XN000022-1978-11-01 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1978

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SMALL FACTORY OPERATORS NEED HELP

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THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPT MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HELPING SMALL FACTORY OPERATORS SOLVE THE IR ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT FACTORY BUILDING PROGRAMME CATERS MAINLY FOR OPERATORS OF SQUATTER FACTORIES WHOSE STRUCTURES ARE DEMOLISHED IN CLEARANCE OPERATIONS.

+THERE IS NO PLAN TO HELP SMALL-SCALE FACTORIES IN NON- INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WHICH GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO SEE RELOCATED INTO INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AS A MATTER OF LONG-TERM POLICY, HE SAID.

NOT MANY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS EITHER ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING FACTORY BLOCKS WITH SMALL INDIVIDUAL UNITS.

HE THOUGHT THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WITH ITS SKILLED SUPERVISORY STAFF AND 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE COULD HELP BY EXPANDING ITS FACTORY ESTATE PROGRAMME. AT THE POLICY LEVEL, THE PLANNING AND ALLOCATION OF SUCH ACCOMMODATION COULD BE ENTRUSTED TO A BODY SUCH AS THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE CORPORATION OR A NEW SMALL INDUSTRIES CORPORATION,

ON THE GENERAL PROBLEM OF SPIRALLING LAND COSTS AND SPECULATION, MR. CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON FUTURE LAND SALES TO DISALLOW REASSIGNMENT WITHIN FIVE YEARS, UNLESS FULL PAYMENT IS MADE OR THERE ARE EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO MADE SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE COMPLETE REHABILITATION OF PRISONERS.

TO ENSURE THAT DRUG-ADDICTED OFFENDERS ARE GIVEN EVERY CHANCE OF PROPER TREATMENT, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR MAGISTRATES TO CALL FOR AND CONSIDER SUITABILITY REPORTS ON EVERYONE OF THEM BEFORE IMPOSING SENTENCE TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE SUITABLE FOR SENDING TO TREATMENT CENTRES. THE AFTERCARE PERIOD FOR THOSE WHO RELAPSE AND RETURN TO THESE CENTRES SHOULD ALSO BE INCREASED FROM ONE TO THREE YEARS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

AN EXPANDED PRISONS PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICE WILL HELP PRISONERS, PARTICULARLY PERSISTENT OFFENDERS, IN THE IR REHABILITATION.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS PUT FORWARD BY MR. CHEONG-LEEN COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS. THESE WOULD IMPROVE ON EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS OR FORESTALL FUTURE DIFFICULTIES.

A..

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