Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1960-1961 — Page 24

53. On 31st March, 1961, 149 six- and seven-storey blocks had been completed, providing a total of 63,333 rooms and 395 flats in 11 estates. 4 newly completed blocks were then unoccupied. The population in the remaining 145 blocks was 291,431, while a further 940 persons were living in 4 Bowring Bungalows at Shek Kip Mei. The total population was 292,371 persons, comprising 58,922 families and 3,353 single persons, the average family size being 5.2 persons (excluding single persons). Population details are set out at Appendix 1 to this Report.

CHAPTER VI

WELFARE IN THE ESTATES AND AREAS

54. The resettlement estates and areas, with their large concentra- tions of people, present both a great need and a great opportunity for welfare work of all descriptions. Welfare organizations and missionary societies are taking full advantage of these opportunities.

55. In the cottage areas schools and welfare centres have been built by voluntary agencies on sites provided by the Department. A nominal fee of $2.50 a quarter is charged for these sites. New projects completed during the year included a community centre at Asbury Village, Tai Wo Hau, built by the Board of Missions of the Methodist Church, a noodle factory at Chuk Yuen, built by Catholic Relief Services; and a new office and food distribution centre at So Kon Po built by the Kaifong Welfare Advancement Association.

56. By the end of the year the fifteen cottage areas had 22 schools with places for 15,135 children, 3 boys' and girls' clubs, 10 welfare centres and 9 clinics. There were also 9 Kaifong Welfare Associations working under the guidance of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs.

57. In multi-storey estates the Resettlement Department has no sites to offer to voluntary agencies, and a different policy has had to be evolved. The rooftops of these blocks are specially strengthened and provided with penthouses so that they can be used for boys' and girls' clubs or primary schools. No rent is charged, but school fees are limited to $60 a year. At the end of the year there were 112 such rooftop schools and 54 boys' and girls' clubs.

58. By arrangement with the Social Welfare and Education Depart- ments the ground floor rooms in selected blocks in new estates are now reserved for schools and welfare projects and are allocated by these departments to suitable voluntary agencies.

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