FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1974
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REBUILDING PROGRAMME PLANNED FOR PRIVATE SLUM PROPERTIES
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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE INITIAL LOAN FUNDS FOR THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF DILAPIDATED AND SLUM-TYPE PRIVATE PROPERTIES WHICH, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, ARE NOT REDEVELOPED BY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, MR. MICHAEL CLINTON, IN HIS CAPACITY AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY AT THE HANDING-OVER CEREMONY OF PHASE 1 OF THE SOCIETY'S LOK MAN SUN CHUEN ESTATE.
MR. CLINTON DESCRIBED THE SCHEME AS AN EXCITING ONE BUT SAID IT WAS TOO EARLY TO GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. THESE WOULD BE ANNOUNCED WHEN DEMOLITION AND REBUILDING OF SLUM PROPERTY BEGINS, HE SAID.
LOK MAN SUN CHUEN IS THE HOUSING SOCIETY'S 14TH AND LARGEST ESTATE SO FAR.
IT COMPRISES 3,676 FLATS INCLUDING 911 COMPLETED FOR PHASE (11 WHICH TOGETHER ACCOMMODATE UP TO 23,500 PERSONS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SOCIETY'S PROGRESSIVE POLICY OF PROVIDING INTEGRATED FACILITIES, MR. CLINTON NOTED, THE ESTATE INCLUDES SHOPS, A CLINIC, MARKET STALLS, A KINDERGARTEN, A DAY NURSERY, YOUTH CLUBS, PLAYGROUNDS, CARPARKS AND SEVERAL FLATS SPECIALLY ALLOCATED FOR ELDERLY PERSONS.
+THERE ARE STILL SOME FÁCILITIES LACKING, SAID MR. CLINTON, +AND WE HOPE IN FUTURE ESTATES, IN CO-OPERATION, WHERE APPROPRIATE, WITH THE GOVERNMENT, TO ENSURE THAT MORE FACILITIES AND AMENITIES ARE PROVIDED SUCH AS SUPER-MARKETS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND SPACE FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL WORKSHOPS.+
HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT MOST OF THESE FACILITIES
CAN ONLY BE JUSTIFIED IN THE LARGER ESTATES.
MR. CLINTON SAID THE RENTS, VARYING FROM $114 TO $265 A MONTH FOR FLATS FROM 267 SQ.FT. TO 516 SQ.FT. WERE MUCH BELOW. PRIVATE RENTS AND WERE IN EFFECT HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE TAXPAYER.
+THIS IS RIGHT AND PROPER,+ HE SAID, +BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT IF SOME TENANTS BECOME MORE AFFLUENT THEY SHOULD MOVE OUT TO PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION TO MAKE WAY FOR THOSE POORER FAMILIES WHO ARE REALLY IN NEED OF LOW-COST HOUSING,+
HE COMMENDED THE WORK OF THOSE WHO HELPED IN BUILDING AND MANAGING THE NEW ESTATE AND WISHED THE TENANTS PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS.
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NOTE TO EDITORS,
COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. CLINTON'S SPEECH ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION IN THE G.I.S.
PRESS BOXES.
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