XN000022-1980-05-28 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1980

HOME OWNERSHIP FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

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TWO SCHEMES HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP TO ASSIST CIVIL SERVANTS TO ACHIEVE HOME OWNERSHIP, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON T.S. LO, MR ROWLANDS SAID IT WAS NOW JUST ONE YEAR SINCE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL APPROVED THE PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED IN DRAWING UP SUCH SCHEMES.

HE SAID THAT UNDER THE FIRST SCHEME, ELIGIBLE CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD RECEIVE BOTH A DOWN-PAYMENT LOAN AND A MONTHLY HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE TOWARDS THE COST OF A PRIVATE SECTOR FLAT IN HONG KONG.

UNDER THE SECOND SCHEME, WHICH WOULD BE PRIMARILY FOR OVERSEAS OFFICERS WISHING TO RETIRE OUTSIDE HONG KONG, PRE-RETIREMENT LOANS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY OVERSEAS, HE SAID.

+SINCE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL IN MAY LAST YEAR, EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEMES,+ MR ROWLANDS SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THE VIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL STAFF ASSOCIATIONS AND STAFF GROUPS HAD BEEN OBTAINED THROUGH HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND THAT DETAILED DISCUSSIONS. HAD TAKEN PLACE WITH THE THREE MAIN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS MAKING UP THE STAFF SIDE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL.

+CONSULTATIONS ARE NOW ALMOST FINISHED AND I HOPE TO RECEIVE THE FINAL VIEWS OF THE MAIN STAFF ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS, + MR ROWLANDS SAID.

+THE CONSULTATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE PRODUCED A WIDE MEASURE OF SUPPORT FOR SCHEMES ALONG THE LINES OF THOSE PROPOSED.

+STAFF ASSOCIATIONS HAVE MADE VARIOUS USEFUL SUGGESTIONS AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE MOST OF THESE IN THE SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSALS WHICH I EXPECT TO BE IN A POSITION TO PUT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LATER THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

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