XN000022-1973-10-24 — Page 4

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Wednesday, October 24, 1973

1,000TH SMALL HOUSE LICENCE ISSUED

The 1,000th licence to build a small house in accordance with

the New Territories Administration's revised Small House Policy will be

formally issued at a ceremony in the Yuen Long Town Hall on Friday

(October 26).

The N.T.A. Small House Policy, introduced in December 1972, has

already considerably improved village housing in the New Territories.

Approximately 1.5 million square feet of residential accommodation -

equivalent to that in a small estate housing 20,000 people in the urban area -

has become available under the scheme.

The policy permits villagers to build, within the limits of two

storeys and 700 square feet covered ground area, houses which are exempt

from the Buildings Ordinance and do not therefore require expensive

architectural plans.

To mark the occasion, the District Commissioner, N.T., Mr. D.C.

Bray, will present the 1,000th applicant, Mr. Cheung Cho-fat, a villager

of Sun Fung Wai, Tuen Mun, with a free building licence and household

furniture worth $2,000.

Mr. Cheung, who is married with four school-aged children, first

applied to the District Office, Yuen Long, just six weeks ago for permission

to build a amali house for his family. Approval came through late last week.

/At present .....................