next year, adding that plans will be finalised subsequently.

After the redevelopment project, the new Choi Hung Estate will be able to accommodate 9,200 households, up from the current 7,400.