XN000022-1974-03-22 — Page 8

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Friday, March 22, 197

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7.-

Mr. Robson stressed that the public housing programme was not

going to develop in a vacuum, divorced entirely from private housing.

"Obviously the levels of demand are going to be very closely related on

both sides, so that private housing is going to come under the sanc degree

of pressure to provide more accommodation at a reasonable price."

While appreciating the contribution by private enterprise towards

Hong Kong, lir. Robson doubted the wisdom of continuing to drive speculative

building into the future with dipped headlights, studying the next few

yards of the road rather than the next few miles.

If looking ahead entailed "thinking big" then, it also suggested

breaking away from the traditional approach to building techniques.

He questioned, for instance, whether sufficient use was being made

of prestressed concrete or new types of steel and steel sections, particularly

in bridge construction, and in view of the shortages in cement and steel

reinforcements he wondered whether other materials could not be used,

overseas?

"Have we given sufficient attention to the methods tried and tested

Even if they are not entirely appropriate for Hong Kong, could

thoy not be adapted?" he asked.

Mr. Robson said some more imaginative developers had already shown

the way, but there seemed to be plenty of scope for systems not yet attempted

in this environment.

Note to Editors:

Copies of the full text of Mr. Robson's

speech are boxed for collection.

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