WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978
GROWTH OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME
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HONG KONG'S PROGRAMME TO SUPPLY PUBLIC HOUSING IS +ENORMOUS+, AND WILL GROW FROM 13,000 FLATS LAST FINANCIAL YEAR TO 20,000 FLATS THIS YEAR AND MORE THAN 44,000 FLATS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
THIS WAS STATED AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, WHO MADE THESE OTHER POINTS ON PUBLIC HOUSING:
HOME OWNERSHIP:
THE RESPONSE TO THE FIRST BATCH OF 8,300 FLATS WAS +MOST ENCOURAGING. THE BALLOT WILL BE HELD NEXT MONTH, AND SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS SCREENED IN JUNE. THE ONLY PRIORITY GIVEN WILL BE TO SUCCESSFUL TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING, WHO FOR THE IR PART MUST SURRENDER THEIR RENTED FLATS.
ELDERLY AND DISABLED:
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS AN EXISTING POLICY TO PROVIDE HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY ALSO IN ALLOCATING AND ALTERING FLATS IT TAKES CAREFUL ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.
REDEVELOPMENT:
WHERE PARTS OF OLD ESTATES HAVE BEEN REDEVELOPED, THE RESULTANT STANDARD IS EQUAL TO THAT OF NEW ESTATES.
URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME:
SINCE 1974, 50 OLD BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN CLEARED, INVOLVING THE REHOUSING OF 300 FAMILIES TOTALLING 900 PEOPLE. FIFTY MORE OLD PROPERTIES ARE TO BE CLEARED IN THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SCHEME.
FUTURE OF PUBLIC HOUSING:
BETWEEN NOW AND 1984/85, THE PROPORTION OF OUR POPULATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING SHOULD RISE FROM 45 PER CENT AT PRESENT TO MORE THAN 60 PER CENT. ADDITIONAL DEMANDS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING COULD BE EXPECTED FROM THE NATURAL INCREASE IN POPULATION, THE SPLITTING UP OF LARGE FAMILIES, THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS AND THE NEED TO REDEVELOP OLDER ESTATES.
CONCERNING FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS, MR. SCOTT SAID: +THE POSITION HAS TO BE CONTINUALLY OBSERVED AND PERIODICALLY RE- ANALYSED, AND WE MUST JUDGE OUR COURSE AND DECIDE CUR ACTIONS ACCORDINGLY. +
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