Database on Particular Policy Issues

Review of income and asset limits for Waiting List applicants

Date

Context

Summary of development

Action

3.12.01

The Panel discussed the Administration's paper on the recent revision of income limits and well-off tenant policy for all rental estates under the Housing Society. [Paper]

The Panel also met the Society for Community Organization on the above subject.

20.12.01

The Panel continued the discussion on the review of income and asset limits for public housing applicants and met deputations on the subject. The Administration also provided members with a paper which set out its response to members' concerns raised at the meeting held on 3.12.01. [Paper]

7.1.02

The Panel followed up the discussion on the review of income and asset limits for public housing applicants. The Administration also provided members with a paper which set out its response to members' concerns raised at the meeting held on 20.12.01. [Paper]

Hon Albert HO moved a motion requesting the Housing Authority (HA) to relax the formula for deriving the Waiting List (WL) income limits. Mr HO prepared a letter setting out the proposed formula and rationales for members' consideration. [Letter] The motion was carried. [Minutes, "Page 10"]

25.2.02

The Panel continued the discussion on the review of income and asset limits for public housing applicants. Members were not satisfied that the Administration had not taken into full account the recommendations pertaining to the motion passed by the Panel on 7.1.02 when reviewing the mechanism for determining the WL income and asset limits. Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung, Hon Albert HO, Hon LEE Cheuk-yan and Hon Frederick FUNG moved the motion again with a view to persuading the Administration to review the proposal before it was submitted to HA for consideration. The motion was unanimously passed by members present at the meeting. [Minutes, "Page 7"]

At the same meeting, Hon Albert HO moved another motion urging the Administration that any decision to lower the income and asset limits should only apply to applications submitted after the promulgation of the new policy. [Paper] The motion was unanimously passed by members present at the meeting. [Minutes, "Page 8"]

The Administration provided the Panel with a paper on 27.3.03 setting out its response to the two motions passed by the Panel. [Paper]

28.2.02

PRESS

HA issued a press release on the revised mechanism for access to public housing. [Press release]

18.3.03

The Panel discussed the Administration's paper on the proposed WL income and asset limits for public rental housing for 2003/04. It was proposed that the WL income and asset limits be reduced by an average of 3.8% and 5.1% respectively. [Paper]

Hon Albert HO moved a motion requesting HA not to adjust the WL income and asset limits for 2003/04. The motion was carried. [Minutes, "Page 6"]

The Administration provided the Panel with a paper on 27.3.03 setting out its response to the motion passed by the Panel. [Paper]

1.3.04

The Panel discussed the Administration's paper on the proposed WL income and asset limits for public rental housing for 2004/05. It was proposed that the WL income and asset limits be reduced by an average of 4.3% and 8.9% respectively. [Paper]

Hon Frederick FUNG did not support the proposed adjustments and proposed to move a motion requesting HA to keep the WL income limits unchanged for 2004/05 in recognition that Hong Kong's economy had yet to stabilize and changes, and that the wealth disparity problem was serious. Dr Hon YEUNG SUM and Hon LEE Cheuk-yan considered that the motion should also aim to urge the Administration to improve the review mechanism of the WL limit. The Panel agreed to deal with the motion at the meeting on 8.3.04. [Minutes, "Page 9"]

8.3.04

The Panel continued the discussion on the review of income and asset limits for WL applicants and met deputations on the subject. The Administration also provided members with additional information requested by members at the meeting held on 1.3.04. [Paper]

Hon Frederick FUNG moved a motion that the Panel disagreed with the formula for calculating the WL income limits and urged the Administration to conduct a review taking into account the views expressed by the Panel. The motion was carried. [Minutes, "Page 7"]

The Administration provided the Panel with a paper on 29.4.04 setting out its response to the motion passed by the Panel. [Paper]

7.2.05

The Panel discussed the Administration's paper setting out in broad terms how the HA intended to take forward the annual review of the WL Income and Asset Limits for 2005/06. [Paper]

Development to date presented in background brief prepared by the Secretariat. [Paper]

The Panel circulated to members a letter from the Administration advising on how the asset limits for elderly households were to be raised according to the findings of the review of the WL income and asset limits for 2005/06 and the number of households excluded from the public rental housing eligibility net as a result of the downward adjustments to the income limits over the past few years. [Follow-up paper]

17.3.06

The Panel discussed the Administration's paper on the review of the WL income and asset limits for 2006/07. [Paper]

The Secretariat prepared a background brief on "Income and asset limits for WL applicants for public rental housing". [Paper]

5.3.07

The Panel discussed the Administration's paper on Review of the WL Income and Asset Limits for 2007/08. [Paper]

The Secretariat prepared a background brief on income and asset limits for WL applicants for public rental housing. [Paper]

3.3.08

The Administration briefed members on the review of the WL Income and Asset Limits for 2008/09. [Paper]

2.3.09

Information paper provided by the Administration on the findings of the review of WL income and asset limits for 2009/10. [Paper]

Development to date presented in background brief prepared by the Secretariat. [Paper]

The Administration has provided information on the following -

(a)	provide a breakdown by percentage of the different household sizes on WL from one person to 10 persons;
(b)	reconsider the need to review the adequacy of the "contingency provision"; and
(c)	relay members' views to the Housing Authority's Subsidised Housing Committee for consideration.

[Follow-up paper]

1.3.10

Information paper provided by the Administration on the findings of the review of the WL income and asset limits for 2010/11. [Paper]

Development to date presented in background brief prepared by the Secretariat. [Paper]

The Administration has provided information on the following -

(a)	provide the number of non-elderly singletons on WL, the respective waiting time of those rehoused into public rental housing, and the total number of applicants on WL; and
(b)	relay members' concern about the income limit for one-person household to the Housing Authority.
[Follow-up paper]

Housing Authority - Paper library of the Subsidised Housing Committee:
http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/en/aboutus/paperlibrary/shc/0,,,00.html

Go to Top