XN000022-1993-11-24 — Page 26

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1993

MR EASON SAID THE 10 PER CENT OF NEW HOUSING PRODUCTION IN URBAN DISTRICTS SET ASIDE FROM 1991/95 FOR WAITING LIST APPLICANTS WAS то HELP CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF LONG-STANDING CASES MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE ΤΟ THE APPLICANTS' INSISTENCE ON REHOUSING IN URBAN DISTRICTS WHERE SUPPLY WAS LIMITED.

HE SAID THE ALLOCATION OF THE REMAINING 90 PER CENT OF NEW URBAN FLATS WOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ RE SHARED AMONG OTHER REHOUSING CATEGORIES.

"SINCE 10 PER CENT OF THE NEW URBAN FLATS AMOUNT TO ONLY ABOUT 970 FLATS PER YEAR IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE IMPACT OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENT ON OTHER REHOUSING CATEGORIES SHOULD BE MINIMAL BECAUSE THERE WILL BE AMPLE SUPPLY OF REFURBISHED VACANT FLATS IN THE URBAN AREAS TO MEET DEMAND.

MR EASON SAID THE REASON FOR REGROUPING THE DISTRICTS OF CHOICES FOR WAITING LIST APPLICANTS IS TO ENABLE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MAKK AN KARLIER HOUSING OFFER TO APPLICANTS, THUS REDUCING THEIR WAITING TIME.

ΤΟ

"THE REGROUPING RECOGNISES THAT THERE WILL BE LITTLE OR POSSIBLY NO NEW RENTAL PRODUCTION IN SOME DISTRICTS IN THE COMING YEARS, AND THAT IT WILL NOT BE REASONABLE TO EXPECT APPLICANTS TO WAIT INDEFINITELY.

"GIVEN THAT HONG KONG IS NOT A LARGE PLACE AND IS WELL-SERVED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT, APPLICANTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN CONSIDERING HOUSING OFFERS WITH BETTER PROSPECTS OF SUPPLY."

AS REGARDS ALLOCATION OF FLATS, MR EASON SAID, IT IS NORMALLY MADE IN LINE WITH THE EXPRESSED PREFERENCE FOR A DISTRICT BUT REQUESTS FOR A SPECIFIC ESTATE OR FLOOR LEVEL ARE ONLY ENTERTAINED ON SOCIAL OR COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS AND SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY.

MEDICAL,

MERITS,

"THESE SPECIAL NEEDS ARE ASSESSED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL HAVING REGARD TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHERE NECESSARY," HE SAID.

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NO INDICATION OF DEMAND FOR ISLAND LEASING

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THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANY DEMAND POR ISLANDS WITH OR WITHOUT WATER AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR EASON SAID APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED ON THEIR MERITS.

IN

IF

THERE ARE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 290 ISLANDS IN HONG KONG. MOST OF THEM ARE UNINHABITED.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE VERY SMALL; AND SOME 60 PER CENT ARE LESS THAN ONE HECTARE IN AREA..

/OF THOSE