'No ownership' public rent rule stands, says official
While elderly property owners living in buildings in disrepair will be allowed to rent public flats, the government says the 'no property ownership' rule still applies to others.
A housing official told the Legislative Council's housing panel yesterday that screening out property owners was essential to ensure public resources were allocated rationally.
The acting Deputy Director of Housing, Fung Ho-tong, said: 'To ensure the limited public housing resources reach those who need them the most, the government must uphold the no-property-ownership principle.'
The Housing Department will allow older people who own properties in run-down buildings to rent government flats for a year if they are in genuine need. During that time, they will be able to dispose of their property in order to meet the eligibility criteria for renting a government flat. If they have not satisfied the criteria after a year, the department may use its discretion to extend their stay.
The department decided to let elderly owners rent flats after a Society for Community Organisation survey showed many elderly property owners encountered problems such as poor hygiene and maintenance and inadequate management services in old buildings.
Before Mr Fung spoke, a dozen elderly property owners demonstrated outside the Legco building, demanding the government scrap the no-ownership requirement so they could apply for public housing.
