The Housing Authority will refund tenants the difference between existing rents and those they should be paying with interest if its judicial appeal is unsuccessful.

The authority has applied for a stay of execution on Court of First Instance orders made on August 12 in respect of the Judicial Review on the authority's decision to defer a rent review of public housing estates.

Acting Director of Housing Elaine Chung has submitted an affirmation to the High Court setting out the reasons for the authority's application. She also made an undertaking on behalf of the authority that will address the concerns of the applicants and all families affected.

It will provide rental assistance or flats with cheaper rental to all eligible families in need in the meantime pending the determination of the appeal.

Noting the authority respects the rule of law, Ms Chung said since the judgment involves an important interpretation of the provision of the Housing Ordinance (Cap 283), the authority has decided that, in the public interest, it has the responsibility to lodge an appeal against the High Court judgment handed down on July 11.

"The authority is exercising the rights conferred upon the parties to any litigation by the judicial system, according to established legal procedures," Ms Chung said.

"The Housing Authority hoped to appeal directly to the Court of Final Appeal. However, we understand that the applicants have refused to adopt this faster and less costly legal procedure."