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It is evident that some public housing tenants have prospered over the years since they moved into public housing. The latest household survey indicates that tenants living in public housing spend more on foodstuff and drinks and consumable goods than those in private housing.
There has been
a growing trend of opinion that these tenants should move out of public housing in order to allow the Housing Authority to allocate housing to those who really need subsidy. Recognising this pressing problem, the Housing Authority has recently set up a special committee to look into firstly the question of identifying those tenants who do not need housing subsidy and secondly ways of implementing reduction of subsidy.
It is a
wise decision to look for ways and means of limiting the spending of public money on caring for only those who cannot care for themselves. In the meantime, I do hope that the proposals for implementation, which must be simple and easy to understand, will cause as little inconvenience or disruption as possible to the way of life of the affected tenants.
Higher rent
This arrangement will inevitably increase rent for certain sections of the public housing tenants. will mean less subsidy from other tax-payers and indeed will be an incentive for these tenants to consider seriously to buy H.O.S. flats which are less subsidized. Such arrangement will enable the Housing Authority to contribute more towards capital expenditure for rental housing and to be more independent in carrying out its ambitious and long term plans.
The Housing Authority has given the undertaking of buying back H.O.S. flats within certain period of time subject to a number of specified conditions. Furthermore, there could be a number of flats difficult to dispose of for various reasons. Therefore there are bound to be a number of empty H.O.S. flats at any time. Consideration can be given to rent out these H.O.S. flats at unsubsidized rent to tenants who can meet set conditions, but for various reasons prefer to stay in rented flats instead of owning the flats.