WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1993
BUT,
FREE,
ENTREPRENEURIAL
FUNDAMENTALLY, I CANNOT ACCEPT THE IMPLICATION THAT LOW TAXES ARE UNIMPORTANT. LOW TAXES, EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION AND IMPARTIAL JUSTICE ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE IN HONG KONG. THE INCENTIVE TO CREATE WEALTH THAT LOW TAXES PROVIDE IS THE SPUR TO INDUSTRY INDUSTRY IN ITS FULLEST SENSE,
AND NOT JUST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. THIS INDUSTRY GIVES EMPLOYMENT TO OUR PEOPLE. LOW TAXES MAKE IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ADVANCE THEMSELVES. THE ATTRACTIONS OF LOW TAXES; OF A FREE MARKET ECONOMY AND OF MINIMUM GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN BUSINESS MATTERS WILL REMAIN THE CHIEF ATTRACTIONS OF HONG KONG FOR INDUSTRY. THEY WILL REMAIN THE CHIEF PILLARS OF OUR POLICY.
THANK YOU.
MOTION DEBATE ON LAND SUPPLY FOR HOUSING
ENVIRONMENT LAND SUPPLY FOR COUNCIL TONIGHT
FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE LEGISLATIVE (WEDNESDAY) :
MR PRESIDENT,
OF
THROUGHOUT HONG KONG'S HISTORY LAND PRODUCTION HAS BEEN A VITAL FEATURE FOR BOTH ECONOMIC REASONS AND TO MEET SOCIAL NEEDS. WE MUST ALL HAVE BEEN FASCINATED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER TO TRACE THE LINES SUCCESSIVE RECLAMATIONS ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND AROUND THE KOWLOON PENINSULA ON OLD MAPS OF THE TERRITORY. VAST AREAS WERE ADDED BEFORE THE WAR, BUT SINCE 1945 A FURTHER 2,500 HECTARES HAVE BREN RECLAIMED; NEARLY 1,000 OF THESE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. ANOTHER 1.540 HECTARES OF RECLAMATION ARE PLANNED Over The NEXT 10 YEARS; AS WELL AS THE 1,200 HECTARES BEING PRODUCED FOR THE NEW AIRPORT. OUR NEW TOWNS (INCLUDING BOTH NEW RECLAMATION AND RE-FORMED EXISTING LAND) COVER 8,800 HECTARES AND WILL EXTEND OVER ANOTHER 3,200 HECTARES BY FULL COMPLETION. CONSIDERABLE LAND PRODUCTION
FORMATION HAS BEEN GOING ON, IS GOING ON, AND MORE IS COMING.
AND
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS FOR ALL THIS ACTIVITY IS THE LONG RECOGNISED NEED TO MEET THE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY BY EITHER PROVIDING THE REQUIRED HOUSING DIRECTLY, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE IN THE LOWER AND MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS, OR MAKING SUFFICIENT LAND AVAILABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
/PLANNING FRAMEWORK