ENG-1989 — Page 214

HOUSING

In the private housing sector production remained high, with output reaching 37 655 units.

Housing Authority

Established under the Housing Ordinance, the Hong Kong Housing Authority is a statutory body responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of public housing.

This role has been expanded to enable it to implement the Long Term Housing Strategy effectively and efficiently.

The authority advises the Governor on all housing policy matters and, through its executive arm (the Housing Department), plans and builds public housing estates, Home Ownership Scheme courts and temporary housing areas for various categories of people as determined by the authority with the approval of the Governor.

It also manages public housing estates, Home Ownership Scheme courts, temporary housing areas, cottage areas, transit centres, flatted factories and the ancillary commercial facilities throughout the territory, and administers the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Home Purchase Loan Scheme. On behalf of the government, the authority clears land, prevents and controls squatting, and plans and co-ordinates improvements to squatter areas.

The authority meets every three months to review the work of its eight standing committees which have delegated powers to deal with matters concerning establishment and finance, building, management and operations, home ownership, development, com- mercial properties, complaints and tenancy appeals. It also meets whenever there are important issues which require special attention.

In addition to the eight standing committees, the special committee on Clearance of Kowloon Walled City, an ad hoc committee established in January 1987, continues to perform its functions. In 1989, two ad hoc committees, the committee on Sale of Flats to Sitting Tenants and the committee on Domestic Rent Policy and Allocation Standards, were established in June and August respectively.

The authority has been chaired by a non-official member since April 1, 1988. It now comprises 20 non-official members, including the chairman, and four official members. All members are appointed by the Governor. There are also 35 co-opted members, who sit on one or more of the committees. Many of the members of the authority also serve the community as Legislative, Urban or Regional councillors, or as members of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk, district boards, area committees and mutual aid committees. Together, they have a broad range of experience and representation and are able to apply a critical and conscientious perspective in determining public housing policies.

The authority is responsible for its own finance and management. Under its new financial arrangements with the government which came into effect on April 1, 1988, the government will continue to provide the authority with the funds required to meet the housing programmes as set out in the Long Term Housing Strategy. For its part, the authority will continue to pursue financial efficiency in a manner consistent with providing accommodation at affordable rents and prices.

On March 31, 1989, the government's capital investments and contribution to housing stood at about $65 billion, which comprised permanent capital of $16.4 billion, con- tribution to domestic housing of $41.4 billion and non-domestic equity of $7.2 billion.

In the 1988-9 financial year, recurrent expenditure on the authority's domestic rental properties, covering mostly management and maintenance costs, totalled $3,694.6 million, while income from domestic rents was $3,081.5 million, resulting in a deficit of $613.1

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