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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEFICIT MIGHT STEADILY DIMINISH AS A RESULT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND BY BEING FINANCED BY A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE SURPLUS IN THE NON-DOMESTIC ESTATE WORKING ACCOUNT.
HOWEVER, HE SAID IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT ADVISABLE THAT SUCH SUBSIDY SHOULD INDEFINITELY CONTINUE AND MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN URGENTLY TO MAKE USE OF THE SURPLUS FROM THE COMMERCIAL PREMISES AND GROUP A ESTATES TO CONSTRUCT MORE HOUSING UNITS RATHER THAN FURTHER SUBSIDISE EXISTING TENANTS.
GRANT ALLOWANCE TO TENANTS ON THE 'VERGE'
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AN ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO THREE PER CENT OF THE MEDIAN INCOME SHOULD BE GRANTED TO TENANTS WHOSE FAMILY INCOME WAS ON THE 'VERGE' OF THE SUBSIDY INCOME LIMIT, THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM SUGGESTED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO HARDSHIP CASES AND PROVISIONS FOR EXCEPTIONAL CASES BE MADE UNDER THE DOUBLE RENT+ REQUIREMENT.
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE TWO REPORTS ON HOUSING SUBSIDY AND DOMESTIC RENT POLICY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHUNG SAID THE HOUSING POLICY SHOULD AIM POSITIVELY AT STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN THE SUPPY AND DEMAND OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS AND HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME (HOS) FLATS AT THE PRESENT BASIS.
+ THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING THE MOST APPROPRIATE ECONOMIC APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE SOCIAL OBJECTIVE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT POLICIES.
+IN PRINCIPLE, PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ASSISTING PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS IN PURCHASING HOS FLATS,+ HE SAID.
CONCRETE MEASURES THAT HE SUGGESTED WERE THE EXEMPTION OF THE DOWN-PAYMENT OR A GUARANTEE BY THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY ON THE FIVE PER CENT DOWN-PAYMENT TO BE WITHDRAWN AUTOMATICALLY ON FULL PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT,
MR CHUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE MAXIMUM MONTHLY INSTALMENT PAYMENT SHOULD BE 15 PER CENT OF THE FAMILY INCOME OF A HOS FLAT BUYER, SO THAT THE BURDEN OF PURCHASING SUCH A FLAT WAS ABOUT THE SAME AS THAT FOR RENTING A PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT.
/+THIS PROPOSAL ...................