HOUSING
141
In 1985, there were 16 236 properties under the management of the authority, which also managed 18 130 factory units in 35 purpose-built blocks in 17 factory estates.
Some 564 welfare premises in estates have been let at concessionary rents which are intended to recover only the cost of management, maintenance and other recurrent expenses of the premises. The existing rent level of $11 per m2 was revised to $15 per m2 during the year. Altogether, 63 welfare lettings were made, covering premises for children's and youth centres, nurseries, social and community services centres, libraries, study rooms, welfare clinics, sheltered workshops, hostels and centres for the mentally or physically handicapped. Hostels for the elderly were let to voluntary agencies at normal domestic rents.
In order to maintain a balanced community for public housing tenants, a total of 455 premises have been let for educational purposes, such as kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools. In addition, mutual aid committees were provided with office accom- modation in housing blocks. Medical clinics and premises for various government departments were generally let at commercial rents. During the year, the Housing Authority also approved the letting of office accommodation to district board members, upon application.
Besides providing shared flats and housing for single persons, the Housing Authority decided to provide and manage sheltered housing for able-bodied elderly people in place of hostels which were previously run by voluntary agencies. This arrangement will enable the Social Welfare Department and voluntary agencies to devote more of their resources to caring for old people who require more supportive services, such as counselling, recreation and nursing care.
Management
Senior staff of the Housing Authority continued to foster close contacts with district boards and mutual aid committees as well as local interest groups by participating in meetings and community building activities. Close contacts with tenants were also maintained through door-to-door visits by estate staff.
The introduction of the Commercial and Non-Domestic Tenancies Management Inform- ation System (CANTMIS) during the year brought about a more efficient control and management of all commercial properties under the authority's charge. The Commercial Tenancies Division was set up to deal with design and research, marketing and promotion as well as various management aspects of commercial properties.
To ensure that public housing is offered to the most deserving families, some policy changes were made, including the adoption of new criteria for the relief of overcrowding and voluntary transfer, and the discontinuation of automatic inheritance of a public housing tenancy.
The Housing Ordinance empowers the Housing Authority to introduce road restrictions in estates and impose charges for the impounding and removal of vehicles parked illegally within estates. Offending car owners or drivers may also be prosecuted under the provisions of the Housing (Traffic) By-laws. These arrangements make it possible to keep the access roads in estates, including factories, free from obstruction caused by illegal parking and hawking, thereby improving the estate environment. The Housing (Traffic) By-laws were substantially amended on February 1, 1985, to bring them in line with the new provisions in the Road Traffic (Parking) Regulations made under the Road Traffic Ordinance. The main amendments included the adoption of new signs and road markings; an increase in the maximum penalty for various offences and in fees for impounding, removing and storing a