XN000022-1979-07-20 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1979

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NEW HOUSING ASSISTANCE SCHEMES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

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OUTLINES OF NEW SCHEMES OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE BEEN PUT TO THE THREE MAIN CIVIL SERVICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSULTATION.

THE PROPOSALS HAVE ALSO BEEN PUT TO THE VARIOUS POLICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

ALL OTHER HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO EXPLAIK THE PROPOSALS AND TO SEEK THE VIEWS OF THEIR STAFF THROUGH DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS OR ANY OTHER SUITABLE FORUMS,

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A SET OF PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TOWARD CIVIL SERVANT'S HOUSING FOLLOWING A GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF THE WHOLE RANGE OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE AT PRESENT AVAILABLE TO CIVIL SERVANTS,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW PROPOSALS AIM AT ASSISTING ELIGIBLE CIVIL SERVANTS TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION. THEY CONSIST OF A HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE, A GOVERNMENT LOAN TOWARDS THE DOWNPAYMENT ON A FLAT, AND A PRE-RETIREMENT LOAN FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE ALLOWANCE AND LOAN.

HE WENT ON THE INTENTION IS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING SCHEMES OF PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE AND NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS BY THE PROPOSED NEW SCHEMES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. THESE EXISTING FORMS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE TERMINATE ON AN OFFICER'S RETIREMENT FROM THE CIVIL SERVICES AND THEREFORE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY LASTING BENEFIT.+

THOSE OFFICERS CURRENTLY RECEIVING PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCES OR LIVING IN QUARTERS WILL BE GIVEN AN OPTION WHETHER TO JOIN THE NEW SCHEMES OR RETAIN EXISTING BENEFITS.

IT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO COVER MORE LOCAL OFFICERS.

THE PROPOSED NEW SCHEMES WILL AFFECT DIFFERENT GRADES OF OFFICERS DIFFERENTLY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SHOULD SEEK ADVICE AND CLARIFICATION FROM EITHER THEIR DEPARTMENTS OR ONE OF THE THREE MAIN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, THE HONG KONG CHINESE CIVIL SERVANTS ASSOCIATION, THE SENIOR NON-EXPATRIATE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND THE ASSOCIATION OF EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS ON HOW THE NEW SCHEMES WOULD AFFECT THEM.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID : +STAFF SIDE VIEWS ARE ALSO BEING SOUGHT ON THE OTHER EXISTING SCHEMES, IN PARTICULAR, THE CIVIL SERVICE QUOTA FOR RENTED PUBLIC HOUSING AND CO-OPERATIVE SCHEMES, WITH A VIEW TO DETERMINING THEIR ROLE IN FUTURE AND TO BRINGING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS.+

HE SAID THAT AFTER STAFF VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED SCHEMES HAVE BEEN CETAINED, FIRM PROPOSALS WILL THEN BE DRAWN UP FOR FURTHER CONSIDE ATION, TOGETHER WITH ESTIMATES OF THE FINANCIA

IMPLICA ONS.

AUNTIL