XN000022-1980-11-19 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1980

IN HIS VIEW, THIS POINT AROSE FROM THE DIFFERENCE IN HOLIDAYS AVAILABLE TO INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES AS OPPOSED TO OFFICE WORKERS OR STUDENTS, AND THIS DISPARITY SHOULD BE TACKLED IN THE LONGER TERM.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD THEREFORE BE CARRYING OUT A MORE DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE GENERAL HOLIDAY AND STATUTORY PAID HOLIDAY POSITION NEXT YEAR.

ON INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, MR HENDERSON PLEDGED TO DO HIS BEST TO SEE THAT, AFTER THE NECESSARY CONSULTATIONS, THE REQUIRED LEGISLATION TO SET UP A STATUTORY INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AUTHORITY TO BE FINANCED FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE WOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL LATER

IN THE CURRENT SESSION.

GOOD HOUSING NEWS FOR TWO DESERVING GROUPS

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TODAY ANNOUNCED GOOD NEWS ON TWO FRONTS FOR DESERVING GROUPS - FAMILIES LIVING IN OLD ESTATES AND THE ELDERLY.

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MR LIAO ANNOUNCED A SPECIAL QUOTA OF 4 000 ADDITIONAL FLATS FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN OLD RESETTLEMENT ESTATES PLUS ANOTHER SPECIAL QUOTA OF 300 FLATS FOR THE ELDERLY.

CONCERNING OLD ESTATES, HE SAID THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME HAD ALREADY REHOUSED MORE THAN 100 000 PEOPLE IN MODERN SELF-CONTAINED ACCOMMODATION AND WAS STEADILY CONTINUING IN THE ESTATES CONCERNED.

IN ADDITION, FAMILIES HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER TO NEW AND BETTER FLATS UNDER VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDING RELIEF OF OVERCROWDING.

ALSO THERE WAS THE ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION THIS YEAR OF 4 000 NEW FLATS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PRIMARY HOUSING SCHEME.

+AS A RESULT OF ALL THESE EFFORTS, THE OVERALL POPULATION OF ALL THE MARK I AND II ESTATES HAS ALREADY BEEN REDUCED DURING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS BY MORE THAN 36 PER CENT AND THIS MOVEMENT WILL ACCELERATE IN THE COMING YEARS, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE CURRENT PRODUCTION OF 35 000 FLATS A YEAR, MR LIAO SAID THIS HAD MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN ITS ALLOCATION POLICIES AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF SPECIAL CROUPS SUCH AS ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN POOR CONDITIONS,

+1 AMY TO REPORT T AT IN ADDITION TO EXISTING PROGRAMMES FOR THIS G P THE HOUSING -UTH.RITY ASIDE A QUOTA OF FLATS OF THREE ELDER. SONS

AR FOR P.

RECENTLY AGREED TO SET RITY ALLOCATION TO GROUPS RED ON THE ALTHORITY'S

WAITING LIJN, +

S-ID.

YON A ..