XN000022-1992-10-14 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992

MRS WONG SAID PROVISION OF "B CLASS BEDS" WAS BEING CONSIDERED ONE OF THE OPTIONS IN AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE POLICY ON FEES AND WAIVER.

AS

"PROPOSALS FROM THIS REVIEW WOULD BE PRESENTED AS OPTIONS IN A GREEN PAPER FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

"

"IT IS EARLY DAYS YET TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON CHARGES TO BE ADOPTED, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT MUCH WOULD HAVE TO DEPEND ON PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ON THE OUTCOME OF A PILOT SCHEME, IF INTRODUCED.

HOWEVER, SHE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT UNDER THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ORDINANCE, "NO PERSON SHOULD BE PREVENTED, THROUGH LACK OF MEANS, FROM OBTAINING ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT",

CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEM ON RENTAL POLICIES WORKS WELL

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR BOWEN LEUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEM ON RENTAL POLICIES OF THE HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD WORKED WELL, AND THERE WERE NO PLANS ΤΟ INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO SET

UP MONITORING MECHANISMS.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MAN SAI-CHEONG, MR LEUNG SAID THERE WAS ADEQUATE AND EFFECTIVE MONITORING OF THE RENT POLICIES OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE LARGEST STATUTORY PUBLIC HOUSING AGENT IN HONG KONG, WHICH MANAGED OVER 642,000 RENTAL FLATS.

"OVER THE YEARS, THE AUTHORITY'S RENT POLICIES, RENT REVIEWS FOR EXISTING ESTATES AND RENT SETTING FOR NEW ESTATES HAVE BEEN CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO THE OMELCO STANDING PANEL ON HOUSING, DISTRICT

BOARDS, THE MEDIA, INTEREST GROUPS AND THE TENANTS CONCERNED.

"

'ALL MAJOR CHANGES TO THE EXISTING RENT POLICIES ARE THOROUGHLY DEBATED WITHIN THE AUTHORITY WHOSE MEMBERSHIP COMPRISE MAINLY OF NON-OFFICIALS REPRESENTING A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY," HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT ALL IMPORTANT POLICY PROPOSALS WERE SUBJECT TO WIDE PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND THE APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

MR LEUNG

SAID THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY WAS A MUCH SMALLER INDEPENDENT BODY INCORPORATED BY STATUTE AND MANAGING ABOUT 33,000 RENTAL FLATS, ITS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING RENT POLICIES, WERE DETERMINED BY AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

MEMBERSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE IS DRAWN FROM PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESSMEN, AS WELL AS CIVIL SERVANTS, SERVING IN THEIR PERSONAL CAPACITY.

/HE SAID:

TTT