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Building and Planning
The Authority's building work is..the responsibility of its Architectural Section, comprising architectural, engineering and works staff, which, in addition to the design and supervision of the construction of estates, undertakes the general co-ordination of all planning and building work, maintains liaison with private architects and consultants employed by the Authority, keeps close contact with the public utility organizations, planning offices and service sub-departments of the Public Works Department, and engages in research and experiments in the technical' aspects of housing. In accordance with present policy, the dwelling units are built for families of varying sizes on an occupancy ratio of 35 sq. ft. per person for the living/sleeping accommodation a single room which can be sub-divided by the tenant, under supervision, to suit the needs of his family - plus a small kitchen and a toilet with W.C. and shower. All flats have a private verandah as utility space, and from which laundry is hung to dry.
Estates are planned as far as possible as neighbourhood units, with their own shopping facilities. In addition, consideration is given to the planning and location and, in some cases, the design and building of schools, clinics, kindergarten, party-rooms, kerosene stores, estate garages, car parks, and other accommodation ancillary to the estate. Building work is put out, by tender, to private contractors; on bills of quantities prepared by appointed quantity surveyors who work in close co-operation with the Architectural Section on cost planning and economics.
Management
The Authority believes that its housing must be managed properly and that the ultimate success of any housing project rests firmly on the quality of its management.
As a public housing body the Authority must exercise the utmost care in the selection of its tenants, and this aspect of the work is perhaps the most difficult of all. From the outset the Authority has adopted a system of tenant selection which it considers to be fair to all concerned. In order to be so, this system entails a tremendous amount of work in the receipt of applications, the interviewing of applicants, the visitation of all eligible applicants and the assessment of housing need. Families then have to be fitted into accommodation which is not only suitable in size but also is in accordance with the rent which the family is able to pay and which the Authority believes, for this type of tenant, to be about one-fifth to one-sixth of the family income. The work involved in this method of selection is regarded as a public duty but is an expensive part of the management operation. In view of the fact that income must cover expenditure, these costs must necessarily be reflected in the rents charged.
Mistakes which have been made in the selection of tenants have been very few, and misfits small. If the Authority finds that any tenant has obtained accommodation by means of false statements or other illegal. means, the tenancy is terminated, but these irregularities are usually · found out in time for the application to be cancelled.