12
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1987
HE SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED FOR THOSE WHO WERE THE LEAST ABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND WHO HAD BEEN RELYING ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND ON SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES.
HE CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF ALL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCALES OF WHICH NO PROVISION WAS MADE IN THE BUDGET.
MR HU ALSO NOTED THAT NO PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IMPROVED RATIO FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL SOCIAL
WORKER.
AS THIS AREA OF NEED HAD BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED, HE SUGGESTED THAT SEPARATE AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY FOR THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CONCERNED TO PROCEED WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT SERVICE.
MR HU MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE MENTALLY ILL WAS ANOT HER AREA FOR CONCERN AND SAID RECENT TRAGIC INCIDENTS WERE NOT JUST ISOLATED CASES.
HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT A CRITICAL REVIEW OF EXISTING PROVISION OF FACILITIES SUCH AS HALF-WAY HOUSES AND MANPOWER RESOURCES.
WITH REGARD TO HOUSING, MR HU SAID HE WELCOMED THE INITIATIVE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT ANOTHER REVIEW OF THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSED HOME PURCHASE LOAN SCHEME WOULD GIVE POTENTIAL PURCHASERS OF HOS/PSPS FLATS AN ALTERNATIVE OF AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO COVER DOWNPAYMENT TO BUY FLATS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
+PROVIDED THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN KEEP THE FLAT PRICES WITHIN THE REACH OF ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS, THIS SCHEME CAN HELP GREATLY TO RESOLVE THE HOUSING REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE IN NEED WHILE THE GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO BUILD AT LEAST 40 000 UNITS INCLUDING RENTAL HOUSING AND HOS/PSPS FLATS,+ HE SAID.
MR HU ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT NOW CONSIDER THE SALE OF PSPS SITES WITHOUT UNDERTAKING TO BUY BACK UNSOLD FLATS WHICH COULD BE SOLD FREELY BY THE DEVELOPERS AFTER AN AGREED TIME
INTERVAL.
HE SAID THIS PROPOSED REVISED TERM COULD RELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE FINANCIAL RISK OF BUYING BACK UNSOLD FLATS.
/13