22
Wednesday, March 14, 1973
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BUILD TOWNS IN SUBURBAN AREAS
More Land Made Available Will Solve Rent Situation
Dr. the Hon. S.Y. Chung today urged the Government to develop sub-urban
areas into residential townships to curb the current rent spiral in private
domestic accommodation.
Speaking at the annual budget debate, he said the cause for such
high rents was shortage of land for the development of residential accommodation.
The basic solution to the problem would, therefore, be making more
land available.
"Land in the urban area is limited, but there is still plenty of land
available (though not readily usable) in nearby sub-urban areas such as Sha
Tin, Kwai Chung, Sai Kung and Yau Tong."
Dr. Chung asked the Government to urgently look into his proposal
of developing sub-urban areas.
"The key points in this proposal are, first, nearby urban areas;
secondly, efficient road communication between these sub-urban districts and
the main urban areas; and thirdly, provision of adequate infra-structure and
community services within each sub-urban residential district."
Referring to the Financial Secretary's proposal to raise fees in
Government hospitals nearer to those charged in subvented hospitals in order
to make maximum use of subsidised beds, Dr. Chung noted that many poor people
could not even afford to enter subsidised hospitals.
/If people