ENG-1966 — Page 188

LAND AND HOUSING

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construction as well as a further phase of the Kwun Tong Estate. Funds for the Society's schemes are normally provided by the government at low interest rates. The Society also operates a loan scheme under which firms lend money to cover the cost of constructing flats and in return are given a lease of accommodation for nominated employees. These loans are interest-free and repay- able over 20 years.

Other voluntary organizations have made contributions to the housing programme. The Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation has recently completed an extension to their estate at Tai Hang Sai of 141 flats, with a further 305 under construction. Industrial concerns frequently provide flats or dormitory-type accommodation for their employees, and an increasing number are providing housing or housing loans to their staff. Since 1950 land has been made available by the government at one-third of its estimated value to encourage non-profit-making workers' housing projects. A good example of the efforts made by some employers is that of the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company Limited, which completed 406 flats during 1966 to bring their total to over 1,700.

The government helps its junior local staff by reserving for them 15 per cent of all domestic accommodation in government low-cost housing estates. Rents and other conditions of tenancy are the same as those for other members of the public. In 1952 a scheme was started to encourage local civil servants on the pensionable establishment to form co-operative building societies through which they could receive loans from the government to buy land and build flats. Under this scheme 213 societies with 4,299 members have received loans. Of these, 197 societies with 3,890 members have completed their buildings. A new scheme has been introduced under which the development of sites and the construction of multi- storey blocks of flats will be carried out by the government itself, thus ensuring the most economical and practical use of the funds available. Two sites are at present in the course of development. Ten per cent of the funds for the revised scheme will be reserved for building co-operatives organized on existing lines by groups of senior officers. The government also provides accommodation for its overseas staff and for many of its local staff, including police and fire service officers, nurses and resident staff on government installations.