XN000022-1972-10-18 — Page 2

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Wednesday, October 18, 1972

Associated with this single Authority a new unified Housing

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Department will be established to plan, administer and build in co-operation

with the Public Works Department

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all public housing in Hong Kong.

It will also take over all duties previously carried out by

the Resettlement Department and the staff of the Housing Authority.

The Governor said the inadequacy and scarcity of housing and the

harsh situations that result from it is one of the major and most constant

sources of friction and unhappiness between the Government and the people.

"It offends alike our humanity, our civio pride, our political

good sense", he said.

In spite of the achievement in housing 1.6 million people at

low rents in government housing estates, in getting rid of squatter

areas and replacing most of the aging and dilapidated pre-war tenement

property in the process of private development, the problem still remains.

Some 300,000 people still live in squatter huts or temporary

housing. Many units in resettlement estates are badly overcrowded and

it is estimated that a further 310,000 people would need rehousing, if all

of those in shared private flats and tenements are to have a self-contained

home.

Sir Murray said the total requirement for public housing during

the 10 years, in addition to the contribution of the private sector which would be vital, is to house 1.8 million people.

The total cost of developing sites and building housing for this

number of people at present day prices would amount to the formidable

sum of $3,340 million.

/While