XN000022-1985-10-30 — Page 24

22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1985

RECORD PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS PRODUCED THIS YEAR

***

A RECORD OF OVER 48 000 PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS WOULD BE PRODUCED THIS YEAR, WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY EXCEEDING ITS ANNUAL TARGET FOR THE SIXTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+THE AUTHORITY CONTINUES STEADILY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS NEW HOUSING AS WELL AS UPGRADING AND REDEVELOPING EXISTING STOCK,+ HE SAID.

PRIVATE SECTOR PRODUCTION HAD INCREASED AND WAS FORECAST TO REACH ABOUT 30 000 FLATS THIS CALENDAR YEAR, RISING TO ABOUT 33 000 UNITS IN 1986,

+ABOUT 18 000 FLATS ARE SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION NEXT YEAR UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEMES. THIS IS YET ANOTHER RECORD, SIR EDWARD SAID.

MEANWHILE, HE SAID, THE RESTRUCTURED SQUATTER CLEARANCE PROGRAMME HAD STARTED AND THE RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMME CONTINUED TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS, WITH A PROJECT AT TUI MIN HOI IN SAI KUNG DUE TO BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR, AND PROJECTS AT MUI WO ON LANTAU AND AT SHA TAU KOK SCHEDULED TO START NEXT YEAR.

AS FOR THE LEVEL OF HOUSING SUBSIDY TO PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, SIR EDWARD SAID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD EXAMINE CAREFULLY ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE SUGGESTIONS SET OUT IN ITS GREEN PAPER, TOGETHER WITH ALTERNATIVE IDEAS WHICH MAY COME FORWARD, BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

SPEAKING OF THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY PEOPLE.

SIR EDWARD SAID, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD AGREED IN JULY TO PROVIDE SELF-CARE HOSTELS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE STILL ENJOYING GOOD HEALTH.

+THE AUTHORITY PLANS TO PROVIDE HOSTELS FOR SOME 2 000 PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS, THESE WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING QUOTA OF SHARED FLATS AND HOUSING UNITS FOR SINGLE PERSONS IN PUBLIC HOUS HNG ESTATES.

+THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL HELP THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND WELFARE AGENCIES IN THE IR TASK OF LOOK ING AFTER THOSE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES,+ HE SAID.

WHILE RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE LONG PROVIDED SERVICES CATERING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO, BECAUSE OF FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES OR THE IR OWN BEHAVIOUR, HAVE TO LIVE AWAY FROM THE IR FAMILIES, SIR EDWARD SAID LIMITED ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN RECENT YEARS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN OUTSIDE THESE INSTITUTIONS.

+A WORK ING GROUP HAS RECENTLY BEEN ESTABLISHED TO LOOK INTO THIS AREA, AND TO REPORT TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE,+ HE SAID.

/23

Z