166
HOUSING
office-bearers once a month to discuss sanitary and security problems as well as other day-to-day management matters, with the contractors concerned in attendance.
A new policy on housing subsidy was introduced during the year. Under the policy, families who have lived in public housing estates for 10 years or more and whose household incomes exceed the subsidy income limit, which is twice the income limit for waiting list applicants, will be required to pay double net rents. However, certain categories of tenants, including the elderly, are exempted. Preparatory work was underway during the year with a view to implementing the new policy from April 1988. Initially, it will be applied to tenants who have been in public housing for 23 years or more.
The Housing Ordinance empowers the authority to introduce road restrictions in estates and impose charges for the impounding and removal of vehicles parked illegally within the estates. Alternatively, offending car owners or drivers may be prosecuted under the provisions of the Housing (Traffic) By-laws. These arrangements make it possible to keep the access roads in estates free from obstruction caused by illegal parking and hawking, thereby improving the estate environment. So far, roads in 104 rental estates, eight factory estates and 35 HOS courts have been so restricted and put under the authority's control.
During the year, the authority endorsed a trial scheme for the privatisation of carpark management in 29 selected public housing estates. It also approved a 50-per cent reduction in monthly carparking charges for disabled car owners living or working in the estates.
Estate management staff continued to take vigorous action against illegal hawking activities inside public housing estates. Since the formation of a Major Operation Team in November 1985, more than 2 500 illegal hawkers have been cleared, and this action has led to a pleasant environment being restored, much to the appreciation of tenants and other concerned groups.
Letting of Commercial Properties
The Housing Authority manages 40 747 sets of commercial premises with a total area of 1.1 million square metres in its various estates. These premises include facilities such as shops, market stalls, banks and restaurants, and generated total rental income of $1,144 million during 1986-7.
The stock includes 9 031 ‘graded' shops in the former resettlement estates. These shops were initially let at very low rents, and their current rents are still far below the prevailing market level despite moderate biennial increases since 1976. Rents for other commercial premises are fixed at, or close to market levels, in keeping with the authority's policy not to subsidise commercial operators.
J
The management of commercial premises continued to be consolidated during the year. An increasing emphasis on research and design has ensured that new commercial centres are best suited to the needs of both tenants and local residents. Promotional activities were held in more than 50 estates with the aim of sustaining and enhancing the competitiveness of the authority's existing commercial facilities. Shops and market stalls continued to be let mainly by rental tendering, thus enabling small operators with limited capital to obtain a tenancy. However, greater flexibility has been introduced through letting by negotiation of some of the larger premises, such as chain-stores. This approach has attracted a number of well-known retailers into the estates.
Premises affected by the extended redevelopment programme continued to receive special consideration with rents being reviewed at six-month intervals to ensure that tenants were not being asked to pay in excess of the market value. Ex-gratia payment were made to these tenants who had to vacate their shops and they were offered, where possible,