LAND AND HOUSING
173
Since 1950 land has been made available by Government at one- third of its estimated market value to encourage non-profit-making housing projects. These may be run by voluntary societies, pro- viding housing for the lower income groups, or by employers for their staff.
A summary of all new housing completed during 1961 is given at Appendix VIII.
Voluntary Organizations. Taking advantage of these terms a number of voluntary organizations have built housing for the lower and middle income groups. Prominent among these is the Hong Kong Housing Society, which was formed in 1948 by a group of public spirited men and women of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. This Society has now housed over 30,000 people in nearly 5,000 flats in eight estates in different parts of Hong Kong. The rents of these flats range from $35 a month for a room at Kai Ming House, where communal facilities are provided, to $117 a month at Healthy Village, North Point, for the larger self-contained flats. These estates are well laid out and have playgrounds and gardens. Some also have welfare facilities such as boys' and girls' clubs, day nurseries, clinics and vocational classes.
During 1961 the Society's Tanner Hill Estate at North Point was completed. It contains 590 flats, which are extremely popular with people working in the city. A further block of 430 rooms with communal facilities is being completed at Wong Tai Sin and the tenants will move in early in 1962.
The Society is also building estates at Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen and these will contain 2,135 units of accommodation, housing approximately 12,930 people. Site formation and building construction is in hand for other new estates and extensions to provide an additional 2,734 flats. Land has been reserved for further estates at Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Ma Tau Chung and Hau Pui Loong.
The Society has a loan scheme under which firms lend money to cover the cost of constructing flats, and in return are given a lease of accommodation for their nominees corresponding to the size of the loan. These loans are interest free and repayable in 20 years. During 1961, $272,000 was received from private firms. Government is also participating in this scheme by providing