XN000022-1975-07-16 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1975

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AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT IT IS THEREFORE VERY MUCH IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ENCOURAGE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRIVATE-SECTOR.

TO ACHIEVE THIS THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT ALL NEW HOUSING COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1977 WILL ENJOY FIVE YEARS OF FREEDOM FROM ANY NEW OR EXTENDED LANDLORD AND TENANT TYPE CONTROLS THAT MAY BE IN FORCE DURING THIS PERIOD.

THUS A BLOCK OF FLATS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 1976 WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO ANY CONTROLS BEFORE OCTOBER 1981.

THIS ARRANGEMENT, HE SAID, GIVES PRACTICAL ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WITHOUT TYING GOVERNMENT'S HANDS FOR TOO LONG A PERIOD, AND THE ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE SITUATION CAN BE REVIEWED EVERY YEAR AND IF NECESSARY THE SCHEME CAN BE EXTENDED A YEAR AT A TIME.

MR. LIGHTBODY SAID THE SCHEME APPLIES TO ALL HOUSING COMPLETED SINCE DECEMBER 14, 1973 AND TO HOUSING NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS TO NEW DEVELOPMENT STARTED AFTER TODAY - BUT PROVIDED THEY ARE COMPLETED DEFORE DECEMBER 31, 1977. THE AIM IS TO GET NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION MOVING NOW RATHER THAN LATER.

MORE HYDRANTS FOR KOWLOON WALLED CITY

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AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN FIRE HYDRANTS WILL SOON BE INSTALLED IN THE ROADS SURROUNDING THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY TO PROVIDE BETTER FIRE COVER FOR THE AREA, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LI FOOK-WO, HE SAID THERE WERE 10 FRESH WATER AND TWO SALT WATER PEDESTAL' HYDRANTS LOCATED IN CARPENTER ROAD, JUNCTION ROAD, TUNG TAU CHUEN ROAD AND TUNG SHING ROAD WHICH ENCOMPASSED THE WALLED CITY AND THE ADJOINING SQUATTER AREAS.

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-NO PART OF THE AREA IS MORE THAN 500 FEET FROM A HYDRANT,+ MR. MCDONALD SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WOULD BE LITTLE PURPOSE IN PROVIDING WITHIN THE WALLED CITY AREA BECAUSE OF ITS CONGESTED LAYOUT WHICH MAKES VEHICULAR ACCESS BY FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCE IMPOSSIBLE.

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