XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 1992

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HOUSING SCHEME FOR SANDWICH CLASS'

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO INTRODUCE A NEW MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING SCHEME FOR THE 'SANDWICH CLASS', SUBJECT TO CONSULTATION WITH THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE SCHEME WILL BR SIMILAR TO THE PRESENT HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, WITH THE FIRST LAND SITES INTENDED TO BE ALLOCATED IN 1993/94.

IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS, MR PATTEN DESCRIBED THE SANDWICH CLASS AS ONE GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY WHOSE HOUSING PROBLEMS CAUSED HIM PARTICULAR CONCERN AND HE SHARED LEGCO MEMBERS' VIEWS THAT THE BURDEN MUST BE EASED.

OUTLINING HIS PROPOSALS FOR THE NEW SCHEME, HE SAID:

"BETWEEN NOW AND 1997, THESE PROPOSALS

13,000 FAMILIES.

WILL BENEFIT ABOUT

"AS A RESULT, A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE SANDWICH CLASS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

"AT THE SAME TIME, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROPERTY TO EXPLOIT THEIR MARKET WILL BE REDUCED.'

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SPECULATORS

MR PATTEN SAID THE LAND FOR THE SCHEME WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE LAND REQUIRED FOR THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME.

"BECAUSE OF THE TIME LAG IN DEVELOPING NEW HOUSING PROJECTS, THE FIRST UNITS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 1995/96.

"OBVIOUSLY, TO WAIT ANOTHER THREE YEARS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THIS SCHEME IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

"SO, I PROPOSE THAT, IN THE MEANTIME, WE SHOULD BUY FLATS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SELL TO THE SANDWICH CLASS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES. WE HOPE TO OFFER 1,000 FLATS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION.

"THIS INTERIM PLAN WILL BE DISCONTINUED AS SOON AS FLATS FROM THE LONG TERM SCHEME BECOME AVAILABLE," HE SAID.

ON THE

MR PATTEN SAID HOUSING CONTINUED TO BE A MAJOR CLAIM GOVERNMENT'S RESOURCES, WITH MORE AND MORE FAMILIES WANTING то PROGRESS FROM BEING RENT-PAYING TENANTS TO OWNER-OCCUPIERS.

OUTLINING ACTION TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM THE HOUSING SQUEEZE, HE

SAID:

"ON AVERAGE, WELL OVER 100 NEW FLATS WILL BE BUILT EVERY SINGLE BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING

DAY SOCIETY.

"ALL URBAN SQUATTERS ON GOVERNMENT LAND WILL BE REHOUSED BY MARCH 1996.

/"ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS