XN000022-1974-02-14 — Page 6

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Thursday, February 14, 1974

75 ESTATE WELFARE ORGANISATIONS WIN ONE YEAR HESPITE FROM RENT INCREASES

Rent of 89 Others To Go Up

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The Housing Authority announced today it has decided to defer until

April 1, 1975 the ront increases on 75 lettings to voluntary organisations

operating social welfare activities, clinico, schools and religious activities

in its various estates.

These 75 lettings are those not prosently receiving subventions

from the Social Welfare Department. Planned rental increases for anothor

89 lettings will however go ahead.

The Housing Authority will shortly be writing to inform them of

the decision.

The deferment of rent for one year will enable the Social Welfare

and other government departments to assess these agencies' eligibility for

future subventions relating to rentals.

However, if any of then should find it difficult to meet the new

rents after one year, they can apply to the Housing Authority for reconsideration

of their cases on an individual basis.

"It is not the intention of the Authority to deprive estate tenants

of the various social services offered by these agencies," a Housing Authority

spokesman emphasised.

He explained that as the Authority is bound by law to be self-supporting

financially, it was inappropriate for the Authority to undertake the government

function of subsidising welfare agencies operating in the various estates, nost

of which were previously charged by the government at a norinal monthly rental

of $1.

/Menawhile,