FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1991
I
GOOD PROGRESS IN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME FOR BEDSPACE TENANTS
GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF BEDSPACE APARTMENT TENANTS, SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
то
THE
GROUP OF SAID THE
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TUNG WAH HOSPITALS' TAK NGA HOUSE SINGLETON HOSTEL IN WAN
CHAI, HE GROUP HAD RESPONDED TO GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE TO SOLVE THE BEDSPACE APARTMENT PROBLEM BY CONVERTING ONE OF ITS INTO A HOSTEL FOR THESE PEOPLE.
PROPERTIES
THE TAK NGA HOUSE, LOCATED AT 197 LOCKHART ROAD, IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE SET UP UNDER A GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO HOUSE EXISTING BEDSPACE APARTMENT TENANTS AND IS GOING TO BE MANAGED BY THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
MR TSAO RECALLED THAT AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MOTION DEBATE ON BEDSPACE APARTMENTS ON FEBRUARY 27 THIS YEAR HE HAD SAID THAT A COMPONENT OF THE IMPROVEMENT PACKAGE WOULD BE TO PROVIDE OTHER SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION TO ABOUT 1,000 SINGLE LODGERS IN SUCH APARTMENTS.
HAD OBTAINED THE
THE FUND
IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, CORPORATION, THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES SOCIETY.
LAND DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOUSING
MR TSAO POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM THE CURRENT TUNG WAB PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES 80 BEDS, THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY HAD ALSO REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) TO PROVIDE TWO LARGE FLATS IN KWUN TONG GARDEN FOR CONVERSION INTO A SINGLETON HOSTEL.
"RENOVATION IS UNDERWAY AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FLATS WILL BE FORMALLY HANDED OVER TO THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS' TIME.
"IN ADDITION, CNTA HAS IDENTIFIED TWO RESIDENTIAL FLATS IN KOWLOON AS SUITABLE HOSTEL PREMISES.
"IF EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY, THE TWO FLATS WILL
BE PURCHASED WITH A PORTION OF THE $40 MILLION WHICH HAS BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE GENERAL CHINESE CHARITIES FUND AND BY THEN, THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF BEDSPACE LODGERS WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED, HE SAID.
"
NOTING THAT GOOD MANAGEMENT WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ENSURING FULL UTILISATION OF A SINGLETON HOSTEL, MR TSAO SAID HE GLAD THAT THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE HAD AGREED TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF TAK NGA HOUSE AND OTHER SINGLETON HOSTELS TO BE OPENED IN FUTURE.
INVALUABLE ADVICE ON THE
**IN FACT, THE AGENCY HAS GIVEN FACILITIES OF TAK NGA HOUSE AT ITS PLANNING STAGE," HE SAID.
/EARLIER. MR