لیا
3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980
ASSURANCE:
MR SCOTT REITERATED THAT A DECISION TO GO BACK ON GOVERNMENT'S ASSURANCES ABOUT NON-IMPOSITION OF RENT CONTROL CAN ONLY BE TAKEN, AND WAS ONLY TAKEN, AFTER THE WEIGHTIEST CONSIDERATION OF THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE GOVERNMENT STOOD READY TO BE JUDGED BY THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IN THIS DECISION. HE BELIEVED THAT THE PUBLIC HAS IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS ENDORSED IT.
IN SUMMING UP HE SAID A PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF THIS LEGISLATION WAS TO ASSIST IN BRINGING A MEASURE OF STABILITY TO THE DOMESTIC PROPERTY MARKET. IT HAS UNDOUBTEDLY HAD THAT EFFECT ALREADY, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO KEEP CLOSELY UNDER REVIEW WHETHER FURTHER MEASURES TOWARDS THAT END ARE NECESSARY.
FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT ANY PERSON OR GROUP WISHING TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS SHOULD ADDRESS THEM TO THE SECRETARY, COMMITTEE OF REVIEW, LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION, C/O GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, PREFERABLY BY MARCH 15, 1980.
UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT RENT CONTROL
TWO MORE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, DR THE HON RAYSON HUANG AND THE HON F.K. HU COMMENTED ON THE BILL DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE.
DR HUANG SAID UNDER THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, RENT CONTROL MEASURES WERE NOT ONLY DESIRABLE BUT QUITE NECESSARY.
+ IT WILL REDUCE THE HARDSHIP OF MANY PEOPLE AND GIVE THE GOVERNMENT A BREATHING SPACE TO WORK OUT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. IF THE DISEASE HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOWED TO DEVELOP, SURELY IT IS ONLY SENSIBLE TO ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOM IMMEDIATELY WHILE DEALING WITH THE DISEASE ITSELF, AT A TIME WHEN THE SYMPTOM IS ALREADY CAUSING UNBEARABLE PAIN, HE SAID.
DR HUANG CONCEDED THAT RENT CONTROL CAN +ONLY BE A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO COMBAT THE PROBLEMS AT HAND: FOR THE LONG TERM THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO AN INCREASED PRODUCTION OF HOUSING, AND TO THIS THE GOVERNMENT MUST WITHOUT DELAY ADDRESS ITSELF. +
HE SAID: IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND IN PARTICULAR DURING THE PAST YEAR, RENT HAS BEEN GOING UP SO FAST THAT IN SOME CASES INCREASES REACH SEVERAL HUNDRED PER CENT.
+THIS SITUATION IS ECONOMICALLY UNJUSTIFIABLE AND SOCIALLY UNDESIRABLE, AND IF ALLOWED TO CONTINUE UNABATED, WOULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INSTABILITY IN OUR SOCIETY.
+ IT IS ECONOMICALLY UNJUSTIFIABLE BECAUSE THIS RAPID RISE IN RENT HAS HAD ONLY A LIMITED EFFECT ON STIMULATING THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING, IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT LAND IS SCARCE AND IS MONOPOLISED BY THE GOVERNMENT.+
/THE RAPID