XN000022-1994-05-18 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994

HIGH

GOVERNMENT ADDRESSES PROPERTY PRICES POSITIVELY

RESIDENTIAL PRICES WERE A CAUSE OF CONCERN AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS ADDRESSING THIS CONCERN URGENTLY AND POSITIVELY, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A MOTION DEBATE ON LAND SUPPLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR EASON SAID GOVERNMENT HAD THE URGE TO DO AND WAS DOING WHAT THE MOTION URGED IT TO DO.

HE SAID THE TASK FORCE ON LAND SUPPLY AND PROPERTY WOULD CONCLUDE IT WORKS NEXT MONTH.

MR EASON SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CURRENTLY REVIEWING YET AGAIN THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND THERE WAS A GOOD PROSPECT OF AN ADDITIONAL 30 HECTARES OF LAND BEING MADE AVAILABLE BEFORE 1997 ΤΟ MEET THE NEW REQUIREMENT.

HE SAID OTHER POSSIBLE SITES WERE ALSO BEING EXAMINED.

THE AIM OF THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALWAYS BEEN TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LAND

TO MEET CLEARLY IDENTIFIED PUBLIC HOUSING DEMAND AND THIS WAS REVIEWED REGULARLY, HE SAID.

"FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ADJUSTED INCOME LIMITS AND CRITERIA IN 1992 AND 1993, THE GOVERNMENT QUICKLY FOUND 49 [RCTARES OF EXTRA LAND TO MEET THE ADDITIONAL DEMAND,

HOWEVER,

HE SAID THE LEVEL OF DEMAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING WAS A CONSTANTLY MOVING TARGET WHICH CHANGED BECAUSE OF SUCH FACTORS AS POPULATION AND INCOME GROWTH, REDEVELOPMENT AND CLEARANCE PROGRAMME, PRICES AND RENTS OF PRIVATE HOUSING ETC.

"BUT

IT DOES NOT MEAN THE GOVERNMENT HAS FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR INTENDS TO DO SO INCREASES AND NEW LAND HAS TO BE PROVIDED.

UNDER-PROVIDED LAND JUST BECAUSE DEMAND

"THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT BETWEEN 1988/89 AND 1993/94, OVER 180 HECTARES OF LAND WERE ALLOCATED FOR PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING AND ASSISTED HOUSING, THAT IS, AN AVERAGE OF 30.5 HECTARES PER ANNUM.

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"BY COMPARISON, AN AVERAGE OF 17 HECTARES PER ANNUM WERE GRANTED FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD, HE SAID.

INFRASTRUCTURE HAD TO BE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD OUTPUT, FOR EXAMPLE, BY

GIVEN THAT LAND AND THE RELATED PRODUCED AND THE LEAD TIME REQUIRED, THE CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF IMPROVING INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF LAND USE AND ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SITES ALREADY EXISTED, HE SAID.

TURNING TO LAND DISPOSAL, MR EASON SAID THE LAND COMMISSION HAD IN FACT SHOWN ITSELF TO BE FLEXIBLE AND SENSITIVE TO HONG KONG'S NEED FOR LAND TO SUPPORT IT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

/"THE LAND