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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1986
+FURTHER PRIVATISATION WILL BE CONSIDERED WHERE IT IS FEASIBLE AND CHEAPER TO INTRODUCE IT WITHOUT LOWERING THE STANDARD OF SERVICE. BUT I DOUBT, IN PRACTICE, WHETHER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THERE ARE SUFFICIENT PERSONS QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED IN HOUSING MANAGEMENT WHO COULD UNDERTAKE THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE MANY ESTATES.+
MR TODD SAID HE AGREED THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF HOME OWNERSHIP PROPERTIES SHOULD NOT REMAIN A PERMANENT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AUTHORITY WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE HOME OWNERS' GROUPS TO MANAGE THEIR OWN AFFAIRS DESPITE THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM HOS OWNERS.
TURNING TO THE QUESTION ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AFTER THEIR DEMOLITION, MR TODD SAID THE AUTHORITY HAS A PROGRAMME TO REDEVELOP SOME OLD
TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS TO REPLACE DILAPIDATED OLD TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS WITH NEW ONES BUILT TO CURRENT STANDARDS.
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON CONSULTANTS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYED CONSULTANTS ONLY WHEN DEPARTMENTS DID NOT HAVE THE STAFF OR EXPERTISE TO CARRY OUT THE WORK THEMSELVES, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MR CHAN SAID: WHILE THE RECRUITMENT OF MORE STAFF MIGHT APPEAR TO BE THE MORE ECONOMICAL SOLUTION IN THE SHORT TERM, IT COULD LEAD TO UNDER- UTILISATION OF STAFF RESOURCES WHEN THE WORKLOAD IS REDUCED.
+THIS WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM OF RESTRICTING THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY, +
MR CHAN SAID THAT CONSULTANTS WERE EMPLOYED FOR MUCH OF THE PLANNING OF NEW TOWNS BECAUSE ADDITIONAL STAFF RESOURCES WERE NEEDED TO LAUNCH THE PROGRAMME, BUT IT WAS UNCERTAIN JUST HOW LONG THESE RESOURCES WOULD BE NEEDED.
HE ADDED, HOWEVER THAT WHERE WE ARE SURE THAT THE WORKLOAD IS ONGOING, IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AN EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.+
REFERRING TO THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG'S COMMENTS ON LACK OF BASIC FACILITIES IN THE OLDER PARTS OF HONG KONG, ESPECIALLY WESTERN DISTRICT, MR CHAN EXPLAINED THAT DEVELOPING DENSELY POPULATED OLDER AREAS, WHERE MUCH OF THE LAND WAS PRIVATELY OWNED, WAS DIFFICULT.
/NEVERTHELESS,