TNAG-2446-FCO40-3562-Political-parties-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 63

should

between

govern-

ii.

When planning such an overall policy, government review its housing strategy and reconsider the balance private housing and public housing. It is our view that ment should place much more emphasis on public housing crease the supply of public housing in order that the demand

supply for residence can be regularized.

iii.

and in-

and

Government should also review its financial arrangement

with the Housing Authority. We believe that government should shoulder the responsibility of providing housing and incidental community facilities to the general public. Thus, the Housing Authority should not be required to reimburse the government with any profits which it may make.

iv.

The organization of the Housing Authority should be re-

viewed. We consider that government should encourage more public

participation in the Housing Authority so to increase its ac-

countability to the public. This will also benefit the govern- ment by making its image more representative and democratic. The

introduction of public opinion in to the Housing Authority would

also benefit the Authority in the making of its policy with

regard to public housing which is essentially a matter

livelihood of members of the public.

for

the

[Section three]: Social welfare

Public Assistance Scheme

Each aided person now only receives HK$825 per month.

According

to our calculation, such a person can only spend an average of

not more than HK$20 on food each day, and less than HK$1 transportation. These figures are far below the mere

on

survival

level.

2. Some data will show that Public Assistance in the last one

and a half decade is very unsatisfactory in that it is constantly

on the decrease. Back in 1976, the ratio of Public Assistance to

the median income was 24.3%, representing a drop of 50% over only

one and a half decade. In the decade from 1983 to 1991, due to

inflation, the amount of Public Assistance showed a negative

growth of -26.6%.

3

the amount of Public Assistance should

We believe a reasonable increase is in the

We recommend that

urgently be reviewed.

region of HK$1,500 to 2,000.