17
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993
IN VIEW OF THIS, THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO EXPERIMENT WITH ABOUT 1,000 UNITS IN THE FIRST PHASE.
"THIS PRUDENT, EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH WILL AFFORD US OPPORTUNITY TO GAUGE THE EFFECTS OF IMPLEMENTATION ON THE MARKET,
THE HE
SAID.
MR EASON SAID CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO SUGGESTIONS OF USING THE $2 BILLION AS A LOW INTEREST OR AN INTEREST FREE LOAN FUND FOR THE INTERIM SCHEME.
"BEARING IN MIND THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE INTERIM SCHEME IS TO CLOSE THE AFFORDABILITY GAP BETWEEN THE PURCHASER'S RESOURCES AND MARKET PRICE, I AM NOT SURE HOW PRACTICABLE IT WILL BE TO THINK IN TERMS OF ADDING THE REPAYMENTS OF SUCH LOANS TO THE MAIN MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS THE PURCHASER WILL HAVE TO MEET."
"WE MUST AVOID DEVISING A SCHEME WHICH IS SO RESTRICTIVE AS TO
BE UNATTRACTIVE TO THE TARGET GROUP, HE SAID.
MR EASON SAID THE FIRST SITES HAD ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE LONG-TERM SCHEME WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE HOUSING SOCIETY TO BUILD FLATS FOR SALE TO THE SANDWICH CLASS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
"WE
HOPE TO BE ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT IN THE LAND COMMISSION REGARDING THE LAND REQUIREMENTS AND THE PREMIUM ARRANGEMENTS FOR SITES TO BE GRANTED DURING THE YEAR, HE SAID.
"
ON THE ENVIRONMENT, MR EASON SAID THE HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMME UNDER THE SEWAGE STRATEGY WOULD PROVIDE BY 1997 THE PRINCIPAL SEWAGE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR OVER 70 PER CENT OF TOTAL WASTE WATER DISCHARGES IN THE TERRITORY, OR THE 1 5 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF SEWAGE GENERATED IN THE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS AROUND THE HARBOUR EVERY DAY.
·
CHINESE
SUBSTANTIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LATER PHASES OF THE STRATEGY, PARTICULARLY THE OCEANIC OUTFALL, ARE NOT YET POSSIBLE AS THAT STAGE HAVE NOT BEEN REACHED.
**REGULAR CONTACTS ON THE ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATORY ASPECTS OF THE PROJECTS DURING THE CURRENT PLANNING STAGES ARE BEING MAINTAINED AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL AND THROUGH THE JOINT HONG KONG-GUANGDONG ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LIAISON GROUP,
** HE SAID.
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPROPRIATE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE SHENZHEN RIVER IMPROVEMENT SCHEME ARE PROGRESSING.
ON THE
**WE ARE WORKING OUT THE IMPACT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INCREASED CAPITAL INJECTION ON SEWAGE CHARGES AND EXPECT TO CONSULT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC WIDELY ON OUR PROPOSALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,' HE ADDED.
0
/18