Talk of the town：Public rental housing
【明報專訊】The public rental housing scheme is a scheme operated by the Housing Authority. It is aimed at providing subsidized public rental housing to low-income families who cannot afford private rental accommodation. When the authority allocates public rental flats, they usually take into consideration the special needs of particular tenants in order to cater for their individual housing needs, for instance age, disabilities or any special circumstances.
■ Solutions to alleviate the housing problem
◆Home Ownership Scheme (HOS)
The Housing Authority regularly produces new HOS flats(居屋) for sale, at a price significantly lower than the market price. The flat is distributed through ballots. However, in the past five years, the numbers of applications received by the Housing Authority have been far above the numbers of flats put up for sale. In 2019, the number of applications received was 62 times the number of flats put up for sale, indicating the applicants had a relatively slim chance to be allocated a flat.
◆Lantau Tomorrow Vision
Lantau Tomorrow Vision is a development concept introduced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam in the 2018 Policy Address. Lantau Island is the largest outlying island in Hong Kong as well as the connection point between Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities, so the plan is to carry out housing projects, leisure and recreation projects and transportation constructions on the island. Artificial islands might be built, and land might be reclaimed from seas off the coast. 150,000 to 260,000 housing units are expected to be built on the artificial island, but they would not be available in the short term since the government is still conducting studies on the project. The project is expected to commence in 2026.(photo.2)
There are other options to alleviate the housing problem, but most of them come with a certain degree of difficulties and controversies. What do you think about these options? Can you think of the pros and cons of conducting those development projects?
■ Grammar booster
Slim chance
A small chance of success
e.g.There's a slim chance that he could win the competition.
■ Gear up
(Answers on next text)
1. The flats in the Home Ownership Scheme are distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis. (True/ False)
2. The construction project for the Lantau Tomorrow Vision has started.(True/ False)
■Glossary
subsidize (v) 資助
accommodation (n) 住宿
artificial (adj) 人工的
alleviate (v) 緩解
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view of rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第339期]
Dig Deeper：Northern metropolis development
【明報專訊】With the initiative to better integrate the cities from the Grea... 詳情
