6
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1979
GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT NOW ON
LAND PRODUCTION BEYOND MID-1980'S ******
THE HON. LI FOOK-WO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT AND TO PLAN AHEAD NOW ON LAND PRODUCTION FOR THE PERIOD UP TO AND BEYOND THE MID-1980'S SO THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH OF IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR ALL THE ESSENTIAL USES OF THE COMMUNITY.
EVEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PRESSURE OF DEMAND ON DOMESTIC RESOURCES, ARGUABLY MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN OUR HOUSING PROGRAMME, AND NO MATTER WHAT CLASS IT IS IN OR WHETHER PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HOUSING REQUIRES LAND MR. LI SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE ANNUAL DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.
THE AMENITIES AND INFRA-STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT LIFE IN THE AREA OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS DEMAND MORE LAND AND IF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE TO BE PROVIDED NEARBY, THAT WILL REQUIRE STILL MORE LAND, HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH AT LEAST 40 HECTARES OF GENERAL INDUSTRIAL LAND AND 80 HECTARES OF NON-INDUSTRIAL LAND WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH 31, 1982, THE FORECAST FOR THE MID-1980'S IS FOR A REDUCTION IN LAND PRODUCED FOR ALL PURPOSES. THIS IS A WARNING SIGNAL WHICH WE MUST HEED.+
HE REGRETTED THE CUT-BACK ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING DURING THE RECESSIONARY YEARS OF 1974 AND 1975 WHICH CAN NOW BE SEEN TO HAVE BEEN SHORT-SIGHTED AND UNNECESSARY, AND WHICH HAS BEEN PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXISTING SHORTAGE OF LAND.
+HAD WE NOT PLAYED STOP-GO IN THOSE YEARS, WE WOULD NOT BE IN THE PRESENT SITUATION .. IF, THEREFORE, WE SHOULD REFRAIN AGAIN FROM SPENDING NOW ON THE PRODUCTION OF MORE LAND, WE SHALL BE REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE, ALTHOUGH IN DIFFERENT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.
HE AGREED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CONCERN FOR AN EARLY START ON OPENING UP NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS AND FOR EXTENSION OF SHA TIN UP THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE COVE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUNK BAY, BUT POINTED OUT THAT DUE TO THE LEAD TIME REQUIRED, NO LAND IS LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE FROM SUCH LARGE PROJECTS UNTIL WELL AFTER THE MID-1980'S UNLESS TOP PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO THE TWO AREAS.
HE SUGGESTED THAT OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENT AREAS SHOULD BE SELECTED FOR EARLY EXPLOITATION AND WORKS IN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR EARLIER COMPLETION.
GREATER RELIANCE COULD BE PLACED ON PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONS, WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR ABILITY TO PRODUCE BUILDING SITES FROM UNFORMED LAND, GENERALLY MORE QUICKLY AND AT LESS COST.
A
THERE WOULD BE MUCH MORE SCOPE FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWNS, ESPECIALLY WITH DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT IN THE WATER SUPPLY SITUATION IN THESE AREAS. REVIEW MIGHT ALSO BE UNDERTAKEN OF FORMED LAND WHICH HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR INTERIM USE, SUCH AS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, STORAGE SITES AND REFUGEE CAMPS.
/MR. LI