TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976.
CALL FOR GREATER MOBILITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS
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A SENIOR HOUSING OFFICIAL TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED COMPARATIVELY WELL TO DO FAMILIES STILL LIVING IN THE CHEAPEST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE IMMOBILITY OF THEIR PAST AND EMULATE FAMILIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR +WHERE MOBILITY IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTED AND INDEED CONSIDERED A VIRTUE.+
MRS. ELAINE CHIA, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF NORTH KOWLOON.
PRIOR TO 1973, MRS. CHIA SAID, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TO CONSIDER MOVING TO A BETTER FLAT, EVEN IF THE IR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAD IMPROVED, BECAUSE DIFFERENT ORGANISATIONS CONTROLLED DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC HOUSING.
+WITH THE AMALGAMATION OF THESE OGANISATIONS IN 1973 TO FORM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, IT HAS PROVED POSSIBLE FOR THE WIDE RANGE OF PUBLIC HOUSING OF DIFFERENT STANDARDS, SIZES AND RENTS TO BE REDISTRIBUTED IN A SENSIBLE WAY, OPENING UP A MUCH WIDER CHOICE OF ACCOMMODATION, ACCORDING TO MEANS, THAN HAS EVER BEFORE BEEN AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC HOUSING FAMILIES.
+ IT OBVIOUSLY MAKES NO SENSE FOR WELL OFF FAMILIES TO LIVE IN LOW RENT ESTATES WHICH DO NOT SATISFY THEIR HOUSING NEEDS OR ASPIRATIONS WHEN LESS WELL OFF FAMILIES ARE IN GREATER NEED OF THESE FLATS.+
MRS. CHIA ADDED: +IT IS SURELY INCONSIDERATE TO HAVE PROSPERED AND YET CONTINUE TO OCCUPY VERY CHEAP ACCOMMODATION, THEREBY DENYING SUCH ACCOMMODATION TO OTHER LOW INCOME EARNERS.+
MRS. CHIA SAID THAT, AT PRESENT, TENANTS ARE TRANSFERRING FROM ONE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS TO ANOTHER AT THE RATE OF ABOUT 3,000 TO 4,000 A YEAR. ALSO, BETWEEN 1,500 AND 3,000 TENANTS SURRENDERED THEIR TENANGIES EVERY YEAR TO MIGRATE OR FOR OTHER PERSONAL REASONS.
SHE WENT ON: +AS MORE NEW ESTATES BECOME AVAILABLE FOR LETTING, HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL ORGANISE MORE TRANSFER SCHEMES FOR BETTER OFF TENANTS IN EXISTING ESTATES AND WE HOPE THAT MORE AND MORE FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD SOMETHING BETTER THAN THEIR PRESENT PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WILL DECIDE TO JOIN THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY OPTED FOR A BETTER LIFE IN THE NEW ESTATES.+
IN EARLY 1974, SHE SAID, A SMALL PILOT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED FOR MOVING OVERCROWDED TENANTS FROM SMALLER FLATS IN SHEK LEI ESTATE TO LARGER FLATS IN NEW ESTATES. THE SMALLER FLATS VACATED WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO SMALL FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS BEING HOUSED FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE CLEARANCE PROGRAMME, AS A RESULT OF WHICH EXERCISE, 140 FAMILIES WERE TRANSFERRED.
/+THE PILOT
+