XN000022-1976-06-04 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1976

POWERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE TENANCIES IMMEDIATELY ******

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS TO BE GIVEN POWERS TO TERMINATE IMMEDIATELY THE LEASE OF FLATS NOT OCCUPIED BY THE AUTHORISED TENANTS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THIS MOVE WAS BEING TAKEN TO PUT AN END TO THE BREACHES OF TENANCY AGREE- MENTS THAT ARISE WHEN TENANTS MOVE TO OTHER ACCOMMODATION AND LEAVE THE FLATS EMPTY, OR WHERE THE FLATS ARE TOTALLY SUBLET,

AT PRESENT THE AUTHORITY MUST GIVE ONE MONTH'S NOTICE TO TENANTS TO QUIT (EXCEPT IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES) BUT TENANTS GET AROUND THIS BY RE-OCCUPYING THE FLATS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN CONTINUING THE BREACH OF THE AGREEMENT.

THIS IS AN UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION IN VIEW OF THE SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF PUBLIC HOUSING FOR THE VARIOUS ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES. TO ENSURE PROPER CONTROL AND USE OF PUBLIC HOUSING, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUIRES THE NEW POWERS TO TERMINATE TENANCIES WITHOUT NOTICE AND RECOVER FLATS IMMEDIATELY ONCE SUCH A BREACH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

TENANTS CAN APPEAL AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE ESTATE STAFF WITHIN TEN DAYS OF RECEIVING THE NOTICE.

A BILL TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS CHANGE IS PUBLISHED TODAY AND WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 ALSO PROVIDES TO MEET THE INCREASING WORK-LOAD OF THE APPEALS COMMITTEE BY ENLARGING IT FROM THREE TO SIX MEMBERS AND OF THESE, TWO MEMBERS MUST NOT BE AUTHORITY MEMBERS. THE COMMITTEE WILL THEN BE ABLE TO OPERATE AS SEVERAL PANELS AND DIVIDE THE WORK.

OTHER AMENDMENTS IN THE BILL DEAL WITH PROCEDURAL MATTERS.

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