WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1984
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THESE HOMES AND SO FAR THERE HAD BEEN NO REAL INDICATION OF ANY ABUSES, HE SAID.
+UNLESS THESE OCCUR WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THEM,+ HE SAID.
+AT PRESENT THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT THESE PRIVATE HOMES PROVIDE A USEFUL SERVICE FOR RATHER BETTER-OFF PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE FEES NECESSARY TO MEET THE OPERATING COSTS,+ HE ADDED.
MASSIVE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN FOR KOWLOON CENTRAL ESTATES
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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS EMBARKED ON A $1 500 MILLION PLAN TO TRANSFORM THE ENTIRE KOWLOON CENTRAL ESTATES DISTRICT INTO A MODERN URBAN COMMUNITY. THE REDEVELOPMENT IS ON A SCALE RARELY SEEN IN ANY CITY IN THE WORLD IN RECENT TIMES.
THE DISTRICT ENCOMPASSES THE FOUR FORMER RESETTLEMENT ESTATES OF WONG TAI SIN, TUNG TAU, WANG TAU HOM AND LOK FU. IT WAS IN THESE ESTATES THAT SQUATTERS CLEARED FROM DEVELOPMENT SITES DURING THE 1958/64 PERIOD WERE REHOUSED IN MARK 1/11 BLOCKS. THESE BLOCKS ARE NOW OBSOLESCENT IN TERMS OF SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND LIVING CONDITIONS.
UNDER THE RENEWAL PROGRAMME, NOT ONLY WILL ALL THE OLD HOUSING BLOCKS BE DEMOLISHED AND REDEVELOPED, BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT WILL BE RE-PLANNED AND MODERNISED AROUND DISTRICT PARKS. NEW DOMESTIC BLOCKS WILL BE OF THE LATEST STANDARDS WITH PROVISION OF ALL ESSENTIAL FACILITIES.
MR DAVID FORD, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING SAID TODAY: +THE ENTIRE RENEWAL PROGRAMME WILL INVOLVE AN ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE IN THE ORDER OF $1 500 MILLION ON CONSTRUCTION ALONE. THE AIM IS THAT BY 1991/92, ALL THE MARK 1/ ESTATES WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PEOPLE REHOUSED. THE SPEED OF REDEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN STEPPED UP CONSIDERABLY BECAUSE WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE MARK I AND II BLOCKS ARE AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF HOUSING FOR THE 1990. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PLAN IS PROVISION FOR THREE AREAS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR HOS ACCOMMODATION. THIS IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE PRIME LOCATIONS AND SITES IN THE LATER PHASES WHICH WILL BE RELEASED UNDER THE SCHEME.+
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