XN000022-1973-03-28 — Page 17

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Wednesday, March 28, 1973

However, he hoped to place one or two commercial sites on Wan

Chai Reclamation in the Land Sales Programme for the second half of the

coming financial year.

While agreeing with the Hon. P.C. Woo that swamping the market

with land may be very desirable to bring down land coste, Mr. Robson

warned that this could cause a very rapid increase in building costs, by

over-committing the building industry.

For the same reason, it would also cause a great increase in

the cost of all public works, including that of the mass transit system.

Over-Committing

On housing, Mr. Robson said over the next ten years private

enterprise would have the opportunity of providing accommodation for

550,000 people.

These include 300,000 people to be accommodated on land made

available for private development and 250,000 people in redevelopment of old

property in the urban areza.

Referring to Lantau, Mr. Robson said a paper recommending that a

study be made for developing not only the island, but also the Sai Kung

Penins la, Ma Wan and Middle Island for recreation and tourism, had been

circulated to the Public Works Sub-Committee of the Legislative Council.

In broad terms, he said, the study would consider the potential

of the area for formal and informal recreational purposes.

/The market