TNAG-2212-FCO40-3172-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1990-1991 — Page 162

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Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

48. During 1989/90 public housing construction in the

Territory reached a record number of about 54,000 flats

compared to the private sector's total of about 34,000

flats. 99,000 people were offered new, subsidised accommodation under a comprehensive redevelopment programme and various other clearance programmes.

49. To satisfy the growing aspiration for home purchase, the Housing Authority expanded its home ownership programme.

In 1990/91, 16,500 flats will be offered for sale under the

programme, and up to 3,500 interest-free loans will be offered to tenants of public housing flats and to low-income

households, to help them purchase their own private flats.

Two other new initiatives are worthy of note: the

finalisation of a proposal to sell quality rental flats to

tenants in public housing estates, and the launching of a

quality assurance programme for the housing design and construction process. The first will provide more

opportunity for home ownership while the second will ensure better quality housing in the years ahead.

XI

CIVIL SERVICE

50.

The Hong Kong Government have for many years given suitable local candidates preference in recruitment to the

Civil Service. The result has been an increasing number of

local officers in the more senior ranks. On 1 October 1990,

70 per cent of the 3,963 officers holding positions at the

senior management/professional level and above were local

officers. At the directorate level, the most senior ranks in the Civil Service, local officers represented about 60

per cent of a total of 1,262 officers. The Hong Kong

Government are confident that the continued application of

this policy will enable top posts in the Civil Service to be

filled by local officers by 1997.

ALAAEV/17

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