XN000022-1981-11-11 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, NOVER-BER 11, 1981

HOS RE-SALE RESTRICTIONS

A PERMANENT RESTRICTION ON RE-SALES HAS BEEN CONSIDERED IN DEPTH BUT REJECTED SINCE IT IS THOUGHT THAT THE SAFEGUARDS NOW PROPOSED STRIKE A REASONABLE BALANCE. HOWEVER THE PROPOSED DE BARRING OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WHO ALREADY OWN PROPERTY FROM APPLYING FOR HOS FLATS WILL BE RECONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THE REVISED POLICY.

INCREASED PROPORTION OF HOS FLATS

UNTIL THE DEMAND FOR RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING IS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED THIS MUST REMAIN THE MAIN THRUST OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME. HOWEVER, THREE ADDITIONAL HOS SITES HAVE BEEN EARMARKED IN TUEN MUN, TAI PO AND KOWLOON AND IT IS HOPED THEY WILL PRODUCE 4 000 MORE FLATS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME IN 1984/85.

MARRIED COUPLES

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES INCLUDING WORKING WIVES, WHO NORMALLY ARE BETTER ABLE TO GET ACCOMMODATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND ALSO CONSIDER BUYING THEIR OWN HOMES. HOWEVER, AS SUCH COUPLES START FAMILIES AND BECOME ELIGIBLE, SOME MAY BE ABLE EITHER TO PURCHASE HOS FLATS OR OBTAIN PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING.

FLATTED FACTOR IES

OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS 12 500 FLATTED-FACTORY UNITS EACH OF 25 SQUARE METRES WILL BE BUILT, PROVIDING OVER 300 000 SQUARE METRES OF INDUSTRIAL FLOOR-SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE WORKSHOPS AND SMALL FACTORIES DISPLACED BY DEVELOPMENT CLEARANCES.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS

ACCORDING TO THE 1981 CENSUS, THE AVERAGE INCOME OF LOWER- INCOME FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, HAS INCREASED IN REAL TERMS BY 40 PER CENT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

+THESE FAMILIES ARE ENJOYING THE IR PRESENT STANDARD OF LIVING NOT ONLY AS A RESULT OF THE LOW RENTS THEY PAY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE WELL-PLANNED ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY LIVE,+ SAID MR LIAO.

+DESPITE THIS, IT IS APPRECIATED THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY WAITING FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOW EMBARKING ON THE EXPANDED PROGRAMME TO WHICH YOUR EXCELLENCY REFERRED.+

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