WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1979
3
SUMMING UP HE AGREED WITH THE STATEMENT OF DR. RAYSON HUANG THAT +RENT CONTROL CAN ONLY BE A TEMPORARY MEASURE AND FOR THE LONG TERM THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO AN INCREASED PRODUCTION OF HOUSING, AND TO THIS GOVERNMENT MUST WITHOUT DELAY ADDRESS ITSELF.+
LAND SPECULATORS:
MR. SCOTT SAID THAT AS STRONG AS OUR FEELINGS ARE ABOUT THEM, WE HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN THE FREEDOM OF COMMERCIAL ACTION WHICH HAS ALLOWED HONG KONG TO DEVELOP OVER THE YEARS, AND THE EXCESSIVE DEGREE OF CONTROL WITH WHICH OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVE STIFLED THEIR ECONOMIES AND LIMITED DEVELOPMENT,+
–
AFTER REVIEWING VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS AND POINTING TO THE LOOPHOLES IN EACH MR. SCOTT SAID THAT WITH ENORMOUS RELUCTANCE+ NO SCHEME WAS PRESENTLY BEING INTRODUCED TO CURB SPECULATION, BUT ADDED: +1 WOULD BE VERY GLAD TO HEAR FROM ANYONE IN THIS COUNCIL OR OUTSIDE IT WHO HAS PRACTICAL, EFFECTIVE PROPOSALS WHICH WILL BE EXAMINED AT ONCE.+
SUMMING UP, HE SAID THAT THE
BASIC AND DURABLE LONG-TERM
ANSWER IS TO INCREASE THE HOUSING STOCK.
TO HELP ACHIEVE THIS THE GOVERNMENT WAS PRESSING ON WITH THE PUBLIC HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMMES, LOOKING AT WAYS TO HELP HOUSE PEOPLE JUST ABOVE THE $5 000-A-MONTH BRACKET, WORKING ON RE-DEVELOPING 17 OF ITS OWN RESIDENTIAL SITES AND ADDITIONALLY HAD SPEEDED UP THE DEVELOPMENT OF SITES FOR HIGH-CLASS HOUSING, 13 MORE OF WHICH HAD NOW BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH A POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL 2 400 LARGE FLATS.
TALKS UNDERWAY TO IMPROVE BUS SERVICES
****
THE GOVERNMENT IS HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MANAGEMENTS OF KMB AND CMB ON THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF BUS SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR. JONES SAID THE TALKS COVERED FIVE MAIN AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THEY ARE THE PURCHASE OF MORE NEW BUSES- IMPROVEMENTS IN MAINTENANCE AND THE ORDERING OF SPARE PARTS- THE RECRUITMENT OF DRIVERS AND MECHANICS- THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE DEPOT FACILITIES- AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE IN THE TWO COMPANIES.
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED ANNUAL DEBATE, HE SAID: THE COMPANIES HAVE RESPONDED BY AGREEING ORDERING PROGRAMMES FOR AS MANY AS 874 NEW BUSES BETWEEN NOW AND MID-1981, AND BY EXAMINING WITH US THEIR PLANS IN THE OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN.+
/HOWEVER