of 7,420 families or 52,607 people were given relief-see Appendix 7. It is proposed in future that all rooms available be advertised in each overcrowded old estate and any family be allowed to apply, since any rooms vacated can be quickly filled by internal decantation.
COMMERCIAL PREMISES
71. Until 1969 commercial undertakings in a clearance area were given resettlement shops as compensation for loss of livelihood. The ground floors of nearly all blocks were divided into small shop-sites, to avoid criticism these shop-sites were allocated by ballot and shop- keepers were allowed to choose their trades, even if these were not particularly suitable to the area. Sites of low commercial value were allocated to cleared workshops.
72. This system of allocation has led to unsatisfactory conditions and to difficulties in enforcing tenancy conditions in the 8,856 shop and 1,627 workshop tenancies in the estates. The number of shops is too great and the size of each shop too small to be really economic. Some 10% of them are behind with their rents; and among other breaches of tenancy conditions many of them seek to extend their premises on to the pavement. At the beginning of the year a campaign was instituted to cut back all shop sunshades to a standard width of four feet, and nearly 3,000 cases were dealt with; 950 shops also had illegal extensions demolished.
73. As mentioned in Chapter 4 above, a new system was approved during the year whereby persons formerly eligible for resettlement shops would be paid an ex-gratia allowance instead, and shops in future estates would be allocated by public tender on three year leases. The practice whereby a quota of shops was allocated to deserving families on the advice of the Social Welfare and Medical and Health Departments was also discontinued. These policy changes have allowed considerably better planning of commercial facilities in the new estates, and the reservation of fewer but larger shop premises. It is hoped that this, together with more detailed lease conditions, will lead to improved shopping facilities in future estates.
74. There are at present some 239 general restaurants and 314 cafés in the estates. No restaurants were specifically provided for in the early estates. However, since many resettlement tenants do not eat in their rooms, and most prefer to have their morning meal at a
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