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Written by: Wang Jieen
2021-03-01 17:29
Last update date: 2021-03-01 17:30
After reviewing the existing mechanism, the Housing Authority proposes to raise the income limits for public housing for one-, two- and five-person households in the year 2021/22.
As for other family groups, in response to the impact of the epidemic, the Housing Authority recommends freezing their income limits and also recommends that the public housing asset limits remain unchanged.
The Housing Panel of the Legislative Council met today (1st) to discuss. Many Members at the meeting were concerned that the current mechanism is "too hot." It is easy for family applicants to exceed the upper limit of application. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust the calculation method of the relevant mechanism.
The Transport and Housing Bureau responded that if income or asset limits are continuously raised, they are worried that they will not be able to concentrate resources to help those most in need.
As for the "Unemployment Loan Scheme" proposed in the "Budget", if an applicant obtains a loan, whether it will be counted as an asset, the authorities responded that: "Go back and take a look."
The new budget proposes the establishment of a "100% Guaranteed Personal Preferential Loan Scheme", with the government providing guarantees. The applicant’s loan amount is capped at 80,000 yuan to help the unemployed temporarily overcome difficulties.
The DAB Legislative Council Member Or Chong-sheng asked at the meeting whether citizens who apply for the relevant payment will be counted as assets when they are waiting for public housing.
The Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing and Director of Housing, Wang Tianyu, responded that the plan seemed to be just a loan, but frankly said: "Go back and take a look."
In addition, many members at the meeting were concerned that the current mechanism for reviewing public housing income or asset limits is "too hot" and questioned that many families exceeded the upper limit of public housing applications. Therefore, the calculation method of the relevant mechanism should be adjusted. Liu Guoxun, Member of the DAB Legislative Council To put it bluntly: "Government policies seem to encourage people not to be wild and stay with housing companies." And Mak Meijuan, a member of the Legislative Council of the Federation of Trade Unions also criticized that the mechanism punishes hardworking people, even if they only earn the minimum wage If the working hours are longer, the application limit has already been exceeded.
Can't concentrate resources to help those most in need
Wang Tianyu said that no matter how the line is drawn, there will always be someone who will exceed the limit. Even if the government strives to expand the supply of public housing, it is still "catch up". If the income or asset limit is continuously raised, I am worried that it will not be able to concentrate resources to help those in need people.
Wang Tianyu also pointed out that in the current mechanism, in addition to referring to the "Category A Consumer Price Index", the "Nominal Wage Index" was also introduced in 2013, and the higher of the two shall prevail.
She said that the occupational categories covered by the "Nominal Wage Index" are common among applicants for public housing, such as clerks, retail security, cleaning, etc., so she believes that the mechanism is appropriate and can reflect the latest realities in a timely manner.
She also pointed out that according to the data for the fourth quarter of 2020, the median income of a two-person household is 20,000 yuan, which is similar to the current recommended income limit for public housing.
The Housing Authority proposes to freeze the asset limit for public housing applicants to fine-tune the income limit for one-person and two-person households
Budget｜Rates reductions, public housing, no rent-free quarters 3 and 4, only 4 adults free of rates
The monthly rent of less than 60% of the public housing units in Kai Chuan Court in Diamond Hill and Fu Die Village in Tai Po is below 2500 yuan
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