XN000022-1992-10-28 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1992

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THE

ON THE SANDWICH CLASS HOUSING SCHEME, MR EASON SAID WHILE SCHEME WOULD BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW, THE PRESENT TARGET OF 5,000 UNITS PER YEAR WAS ABOUT RIGHT.

HE SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE SO THAT THE SCHEME WOULD NOT AFFECT THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME OR THE SUPPLY OF LAND REQUIRED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

HE NOTED THAT THE INTERIM SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE A "FAST START FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO ENTER INTO HOME OWNERSHIP BARLY WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PURPOSE-DESIGNED FLATS.

BY

THE INTERIM SCHEME INVOLVES MODEST NUMBERS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF TOO LARGE A NUMBER OF FLATS FROM THE MARKET COULD REDUCE SUPPLY TOO MUCH AND CAUSE DISTORTIONS.

WITH REGARD TO SUGGESTIONS FROM SOME QUARTERS FOR FISCAL MEASURES SUCH AS CAPITAL GAINS TAX AND TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, MR EASON SAID THESE MEASURES WOULD RUN CONTRARY ΤΟ HONG KONG'S SIMPLE NON-DISCRIMINATORY AND LOW TAX SYSTEM.

THEY WOULD NOT BRING DOWN PROPERTY PRICES, BUT COULD INSTEAD ENCOURAGE GREATER DEMAND IN THE MARKET AND FURTHER INFLATE PROPERTY PRICES.

TURNING TO THE SEWAGE STRATEGY, MR EASON SAID APART FROM GOVERNMENT'S FIRM COMMITMENT TO THE HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE SEWAGE SERVICES TO THE MAIN URBAN AREA, PLANNING IS ALSO IN HAND FOR THE SUBSEQUENT PHASES.

THESE INCLUDE PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK FOR THE LONG OCEANIC OUTFALL FOR THE DISPOSAL OF TREATED WASTE WATER.

"CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE OCEANIC DISPOSAL ARRANGEMENTS AND JOINT SURVEYS то DETERMINE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE OUTFALL ARE ALSO UNDER WAY," MR EASON SAID.

HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE CONSULTED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR ON CHARGING FOR THE SEWAGE SERVICES BEFORE THE CHARGES ARE FINALISED AND INTRODUCED.

ON TOP OF THE SEWAGE STRATEGY, MAJOR SEWERAGE SCHEMES NOW IN HAND INCLUDE THE $1.1 BILLION SEWERAGE AND DISPOSAL SCHEME IN THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES, THE $930 MILLION TOLO HARBOUR EFFLUENT EXPORT SCHEME AND THE $840 TSEUNG KWAN O SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SCHEME.

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WOULD BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE BUILDINGS TO BE CONNECTED ΤΟ THE NEW PUBLIC SEWERS AND TO IMPOSE TIGHTER CONTROLS ON THE OPERATION OF PRIVATE WASTE-WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES.

WITH REGARD TO AIR POLLUTION, MR EASON SAID FURTHER MEASURES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLE EXHAUSTS WOULD BE EXPLORED AND THE ENVIRONMEMTAL POLLUTION ADVIORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE CONSULTED ON THE ISSUE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

/HE ALSO