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a
significant
improvement
in
the
year.
On the basis of
trends present
surplus is likely at the close of the current financial
Nevertheless, the Hong Kong Government will continue to keep public
expenditure firmly under control and to contain the size of the
public sector, presently equivalent to about
about 16% 17% of the gross
domestic product. This will be achieved through prudent management
of resources and by continued efforts to increase the efficiency of
the public service, the total size of which has increased by only
2% in 1986
IX.
SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
(a)
55.
Housing
For the seventh consecutive year the Hong Kong Housing
Authority has exceeded its annual target for
for the production of new
flats, with 43,000 flats being added to the public housing stock.
Private sector production was estimated to be
a record 38,000 flats
in 1986 and a similar level of production is expected in 1987.
56
On the basis of present rates of production, the Housing
Authority should
housing by the mid-1990s.
be in
a
position
to
meet the demand for rental
At the same time there is a growing
their Own
home s and this will
Government is considering how
how be encouraged and
public
in meeting the
demand from families wishing to Own
take longer to satisfy. The Hong Kong
private sector output can best
best can
long-term demand for housing in the 1990s and beyond.
resources
57
complement
the
private
sector
in
Wan
also
areas,
As part of the comprehensive programme to clear and re-house
families living in urban squatter areas, rehousing has started
the a major clearance of squatters in
Shau Kei preparation for
Kong Island
Housing Authority
squatter
the near future.
area
in
1987.
The
of Hong
continued to improve the environment of particulary those which cannot be cleared in
many
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