XN000022-1993-05-01 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1993

CNTA SYMPATHETIC TO MACS' FREE RENT PLEA

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THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (ONTA)

UNDERSTANDS

AND SYMPATHISES WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES (MAC'S) FOR SEEKING RENT EXEMPTION FROM THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY (HKHS).

THIS WAS STATED BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON OF CNTA, MR CC WAN, AT A MEETING WITH THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON RESIDENT'S RIGHTS IN HOUSING SOCIETY ESTATE AND MANAGEMENT STAFF OF THE HKHS THIS (

(SATURDAY) MORNING.

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THE MEETING WAS CALLED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE WHICH IS SEEKING TO WAIVE RENTS то SOME 50 MAC OFFICES IN HKHS ESTATES.

MR WAN SAID THE ONTA HAD BEEN MAKING REPRESENTATIONS ON BEHALF OF THESE MAC'S SINCE MAY 1989.

THE SOCIETY THEN AGREED TO REDUCE RENTS FOR MAC OFFICES IN 1989 FROM $19 PER SQM TO $9.5 PER SQM.

"AND FOLLOWING A RECENT TRIENNIAL WELFARE RENT REVIEW WHICH RAISED MAC OFFICE'S RENT TO $12.5 PER SQM, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED BY WRITING TO THE HKHS REQUESTING THAT RENTS FOR MAC OFFICES BE WAIVED, MR WAN SAID.

AS ΤΟ A SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE SUBSIDIES TO THESE MAC'S TO COVER THEIR RENTS, MR WAN SAID THE EXISTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR MAC'S WAS MEANT TO SERVE AS AN INCENTIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF THESE SELF-HELP RESIDENT ORGANISATIONS.

UNDER THIS SCHEME, MAC'S ARE ENTITLED TO CLAIM REIMBURSEMENTS FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE UP TO A LIMIT OF $700 PER QUARTER.

HOWEVER, MR WAN EXPLAINED THAT THAT AMOUNT WAS NOT MEANT COVER ALL EXPENSES INCURRED BY MAC'S.

ΤΟ

"THIS IS BECAUSE UNLIKE WELFARE AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MAC'S ARE SELF-HELP ORGANISATIONS FORMED VOLUNTARILY ΤΟ PROMOTE MUTUAL, RELIANCE AND NEIGHBOURLINESS AMONG MEMBERS AND, FOR THIS REASON COULD NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE SUBVENTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON THE SAME FOOTING, HE ADDED.

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HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MANY OTHER TYPES OF ORGANISATIONS, SUCH AS OWNERS' CORPORATIONS, DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEES, SPORTS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATIONS ARE NOT GIVEN ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT MR WAN BELIEVED THIS SHOULD NOT DETER THE WORK OF MACS

AS, OUT OF THE EXISTING 4,000 MAC'S, MORE THAN HALF DO

NOT HAVE OFFICES BUT STILL MANAGE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN PROVIDING BUILDING MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO THEIR MEMBERS.

"THERE ARE ALSO CASES OF SEVERAL MAC'S SHARING ONE OFFICE SO AS TO REDUCE THEIR RENT BURDEN, HE ADDED.

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