XN000022-1993-06-11 — Page 15

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1993

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NO BEDSPACE LODGERS WILL BE LEFT HOMELESS: SHA

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, REITERATED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT NO EXISTING BRDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS WOULD BE LEFT HOMELESS AS A RESULT OF THE LICENSING SCHEME UNDER THE BEDSPACE APARTMENTS BILL RECENTLY INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEEting of THE PO LEUNG KUK, MR SURN STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, IN DRAWING UP THE CONTROL SCHEME, HAD CAREFULLY PLANNED FOR ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY LODGER SO DISPLACED.

HE WENT ON то DISMISS AS GROUNDLESS SOME PEOPLE'S MISCONCEPTION THAT "HALF OF THE NUMBER OF BEDSPACE APARTMENT LODGERS WILL BE THROWN ONTO THE STREETS", OR THAT "THE GOVERNMENT HAD BROKEN ITS EARLIER PROMISE TO REHOUSE 2,000 OF THESE LODGERS IN PUBLIC HOUSING".

"FROM THE OUTSET WE WERE ONLY TOO AWARE THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO REGULATE AND IMPROVE THE FIRE AND BUILDING SAFETY STANDARDS IN BEDSPACE APARTMENTS WAS LIKELY ΤΟ RESULT IN DISPLACEMENT OF SOME EXISTING LODGERS.

"WHILE WE DID NOT THEN KNOW THE EXTENT OF SUCH DISPLACEMENT, AND MY PREDECESSOR HAD QUOTED A FIGURE OF 2,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ILLUSTRATION, A MORE REALISTIC ESTIMATE NOW IS ABOUT 400 LODGERS OR 10 PER CENT OF THE CURRENT POPULATION IN SUCH PREMISES, HE SAID.

HE ASSURED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STAND BY ITS COMMITMENT TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE DISPLACED LODGERS, WHATEVER the NUMBER MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE.

DEPARTMENT

(SWD) WILL HELP AND THE DISABLED THROUGH ESTATES, ELDERLY

HE ADDED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE THOSE AFFECTED LODGERS AGED 60 AND ABOVE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING IN PUBLIC HOUSING INSTITUTIONS AND TEMPORARY HOSTELS.

FOR

FURTHERMORE, THOSE NOT IN THE SWD CATEGORIES ARE ELIGIBLE ADMISSION INTO THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S SINGLETON HOSTELS.

HOWEVER, MR SUEN MADE PLAIN THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO "OUTLAW BEDSPACE APARTMENTS AND ΤΟ REHOUSE ALL THEIR LODGERS INTO PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF RESOURCES TO DO 80.

MEANWHILE, WITH A SMOOTH PASSAGE OF THE BEDSPACE APARTMENT BILL, HE SAID IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT ALL SUCH PREMISES WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OPERATE UNDER LICENCE FROM MID-1996.

TURNING TO THE CONTROL OF GUESTHOUSES UNDER THE HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE ACCOMMODATION ORDINANCE ENACTED IN 1991, HE SAID OPERATORS HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN A TWO-YEAR EXEMPTION, UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST, TO ENABLE THEM TO UPGRADE THEIR SAFETY STANDARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

/MR SUEN