ENG-1992 — Page 202

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HOUSING

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MORE public sector flats are being built for ownership to meet a growing demand for them, reflecting a trend in Hong Kong's economic development.

In helping to meet Hong Kong's public housing demands as projected by the Long Term Housing Strategy, the Housing Authority will be building some 177 000 rental flats and 214 400 flats for sale between now and the year 2001.

Meanwhile, it continues to build at a rate of around 40 000 units a year, producing 27 855 flats 15 557 for rent and 12 298 for sale in addition to a wide variety of commercial, community and educational premises and supporting infrastructure.

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In all, some 3 000 000 people live in Hong Kong's 146 public sector estates, including nearly 500 000 who live in 110 ownership courts.

Further progress

Progress in housing development during the year included the completion of a redevelop- ment programme which has provided homes for over 500 000 people.

Some other achievements of direct benefit to the people were: a greater opportunity for home ownership through a higher income limit, temporary rent relief for domestic tenants facing financial hardship, a chance to rent flats with a larger living space per person, an increase in the waiting list income limits, an increase in the production of one-person units, and a higher standard of refurbishment of vacant flats.

Housing Authority

The Housing Authority, which evolved from a number of bodies, was established on April 1, 1973 under the Housing Ordinance.

It was reorganised on April 1, 1988 and given a separate financial identity and auto- nomy, together with sufficient flexibility to deal with the priorities under the government's Long Term Housing Strategy.

It advises the Governor on all housing policy matters and through its executive arm, the Housing Department, plans and builds public housing estates for rent or ownership, and temporary housing areas.

The authority also manages public housing estates, ownership courts, temporary housing areas, transit centres, flatted factories and ancillary commercial facilities throughout the territory, and administers the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Home Purchase