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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1979
SUGGESTIONS TO SPEED UP PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME
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THE HON. F.K. HU, IN HIS FIRST SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, SUGGESTED SEVERAL WAYS TO SPEED UP THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME AND TO PROMOTE CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG,
HE SAID IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES WE HAVE TO ACCEPT CUTTING THE ANNUAL PUBLIC HOUSING TARGET IN ORDER TO AVOID OVERHEATING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, BUT SHOULD THERE BE ANY SIGN OF A SLOW DOWN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THIS TARGET HAS TO BE INCREASED So THAT A CONSTANT HOUSING PRODUCTION CAN BE MAINTAINED.
JUDGING FROM THE RATIO OF RENTED AND HOME OWNERSHIP ACCOMMODATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, AND THE FACT THAT 70 PER CENT OF NEW PRIVATE FLATS BOUGHT IN HONG KONG ARE FOR OWNER-OCCUPATION, OUR RATIO OF HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS SHOULD BE HIGHER, AND SHOULD BE INCREASED GRADUALLY FROM THE PRESENT 15 PER CENT TO 50 OR EVEN 70 PER CENT, HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK COULD BE INCREASED THROUGH ENCOURAGING MORE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, AND RELEASING MORE SITES TO THEM FOR TENDER, WITH EMPHASIS ON SOLVING THE HOUSING PROBLEM RATHER THAN FINANCIAL GAIN.
THE PROPORTION OF LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES TO LETTER B HOLDERS SHOULD ALSO BE INCREASED SO THAT ITS EXCHANGE COMMITMENT COULD BE CLEARED AT AN EARLIER DATE.
THE ADDITIONAL SITES COULD BE DEVELOPED WITH THE CONDITION THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE FLATS TO BE BUILT SHOULD BE SOLD ON THE SAME TERMS AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, HE SUGGESTED,
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO ENSURE MAXIMUM UTILISATION OF THE SITES ALLOCATED TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH REQUIRE USE OF THE GROUND FLOORS ONLY. THE SPACE ABOVE COULD BE USED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS, HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE PROMOTION OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG, MR. HU SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL MUST CO-ORDINATE CLOSER TO ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE RESULTS. DIRECT CONTACT AND DISCUSSION IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE BETTER CO-ORDINATION, UNDERSTANDING AND MAXIMUM UTILISATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS WITHOUT UNDUE DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS, HE STRESSED.
THIS CO-ORDINATION IS REQUIRED IN PROMOTING AND TRAINING POTENTIAL TALENTS, TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY INVOLVEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP, TO PROMOTE APPRECIATION AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, TO PROVIDE VENUES FOR THESE ARTS AND TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST LOCAL TALENTS.+
HE SUGGESTED THAT IT IS MORE DESIRABLE TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM AND FULL-TIME SCHOLARSHIPS, TO TRAIN OUTSTANDING LOCAL TALENT IN THE MAJOR CONSERVATORIES IN THE WORLD. PERFORMING ARTS OTHER THAN MUSIC SHOULD ALSO BE DEVELOPED AND EITHER OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES SHOULD SET UP A DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA AND THEATRE, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO A THEATRE CONSERVATORY IN HONG KONG.
/FURTHERMORE,