ENG-1968 — Page 197

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LAND AND HOUSING

authority are all government servants working in the Housing Division of the Urban Services Department under the direction of the Commissioner for Housing. The authority reimburses all staff salaries to the Government, plus a percentage surcharge calculated to meet indirect staff costs such as pensions, housing and medical treatment.

A number of voluntary organizations have built housing for lower and middle income groups during recent years. The largest of these is the Hong Kong Housing Society, a pioneer in the field of low-cost housing in the Colony. The society now has 17,193 flats for 107,878 people on 12 estates. The rents of these flats are $39 a month for a small room with communal facilities, and a maximum of $170 a month for a larger room with adjoining kitchen, toilet and balcony. The estates are well laid out with playgrounds and gardens and are managed by trained and qualified staff. During the year the addition of 934 flats completed the new estate at Kwun Lung Lau, Kennedy Town. A new estate at Kau Pui Lung Road, Kowloon with 2,789 flats is under construction and will be completed in 1969. And a further phase is being planned. There are also plans for an estate at Tai Hang Road, Hong Kong. Funds for the society's schemes have been provided by the Government at low interest rates and by self-financing.

Other voluntary organizations have made contributions; these include the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation which has 1,339 flats and the Catholic Relief Services which has new projects at Aberdeen and Wong Tai Sin under construction.

A number of employers provide flats or dormitory-type accom- modation for their staff, and some provide housing loans. Since 1950 land has been made available by the Government at one-third of its estimated value to encourage non-profit-making housing projects for workers. During 1968 the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co Ltd and Hongkong Electric Co Ltd had new workers housing schemes under construction.

The Government reserves 15 per cent of all domestic accommoda- tion in government low-cost housing estates for its junior local staff. Rents and other conditions of tenancy are the same as those for other members of the public. Local civil servants, on the pen- sionable establishment, have formed co-operative building societies