XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

HE CONSIDERED THAT ONLY BY IDENTIFYING THE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL OBJECTIVE COULD MORE EQUITABLE RECOMMENDATIONS BE MADE.

MR LA1 SAID HE FELT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT REDUCE ITS COMMITMENT ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE OF A GREATER SURPLUS FROM ESTATES.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD CONSIDER CAREFULLY ITS COMMITMENT ON PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND SHOULD NOT CONTINUOUSLY INCREASE TENANTS' RESPONSIBILITY BY RENT INCREASE.

HE ALSO QUESTIONED THE REASONS FOR SUPPORTING THE PROPOSAL FOR A 15 PER CENT RENT-INCOME RATIO.

HE SAID STATISTICS QUOTED IN THE REPORT COULD NOT EFFECTIVELY PROVE THAT TENANTS COULD AFFORD THE 15 PER CENT RENT-INCOME RATIO.

HE WAS ALSO NOT SATISFIED THAT THE REPORT HAD QUOTED EXAMPLES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO PROVE THAT THE RECOMMENDED RATIO WAS FAIR AND REASONABLE, SAYING IT WAS UNFAIR THAT COMPARISON WAS DRAWN ON RENTALS ALONE WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OTHER FACILITIES.

HOUSING LOAN FUND FOR SANDWICH CLASS ECHOED

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THE PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A FUND FOR PROVIDING DOWN-PAYMENT LOANS TO THE SANDWICH CLASS TO ENABLE THEM TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN RESIDENTIAL FLATS WAS REPEATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI.

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON HOUSING, MR LEE SAID THE PROPOSAL, IF IMPLEMENTED, WOULD HELP REDUCE DISSATISFACTION AMONG NON-PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TOWARDS THE BENEFITS ENJOYED BY PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, AND WOULD THUS ALLEVIATE THE DISINTEGRATION AND ANTAGONISM EXISTING AMONG THE POPULATION.

MR LEE SAID SINCE PUBLIC HOUSING SERVED AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL FUNCTION, HE AGREED THAT A TRULY FAIR POLICY SHOULD BE FORMULATED.

+BUT SINCE ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF THE POPULATION LIVE IN PRIVATE PREMISES NO MATTER HOW GOVERNMENT'S RENT POLICY OR HOUSING SUBSIDY POLICY IS FORMULATED, IT WILL GIVE RISE TO CRITICISM OR DISCONTENT FROM ABOUT HALF THE POPULATION,+ HE SAID.

J

MR LEE SAID HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE OFTEN TOO HARSH WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND WOULD ASK FOR LEGISLATION TO BE MADE TO RECTIFY SOME RARE CASES OF APPARENT INJUSTICE.

/+IN FACT,