Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1968-1969 — Page 42

KAIFONGS AND ESTATE LIAISON

99. A welcome sign of a growing awareness of the value of self- help among the residents lies in the growth in the number of kaifong welfare associations constituted within and for the direct benefit of residents of resettlement estates. The activities undertaken by these associations vary considerably with the ability of their leaders, the support of their members, and the extent of their financial resources. The most common activities are mediation in disputes, an enquiry and employment service, distribution of relief goods, provision of reading rooms and the sponsoring of youth activities. Four new kaifong associations were founded during the year in estates and cottage areas, bringing the number of resettlement kaifongs to 31 with a membership of over 46,000. Every resettlement estate now has its own kaifong association, as do a number of the cottage areas.

100. Apart from the day to day contact between estates staff and their local kaifongs, the main channel of communication between the department and these associations is through a special Liaison Unit which was formally established on 1st April, 1968. Apart from its liaison duties, the unit was also heavily engaged during the year in helping to organize a wide variety of recreational and welfare activities in estates in conjunction with other government departments, kaifongs, schools and social organizations.

CHAPTER 6

THE COTTAGE AREAS

GENERAL

101. The first cottage areas were established in 1948 for squatters in central areas who were offered sites in more outlying districts which, it was then thought, would not be required for development in the foreseeable future. There are now fifteen cottage areas in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and the New Territories, containing 8,781 stone or brick cottages and 2,025 wooden huts, in addition to 289 shops and 97 workshops and factories. On 31st March, 1969 the total population was 68,058 authorized settlers and 13,137 'accepted unauthorized persons. (Accepted unauthorized persons are those who came into the area without authority but who are recorded in a departmental census of cottage areas made in 1963. By a decision of the Urban

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