The Housing Authority will seek a stay of execution on a Court of First Instance order issued today regarding the judicial review of the authority's decision to defer reappraising public housing rents.

The order directs the authority to review and determine the variation of rents of a batch of public housing units, which includes the plaintiffs' flats, according to the true meaning and effect of section 16(a) of the Housing Ordinance.

The court noted a rent review exercise is formidable and involves a sophisticated process. It has also expressly recognised the authority's wish to stay the order and to lodge an appeal against the judgment. Accordingly, it has decided to deal with the stay of the order at a hearing on August 26.

The authority decided last month to appeal against the judgment. The decision was reached following careful consideration of all aspects of the case, including the grounds and merits for appeal, the wide implications of the judgment for the overall rental policy, the authority's financial position and the long-term sustainability of the public rental housing programme.

In view of the applicants' refusal to give consent for the authority to take the case to the Court of Final Appeal, the authority will now appeal to the Court of Appeal and hope that the hearing can be arranged expeditiously.