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Monday, September 25, 1972
GOVERNMENT HOUSING FOR NEW TERRITORIES
The District Commissioner, New Territories, Mr. D.C. Bray, disclosed
today that plans were now being drawn up for the first of the rural government
housing estates.
Earlier this year it was announced that seven estates would be built
initially to provide government housing for rural New Territories people.
Mr. Bray made his remarks today at the handing over ceremony of the
Self-Help Village on Cheung Chau.
As part of the scheme the Government hopes to house some 5,000 people
on Cheung Chau over the next few years. But, Mr. Bray said, the "willingness
of the people to contribute towards improving their own living conditions
together with the assistance given by generous donors, both in Hong Kong and
abroad, will certainly ease the Government's work and will give new homes
to these people years before any public housing is ready."
He congratulated the 40 fishing families who were moving into the
village for "their genuine effort in self-help".
During the handing over ceremony, the Commissioner for Canada,
Mr. R.L. Wales, presented the keys to Mr. Law Chun-wah, a village representative.
Later Mr. Bray joined with Mr. Wales and the Chief of the Refugee and
Migration Unit of the American Consulate General, Mr. Richard Hart, in performing
the ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling ceremony.
The village was made available with donations from Canada through
C.A.R.E. Inc. the Cheung Chau Rural Committee and the local Public Works Fund.
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