XN000022-1993-12-17 — Page 3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1993

GOVT MEETS NEW PUBLIC HOUSING CHALLENGES VIGOROUSLY: GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO FURTHER DEVELOP ITS HOUSING PROGRAMME TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES AHEAD, THE GOVERNOR, HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

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"1ITS CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THE CONTINUING SUCCESS AND STABILITY OF THIS GREAT HOME, HONG KONG", MR PATTEN SAID.

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SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY HONG KONG'S PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME, MR PATTEN SAID NEW CHALLENGES CAME FROM RISING EXPECTATIONS AS THE COMMUNITY PROSPERED.

HE SAID PEOPLE WANTED HIGHER STANDARDS OF ACCOMMODATION, BETTER SECURITY AS WELL AS MORE FACILITIES.

"CHALLENGES COMB FROM MAINTAINING AND RENOVATING AN EVER- INCREASING NUMBER OF ESTATES AND BUILDINGS.

"THEN THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE BEING CAUGHT IN THE TRAP OF DEPENDENCY ON PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING AND UNABLE ΤΟ ACHIEVE OWNERSHIP, FOR WHICH SOLUTIONS ARE NEEDED."

THE GOVERNOR ADDED THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT MET THESE NEW CHALLENGES VIGOROUSLY, IT MUST NOT FORGET THAT THERE REMAINED MANY PEOPLE STILL IN NEED OF DECENT HOUSING.

COMMENDING THE PROGRAMME AS "A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT" AND "THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME" AROUND THE WORLD, MR PATTEN SAID IT STRENGTHENED AND STABILISED THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

THE HOUSING PROGRAMME IS NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS, IT IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THAT SUCCESS, HE ADDED.

EARLIER IN THE CEREMONY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, MS ROSANNA WONG, PLEDGED THAT THE AUTHORITY WOULD PUSH FORWARD WITH ITS VISION OF PROVIDING HOMES FOR ALL WHO NEEDED THEM.

SHE SAID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME WENT HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AND WAS CENTRAL TO THE LIFE AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE.

"DECENT HOMES ARE A VITAL PART OF STABLE FAMILY LIFE. SECURE, WELL-MAINTAINED HOMES ENABLE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THEIR BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

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MS WONG SAID OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST BLOCKS WERE BUILT IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS, THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAD IMPROVED BEYOND RECOGNITION.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT FROM THE HUMBLE BEGINNING IN 1953 WHEN FEW TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FIRE VICTIMS WERE HOUSED IN A HURRY, AUTHORITY NOW HAD 650,000 FLATS IN 1,200 BLOCKS.

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"NOT ONLY HAS THE QUANTITY GROWN DRAMATICALLY, BUT THE QUALITY OF HOUSING UNITS AND THE ESTATES, THE CONCEPT AND DESIGN, ALL BETTER AND BETTER.

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