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LAND AND HOUSING
Maintenance and management of the authority's estates and of the government low-cost housing estates is of a high standard, and includes rent collection and supervision by trained housing managers, maintenance officers and assistants. The staff of the authority are all government servants working in the housing division of the Urban Services Department under the direction of the Commis- sioner for Housing. The authority reimburses all staff salaries to the government, plus a percentage surcharge calculated to meet indirect staff costs such as pensions, housing and medical treatment.
A number of voluntary organizations have built housing for lower and middle income groups during recent years. The largest of these is the Hong Kong Housing Society, a pioneer in the field of low-cost housing in the Colony. The society has now housed 101,673 people in 16,264 flats on 12 estates. The rents of these flats are $39 a month for a small room with communal facilities, and a maximum of $170 a month for a larger room with adjoining kitchen, toilet and balcony. The estates are well laid out with playgrounds and gardens and are managed by trained and qualified staff. During the year 1,731 flats were completed at Kwun Tong and at a new estate at Kennedy Town. Funds for the society's schemes have been provided by the government at low interest rates and by self-financing. The society also oper- ates a loan scheme under which the government and business firms lend money to cover the cost of constructing flats and in return have been given a lease of accommodation for nominated employees. These loans are interest-free and are repayable over 20
years.
Other voluntary organizations have made contributions. The Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation has recently completed an extension of their estate at Tai Hang Sai, of 305 flats for 1,789 people and a further extension is in the planning stage. This estate now houses 7,971 people in 1,337 flats.
A number of employers also provide flats or dormitory-type accommodation for their staff, and some provide housing loans. Since 1950 land has been made available by the government at one-third of its estimated value to encourage non-profit-making housing projects for workers.
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