UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG LIBRARY. Hong Kong Collection

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2 UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG LIBRARY Hong Kong Collection

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4 THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY u c EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr. J, D. Clague, C.B.E., M.C., T.D. (Chairman). Mr. C. Y. Kwan, LUB. (Deputy Chairman). Mr, J* M. Tan, M,A., A.C.A, (Hon. Treasurer). Mr. A. Cheung, Mr. J. J. Cowperthwaite, M.A. Rt* Rev. R, O. Hall, M.C., B.A. Rev. M. Mansfield, s,j. Mr, G, R. Sneath, B.A., Crown Counsel. Mr. A. M, J. Wright, A.R.I.B.A., A.R.I.C.S. Mrs. G. E, Yeoh, B.A. HOUSING MANAGER AND SECRETARY Mrs. J. Sanderson, M.S.H.M, ACCOUNTANTS Messrs. Wong, Tan & Co., Chartered Accountants. HON. AUDITORS Messrs. F* S. Li & Co., Chartered Accountants. BANKERS Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation* The Chartered Bank. LOAN SCHEME Government has consistent^ since the war, sought to encourage firms to provide housing for their local staff and has authorised the sale of land at half the upset price for staff housing schemes. In spite of this concession few firms have found themselves able to embark on housing schemes for local staff. It is suggested that this is not due to indifference on the part of the firms, nor in many cases is it due to lack of available finance, but rather to a natural reluctance on the part of firms who have little or no knowledge of real estate to enter this field. Furthermore there exists a desire to avoid becoming involved in differences of opinion which must occur from time to time between near neighbours. There is also the question of resignations and dismissals of staff and the problems of maintenance, etc. which are inescapable once one assumes the role of landlord. The Hong Kong Housing Society is a non-profit making organisation specialising in the building and management of low cost housing. The Society now owns 1441 flats, plans for a further 616 have been approved and plans for 408 flats are being considered by the Buildings Ordinance Office. This will involve a total expenditure of nearly HK$i8 millions. Further schemes are in course of being finalised. The Society has, however, on many occasions been approached by firms seeking to assist their staff in obtaining reasonable accommodation at an economic rental without key money. It is for this reason that the Society has decided to carry out an experiment in connection with the Shu Kuk Street (oft King's Road, Hong Kong) development, and Employers wishing to assist members of their staff are invited to make an interest free loan to the Society to enable employees to obtain accommodation. The site has been tentatively allocated to the Society and it is hoped Government will agree to this land being purchasedjatjialf upset price. An Architect has been appointed and plans for the construction of 590 flats of various sizes are almost completed. The approximate total cost including land is millions.

5 Details are as follows: (i) Type A and B 465 flats Combined living and sleeping rooms, balcony, kitchen and W.C. with shower. There will be several sizes, i.e. tor a maximum of 10, 7, 6 l / 2 and 5 persons respectively, (it) Type C 125 flats Combined living and sleeping room, kitchen and W.C. These will be built in several sizes, i.e. for maximum of 8, 7 and 5 persons respectively, the word, Trained Lady Housing Managers visit the Estates regularly for collection of rents, maintenance of property and to acquaint themselves with the living conditions of tenants. Visits to the Society's existing estates can be arranged in order that those interested may see exactly what type of construction is envisaged. Sketch of Proposed Estate Blocks will be of ten storeys and lifts and rubbish chutes will be provided. The flats are of simple design and represent the minimum requirements of a family as a separate unit. The number of occupants is based on a minimum of 35 sq. ft. per person, children counting as half (up to 10 years of age). This is the minimum which is allowed under the Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, although due to the existing housing shortage Government has not been able to enforce this regulation. As a result of its experience in the field of low cost housing the Society is satisfied that these flats are adequate for the lower income groups and enable the tenants to establish a home in the full sense of ^ C/iatt and Lee, Architects Cost of Flat The Society is not in a position to state exactly the amount an employer will be called upon to loan to the Society, but it is likely to be under HK$8,5oo per flat. Rents charged to tenants will vary according to the size and amenities of the flats and it will be the intention of the Society whenever possible to channel nominees into a rent bracket commensurate with their income. 5

