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1. HA Endorses Measures in Housing Policy Statement

2. Deep Bay Link and Widening of a Section of Yuen Long Highway Authorized

3. Authority backing for property rescue plan

4. HK will seek Beijing's approval for a Y-shaped bridge to Zhuhai and Macau

5. KMB blames passenger for bus blaze

6. monitor

7. Cute digital cameras manage to carry some substance

8. A streak of light from the space shuttle Endeavour illuminates the Florida skyline

1. HA Endorses Measures in Housing Policy Statement
Hong Kong Government, 28 November 2002

The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority :

The Housing Authority (HA) endorsed today (November 28) the Government's request to reposition itself from its previous role as a direct provider of subsidized sale flats to assume a facilitation and enabling role, while pledging to hold fast to its commitment to providing affordable rental housing to those in genuine need.

The decision was made when Members of the HA met to discuss the requests as set out in the Statement on Housing Policy delivered by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands earlier this month. The Statement clarified Government's housing objectives and strategies, along with a series of measures to redress the serious imbalance between supply and demand in the property market.

In agreeing to halt the production and sale of the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS) flats indefinitely, Members noted the reduced demand for HOS/PSPS in recent years, with only half of the flats sold in the last exercise.

This is against the background of improved affordability in purchasing property in the private market where prices have gone down by over 60% from 1997 and a record low mortgage rate.

Following the decision to cease the production and sale of HOS, the Housing Department will establish a task force to work out an appropriate strategy for the disposal of the completed and other committed flats - of around 20,000 units - through market-friendly means.

A spokesman for the Authority cited the conversion into public rental housing, service apartments, hostels, rehousing under Urban Renewal Authority projects and the sale to the Housing Society for rental purposes as possible options. Detailed arrangements will be mapped out in due course.

As for the small number of unsold and returned HOS/PSPS flats, Members agreed to restrict their sale to Green Form applicants.

Meanwhile, the Authority would ensure an adequate production of public rental housing to keep the pledge of maintaining the average waiting time at three years. The proposed General Rental Allowance Scheme will also provide the Authority with an important lever to achieve this objective. Under the proposed scheme, cash subsidies will be given to eligible non-elderly families for renting accommodation in the private sector.

Members also agreed to halt the sale of PRH units under the Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) after Phases 6A and 6B, as recommended by the Housing Policy Statement. The decision was made after having carefully considered the need to make better use of our existing stock to meet the recurrent demand for PRH, and the potential adverse impact of the sale of a large number of flats at substantively discounted prices on the property market.

"Sitting tenants who aspire to home ownership can continue to receive assistance through housing loans or to purchase flats in the secondary HOS market for which no payment of premium is required," the spokesman said.

In addition, the HA also decided not to pursue the mixed development project at the former North Point Estate.

Given that the Authority has decided to reposition itself as a facilitator, the spokesman maintained that loans would become the principal means for providing home purchase assistance to low-income families. Agreement of the HA will soon be sought to launch the new Home Assistance Loan Scheme.

Concerned with the financial implications of the new housing policies, Members were assured that the Housing Department would continue to review its cost structure to improve efficiency and explore other long term financing options. They also looked forward to a satisfactory funding arrangement with the Government for financing the Authority's housing programmes.

On staffing implications, Members noted that the new housing policies would not result in immediate changes to the work of the Housing Department. In fact, considerable resources would be required to work out the arrangements for handling the surplus HOS flats, launching the last phase of the TPS, as well as developing the new loan and rental allowance schemes.

A full scale comprehensive re-engineering exercise in the Department will be done in which staff will be consulted and fully involved. "Surplus staff, if any, will be absorbed by natural wastage, departure under various voluntary retirement schemes, and re-deployment to areas of new and innovative business opportunities, " the spokesman said.

2. Deep Bay Link and Widening of a Section of Yuen Long Highway Authorized
Hong Kong Government, 27 November 2002

The Chief Executive in Council had authorized with modifications the Deep Bay Link and widening of Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei and Shap Pat Heung Interchange (Section between Lam Tei and Tan Kwai Tsuen) projects.

The authorization with modifications were made under section 11 of the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance (Chapter 370). The respective notice will be published in Government Gazette this Friday (November 29).

