ENG-1995 — Page 236

HOUSING

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Community Liaison

The Housing Authority has established three Housing Information Centres in conjunction with the Home Affairs Department. These centres provide compre- hensive advisory services to residents affected by redevelopment of private buildings or urban renewal projects, and to applicants for public rental housing and Home Ownership Scheme flats. The authority also plans to set up information centres in districts with a high concentration of elderly residents in old private tenements in a bid to provide better services.

Welfare Services

Some 1 129 welfare premises in the Housing Authority's estates and courts were let for welfare and community services at a concessionary rent of $33 per square metre a month. Non-domestic premises in less-popular locations were let at a fair market rate to community organisations. The authority also undertakes fitting-out works for welfare projects and 204 projects have been fitted out since 1984.

The Estate Liaison Officer scheme, providing outreaching services to elderly public housing tenants, has been expanded. Housing management staff visit the elderly, offer assistance and encourage them to take part in various community activities. As an additional safety measure, emergency alarm systems have been being installed, and by the end of the year 1 164 alarm sets were provided in 10 estates.

Commercial Properties

Commercial facilities and car parks are an integral part of public housing estates. Apart from providing convenience to tenants, they generate income for the Housing Authority. The authority's total retail stock stood at 1.25 million square metres and vacancies remained low at 2 per cent at the end of the year. The income, including car park revenue, grew by 13 per cent over the previous year to $3.6 billion. Car parks. in housing estates are let without subsidy and demand remains high for the 70 000 spaces available. Privatisation of management has produced good results and the number of spaces under contract management increased to 60 000 during the year.

À trial scheme was introduced to place two shopping centres under private management. The scheme will be extended to all factory estates over the next few years. The practice of letting large spaces to single commercial tenants with specialist expertise continued.

The authority's portfolio also includes 17 flatted factory estates and 3 400 shops in former resettlement estates. The shops and half of the factory units are let at below market rents. Other premises are let at market rents, normally for three-year terms. Lettings are primarily by tender supplemented by negotiation, which provides flexi- bility and assists in attracting anchor tenants and large-space users.

Maintenance Services

Maintenance and improvement works for the Housing Authority's property stock are carried out under various established programmes. Total maintenance expenditure for the year amounted to $4 billion. The authority is expected to spend $23.5 billion within five years on maintenance and improvement works. An improvement fund of $2 billion has been established to finance large-scale works that may be identified in coming years.