XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1980

HOUSING OBJECTIVE

DECENT ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL *****

THE PUBLIC HOUSING STRATEGY IS UNDER REVIEW TO ACHIEVE THE AIM OF PROVIDING DECENT ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON JOHN TODD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID: THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE IN NEED OF REHOUSING, MODERN, MULTI-ROOMED FLATS IN WELL-PLANNED ESTATES OFFERING GOOD FACILITIES IN A SUPERIOR LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND, THAT RENTS WILL REMAIN REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE,

+AS TO THE PROVISION OF MORE FLATS FOR THOSE WISHING TO PURCHASE, I CONFIDENTLY EXPECT THAT PRODUCTION OF HOME OWNERSHIP TYPE FLATS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE TO MEET THE PRESENT HIGH DEMAND AND ASPIRATIONS OF POTENTIAL PURCHASERS.

+OUR STRATEGY REVIEW WILL HELP US DETERMINE HOW THIS CAN BEST BE ACHIEVED AND HOW, TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE CAN AIM TO PROVIDE DECENT ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN HONG KONG,+

MR TODD POINTED OUT THAT LAST DECEMBER, AS PART OF THE REVIEW, AN ESTIMATED OUTSTANDING DEMAND FOR SOME 334 000 RENTAL FLATS WAS IDENTIFIED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE ON THE WAITING LIST, FOR THE SQUATTERS COUNTED IN LAST YEAR'S SURVEY AND FOR THOSE LIVING IN OLDER PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS SCHEDULED FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

+ IT WILL TAKE US INTO THE MID-1990'S BEFORE THE BULK OF THIS RENTAL HOUSING DEMAND CAN BE SUPPLIED, HE SAID.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE GROWING STANDARDS OF LIVING AND THE RISING AFFLUENCE OF THE POPULATION, MR TODD SAID HE ENVISAGED THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL WANT AND WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY THEIR OWN HOMES.

+THUS, THE WAY FORWARD WILL BE TO INCREASE THE LESS SUBSIDISED HOME OWNERSHIP ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME, LEAVING MORE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S LIMITED RESOURCES FOR OTHER SOCIAL PROGRAMME.+

MR TODD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT INCREASING HOME OWNERSHIP WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A BALANCED, SUCCESSFUL HOUSING PROGRAMME WHICH, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, ENCOURAGED ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL STABILITY.

IN CONSIDERING HOW TO MEET ANY SUSTAINED DEMAND, HE AGREED WITH SOME MEMBERS THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO REVIEW THE ROLE OF PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN MEETING THIS REQUIREMENT TO ENSURE THE BEST USE OF THE SOURCES OF BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING PRODUCTION.

/HOWEVER, MR