Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1962-1963 — Page 21

JEPARTMENT LIBRAR.

for families who are cleared from homes of a higher standard than normal.

56. In the domestic rooms on the upper floors settlers are allowed to engage in certain permitted cottage industries which include rattan and embroidery piecework and the assembly of plastic flowers. Certain conditions are imposed on this work which include restriction of storage space to not more than 20 square fect, no employees, and no cocklofts. Trades and businesses which are unsuitable for the upper floors can be accommodated in ground floor workshops, for which a higher rent is charged. On 31st March, 1963, 3,507 ground floor rooms of sizes vary- ing from 120 to 310 square feet were let as shops and 759 were let as workshops. From this total, 437 bays were let for restaurants or cafes, 213 bays for the sale of fresh provisions, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables and 30 bays as roast meat shops.

57. With effect from January, 1962, resettlement blocks were divided into four grades according to their location. Shops in the best situa- tions, i.e. those next to main roads or hawker markets, are charged a rent of $200 per month for a bay of 240 square feet, those in less good but better than average situations are charged a rent of $150 per month, those in ordinary locations are charged $115 per month, and shops in bad locations pay a rent of $80 per month. The new rents in all cases include provision for rates which had not previously been paid by shops in resettlement blocks. There was some opposition to the introduction of the new rents, particularly from those shopkeepers whose shops were in the higher grades, and all shopkeepers in the top two grades were, therefore, given the opportunity to appeal individually against the increase in rent. The appeals were heard during February, 1962, by special panels composed of members of the Urban Council and certain Government Departments. Tenants who were able to show that the increased rents would cause them hardship were authorized to pay the rent for a lower grade for a varying period, in most cases either eight or fourteen months. These cases were reviewed further in July 1962 and February 1963.

58. Hawker bazaars are provided in all large estates. They consist of rows of concrete stalls where hawkers, other than those selling meat and fish, can ply their trades. A number of shops close to each bazaar are reserved for meat and fish dealers. The bazaars are run by the Urban Services Department which in some cases allocates the stalls by ballot. In order to do away with the unsightly awnings which hawkers usually erect over their stalls, it is proposed in future to provide covered

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