Welfare groups and building management firms may soon be teaming up to offer social services at newly built traditional public housing estates. That's according to Housing Secretary Winnie Ho.

Such joint ventures are already operating at two light public housing projects in Yuen Long and Ngau Tau Kok.

Speaking on Commercial Radio, Ho said the format could be extended.

"For instance, maybe we could expand the service components for traditional public housing tender contracts, or we could allocate more points in the bidding process to encourage operators to give suggestions," she said.

"We want to be a bit more open, but the suggestions need to be good.

"Whether it is new equipment or services, we could give more points, which would help them win the contract bid.

"We hope to encourage traditional property management groups to collaborate more with social welfare organisations."

As of the end of June, the average waiting time for a public housing flat was 5.1 years – the lowest since the first quarter of 2018.

Of flats on offer this quarter, Ho said, 1,900 of them are light public housing units, while another 2,900 are traditional ones that had been taken back by the government.

She also said that the Yuen Long light public housing project on Yau Pok Road is fully occupied and that 37 of its residents have been employed by the project operator in various roles, including janitors, security guards, and other positions.