6 Shu Kuk Street Scheme' i. The Society will* 4 (a) own the land and buildings, ( ) be responsible for the design and construction of the buildings and thereafter for their maintenance, t (c) manage the property, i.e. attend to all day to day problems affecting the tenants, rent collection and all other matters of a similar character, (d) enter into lease agreements with tenants, (e) maintain a priority list, Chat4 and Lee, Architects. The rentals to be charged will be worked out on the Society's normal basis and are likely to be $95 a month, including rates, for a y-person flat with balcony, and $75 a month, including rates, for a 7-person flat without balcony. The exact figure for each type of flat will be announced later, but this will be based on the amount required; (a) to repay Capital costs over an appropriate period. (H) to cover management expenses, (<r) to cover rates and crown rent, (d) to cover building maintenance expenses, voids and bad debts. It is envisaged that the scheme will work on the following lines/ There will be three parties to the scheme, namely, The Society, the Employer and the Employee, and the role to be played by each is set out below: I. (/) have the option of returning the loan if it is unable to agree on a suitable nomination or repay the loan or remainder of loan applicable to the flat concerned in the event of being unable to agree to a subsequent nomination, In this event any priority ceases. See 2 (a) below. 2. The Employer will (a) have the privilege of nominating a member of his staff to be a tenant of the Society provided that all tenants to be nominated by the employer shall fulfill the qualifications to be decided by the Society from time to time and shall have been in the Employer's service for three years or more, (In the event of such a tenant being evicted by the Society the Employer will be given an opportunity to nominate another member of his staff to fill the vacancy, Should the tenant leave the Employer's service but continue to be a tenant of the Society, the Employer will have the right to nominate another suitable member of his staff and the Society will endeavour to house this nominee in one of their properties of a similar type provided that two years have elapsed from the start of the original tenancy), (b) lend to the Society such sum as is required to cover the cost of construction, site formation and approach road but not the cost of the land. (For simplicity's sake, to arrive at the loan figure, the capital sum will be divided by the total number of flats on the Estate), (c) receive back the sum in 20 equal annual instalments, interest free, (d) enjoy the rights referred to in 2 (a) above for a period of 25 years from the date of the original loan,

7 (<?) be repaid his loan irrespectne of whether the employee pays his rent or not, N,B, Applications ma> be made for anv number of units The Employee will (a) be granted a monthly tenancy subject to the Society's standard terms and conditions from time to time which will include terms forbidding certain practices, such as subletting, overcrowding etc. ( ) (i) m the event of his being discharged by his employer continue to enjoy his rights under his lease and will not automatically be made to \acate his flat, (li) continue to retain his tenancy in the event of retirement, (c) In the event of the Employee dying, his widow or other approved occupant of the flat may at the entire discretion of tne Society be accepted as the tenant in his place. Hung I loin Estate Interior Plans for Shu Kuk Street Estate \\ill be similar in design This Loan Scheme, thiough the cooperation of the Society and Employer will, it is hoped, in some measure relieve the distressing housing conditions in the Colony, and make for better relations between Employers and Employees, as well as implementing Government Policy in regard to staff housing Any firm interested in this scheme should apply to the Hong Kong Housing Society, Room 5, Old Urban Council Building, Statue Square, Hong Kong, Tel No Atter ist May, new address will be ist Floor, Old Roads Office, Lower Albert Road, Hong Kong, Tel or Post Office Box No, 6060, Kowloon. Interior of one of the Societv's small flat** y.

8 Block "A" with Balcony Flat for 7 persons Unit Area 368 sq. ft. Block "C" without Balcony 10 11

9 [HKP] H77 XD1713Efl4 <;HK.P Hong Kong Housing Society. Loan scheme. [1957] Bindin ' (A Date Due : n tebl C -ft? / NO TOO

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