XN000022-1994-06-02 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1994

SUFFICIENT LAND PROVIDED TO MEET HOUSING NEED

* * * *

PLANNING,

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN SUFFICIENT LAND TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE HOUSING SOCIETY TO BUILD 430,000 PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS BETWEEN 1991 AND 2001 TO MEET FULLY THE ASSESSED REQUIREMENTS OF 420,000 FLATS UNDER THE LONG-TERM HOUSING STRATEGY (LTHS).

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS SUFFICIENT LAND TO BUILD 290,000 FLATS FROM NOW TO 2001. THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE IN PLACE WHEN THE FLATS ARE COMPLETED.

WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS, ALL SITES ALLOCATED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ARE FORMED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

ORDER

ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES WILL THE GOVERNMENT INVITE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO UNDERTAKE SITE FORMATION WORKS IN

THAT A SITE WILL BECOME AVAILABLE TO MATCH THE AUTHORITY'S BUILDING PROGRAMME.

IN THOSE EXCEPTIONAL CASES, PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS ALWAYS SOUGHT.

PUBLIC HOUSING DEMAND UNDER THE LTHS IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY. WHILE

AVAILABLE

MEET THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO MAKING LAND

TO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARISING FROM THESE REVIEWS, DUB REGARD MUST BE GIVEN TO PRACTICAL PROBLEMS AND LEAD TIMES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE QUESTION OF ADDITIONAL LAND FOR HOUSING IS BEING ADDRESSED BY THE TASK FORCE ON LAND SUPPLY AND PROPERTY PRICE AND EVERY EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SITES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

CS NOTIFIES ELECTORAL OFFICE OF ADDRESS CHANGE

DURING A VISIT TO SHA TIN TODAY (THURSDAY), CHIEF SECRETARY OF ADDRESS MRS ANSON CHAN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOTIFY HER CHANGE WHEN SHE VISITED A VOTER REGISTRATION COUNTER AT THE NEW TOWN PLAZA.

HER FORM WAS RECEIVED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DAVID

BROWNING.

WAS

BARLIER, MRS CHAN VISITED THE DISTRICT OFFICE WHERE SHE BRIEFED BY MR BROWNING ON THE RESPONSE ΤΟ THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN IN THE DISTRICT.

ELECTORAL

FROM

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS TOLD THAT A TOTAL OF 40,000 COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORMS HAD SO FAR BEEN RECEIVED AND COLLECTED SHA TIN RESIDENTS.

VOTER

/STAFF MEMBERS