XN000022-1992-08-14 — Page 2

1

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1992

- 1 -

GOVERNOR ASSURED GREAT STEP FORWARD IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROVISION

*

HONG KONG HAS SPENT AND WILL BE SPENDING TWICE AS MUCH MONEY ON PUBLIC HOUSING AS ON THE NEW AIRPORT, THE GOVERNOR, THE ᎡᎢ BON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT ABOUT $80 BILLION HAD BEEN SPENT ON PUBLIC HOUSING AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WHILE A FURTHER $80 BILLION WOULD BE SPENT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

中

"WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF ANOTHER SUBSTANTIAL MOVE FORWARD IN HOUSING PROVISION, HE SAID, AFTER COMPLETING A DAY'S VISIT TO NEW TOWNS AND VARIOUS HOUSING PROJECTS.

"THE INVESTMENT IS PARTLY GOING INTO NEW TOWNS AND NEW ESTATES, AND PARTLY INTO KNOCKING DOWN SOME OF THE OLDER ESTATES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS," HE EXPLAINED.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOME-OWNERS OVER THE YEARS.

"THAT FIGURE TODAY STANDS AT ABOUT 41 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S

POPULATION.

"BUT WE

EXPECT IT TO RISE TO ABOUT 66 PER THIRDS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BY 2001, HE ADDED.

CENT, ABOUT TWO-

TI

AS FOR THE SITTING TENANTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE GOVERNOR ALSO ASSURED THEM THAT SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE PUT INTO IMPROVING THEIR HOMES.

"WE ALL KNOW THAT GOOD QUALITY HOMES, GOOD QUALITY FLATS, AND GOOD QUALITY HOUSING ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO FAMILY LIFE," HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR WAS ALSO PLEASED TO NOTE THAT HONG KONG HAD ACHIEVED ONE OF THE GREATEST RECORDS IN PROVIDING NEW PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE LAST GENERATION, WHICH HAD HELPED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN HONG KONG.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING HOUSING POLICY WAS BOTH SENSIBLE AND REASONABLE, WITH A GREAT DEAL MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROVISION OF FLATS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE SINGLE.

ON THE PROBLEM FOR THE SANDWICHED CLASS, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND HE WOULD BE MAKING SOME PROPOSALS ON THAT SUBJECT LATER IN THE YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO STRESSED THAT ANY CORRUPTION OR GANGSTERISM INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WOULD BE PURSUED RIGOROUSLY VIGOROUSLY.

AND

"IT IS OBVIOUSLY AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD ENSURE THAT IN PROVIDING SUB-CONTRACTING SERVICES FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FOR OTHERS, WE GET THE BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND THE BEST POSSIBLE BARGAIN FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, HE SAID.

/DURING TODAY'S