XN000022-1975-06-12 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1975.

COLONIAL SECRETARY INSPECTS HOUSING ESTATES

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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, MR. DENYS ROBERTS, SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON TOURING THREE OLD PUBLIC ESTATES TO SEE FOR HIMSELF CONDITIONS THERE.

MR. ROBERTS WAS ACCOMPANIED ON HIS VISIT BY THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR. DONALD P.H. LIAO, AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MR. H.R. HUSBAND.

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THE PARTY TOOK IN WONG TAI SIN, TUNG TAU AND TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATES.

AT WONG TAI SIN, THE PROBLEM OF HAWKERS AND THE OVERCROWDED CONDITION IN WHICH TENANTS LIVE WERE POINTED OUT TO THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. MR. ROBERTS WAS TAKEN TO AN OLD BLOCK AND A CONVERTED BLOCK TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVED LIVING ENVIRONMENT THE DEPARTMENT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT.

EN-ROUTE TO TSZ WAN SHAN. THE PARTY STOPPED OVER AT TUNG TAU ESTATE WHERE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY SAW WHAT LANDSCAPING AND EXTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT. HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE HAWKER RESITING OPERATION WHICH HAS MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY WAS SHOWN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PUBLIC HOUSING DESIGN AT TSZ WAN SHAN, RANGING FROM MARK 111 TO MARK VI AS WELL AS SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENT WORK BEING CARRIED OUT INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC LIGHTING TO BRIGHTEN UP THE CORRIDORS AND THE OPEN SPACES AT NIGHT AND COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE PUBLIC LATRINES OF THE MARK || BLOCKS.

THIS ESTATE HAS A POPULATION OF OVER 140,000 PEOPLE AND IS THE BIGGEST THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS UNDER ITS MANAGEMENT. MR. ROBERTS WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEPARTMENT INTENDS TO SUBDIVIDE IT INTO SEVERAL SMALLER ESTATES FOR MANAGEMENT PURPOSE AND TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO TENANTS.

MR. ROBERTS WAS TOLD THAT DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR THE AUTHORITY SPENT ABOUT $54 MILLION ON THE IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF ITS 54 ESTATES.

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