XN000022-1984-03-28 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1984

ON HOUSING, MR HU SAID, WE ARE ALL PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME AS THE TOTAL PRODUCTION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS INCLUDING HOUSING SOCIETY FLATS AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME FLATS IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT AN AVERAGE COMPLETION RATE OF 44 000 UNITS A YEAR.+

HE SAID THAT A BIG PERCENTAGE OF RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING WAS STILL HEAVILY SUBSIDISED, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD PURSUE A SOUND RENTAL POLICY TO REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN ACTUAL COSTS AND RENTAL IMCOME, SO THAT GRADUALLY THE AUTHORITY COULD CONTRIBUTE MORE TOWARDS MEETING THE ACTUAL COST OF RENTAL HOUSING ESTATES AND THUS BE LESS DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC FUNDS.

+ IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND TO FINANCE PUBLIC RENTED HOUSING WILL BE REDUCED FROM $2 000 MILLION IN 1983-84 TO $1 800 MILLION IN 1984-85, + HE SAID.

MR HU NOTED THAT A BIG PROPORTION OF THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE WOULD GO TO DIRECT PAYMENTS IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE DUE TO THE RECENT INCREASE IN VARIOUS PAYMENT RATES AND THE CONSEQUENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE MEANS TEST.

+I SUGGEST THAT IT IS SOUND SOCIAL POLICY NOT TO OVER- ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND ASSISTANCE EXCEPT THOSE WHO REALLY CANNOT FEND FOR THEMSELVES, HE SAID.

HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT HOSTELS, HOMES AND HALF-WAY HOUSES HAD ANNOUNCED AN INCREASE IN FEES EFFECTIVE FROM MRACH 1 THIS YEAR, HE SAID,

+THIS INCREASE WILL AFFECT BOTH GROUPS OF CLIENTS WHETHER OF NOT THEY ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

IT WILL 25 +FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, A PITY TO SEE THEM BRACKETED INTO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NET BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME ELIGIBLE SIMPLY DUE TO THE INCREASED FEES THEY HAVE TO BEAR, HE SAID.

MR HU ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

+1 URGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HOLD UP CR DELAY ANY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT PLANS ON SOCIAL WORK BECAUSE HONG KONG CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO STRIVE CONTINUOUSLY TOWARDS INPROVING THE QUALITY OF ITS SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, HE SAID.

COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR HU SAID THAT DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT AND PROMOTION OF ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS UNDER THE GUIDING POLICIES SET U- BY THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNVENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+ S