ENG-2004 — Page 272

226 | Housing

Rooftop Structures

The Buildings Department has drawn 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 2004, about 2 800 people affected by rooftop clearance were relocated.

Redevelopment

In 2004, the rehousing of some 360 households living in four domestic housing blocks at Shek Kip Mei Estate was completed. Since the launching of the HKHA's Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme in 1988, 535 housing blocks have been redeveloped to improve the living conditions of some 182 090 households.

Housing Supply

Total production of residential units in 2004 was 47 000. This comprised 26 000 units in the private sector (excluding village housing) and 21 000 public rental housing flats.

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 delaying housing developments due to lack of infrastructure facilities, the Government has adopted fast-tracking measures to deliver these projects when needed. From 1995 to 2004, there were 57 such projects and 48 have already been completed. The remaining nine projects are at various stages of implementation with a total project estimate of about $4.4 billion.

Private Sector Housing

Private Residential Property Prices

The private residential market picked up markedly in 2004. Notwithstanding a slowdown in the second quarter, the overall residential price index at the end of 2004 rose by over 26 per cent compared to the year before. Transaction volume registered an even stronger growth, with the number of residential property transaction rising by 41 per cent from 71 576 in 2003 to 100 630 in 2004, the highest level since 1997.

Tenancy Control

The Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance previously provided for security of tenure for tenants of domestic properties. Under these provisions, if a tenant wished to renew the tenancy and was willing to pay the prevailing market rent, the landlord would have to agree to the tenancy renewal. Only on certain exceptional grounds could the landlord refuse to renew the tenancy. These provisions were no longer justified in the face of an ample supply of rental units and fallen rentals, and had impeded market efficiency. In line with the Government's policy of minimising intervention in the operation of the property market, the Government