布政司署
香港 下亞畢道
* OUR REF.: HOU 8/5872/75
**YOUR Ref.:
Dear Patrick
R+R) J17.
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
HKKONEGAL ROAD
RECEIVED 41
TONG TONG
17 MAY 06
DESK ORALLY
RY
14th May, 1979 en Teksan
Мо
Jr.6.
The delay in sending details of our revised programme aims is due to our being engaged in drawing up the housing contribution for Government's Fourth Development Plan, and the information given to you is better if not immediately out of date. In future years, we shall tie in our brief to you with the annual review of the Development Plan.
2.
Mary Lee's article in the Far Eastern Economic Review of 30th March 1979 was so full of inaccuracies that the F.S. and myself agreed to refrain from replying. However, here are some brief comments which may help to disentangle argument from froth and inaccuracy:
Para 2: HE's oft misquoted speech to LegCo in October
1972 set a target period of ten years "as a basis for calculation" during which public housing should be built at an average annual rate of 180,000 individual units (equating to 1.5 million persons over the ten years) so that together with the contribution of the private sector, permanent self-contained accommodation would be available for all. This target was based on the assumption that 60% of all one and two person households would share accommodation, but this assumption was not mentioned in HE's speech.
Para 3: The "oil recession" of 1973/74 interrupted the Housing Authority's climb towards the intended annual production target of 40,000 flats. This year's economic difficulties compelled us to revise this target downwards to 35,000 flats p.a. - but despite this we should achieve the original target of accommodation for 1.5 million people in twelve years instead of the ten previously envisaged. Production is already planned to continue well beyond that at a similar rate. The figure of 200,000 units quoted, refers to our latest calculation of the number of families presently living in impermanent or non self-contained accommodation, and includes 90,000 living in public housing. The same assumption is made as before regarding one and two person households.
P.J. Williamson, Esq.,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1,
England.
/Para 4
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