XN000022-1987-04-01 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987

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COMMITMENT TO HOUSING REMAINS TOP PRIORITY

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THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO HOUSING REMAINED ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ITS POLICY, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1987, MR LIAO SAID THAT PROPOSALS ON HOW BEST PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR RESOURCES COULD BE OPTIMISED TO MEET HONG KONG'S HOUSING DEMAND BETWEEN NOW AND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WERE CONTAINED IN A RECENTLY COMPLETED REVIEW.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WOULD MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE LONG-TERM HOUSING STRATEGY REVIEW AT NEXT WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, MR LIAO ADDED.

HE NOTED THAT SEVERAL MEMBERS HAD COMMENTED ON THE RATIO BETWEEN HOME OWNERSHIP AND PUBLIC RENTAL FLATS, LONG-TERM HOUSING DEMAND AND THE PROPOSED HOME PURCHASE LOAN SCHEME.

+ IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE PATTERN OF DEMAND FOR HOUSING WITH PEOPLE INCREASINGLY WISHING TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN HOME,+ SAID MR LIAO.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME WAS TO PUT GREATER EMPHASIS ON BUILDING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG.

SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE SITES IN THE URBAN AREA, MR LIAO SAID HE AGREED WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT THE SUPPLY OF HOME OWNERSHIP AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME FLATS SHOULD BE INCREASED.

MR LIAO ALSO SAID THAT THE INCOME LIMIT FOR FAMILIES QUALIFYING FOR HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS WAS BEING REVIEWED REGULARLY.

+ON THE BASIS OF THE PRIMARY AIM OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR ALL AND TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THE CLAIMS OF THE MOST NEEDY, GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CONSIDERING HOW THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING CAN BEST BE MET,+ HE SAID.

ON THE SUBJECT OF SPORTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. MR LIAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR SPORTS AND WOULD CONSULT REGULARLY THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT ON THIS SUBJECT.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ENCOURAGING MORE PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT FOR CULTURAL, RECREATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMMES.

/+GENEROUS AND