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WEDNESDAY, DADENGER 11, 1985
BUT, THE AUTHORITY HAS DECIDED TO REDEVELOP RATHER THAN REPAIR THEM, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO DO SO AND MODERN FACILITIES CAN ALSO BE INCLUDED AT THE SAME TIME,+ HE SAID.
+THESE BLOCKS IN QUESTION ARE NOT UNSAFE.
HE ALSO MADE CLEAR THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND THE GREEN PAPER ON HOUSING SUBSIDY WERE UNRELATED MATTERS.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, MR PANG SAID, WERE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S OPERATIONS.
+THEY GENERATE MUCH-NEEDED SURPLUS TO OFFSET THE AUTHORITY'S DEFICITS IN RUNNING ITS DOMESTIC UNITS AND CONTRIBUTE PARTLY TO THE CAPITAL COSTS OF CONSTRUCTING NEW ESTATES, HE POINTED OUT.
TO ENSURE THAT ITS COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WERE EFFICIENTLY HANDLED, HE SAID THE AUTHORITY HAD SET UP A NEW COMMERCIAL TENANCY DIVISION IN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THAT SUITABLE PEOPLE WERE BEING RECRUITED FOR THE NEW POSTS.
MR PANG ALSO SPOKE ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME.
+THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IS STILL GREAT AND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SO FOR THE COMING YEARS - DR CONRAD LAM AND OTHER HON MEMBERS CAN BE ASSURED THAT PUBLIC HOUSING DEMAND, HOUSING POLICIES AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMMES WILL BE KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW, HAVING REGARD TO RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND THE NEEDS OF OTHER SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, + HE SAID.
STEPS TO IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS CONSIDERED
******
AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDING (CONSTRUCTION) REGULATIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED WHICH WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS, MR CHAN SAID THAT IMPROVING STANDARDS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IS OUR OBJECTIVE+.
+TO THIS END OUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO FIVE AREAS IMPROVED TESTING FACILITIES, TECHNICAL STANDARDS, TRAINING, CONTROL OF CONTRACTORS AND LEGISLATION AND A GREAT DEAL OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THESE AREAS.
/+AMONG OTHER