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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
+ INDEED, AS MANY 25 000 FAMILIES WOULD BENEFIT IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS COVERED BY THIS PROGRAMME,+ HE SAID,
REFERRING TO PUBLIC HOUSING OUTPUT, MR LIAO SAID THIS WOULD BE MAINTAINED AT THE LEVEL OF OVER 35 000 FLATS WHICH HAD BEEN ACHIEVED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
+WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALERT TO THE DESIRABILITY OF ADJUSTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN FLATS FOR SALE AND FLATS FOR RENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEMONSTRATED DEMAND FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF HOUSING, HE SAID.
AS REGARDS PRIVATE HOUSING, HE POINTED OUT THERE WAS NOW A GOOD SUPPLY OF LAND READILY AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PRODUCE HOUSING AT PRICES WHICH WOULD BE GENERALLY AFFORDABLE.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
+NOTWITHSTANDING OUR COMMITMENT TO A HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC HOUSING OUTPUT, THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT A PRODUCTIVE AND STABLE PRIVATE PROPERTY SECTOR IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP MEET HONG KONG'S HOUSING NEEDS, HE ADDED.
MR LIAO ALSO RESTATED THE REASON FOR HALTING THE MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMME, SAYING THAT WITH EASED PRICES, LOWER MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES AND LONGER MORTGAGE PERIODS, PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE PROGRAMME WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED COULD NOW AFFORD TO BUY THEIR OWN HOMES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IF THEY WISHED.
HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL INTRODUCED
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THE HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 IS BASICALLY TO SIMPLIFY THE OPERATION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION'S CONVENIENCE. THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER. THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH A SECOND READING, MR HENDERSON TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE BILL PROPOSES TO REPLACE THE LIST OF GENERAL HOLIDAYS IN SECTION 3 OF THE ORDINANCE BY A SCHEDULE.
AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR DIRECT AMENDMENT TO THE LIST OF HOLIDAYS, AND ALL ADDITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS TO THIS LIST MADE UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE ORDINANCE BY RESOLUTION ARE SEPARATELY RECORDED BY ADDITIONAL, SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
+ THE SCHEDULE WHICH WILL REPLACE THIS LIST CAN BE DIRECTLY AMENDED BY RESOLUTION, THUS AVOIDING AN ACCUMULATION OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION,+ MR HENDERSON EXPLAINED.
ALSO, BECAUSE THE BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IS NOT ALWAYS CELEBRATED ON THE SAME DAY EVERY YEAR IN THE UK, WHILE IN HONG KONG THE DATE HAS BEEN FIXED AS THE SECOND SATURDAY IN JUNE, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AN ALTERNATIVE DATE BY GAZETTE NOTIFICATION, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.
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