XN000022-1981-05-26 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1981

BRITAIN'S HOUSING MINISTER LEADS TOP-LEVEL BRITISH PARTY ON PENETRATING HOUSING VISIT

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BRITAIN'S MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION, MR JOHN STANLEY, TODAY (TUESDAY) LED A HIGH-LEVEL PARTY OF BRITISH BUILDERS ON A PENETRATING VISIT TO VARIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS.

THE PARTY WAS EARLIER BRIEFED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR DONALD LIAO, AND THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR BERNARD WILLIAMS ON THE SCOPE OF HONG KONG'S HOUSING PROBLEM, AND THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME WHICH HAS ALREADY HOUSED MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE.

MR STANLEY'S PARTY INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BIGGEST BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES IN BRITAIN.

THE PROGRAMME BEGAN AT HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS, THEN MOVED TO THE MEI LAM ESTATE PROJECT AT SHA TIN NEW TOWN, WHERE THE PARTY SAW THE SEMI-MECHANISED METHOD BEING USED BY THE SITE CONTRACTOR TO PUT UP SPEEDILY THE DOMESTIC BLOCKS.

THE PARTY THEN MOVED ON TO SHA KOK ESTATE, TO SEE THE TRADITIONAL HONG KONG METHODS OF BUILDING MULTI-STOREY BLOCKS, THEN VISITED THE IMPOSING SUI WO COURT HOME OWNERSHIP ESTATE, PAYING A BRIEF CALL ON A FAMILY IN THEIR NICELY DECORATED 14TH- FLOOR HOME.

A HOUSING AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY'S VISIT HAS GIVEN REPRESENTATIVES OF BRITAIN'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY A REALISTIC INSIGHT NOT ONLY INTO OUR PROBLEMS, BUT HOW WE ARE GOING ABOUT SOLVING THEM.

+WE HAVE SO MUCH STILL TO DO THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR NEW BLOOD AND FRESH IDEAS IN OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

*THE CHALLENGE IS THERE, AND IT IS UP TO OUR DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO SHARPEN THE IR PENCILS AND DECIDE WHAT PART THEY MIGHT LIKE TO PLAY, EITHER IN A DIRECT ROLE OR AS PARTNERS IN JOINT VENTURES WITH ESTABLISHED LOCAL FIRMS.+

YESTERDAY (MONDAY) MORNING, MR STANLEY AND THE OTHER UK VISITORS, CALLED ON THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THEY WERE BRIEFED BY MR JACK STEAN, ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND DIRECTORS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITH THE PWD, ON EXISTING AND FUTURE MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

THE VISITORS ALSO WATCHED AN AUDIO VISUAL SHOW ON +SHA TIN NEW TOWN, WHICH TELLS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONE OF THE SEVEN NEW TOWNS AND THE PWD INVOLVEMENT IN IT.

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