THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 1974.
HOUSING AUTHORITY STANDS FIRM ON RENT ISSUE
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THE +UNFAIR RENT+ COMPLAINT BY THE 100-ODD FAMILIES
WHO MOVED INTO WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE IN JUNE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND RULED TO BE GROUNDLESS.
LETTERS INFORMING THESE TENANTS OF THE AUTHORITY'S FINAL DECISION ON THEIR COMPLAINT ARE BEING SENT TO THEM.
+THEY HAVE NOT BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AS SIMILAR SITUATIONS, WHERE FAMILIES OCCUPIED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCOMMODATIONS BUT PAID DIFFERENT RENTS, HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR SOME TIME IN OTHER ESTATES,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID.
HE LISTED AS EXAMPLES ESTATES SUCH AS LAM TIN, HO MAN TIN AND UPPER PAK TIN, AND EXPLAINED THAT CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COSTS ARE MAJOR FACTORS IN THE CALCULATIONS OF RENT.
PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, HE POINTED OUT, WERE OFTEN BUILT IN STAGES AND AS A RESULT THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS VARIED AND THE FINAL PHASE IS USUALLY HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS PHASES.
HE URGED TENANTS WHO HAVE NOT PAID THEIR RENTS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AND AUGUST TO DO SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY AS FAILURE MAY LEAD TO GLEGAL ACTION BEING TAKEN TO RECOVER THE ARREARS.
HE REMINDED DEFAULTING TENANTS THAT THE AUTHORITY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER THE 10-YEAR PROGRAMME.
+THE AUTHORITY'S ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME TO ACHIEVE
THE TARGET IS FROM RENTS AND DEFAULTERS WOULD BE MOST SELFISH NOT TO GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO BE HOUSED.
+AS THE SITUATION NOW STANDS, THE RENTAL FROM GOVERNMENT LOW-COST HOUSING AND RESETTLEMENT ESTATES BARELY COVERS HALF THE RUNNING COSTS OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AND THE BALANCE HAS TO BE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY TAXPAYERS WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE ESTATES.+
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