ENG-1962 — Page 228

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LAND AND HOUSING

From 1954 to the end of 1962 multi-storey resettlement accom- modation of this type was built to house about 435,408 persons in 12 estates at a total capital cost of $232 million.

It soon became necessary to provide for other community needs in these estates, which were virtually small townships. The ground floor rooms of new blocks were therefore set aside for non- domestic use. Most are now let to settlers as shops or workshops. Some are set aside for private welfare organizations and are used as schools, clinics or nurseries. With effect from February 1962 a new system of rents for ground floor shops was introduced which was more in keeping with the market rental valuation of the shops. Shops of 240 square feet which previously all paid a rent of $100, were divided into four grades and now pay either $200, $150, $115 or a reduced rent of $80 a month according to locality. The new rents include rates. There was some opposition from shop- keepers required to pay these higher rents and appeals boards composed of members of the Urban Council and Government departments were formed to hear requests from shopkeepers for reductions on the grounds of individual hardship. As a result, approval was given for rents to be paid at a lower rate in a number of cases for varying periods. The rooftops of resettlement blocks are not left idle, but are allocated to established voluntary agencies who operate schools or children's clubs on them under the guidance of the Education or Social Welfare departments.

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Early operations to clear thousands of squatters revealed that although most of those concerned were occupying flimsy structures of very poor quality, there were among them some families who, though technically squatters, were living in structures of a much higher standard than the average. To provide them with better accommodation, separate blocks similar to one wing of a normal H-block were constructed to provide a number of small self- contained flats with private balconies, kitchens, lavatories and showers. The rent of this better type of accommodation was fixed at $45 a month for a flat of 240 square feet and $65 a month for one of 360 square feet. More recently the new H-blocks have been modified to provide larger rooms on the ends of each floor with private balconies and their own water supply. These rooms are let at a rent of $45 a month to families cleared from better than average structures.