XN000022-1983-06-07 — Page 4

TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1983

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PUBLIC HOUSING SCHEME STILL AMONG WORLD'S LARGEST+

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HONG KONG'S PUBLIC HOUSING IS ON THE RIGHT COURSE IN MEETING GROWING ASPIRATIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR DONALD LIAO SAID TODAY ON HIS RETURN FROM AN INTERNATIONAL HOUSING CONFERENCE.

OUR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME IS STILL ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE WORLD. SAID MR LIAO WHO HAD ATTENDED THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR HOUSING AND PLANNING CONGRESS IN LISBON.

+ IN TERMS OF STANDARD AND DESIGN CONCEPT, IT IS PROBABLY MORE ADVANCE, HE ADDED.

MR LIAO SAID THAT AT THE CONFERENCE, THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HONG KONG'S PUBLIC HOUSING WERE MADE KNOWN TO PARTICIPANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

*WE ATTENDED SEMINARS AND EXCHANGED VIEWS ON FINANCE, PLANNING, URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT, AS WELL AS TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN RELATION TO HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.+

AFTER THE CONFERENCE, MR LIAO SAID HE FLEW TO LONDON ON A DUTY VISIT WHERE HE MET AND DISCUSSED PUBLIC HOUSING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BRITISH BUILDING INDUSTRY AS WELL AS A TRADE ADVISORY GROUP FOR HONG KONG IN BRITAIN.

VISITING CHINESE OFFICIALS SEE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES

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THE VISITING GROUP OF 43 URBAN OFFICIALS FROM CHINA TODAY CONTINUED THEIR THIRD DAY OF STUDY TOUR LOOKING AT HOW REDEVELOPMENT WORKS IN OLDER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES UPGRADED THE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR TENANTS.

→THE REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME FOR OLDER ESTATES IS A VERY GOOD CONCEPT. SAID MR CAO MIAO, HEAD OF THE GROUP.

HE SAID THE SCHEME HAD OBVIOUSLY UPGRADED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.

THE PARTY WERE SHOWN THE REDEVELOPMENT AND CONVERSION SCHEMES WHICH PROVIDED ADEQUATE FACILITIES AND GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR OLD ESTATES BUILT IN THE EARLY 50'S.

IN THEIR VISIT TO THE LOWER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE, THEY LOOKED AT THE PROVISION OF PRIVATE TOILETS WITH TAPS AND BASINS TO INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS AS PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS