SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING
IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
15.11.78
Annual Policy Debate 1978
Sir, in this debate my Unofficial friends
have spoken rather less about housing policy than
usua, and I take this, cautiously as a measure of
agreement with Government's policies.
2.
The very size and progress of the housing
prograrme has encouraged Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen and
Mr. Wong LaTM to lift their sights and to commend for
attention those whose income exceeds the level of
eligibility for rented public housing and the Home
Ownership Scheme. Unfortunately, we cannot take on
all desirable objectives simultaneously and priorities
have to be established, both within the programme
under discussion, in this case housing, and as between
other major programmes. The first priority has for
many years been the provision of subsidised rented housing
for the lowest income group, and it must so continue.
The second, relatively new priority, is the Home Ownership
Scheme. We cannot, for the present, consider extending
these priorities. Meanwhile, we shall in particular
be alert to the need for expansion of the Home Ownership
Scheme and to the relative balance in provision of
rented and Home Ownership flats.
3.
Mr. Wong Lam mentioned the situation of ?
people who, having been on the waiting list for rented
public housing for some time, find when their turn comes
that they are ineligible, because their income has
/meanwhile