XN000022-1990-05-02 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1990

THIS FIGURE REPRESENTED 6.4 PER CENT OF THE 532,000 HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING, AND WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION FROM THE POSITION IN MARCH 1981 WHEN THERE WERE OVER 123,000 SUCH HOUSEHOLDS, REPRESENTING 34.8 PER CENT OF THE 353,000 PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSEHOLDS THEN.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEGREE OF OVERCROWDEDNESS VARIED FROM ESTATE TO ESTATE; AND THE PROBLEM MAINLY EXISTED IN THE OLDER ESTATES WHICH WERE BUILT TO MORE STRINGENT ALLOCATION STANDARDS.

"UNDER CURRENT POLICY, FAMILIES IN OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS MAY APPLY FOR TRANSFER TO LARGER ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED THAT THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME INCOME LIMIT AND THAT THEY DO NOT OWN ANY DOMESTIC PROPERTY," HE SAID.

"PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO THESE HOUSEHOLDS TO APPLY FOR CASUAL VACANCIES IN THE SAME ESTATE AS THEY ARISE, OR FOR NEWLY COMPLETED ESTATES.

AN

"THEY MAY ALSO APPLY FOR AN HOS/PSPS FLAT OR TAKE OUT INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO BUY A PRIVATE SECTOR FLAT, AGAIN WITH PRIORITY

STATUS.

++

SOME MAY CHOOSE TO GENERAL WAITING LIST.

4.

་

APPLY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING THROUGH THE

MR TSAO SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE VEHICLE IN THE RELIEF OF OVERCROWDEDNESS WAS THE COMPREHENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH WOULD PROGRESSIVELY BRING THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE OLDER ESTATES TO MODERN STANDARDS.

"IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS ALONE, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 10,000 (OR 29.2 PER CENT) HOUSEHOLDS CURRENTLY SUFFERING FROM OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS WILL BE ALLOCATED A NEW FLAT WITH MUCH BETTER AMENITIES

AND FACILITIES.

"BY 2001, 82 PER CENT OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS WILL HAVE BEEN REHOUSED UNDER THIS PROGRAMME IF THEY HAVE NOT CHOSEN BEFORE THEN ΤΟ USE THE VARIOUS OTHER MEANS AVAILABLE TO THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS,' HE ADDED.

"

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