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A spokesman for the Government Property Agency (the Agency) said today (January 4) that the letting of Government properties by the Agency does not involve gender consideration.

The spokesman said, "The procedures and considerations for commercial letting of domestic units and letting to welfare and non-profit-making organizations (NGOs) at nominal rent are different. For the former, the Agency has for many years been letting domestic units commercially through appointed estate agents at market rent, for single family residence and on the basis of standard tenancy agreement. All these conditions are not negotiable. As to the latter, the Agency will, upon receipt of policy support from the relevant government bureau/department, consider the individual requirements of the respective NGOs, the feasibility of its proposal and other relevant factors to decide whether the unit should be let. The rental arrangements in respect of the existing NGOs at the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) quarters all belong to the latter category.

"As the proposed use of PWH units for 'sheltered hostel use' by The Family Relationship Development Network of Hong Kong (Organization) does not comply with the leasing criteria of 'single family residence only', the Agency did not accept commercial letting of the premises to the Organization. The Agency had written to the Organization clarifying the criteria for commercial leasing, the procedure, considerations and the follow-up action currently being undertaken by both the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the Agency in respect of application for letting at nominal rent. As there have been recent press reports that the Organization suspects that the Agency's rejection of its request for renting PWH units at market rent involves gender discrimination, the Agency has earlier this afternoon faxed another letter to the Organization clarifying its rental arrangements and considerations and pointing out that they do not involve gender consideration or discrimination."

The spokesman added, "Currently, in line with normal practice, the Organization's application for renting the PWH units for 'sheltered hostel use' is being considered by the relevant departments, in this case SWD as to whether to provide policy support and thereafter by the Agency. In response to SWD's request, the Agency is also examining whether there are other suitable premises for 'sheltered hostel use'."

Ends/Tuesday, January 4, 2005

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