REVIEW OF THE YEAR
9
wholly or in part by the Government, are making notable contributions toward dealing with this urgent problem.
not
The Housing Authority, set up in 1954, and consisting of all members of the Urban Council, ex officio, together with more than three others appointed by the Governor, announced plans for two housing schemes. The first of these, off Java Road, North Point, will accommodate 16,000 people in 1,975 flats. The second, in Cadogan Street, will house 4,800 people in 640 flats. Both are for families in the lower income groups of the white collar class. The costs of the schemes are $27,000,000 and $7,000,000 respectively.
The Hong Kong Housing Society, another independent body, but with an entirely non-official committee, started its activities in 1952 with the construction of 270 flats in 5-storey blocks accommodating 1,420 people. The Society's funds are obtained on loan at interest from the Colony's Development Fund, and grants up to $87,500 for site formation have been obtained from Colonial Development and Welfare. In 1955 it completed a cottage resettlement at Ma Tau Chung for 1,000 people with families whose total earning capacity is less than $350 per month. It also started a scheme at Hung Hom which, when completed, will provide accommodation for over 8,000 people in 6-storey blocks of flats, the total cost of which is estimated at $8,500,000. The first block, housing 900, was completed during the year. The estate will include 24 shops and a school.
At Healthy Village, North Point, work was well advanced at the end of the year on the first section of yet another estate, estimated to cost $5,800,000 and to accom- modate 3,700 people in 5 blocks either 10 or 12 storeys high. The design of the flats is much the same as those at Hung Hom, but they have extra amenities, such as floor lifts and refuse chutes, and are intended for white collar workers.
It was stated in last year's Annual Report that the Colony's increase of population gave no cause for alarm. As the natural rate of increase continues to rise from year to year, however, it has to be admitted that the population growth is somewhat disturbing. Figures for population in Hong Kong are no more than estimates, but they are estimates arrived at by the most thorough means employable in the circumstances. The official estimates of population used by the Government rose from 2,314,000 at the beginning of the year to 2,400,000 at the end of it, an increase of 86,000, of which 71,431 are