-2
3. The Public Housing Programme
i) Production 1972/73 - 1978/79: 10,000 flats p.a., or 3% increase
ii) Standards:
Post 1978/79:
in stock p.a.
35,000 flats p.a. (85% rental, 15% for sale) or 6-7% increase in stock
p.a.
Building at 35 sq. ft. per person, but actually allo- cating at 47 sq. ft. per person.
Flats are self-contained with private kitchen and bathroom. Some are now being built with two rooms (0i Man, Sha Tin).
Estate facilities include integrated commercial, community, edu- cational, welfare and transport facilities; pedestrian and vehicular traffic is segregated.
iii) Population Distribution: New Town and Housing programmes will increase the population of the New Territories by 1.3 million, at the same time relieving overcrowding in the urban areas and facilitating redevelopment. Development aims at an ultimate balance of 50:50 private/public housing with each new town being self-contained in terms of job opportunities and community facilities.
4. Rents
1) Public Sector rents have risen moderately in cash terms since
1976. Current levels are:
New H.A.
Group B
Former Low Cost Hous- ing & H.A.
Urban Excl.
Oi Man
New
Town
01 Man
$/sq ft/month
0.39
0.53
0.78
0.71 0.96
Median monthly household income of public housing tenants is $2,056 with rent/income ratios as follows:
% of income
of household
Under 5%
51.8%
5-10% 10-15% 15-20% Over 20%
29.8% 10.3%
4.2%
3.9%
For those families with financial difficulties Public Assistance, which includes payment of rent, is available. All of those in the 20%+ group and the majority of those in the 15-20% group above are P.A. recipients.
11) Frivate Sector
Of the stock of 489,000 flats, approximately 237,200 are owner occupied, and of the remainder all but 37,300 are subject to rent control. Rents for these latter flats have risen from 50% of F.M.V. in 1973 to about 70-75% of F.M.V. in 1978.