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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985
MR FORD SAID THE AUTHORITY WAS CONSCIOUS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THE TENANTS COULD AFFORD TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE COST OF THEIR HOUSING.
+ THE AUTHORITY'S HOUSING STOCK IS NOW WELL OVER HALF A MILLION UNITS PLUS A LARGE PORTFOLIO OF COMMERCIAL AND NON-DOMESTIC BUILDINGS.
+OF PRIME IMPORTANCE, AS WE MOVE INTO THE 1990'S, WILL BE TO ESTABLISH POLICIES WHICH ENSURE THAT THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG IS PROPERLY MANAGED AND MAINTAINED, AND THAT THE ACCOMMODATION IT PROVIDES IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE MOST IN
NEED.+
MR FORD SAID THE AUTHORITY ALSO BELIEVED THAT IT WAS A FAR WISER INVESTMENT TO BUILD TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD, AND WHERE NECESSARY SUBSIDISE THE OCCUPANT, RATHER THAN TO SAVE MONEY ON BUILDING IN THE SHORT TERM AND PAY DEARLY ON MAINTENANCE COSTS EVER AFTER.
+ THE AUTHORITY HAS JUST MET ITS PRODUCTION TARGET FOR THE FIFTH YEAR RUNNING, AND IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD AT A RATE OF A MINIMUM OF 40 000 UNITS A YEAR. INCREASINGLY, HOWEVER THE EMPHASIS IS TURNING AWAY FROM JUST QUANTITY.
+ THE AUTHORITY IS PAYING MORE AND MORE ATTENTION TO THE QUALITY OF ITS NEW BUILDINGS TO REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS. WHILST AT THE SAME TIME EMBARKING ON A VERY AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME OF RENOVATION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF ITS OLDER STOCK.+
THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING NOTED THAT HONG KONG WAS AN INTERNATIONAL BUILDING MARKET OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, AND ONE THAT WAS INCREASINGLY BEING SEEN AS A VITAL GATEWAY TO CHINA. +1 AM SURE, THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THAT HARDLY A DAY NOW GOES BY WITHOUT A TRADE OR GOVERNMENTAL DELEGATION ARRIVING, EITHER HAVING BEEN TO, OR GOING TO CHINA.
+THERE IS CURRENTLY TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE BUILDING INDUSTRY TO PROMOTE AND DO BUSINESS. THIS BUSINESS WILL BE SECURED BY THOSE COMPANIES PREPARED TO OFFER A FIRST-CLASS PRODUCT AND SERVICE. AND TO BE INNOVATIVE AND FLEXIBLE IN RESOLVING PROBLEMS AND MEETING CHALLENGES.+
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