Letters

Revive Home Ownership Scheme The Hong Kong Civic Association has noted from the media that the chief executive has been actively looking around the SAR for suitable sites for public housing. Also in regard to future Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats, he will be addressing this issue in his October Legislative Council policy address. In view of a genuine demand for these flats, our association would urge the government to revive the HOS with conditions that are more up-to-date to suit the requirements of first-time home buying households of two to five persons in the lower income bracket of about HK$15,000 to HK$30,000 per month, who do not qualify otherwise for Housing Authority-type accommodation. Property prices are so high nowadays that the land premium conditions in the original HOS would be financially onerous and inapplicable today. Taking into account the all-important factor of affordability, future HOS flats should be offered to qualified home buyers at the current market price for the flat, less a subsidy of about 30 per cent on the cost of the land premium on the flat. Our association hopes that the government will revise and update the pre-2002 HOS and make every effort to make available to the community within the next few years 1,000-2,000 HOS flats annually. In the chief executive's policy address in October, we hope information will be forthcoming on: The government's long-term public housing strategy; An annual assessment of housing supply and demand; and The establishment of a land bank. Public housing, both rental and home-ownership, of acceptable quality and at affordable cost, is one of the vital elements in bridging the wealth gap. Therefore a credible long-term government strategy with regular reviews in this respect will represent not only good governance but also the building up of stronger faith and confidence in Hong Kong's future on the part of the average citizen and the community at large. Hilton Cheong-Leen, president, Frederick Lynn, chairman, Hong Kong Civic Association Construct more public estates I am in favour of public rental housing, but not the subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (HOS). I disagree with those lawmakers and sections of the media claiming that the HOS has majority support in Hong Kong. I grew up in Wah Fu public housing estate. These public estates provide shelter to people who really need it. We should not confuse the right to live with the right to own. Hongkongers from all walks of life work hard in a highly competitive market and the money they pay in taxes should be put to good use. The best solution would be to build more public estates to shorten the waiting time and make people from the middle class eligible to apply for the tenancy of a public housing estate flat. A revived HOS will distort the private housing market. It is simple: if you do not have sufficient funds to buy a flat, then you must rent. Tony Fung, North Point Bad attitude comes from parents The recent letters describing inappropriate behaviour on the MTR are interesting, but I take issue with Janet Yu's letter ('Urgent need for civic education', July 23). I disagree with the continual refrain from many Hongkongers that more education is needed so people will know how to be more polite and act appropriately. I would like someone to explain to me which adult and young person does not know the following: That when an old person gets on the MTR, a younger person should offer a seat; That yelling in your mobile phone is not appropriate; That eating and drinking are not allowed; and That you are to let people off before you get on. Does anyone really believe that people do not know the obvious here? Education is not what is required. Just simply thinking of others and not just yourself is what is needed. The real problem is simple to identify. It's a me-first attitude and is just selfishness. It is taught to many children here as they run to get seats for themselves at their parents' bidding with no regard for others, so what can you expect? Terry Scott, Sha Tin Chance to let people give their verdict I am proud to say that I am from Hong Kong - a place that has granted so many people a haven of freedom during treacherous times. However, the options proposed by the government regarding by-elections do nothing to ensure those freedoms. By saying that the status quo is too expensive is something quite dangerous for any government to argue. By-elections are a chance for the people to give their verdict on the administration and on different parties. For example, in Britain the Glasgow East by-election in 2008 made prime minister Gordon Brown change tack within his own party and the 2011 by-election in Oldham East and Saddleworth showed both coalition parties what the people thought about the government. Moreover, they enabled the people of those constituencies to directly choose their representatives. To decry a by-election as too expensive means that the argument can be extended to all elections. Since the start of the recession in 2007, the US, Germany, Spain, Greece, Britain, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Israel have all held elections. Was it too expensive for them? Or were they giving their people a legitimate voice as to who represents them in their elected chambers? Laveen Ladharam, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England Interference on almost daily basis One assumes John C. M. Lee lives in awe of the United States ('Don't meddle in America's own affairs', July 25). How else can he explain his bizarre defence of the US when being criticised by China over President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama? As Mr Lee correctly observes, the US is a sovereign nation, as is China, yet this does not stop Washington making almost daily comments on how China should sort out its internal affairs, comments that are equally without merit and degrade relations far more than this one visit. Mark Peaker, The Peak