XN000022-1987-07-08 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987

"AT THE SAME TIME, IF MORE SITTING TENANTS CAN MOVE TO HOS ACCORDING TO THEIR WISHES, MORE PUBLIC RENTAL UNITS CAN THEN BE RELEASED AND BE RE-ALLOCATED TO THE MORE NEEDY.'

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IN THIS WAY, MR CHEUNG SAID, THE HOUSING SUBSIDY WHICH THE TENANTS ARE RECEIVING WILL BE MORE RELATED ΤΟ THEIR NEEDS AND THE PUBLIC RESOURCES WHICH ARE ALLOCATED FOR HOUSING PURPOSES COULD BE BETTER UTILISED.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PART OF THE HOUSING STRATEGY WAS THE INTRODUCATION OF THE HOME PURCHASE LOAN SCHEME.

"THIS SCHEME, IN MY VIEW, IS AN INNOVATIVE IDEA AND THE CRUX OF THE PROPOSAL IS THAT AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR ASSISTED ROME PURCHASE FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE IS PROVIDED IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, HE SAID.

14

F

MR CHEUNG SAID SINCE THE SCHEME WAS A PURELY VOLUNTARY ONE IT HAD NOT AFFECTED THE RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON AND THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE.

THEY

"THEREFORE, THE CHOICE 15 REALLY LEFT FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE. CAN DECIDE ON WHETHER TO APPLY OR NOT AFTER CONSIDERING THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, NEEDS AND PREFERENCES OF THEIR FAMILIES."

HOWEVER, HE SAID NO MENTION HAD BEEN MADE то THE DETAILS OF

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME IN THE POLICY STATEMENT.

"DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS ON THE SCHEME AND I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PAY DUE CONSIDERATION TO THESE COMMENTS IN DRAWING UP THE PLAN FOR

IMPLEMENTATION.

"IN PARTICULAR, GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SLIGHTLY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE LOAN AND EXTENDING THE ELIGIBILITY ΤΟ THE WAITING LIST APPLICANTS.

"

MR CHEUNG SAID AN IMPORTANT ASSUMPTION OF THE STRATEGY WAS THAT MORE SITTING TENANTS AND THOSE AFFECTED BY REDEVELOPMENT WOULD OPT FOR HOME PURCHASE IF THEY WERF GIVEN THE OPTION.

"HOWEVER, ONCE THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENTS HOME PURCHASE THEREBY INEVITABLY AFFECT THE STRATEGY.

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DEMAND FOR

THE PROPOSALS

"THEREFORE, WE SHOULD NOTE THAT IN IMPLEMENTING OF THE STRATEGY EFFECTIVELY, CAREFUL PLANNING, CLOSE CO-ORDINATION AMONGST ALL PARTIES CONCERNED AND EFFECTIVE MONITORING ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT QUICK RESPONSES CAN BE MADE ΤΟ ANY OBJECTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

CHANGES IN THE

NO MATTER