Waiting list for public rental housing
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Some Members have expressed concern at the backlog of about 150,000 applications on the Housing Authority's general waiting list for public rental housing. In reality, not all these applications constitute a real demand because a significant proportion are either ineligible applicants or are sitting tenants wishing to change flats. Also, the majority of Temporary Housing Area residents and urban squatters who are on the general waiting list will be rehoused through the clearance allocation quota, rather than the general waiting list. The Housing Authority estimates that by 1997/98, about 70% of the backlog on the general waiting list as at August 1993 will be cleared. After that year, when most Temporary Housing Areas and all urban squatters on Government land have been cleared and given the increase in public housing production, we should be able to rehouse the remaining backlog in the following two years and to process new waiting list applicants much faster.
Occupants of rooftop structures, bedspace apartments and squatter areas
Two Members have expressed concern at the poor living conditions of rooftop structures, bedspace apartments and squatter areas. I appeal again to occupants of these structures to come forward to register with the Housing Department and place, themselves on the general waiting list. This is the proper way to ensure that they will be considered for rehousing together with other eligible applicants on the general waiting list on a fair and equitable basis and then obtain public rental housing in due course. Indeed this will also give us a better idea of the demand. I wish to reiterate that the fundamental principle in our rehousing policy is that no one will be rendered homeless as a result of any Government enforcement action. Those in need can be rehoused in either public rental flats or Temporary Housing Arcas, depending on their eligibility.
Home ownership
Mr President, I wish to thank Members for their support of our subsidised home ownership schemes because of their contribution to social stability and the fostering of a sense of belonging. We will continue to allocate more land for these schemes and to promote them in future among existing public rental housing tenants who can afford This will also have the effect of home purchase, and others eligible for them. releasing a substantial quantity of rental flats for further allocation to others in need, and thus reducing the waiting time for public rental housing applicants as well. Members will wish to know that the Housing Authority is now examining ways of encouraging those public rental housing tenants whose family income greatly exceeds the General Waiting List Income Limit or who own private property to move out of their flats, thus also freeing up existing rental stock for those in genuine need.