XN000022-1979-04-23 — Page 3

MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1979

+HONG KONG COMES SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THESE EXTREMES IN THAT SO FAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED PUBLIC HOUSING AT RELATIVELY LOW RENTS FOR ABOUT 45 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION HAS AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME WHICH BY MID-1980 WILL PROVIDE ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WITH RENTED OR ASSISTED-PURCHASE FLATS AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE IS SCOPE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PRODUCE HOUSING, + HE SAID.

+ IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR IN HONG KONG SHOULD PRODUCE ABOUT 30,000 AND 35,000 UNITS RESPECTIVELY.+

MR. SCOTT SAID SOUTHEAST ASIAN GOVERNMENTS FACE STAGGERING PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF GROWING URBANISATION.

IN THE 10 YEARS 1968-1977, THE POPULATION OF THE 25 MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK HAD LEAPT FROM 995 MILLION TO 1,220 MILLION PEOPLE OF WHOM 24 PER CENT LIVE IN URBAN AREAS.

THESE COUNTRIES ALL FACED A COLOSSAL DEMAND FOR ADEQUATE HOUSING AND WHERE HOUSEHOLDS COULD NOT MEET THE COST OF MINIMAL HOUSING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE SHOULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUBSIDY, HE SAID.

+WHAT THIS MEANS IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION IS THAT FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF HOUSEHOLDS, A HIGH DEGREE OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS UNAVOIDABLY NECESSARY FOR ANY EFFECTIVE INROADS TO BE MADE ON THE PRESENT HOUSING SITUATION AND ON FUTURE PROBLEMS AS THEY DEVELOP,+ HE SAID.

POST OFFICE GETS MORE THAN 10,000 +DEAD+ LETTERS A DAY

*****

AS COLD WATER TO A THIRSTY SOUL, SO IS GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY - THIS MOTTO CARRIES AN EXTRA SPECIAL MEANING FOR A GROUP OF OFFICERS AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE.

FOR THEIR JOB, UNUSUAL AS IT MAY SOUND, IS TO RESURRECT DEAD LETTERS+ MAIL WITH WRONG OR INCOMPLÈTE ADDRESSES.

+WITH MORE THAN 10,000 OF THESE LETTERS EVERY DAY, THE JOB, NEEDLESS TO SAY, IS VERY COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT,+ A ́SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE LETTERS, HE POINTED OUT, ARE POSTED LOCALLY AND THE REST FROM ABROAD.

IN MOST CASES, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED, THERE IS NO RETURN ADDRESS +WHICH ADDS TO OUR PROBLEM.

HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO SHEER CARELESSNESS AND POOR AND ILLEGIBLE WRITING ON THE PART OF THE SENDER.

BUT EVERY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO SAVE AS MANY OF THESE LETTERS AS POSSIBLE.

/+IT IS AN ARDUOUS