XN000022-1985-02-07 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1985

+ IT GIVES RISE TO A SITUATION WHEREBY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.- IS COMMITTED TO AN OPEN-ENDED RESPONSIBILITY OF HOUSING SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS ALTHOUGH SOME CAN WELL AFFORD TO MOVE INTO PRIVATE HOUSING OR BUY HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS.

+PEOPLE MAY WELL WONDER: WHY NOT ASK THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD AN HOS FLAT TO BUY ONE SO THAT THEIR RENTAL ESTATE FLATS CAN BE RELEASED FOR REALLOCATION TO FAMILIES IN GENUINE NEED?+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID AUTOMATIC INHERITANCE WAS AMONG THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICIES SET OUT FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION IN A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT LAST YEAR.

AS A RESULT, HE SAID, IT WAS DECIDED THAT UPON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCIPAL TENANT OR SPOUSE, THE REMAINING FAMILY SHOULD BE MEANS-TESTED TO DETERMINE ITS CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING. THE MAXIMUM INCOME LIMIT IS $7 500 A MONTH.

+THIS LIMIT FOR INHERITANCE IS ALREADY VERY GENEROUS - IT IS THE TOP LIMIT OF HOS ELIGIBILITIES AND IS EVEN MORE GENEROUS THAN THE RENTAL HOUSING WAITING LIST LIMITS WHICH ARE $4 800 FOR A 4-PERSON FAMILY OR $5 200 FOR A 5-PERSON FAMILY.

+S HOULD THE REMAINING HOUSEHOLDS BE OVER-INCOME, THEY WILL BE GIVEN ONE YEAR IN WHICH TO EITHER MOVE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR BUY A HOS FLAT USING THE GREEN FORM WHICH ALLOWS THEM A MUCH IMPROVED CHANCE OF GETTING A HOS FLAT OF THEIR CHOICE.+

CLOSURE OF ROOF TOP ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (THURSDAY) DECLARED TWO ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON THE ROOF AREA OF A BUILDING AT 106-108 FIRST STREET, HONG KONG, TO BE CLOSED IN ORDER THAT THE STRUCTURES COULD BE DEMOLISHED, WITHOUT DANGER TO THE OCCUPIERS OR THE PUBLIC.

A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER AT THE VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 7 AT 9.30 AM WAS POSTED TODAY.

THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING THAT RECENT INSPECTIONS SHOWED THAT THE DEMOLITION ORDERS SERVED ON THE OWNERS HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH. IT WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE STRUCTURES FOR THE

INTENDED WORK.

THE LAST INSPECTION WAS MADE ON DECEMBER 1, 1984.

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