96
HOUSING AND LAND
ensures not only an enviable rent collection record (less than 0.3 per cent monthly arrears) but also is an important means of keeping in touch with tenants.
Overcrowding in the older estates remains a major problem and some 44,000 families are still living in an area providing less than 2.2 square metres a person. However, with an increasing number of new estates being completed, all such families are now able to apply for transfer to new flats. The flats they vacate, usually being smaller and having a lower rent, are made available to smaller families. Other families wishing to move into a different flat can register with the Mutual Exchange Bureau or, if having substantial reasons other than overcrowding for moving, can request a transfer to a flat of the same size.
The Housing Authority is also an important commercial landlord, with 12,200 shop, bank and restaurant tenancies of various sizes. In the past, most tenancies were let on the basis of a tendered premium. But, as an experiment, shops and shop-stalls in new commercial complexes are now being let on a tendered rental, thus giving the smaller operator with limited capital an opportunity to obtain an estate shop. Because results have so far been encouraging, it is likely that this new letting system will be used more often. Commercial properties are generally let on a three or five-year agreement. While rents are raised to near-market levels on renewal of an agreement, where increases are substantial it is the policy of the Housing Authority to apply them in stages over two or three years. The authority also manages 4,100 factory tenancies in 28 purpose-built blocks and 6,300 cottages in various districts. Rents charged for the older factory estates were raised during the year to meet rising costs.
The authority lets about 150 premises on estates for various welfare and community purposes. These include primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, clinics, and child and youth centres. Hostels and centres are provided in some estates for the elderly and for mentally and physically retarded children and adults. Estate kaifong and residents' associations and block mutual aid committees are also provided with premises in most cases. Premises for police posts and offices for various government departments are generally let at commercial rents.
On January 1, 1979, the Housing (Traffic) By-laws came into effect to give the Housing Authority greater power to control car parking in estates.
Maintenance and improvements are major items, particularly in the older estates. During the year, some $37 million was spent on contract cleansing and $103 million was spent on maintenance improvements, mainly painting contracts, planned preventive maintenance of buildings and electrical systems, and estate improvements, such as recrea- tion areas and lighting. Closer control was also exercised over hawkers, both resited and mobile.
Close contact is maintained with tenants through regular visits by estate staff. In addition, regular meetings are held with more than 700 mutual aid committees and other residents' associations established for such purposes as the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean' and 'Fight Crime' campaigns.
Temporary Housing
In addition to its estates, the Housing Authority also builds and manages temporary housing areas for homeless people not eligible for permanent housing. Over the years, considerable improvements have been made in this type of housing.
All temporary housing areas now provide the basic structure of a wooden frame with an asbestos roof. Space is allocated to families according to family size, and tenants build