XN000022-1974-04-10 — Page 13

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VIDIEODAY, APRIL 10, 1974

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IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME FUR LICENSED AREAS UNDER WAY

PLANS ARE NOW READY FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STANDARDS OF EXISTING LICENSED AREAS, PRINCIPALLY BETTER TOILETS AND BATHHOUSES, DRAINAGE AND ELECTRIFICATION.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. IZI LIGHTEODY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT ESTIMATES OF COST FOR THESE PLANS WOULD SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BEFORE SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS.

SPEAKING IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER WILLIAMS WHO EXPRESSED CUNCERN OVER THE +ATROCIOUS CONDITIONS+ IN THE WONG CHUK HANG LICENSED AREA, MR. LIGHTBUDY NOTED THAT SUCH EXPENDITURE ON IMPROVING THESE AREAS WOULD BE A GUYERIMENT ONE RATHER THAN A LIABILITY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WONG CHUK HANG LICENSED AREA VERE ALREADY IN HAND AND BUILDING WORK ON GREATLY IMPROVED TOILET AND BATHHOUSE FACILITIES HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED AND THEY S.:OULD BE READY FOR USE SHORTLY.

WORK UN OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WOULD START IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, INCLUDING RENEWAL OF DEFECTIVE PAVING AROUND THE PERIMETER, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SURFACE DRAINAGE AND PROVISION OF A SITTING-OUT AREA, AS WELL AS A DECENT REFUSE COLLECTION POINT.

HOWEVER, HE SAID PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS WERE NOT ENOUGH IN THEMSELVES, AND THEY MUST BE BACKED UP BY ADEQUATE DAY-TO-DAY SUPERVISION BY HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF.

A SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER POST HAD RECENTLY BEEN CREATED FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THERE HAD ALSO BEEN RE-DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF AND RE-DEFINITION OF JOBS WHICH WOULD ALLOU STAFF TU CONCENTRATE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE AREAS WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTED BY, PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES.

REPLYING TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MR. WILLIAMS ON WHEN THE WONG CHUK HANG INHABITANTS COULD BE REHOUSED IN PUBLIC HOUSING, MR. LIGHTBUDY SAID THESE FAMILIES HAD LIVED IN THE AREA FOR THREE TO FOUR YEARS AND THEY WERE +VERY DESERVING OF AM ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING.+

HE SAID; + UNDERSTANDABLY, HOWEVER, THEY INSIST ON STAYING IN THE ABERDEEN AREA AND THIS HEANS THAT THEIR PROBLEMS CANNOT BE SOLVED UNTIL PUBLIC HOUSING IS AVAILABLE IN THAT AREA,

+OUR BUILDING PROGRAMME WILL NOT PROVIDE THE RECESSARY UNITS IN THE ABERDEEN AREA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT I CAN ASSURE MY HONOURABLE FRIEND THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL BE CONSTANTLY ON THE WATCH FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT MAY PRESENT ITSELF FUR MOVING THESE FAMILIES INTO PUBLIC HOUSING AT AN EARLIER DATE.+

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