XN000022-1976-09-20 — Page 4

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 117.

NEW ESTATE RENTS ACCEPTABLE TO MAJORITY OF APPLICANTS

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, OR. IN LIGHTBODY, SAID TODAY T--- PUCLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME 13 AINE. AT PROVIDING DECENT HOLSTE

VICOME FAMILIES.

R, LIGHTBODY, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WAS ADDRESSING THE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ESTARY CLUB.

COMMENTING ON RECENT CRITICISMS THAT RENTS FOR NE. ESTATES BEING SET AT TOO HIGH A LEVEL, HE SAID: +LACK OF MONEY SHOULD NOT DEBAR ANY FAMILY WHICH 13 OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FROM MOVING INTO PUBLIC HOUSING.

+NEW ESTATE RENTS ARE SET AT A LEVEL WHICH EXPERIENCE SHOWS TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE GREAT MAJORITY OF APPLICANTS AND, FOR THOSE WAO FEEL THEY REALLY CAN'T AFFORD THESE RENTS, THE AUTHORITY WILL FIND A LOW-PENT FLAT ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE FAMILY'S MEANS.+

PR. LIGHTBODY SAID THE AUTHORITY HAS ABOUT 267,000 FLATS LET AT RENTS BELOW $100 A MONTH OF THESE, 200,000 FLATS HAVE RENTS BELOW 50 - MONTH,

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HE STATED: +IF ANY FAMILY FEELS EXCLUDED FROM FUEL IC HOUSING ONLY BECAUSE OF RENT LEVELS, THEY SHOULD EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S STAFF AND ASK FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN OVERCOMING THEIR PROELEM. +

YR. LIGHTBODY EXPLAINED THAT PERSONS IN QUITE A CONSIDERABLE INCOME RANGE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, RANGING UP TO 1,700 PER MONTH FOR A MEDIUM FLAT AND $2,200 PER MONTH FOR A LARGE FLAT. THE PROBLEY IS WHERE TO SET RENT LEVELS FOR NEW ESTATES, AND THE AUTHORITY FELT IT WAS SENSIBLE TO FIX RENTS WITHIN THE MEANS OF THE MAJORITY, AND TO MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO HELP THE LESS WELL-OFF.

HE WENT ON: +OUR WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE DECENT HOUSING FOR THE LOW-INCOME GROUPS AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE AUTHORITY'S PRESENT RENTAL ARRANGEMENTS ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE. HOWEVER, THE QUESTION IS KEPT UNDER CLOSE REVIE.. AND, IF THIS IS SHOWN TO BE NECESSARY, WE WILL SEEK ADJUSTNENTS TO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CRITERIA TO ENSURE THAT THE LESS WELL-OFF ARE NOT UNFAIRLY DISADVANTAGED EY THIS RENT SYSTEM.

-IT SEEMS SENSIBLE TO CONCENTRATE SPECIAL SUBSIDIES ON THE LESS WELL-OFF FAMILIES, RATHER THAN HAVE THE TAXPAYER GIVE ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIES TO ALL FAMILIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME, BY REDUCING THE GENERAL LEVEL OF NEW ESTATE RENTS.+

ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME DOES NOT MAKE A PROFIT, AS SOME HAVE CLAIMED. +GOVERNMENT DOES NOT EXPECT THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A PROFIT FROY PUBLIC HOUSING, NOR DOES THE AUTHORITY, HE DECLARED.

WE EXPLAINED THAT, AS OF TODAY, ANNUAL FENTAL INCOTE IS FUNNIE AT ABOUT 3PO MILLION A YEAR, NILE ANNICAL EXPENDITURE - CARITA_ AND RECURRENT 13 ABOUT 730 15-1372 CAPITAL EXPE

BUILDING VEM ESTATES IS ABOUT 1956 MILLION OF THIS, AND THIS CAPITAL FIGURE ILL INCREASE

"HË YEARS AHEAD AS THE PROGPAYME BUIL

/+FAR FROM