XN000022-1987-01-07 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987

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SALE OF PUBLIC RENTAL FLATS TO TENANTS IMPRACTICAL

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THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED IT IMPRACTICAL TO SELL PUBLIC RENTAL FLATS TO SITTING TENANTS AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RICHARD LAI, MR LIAO EXPLAINED THAT THE SOLUTION TO RESOLVE HONG KONG'S HÕUS ING PROBLEMS REMAINED IN INCREASING THE HOUSING STOCK TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR THOSE WHO WERE INADEQUATELY HOUSED.

+IN 1986, THIS FIGURE IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 380 000 HOUSEHOLDS FOR ALL HOUSING CATEGORIES, AMONG THESE ARE 112 000 SQUATTER HOUSEHOLDS AND 170 000 APPLICANTS ON THE GENERAL WAITING LIST, HE SAID.

ON THE BASIS OF PRODUCING 30 000 RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS A YEAR, HR LIAO SAID THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS WOULD DE SATISFIED ONLY IN THE MID-1990'S.

HE SAID THE PROPOSAL TO SELL EXISTING PUBLIC RENTAL UNITS TO SITTING TENANTS DID NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF INCREASING THE HOUSING STOCK AND WOULD NOT THEREFORE ASSIST IN SOLVING HONG KONG'S HOUSING PROBLEM,

-IN FACT, THE PROPOSAL WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF THE STOCK OF RENTAL HOUSING AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS STILL A SIZEABLE OUTSTANDING DEMAND AND IT WILL HAVE THE NET EFFECT OF DELAYING. REHOUSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED OF ADEQUATE HOUSING, MR LIAO SA ID.

HE ALSO SAID A MIXED POPULATION OF OWNERS AND TENANTS WOULD ERING MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS TO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

+ IT MAKES MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS MORE DIFFICULT AND THE EVENTUAL REDEVELOPMENT OF SUCH ESTATES WILL BECOME EXCEEDINGLY COMPLICATED.

+ON THE OTHER, IF ONLY THE NEW AND MODERN FLATS ARE TO BE SOLD TO TENANTS, A SITUATION MAY ARISE IN FUTURE IN WHICH OLD RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING WILL REPRESENT THE MOST SOCIALLY UNDESIRABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE TERRITORY,

+THIS WILL HAVE GREAT SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS, HE SAID.

MR LIAO ALSO SAID THERE WAS REALLY LITTLE INCENTIVE FOR THE TENANTS TO BUY THE UNITS THEY WERE CURRENTLY OCCUPYING.

/HE SAID