XN000022-1988-09-29 — Page 5

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1988

"WE WERE MILDLY ENCOURAGED BY THE

FAILURE OF THE BILL'S

SUPPORTERS TO MUSTER A TWO-T|||RDS MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE LAST WEEK.

"WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL AGAIN FAIL TO DO SO VOTE AND THAT THIS DANGEROUS BILL WILL THEN DIE.

L

ON THE OVER-RIDE

"HOWEVER, WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS EVEN IF THEY FAIL THIS YEAR, THE TEXTILE LOBBY WILL TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

LESS PEOPLE REGARD HOUSING AS A PROBLEM

SURVEY

A PUBLI ATTITUDE SURVEY HAS REVEALED THAT LESS PEOPLE NOW REGARD HOUSING AS A PROBLEM AS COMPARED WITH TWO YEARS AGO.

THE STUDY, COMMISSIONED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOWS THAT A TOTAL OF 29 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS THIS TIME REGARDED HOUSING AS A PROBLEM COMPARED WITH 42 PER CENT IN 1986.

HOWEVER, TOGETHER WITH LAW AND ORDER AND TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING IS STILL RANKED AS THE TOP THREE SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG.

THE SURVEY ALSO POINTS OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED AGREE WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S MAJOR POLICIES, INCLUDING THE EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE SQUATTER PROBLEM.

ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, THE PUBLIC NOW HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF HOUSING, SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE NUMBER OF FLATS BUILT PY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AS COMPARED WITH 1986. "THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE 'DON'T KNOW I CATEGORY

10 AND 15 PER CENT IN 1988 AGAINST 33 AND 15 PER CENT IN 1986. IT SAYS.

―

THE

COMMENTING ON THE SURVEY RESULTS, THE CHAIRMAN OF AUTHORITY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THE SURVEY CONFIRMED THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S TRUST ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME.

IP

IT'S USEFUL FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, HE NOTED.

HE SAID THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY WILL BE EVALUATED AND APPLIED IN FORMULATING FUTURE POLICIES.

THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY AGB MONAIR HONG KONG LTD BETWEEN MAY 20 AND JUNE 26 THIS YEAR, INTERVIEWING ABOUT 2 100 PROPLE FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BOTH PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR RESIDENTS. THE LATEST SURVEY 15 THE FOURTH IN THE SERIES.

/OTHER FINDINGS