XN000022-1980-01-30 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980

THE HON CHARLES YEUNG

MR YEUNG SAID THE SPIRIT AND INTENTION OF THE BILL HAD HIS FULLEST AND UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT AND UNDOUBTEDLY THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND THE GENERAL SUPPORT.

HE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL METHOD OF SOLVING THE SOCIAL PROBLEM WAS TO RE-ESTABLISH EQUILIBRIUM OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE HOUSING SITUATION, AND RENT CONTROL IF PROLONGED WOULD BE COUNTER- PRODUCTIVE.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ATTACK THE ROOT CAUSE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY BY FORMULATING AND EXECUTING EFFECTIVE AND COMPREHENS IVE PLANS TO ENABLE ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FLATS.

IT SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RE-EXAMINE ITS LAND POLICY AND ITS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MAKE THIS SUPPLY AVAILABLE TO THE MARKET AT THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME AND AT THE MOST REASONABLE PRICE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD, HE ADDED.

HE CALLED ATTENTION TO FIVE POINTS:

*

IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GO BACK ON ITS WORDS IN THE NAME OF WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST-

* THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BRING PUBLIC HOUSING UNDER THE

SAME CONTROL -- +JUSTICE SHOULD NOT ONLY BE DONE BUT SEEN TO BE DONE+-

* THE RIGHT OF SMALL LANDLORDS TO REPOSSESS THE PREMISES FOR THE IR OR THEIR FAMILY'S USE SHOULD BE PRESERVED WITHOUT PROVING COMPARATIVE HARDSHIP-

* THE LANDLORD OR HIS MORTGAGEE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO

REPOSSESS THE PREMISES ON PAYMENT OF A CERTAIN ASCERTAINABLE SUM, AND

* RENTAL INCREASE SHOULD BE COMMENSURABLE WITH THE BANK

INTEREST RATE AND THE INFLATION RATE.

DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI

HE SUGGESTED SETTING UP A COMMITTEE TO FORMULATE LONG-TERM PLANS TO SOLVE HONG KONG'S HOUSING PROBLEM.

THE COMMITTEE SHOULD COMPRISE EXPERTS FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, WITH A WELL DEFINED TERMS OF REFERENCE AND A FIXED TIME SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETING THEIR ASSIGNMENT, HE SAID.

THE WORK AND PROGRESS OF THE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE REPORTED PERIODICALLY TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PLANS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMITTEE SHOULD

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