XN000022-1995-06-21 — Page 52

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Rental income loss incurred by vacant public housing flats

Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

According to the latest information provided by the Housing Department, 40% of the 11,200 vacant public housing flats have been vacant for more than six months while 1,257 flats have been vacant for over one year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council;

(a)

(b)

of the total loss in rental income incurred by these vacant flats in the 1994-95 financial year;

whether the Housing Department has any plan to allocate these vacant flats to overcrowded families in the near future; if so, what the detailed plan is; if not, why not?

Answer:

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

At the end of March 1995, there were 11,200 lettable flats left vacant for different reasons, and the vacancy period varied from one month to over a year. Arithmetically, the loss in rental income in 1994-95 was about $6 million.

Vacant flats are earmarked for allocation to different categories of applicants, including people on the General Waiting List, overcrowded families living in public housing estates and families affected by the Housing Department's clearance and redevelopment exercises. In 1995- transfers and relief of 96, a quota of 3,000 flats is reserved for overcrowding from sitting tenants: 1,000 for inter-estate applications and 2,000 for intra-estate applications.

End/Wednesday, June 21, 1995