WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991
3
BEDSPACE LODGERS WILL NOT BE RENDERED HOMELESS
* * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN ITS ASSURANCE THAT NO BEDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS ALREADY REGISTERED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL BE RENDERED HOMELESS AND THAT THEY WILL BE OFFERED SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AND HE STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT GOADED INTO BY THE TRAGIC FIRE WHICH OCCURRED IN ONE OF THESE APARTMENTS SHUI PO LAST DECEMBER.
ACTION
IN SHAM
"WE WERE GOADED BY THE APPALLING CONDITIONS WHICH WE SAW WHEN THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND I VISITED THE PREMISES EARLIER LAST YEAR, MR TSAO SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, WOULD ADOPT A THREE-PRONGED
APPROACH
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
"FIRST, ELDERLY PEOPLE AGED ABOVE 60 AND/OR ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR OTHER FORMS OF WELFARE ASSISTANCE WILL, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, BE DEALT WITH UNDER THE EXISTING SOCIAL WELFARE
REHOUSING POLICY.
"THE ARRANGEMENTS BEING CONTEMPLATED FOR THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET OUT BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE," MR TSAO SAID.
HE NOTED THAT FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ASSUMING THAT 25 PER CENT OF THE EXISTING LODGER POPULATION OF 1.000 LODGERS WOULD BE SO REHOUSED.
MR TSAO SAID THE SECOND CATEGORY OF LODGERS WERE THOSE WHO ARE ABLE-BODIED AND EMPLOYED, BUT WHO COULD NOT AFFORD HIGH RENTS OR FIND SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION OTHER THAN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS.
"FOR SUCH PEOPLE," HE SAID, "WE WILL PROMOTE A PROJECT THROUGH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR THOSE DISPLACED FROM EXISTING BEDSPACE APARTMENTS."
HE ADDED THAT THESE HOSTELS WOULD BE SET UP IN NEIGHBOURHOODS FAMILIAR TO THE DISPLACED LODGERS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND THIS PROJECT WOULD TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER 1,000 LODGERS.
AS TO THE REST OF THE EXISTING LODGERS
-
ABOUT
2,000
THEY
WOULD REMAIN IN SITU IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS IN IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF A LICENSING SCHEME, MR TSAO SAID.
COMING BACK TO THE ARRANGEMENTS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE SECOND CATEGORY OF LODGERS, MR TSAO SAID AT PRESENT, THOSE WHO HAD BEEN DISPLACED AND CLAIMED TO BE HOMELESS WOULD NORMALLY BE OFFERED ACCOMMODATION IN A TRANSIT CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/"IF SUBSEQUENTLY