Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1972-1973 — Page 19

modation. Against this 11,678 persons were added to existing house- holds.

46. A decantation programme aimed at thinning out the population in the overcrowded estates was introduced in 1965. Under this pro- gramme the most overcrowded families may apply for transfer to larger rooms in new estates. During the year 5,277 persons in 702 families were transferred to new estates, and 6,722 persons in 837 families remaining in the old estates were given additional space as a result. Details are given in Appendix 7.

47. The allocation of rooms to new tenants is now based on a minimum of 30-32 square feet per person in Mark V blocks, and 35 square feet per person in Mark VI blocks.

CLEANSING

48. The older estates are cleansed by a direct labour force of over 2,700 staff. No refuse chutes are provided in these estates, and tenants are required to dispose of their domestic refuse at designated collec- tion points. The tendency is for some tenants to dump their refuse in the most convenient courtyard. To overcome this problem, a door- to-door collection service on a trial basis is being operated at Wang Tau Hom Estate, but the result so far is not an unqualified success.

49. As a further experiment, contract cleansing was introduced into an old estate-Jordan Valley and this has achieved considerable success. The contract provides a door-to-door collection service.

50. In the newer estates all cleansing is done by contract. Appen- dix 8 gives details of estates cleansed by contract. More recently built blocks are constructed to enable refuse to be collected in bins, which are then emptied into collection vehicles with bin-lifts. This system obviates the need for collection centres which are unsightly and give rise to frequent complaints.

51. The department played its part in the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign, and a special cleansing and washing programme was carried out, block by block, in all estates. These operations were very successful, with the assistance of the area committees formed by the City District Officers.

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