TNAG-0471-FCO40-536-Use-of-Chinese-as-an-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 15

32.

VEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974

RENT PETITION TO BE RE-SUBMITTED

*******

THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR. DONALD LIAO, TOLD A GROUP OF WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE RESIDENTS THAT HE WOULD RE-SUBMIT THEIR PETITION AGAINST A RENT INCREASE TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR FURTHER STUDY, EVEN THOUGH THEIR INITIAL PETITION HAD BEEN TURNED DOUN.

MR. LIAO GAVE THIS ASSURANCE TO THE CROUP AT A MEETING IN HIS OFFICE TODAY..

HE REAFFIRMED, HOWEVER, THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE RENT REVIEW WHICH WAS FAIR AND REASONABLE AND HAD BEEN THOUGHTFULLY UCRKED OUT.

THE RENT REVISION AFFECTS ALL PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS LET OUT ON OR AFTER MAY 17, 1974.

HE SAID THAT THE RENT ADJUSTMENT APPLIED TO ALL 11,500 FLATS WHICH WERE UNLET AT THAT DATE AND NOT JUST TO THOSE IN WONG CHUK HANG.

+1 AM SURE THAT YOU ALL REALISE THAT THE COST OF MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE AND RUNNING OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAVE RISEN IN RECENT YEARS AND THAT BECAUSE OF HIGHER COSTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS AND LACOUR, CONSTRUCTION COST OF RECENTLY COMPLETED HOUSING BLOCKS IS MANY TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT OF YEARS AÇO,+ E SAID.

MR. LIAO EXPLAINED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS KOST WILLING TO HELP THOSE GENUINE HARDSHIP CASES BY OFFERING THEM LOUER RENTAL UNITS IN OTHER ESTATES, OR BY REFERRING THEIR CACES TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR RENT SUBSIDY OR OTHER FORUS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

LION ROCK AERIAL ROPEWAY

******

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SITING THE LOWER STATION OF A PROPOSED AERIAL ROPEUAY ON THE SHA TIN SIDE OF LION ROCK AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE EXISTING PROPOSALS FOR THE LOWER STATION TO DE SITED ON THE SOUTHERI SICE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL ANXIOUS TO PROCEED WITH SUCH A PROJECT, CUT IT WISHES TO ENSURE THAT THE DEST FOSSIBLE ALIGNMENT IS SELECTED +CONSISTENT WITH SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT AND OFFERING THE MOST ATTRACTIVE SCENIC VIEW'S TO THOSE USING THE ROPEWAY.+

HE SAID IF THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS FEASIBLE, TENDERS WOULD BE CALLED FOR A ROPEWAY ON THE NORTHERN SLOPE.

IF, HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THEN FRESH TENDERS WOULD BE CALLED FOR THE ORIGINAL SCHEKE UP THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF LION ROCK.

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT THE TENDERS RECEIVED FOR THIS SCHEME LAST YEAR DID NOT FULLY, COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN BY THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND NONE WAS CONSEQUENTLY ACCEPTED.

THE STUDY IS EXPECTED TO TAKE TWO TO THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

133 ..

Page 15Page 16