Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1970-1971 — Page 47

1954 and revised in 1965, are considerably lower, as might be expected in view of the simpler type of accommodation. In these blocks, only the largest rooms attract rates, and for the standard room of 120 square feet the all-in charge is $18 a month, made up of $15 rent and $3 for water. An additional charge of $1.00 per room is made for those Mark I and II Blocks which have been rewired. During 1969-70 one of the Mark I blocks was converted to self-contained accommodation and new rents were fixed on the basis of the original cost plus the cost of conversion amortized over the remaining life of the block. Individual water supplies were provided in all Mark III blocks and the rent of each room was increased by $0.50 to recover this cost. The monthly charge for the tenant of a standard room of 135 square feet plus a balcony in a Mark V block in the urban areas is $34-$27.50 for rent, and $6.50 for rates.

98. Towards the end of the year under review, the first of the Mark VI blocks were occupied at Yau Tong Area C Estate. The basic rents for this latest type of domestic accommodation were calculated on the same principles outlined in the preceding paragraph. With the one exception that the assumed figure of $14 per square feet for formed land was increased by $3 per square feet to take into account the rising costs of site formation and engineering works. As might be expected with increasing building and recurrent management costs, basic rents for Mark VI domestic accommodation are higher than those for Mark V-approximately 11% higher on a square footage basis. Monthly rents inclusive of rates for those estates located in the urban areas range from $29 for a four person room of 106 square feet to $67.50 for a seven person room of 248 square feet. Monthly inclusive rents for those estates located in the New Territories are correspondingly lower.

99. Shop and workshop rents in estates are determined by the size and location of the premises. There are four grades based on location, and shops enjoying the best trading situations adjoining main roads or hawker markets are charged more than those less advantageously placed. Shop units in the Mark I and II estates range in size from 120 to 310 square feet. The rents for these shops were increased in two stages, the first in November 1968 and the second in April 1969. The rent for a shop of 120 square feet in the urban areas now varies from $45 to $124.50 depending on the grade; the rent includes an element for rates and water charges. As with domestic rooms, Mark III and IV estate shop rents are higher, a Grade A shop of 120 square feet

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