53.
Answer:
Mr President,
An applicant for public housing, together with a majority of his family members, must satisfy the seven-year residency rule in order to become eligible. For an applicant already on the Single Person Waiting List, he may apply subsequently to add the names of his wife, children and relatives to the application, and to transfer it to the General Waiting List.
Upon transfer, he may be given a credit, in terms of waiting time, equivalent to half of the waiting time he has already accumulated on the Single Person Waiting List, subject to a maximum credit of three years. This means that following genuine changes in family circumstances, he does not have to queue up afresh. This arrangement has been operating satisfactorily, and is considered reasonable and fair. In 1994-95, there were about 1,100 such cases, of which only a small number involved children born in Hong Kong of China-based wives. We do not intend to change this policy, but will keep it under review.
End/Wednesday, May 24, 1995
Compensation for members of Overseas Civil Service
Following is a question by the Hon Timothy Ha Wing-ho and a written reply by the Secretary for Civil Service, Mr Michael Sze, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
A Member of the British Parliament recently stated that compensation payable to members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service serving with the Hong Kong Government who would be obliged to retire prematurely as a result of the transfer of sovereignty in 1997 should be borne by the Hong Kong Government. In view of this. will the Government inform this Council :
(a)
of the total number of these officers:
(b)
of the total amounts of compensations to which they are entitled; and