XN000022-1972-11-29 — Page 11

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Wednesday, November 29, 1972

He said the supply of housing had not been able to catch up with the

demand and "any further delay in plans can only result in higher cost of

accommodation."

"The chain reaction will be higher cost of living and higher cost

of labour, which will add to the cost of our export products as well as creating

further social probleme.

Mr. Lee appreciated the need for the bill and said he had considerable

sympathy for the Public Works Department in view of the situation it was facing.

"I am sure we would all like to pay a tribute to the devotion of duty

shown by the Director of Public Works and his staff, particularly in the

Buildings Ordinance Office for having carried out the already very heavy_load

of work which has now been aggravated by the June disasters".

Mr. Lee was aware that to speed up the approval of building plans

was not the sole responsibility of the P.W.D.. He suggested that urgent measures

be taken to recruit "at the soonest possible date" the extra professional staff

for whom the posts have already been approved by the Finance Committee of the

Legislative Council.

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