XN000022-1972-09-25 — Page 3

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Monday, September 25, 1972

GOVERNMENT HOUSING FOR NEW TERRITORIES

The District Commissioner, New Territories, Mr. D.C. Bray, disclosed

today that plans were now being drawn up for the first of the rural government

housing estates.

Earlier this year it was announced that seven estates would be built

initially to provide government housing for rural New Territories people.

Mr. Bray made his remarks today at the handing over ceremony of the

Self-Help Village on Cheung Chau.

As part of the scheme the Government hopes to house some 5,000 people

on Cheung Chau over the next few years. But, Mr. Bray said, the "willingness

of the people to contribute towards improving their own living conditions

together with the assistance given by generous donors, both in Hong Kong and

abroad, will certainly ease the Government's work and will give new homes

to these people years before any public housing is ready."

He congratulated the 40 fishing families who were moving into the

village for "their genuine effort in self-help".

During the handing over ceremony, the Commissioner for Canada,

Mr. R.L. Wales, presented the keys to Mr. Law Chun-wah, a village representative.

Later Mr. Bray joined with Mr. Wales and the Chief of the Refugee and

Migration Unit of the American Consulate General, Mr. Richard Hart, in performing

the ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling ceremony.

The village was made available with donations from Canada through

C.A.R.E. Inc. the Cheung Chau Rural Committee and the local Public Works Fund.

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