ENG-2003 — Page 257

HOUSING

regular patrols and hut inspections. About 740 illegal structures and extensions were demolished during the year.

Rooftop Structures

In April 2001, the Buildings Department drew up a seven-year clearance programme to clear 12 000 illegal rooftop structures on 4 500 single-staircase buildings. Rooftop dwellers are encouraged to register on the Waiting List for public rental housing. Occupants affected by enforcement action against illegal rooftop structures will be rehoused to public rental housing, including interim housing, according to their eligibility. In 2003, about 2 600 people affected by rooftop clearance were relocated.

Redevelopment

In 2003, the rehousing of some 4 220 households living in seven domestic housing blocks at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate (I) was completed. Since the launching of the HKHA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme (CRP) in 1988, 531 housing blocks have been redeveloped to improve the living conditions of some 181 730 households.

Housing Supply

Flat production in 2003 was 42 500. This comprised 26 400 flats in the private sector, 11 600 public rental housing flats and 4 5007 subsidised home ownership flats.

Monitoring Demand for and Supply of Land for Housing

The Government will ensure an adequate supply of land for residential development. A comprehensive monitoring system together with an alert mechanism to adjust land supply and land production have been put in place so that the market demand is met in a timely manner.

Supporting Infrastructure

Provision of the bulk of infrastructure to support housing developments has always been carried out in a programmed and structured manner. To avoid delay of housing developments due to lack of infrastructure facilities, the Government has adopted fast-tracking measures to deliver these projects if needed. From 1995 to 2003, there are 57 such projects and 44 have already been completed. The remaining 13 projects are at various stages of implementation with a total project estimate of about $5.8 billion.

Private Sector Housing

Private Residential Property Prices

Owing to the outbreak of SARS, both private residential property prices and transaction volume hit a low point in the second quarter of 2003. The market, however, had been improving since the third quarter. The average property price in the fourth quarter had returned to the pre-SARS level. The price level in December was

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Including the flats under the HKHS's SEN. The production and sale of HOS flats has ceased indefinitely since 2003, except for a small number of unsold and returned flats which will be sold to Green Form applicants. For those HOS flats that are completed or under construction, these will be disposed of through market-friendly

means.

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