XN000022-1985-12-18 — Page 11

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INESJAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985

MAKING SIMILAR CERVATIONS, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE HON CHUNG YAN-LUNG, SAID THE AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING DÉPARTMENT WERE IN FACT +SCAPEGOATS+.

HE NOTED THE VERY HIGH STANDARD OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING CONSTRUCTED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT NOW AND HOPED THAT THE MORALE OF ITS ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS INCIDENT AND THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO FULFIL THE IR DUTIES.

THE HON SELINA CHOW POINTED OUT THAT FAMILIES ON THE WAITING LIST WHO WERE ORIGINALLY DUE TO BE HOUSED IN 1987 AND 88 WOULD HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.

IN A WIDER CONTEXT, SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT, UNLIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF ACTION TAKEN BEFORE IT EXISTED, WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO PASS THE BUCK.

SHE SAID THE CASE WAS OF ENOUGH IMPORTANCE AND PUBLIC INTEREST TO WARRANT A COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE HOW SUCH A CATASTROPHE COULD HAVE OCCURED.

THE HON CHAN YING-LUN, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, SAID A POINT TO CONSIDER WAS THAT THERE MIGHT BE SIMILAK REQUESTS FROM TENANTS AFFECTED BY OTHER REDEVELOPMENT OR CLEARANCE PROJECTS IF COMPENSATION FOR SHOP OPERATORS WERE TO BE FURTHER

INCREASED.

HE EXPLAINED HOW THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CALCULATED ITS RENTS AND ASKED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO WORRY THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE 26 BLOCKS WOULD LEAD TO RENT INCREASE.

THE HON PAUL INE NG, IN CALLING FOR REASONABLE COMPENSATION FOR AFFECTED TENANTS, SAID THAT THE MASSIVE REMOVAL EXERCISE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF OLDER ESTATES BECAUSE THIS WOULD TANTAMOUNT TO COVERING UP THE TRUTH.

SHE SAID A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY AND THE RELOCATION OF AFFECTED COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTIC TENANTS.

DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT AS +AN EXPENSIVE LESSION+, THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SAID IT WAS VITAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC OF THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF THESE BUILDINGS THE LEVEL OF WHICH WAS APPROPRIATE TO THE CONTINUING USE OF THESE BUILDINGS WITHOUT IN ANY WAY ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC.

SUCH ASSURANCE MUST BE JUSTIFIED BY PROFESSIONAL APPRAISAL THE RESULTS OF WHICH SHOULD BE DISCLOSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID UNNECESSARY CONCERN BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN URGED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT THIS EXTENDED REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AS A CHALLENGE AND NOTED THAT ALL SITES CHOSEN FOR THIS PURPOSE SHOULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THE RESIDENTS CONCERNED.

/HE ALSO