Household size
(Number of persons)
74
Number of households
UA W N =
1
14,208
2
23,820
3
27,985
4
27,543
5
10,825
6
3,079
7
755
8
225
9
59
10 or more
29
Total
108,528
About 25% of these households are already living in subsidised public housing, while another 7% are accommodated in temporary housing areas.
The Government does not consider it appropriate to provide rent allowances to households on the General Waiting List. To do so would not only conflict with Government social policy in other areas such as social welfare, but would also be inconsistent with the main objectives of our housing policy, where our priorities are geared towards increasing flat supply and encouraging home ownership, with assistance being provided through various subsidised schemes. This policy has the effect of making more public rental housing flats available for allocation to eligible families on the General Waiting List, and therefore represents a more efficient use of resources than providing rent allowances. Moreover, such allowances would have very substantial recurrent financial implications of possibly about $4 billion a year and other practical difficulties in implementation.
If a person on the General Waiting List is financially vulnerable, he should apply for financial assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme. If eligible, he will be paid both a standard rate to cover ordinary household expenditure and a special grant to cover rent. In granting public financial support to those in need, it would be inequitable to distinguish between those who may or may not be on the General Waiting List.
End/Wednesday, July 12, 1995
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