TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 88

HOUSING in Hong Kong

In Clew lay

The census of 1971 shows that of a population of 3.95 million some 1.48 million, or 37.5 per cent, are accommodated in housing built directly by the government or with funds contributed by the govern- ment; 2.17 million live in privately owned buildings and 295,000 live in temporary housing of various kinds.

GOVERNMENT HOUSING

Resettlement

A programme of resettlement started in the early 1950s to clear squatter huts occupying land much needed for development in both Kowloon and Hong Kong and posing a grave fire risk and health hazard.

To begin with squatters were resettled in terraces of one or two storey buildings known as cottage areas. But it was soon obvious that only multi- storey development could cope with so many people, and in 1954 the first seven-storey blocks were built. These provided basic living accommodation with communal washing and sanitary facilities. Some 240 were built and now house about 500,000 people. The all-in rent of a standard room of 120 square feet in one of these blocks is HK$18 a month.

In 1964, 16-storey blocks were introduced with improved facilities, self-contained rooms with bal- conies and private lavatories and water supply, in place of the communal facilities in the earlier blocks. Standards since then have steadily improved, and living space is now allocated at 35 square feet per adult instead of 24 square feet which was the rule in the past. Future blocks will be built to the same improved design as those under the government low-cost housing programme (described below). The all-in rent for a standard room of 135 square feet in a new resettlement block is HK$34.

Certain statutory powers in the management of the 19 estates in the urban areas are vested in the Urban Council, with day-to-day control exercised by the Resettlement Department, which is solely responsible for the four New Territories estates.

Various other groups have been added to the list of people eligible for resettlement, in addition to the original category of squatters occupying land required for development. These include victims of fires and disasters, poor people recommended by the Social Welfare Department, and tenants_of_pre-war tene ments which have been declared dangerous to live in. Tenancies in pre-war buildings are protected and when the tenants have to vacate they are paid com- pensation by the property owner, who in turn is able to redevelop his property. People in this category can apply to be resettled, but they are required to pay a lump sum of rent in advance out of the compensation they receive from their land- lords. Finally, some rooms are reserved to relieve overcrowding in the older estates.

By March 1971 about 943,000 people were housed in 23 multi-storey resettlement estates, and nearly 49,000 in 15 cottage areas. In the estates there are schools, playgrounds, welfare rooms, clinics, shops and various other facilities.

GOVERNMENT LOW COST HOUSING

The government low-cost housing programme caters for families who do not qualify for resettlement and whose assessed income is less than $500 a month ($600 a month for the estates at Kwai Chung in the New Territories). The programme provides simple accommodation on the basis of 35 square feet per adult in a single-room flat for each family. Most flats have private balcony with cooking bench, water point and lavatory.

The first flats were completed in 1962. By the end of 1970, ten estates had been completed and two partially completed and about 187,000 people housed. Six more estates are being built and when these are completed about 430,000 people will be housed.

Government low-cost housing estates are managed by the Housing Authority on behalf of the govern- ment and tenants are selected from a combined waiting list for low-cost housing and Housing Authority accommodation, on the basis of housing need.

acre.

Multi-storey blocks of flats ranging from seven to 20 floors are used and, because of the high occupancy rates, estate densities reach 1,700 to 2,000 people an Around the estates, areas of open space are laid out for recreation. Schools, shops and com- mercial and other community facilities integral part of the scheme.

GOVERNMENT-AIDED HOUSING

Hong Kong Housing Authority

are an

The Hong Kong Housing Authority is a statutory body set up in 1954 to provide simple self-contained accommodation at 35 square feet per person for families with an assessed income between $400 and $900 a month (up to $1,250 a month for some high- rent units), who are living in overcrowded or un- satisfactory conditions. Nine estates have been built so far to house some 194,000 people and a further estate, containing 6,000 flats for some 41,500 people, is under construction.

The estates provide such amenities as shopping centres, market stalls, primary schools, kinder- gartens, clinics, community rooms, garages and play

areas.

The total capital assets of the Authority at the end of 1970 amounted to HK$328 million, of which HK$250 million was from government loans and