July, 1948, and who have a total family income of between $300 and $900 a month. No special priority is given to any particular section of the community.
The waiting list was opened on 1st November, 1956, and by 31st March, 1957, 21,109 application forms had been issued, and 10,020 completed forms had been returned. The rate at which forms were being returned fell somewhat towards the end of the period, but they were still being sent in at the rate of about sixty a week. A permanent register of applicants is maintained, and names can be added at any time subject to the fulfilment of the basic qualifying conditions. The sorting of applications is a continuous process, and a considerable volume of work is involved in visiting applicants in their homes (under- taken by Housing Assistants who are specially trained in their duties) in order to check the particulars given, and collect further relevant information. By 31st March, 1957, 2,422 of these visits had been made, in addition to 1,478 personal interviews given at the head office on points of difficulty.
PROJECTS IN HAND
NORTH POINT ESTATE
(Architect: Mr. Eric Cumine, F.R.I.B.A.)
The first project undertaken by the Authority was the North Point Estate, at Java Road, on a fine site, about 6 acres in extent, over- looking the harbour. It consists of three main sections, or courts, containing 1,955 flats, housing some 12,000 people, as well as a Post Office, an 18-classroom primary school, clinics, and 71 shops. There is ample provision for playgrounds and gardens, while the ground floors of most of the blocks of flats, which are 11 storeys high, have been left as covered-in playgrounds for use in wet weather. Along the harbour frontages are wide promenades. The total cost of the scheme was estimated to be about $33m (including over $4m for the land), to be met by a loan from Government Development Fund: the period of amortization is forty years, and interest on the loan will be paid at the rate of 31% per annum.
There is also an Assembly Hall, which will seat over 500 persons. A bus terminus will later be constructed by the Public Works Depart- ment on the central concourse.
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