TNAG-1575-FCO40-2148-Housing-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 19

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I take

to clarify some of the points that this opportunity to clarify some being commonly discussed.

are

A revised recommendation that has drawn criticisms from is that in calculating the public housing policy commentators total income of a household,

of all the wage the full incomes

earners are to be included. Some argue that this is too harsh as it is hard to tell how much one

tell how much one contributes, especially for the the housekeeping budget of one's family. younger generation to There are even worries that such a rule will lead to splitting of the household to bring the income below the level required to pay

double rent.

those

in the

Green

in

in a

than generous fairness, all those who have income

in bearing

common

Paper.

In

I can While such worries are not entirely unfounded, assure my honourable colleagues that the Committee has thoroughly examined all relevant

all relevant factors before making its recommendations. The recommendations now drawn up are undoubtedly generally more all proposed

household should have

equal responsibility

a typical expenses, example of which is rent. It is, therefore, not unreasonable to include the full income of each in the

income of each in the total household income. Other wage earners of the household will still keep considerable

their income for their proportion

own expenditure.

for basis the

Level, addition,

Income Subsidy charging double rent, has been raised to twice the Waiting List Income Level. As a result, a smaller number of tenants

affected.

of

which

income

sets a

in

In

become

One suggestion put to the Committee before it concluded of the its work was

to estimates, 95% that since, according

order to would

be have eligible for continuing to pay their existing rent, it would be more useful to ask all tenants to make known their income so that

tenants

declare to

their