Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1965-1966 — Page 33

MARINE I

RARY

blocks, the manning scale of area officers is one for 750 and 700 rooms respectively. The difference in manning scales between types of blocks reflects the different designs of the buildings. Whereas access to individual rooms in the Mark I and II blocks is from a common balcony, this is no longer the case in the Mark III and IV which often form large complexes of inter-linked buildings; more time for room inspections is therefore necessary. In all estates, an area officer is designated as second-in-command to assist the officer-in-charge with general administration. Another area officer is responsible for stores, sanitation and the supervision of the labour force which cleans all blocks, streets and open spaces lying within the estate boundary. An area officer also supervises rent collection, which is centralized in cach estate office.

73. The principal duty of the area officers in charge of multi-storey blocks is to ensure that tenants observe the conditions of their tenancies. They also note any changes in the composition of individual house- holds; for instance, additions and deletions of family members, and any factors such as overcrowding or under-occupation which may necessitate the transfer of the family concerned to a room of more appropriate size. Another side of the work is to encourage tenants to observe simple rules of hygiene. It is sometimes necessary to settle disputes between tenants.

74. Tenancy conditions have been mentioned in the preceding paragraph. These are made as simple as possible, the most important being that the rent must be paid each month in advance on the rent day; that the tenant may not transfer his room to any other person or sublet any part of it; and that he must not allow his room to be used for any illegal purpose. Additional or special conditions are applied to shops and workshops. Restaurants, cafes and food shops have to com- ply with the conditions of the relevant Urban Council licence.

75. If the conditions of the tenancy card are not observed, the staff give verbal warnings, to be followed, if necessary, by preliminary and final warning letters. Usually these warnings are effective, but if no notice is taken of the final written warning it may be necessary to terminate the tenancy and to require the tenant and his family to vacate the premises. 383 tenancies were terminated during the year; 268 for non-payment of rent; 6 for unauthorized transfers; 4 for obstructions and 105 for miscellaneous reasons. The conditions of the tenancy card provide for cancellation as soon as the monthly rent is in arrears, but

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