XN000022-1995-10-18 — Page 51

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Public housing for lower-paid civil servants

The following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Wong and a reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Michael Sze, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council of the details regarding the Government's policy on the allocation of public housing to its lower-paid staff and whether there is any intention to change its policy; and if so, whether compensation is payable to cover the retrenchment of such time-honoured staff welfare?

Answer:

Mr President,

As a part of our efforts to improve the welfare of junior staff, there has been a long standing scheme under which such staff may apply separately from the general public housing waiting list for a public housing unit. The allocation of units is done through a quota.

This scheme was first introduced in 1963, with the number of units included in the Quota varying over the years, depending on the production of flats by the Housing Authority and the level of demand for the units which are produced. In 1963, 117 units were available under the Quota. The number of units gradually increased. In 1972, there were 2001 available. However, in 1974 there was no Quota due to an acute shortfall in the number of flats produced that year. From 1975 to 1978 the Quota varied between 500 and 1,500 places. In 1979 the Quota was set at 1,100 places and subsequently increased to 1,700 places in 1985. Since 1985 the Quota has remained at 1,700 places comprising 1,300 rental units and 400 Home Ownership Scheme units. The latter has become increasingly popular. A total of 37,666 officers and their families have benefited from the quota system since its inception.