*
*
9
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980
LEAD TO AN INCREASING SUPPLY OF OVERALL HOUSING STOCK. IN THE FORM OF EXPANDED PRIVATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME- AND
STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE INTERESTS OF LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
ON REPOSSESSION OF PREMISES, DR HO SUGGESTED THAT BONA-FIDE LANDLORDS WHO WISH TO REPOSSESS THEIR FLATS FOR THEIR OWN USE OR FOR THE USE OF THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO WITHOUT HAVING TO PROVE GREATER HARDSHIP, PROVIDED:
*
THEY HAVE ALREADY RENTER THE IR FLATS OUT TO THE EXISTING TENANTS FOR A PERIOD OF SAY, FIVE YEARS- AND
* THEY HAVE ACCEPTABLE REASONS FOR DOING SO.
THE HON ANDREW SO
HE SAID THE PROPOSED RENT CONTROL BILL REFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S USUAL SHORTCOMING TO TAKE PALLIATIVE MEASURES
INSTEAD OF GETTING AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
HE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT WHY IT DID NOT TAKE ACTIVE STEPS TO PROVIDE MORE LAND AND SEEK SOLUTIONS IN THE PROPER USE OF LAND AND SOUND HOUSING POLICIES.
HE NOTED THAT UNLESS THERE IS A SHARP DECLINE IN POPULATION, THE HOUSING SHORTAGE IN HONG KONG IS A PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE SOLVED COMPLETELY.
THE HON WONG PO-YAN
MR WONG URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A FIRM STATEMENT ON HOW IT INTENDED TO INCREASE HOUSING PRODUCTION BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS.
HE SAID THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THE ONLY FEASIBLE LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THE HOUSING PROBLEM WAS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE SUFFICIENT LAND FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT,
+ THE PRESENT ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF 65 000 HOUSING UNITS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS STILL SEEMS TO LAG BEHIND THE DEMAND.
+¦ THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD INCREASE ITS HOUSING TARGET FROM 35 000 UNITS PER YEAR TO 45 000.
+MORE LAND SHOULD ALSO BE RELEASED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITH A VIEW TO INDUCE A PRODUCTION RATE OF AT LEAST 35 000 TO 40 000 UNITS PER YEAR, THAT IS, 20 PER CENT MORE THAN THE PRESENT RATE OF PRODUCTION, MR WONG SAID.
MR WONG ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVISE ITS LAND SALE POLICY,
+FOR EXAMPLE, LOTS SHOULD NOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM SALE BY AUCTION ONCE THEIR UPSET PRICE HAS BEEN REACHED, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS FURTHER ADJOURNED.
-
/10