XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 20

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

HE OBSERVED THAT PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER ON HOUSING SUBSIDY HAD ATTRACTED A LOT OF COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS DIRECTED AT MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES, AND MANY OF THEM WITH JUSTIFICATIONS.

+HOWEVER, IT IS EVIDENT THAT A GREAT MAJORITY SUPPORTS THE SPIRIT OF THE GREEN PAPER.

+MANY ORGANISATIONS ARE IN FAVOUR OF PROVIDING THE TENANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS UNDER MORE FAVOURABLE TERMS,+ HE SAID,

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD SERIOUSLY REVIEW ALL THE COMMENTS AND THEN SUBMIT ITS FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS WITH NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT LARGE, HE ADDED.

TURNING TO THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SCHEME (ERP), MR HU CONSIDERED IT TO BE THE BEST LONG-TERM SOLUTION IN CONTROLLING CONGESTION.

HE SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT THE SCHEME HAD MET WITH NUMEROUS OPPOSITIONS, BUT HE FELT THE GOVERNMENT MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO DROP ERP COMPLETELY AND CONTINUE WITH RESTRAINTS ON CAR OWNERSHIP, OR TO POSTPONE A DECISION ON IT AND TO RECONSIDER THE POSITION

IN FUTURE.

+ IF ERP IS TO BE DEFERRED NOW AND INTRODUCED IN FUTURE, THE DELAY WOULD CERTAINLY INCREASE THE COST OF IMPLEMENTATION AND UNAVOIDABLY RESULT IN ROAD CONGESTION FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD BEFORE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME,+ MR HU WARNED.

IN VIEW OF THE MIXED REACTION TO THE ERP SCHEME, HE SAID HE BELIEVED THE BEST SOLUTION WAS TO INTRODUCE IT AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY AND AS A COMPROMISE, OFFERED THE MOTORIST A CHOICE OF EITHER THE ERP OR A HIGH LEVEL OF FIRST REGISTRATION TAX AND ANNUAL LICENCE FEE.

WORSE.

+THE LATTER MAY BE FURTHER INCREASED IF CONGESTION GETS

+THIS PROPOSAL OFFERS FLEXIBILITY AND WOULD GREATLY FACILITATE TRANSITION TO A FULL ERP SYSTEM.

+ERP IN AUTOMATIC TUNNEL TOLLS COLLECTION TO IMPROVE THE

TRAFFIC FLOW WILL BE A BONUS ACHIEVEMENT, HE ADDED.

ON SPORTS PROMOTION, MR HU SAID IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO REVIEW AGA IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOMANTIN FOOTBALL STADIUM WITH SIMPLE, SPACE FRAMED COVERED STANDS FOR 15 000 TO_20_000 SPECTATORS, CAPABLE OF FURTHER EXPANSION IN FUTURE IF NECESSARY.

/+PROVISION OF

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