An Environment, Transport and Works Bureau spokesman said today (November 27): "The three existing vehicular boundary crossings at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok are nearly saturated.

"We need to construct the fourth land boundary crossing i.e. the proposed Shenzhen Western Corridor (SWC) to cater for increasing traffic demand and the future development needs in the Northwest New Territories," he noted.

"The new boundary crossing will connect the north-western part of the New Territories to Shekou of Shenzhen. The Deep Bay Link connects the SWC to the existing Yuen Long Highway.

"The SWC together with the DBL will facilitate people and cargo movement, enhance logistics and tourism, and strengthen the position of Hong Kong as the hub of the Pearl River Delta area."

"The road projects will also bring about substantial economic benefits to Hong Kong," the spokesman added.

The section of the widening works between Lam Tei and Tan Kwai Tsuen will proceed together with the works of the Deep Bay Link.

"The works mainly cover construction of an approximately 5.4 km long dual 3-lane Deep Bay Link trunk road linking the SWC from Ngau Hom Shek to Yuen Long Highway via a new interchange at Lam Tei, and widening of approximately 2 km long of the Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei and Tan Kwai Tsuen from dual 2-lane to dual 3-lane," he elaborated.

"It also includes construction of the associated slip roads, noise barriers, and slope, landscaping, drainage and road rehabilitation works, as well as the provision of the ancillary facilities necessary for road operation.

"The works are proposed to start in mid 2003 for completion by end of 2005," the spokesman concluded.

3. Authority backing for property rescue plan
Michael Ng, The Standard 29 November 2002

Neither protesters nor opposition from committee members could prevent the Housing Authority supporting the government's rescue package for the property market.

At the authority's regular open meeting yesterday, several members spoke out against the measures, which include suspending the sale of public housing and Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats.

Authority member and legislator Chan Kam-lam said the suspension should not be for an unlimited time.

``They should not totally suspend sales of HOS flats. They should resolutely lower the salary ceilings of applicants and construct another kind of flat with a lower price,'' Chan said.

Another member, Walter Chan, agreed. ``I dislike people saying HOS has already accomplished its historical mission, as our housing history could be repeated,'' he said.

Other members suggested the authority build public housing flats in the mixed development project at North Point.

``Why can't we change the purpose of our North Point Estate lot and build public housing flats? This could help those residents who have been relocated and keep the promises made by the authority,'' Wong Kwan said.

Another member Raymond Chow said he hoped more public housing flats could be built to prevent the construction industry shrinking.

``Some engineering consultant companies had already foreseen a reduction in the number of residential flats to be constructed and eventually began laying off workers,'' Chow said. ``We hope the government can build more public housing flats to maintain the workload and avoid layoffs.''

Several members of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) chanted slogans and held up protest banners inside the hall during the meeting, saying the policies were aimed only at rescuing the market but not citizens.

Before the meeting about 50 members of the Federation of Public Housing Estates Resident and Shopowner Organisations and the ADPL staged a protest rally outside Housing Authority headquarters.

However, most authority members voted in favour of the government package.

The Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Leung Chin-man, said the government would soon launch a rent assistance programme for people to rent flats in the private property market.

Authority chairman Cheng Hon-kwan said talks were continuing with the government on the North Point Estate project and no final decision had been made. Cheng said the authority would also set up an ad hoc committee to study what to do with the 20,000 HOS flats which were vacant or under construction.

4. HK will seek Beijing's approval for a Y-shaped bridge to Zhuhai and Macau
STAFF REPORTER, SCMP 29 November 2002

The building of a 29km bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau is set to be recommended to Beijing by the Hong Kong government.

The Y-shaped bridge would run from north of Tai O on Lantau Island to Macau and Zhuhai under proposals being finalised by the government feasibility study team. Traffic using it to reach Hong Kong would have easy access to Chek Lap Kok airport and the rest of the SAR.

The administration is planning to build a logistics centre next to the bridge's Hong Kong landing point to allow goods arriving from the mainland to be processed there. It is also considering whether container terminals should be built on Lantau or in Tuen Mun, and if so, whether existing ones should be relocated there.

A source close to the feasibility study team said the bridge would improve Hong Kong's position as a logistics hub in Asia. It would also enhance Hong Kong's links with counties in the western part of Guangdong, such as Zhongshan and Jiangmen, and open the possibility of a 1,000km drive from the SAR to Vietnam.

The source said an alternative proposal that there should be an additional link to Shekou in Shenzhen would prove to be too long, too expensive and unnecessary, because the Western Corridor linking Shekou and Yuen Long would be ready in 2005.

The additional link has been proposed by the 2022 Foundation, which is backed by large companies including Sun Hung Kai Properties, Kerry Group, Li & Fung (1937) and CLP Holdings, and would cost about $30 billion. The government proposal, to be revealed in the next few weeks, is similar to the one proposed by Hopewell Holdings chairman Gordon Wu Ying-sheung.

Sir Gordon has estimated that the project would cost about $15 billion and take three years to complete, with at least 10,000 vehicles a day using the bridge initially.

The source said the administration's proposal would not significantly affect finances, since only one-eighth of it would lie in Hong Kong waters, meaning the SAR would not have to pay the bulk of the construction bill. Labour costs would be kept down by using cheaper mainland workers on sections of the bridge lying outside Hong Kong.

The source said the government had begun discussions with the State Development Planning Commission over the project, and the Beijing authorities would have to act as co-ordinator between the Guangdong, Zhuhai and Macau governments.

Supporters of the project were given a morale boost when Premier Zhu Rongji offered his backing during his visit to Hong Kong last week. The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau has since speeded up the feasibility study.

Sir Gordon said this week the result of the feasibility study was due soon. "Both the government and I are working on this, and results are expected to be announced soon," he said. "Discussions with the government will be the next step."

He said funding the bridge's construction should not be a big concern for the government because 90 per cent of the structure would be in Guangdong waters."

"I am prepared to pay for the bridge's construction if nobody is doing it. The government has not asked me about that, but who's paying should be the next thing to be considered."

He said yesterday that he expected work to start by the end of next year at the earliest and be finished in 2006.

Sir Gordon said he had had talks with Airport Authority chairman Victor Fung Kwok-king about the chances of them working on the project together.

5. KMB blames passenger for bus blaze
FELIX CHAN, SCMP 29 November 2002

6. monitor
JAKE VAN DER KAMP, SCMP 29 November 2002

I hate speechwriters; they make my job more difficult.

Without them around I can count on a steady columnist's diet of public officials saying silly things but when speechwriters go to work on their employers' thoughts I go hungry.

Back in early summer, for instance, there was a regular feast set out with the appointment of Financial Services Secretary Frederick Ma Si-hang and Commerce Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen. Someone has got a hold of these two recently. You would almost think them professional politicians from their latest utterances.

And as for Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, how I long for that time when almost every day he spouted economic findings with no basis in economic fact or damned the peg with faint praise by saying it would be maintained "for the time being" or that we would stick with it "just now".

Gone, alas. His recent pronouncements seem to have passed through his brain first or, at least, they have passed scrutiny by someone. I think I detect the hand of a speechwriter here. Yes, I do detest those people.

Take Mr Leung's speech in London this week to the Royal Institute of International Affairs. It was the very model of a sound presentation of Hong Kong's strengths, well-structured and setting out our prospects in proper relation to the Pearl River Delta's emergence as an industrial power, the sort of talk that gives you a warm feeling about living in this town.

The Old Antony would have started by saying that it is hard to tell, the future lies ahead of us, we are cautiously optimistic but . . . and then we would get a litany of hand-wringing moans about how difficult and uncertain everything is, the sort of talk that would quickly have his audience rushing for the exits to sell SAR stock and short the Hong Kong dollar.

He actually put his greatest emphasis on the strengths of Hong Kong people, their knowledge, their expertise and their close relations with the mainland's population - "when mainland enterprises look for international experience and knowhow, they naturally look to Hong Kong".

Spot on, Mr Leung. That is indeed the big strength, one that has taken years to evolve and that no city in the mainland rivals. What a change from the old government line about how the mainland will soon do everything we do and where will we be then.

He even took the opportunity to score one off against Shanghai copycats - "why do you think parts of Shanghai resemble the glitzy retail and residential developments in Hong Kong?" - and topped it off by pointing out that exports of Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta are four times the exports of Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.

Yes, sir, just a touch of perspective and Shanghai is in its proper place again.

