MORE COMMENTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
During the past week the Chinese Press continued to comment on the various points and proposals made by the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, in his address to the Legislative Council at its opening session
on October 6.
HOUSING
The Home Ownership Scheme
WAH KIU YAT PO devoted two editorials to the scheme with particular emphasis on its effects on private developers.
"There will be many 'technical' problems when implementing the scheme. On the one hand, sale prices connot be set too high and on the other hand, the Housing Authority must not compete with private developers," the paper said in its first editorial (October 14).
"To ensure that all parties will be treated fairly, the Government must work out details of the scheme carefully," it added.
In a second editorial (October 15), the paper said it believed that since sale con- ditions for Government flats would be more favourable than that for private flats, private developers would be hit.
It urged the Governemnt to give due consideration to their interests and said: "It will be unfair if a sector of society has to suffer for the benefit of another."
SING PAO (October 16) commended the Government for promptly conducting a sample survey on residents' opinions on October 11 after the home ownership scheme was announced in the Legislative Council on October 6.
"We hope that the Government will go about other social projects in the same spirit," the paper said.
Noting that under the existing proposal only well-off tenants in housing estates were eligible to buy Government flats, the paper urged the authorities to include more members of the public in the scheme.
It also called on the authorities to exercise care in implementing the scheme so that private developers would not be affected.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.