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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984
IMPROVED HOUSING SUPPLY-DEMAND SITUATION SEEN
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THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND SITUATION FOR HOUSING HAD IMPROVED AND THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SOFTENING OF THE RENTAL MARKET IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY.
FOR THESE REASONS, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE IMPROVING ECONOMY, FURTHER STEPS TO EASE RENT CONTROL WERE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE, HE SAID, AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.
MR LIAO THANKED MR PETER C. WONG AND DR HENRIETTA IP FOR THE IR +UNRESERVED SUPPORT+ OF THE BILL AND FR MCGOVERN TOO, FOR HIS +MILDER THAN USUAL OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSALS.+
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MR LIAO ALSO REFERRED TO FR MCGOVERN'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE +SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC HOUSING, AND SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF LAND AND THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PRODUCTION PROGRAMME, HE FELT CONFIDENT THAT +THIS HIGH LEVEL OF PRODUCTION WILL NOT ONLY BE MAINTAINED BUT WILL BE IMPROVED BEFORE THE END OF THE DECADE.+
THE PROPOSALS IN THE BILL ARE AIMED AT BRINGING THOSE WHO ARE STILL PAYING EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RENTS TO MORE REALISTIC LEVELS, HE SAID.
ON ANOTHER POINT, MR LIAO SAID THAT THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO A POSSIBLE UPSWING IN THE RENTAL MARKET +MUST BE TO IMPROVE THE SUPPLY OF SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION, RATHER THAN TO PROLONG RENT CONTROL FOR A PARTICULAR SECTOR OF THE HOUSING MARKET.+
SINCE PUBLICATION OF THE BILL EARLY IN MAY, MEDIA REACTION HAD BEEN GENERALLY FAVOURABLE AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE PACKAGE HAD BEEN GENERALLY WELL RECEIVED, MR LIAO SAID.
DEVELOPERS NEEDED FOR MORE HOUSES AND JOBS: DR IP ****
HONG KONG NEEDED DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE HOUSES TO MEET NEEDS AND TO PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DECLARING HER INTEREST AS A DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY OWNING CONTROLLED PREMISES. SHE SAID THAT THE INCREASING SUPPLY OF HOUSING, AS SHOWN IN THE 1984 PROPERTY REVIEW, INHIBITED PROFITEERING, AND THAT RENT CONTROL, THEREFORE, GRADUALLY BECAME UNNECESSARY.
/DR IP