XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 41

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

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HOUSING STRATEGY TO BE WIDELY PUBLICISED

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THE LONG-TERM HOUSING STRATEGY WHICH WAS OUTLINED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, WOULD BE WIDELY PUBLICISED, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY.

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+VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC AND INTERESTED BODIES WILL BE WELCOMED AND TAKEN INTO CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IN WORKING OUT THE INITIAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY, MR LIAO SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT ON THE CRITERIA IN DETERMINING THE NEED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON A POLICY PAPER, MR LIAO SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN SUCH A DECISION.

+IN DETERMINING WHETHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF A POLICY PAPER, THE RELEVANT POLICY SECRETARY WILL USUALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NATURE OF THE SUBJECT, THE DEGREE OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN IT, THE AVAILABILITY OF OPTIONS FOR THE CONSULTATION AND WHETHER THE PROPOSALS WOULD INVOLVE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO EXISTING POLICIES, MR LIAO SAID.

+THE LONG-TERM HOUSING STRATEGY WHICH THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAS JUST OUTLINED DOES NOT REPRESENT A CHANGE IN HOUSING POLICY. BUT PROPOSES CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO ACHIEVE THE POLICY OBJECTIVES.

+ITS IMPLEMENTATION WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING UNDER PRESENT POLICIES, HE SAID.

+ IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO PUBLISH A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT, MR LIAO ADDED.

ADEQUATE HOSPITAL BEDS ON HK ISLAND ASSURED

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THE PROVISION OF HOSPITAL BEDS WAS PLANNED ON A REGIONAL RATHER THAN A DISTRICT BASIS THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR, HE SAID THE PROPOSAL RECENTLY ENDORSED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REMOVE THE NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL FROM HONG KONG ISLAND TO TAI PO WAS MADE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR

HOSPITAL BEDS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN THE EASTERN NEW TERRITORIES.

/MR CHAMBERS