XN000022-1977-10-26 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1977

ON THE WORK OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED THE SETTING UP OF A SUB-REGISTER OF ELDERLY WOMEN WHO COULD PROVIDE PART-TIME HELP FOR YOUNG WORKING WIVES, BABY-SIT FOR THEM, OR LOOK AFTER HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WHILE THEIR PARENTS WERE AT WORK, WITH SOME BASIC TRAINING PROVIDED FOR THEM FREE.

SUCH A SERVICE WOULD NOT ONLY BE HELPFUL TO THE FAMILIES CONCERNED, IT WOULD MAKE THE ELDERLY WOMEN FEEL THEY WERE PERFORMING A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT THEY WERE WANTED, HE SAID.

HE FURTHER PROPOSED THAT FOR THE VERY POOR FAMILIES, THE COST OF SUCH SERVICE COULD BE ASSISTED BY THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

FOR MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES WHO EARNED BETWEEN $3,500 AND $6,000, MR. CHEONG-LEEN URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE WHETHER SPÈCIAL MORTGAGE FACILITIES COULD BE PROVIDED BY THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WITH ITS PARTIAL ASSISTANCE OR GUARANTEE, TO HELP THEM BUY THEIR OWN HOMES ON THE BASIS OF 10 PER CENT DOWN PAYMENT, 15 YEAR REPAYMENT TERM, AND INTEREST RATES AT BETWEEN 7-1/2 TO 9 PER CENT PER ANNUM.

THIS MEASURE WILL FURTHER STIMULATE THE TREND TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP, NOT TO MENTION KEEPING THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN A HEALTHY CONDITION, HE SAID.

THE FINDINGS OF THE WORKING PARTY NOW LOOKING INTO HOUSING FOR MIDDLE-INCOME CIVIL SERVANTS FOR WHOM THERE WAS NO HOUSING PROVISIONS, WERE BEING AWAITED, HE ADDED.

HE SUGGESTED THAT INITIALLY THE PROPORTION OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS RESERVED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE TENANTS BE SET AT TWO-THIRDS TO THREE-QUARTERS SO THAT MORE HIGH INCOME TENANTS WOULD MOVE OUT OF HIGHLY SUBSIDISED ACCOMMODATION TO MAKE WAY FOR THOSE IN DESPERATE NEED ON THE WAITING LIST.

HE SAID IT WAS NOT A BAD IDEA FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SEEK ADDITIONAL LOANS FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK OR OTHER SOURCES FOR MORE PUBLIC HOUSING TO KEEP UP WITH THE BUILDING PROGRAMME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN VIEW OF THE LARGE FORECAST EXPENDITURE ON THE HOUSING PROGRAMME, IT WAS VITAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP UNDER ANNUAL REVIEW THE PROPORTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING WHICH WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL AND FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN REFERRED TO THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE PERSONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND SAID THE NEED FOR SUCH SERVICES COULD BE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE AGE GROUPS: DURING PRIMARY SCHOOL, DURING SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND POST SECONDARY SCHOOL UP TO ABOUT THE AGE OF 20.

/HE URGED