XN000022-1982-07-20 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1982

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY REPORT

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IN ITS REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR 1981, WHICH IS PUBLISHED TODAY, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY STATED THAT NOTABLE PROGRESS IS EXPECTED TO BE MADE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN PRODUCING LAND TO SATISFY HONG KONG'S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS.

THE COMMITTEE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HON LYDIA DUNN, HAS RECOMMENDED TARGETS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND SALE OF LAND AND HAS ASSESSED THE ADEQUACY OF GOVERNMENT PROJECTS IN RELATION TO THESE TARGETS.

AN IMPORTANT ADDITION TO THIS YEAR'S REPORT, WHICH IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $16, IS THE INCLUSION OF THE REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN LAND PRODUCTION, ALSO CHAIRED BY MISS DUNN.

AS IN LAST YEAR'S REPORT, THE COMMITTEE HAS CONCENTRATED ON THE PROVISION OF LAND FOR HOUSING AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. POLICY OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW LAND, AND THESE HAVE BEEN COMPARED WITH CURRENT LAND PRODUCTION FORECASTS TO ASSESS HOW WELL LAND SUPPLY WILL MATCH THE LAND REQUIREMENTS ARISING FROM POLICY OBJECTIVES.

THE COMMITTEE'S MAIN CONCLUSIONS ARE 1-

* FORECAST LAND SUPPLY SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN

PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING AT 30 000 FLATS A YEAR UP TO 1985/86 AND 5 000 FLATS A YEAR FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEMES. NEWLY APPROVED HIGHER DENSITY STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING SHOULD ASSIST IN ACHIEVING GREATER COST-EFFECTIVENESS PER CAPITA IN LAND PRODUCTION WITHOUT DETRIMENT TO LIVING STANDARDS.

* FORECAST LAND SUPPLY SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN PRODUCTION AT 7 500 FLATS A YEAR FROM 1984/85 FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEMES AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING SCHEMES.

* CURRENT HIGH DENSITY PRIVATE HOUSING PROJECTS SHOULD

PRODUCE AN AVERAGE OF 27 000 FLATS A YEAR UP TO 1983/84. BEYOND THIS, NEW LAND PRODUCTION COULD SUSTAIN PRODUCTION OF 21 000 FLATS A YEAR, IN ADDITION TO FLATS PRODUCED THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT.

* FORECAST LAND SUPPLY FOR MEDIUM AND LOW DENSITY HOUSING

IS CONSIDERED TO BE ADEQUATE, BUT THE RELEASE OF HIGH CLASS HOUSING SITES FOR SALE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED TO ENSURE THAT NO SLIPPAGE OCCURS.

* FORECAST LAND