LEGISLATION
On 22nd May, 1957, the Housing (Amendment) Ordinance, No. 21 of 1957, was enacted by Legislative Council. It empowered the Com- missioner for Housing to sit as an ex-officio member of the Housing Authority, and to exercise such of the powers and functions of the Chairman as principal executive officer of the Authority as may be dele- gated to him. On 28th May, 1957, the Chairman executed an instrument of delegation to this effect, and Mr. G. T. Rowe assumed responsibility for the Housing Division of the Urban Services Department.
In July 1957, at a meeting of the Authority, members expressed some concern regarding their personal responsibility under the Housing Ordinance. The general position appeared to be somewhat unsatisfac- tory, and Government was subsequently asked to remedy the position.
VISITS
On 4th April, 1957, H.E. the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, G.C.M.G., paid a visit to the Authority's offices, and subsequently, accompanied by the Chairman and members of the Authority, the Commissioner for Housing, Housing Manager and Secretary, he visited the Cadogan Street and North Point sites, where the architects were presented and work in progress inspected.
Other visitors to the estates included Mr. E. Melville, C.M.G., Assistant Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Mr. William Teeling, M.P.
On 11th July, 1957, Members of the Authority visited the converted flats on the Lo Fu Ngam resettlement estate.
FINANCES
The Authority's projects are financed by means of loans (to be amortized over forty years) from the Colony's Development Fund, made available by Government. The Authority is at liberty, if it so wishes, and subject to Government approval to borrow money from other sources, if this becomes necessary to discharge its functions. The necessity has not yet arisen.
Loans to finance housing schemes are granted by Government when the schemes have been approved in principle, and so far the following have been granted:
(i) $33m for the North Point Estate;
(ii) $7.5m for the Cadogan Street Estate; (iii) $50m for the So Uk Estate.
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