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Report of the Committee on Housing Subsidy to Tenants of Public Housing proposes that upon the expiry of the initial 10 years of residence, tenants will be charged double rent; those who intend to pay the original rent will be subject to investigation to verify
Public whether their income falls below the subsidy income limit. housing tenants will find this proposal irritating and unwelcomed. But if there is no rent increase, non-public housing tenants would be dissatisfied. In any case therefore, about half of the I wish that the Housing population will raise objections.
Authority, after considering the Reports, would first publish a Green Paper to consult the public on the various proposals which it intends to implement. Members of the public will then have a chance to express their views which, they think, might affect the decision of the Government. After consultation and publication of the Green Paper, members of the public will find it easier to adapt to the proposals if and when they are implemented because whether they are for or against the proposals, they have been given a chance to air their views. As a result, the degree of opposition will be markedly
reduced.
Sir, I have strong sympathy for the 'sandwiched class' whose income exceeds the income eligibility limit for applying public housing and purchasing HOS flats. workers or young professionals. taxed at a rate as high as 30%.
Most of them are office Part of their income are being
Their efforts and industrious work I hereby reiterate
Such downpayment loans flat purchased must be If this proposal could
also contribute to the prosperity of Hong Kong. the proposal to establish a loan fund for arranging downpayment loans to the sandwiched class at preferential interest rates for the the purpose of purchasing their own flats. can be restricted to one per family and the used by the owner for residential purpose. be accepted and implemented, it would help to reduce the dissatisfaction of non-public housing tenants towards the benefits enjoyed by public housing tenants, and would thus alleviate the disintegration and antagonism existing among our population. this proposal of mine is outside the purview of the two Reports under discussion, but I believe it will definitely be echoed and supported by the community.
Sir,