The Housing Authority said on Tuesday households affected by two redevelopments who find themselves in financial difficulties despite the cash and relocation allowances being offered could still have recourse to community service or care teams for further assistance.

The cash allowances offered up in regards to the two estates undergoing redevelopment – Sai Wan Estate in Kennedy Town and phase one of Ma Tau Wai Estate in To Kwa Wan – entitle eligible one-person and two-person households to opt for an allowance of HK$82,700 and HK$100,220 respectively, instead of rehousing.

Speaking on RTHK, Cleresa Wong, who chairs the authority's subsidised housing committee, said residents who still faced financial difficulties in spite of this as well as other allowances could have recourse to community service or care teams.

She also said experience showed that those opting for cash allowances tended to be the elderly who were at a key time of their lives.

"Many of them may need to reside in residential care facilities due to their physical condition so this option that we are offering will certainly be helpful," she said.

"Because they are getting old, they may realise that it is not too convenient for them to live alone, and they need others to take care of them."

Residents will not be eligible for any kind of subsidy and any form of subsidised housing for two years upon getting the cash allowance.

The other households will be offered accommodation in other public housing projects in the same district that are currently under development and get a one-off relocation subsidy of between HK$10,350 and HK$33,050, depending on the size of their families.

Wong added that the new Mei Tung Estate as well as other public housing estates on To Kwa Wan Road would be enough to accommodate all households affected by the redevelopment of phase 1 of Ma Tau Wai Estate.

Wilson Or, a member of the committee, told the same show that the redevelopment would result in improvements in the living environment and free up more land for future demand.

He said community service teams had to step up their assistance, particularly for the elderly, such as by arranging for them to live in Social Welfare Department care homes or reside in the Greater Bay Area.