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A NEW HOUSING BRANCH
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1994
A NEW HOUSING BRANCH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT. IT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOR THE PROVISION OF HOUSING IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS AND FOR CO-ORDINATING GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN IMPLEMENTING HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES.
THE NEW BRANCH WILL BE HEADED BY THE NEW SECRETARY FOR HOUSING.
THE
SCHEDULE OF THE NEW SECRETARY FOR HOUSING WILL ALSO COVER DEVELOPMENT OF REHOUSING POLICY IN URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AND RENT CONTROL IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE LATTER OF WHICH CURRENTLY RESTS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.
THE CREATION OF THE BRANCH WILL NOT AFFECT THE STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY (HA), THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL REMAIN AS ITS EXECUTIVE ARM.
"A DEDICATED POLICY BRANCH WITH SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOUSING WILL ENSURE THAT HOUSING IS GIVEN THE PRIORITY AND UNDIVIDED ATTENTION IT DESERVES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
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OTHER SENIOR STAFF IN THE NEW BRANCH WILL INCLUDE A DEPUTY SECRETARY, THREE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARIES, AND A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
THE BRANCH WILL HAVE FOUR DIVISIONS WHOSE TITLES AND ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PUBLIC HOUSING DIVISION
FUNCTIONS
IT WILL FOSTER A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HA, FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT THE SANDWICH CLASS HOUSING SCHEME.
PRIVATE HOUSING DIVISION
IT WILL ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS, ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF LAND TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR PRIVATE HOUSING AND WHERE NECESSARY, EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF HOUSING PROJECTS THROUGH THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL HOUSING PROJECT ACTION TEAM (HPAT) AS RECOMMENDED BY THE TASK FORCE ON LAND SUPPLY AND PROPERTY PRICES. IT WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MARKET, INTRODUCING MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF HOME BUYERS AND REVIEWING THE RENT CONTROL POLICY.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION
SITES,
AND
IT WILL CO-ORDINATE THE EFFORTS IN IDENTIFYING HOUSING DETERMINING PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMMES FOR LAND SUPPLY FOR HOUSING, MONITORING PROGRESS THROUGH THE HPAT.
/ADMINISTRATION AND