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HOUSING
Under the by-laws, the authority is empowered to impose charges for impounding and removing illegally-parked vehicles from housing estates. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to enable fixed penalty tickets to be issued to traffic offenders.
On the other hand, with the proven success of the plan to privatise the authority's car parks in 28 estates, five management contracts have been signed with three private companies to place 27 more estates under the scheme for a period of three years.
Hawking is another perennial problem, and, to keep these activities within estates under control, staff are required to work irregular hours. During the year, there were 12 550 arrests and seizures and 750 prosecutions for hawking activities.
Welfare Services
By the end of the year, 888 welfare premises in Housing Authority estates and courts were let for welfare and community services at a concessionary rent of $25 per square metre per month. Non-domestic premises at less popular locations were also let at a fair market rate to community organisations.
Under another programme, the authority undertakes fitting-out works on some welfare projects in various estates. Since 1984, 120 welfare projects have been fitted out.
In view of the successful experimental project in providing out-reaching services to elderly people in Choi Hung and So Uk Estates, the Estate Liaison Officer Scheme has been extended to Tung Tau and Pak Tin Estates. Housing management staff visit the elderly persons to help them take part in various activities and to render assistance.
Commercial Properties
The Housing Authority manages 1.27 million square metres of commercial space for shops, market stalls, banks, restaurants and flatted factory units, of which 20 000 square metres was completed in 1992.
This commercial space is let under some 30 800 separate tenancies which generated a rental income of $2,460 million during the year, representing one-third of the total rental income of the authority.
The stock includes 17 660 flatted factory units in 17 flatted factories and 4 260 graded shops in the former resettlement estates. These shops were initially let at very low rents which, despite moderate biennial increases since 1976, remain at less than half market levels.
In line with the policy not to subsidise commercial tenants, rents for other commercial premises are fixed at market levels. During the year, 820 commercial premises were let by rental tendering while another 115 premises with a total floor area of 19 000 square metres were let on negotiated terms. Negotiation provides a more flexible approach and assists in attracting anchor tenants, especially those who take large spaces for the operation of superstores, single-operator markets and food courts.
The completion of Tin Yiu and Tin Shui shopping centres in Tin Shui Wai provided a wide variety of retail outlets catering for the daily necessities of the new town residents. Other shopping centres opened during the year include Kwong Tin, Siu Lun Court and Shek Lei where marketing efforts secured satisfactory occupancy.
Improvements were made to 10 existing shopping centres to modernise facilities and provide better services to the estate residents as well as shoppers. In particular, major upgrading schemes were being undertaken at the two large district shopping centres of Lok Fu and Wong Tai Sin. A co-ordinated strategy for improvement of older shopping centres