XN000022-1983-05-29 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 1983

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HOSTELS FOR SINGLE PERSONS SPACIOUS AND OF GOOD STANDARD

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A SENIOR HOUSING DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TODAY DISMISSED AS +UNFOUNDED AND ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS+ CRITICISMS OVER THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR SINGLE PERSONS.

+THE HOSTELS ARE OF VERY GOOD STANDARD WITH PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS AND PROVIDE EVEN MORE SPACE PER PERSON THAN IN A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, SAID MR MIKE SMITH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS).

HE SAID HE DOUBTED VERY MUCH IF THE PEOPLE PROTESTING OR THOSE OUTSIDERS WHO WERE ORCHESTRATING THE PROTEST HAD ACTUALLY SEEN THE PLACE.

+HOWEVER, THEIR CLAIMS THAT THE HOSTELS ARE LIKE A DOG KENNEL', 'PRISON' OR 'CONCENTRATION CAMP ARE LAUGHABLE.

+EACH HOSTEL BAY FOR SIX OR EIGHT PERSONS IS SELF-CONTAINED. THERE ARE FREE WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, BEDS, LOCKERS AND CEILING FANS, PLUS COOKING, WASHING AND SHOWER FACILITIES.

+THE SIX-PERSON BAY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS AN AREA OF 200 Sq. Ft. PLUS A KITCHEN AND SHOWER ROOM, WHILE THE AREA OUTSIDE GIVES PLENTY OF SPACE FOR LEISURE ACTIVITIES.

+THE MAXIMUM MONTHLY RENT IS ONLY $80 PER PERSON WHICH IS VERY LOW INDEED.

MR SMITH SAID THE EXISTING REHOUSING POLICY FOR ABLE-BODIED SINGLE PERSONS AND TWO-MEMBER FAMILIES WAS REASONABLE HAVING REGARD TO THE OVERALL PUBLIC HOUSING NEEDS.

+WHILE THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME IS EVER EXPANDING WITH ITS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AMOUNTING TO AS MUCH AS ONE-THIRD OF THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, THESE RESOURCES ARE NOT UNLIMITED.

+THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE MOST FAIRLY AND ECONOMICALLY UTILISED.

+WE MUST THEREFORE NOT ONLY LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL GROUPS, BUT RATHER AT THE OVERALL SITUATION, TAKING ALSO INTO ACCOUNT THE GREATER NEED OF LARGER FAMILIES, FOR EXAMPLE MARRIED COUPLES WITH CHILDREN.

UNDER THE EXISTING POLICY, ONLY SINGLE PERSONS OR TWO-MEMBER FAMILIES WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE" CASES OR WHO ARE OLD OR HAVE AN AGED BUT CLOSELY-RELATED FAMILY MEMBER, ARE GIVEN PERMANENT PUBLIC HOUSING.

+SUCH CASES ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ABLE-BODIED SINGLE PERSONS OR TWO-PERSON FAMILIES WHO ARE CAPABLE OF LOOKING AFTER THEMSELVES, MR SMITH SAID.

/+IF THEY