XN000022-1976-06-23 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1976

FLATTED FACTORY BLOCKS FOR SQUATTER WORKSHOPS

CLEARED FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT

*****

SMALL SQUATTER WORKSHOPS WHICH ARE CLEARED FROM LAND REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN URBAN AREAS ARE PROVIDED WITH GOVERNMENT'S FLATTED FACTORY BLOCKS CONTAINING UNITS OF ABOUT 250 SQ. FT. EACH, THE HOUSING SECRETARY, THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. LIGHTBODY, WHO WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. JAMES WU, SAID THAT RENTS FOR THESE UNITS IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S LATEST BLOCKS WERE SET AT A LEVEL SLIGHTLY BELOW MARKET RENT.

HE INDICATED THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF CLEARED WORKSHOP OPERATORS PREFERRED TO TAKE CASH COMPENSATION RATHER THAN ACCOMMODATION IN A FLATTED FACTORY BLOCK- AND CASH WAS ALSO PAID IF FLATTED FACTORY WAS NOT AVAILABLE OR IF THE TRADE WAS UNSUITABLE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE QUESTION OF REHOUSING SMALL UNDER- TAKINGS, FORCED TO MOVE OUT OF DOMESTIC BLOCKS, HAD BEEN DISCUSSED FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS.

BUT THE TENTATIVE CONCLUSION WAS THAT, BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMICS OF THEIR OPERATIONS, THEY WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT ACCOMMODATION AT MARKET RENT LEVELS IN. PURPOSE-BUILT FLATTED FACTORIES PARTLY BECAUSE SUCH BUILDINGS WOULD INEVITABLY BE SITED IN LESS CENTRAL AREAS.

+BUT THE QUESTION WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW AND IF SUCH A DEMAND DOES EMERGE, CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO WHETHER THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE CAN BE JUSTIFIED,+ HE ADDED.

15