TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1982
DUKE IMPRESSED WITH PUBLIC HOUSING
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DURING HIS VISIT TO THE ON TING/YAU 01 ESTATES IN TUEN MUN THIS AFTERNOON, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT SAID HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE RAPID PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TOWN WHERE ALREADY SOME 156 700 PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN SEVEN RENTAL, HOME OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME ESTATES.
+1 AM PARTICULARLY DELIGHTED TO SEE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SETTLED DOWN HERE SO QUICKLY AND THAT A COMMUNITY SPIRIT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN SUCH A SHORT TIME, THE DUKE SAID.
+THEIR WAY OF LIVING IN THIS NICE ENVIRONMENT IS IMPRESSIVE, CONSIDERING THE HIGH DENSITY OF THE ESTATES.
+ IT IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT I USED TO KNOW TO BE PUBLIC HOUSING IN HONG KONG.+
THE DUKE ALSO LEARNED FROM THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR DONALD LIAO, THAT THREE NEW RENTAL ESTATES AND TWO HOS ESTATES ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION IN TUEN MUN, TO PROVIDE AN EXTRA 26 300 MODERN FLATS FOR 126 000 MORE PEOPLE BEFORE 1986.
THE ROYAL VISITOR WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE TOUR OF ON TING/ YAU OF ESTATES BY MR LIAO AND THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR BERNARD WILLIAMS.
THERE THE DUKE VISITED A FAMILY IN THE ADJOINING SIU ON COURT HOS ESTATE, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTRE WHERE HE WAS MET BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR S.E. ALLEYNE, HE THEN WATCHED SEVERAL ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE, INCLUDING A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE AND A FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION +GAMES DAY+.
HE LATER WALKED THROUGH THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE AND MARKET, LOOKING AT ITS SHOPPING AND OTHER FACILITIES, AND ALSO SAW YOUNG CHILDREN AT PLAY IN THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS' KO TACK KUN KINDERGARTENS - ONE OF THE 10 KINDERGARTENS IN THE ESTATES.
THE DUKE COMPARED THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE TO A TOWN CENTRE WITH ITS WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES FOR THE TENANTS.
A $720-MILLION PROJECT COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR ON TING/YAU OF NOW ACCOMMODATES 89 500 PEOPLE IN 14 250 SELF- CONTAINED FLATS.
AT SIU ON COURT, THE DUKE VISITED THE FAMILY OF MR CHAN TAK-KWAI, AND HIS WIFE AND SON AT THEIR SECOND-FLOOR FLAT.
HE ASKED MR CHAN HOW LONG THE FAMILY HAD LIVED THERE AND HOW HE GOT TO WORK EVERY DAY,
/MR CHAN
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