XN000022-1978-03-15 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1978

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THESE INCLUDED THE FACT THAT WHILE NUMERICALLY ONLY 367 FLATS WERE ALLOCATED, 500 CASES WERE ASSISTED BECAUSE SOME OF THE FLATS WERE OCCUPIED BY TWO OR EVEN THREE UNRELATED PEOPLE ADDITIONALLY, 91 OTHER CASES RECOMMENDED WERE UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE APPLICANTS WERE STILL IN HOSPITAL OR SOME OTHER INSTITUTION.

ADDITIONALLY, SOME APPLICANTS DECLINED FIRST OFFERS OF HOUSING AND PREFERRED TO WAIT FOR SUBSEQUENT OFFERS IN ESTATES OF THEIR PREFERENCE OTHERS CHOSE TO LIVE IN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS.

+FINALLY, WE INCREASED RENTAL ALLOWANCES IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME SUBSTANTIALLY IN 1976, AND MANY FAMILIES HO COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING PREFERRED TO CONTINUE LIVING IN PRIVATE HOUSING BECAUSE OF LOCATION AND FAMILY REASONS, SAID MR. LEE.

CONCERNING COMPASSIONATE HOUSING IN 1977/78, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE 429 FLATS ALLOCATED SO FAR WERE PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR A TOTAL OF 1,691 PEOPLE.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON, ALAN SCOTT, ANSWER ING ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. FANG ABOUT COMPASSIONATE HOUSING EXPLAINED THAT UP TO 1975/76 ALLOCATIONS WERE MADE TO NUMEERS OF PEOPLE, BUT FROM THEN ONWARDS COMPASSIONATE HOUSING WAS ALLOCATED IN TERMS OF FLATS, NOT PEOPLE.

HE GAVE THE FOLLOWING FIGURES:

1973/74 QUOTA

ACTUAL ALLOCATION

3,500 PEOPLE

2,941 PEOPLE

1974/75 QUOTA

3,000 PEOPLE

ACTUAL ALLOCATION

1,919 PEOPLE

1975/76 QUOTA

1,000 FLATS

ACTUAL ALLOCATION

281 FLATS

1976/77 QUOTA

750 FLATS

ACTUAL ALLOCATION

337 FLATS

1977/78 QUOTA

570 FLATS

ALLOCATIONS SO FAR

420 FLATS

MR. SCOTT SAID THAT ALL COMPASSICATE HOUSING CASES ERE SUBJECT TO THE PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

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