XN000022-1996-03-04 — Page 18

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New members of housing strategy review group appointed

The Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, has made two new appointments to the Steering Group set up to assist him in reviewing all major aspects of housing policy.

The group is also to suggest the most cost-effective way of meeting the Government's policy objective of providing adequate and affordable housing for the community,

The appointments of the Director of the Society for Community Organisation (SOCO), Mr Ho Hei-wah, and member of the Regional Council and Tai Po District Board with extensive public service, Mr Leung Wo-ping, were made after the Administration had carefully considered various suggestions for including more grassroots people on the Steering Group.

With the new appointments, the Steering Group under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Housing now has 12 members who come from various sections of the community.

In thanking Mr Ho and Mr Leung for accepting the appointments, Mr Wong said: "The expanded membership will ensure even greater input from the public and the housing-related sections of the community.

"We aim to complete the internal review in a few months' time and to issue a public consultation paper in the middle of this year, setting out our main conclusions and recommendations on the way ahead."

Mr Wong said the Steering Group was one of the avenues for the Administration to canvass public views during the course of review.

"We briefed the Legislative Council and the Ilousing Authority at the start of the exercise and have invited submissions from the general public.

"We will continue to monitor public views," he said.

All members of the Steering Group were appointed in their personal capacities to provide advice based upon their knowledge, and experience of housing-related

matters.