XN000022-1973-04-26 — Page 19

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Thursday, April 26, 1973

I believe you shoud never lose sight of the fact that your primary task is

to build, and to build well and to build fast, and to build for the future.

"Secondly, you may have guessed that I would not have set up

totally new arrangements for the construction and management of public

housing in Hong Kong if I had felt that all was well with current programics.

Inevitably it will be some time before a vast new programme such as this

begins to show results. Obviously nothing can be done about the current

year and probably very little next year. On the other hand, results

will be considerable in three years and dramatic in four or five.

But

I do ask you to look anew at the figures for the financial year 174/75

and see if your joint expertise, ingenuity and enthusiasm cannot do

something to improve them. It may be impossible, but I am sure that

you are as conscious as I am of the urgency of the need and are as

impatient for results.

"Thirdly, I realise the urgency of many of the short term problens that also confront you. Recently both Mrs. Elliott and Mr. Lightbody

have drawn attention to the need for re-site areas and of the new squatter

problem created by that new refugee, the regugee from the rents.

"I think that what I have already said indicates that you may count on my strong interest and support. I myself and indeed all Hong Kong are conscious of the need for a new surge in the field of public housing, and all that should go with it. I am sure that this new Authority and the

new department at its disposal are well able to achieve this and I wish

you all success.

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Release Time: 7.30 p.m.