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Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (May¡@28):
Question:
The income limits of the Waiting List (WL) for public rental housing for 2014-2015, which came into effect on April 1, 2014, have increased by an average of 8.4% over those for 2013-2014. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of (i) the total number of households in rented private accommodation in the fourth quarter of 2013 and, among them, (ii) the number and percentage of households with the then incomes equal to or below the relevant WL income limits for 2013-2014, as well as (iii) the number and percentage of households with the then incomes equal to or below the relevant WL income limits for 2014-2015, with a breakdown by household size (set out in table 1); and
(2) of the 10th percentile, thereafter the percentiles of 10-percentage-point intervals up to the 90th percentiles, and the 25th and 75th percentiles, of the monthly incomes of the households referred to in (1), with a breakdown by household size (set out in table 2)?
Reply:
President,
The Hong Kong Housing Authority provides public rental housing (PRH) for low-income families who cannot afford to rent private accommodation. The eligibility of PRH applicants is determined by way of the PRH income and asset limits, which measure the total household income required to rent private accommodation comparable to PRH while also meeting other non-housing expenditure. Households with income and assets below the prescribed limits are deemed to be unable to afford to rent private accommodation, and hence are eligible for PRH. The limits are reviewed annually to keep them in line with the prevailing socio-economic circumstances.
Our reply to the two-part question of Hon Wu Chi-wai is as follows:
(1) Taking reference from the General Household Survey (GHS) data of the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), as at the fourth quarter of 2013, there were 455 000 non-owner occupied households in the private sector in Hong Kong. Among them, in terms of income alone, 130 300 and 147 100 households had an income equal to or below the PRH income limits for 2013/14 and 2014/15 respectively, accounting for 29% and 32% of total non-owner occupied households in the private sector respectively. The breakdown by household size for households of one person to six persons and more is shown in table 3. Due to limitation of survey data, the breakdown based on household sizes of households with six persons to ten persons and above is not available.
The figures in table 3 only provide a snapshot of the position as at the fourth quarter of 2013 and should be interpreted with caution. They are not equal to the demand figures for PRH. Firstly, the number of non-owner occupied households in the private sector changes over time, so does the proportion of them eligible for PRH. Households meeting the income limits may not necessarily be able to meet other eligibility criteria and the figures have not taken into account the assets of individual households. Eligible households may choose not to apply for PRH and some eligible households may have already applied for PRH. Besides, apart from existing non-owner occupied households, members of existing households of PRH, owner-occupier households of Home Ownership Scheme and owner-occupier households in the private sector may also form new households and apply for PRH.
(2) Taking reference from C&SD's GHS data as at the fourth quarter of 2013, the selected percentiles of monthly incomes of households by household size for non-owner occupied households of one person to six persons and more in the private sector are shown in table 4. Due to limitation of survey data, the breakdown of households with six persons to ten persons and above is not available.
Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:08
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