The five public housing rent review proposals which are now tabled for discussion comply with the High Court's order, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Leung Chin-man says, adding that the Government has no special preference.

Speaking on radio talk shows this morning, Mr Leung said the proposals aim to bring the median rent-to-income ratio of public rental housing down to the statutory cap of 10% and the Government has listed the pros and cons of each proposal for the Housing Authority's consideration and public discussion.

He said the recent meeting of the authority focused on the following two options:

* a 38% rent reduction for 547,000 units covered by the 2003-04 review; and,

* rent waivers for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance households plus a 10% rent reduction for other households.

Public views considered

The Government will continue to listen to the views of the Housing Authority and the public, Mr Leung added.

The existing allowance scheme has already looked after the needs of households with real financial problems, he said. For example, households can apply for a 50% rental cut if the rent occupies more than 25% of their total income.

A similar arrangement has also been made for elderly households if the rent occupies more than 20% of their total income.