LAND AND HOUSING
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light and air. In addition, ample provision has been made for open spaces and playgrounds within the estate. The flats are all self-contained and are of different sizes accommodating from three to eight persons. Rents vary from $75 to $169 a month, inclusive of rates, refuse collection, public lighting and lifts. The minimum accommodation consists of a living/dining room, lavatory, shower, balcony and facilities for drying clothes. An adequate lift service is provided and there are refuse chutes at central points in each block. The school, clinic and post office were built at Government expense and are operated by Government departments. This estate, which cost nearly $33,000,000 was designed by Mr. Eric Cumine, F.R.I.B.A.
Overlooking the harbour near Green Island at Sai Wan Tsuen, Kennedy Town, the Authority's second estate was completed in February. The site, the highest point of which is 285 feet above street level, covers 34 acres, and is on a steep hillside which en- tailed very extensive cutting. The cost of site formation was almost entirely met by a grant from Colonial Development and Welfare funds. The estate, planned on cross-contour development, consists of 638 flats, in five blocks, averaging ten storeys in height, and occupied by nearly 4,200 people. There is also a three-storey community centre, and a godown which has been leased to the Urban Services Department; playgrounds and open spaces have been provided within the estate. The flats, which are of different sizes to accommodate from five to ten persons, are generally of a simpler type than at North Point, but are likewise self-contained and comprise balcony, kitchen, lavatory and ablution facilities. The type of plan adopted is the gallery approach system, with blocks only one flat deep; this ensures that all the flats are airy and well-ventilated. An interesting feature of the arrangement is that with very little structural alteration two adjoining single-room flats can be converted into a large flat with a living-room and two bedrooms, should this prove practicable at some further date. Lifts and refuse chutes are installed. Rents vary from $99 to $169 a month inclusive. The total cost of this scheme, designed by Mr. T. S. C. Feltham, A.R.I.B.A., was just over $8,000,000 including the construction of a retaining wall and other repairs made neces- sary by the heavy rains in June.