ENG-1974 — Page 140

LAND AND HOUSING

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and because of possible further landslips the residents were evacuated after a Building Closure Order had been issued. The residents were allowed to return on October 28 on the understanding that they would again have to leave if further heavy rains occurred. Therefore, with the approach of tropical storm Elaine residents were once again evacuated, eventually being allowed to return early in November. The Building Closure Order remained in force and reoccupation was permitted only on the under- standing that further heavy rains would again necessitate evacuation. Investigations were being carried out at the end of the year to find means of stabilising the slope and remedying any structural damage before the next wet season.

The high pressure of work in the Buildings Ordinance Office on the processing of plans and site inspections continued to prevent any comprehensive action being taken to deal with unauthorised structures. Enforcement action continued to be taken, how- ever, in all cases where a serious fire, structural or other hazard existed, and all other cases were listed for review when sufficient staff has been recruited. Some 66 notices were served compared with 1,722 in 1973.

Ten appeals were lodged against decisions by the Building Authority under the Buildings Ordinance. These resulted in one judgement in favour of the appellant, one decision upheld, four cases adjourned, one withdrawn, two pending and one over which the Appeal Tribunal had no jurisdiction.

Housing

The 10-year housing programme which was announced by the Governor in Octo- ber 1972 promises greatly improved living conditions for the many Hong Kong families who cannot hope to afford such accommodation in the private housing sector. The programme, which is now in its second year, aims to break the back of Hong Kong's housing problem by building public housing for an additional 1.5 million people.

To tackle this ambitious project, a new Housing Authority was appointed in April 1973 to direct the planning, building and management of all public housing estates in Hong Kong. With its executive arm, the new Housing Department, it took over the functions previously divided between the former Housing Authority, the Urban Council, the Housing Board, the housing division of the Urban Services De- partment, the Resettlement Department and the Public Works Department. Member- ship of the Housing Authority is made up of eight Urban Councillors, five other unofficials and six official members, all appointed by the Governor.

It is serviced by a new Housing Department, also formed in April 1973, which is the result of an amalgamation of the Resettlement Department and the housing division of the Urban Services Department. The Housing Ordinance and the Resettle- ment Ordinance were repealed and replaced by the Housing Ordinance 1973.

All estates previously known as resettlement, government low-cost housing or Housing Authority estates are now officially known as public housing estates. For management purposes these estates are divided into two groups: Group 'A' estates comprise the former Housing Authority estates and government low-cost housing estates, while group 'B' estates are the former resettlement blocks.