TNAG-1575-FCO40-2148-Housing-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 54

in

5

In conclusion, I think the crux of the whole problem lies in the financial arrangement between the Government and the Housing Authority and in whether the Government should relinquish its

limited commitments.

Finally, I would like to make the following

recommendations:

(a) the long-term housing policy mentioned in the

Governor's policy address should be formulated as soon as possible. I think that only by ascertaining Government's commitment towards the public housing programme, the responsibility of public housing tenants themselves and the financial arrangements between the Government and the Housing Authority, can a basic solution to the problems of public housing be worked out. The 2 Reports mentioned above are by no means comprehensive. I do not agree that we should adopt the recommendations concerning well-off tenants and the domestic rent policy today in the absence of a long-term and comprehensive housing policy.

(b)

the formulation of a long-term housing policy must involve the participation of the general public. Such a policy not only affects existing public housing tenants, but also those who are or who will be on the Waiting List. In the course of discussion, the image of the so-called heavily subsidized public housing tenants should not be over-exaggerated because this is of no help to the whole society in working out a reasonable housing policy.