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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975
HOUSING FOR 100,000 EXPECTED IN 1975/76
X X X X X
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PURSUING THE LONG-TERM PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG WITH CONSIDERABLE THRUST AND A NEW GENERATION OF ESTATES INCORPORATING THE CONCEPT OF COMPREHENSIVELY PLANNED COMMUNITIES IS NOW FAST BECOMING A REALITY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN HIS REVIEW OF THE HOUSING SITUATION.
HE SAID PRODUCTION OF NEW PUBLIC HOUSING HAD INCREASED FROM FLATS FOR 47,000 PERSONS FOR 1973/74 TO 65,000 FOR 1974/75 AND TO AN EXPECTED 100,000 FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
+THEREAFTER, HE SAID, THE PROVISION OF NEW HOUSING WILL CONTINUE AT THE LEVEL OF 100,000 MORE A YEAR FOR TWO YEARS AND ONLY IN 1978/79 IS A FURTHER STEADY INCREASE PLANNED TO RECOMMENCE WITH ABOUT 127,000 IN THAT YEAR, 148,000 IN THE NEXT YEAR AND 190,000 IN 1980/81.+
HE SAID THE PAUSE AT THE INCREASE LEVEL OF 100,000 FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS REFLECTED THE UNAVOIDABLE RESTRAINTS IMPOSED BY BUDGETTING IN TIME OF RECESSION FOR THE MANY COMPETING CLAIMS ON RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET OUT TO SOLVE THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN THE SHORTEST TIME HONG KONG'S RESOURCES PERMITTED, AND HONG KONG COULD JUSTIFIABLY POINT WITH PRIDE TO THE STEADÍLY INCREASING NUMBERS PROVIDED WITH PERMANENT HOMES IN GREATLY IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTS.
+I DO NOT THINK MORE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS OR FOR THE PERIOD UP TO 1977/78. NOR DO ! THINK THAT THE HOUSING ACHIEVEMENTS OF HONG KONG CAN BE MATCHED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,+ HE SAID,
THE GOVERNOR COMMENDED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR ITS VIGOUR, DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM.
+BUT WE MUST ALSO FACE THE FACT THAT UNLESS THE AUTHORITY CAN ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES FROM RENTS AND LOANS TO ACHIEVE A RAPID INCREASE IN FINISHED HOMES FROM 1978 ONWARDS. THE RESULTS WILL BE MUCH LESS THAN THE SITUATION DEMANDS OR THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS,+ HE ADDED. A GOOD START HAD BEEN MADE AND THIS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED THROUGH,
ON THE SQUATTER