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"To assist us in evaluating housing needs in Hong Kong, an interdepartmental working group is conducting systematic and comprehensive assessment of the scale and composition of housing demand.
"The results, to be ready by mid-1995, will provide the basis for a review of our Long Term Housing Strategy for the period after 2001. The review will commence at the end of this year."
In order to strengthen monitoring of housing supply, "we are in the process of establishing an interdepartmental information system, based in the Rating and Valuation Department, which can give early warning of any slippage or change in housing development plans and better monitoring of the activities and movements in the local property market.
"We are also examining ways to computerise the Land Disposal Inventory System which will facilitate the preparation of the five-year land sale programme," Mr Wong said.
"To cope with the additional work, we hope to create 98 posts in the relevant departments in 1995-96.
"We have also set up a Flat Supply Sub-committee to monitor and advise on matters concerning the housing supply and demand, and the residential property market in general.
"The sub-committee, under my chairmanship, provides a useful forum for exchange of views with non-government members from housing-related organisations."
The Secretary for Housing confirmed that "the anti-speculation measures introduced in June last year are achieving the desired result and should continue to remain in force.
"Any relaxation will likely encourage speculative activities again and push up property prices.
"We will continue to provide more land for housing and increase the supply of flats. We have no intention of introducing further intervention measures, and will let the market adjust itself. We will monitor developments in the property market closely.