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FRIDAY, JUNE 24,
1988
OPPORTUNITY FOR URBAN RENEWAL AND REPLANNING
THE COMPREHENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME PROVIDES AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE THE RENEWAL AND REPLANNING OF LARGE TRACTS OF CONGESTED URBAN HONG KONG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A SEMINAR ON VALUE ENGINEERING ORGANISED BY THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS, SIR DAVID SAID THE REDEVELOPMENT OF ABOUT 500 BLOCKS IN 40 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES INVOLVING 0.8 MILLION PEOPLE WOULD BE A POWERFUL FORCE FOR CHANGE AND THEIR VALUE WENT FAR BEYOND JUST THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ACTUAL ESTATES.
"WE ARE WELL ON THE WAY WITH REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF ALL OUR OLDER WORN OUT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, SIR DAVID SAID.
"THESE ESTATES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN AND OCCUPY LAND IN THE HEART OF URBAN HONG KONG,'
* SIR DAVID SAID.
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"THEIR INTRINSIC VALUE TO SOCIETY WILL BE MUCH INCREASED IF THEY CAN BE REDEVELOPED TO PROVIDE MODERN AND UP-TO-DATE LIVING, HE ADDED.
BUT SIR DAVID WARNED THAT IN ACHIEVING ECONOMIES OF DESIGN, SAFETY AND DURABILITY MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED AS THERE RAD BEEN TOO MANY EXAMPLES IN TIONG KONG OF POOR DESIGN AND BAD CONSTRUCTION WHICH PROVED TO BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE IN THE LONG RUN.
"THE EXERCISE OF SOUND PLANNING, VALUE ENGINEERING AND VALUE MANAGEMENT, COUPLED WITH PRUDENT COST ANALYSIS 18 THEREFORE CRITICAL TO OUR OPERATION AND OUR SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING OUR GOALS, HE SAID.
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ON THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY, SIR DAVID SAID ONE KEY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE AN EQUITABLE AND EFFICIENT USE OF SCARCE RESOURCES.
THIS.
HF SAID, WOULD CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS SOCIAL STABILITY AND SENSE OF BELONGING BY SECURING BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE NEEDY AND MAXIMISING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME PURCHASE.
'IN OTHER WORDS WE HAVE SET OURSELVES THE TASK OF MEETING SOCIALLY DESIRABLE OBJECTIVES IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO ACHIEVE AND REQUIRES US TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SUBSIDY IS DIRECTED TO TIKOSE MOST IN NEED, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKING STEPS TO KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON EXPENDITURE, SIR DAVID SAID.
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IK POINTED OUT THAT IN RELEASING SCARCE RESOURCES TO DIVERT THOSE MORE IN NEED, THERE IS VALUE IN PROVIDING HOUSING SO THAT ALL WHO WISIL TO PURCHASE A FLAT CAN DO SO.
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HE EXPLAINED THAT EVERY FLAT THAT IS PURCHASED, EITHER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, OR UNDER THE ASSISTED HOME PURCHASE SCHEMES, RELEASES RESOURCES FOR THE PROVISION OF RENTAL HOUSING TO THOSE WHO GENUINELY CANNOT AFFORD TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN LIVING ACCOMMODAT FON.
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