XN000022-1982-03-10 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1982

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INCREASE IN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF HOUSING AUTHORITY

*

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVED THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASED NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

SPEAKING ON THE BILL, MR CHARLES YEUNG NOTED THAT THE SHIFT IN THE EMPHASIS OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME TO THE NEW TERRITORIES, PARTICULARLY TO THE NEW TOWNS, SWEEPS ALONG WITH IT THE CONCOMITANT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS OF LAND RESUMPTION, CLEARANCE, COMPENSATION AND RESETTLEMENT.

+ IT IS THEREFORE APPROPRIATE AND FELICITOUS TO ENLIST THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO SERVE ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

*THE PROPOSAL IN THE BILL TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTION BOTH IN NUMBER AND SOURCE OF MEMBERSHIP ON THE APPOINTMENT OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS TIMELY AND OPPORTUNE, ALBEIT THE URBAN COUNCILLORS WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING ON THE AUTHORITY HAVE MADE AN OUTSTANDING AND VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION IN PROVIDING QUALITY HOUSING FOR SO MANY IN SO SHORT A TIME PARTICULARLY AGAINST A SCARCITY OF LAND RESOURCE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER CONSTRAINTS, HE SAID,

THE BILL ALSO GIVES LEGAL EFFECT TO THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME'S NEW SALES FORMULA, WHICH EXCLUDES THE VALUE OF THE LAND BUT INTRODUCES FAR TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS ON RE-SALE.

MR YEUNG CONSIDERED THIS A NECESSARY MEANS TO ENSURE THAT FLATS GO TO THE GENUINE HOME-SEEKERS.

+FOR THE SAKE OF FAIRNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE, NO EFFORT SHOULD BE SPARED IN FUTURE IN DETECTING ANY BREACH OF CONDITIONS AND IN ENFORCING THE SANCTIONS CREATED BY LAW WITH A VIGILANT EYE ON ABUSE AND CIRCUMVENTION, HE URGED.

GUARANTEE FOR MTR LOAN

***

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO COVER THE REPAYMENT OF A $68-MILLION LOAN.

THE SUM BORROWED UNDER THIS GUARANTEE WILL BE USED TO FINANCE THE ISLAND LINE CONTRACT FOR TUNNELS BETWEEN TAI KOO SHING AND SAI WAN HO, INCLUDING THE TAI KOO SHING STATION.

THIS BRINGS THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL GUARANTEE COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF THE OUTSTANDING LOANS AVAILABLE TO THE MTR CORPORATION TO $7 252 MILLION.

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