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FRIDAY, AUGUST 24,
1984
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN HOUSING PROGRAMME URGED
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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PERHAPS CONSIDER OFFERING MORE RENTAL BLOCKS OF GOOD QUALITY WITH A PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT FOR SALE TO BETTER-OFF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S HOME OWNERSHIP COMMITTEE, MR CHARLES SIN, SAID THIS DURING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE PENINSULA LION'S CLUB OF HONG KONG TODAY.
HE SAID THE RECENT EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME OF OFFERING RENTAL TRIDENT 11 BLOCKS FOR SALE AT MUCH LOWER PRICES HAD PROVED TO BE A SUCCESS AMONG EXISTING ESTATE TENANTS.
MR SIN ALSO SAID THE STRONG AND PERSISTENT DEMAND FOR HOS FLATS INDICATED THAT HOME OWNERSHIP WAS STILL A DESIRED OBJECTIVE AMONG THE LOWER-MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS.
+SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES HAVE LENDED SUPPORT TO THE VIEW THAT HOME OWNERSHIP IS CONDUCIVE TO A MORE STABLE SOCIETY AS HOME-OWNERS ARE COMMITTED TO THE PLACE IN WHICH THEY HAVE A STAKE.
+ IT IS THEREFORE IN THE INTEREST AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE HOME OWNERSHIP AMONG THE POPULATION AND HOS IS INSTRUMENTAL IN PURSUING THIS OBJECTIVE,+ HE ADDED.
+THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS PLANS FOR INCREASING THE PRODUCTION OF FLATS FOR SALE FROM THE CURRENT ANNUAL TARGET OF 5 000 TO 10 000 IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WITH THE ADDITION OF 4 000 TO 5 000 FLATS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
+BUT THE DEMAND FROM BOTH TENANTS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING INDICATES THAT THE PRODUCTION FIGURES STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO MEET THE EXPECTATION OF THE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS.+
HE SAID THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE PRODUCTION OF HOS-PSPS FLATS SHOULD NOT HAVE SERIOUS EFFECT ON THE PRIVATE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY WHILE EXPANSION OF THE PSPS WOULD, ON THE CONTRARY, PROVIDE MORE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPERS.
REFERRING TO THE RECENT DISCUSSIONS BY THE PUBLIC AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ON THE SUBJECT OF WELL-OFF TENANTS IN HOUSING ESTATES, HE SAID THERE WAS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR A GENTLE, PERSUASIVE APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE THESE TENANTS TO PURCHASE HOS FLATS.
/+NEVERTHELESS,