ENG-1982 — Page 152

HOUSING AND LAND

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These changes, together with provision for heavier penalties for false declarations and attempts to circumvent the resale restrictions, were embodied in the Housing (Amendment) Ordinance 1982.

A further three Home Ownership projects have been built by private developers under the Private Sector Participation Scheme. As the name implies, this scheme is designed to give private sector interests the opportunity to contribute their expertise towards public housing projects. The basic specifications and unit prices for the flats are stipulated by the government and the developers tender a premium for the project. The processing of applications and the screening of applicants is carried out by the Housing Department in the same way as for the Home Ownership Scheme. Additional sites have now been reserved under this scheme with a view to raising the production to 5 000 flats per annum from the mid-1980s onwards.

Run on similar lines, the Middle Income Housing Programme - designed for families whose incomes exceed the limit for the Home Ownership Schemes - will have larger flats and slightly different eligibility criteria. The first project is being developed in Tuen Mun and will produce 2 240 flats for sale in 1983. This programme is an extension to the Private Sector. Participation Scheme but, unlike the main Home Ownership Schemes, there is no distinct quota of flats for public housing tenants.

Urban Housing and Redevelopment

Private development and public housing estates occupy most of the developable land on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon where population densities are among the highest in the world. However, every effort is being made to develop the full potential of the remaining usable sites.

On Hong Kong Island, the newly-completed Hing Man Estate has added a further 1 991 rental flats to the eastern district of Chai Wan, where there are also 305 Home Ownership flats under construction at Wan Tsui. Another 2 300 flats were built at Ap Lei Chau Estate to the south of the island.

In east Kowloon, a further 2 100 flats were completed at Shun On where 700 flats are still under construction. In the same area, 4 100 Home Ownership and rental flats were completed at Ngau Tau Kok, Lok Wah and Hammer Hill. Building is under way on a further 11 300 flats at Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong Central and Lok Wah.

At the former Royal Air Force base at Kai Tak another 3 900 flats were completed, while at the former Sham Shui Po Army Camp, the remaining 300 Home Ownership flats are under construction.

In central Kowloon, a major public housing project is under development at Chuk Yuen. Construction of the first 2 200 flats is in progress with extensive site formation works being undertaken on the remainder of the site. Also in central Kowloon, work proceeded on Chak On Estate to provide 1 900 flats.

The massive redevelopment programme aimed at improving living conditions at Mark I and Mark II resettlement estates is making good progress. During the year, a total of 2 700 flats were completed in the redevelopment projects at Tung Tau, Wang Tau Hom and Kwun Tong. Various building contracts at Shek Kip Mei, Wang Tau Hom, Wan Tsui, Lower Wong Tai Sin, Tai Wo Hau and Tai Hang Tung will provide 7 600 new flats together with two large commercial centres flanking the Mass Transit Railway stations at Wong Tai Sin and Lok Fu. In addition to new works, some old blocks were demolished at Lei Cheng Uk and Tung Tau and piling is underway for new blocks. More demolition work preparatory to rebuilding is being carried out at Kwun Tong and Lower Wong Tai Sin.