XN000022-1978-03-01 — Page 20

„EDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1978

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MORE THAN $820M TO BE SPENT ON HOUSING IN 1978/79

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MORE THAN 820 MILLION 15 EXPECTED TO BE SPENT ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, INDICATED IN HIS BUDGET TODAY.

HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ESTIMATED AN EXPENDITURE CF ABOUT $696 MILLION ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S BUILDING PROGRAMME FOR RENTED ACCOMMODATION, WHILE THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENVISAGED SPENDING $125 MILLION ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES DURING 1978/79.

IN ADDITION, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SPEND ANOTHER 089 MILLION ON PROVIDING COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN THESE ESTATES, SO AS TO ENSURE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT IN HOUSING.

MR. HADDON-CAVE NOTED THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING SOCIETY HAD DURING THE PAST FOUR YEARS COMPLETED ACCOMMODATION FOR 348,000 PEOPLE.

THE

+OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, 1978/79 TO 1981/82, ACCOMMODATION FOR A FURTHER 953,300 PERSONS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED,

INCLUDING ACCOMMODATION FOR ABOUT 80,300 PERSONS TO BE BUILT UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, HE SAID.

WORK ON FURTHER ESTATES WOULD BE IN PROGRESS AT THE END OF 1981/82 FOR COMPLETION IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, HE ADDED, +SO WE CAN EXPECT THAT, BY 1984, ADEQUATE PUBLIC HOUSING WILL BE AVAILABLE TO A VERY LARGE PROPORTION OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.+

REFERRING TO THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TRANSFER $400 MILLION FROM GENERAL REVENUE INTO THE HOME OWNERSHIP FUND IN 1978/79. PHASE II OF THE SCHENE, INCLUDING A FURTHER 3,200 FLATS, WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SOON INVITE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS TO SUBMIT TENDERS FOR TWO SITES -- ONE IN NEW KOWLOON AND THE OTHER IN TUEN MUN — - FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLATS FOR SALE TO PEOPLE WITHIN THE ELIGIBLE INCOME RANGE.

+ IF THIS EXPERIMENTAL JOINT VENTURE SCHEME SHOULD PROVE TO BE A SUCCESS, IT MAY OPEN UP AN ALTERNATIVE WAY BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CAN PROMOTE HOME OWNERSHIP, HE SAID.

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