HOUSING
171
permanent public housing and 8 700 in temporary housing. Some 3 800 commercial and agricultural undertakings affected by clearances were granted ex gratia allowances. During the year, 7 100 people who became homeless as a result of fires and landslips were provided with either permanent or temporary accommodation.
Improvements to Squatter Areas
The squatter area improvements programme entered its second year of operation in 1984. Efforts continued to concentrate on the large and more densely populated urban squatter settlements, in order to bring about safety and sanitation improvements. The number of projects increased from eight in 1983 to 15 in 1984.
Three firebreaks were laid down in the Shau Kei Wan area and huts were cleared to make way for a further two at Diamond Hill. Coupled with the fire hydrants and fire mains which were installed, these firebreaks make the squatter areas safer in the dry season for the 34 000 residents.
Management of Private Residential Buildings in Multiple Ownership
During 1984, 170 new owners' corporations were formed under the Multi-Storey Buildings (Owners Incorporation) Ordinance. This legislation, passed in 1970, enables owners of a building in multiple ownership to incorporate themselves and appoint a committee for the better management of their building, particularly to ensure its maintenance and to uphold environmental standards. By the end of the year, there were 2 420 owners' corporations in existence.
A standing committee, on which relevant government departments were represented, was set up in 1982 to consider problems associated with multi-storey building management and to suggest solutions. During 1984, as a result of its work, a many-pronged programme of action to improve building management was drawn up. The programme included legisla- tive changes to make owners' corporations more effective, and new administrative arrangements which would make government expertise and advice in the field of building management more readily available to both owners and tenants.
A sub-committee of the standing committee met several times during the year to consider problems relating specifically to deeds of mutual covenant. A deed of mutual covenant is a conveyancing document, a private agreement entered into between the seller and first purchaser of a building. It is concerned largely with setting out provisions for the future management of the building once it is in multi-ownership and consequently its content may have an important bearing on the extent to which a building is effectively and efficiently managed. On the advice of the sub-committee, the standing committee made several recommendations regarding the content and the form that a deed of mutual covenant ought to take in order to ensure the establishment of a framework within which good building management can flourish.
Private Housing
Roughly half of Hong Kong's permanent housing stock is privately owned. Over the five-year period, 1979-83, the private sector produced on average about 26 000 units annually, a high proportion of which are located in the New Territories. Supply in 1984 was just over 20 000 units while the forecast for 1985 was 27 000 units.
The current trend is for private developers to concentrate on the development of small flats - typically with a floor area in the 30 to 40 m2 range. The great majority of these units are offered for sale and most are taken up for owner occupation.