XN000022-1984-05-31 — Page 6

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1984

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MR FRY STRESSED THAT IF THE RATING SYSTEM WAS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A SOUND INDIRECT TAX BASE, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT RATEABLE VALUES WERE UPDATED PERIODICALLY.

HE SAID THAT PLANNING WOULD NOW PROCEED ON THE BASIS OF A THREE-YEAR CYCLE THOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE THIS FOR THE NEXT REVALUATION EXERCISE.

+THUS, 1 HOPE, RATEPAYERS WILL NOT IN FUTURE YEARS HAVE TO FACE THE VERY HIGH INCREASES IN RATEABLE VALUES EXPERIENCED ON THIS OCCASION, HE SAID.

BOAT DWELLERS VISIT HOUSING DEPARTMENT

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A GROUP OF BOAT DWELLERS FROM THE YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER TODAY VISITED THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WHICH SETS OUT FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION BROAD ASPECTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICIES.

THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE DOCUMENT DID NOT INCLUDE THE LONG-TERM REHOUSING OF BOAT DWELLERS SUCH AS THEMSELVES.

A HOUSING SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS KEEN TO RECEIVE PUBLIC OPINIONS ON ALL ASPECTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION.

+THE BOAT DWELLERS' VIEWS WOULD BE REFLECTED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR CONSIDERATION.

IN FACT, THE QUESTION OF REHOUSING OF BOAT PEOPLE HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN RAISED IN TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS.+

IN THE MEANTIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LONGER-TERM SOLUTION TO THE YAU MA TEI BOAT PEOPLE'S HOUSING ISSUE WAS FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S WAITING LIST. +THE SOONER THEY APPLY, THE QUICKER THEY WILL GET REHOUSED ON LAND.

+BOAT DWELLERS ARE ENTITLED TO REGISTER ON THE WAITING LIST AND MAKE THEIR WAY INTO PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE NORMAL WAY.+

IN FACT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID A ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL OFFER OF REHOUSING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WAS MADE IN 1972 TO ALL BOAT FAMILIES LIVING IN YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER.

+THIS OFFER WAS MADE TO 968 FAMILIES, BUT ONLY 355 FAMILIES ACCEPTED WHILE 413 FAMILIES EITHER REFUSED INTERVIEWS OR TOTALLY DISREGARDED THE REHOUSING OFFER.

/+ALL THESE