2
housing tenants. For clarity, I I shall attempt to
areas
that
our
ad
hoc
group
has
sum
up the
separate
the covered under headings of the two reports. I shall also voice my own opinion at the appropriate points.
Report of the Committee on Housing Subsidy to Tenants of Public Housing
to
We discussed at length the purpose and objective of the introduction of this new measure. Some Members feel the original
this rent declared
exercise, doubling
i.e. objective of pressurize those less in need into vacating their flats by fiscal means, may be self-defeating in the light of other supporting arguments which claim the rents doubled are still reasonable and should affordable. Others are unconvinced
unconvinced that property owners not be evicted to make way for those eligible applicants on the long Waiting List. Although there have been adjustments to the original Green Paper as a result of extensive consultation, some of us are still not altogether happy with the method now proposed for the calculation of Household Income and the revised formula for Subsidy Income Limit.
the
end
We are by and large in tune with the principle that at
subsidized of ten
of substantially years
housing,
to to establish
However most
tenants' financial
financial condition should be re-assessed whether the same level of subsidy should continue. of us are not comfortable that the increase at the end of the tenth year is automatic, with the onus of proof placed squarely on the tenants. Most of us prefer to see the provisions made for a declaration of income at the completion of the first 10 years. Those tenants who prefer not to declare could apply for exemption if he is willing to pay the new rent. In my view this is more than a presentational point. This reinforces the principle that