1
2
Thursday, April 26, 1973
Indeed I think one can mention, with some plausibility, that
the conditions of housing and the conditions of the infra-structure
of everything that should go with housing like shops and playgrounds,
schools and police stations, community centres and so on, that the
inadequacy of these things for good historical reasons which we all
-
know about is at the root of most evil in Hong Kong.
"Well, there the problem is. It presents a great challenge.
It is a challenge alike to the planners, the architects, the builders
and the sociologists and administrators.
Also to the financiers. I
believe you to be particularly qualified, on behalf of Hong Kong, to
take up these various challenges. On the official side you have a highly
competent and expert department under Ian Lightbody with Donald Liao
and John Walden. On the unofficial side you have a wealth of different
expertise and experience which I believe to be complementary; on the
official side you also have the heads of the departments principally
concerned. You all have drive and devotion.
"The funds for the programme are available. I believe money will
not be your principal problem, but rather how to convert it into well-planned
and well-managed estates quickly enough.
"One or two points of advice. You will immediately be confronted
with a whole host of long and short term problems. I do ask you never
to lose sight of the fact that the short-term problems however urgent
and however tragic are all only facets of the overall lack of proper
housing. All will be solved when you have made good that lack.
In short,
/I believe