7.1 Throughout this document, we have attempted to keep in mind our two key housing policy goals: to help all families gain access to adequate and affordable housing, and to encourage wider home ownership in the community. We have examined in turn the major policies which underpin these goals. At the end of each chapter, we have summarised the thrust of our argument and, in addition, have made some 40 specific recommendations to support the priorities we have identified.
7.2 Because this document is intended to be strategic in nature, many of the operational details as well as the financial implications remain to be worked out. In addition, we may need to revise our recommendations having regard to the views expressed during the public consultation exercise. For these reasons, it would not be appropriate for us to attempt to predict the precise effect of our proposals on the operation of our housing policies and programmes (for example, on the precise ratio of production between subsidised home ownership flats and public rental flats in a particular year; the number of people on the Waiting List ten years from now; the number of interim housing residents in a given period; or the precise number of flats to be developed in a particular area as a result of our efforts to apply planning guidelines in a flexible way). But we must still ask the question : what will the proposed measures set out in this consultative document, if implemented, mean in broad terms for the different sections of the community?
7.3 Our own preliminary assessment is that -
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(a) |
for families on the Waiting List, including the inadequately housed, there will be a more equitable system of allocation of public rental housing, using the same set of entry criteria for both Waiting List and other categories of applicant. Together with an increase in the number of flats available for allocation, this will help us to shorten the waiting time; | |
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(b) |
for existing public housing tenants and other families who are eligible for assistance, there will be more opportunities for home ownership as a result of the Government's subsidised home ownership schemes and the proposals which we have put forward; | |
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(c) |
for aspiring home owners in the private sector, opportunities should also be greater as flat supply continues to increase; | |
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(d) |
for private sector developers, there will be greater opportunities to help meet the housing needs of Hong Kong; and | |
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(e) |
for the community itself, there will be greater choice in terms of housing provision, and more equitable use of the community's resources. |