VISITORS
66. Visitors to the Authority's estates during the year included Dr. N. B. HUTCHEON of the National Research Council of Canada; Mr. Chas. SIGETY, formerly a Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration, Washington, D.C.; Mr. Ernest WEISSMANN, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Social Affairs, Housing & Building, United Nations, New York; Mrs. J. S. HOFFMAN, of the Philadelphia Re- development Authority; M. E. MANAC'H, Head of the Far Eastern Section of the French Foreign Office; and M. J. L. SOULIE', French Consul General in Hong Kong.
67. Several organized parties were also conducted around the estates: they included British Army officers, headed by Colonel I. R. FERGUSON- INNES, O.B.E., Chief of Staff, H.Q. Land Forces, Hong Kong; a delega- tion of U.S. Real Estate Appraisers; and five members of a Thai Technical Delegation.
68. In addition parties of students from the Department of Archi- tecture and the Social Study Course of the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Technical College paid regular visits to the estates, in connexion with their training.
CHAPTER III
ESTATES COMPLETED
i760
5302
7586
2114
2398
NORTH POINT ESTATE, (), JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
69. All of the 1,955 flats on the estate are occupied, although vacancies occur from time to time. It is of interest to note that since the estate was first occupied, in November 1957, arrears of rent and rates amounting only to $4,427.48, have been written off as bad debts, out of a total rental income during the same period of over $5,900,000. Four tenants were evicted during the period under review, for non- payment of rent.
70. Owing to unknown factors in the early development of the shop- ping centre, tenants offered higher rents than the shops could support. In order to meet this difficulty, which it is hoped will be only temporary, the Authority has granted rent rebates in certain cases, subject to bi-annual review, to ensure there is no undue hardship caused, or a loss of reasonable income to the Authority. All of the 71 shops on the estate have now been let, but it is doubtful whether business will materially improve until the new ferry terminal is constructed. A
15
105300
32890
7586 43720
12596
76194
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