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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980
→THE DECISION OF THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY CASTS SOME DOUBT ON WHETHER BRITAIN SINCERELY PRACTISES WHAT IT PREACHES.
+ CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WISER COUNSEL NOW PREVAIL, LEST SENTIMENT WITHERS, MR CHEUNG ADDED.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
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HK'S TOP PRIORITY
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HONG KONG'S TOP PRIORITY IS TO PRODUCE AS MANY HOUSES AS POSSIBLE IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, SAID THE HON CHARLES YEUNG.
TO ACHIEVE THIS TARGET, MR YEUNG SUGGESTED THAT MORE PRIVATE AND CROWN LAND BE FORMED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
AS THE FIRST STEP HE SAID RESOURCES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO PROVIDE MORE AND BETTER ROADS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES URGENTLY.
HE NOTED THE 10-YEAR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME IS EXPECTED TO FALL SHORT BY A BIG MARGIN.
OFFICIAL STATISTICS SHOW THAT MORE THAN HALF A MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ARE STILL IN URGENT NEED OF PROPER OR IMPROVED HOUSING, OF WHICH 130 000 FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN SQUATTER HUTS WITHOUT PROPER SANITATION AND ROAD ACCESS.
HE CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR CONCENTRATING EXCESSIVELY ON INDUSTRIAL DEMAND FOR SPACE AND WORKFORCE SUPPORT BUT FAILED TO DEVISE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO MEET THE GENERAL HOUSING NEED.
ON COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR YEUNG SAID IT SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED AS A MATTER OF TOP PRIORITY SINCE MORE THAN HALF OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL POPULATION WILL BE HOUSED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WITHIN THIS DECADE.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT SPEND ENOUGH ON ROAD PROJECTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE BACKED UP HIS REMARKS WITH THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS =
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NOTHING TOWARDS THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE ROAD SERVICE ON LANTAO ISLAND, EXCEPT THE PROPOSED ROAD TO SERVE NORTH LANTAO WHICH IS INCIDENTAL TO, AND DEPENDENT ON, THE DECISION TO CONSTRUCT THE CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT-
NO MOTORABLE ROAD AT ALL ON LAMMA ISLAND AND CHEUNG CHAU-
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROAD NETWORKS IN SAI KUNG AND THE NEW TERRITORIES MAINLAND HAVE BEEN VERY SLOW AND, TIME AND AGAIN, POSTPONED, AND
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