XN000022-1982-10-28 — Page 9

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982

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COMMENT ON HOUSING PROBLEM

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HONG KONG'S HOUSING PROBLEM CAME IN FOR SPECIAL COMMENT TODAY FROM AN UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR.

THE HON F.K. HU SAID THAT HOUSING IS THE MOST SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEM WHICH MUST BE TACKLED ON DIFFERENT FRONTS+.

SPEAKING FIRST ON THE SQUATTER PROBLEM, HE SAID HE AGREED THAT EFFECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS IN SUCH AREAS.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT MUST AT THE SAME TIME

ENDEAVOUR TO CONTAIN THE PROBLEM BY PREVENTING THE PROLIFERATION OF NEW SQUATTING, ADDING THAT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF NEW SQUATTERS WERE IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME FROM CHINA IN RECENT YEARS.

+WHILE THERE COULD BE GOOD REASONS FOR THESE PEOPLE TO COME TO HONG KONG, THERE IS NO WAY TO ASCERTAIN THAT THEIR RELATIVES OR FRIENDS WOULD WELCOME OR LOOK AFTER THEM AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL.

+WE MAY BE ABLE TO RELIEVE SOME OF OUR SOCIAL PROBLEMS, HOUSING AND LAW AND ORDER BEING OUR TWO MAIN CONCERNS, IF THERE WILL BE SOME REDUCTION IN THE NUMBERS WHO ENTER AND REMAIN HERE.

+ IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO THE ADMINISTRATION IF THESE IMMIGRANTS, BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL, ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE TO THE EFFECT THAT THEIR RELATIVES OR FRIENDS HERE WILL GUARANTEE THE IR GOOD CONDUCT AND SOLVE THEIR ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM ONCE THEY ENTER HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

TURNING TO PUBLIC HOUSING, MR HU SAID HE THOUGHT THAT THE BETTER-OFF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO PURCHASE HIS OWN FLAT UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND TO VACATE HIS HEAVILY SUBSIDISED RENTAL UNIT.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE RENT FOR EACH PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT SHOULD BE SET AT A LEVEL AROUND 20 PER CENT OF THE TENANT'S IN COME INSTEAD OF THE EXISTING FIVE TO 10 PER CENT.

+RENTAL INCOME SHOULD GENERATE A REASONABLE SURPLUS THAT MAY BE USED TO MEET PART OF THE COST OF IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND TO SPEED UP THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES OF OLD, DILAPIDATED RESETTLEMENT ESTATES.

+A SEPARATE RENTAL SUBSIDY SCHEME SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO ASSIST NEEDY TENANTS TO MEET PART OR WHOLE OF THE RENTAL PAYMENT

IF THEY PASS A MEANS TEST, HE SAID.

MR HU ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE FLATS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ACCOMMODATE ELDERLY PERSONS.

HE URGED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO ENLARGE SUCH WORTHWHILE SCHEMES WHICH WILL CERTAINLY +STIMULATE PRIVATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND ENCOURAGE ITS PARTICIPATION IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION+.

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