XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

HE SAID THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE FOR NEW TENANTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS MUCH HIGHER, REACHING 40 PER CENT IN SOME CASES.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE 15 TO 18 PER CENT FIGURE QUOTED IN THE REPORT ONLY REFERRED TO SITTING TENANTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ADDED THAT SITTING TENANTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WERE CURRENTLY PAYING SEVEN PER CENT OF THEIR INCOME IN RENT.

MR CHAN REASSURED TENANTS IN OLDER ESTATES WHO WERE CONCERNED THAT THEIR RENTS WOULD BE RAISED TO THE 15 PER CENT LEVEL THAT THEY WOULD STILL BE PAYING RENTS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THIS.

REGARDING THE HOUSING SUBSIDY REPORT, MR CHAN SAID HE SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLE THAT THOSE WHO HAD LIVED IN PUBLIC HOUSING FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND COULD AFFORD TO PAY DOUBLE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SO.

+ IT IS ONLY LOGICAL THAT SITTING TENANTS WHO ARE NOW EARNING MORE THAN TWICE THE WAITING LIST INCOME LIMIT SHOULD PAY DOUBLE RENT, HE SAID.

+AT ANY RATE, THE DOUBLE RENT WILL NOT BE MORE THAN 15 PER CENT OF THEIR INCOME AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE AFFORDABLE,+ HE ADDED.

CALL TO PROVIDE MORE HOS FLATS

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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER INCREASING THE PROPORTION OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WITH IMPROVED FINANCIAL STANDINGS.

THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR CHENG SAID THE MOVE WOULD VACATE MORE RENTAL FLATS FOR PEOPLE IN THE LOWER INCOME GROUP WITH DEFINITE AND ACUTE HOUSING NEEDS.

+THIS IS, IN MY VIEW, A LOGICAL APPROACH TO SOLVING THE HOUSING PROBLEM WITH THE PROVISION OF A BETTER LIVELIHOOD COUPLED WITH A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR THIS GROUP OF CITIZENS TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN PROPERTY, HE SAID.

MR CHENG ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIAL ANNUAL DEFICIT INCURRED BY GROUP B ESTATES IN VIEW OF THE HIGH COST OF MAINTENANCE, IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIR WHICH REFLECTED FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUB-STANDARD QUALITY OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF OLDER ESTATES.

/HE POINTED