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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985
HE FELT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY SHOULD BE AIMED AT ENABLING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING OR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE HOS FLATS.
+BUT ONCE THIS IS DONE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO TAKE EXCESSIVE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE BUT SHOULD INSTEAD CONCENTRATE ITS ATTENTION ON OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING ACCOMMODATION OR THOSE WHO HAVE NO CHANCE OF BUYING HOS FLATS, + MR WONG SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE CONTINUED EXCLUSION OF THE LAND VALUE (OR PART OF IT) IN THE SELLING PRICES OF HOS FLATS IN THE FACE OF DECREASED LAND VALUES AND CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN THE REAL INCOME OF THE CITIZENS WAS OPEN TO QUESTION.
+EVEN IF THE LAND VALUE IS INCLUDED, I BELIEVE THAT THE PRICE FOR THE HOS FLATS ARE STILL FAR BELOW THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS LONG AS THE PROFIT ELEMENT IS EXCLUDED, AND THEY WILL REMAIN ATTRACTIVE TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME GROUPS, MR WONG SAID.
THOUGH THE PRICING POLICY OF EXCLUDING LAND VALUE HAD BENEFITED THOSE WHO PURCHASED THE HOS FLATS, MR WONG SAID IT REDUCED GOVERNMENT REVENUE AND THUS HAMPERED ITS FINANCIAL - ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT MORE HOS FLATS.
+THIS IN TURN REDUCES THE OPPORTUNITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET BOUGHT HOS FLATS TO PURCHASE ONE IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.
HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVISE THE PRESENT POLICY SO AS TO INCLUDE AT LEAST PART OF THE LAND VALUE IN THE SELLING PRICES AND USE THE INCREASED PROCEEDS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE HOS FLATS FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME GROUPS.
REVIEW OF PUBLIC UTILITIES MONITORING POLICIES
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GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONDUCT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE POLICIES TOWARDS THE MONITORING OF ALL PRIVATELY-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITIES AND FORMULATE A UNIFORM AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR NEW SCHEMES OF CONTROL, THE HON ANDREW SO SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOREOVER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, EITHER A SPECIAL COMMITTEE SHOULD BE SET UP OR UMELCO MEMBERS SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO ASSIST IN THE REVIEW AND MONITORING OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, MR SO SAID AT THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
/THIS WOULD