ENG-1980 — Page 141

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Housing and Land

Hape

At the end of the 1970s a paradoxical situation existed in the housing field. The annual supply of housing had in 1979-80 reached the unprecedented levels of more than 32,000 public rental and Home Ownership flats with an additional 28,600 completions by the private sector, and the overheated construction industry appeared to have responded to the measures taken in the 1979-80 Budget. However, the continuing influx of refugees from China had meant a slowing down of the improvements expected to have been brought about by the increased supply.

An overall review of Hong Kong's housing policy was undertaken by the government during the same period. This was carried out by a study group set up to examine in depth the demand for, and supply of, both public and private housing in the broad social and economic context.

The study concluded that, in attempting to provide a solution to Hong Kong's housing problems, the continued application of resources by both the government and private developers will be needed for many years to come. Public sector rental housing will be needed to provide subsidised accommodation for people who are unable to afford to rent or purchase homes in the private sector; to provide for people displaced by government action; and for those in special categories such as compassionate cases and the elderly. Private sector production will continue to meet the home ownership and rental accom- modation needs of households which do not meet the Housing Authority's income criterion.

The review also showed that the steadily improving housing situation since 1973 is expected to be further improved upon during the 1980s. As a result of the measures introduced by the government in October to contain immigration and assuming that the current high levels of production by both the public and private sectors are maintained the percentage of households in permanent domestic accommodation will increase significantly. If, as is hoped, it proves possible to improve on this production from the mid-1980s, the shortfall of self-contained accommodation will be further reduced by the end of the decade.

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Certainly, the housing commitments for the future are considerable; but they are hopeful. Even taking into account the fact that many of the new immigrants are young people who will soon be marrying and starting families, it should prove possible for them to be housed. It was on this optimistic note that members of the Housing Authority performed the official opening ceremony of the 100th public housing estate at On Ting in Tuen Mun new town, in December. This, in itself, was a highly significant milestone. Meanwhile, the high rate of immigration has produced a further serious, and more immediate, problem. Although many new arrivals initially find accommodation with friends and relatives in private housing, a large proportion begin as, or become, squatters.