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SCMP Reporter

THE Housing Authority wants 60 hectares of land in the next four years so it can offer an extra 50,000 public flats by the year 2002.

  The authority says it is prepared to help the Government suppress rising property prices by increasing flat supply but additional land must be allocated.

  Authority chairman Rosanna Wong Yick-ming called a meeting with senior housing officials and sub-committee heads yesterday to study proposals.

  Ms Wong said the authority planned to supply 10,000 more units a year, mostly Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats, on top of its average annual production of 35,000 to 40,000.

  Ms Wong said: ''Flats are not built in a day. If we want to see an impact on property prices we must act quickly.''   The authority estimates at least 58.3 hectares of land will be needed.

  Ms Wong said it was not possible to ask for the land in one go.

  ''We propose 15 hectares of land be allocated annually over the next four years. If the Government can grant land to us within this year, the first 10,000 additional units under this programme can be available in 1998.''   The project is expected to be financed by a proposed $7.5 billion development fund. The fund, made up of the authority's surplus, will finance 10,000 units a year.

  Ms Wong said the authority would submit the proposals to the Government's taskforce on property prices next week.

    But Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood vice-chairman Leung Kwong-cheong asked whether offering more HOS units would be helpful.

  ''HOS flats have been beyond the reach of many home-buyers because their prices are pegged with those of private flats,'' Mr Leung said.

  A government spokesman said the authority's requests would be considered by the taskforce, of which one aim was to find ways to increase land supply for both the private and public sector.

      He said: ''Some of the sites are already there but they lack infrastructure. One way to speed up production is for the Housing Department to undertake more infrastructural work as well.'' 



Housing body seeks 60 hectares of land for extra 50,000 flats