ENG-1972 — Page 146

LAND AND HOUSING

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The Hong Kong Housing Society, formed in 1948, is the largest voluntary housing agency. Its first flats were built at Sheung Li Uk in 1952. By the end of 1972, the society had provided 19,994 flats for 124,792 people in 15 estates. During the year, no additional flats were completed by the society. Other voluntary bodies in the hous- ing field include the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation Ltd, the Hong Kong Model Housing Society, and the Hong Kong Economic Housing Society.

The Hong Kong Building and Loan Agency Limited, established in 1964, provides long-term loans for the purchase of domestic flats. In 1972, the agency approved 26 developments for loan purposes. During the year, 2,137 loan applications amounting to $91 million were approved.

Squatter Control and Clearance

All squatting on Crown land is by definition unlawful, but illegal structures are 'tolerated' if they were included in squatter surveys made from time to time, the latest being in 1964. When the land on which they stand is needed for development they are then cleared and their occupants resettled into the estates. 'Untolerated' structures are demolished, as are extensions to tolerated huts. People who are genuinely homeless may apply for a site in one of the Resettlement Department's licensed areas, on which they can build a hut on payment of a small licence fee.

Industrial undertakings operated in tolerated structures but also requiring open storage space and thus unsuitable for resettlement flatted factories may be offered sites in licensed areas provided the trade falls within certain approved categories. A licence fee is charged at the rate of $1.80 per square foot per annum.

The squatter population continues to decrease gradually and at the end of 1972 was estimated to be about 319,800 as compared with 463,000 in April 1965. The disastrous heavy rains in May and June eroded many squatter areas and as a result about 20,000 squatters who had to leave their homes were provided with public housing.

The New Territories Administration is responsible for the control of squatters in the New Territories, with the exception of Tsuen Wan district where control lies with the Resettlement Department. The more accessible parts of the New Territories are regularly patrolled and are divided into prohibited and non-prohibited areas. In prohibited areas, such as the margins of roads, development areas, and land exposed to flooding, no new domestic huts are allowed. In non-prohibited areas temporary structures may be built with the permission of the District Office.