XN000022-1979-10-10 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1979

10

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE HOUSING PROGRAMME AFTER 1985 MUST BE ROLLED FORWARD PROBABLY AT ABOUT PRESENT LEVELS AND INVESTIGATION OF ADDITIONAL SITES TO TAKE THE PROGRAMME TO THE END OF THE BOS IS BEING UNDERTAKEN.

ON HOUSING FOR FAMILIES IN THE INCOME BAND IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE LIMIT OF $5 000 PER MONTH FOR THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, SIR MURRAY SAID HE HAD ORDERED A REVIEW OF THE POSITION OF THIS GROUP IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HOUSING POLICY AS A WHOLE.

HE SAID FAMILIES IN THIS INCOME BAND WERE EXPERIENCING REAL DIFFICULTIES AT THE MOMENT. THE PROJECTED FIGURES SUGGEST THAT THE SUPPLY OF FLATS OF 800 - 1 200 SQ. FT. WILL REMAIN LIMITED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL THEREFORE CONTINUE FOR SOME TIME.+

+ I REALISE THAT ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS AND OUR EXISTING PRIORITIES AND COMMITMENTS MAY NOT PERMIT A COMPLETE SOLUTION, BUT CERTAINLY THE PROBLEM DESERVES CAREFUL AND IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION, HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF HIGH-CLASS HOUSING HAS DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF THE EXPANSION OF OUR FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS, AND TO SOME EXTENT IN RESPONSE TO EXPECTATIONS CREATED BY THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICIES IN CHINA.

+WHILE THERE CAN BE NO QUICK SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, SPECIAL MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO PUT LAND ON THE MARKET SUITABLE FOR BUILDING TO MEET THIS DEMAND.

+WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING BY NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MORE INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY HOW TO REDUCE THE DEMANDS ON PRIVATELY-OWNED ACCOMMODATION MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS OWN EMPLOYEES- SO PRESSURE ON BUILDING INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE FROM MANY SIDES AND I HOPE IT WILL GEAR ITSELF TO THE DEMAND IT CAN EXPECT, HE SAID.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ADAPT TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES ***

THE GOVERNMENT MUST ALWAYS BE READY TO ALLEVIATE GENUINE HARDSHIP AND TO ADAPT POLICIES TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE STANDING FIRM WHERE REQUESTS ARE UNREASONABLE AND EXCESSIVE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING ON COMPENSATION FOR LAND RESUMPTION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES SIR MURRAY SAIDI+IT IS NEVER POSSIBLE TO COMPENSATE PEOPLE FULLY FOR AN OFTEN UNWANTED CHANGE IN THEIR WAY OF LIFE, BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO OFFER COMPENSATION WHICH IS FULL AND FAIR.+

/HE POINTED