XN000022-1997-01-30 — Page 11

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The commission has sent out a provisional timetable for the first 19 days of the public hearing, which has included 91 witnesses, to parties who are involved in the inquiry and those who at the preliminary hearing held on January 16 indicated their interest to receive such a timetable.

The witnesses who are scheduled to appear before the commission in the first 10 days of the public hearing have been summoned to report to the commission on February 3.

End

44th Land and Building Advisory Committee Meeting

The Land and Building Advisory Committee (LBAC) discussed the Long Term Housing Strategy Review report at its 44th meeting today (Thursday).

Chaired by Dr Cheng Hon-kwan, the Committee noted that the Long Term Housing Strategy Review consultative document was to provide a strategic direction for the housing policy of Hong Kong.

The Committee totally agreed that Government should increase the supply of flats to meet forecast demand for housing, in particular by providing a steady and sufficient supply of land.

"We also feel that Government should build more public rental blocks to meet the need of the lower income group. While we recognise the benefit of encouraging wider home ownership, we should ensure that adequate public rental housing is provided to those in genuine need," said Dr Cheng.

"Affordability is an important aspect. Rental of public housing and prices of flats under the home ownership scheme and sandwich class housing scheme must be set at a reasonable level which the public can afford," he added.

The Committee also discussed the trends of the property market in the second half of 1996.