XN000022-1991-01-09 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1991

NO INCOME LIMIT FOR HOS GREEN FORM APPLICANTS

HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME GREEN FORM APPLICANTS, WHO ARE GENERALLY PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING TENANTS AND OTHERS AFFECTED BY CLEARANCE AND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, HAVE NOT BEEN SUBJECT ΤΟ ANY INCOME LIMIT SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SCHEME.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT.

MR TSAO SAID THE ARRANGEMENT WAS JUDGED DESIRABLE AS IT COULD ENCOURAGE BETTER-OFF FAMILIES TO VACATE PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING SO THAT THEIR FLATS COULD BE RELEASED FOR

ΤΟ OTHER FAMILIES IN

GREATER NEED.

ALLOCATION

IT WOULD ALSO FACILITATE THE VARIOUS CLEARANCE AND

PROJECTS REDEVELOPMENT

BY PROVIDING FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH A REASONABLY WIDE CHOICE OF ALTERNATIVE HOUSING, HE SAID.

"THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME IS ALSO INTENDED TO COVER THAT SECTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES ARE TOO HIGH FOR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING BUT TOO LOW

TO AFFORD A PRIVATE SECTOR

FLAT, HE ADDED.

**

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

AS FOR WHITE FORM APPLICANTS, MR TSAO SAID A LIMIT WAS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY IN ORDER TO EXCLUDE THOSE WHO MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO PURCHASE A PRIVATE FLAT.

"IN THE THREE PREVIOUS HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME SALES PHASES IN OF 1990, WHITE FORM APPLICANTS WITH INCOMES WITHIN THE EXISTING LIMIT $11,500 PER MONTH, COULD MEET

HOUSING AUTHORITY AFFORDABILITY CRITERIA FOR 45 PER CENT OF THE FLATS CONCERNED, HE SAID.

THE

"

"SOME HOUSEHOLDS MAY NATURALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE ΤΟ DRAW ON SAVINGS AND OTHER RESOURCES TO AFFORD MORE EXPENSIVE FLATS."

MR TSAO POINTED OUT THAT THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME INCOME LAST LIMIT FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WAS SUBJECT TO REGULAR REVIEW, THE OF WHICH WAS IN MARCH 1990.

"

"THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL REVIEW THE INCOME LIMIT AGAIN IN MARCH 1991, HE ADDED.

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