54. Shortage of housing-with consequent high rents- due to the influx of refugees continued to impose a heavy burden on the low wage earner and depress his living standards. In addition to the schemes of the Housing Authority and several co-operative housing societies, a social service agency also catered for the housing of low-income groups.
This agency, the Hong Kong Housing Society, is a non-profit-making concern financed by Government loans and operated by a committee of honorary officers. In addition to the management of SHEUNG Li Uk Estate which was established three years ago, the Society in the beginning of 1955 commenced the building of their Hung Hom Housing Estate and the site formation for their Healthy Village Housing Scheme. To extend their exist- ing estate at Matauchung, construction was started on 128 temporary cottages which will be let at $30 per month and plans were made for the erection of blocks of flats to be let at $20 - $30 per month.
55. Low standards of living were particularly noticeable in the squatter areas where refugees from China mostly settled. In these areas, a number of religious organizations, some of which formerly operated in the mainland, found ample scope for their welfare activities, displaying much initiative and enterprise in the provision of schools, welfare centres, a day nursery, clinics, and many other forms of aid. Help was given, though on a limited scale, to develop the cottage industries by which many a squatter family managed to eke out an existence. Two organizations donated or made available at half-cost between 300 to 400 cottages to needy fire-victims, and an additional 194 were being built by one of these organizations to rehouse 800 people from the reclamation site at Kun Tong. Relief supplies were given out through nearly 100 centres in various parts of the Colony. The Catholic Welfare Committee of China distributed food, clothing, and medicine amounting to HK$13 million and the Church World Service issued clothing valued at US$126,000.
56. An important aspect of work on behalf of refugees was carried out by the Catholic Welfare Committee of China and the World Council of Churches/Lutheran World Federation
18
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.