XN000022-1980-03-27 — Page 5

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980

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THE CIRCULAR ROAD FROM AU TAU TO FANLING VIA MAI PO HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND THE DATE FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION IS STILL UNCERTAIN.

MR YEUNG SAID IT IS THEREFORE JUSTIFIED AND NECESSARY TO RE-ADJUST THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE.

+EVEN IF OUR EXISTING POLICY SHOULD PREVENT US FROM REALISING EXTRA REVENUE TO FINANCE THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME AND THE SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES, THE ESTIMATED SURPLUS AND IF IT NEED BE THE ACCUMULATED RESERVES SHOULD BE EMPLOYED DIRECTLY TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.

+ALTERNATIVELY, THEY MAY BE FINANCED INDIRECTLY BY RAISING OUTSIDE LOANS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE POSSIBLE INFLATIONARY EFFECT THAT SUCH A MOVE IS LIKELY TO HAVE ON HONG KONG - FOR THIS IS THE PRICE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR DECENT HOUSING AND RAPID TRANSIT FOR ALL, HE ADDED.

POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION UNDER SCRUTINY

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THE HON F.K. HU CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE WAY IT HANDLES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.

POINTING OUT THAT THE PRESENT POLICY HAS GREATLY ENCOURAGED THE UNLAWFUL EXODUS, MR HU SAID THE PUBLIC IS RATHER DISAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF EFFECTIVE ACTION.

HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, BOTH_AT_THE_LAND AND SEA BORDERS, AS MANY AS 500 PEOPLE STILL MÁNAGE TO FILTER INTO THE URBAN AREAS DAILY.

SHOULD IMMIGRATION CONTINUE AT ITS PRESENT HIGH RATE, HE ADDED, THERE WOULD BE OBVIOUS REPERCUSSIONS ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE DETRIMENT OF HONG KONG'S LONG ESTABLISHED RESIDENTS.

+THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE INFLUX IS TO REPATRIATE ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN REACHING THE URBAN AREAS.

+NO IDENTITY CARD SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THEY WOULD BE SENT BACK IF FOUND ANYWHERE IN HONG KONG.+

HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE ENACTED TO PREVENT EMPLOYERS FROM ENGAGING AND LANDLORDS OR PRINCIPAL TENANTS FROM LETTING THE IR PREMISES TO ANY PERSON NOT IN POSSESSION OF AN IDENTITY CARD.

TURNING TO PUBLIC HOUSING, MR HU SAID THE ANNUAL PRODUCTION RATE OF 35 000 UNITS IS TOO LOW AND SHOULD BE IMPROVED WHEN THE PRESENT STRAIN ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING INDUSTRY IS OVERCOME.

/BUT HE