XN000022-1985-07-16 — Page 15

CEP

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1985

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MR LAU, WHO IS ALSO AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, SAID THAT THROUGH HIS CONTACTS WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL DURING ITS MEETINGS, HE COULD SAY THAT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WORKED WHOLE-HEARTEDLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS.

DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE KUK DISCUSSED A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS RELATING TO THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS.

RENT REVISION FOR 39 POST-1973 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES

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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS COMPLETED A BIENNIAL RENT REVIEW FOR 39 POST-1973 ESTATES, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE RISING COSTS OF MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS INCREASES IN RATES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A HOUSING SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, NET RENTS FOR THESE ESTATES WOULD BE INCREASED BY $2.00 TO $2.80 PER SQUARE METRE.

+FOR THE MAJORITY OR 86 PER CENT OF THE TENANTS INVOLVED, THIS MEANS AN EXTRA OF ONLY $61 TO $130 A MONTH, OF WHICH $15 TO $29 WILL BE ADDITIONAL RATES PAID TO THE GOVERNMENT.

+SINCE THE LAST RENT REVIEW, RATES HAVE INCREASED TWICE. THE AUTHORITY HAS PAID FOR THE TENANTS A TOTAL OF $15.8 MILLION ON RATES AND THIS AMOUNT WOULD BE RECOUPED FROM THE TENANTS OVER THE NEXT 24 MONTHS.

+NEW INCLUSIVE RENT LEVELS WILL STILL REMAIN REASONABLE AT $10.15 TO $18.62 A SQUARE METRE AND SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE BY TENANTS WHO WILL BE PAYING 8 TO 12 PER CENT OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME AS RENT.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RENT REVISION WOULD OFFSET PART OF THE DEFICIT INCURRED IN THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ESTATES.

THE RENT REVISION WILL APPLY TO 71 097 FLATS IN 39 POST-1973 ESTATES, WHICH ARE AMONG THE BEST OF THE AUTHORITY'S ESTATES WITH SERVICES AND FACILITIES COMPARABLE TO NEWLY-BUILT ONES.

TENANTS WILL BE INFORMED OF THE RENTS AND RATES BOTH AT EXISTING AND NEW LEVELS, TOGETHER WITH AN EXPLANATORY NOTE.

ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO BRIEF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE OFFICIALS, LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS ON THE RENT REVISION,

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