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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985
TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF HOUSING, MR TAM ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPRESS ITS VIEWS ON THE MUCH DEBATED GREEN PAPER ON HOUSING SUBSIDY TO TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING, AND TO FORMULATE A MORE REASONABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC HOUSING POLICY.
OWING TO THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, OUR LOWER ECONOMIC CLASSES NEEDED APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE STANDARD OF LIVING, HE SAID.
HOUSING REVIEW TO COPE WITH CHANGES URGED *****
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD REVIEW OTHER POLICIES IN THE SAME MANNER AS IT HAD DONE WITH HOUSING SUBSIDY TO COPE WITH CHANGING SITUATIONS, THE HON F.K. HU SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAK ING ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE POLICY DEBATE. MR HU RECALLED THAT DURING THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE ON THE REVIEW OF PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICIES IN 1984, IT WAS APPARENT THAT PUBLIC OPINION WAS GENERALLY IN FAVOUR OF INTRODUCING MEASURES TO REDUCE PUBLIC HOUSING SUBSIDIES TO THE BETTER-OFF TENANTS, TO ACCORD PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING TO THOSE IN NEED OF IT, AND TO ACHIEVE BETTER ALLOCATION OF LIMITED RESOURCES.
+THIS RAISED AN IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUE WHETHER OUR HEAVILY SUBSIDISED PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING SCHEME SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO TENANTS AS AN ELEMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE BY RIGHT, OR ONLY TO THOSE IN NEED, HE SAID.
MR HU NOTED THAT A SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE ISSUE WAS FORMED TO STUDY THE PROBLEM IN SEPTEMBER 1984 AND, BASED ON ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR A GREEN PAPER ON HOUSING SUBSIDY TO TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING TO SEEK PUBLIC VIEWS BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION.
HE STRESSED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS EVENTUALLY MADE BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE OVERALL LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF MAINTAINING THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.
+HONG KONG HAS ONLY LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES WHICH MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL KINDS OF SERVICES FAIRLY AND EVENLY.
+WE MUST ALSO ENSURE THAT OUR AMBITIOUS AND COMMENDABLE
WILL HOUSING PROGRAMME, WITH INCREASED PRODUCTION IF FEASIBLE CONTINUE TO CATER FOR THOSE IN NEED IRRESPECTIVE OF GOVERNMENT BUDGETARY SURPLUS OR DEFICIT,+ HE SAID,
/HT OBSERVED