XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 10

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ON

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976

+THE BACK OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE BROKEN BY '84, PROVIDED ALL CONCERNED MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE NECESSARY TO KEEP ON OUR TARGETS, HE STRESSED.

+NONE OF US LIKE THE PRESENT HOUSING SITUATION IN HONG KONG, THE LENGTH OF THE WAITING LIST, THE NUMBERS IN THE OLDEST TYPE ESTATES, IN RESITE AREAS OR SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS OR BED-SPACES. OUR ONLY DEFENCE CAN BE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE MAXIMUM EFFORT TO END IT THAT IS PHYSICALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY POSSIBLE. WITH THE RECESSION BEHIND US, THIS I BELIEVE AT LAST TO BE THE CASE.+

REFERRING TO HOUSING +WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL+, THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS A QUESTION OF STANDARDS, COSTS AND RENTS ON THE ONE HAND AND INCOMES ON THE OTHER.

HE SAID THE RENTS CHARGED IN THE NEWEST ESTATES WERE NOT MORE THAN HALF OF PRIVATE SECTOR RENTS AND USUALLY LESS, AND TO ENSURE THAT HOUSING FULFILS ITS SOCIAL PURPOSE THIS DEGREE OF SUBSIDISATION WOULD BE MAINTAINED.

SIR MURRAY SAID +WE SHOULD NOT DROP STANDARDS IN THE NEW ESTATES AND IN FACT SHOULD RATHER SEEK TO RAISE THEM WITHOUT OF COURSE REDUCING THE NUMBERS TO BE REHOUSED,+

+1 AM EQUALLY CONVINCED THAT HOUSING MUST CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL, OR A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT IN THE SOCIAL COHESION OF HONG KONG WILL BE LOST.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE COURSE BEING FOLLOWED BY THE AUTHORITY WAS TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT FROM OLD TO NEW ESTATES OF THOSE ABLE TO PAY THE HIGHER RENTS AND THUS MAKE ROOM FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT.

+THE SLOW RAISING OF THE EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RENTS IN THE OLD ESTATES WHICH WERE STATIC FOR SO LONG, AND STILL ARE ONLY BETWEEN QUARTER AND A SEVENTH OF COMPARABLE PRIVATE RENTS IS IN LINE WITH THE GENERAL AIM OF PROVIDING HOUSING WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

+I SAY THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE JUSTICE OF SLOWLY RAISING THEM IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED, THOUGH IT IS CERTAINLY OUR INTENTION THAT THEY SHOULD REMAIN VERY LOW IN COMPARISON WITH PRIVATE RENTS.+

AS FOR NEW ESTATES, THE GOVERNOR SAID, IT SEEMED SENSIBLE TO FIX RENTS AT A LEVEL WHICH +AVOIDS EXCESSIVE SUBSIDY FOR THE MAJORITY OF ELIGIBLE FAMILIES, SINCE THEY CAN AFFORD THESE LEVELS.+ +THIS MEANS THAT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE FOR THE MINORITY WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM BUT WHOSE HOUSING PROBLEM MUST BE SOLVED, + HE ADDED.

+THE AUTHORITY'S POLICY IS FRAMED TO MEET THIS PROBLEM, AND THE AUTHORITY WILL KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON IT AND DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HOUSE EVERYBODY WITHIN THEIR MEANS.+

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