XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 26

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

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BETTER PUBLIC HOUSING TARGET OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY WELL BE ABLE TO DO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL TARGET OF PRODUCING PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

AND, HENCE, IT WILL OFFER FLATS TO ALL CURRENT TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA (THA) RESIDENTS BY 1997, BY 1996, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE THAS BUILT BEFORE 1984.

MR PATTEN,

IN HIS SECOND ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SAID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD NOT ONLY MET, IT HAD ACTUALLY BEATEN, THE TARGETS HE SET OUT IN LAST YEAR'S ADDRESS BY PRODUCING AVERAGE OF 140 UNITS PER DAY AGAINST THE OBJECTIVE OF

100, AND BY REHOUSING 12,000 THA RESIDENTS THIS YEAR.

NEW

AN

THE

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MANAGEMENT, HE SAID HE HAD ASKED CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ΤΟ CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING

PROPOSALS:

IMPROVED COMMITMENTS TO PROMPT REPAIRS AND HIGHER STANDARDS

OF MAINTENANCE;

* IMPROVED SECURITY MEASURES ON THE ESTATES; AND

A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO HIGHER QUALITY HOUSING MANAGEMENT.

ON HOME OWNERSHIP, MR PATTEN SAID, THE FIRST PHASE OF THE INTERIM LOW-INTEREST HOUSING LOAN SCHEME FOR THE SANDWICH CLASS HAD BEEN LAUNCHED AND WENT WELL. IT WAS OVERSUBSCRIBED THREE-AND-A-HALF TIMES, A VERY GOOD STANT.

PLANNING 13 IN HAND FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FLATS UNDER THE LONGER TERM SCHEME, TO BE READY FOR SALE IN 1995.

BUT HE SAID THE PRICE SPIRAL FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL FLATS WAS STILL MAKING IT TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MANY FIRST-TIME BUYERS TO ENTER THE MARKET.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCOURAGE SPECULATION.

to

MR PATTEN SAID AN IMMEDIATE PRACTICAL MEASURE IS TO SPEED PROCESSING OF PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING PROJECTS.

UP

IN

"WE INTEND TO GIVE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO THE LANDS DEPARTMENT THE COMING YEAR TO IMPROVE PROCESSING TIME FOR LEASE MODIFICATIONS AND LAND EXCHANGES."

OR SO

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THAT WAY, AN EXTRA 2,000 FLATS ON TOP OF THE CURRENT 15,000

SHOULD REACH THE MARKET EACH YEAR.

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