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HOUSING
Squatter Clearance
The government will offer rehousing to all squatters on government land in the urban area by 1996. During the year, 257 hectares of land were cleared, with 8 900 and 4 700 affected people given permanent or temporary rehousing. Some 500 industrial, com- mercial and agricultural undertakings affected by clearances were awarded ex-gratia allowances. A non-development clearance programme was devised on the advice of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering Department. Some 5 300 persons living in squatter huts on slopes vulnerable to landslips were provided with either permanent or temporary housing.
Temporary Housing Areas
Temporary Housing Areas (THAS) provide accommodation for people rendered homeless by clearances, fires and natural disasters and who are not eligible for permanent public housing. An accelerated programme to clear all pre-1984 THAS is in progress. During the year, 11 THAs were cleared. At the end of the year, the territory had 34 THAs, housing 38 000 people.
To improve the quality of temporary accommodation, blocks in older housing estates in the urban area will be converted for use as THAs. In addition, a new design for purpose-built accommodation will be introduced in 1996.
Transit Centres
Transit Centres provide free emergency shelters for the homeless and victims of fires and natural disasters, pending assessment of their eligibility for rehousing to permanent or temporary housing. The Housing Department manages seven transit centres with a capacity of 1 030 persons.
Cottage Areas
Cottage Areas, an early form of public housing, are being phased out gradually. They comprise single-storey structures built of stone or less permanent materials on hill- sides. The territory's six cottage areas house 9 000 people. The largest one, in Tiu Keng Leng, is being cleared for permanent development.
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