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Thursday, February 14, 1974
75 ESTATE WELFARE ORGANISATIONS WIN ONE YEAR HESPITE FROM RENT INCREASES
Rent of 89 Others To Go Up
!
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The Housing Authority announced today it has decided to defer until
April 1, 1975 the ront increases on 75 lettings to voluntary organisations
operating social welfare activities, clinico, schools and religious activities
in its various estates.
These 75 lettings are those not prosently receiving subventions
from the Social Welfare Department. Planned rental increases for anothor
89 lettings will however go ahead.
The Housing Authority will shortly be writing to inform them of
the decision.
The deferment of rent for one year will enable the Social Welfare
and other government departments to assess these agencies' eligibility for
future subventions relating to rentals.
However, if any of then should find it difficult to meet the new
rents after one year, they can apply to the Housing Authority for reconsideration
of their cases on an individual basis.
"It is not the intention of the Authority to deprive estate tenants
of the various social services offered by these agencies," a Housing Authority
spokesman emphasised.
He explained that as the Authority is bound by law to be self-supporting
financially, it was inappropriate for the Authority to undertake the government
function of subsidising welfare agencies operating in the various estates, nost
of which were previously charged by the government at a norinal monthly rental
of $1.
/Menawhile,