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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1906
+IN FACT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ALSO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DEFEND SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
IT IS A CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TO INITIATE CRITICISM AGAINST INJUSTICE, RATHER THAN TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS ON EVERY CASE,+ HE SAID.
MR LEE OBSERVED THAT THE PROPOSAL ON THE MEDIAN RENT-INCOME RATIO OF 15 PER CENT WOULD BE VIEWED AS A KIND OF RENT INCREASE POLICY AND WOULD INEVITABLY ATTRACT OBJECTIONS FROM PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS.
AS TO THE DOUBLE RENT+ PROPOSAL, MR LEE SAID PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WOULD NOT WELCOME IT AND WOULD FIND IT IRRITATING.
HE SAID HE HOPED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AFTER CONSIDERING THE REPORTS ON HOUSING RENT POLICY AND SUBSIDIES, WOULD FIRST PUBLISH A GREEN PAPER TO CONSULT THE PUBLIC ON THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS WHICH IT INTENDED TO IMPLEMENT.
+ AFTER CONSULTATION AND PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL FIND IT EASIER TO ADAPT TO THE PROPOSALS BECAUSE WHETHER THEY ARE FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSALS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO AIR THEIR VIEWS,+ HE SAID.
AS A RESULT, THE DEGREE OF OPPOSITION WOULD BE MARKEDLY REDUCED, HE ADDED.
WELL-OFF TENANTS SHOULD BE EVICTED
*****
IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF EVICTING GENUINELY WELL-OFF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED, THE HON POON CHI-FAI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON TWO PUBLIC HOUSING REPORTS, MR POON SAID IT WAS ALSO UNREASONABLE TO INCLUDE THE INCOME OF ALL FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE CALCULATION OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
+THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING REPORT ONLY AIM TO GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM ABOUT FIVE PER CENT OF THE TENANTS WHO HAVE TO PAY DOUBLE RENT, BUT 95 PER CENT OF TENANTS WHO DO NOT HAVE TO PAY DOUBLE RENT WOULD HAVE TO BE INCONVENIENCED, HE SAID.
/MR POON