ENG-1997 — Page 254

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HOUSING

Cottage and Squatter Areas

Cottage areas, an early form of public housing, are being phased out gradually. They comprise single-storey structures built of stone or less-permanent materials on hillsides. There are now five cottage areas in Hong Kong housing some 3 000 people, and the Housing Authority plans to clear them by 2001.

The squatter population has been reduced to 21 000 in the urban area and to about 212 300 in the New Territories as a result of rehousing. The 1982 squatter structures survey provides a baseline for control of new squatting on government land and private agricultural land. Squatter control is maintained by carrying out regular patrols and hut-to-hut checks. About 3 000 illegal structures and extensions were demolished during the year.

The Housing Authority repairs and maintains the facilities in the existing squatter areas. In the event of fire, landslips and natural disasters, squatter control staff attend the scene and provide transit accommodation for people rendered homeless. Eligible households are offered rehousing and 900 people were given either permanent or interim housing under this category in 1997.

All squatters on government land in the urban area were offered rehousing by the end of March 1996. During 1997, 130 hectares of land were cleared, with 7 100 and 1 200 affected people given permanent or interim housing. Some 210 industrial, commercial and agricultural undertakings affected by clearances were given ex-gratia allowances.

A non-development clearance programme was devised on the advice of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering Department. Some 1000 persons living in squatter huts on slopes vulnerable to landslips were provided with either permanent or interim housing elsewhere, according to their eligibility.

The Advance Allocation System was tried out in some clearance operations. The scheme was successful and widely accepted by tenants. Its feasibility is under further study with a view to extending it to all clearance operations.