TNAG-0280-FCO40-316-Visit-of-Parliamentary-under-Secretary-of-Foreign-and-Common-1970 — Page 18

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Responsibility

Built and managed by the Hong Kong Housing Society, the largest of the voluntary organisations operating in this field.

The Society is affiliated to the Hong Kong Council of Social

Service.

Allocation

Similar to the Housing Authority's procedure.

Finance

Government loans

Number of people housed at 31 March, 1970

120, 885

THE URBAN COUNCIL

The Urban Council is responsible for the planned removal

and resettlement estates in the urban area.

Through the Housing

Authority it has a stake in the provision of low cost housing ..

SQUATTERS

At the end of June, 1970, there were estimated to be approximately 526,000 squatters compared with nearly 540,000 at the end of June, 1969. It is planned to house by 1975 a further 590,000 people in Government resettlement and low cost housing estates.

On the face of it little impact has been made on the problem of the squatters, despite the large numbers of them rehoused every year. There are three reasons for this: Continued immigration over the years, a high birthrate (which has, however, been falling over the last decade) and movement out of over-

crowded tenements into modern accommodation.

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