The peg talk was right on the button too. He left this for another speech made the same day to the Trade Development Council's annual London dinner and it was a straight no change message - "we will continue not to have monetary policy as our tool". Whew, what a relief. He recognises the implications.

There was also a message for fiscal stimulus enthusiasts. No way. The government economist says every dollar spent on fiscal stimulus produces only a 50 cent return in economic income. Note closely. The economist was asked for his opinion first.

Yes, I like it. As former United States president Harry Truman once said, the presidency will make a man of any boy. That is still to be proved with the present incumbent of the White House but the underlying principle seems to be working for the incumbent of a certain house in Shouson Hill.

It does not give me as many short working days as I used to enjoy, however. It must be the speechwriter. My, how I loathe those spoilsports.

Email Jake van der Kamp at jakeva@scmp.com.

7. Cute digital cameras manage to carry some substance
CAROLYN ONG, SCMP 29 November

The top-selling technology gadget for Christmas this year, experts say, will be digital cameras as prices fall and the range of cameras widen to include super light, hip models that pass as fashion accessories.

Many of the new, light and almost nauseatingly cute candy-coloured digital cameras on the market compromise on quality in order to fit into a tight, sleek chassis.

At first glance, one could easily dismiss the Panasonic SV-AV30 as just another good-looker that is thin on features. However, it turned out to have a few surprising goodies.

First, the AV30 is very compact, though it would not fit in a man's shirt pocket. It has an SD slot and is capable of taking both still images and video. The AV30 puts out MPEG4 movies at 15 frames per second and 320x240 pixels and has a 2x digital zoom. Admittedly, these are not impressive specifications for real shooters but then, it is not aimed at pros.

The anorexic, pastel-coloured AV30 is aimed mostly at women as an entry-level, hassle-free, point-and-shoot camera that you can operate with one hand. It weighs 122 grams and comes in silver, blue, white or yellow finishes.

There is 90 minutes of recording time with the included battery and it comes with an AV cradle to stick the thing in for a recharge, which also hooks up to a TV.

Still images recorded at 640x480 pixels are not impressive, but are good enough for zapping around to friends on e-mail or PDA.

But the sweetest thing about the AV30 is it is more than just a camera - it is an SD memory card portable audio player and a digital IC voice recorder as well.

You have got to love the new Lumix DMC-FZ1. At 350 grams, it is a tad heavy to pass off as hip but this is a camera for people who want to take good quality images without spending a bucket full of dollars.

The selling point in this neat little gismo is its new Venus Engine LSI, which gives 50 per cent faster operation than its predecessor the F1, with a shutter time lag of 0.1 second and the ability to reel off four shots a second.

It comes with other goodies like the classy Vario/Elmarit Leica lens, a fantastic 12x optical zoom and a 2.1 megapixel CCD. I know some people think that the 2.1 megapixel CCD is a let down but keep in mind that megapixel is just a measure of a camera's resolution. That is, how big it can make the pictures. It has nothing to do with colour quality, image compression, lens quality or other factors that will affect quality of image. So two megapixels is enough for most prints.

The biggest image the camera can produce is 1,600x1,200 pixels. The camera, unfortunately, takes Smart Media cards, which are expensive and will probably become obsolete in a few years.

Fancy a digital camera but don't know which one to choose? Looking for a strong, mid-range model that is easy to use and take on vacation with you?

Nikon, always a reliable brand for cameras, has a new one out that is more serious than the aforementioned.

It has only a 3x optical zoom but pixel count is more impressive at four million. This makes the largest image the camera can produce 2,272x1,704 dots. I am impressed with its small picture function that allows the simple transfer of images via e-mail or for uploading to a homepage by creating one of four different easy-to-manage file sizes from your snap.

The 4300 weighs just 230 grams and is intended to compete with Sony's compact Cybershot P9.

Another qualifier would be the new Olympus C5050, the most affordable mid-range five megapixel digital camera in the market at HK$5,800.

It has a bright 3X zoom lens and unlike its older Camedia sisters, has a tilting LCD panel that makes shooting just a little easier. But take care to carry the power pack around because Olympus digital cameras are notorious for their short battery life.

8. A streak of light from the space shuttle Endeavour illuminates the Florida skyline
SCMP, 25 November 2002