WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
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MORE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REFLECT HOUSING GROWTH IN NEW TERRITORIES
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THE HOUSING ORDINANCE IS TO BE AMENDED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, WHEN HE MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE HOUSING AMENDMENT BILL 1982 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID: +SECTION 3 OF THE ORDINANCE EMPOWERS THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT UP TO 13 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, OF WHOM EIGHT SHALL BE URBAN COUNCILLORS, HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE SHORTAGE OF DEVELOPABLE LAND IN THE URBAN AREA, AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF THE AUTHORITY'S HOUSING PRODUCTION IS NOW CENTRED IN AND AROUND THE NEW TOWNS AND THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE.
IT IS, THEREFORE, NECESSARY TO CONSIDER APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION ON THE AUTHORITY OF NEW TERRITORIES' INTERESTS IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF THE URBAN AREA. FURTHERMORE, DISTRICT BOARDS ARE NOW BEING FORMED AND SOME HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO FUNCTION.
+TO TIE IN WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE SHOULD ALSO BE REPRESENTATION ON THE AUTHORITY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS.
+ IN ORDER TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES, IT IS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASED NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON THE AUTHORITY.
+WHILE THERE WILL NO LONGER BE SPECIFIC REFERENCE IN THE ORDINANCE TO URBAN COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT CLOSE LIAISON BETWEEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE URBAN COUNCIL SHOULD BE MAINTAINED, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE THAT THE NUMBER OF URBAN COUNCILLORS ON THE AUTHORITY SHOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE PRESENT.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES REVISED LEGISLATION CONCERNING THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME TO GIVE LEGAL EFFECT TO THE NEW SALES FORMULA, WHICH EXCLUDES THE VALUE OF THE LAND BUT INTRODUCES FAR TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS ON RE-SALE.
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SPEAKING ON THE RESTRICTIONS, MR LIAO SAID: +FLATS PRODUCED UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEMES ARE INTENDED FOR ONE PURPOSE ONLY TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR THEM. IT IS NOT THE INTENTION TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECULATIONS, OR TO PROVIDE SUCH HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO FALL OUTSIDE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. FOR THIS REASON, REALISTIC SANCTIONS ARE PROVIDED AGAINST ABUSES.+
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR MAKING A FALSE DECLARATION WOULD BE INCREASED TO A FINE OF $200 000 AND ONE YEAR'S JAIL.
/MR LIAO