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LAND AND HOUSING
houses and bungalows are appearing in increasing numbers along the main roads to Fanling, Castle Peak and Clear Water Bay, as well as on Cheung Chau Island and at Silver Mine Bay on Lantau. Large scale industrial development has been concentrated at Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung.
Squatter clearances in the built-up areas of the Colony, together with the growth of industry and the spread of intensive vegetable cultivation, have led to a considerable increase in the number of wooden houses on both Crown and private land in the New Terri- tories. In those places where temporary structures are unlikely to hinder planned development for some time to come, the occupiers are encouraged to apply for temporary structure permits.
HOUSING
There was severe overcrowding in tenement buildings even before 1941, as the rate of construction failed to match the sud- den increase in population in the years immediately preceding the Pacific War. The war and the period of Japanese occupation resulted in much damage to residential property, and although this was quickly repaired, with the rapid return of the population overcrowding was soon apparent again. It intensified greatly during 1949 and 1950 with a fresh influx of refugees from China. Despite the intense building activity which has taken place, particularly during the past seven years, new housing has been unable to overtake the tremendous increase in population. ➤
Hong Kong's post-war building boom continues unabated and about 65% of all rated buildings in the urban areas of the Colony are the result of this development. Apart from Government's pro- gramme of resettlement, which has already provided permanent homes for about 439,000 former squatters, private enterprise has provided accommodation for approximately 500,000 people during the past six years alone, and more and more new buildings are being constructed every year. At the end of 1961 rated domestic accommodation in the urban areas (excluding resettlement estates which are not subject to rates) comprised 111,590 tenement floors, 21,835 small flats, 16,827 low-cost housing units, 9,092 large flats and 775 houses. Domestic accommodation predominates in all new building projects.
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