Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1960-1961 — Page 22

versions can be made may be found at Appendix II at the end of this report. Four 'I' blocks have now been built in different estates, which consist entirely of self-contained flats. Most of these flats have a floor area of 240 square feet for which the rent, including rates, is $45 a month. There are also some flats of 360 square feet with a rent of $65. Better quality accommodation is now also being provided by the conver- sion of the end-bay rooms of the new style resettlement blocks. Each has a kitchen and private balcony, but no lavatory. They are 310 square feet in area and the rent is $45. Self-contained flats are reserved for families who are cleared from homes of a higher standard than normal resettlement rooms.

46. In the domestic rooms on the upper floors settlers are allowed to engage in cottage industries, mainly rattan and embroidery piece- work. Many trades and businesses which are unsuitable for the upper floors can be accommodated in the ground floor bays, for which a higher rent is charged. On 31st March, 1961 2,148 ground floor bays of 240 square feet were let as shops and 484 were let as workshops; of these 262 bays were let for restaurants or cafes, 1141⁄2 bays for fresh meat or fresh fish shops, 15 bays for fruit and vegetable shops and 14 bays for roast meat shops.

47. Hawker bazaars are provided in the estates at Shek Kip Mei, Tai Hang Tung, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong and are planned for all new estates. The bazaars consist of rows of concrete stalls where hawkers, except those selling meat and fish, can ply their trade and a certain number of shops close to each bazaar are reserved for meat and fish dealers. The bazaars are run by the Urban Services Department which allocates the stalls by ballot. In Shek Kip Mei there is a covered bazaar with public lighting.

48. A multi-storey estate is administered by a staff of Area Officers supervised by an Assistant Resettlement Officer. He is responsible in turn to an Administrative Officer in charge of all estates. An Area Officer is normally responsible for two-multi-storey blocks with a population of between 4,000 and 5,000. In larger estates there is an Area Officer who assists the Officer-in-Charge and another who is responsible for stores and sanitation, including the supervision of the labour force which cleans all streets and open spaces lying entirely within the estate boundary. There may also be a separate Area Officer in charge of rent collection.

49. An Area Officer's first duty is to teach his settlers to observe simple rules of hygiene. Another side of his work is to settle disputes,

13

+