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HOUSING
The management staff continued to take strenuous and persistent action to combat hawking activities. The hawker situation is under control at most estates in the daytime but special measures have to be taken at estates where hawker problems are more serious.
In line with the development of the District Administration Scheme, senior estate management staff are responsible for fostering closer contact with district boards and local interest groups. Close contact has also been maintained with tenants through frequent visits by estate staff. Regular meetings are held with more than 933 mutual aid committees and residents' associations.
Temporary Housing
During the year, 14 342 people were rehoused in temporary housing areas managed by the Housing Department. Most of them were people affected by development clearances or victims of natural disasters who did not qualify for immediate entry into permanent public housing.
Temporary accommodation has been improved over the years. In late 1983, the space allocated to each family was increased and, in 1984, the electricity supply in 10 temporary housing areas was improved to allow for unrestricted use of domestic electrical appliances including air-conditioners.
Unlike traditional part-built structures in which only roof, supporting frames and bracings were provided, new temporary housing units constructed during the year were fully built, complete with partitions, kitchen/bath compartments, electricity and metered water supply. These were built at Kwai Fuk Road in Tsuen Wan and Mui Wo on Lantau Island.
During the year, 13 378 temporary housing residents moved into permanent public housing. At the end of the year, 133 426 people were living in 47 temporary housing areas. Development of four new areas was underway.
Transit Centres
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There are nine transit centres in the territory to provide immediate shelter for persons made homeless by natural disasters. The transit centre at the Housing Authority's Hoi Tai Flatted Factory Building was expanded, bringing the total capacity of transit centres to over 5 000 people.
The Chai Wan Transit Centre was cleared in August to make way for the construction of a new hospital. A replacement was set up in Yue Wan.
Cottage Areas
A programme had been started to provide individual metered water supply to all cottage areas. During the year, work was completed in the Tung Tau, So Kon Po and Fo Tan cottage areas. At the end of the year, 14 392 people were living in 10 cottage areas, the largest being Rennie's Mill Village.
Squatter Control and Clearance
Full control over squatting was maintained. Racketeering - the construction of squatter huts for sale was effectively suppressed and illegal structures were demolished upon detection. In 1984, 17 900 illegal structures or extensions were demolished and six prosecutions were instituted against illegal excavation and hut building.
At the same time, clearance operations made available 690 hectares of land for development. Of the residents affected by these clearances, 18 000 were rehoused in