12
Wednesday, November 28, 1973
He said that improvements would be made to future units. Each
would have a self-contained kitchen, and more would be built with two
separate bedrooms.
Turning to the squatter problem, Mr.Lightbody said that the general shortage of housing and high rent levels had led to an increasing amount of illegal squatting. Families, if found to be genuinely homeless, were
offered space in a Licensed Area, and there had been great pressure
in recent months on the available areas.
The Housing Department had established several new Licensed Areas
for about 9,000 people over the earlier part of this year, and areas would
be developed for about 20,000 people by May 1974. The situation would
be carefully watched to ensure that the department could respond to
legitimate needs.
Mr. Lightbody said that as part of its contribution to the 10-year
housing programme, the Hong Kong Housing Society intended to acquire urban
sites now occupied by dilapidated old properties and redevelop them,
and the government was prepared to use resumption powers to ensure that
the Society acquired the sites.
Speaking of the private sector, Mr. Lightbody said it was making
a major contribution and this year, 30,000 private dwelling units would
have been built.
He went on: "I am confident that private developers will recognise
the growing demand that must develop for their flate as Hong Kong families come
to rate housing space higher in their priorities and in their pattern of
expenditure."
To accelerate .....