XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

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MR LIAO ALSO STRESSED THE GOVERNMENT'S FULL COMMITMENT TO SOLVING HOUSING PROBLEMS. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, FOR INSTANCE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING HAS REPRESENTED AS MUCH AS ONE-THIRD OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL ANNUAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT UP TO MARCH 31 THIS YEAR THE VALUE OF LAND PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $23 000 MILLION ON A HISTORICAL COST BASIS AND THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING AUTHORITY LOANS OUTSTANDING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND WAS $11 160 MILLION.

MR LIAO SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD REFERRED IN THE ANNUAL ADDRESS ON OCTOBER 8 TO A NEED TO REVIEW PRODUCTION PROGRAMMES AND TO FORMULATE LONG-TERM HOUSING STRATEGIES FOR THE 1990'S AND BEYOND TO ENABLE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO MEET EXISTING DEMAND AND TO PROVIDE FOR FUTURE DEMAND FOR HOUSING.

HE SAID THE PROPOSALS IN THE TWO REPORTS WERE +FAIR AND REASONABLE AND THEY WILL HELP US IN ACHIEVING OUR VERY AMBITIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.+

MR LIAO ALSO THANKED MEMBERS OF THE TWO COMMITTEES FOR THEIR HARD WORK, PARTICULARLY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AND THE HON CHAN YING-LUN FOR CHAIRING THE COMMITTEES.

HE SAID MEMBERS' VIEWS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHEN IT MET TO DISCUSS THE TWO REPORTS NEXT MONTH,

PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS SHOULD TAKE UP THEIR SHARE

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IN UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING, IT IS NOT UNFAIR TO ASK TENANTS TO TAKE UP AN INCREASING SHARE IN THAT COMMITMENT, THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

LEADING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE +REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING SUBSIDY TO TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING+ AND THE +REPORT OF DOMESTIC RENT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE+ AS THE CONVENOR OF THE OMELCO HOUSING PANEL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE GREEN PAPER ON HOUSING SUBSIDY, MRS CHOW SAID SHE WAS IN PRINCIPLE SUPPORTIVE OF THE GRADUAL MOVE TOWARDS FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

SHE SAID SHE AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S SUPPLY OF FREE LAND SHOULD CONTINUE BUT STRESSED THAT THE AFFORDABILITY OF TENANTS MUST BE THE MAIN CONSIDERATION AT ALL TIMES.

/+WE MUST