ENG-1969 — Page 201

LAND AND HOUSING

129

Voluntary organisations also contribute much in the housing field by building low-cost homes for lower and middle income groups. The largest of these is the Hong Kong Housing Society, a pioneer in the field of low-cost housing in existence since 1948. The first estate at Sheung Li Uk was built in 1952. Up to the end of 1969 the society had built 17,866 flats for 111,689 people in 14 estates including the partly completed 2,765-flat estate at Kau Pui Lung Road, Kowloon. During the year, 678 flats were completed to house 3,811 people. The development of an estate at Tai Hang Road was in progress and site formation started during the year. By the time these two estates are completed, the society will have housed 147,698 people in 23,544 flats. The housing schemes are financed from government loans as well as self-generated funds. Other voluntary bodies include the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation, Ltd, the Hong Kong Model Housing Society and the Hong Kong Economic Housing Society.

The Government offers 15 per cent of the accommodation in government low-cost housing estates to junior local staff on the same tenancy terms as for the public. It also promotes home- ownership by the grant of loan funds to co-operative building societies formed by local officers; 225 societies with 4,695 members had received loans. Besides, two new housing estates consisting of 727 flats were being built by the Government for sale to local officers. 160 flats in the first stage of Lung Cheung Court were sold and occupied during the year.

A number of commercial undertakings also provide quarters or housing loans for their staff. During the year, the Hong Kong Electric Co Ltd completed a block of 400 flats at Fortress Hill.

The Housing Board is an advisory body first appointed in 1965 and reconstituted in 1968. Under the chairmanship of an unofficial member of the Legislative Council, it has five other unofficial members with housing or sociological experience and eight official members concerned with housing matters. The board keeps under review the building progress in all types of housing, assesses the present and future housing needs and the balance between types of housing, and advises on administrative measures to improve co-ordination between housing agencies.