Public estate tenant Lo Mei-ling doesn't expect much direct benefit from the resumption of the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS). Still, she cited that as the best policy announced by Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Wednesday.

"Everybody needs a place a live," said the school worker, who earns HK$8,000 a month. "It's very dispiriting when people believe they can never afford a decent home no matter how hard they work."

The runaway real estate price in the private market has been a main grievance of the Hong Kong public in recent years.

Explaining the decision to target families with monthly incomes level of under HK$30,000 for HOS eligibility, Tsang said the frustration over the lack of affordable flats is most acutely felt by families who have difficulty saving for a down payment, while their household income exceeds the limits for public estate housing.

Lo said she counts herself lucky for the three-bedroom Tin Wan Estate unit allotted to her family.

"It's quite nice. We have a window opening to the green hills. The air is fresh. My friends all envy me."

Lo said she had no plan to own her home through the HOS, but she was glad for the sake of younger generations. Her eldest son will soon turn 20, she said.

"It's important for young people to have hope, so they will keep trying."

She is interested in the loan schemes for post-secondary students, explaining her eldest son is talented at music.

"He has achieved Grade 8 in piano, though he began learning at a late age of 11," said the proud mother.

The family is thinking about the possibility of sending the son abroad for a music program, though this would mean a great financial burden, Lo said.

Lo is also interested in vocational training programs, such as the International Cuisine College, proposed by Tsang in his policy address. Her younger son, not considered much of a scholar, must find a trade suited to his interests, she said.

Lo hailed the policies of developing tourist attractions, including the all-weather Water World in Ocean Park and the further expansion of Ocean Park. Booming tourism has proved a boon to her husband, a tour bus driver.

In policies addressing the needs of senior citizens, Tsang proposed the introduction of the "Guangdong Scheme", so that elderly Hong Kong citizens who choose to live in the bordering province will receive a monthly subsidy of about HK$1,000.

The rate is same as the Old Age Allowance received by elderly people living in Hong Kong.

Though this alone won't induce Fung Chi-pui, Lo's father-in-law, to move across the border, he said it's good to have a choice.

To the septuagenarian talking, in a booming voice, the good news was that the HK$2 public transport concession for people aged over 65 will be expanded from selected days to every day.

"I enjoy bus rides across Hong Kong. I don't like being cooped up indoors," he said.

joylu@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 10/13/2011 page1)