XN000022-1995-11-22 — Page 33

- 31 -

(c) We are reminding social workers of the need to pay close attention to any inter-personal problems that may exist among ex-mentally ill clients and other people who are sharing accommodation with them. Particular care must be exercised when recommending the sharing of public housing units by persons with a history of mental illness. For the longer term, we intend to establish two additional Assistant Social Welfare Officer posts in 1996/97 to improve after-care services for those discharged from half-way houses.

End/Wednesday, November 22, 1995

Financial Secretary's comments on property prices

Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the acting Financial Secretary, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The Financial Secretary (FS) commented in late October that property prices at present were "close to bottoming out", and that although the prices were still 20% higher than those in 1993, the property market had returned to the normal track if the inflation in the last two years was taken into account. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the basis on which the FS's comment was made and why the FS believed that property prices in 1993 were at the normal level;

(b) whether the FS's comment on prices in the private sector is in violation of the principle of non-interventionism; and

(c) whether the FS's comment is an indication that the Government's aim to curb property prices has been achieved and that the Government is going to relax the relevant measures now in force; if so, whether the Government has considered that such a move may trigger off a rise in property prices which will make it difficult for families in need of a home to purchase their own flats, thus resulting in the Governor's pledge of helping more families to become home owners more difficult to materialise?