Topic 5 State and Public Housing

1. Topic 5 State and Public Housing

2. Castells contribution extends beyond the traditional conflict between labor and capital. He highlighted the conflict between local government and the working class arising from local administration of various social welfare programs. Manuel Castells’s Theory Manuel Castells

3. Advanced countries had highly developed welfare states. That is, the national government supported a variety of social programs for all workers, such as unemployment insurance or subsidized housing. Manuel Castells’s Theory U.S. unemployed workers signing up for unemployment benefits following passage of the Social Security Act. 

4. Manuel Castells’s Theory • City residents seeking these resources often became entangled in conflict with city agencies. • Castells views welfare capitalism— the government providing worker subsidies— as an important factor affecting urban life.

5. Key issues such as housing, education, mass transportation, health, and welfare make sense only within the context of disputes arising over their administration by city government agencies. Manuel Castells’s Theory

6. Such government activity to provide resources to the working class, represents an effort to “extend” capitalism, and gives rise to new urban struggles and patterns of conflict. State-supported resources were necessary for the reproduction of the working class. Manuel Castells’s Theory

7. New forms of social movement - Struggles for resources by residents of the city, therefore, often took the form of conflicts aimed at local government, rather than the capitalist class. Manuel Castells’s Theory

8. Another significant urban experience in Hong Kong is featured by the biggest amount of public house in the world. • Some said that it is a miracle in a capitalist city. Over half of population are housed in public house. Characteristics of HK Public House

9. The public house project even evolved into self funded and self sustained projects. • The government lent $45 million to Housing Authority first and then $111 million later. Characteristics of HK Public House

10. Thus public housing is the most significant cultural factor for nurturing common community identity in Hong Kong. Characteristics of HK Public House

11. Shek Kip Mei squatter fire in Christmas night in 1953. 50000 became homeless • Tai Hang Tung squatter area resulted in another 24000. • A resettlement team was formed due to pragmatic consideration. Historical Origin of Public House

12. Commissioner for Resettlement 1955: • “Squatters are not resettled simply because they need or deserve hygienic and fireproof homes. They are resettled because the community can no longer afford to carry the fire risk, health risk, and threat to public order.” Historical Origin of Public House

13. Two-layered temporary resettlement squatter in restricted area. Historical Origin of Public House

14. Seven- layered resettlement building started the history of public house in HK • Common bathroom, common toilet and a sleeping area with a rent of $14 each month. Historical Origin of Public House

15. The housing problem already raised concern in pre-war period • British government recommended a minimum of 35 square feet of living space per person • It was however, taken mainly as a public health issue with less housing concern Historical Origin of Public House

16. An “accident” or a “must”? • Refugee problems and land use for industrial development called for public house development. • Government revenue through the sale of the cleared land. Reason for Public House Development

17. The focus of public housing service was very selective: • Squatters were rehoused in the resettlement estates on the land equivalent only to 38% of the area they previously occupied. • Crown land supplied a cheap and available source of labour for industrial production Reason for Public House Development

18. Public housing rent cost less than 10% of tenants’ household income • Not a social welfare, but a social investment Reason for Public House Development

19. Housing Society set up in 1951 as a remedy organization, and Housing Authority was first set up in 1954. • Targeted on the families with income from $300 to $900 per month Initiative Stage of Public House in HK

20. In 1961, there were about 3.1 million people living in HK. Of them, 2.2 million were inadequately housed. • In 60s a Government Low Cost Housing Program was set up to provide flats for families with monthly incomes less than $500, and the income limit wasraised to $600 per month in 1970. Initiative Stage of Public House in HK Kwun Lung Lau North Point Estate

21. Initiative Stage of Public House in HK • Each flat was composed of a sleeping room, a private balcony, a toilet, cooking space, water taps and electrical points. • Great numbers of public rental units from 1954-2001

22. Public housing estate and new town development as a community building project had to wait until the era of Governor MacLehose. • The HK government launched the Ten Year Housing Programme in 1972. Community Building

23. The plan was to rehouse 1.8 million within the ten- year period • The New Housing Authority formed in 1973 Community Building

24. Home Ownership Scheme: the first Home Ownership Scheme flats were put sale in 1978, the household income limit for private sector applicants was set at HK$3500 per month which was raised to $7500 per month in 1984. Community Building

25. Community Building • “high price high quality” principle -the waiting list for public housing units • Different types of public housing in 70s, 80s, and 90s which embodied with different generations of grown-up experiences.

26. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Mark I Lei Cheng Uk Estate 第一型 李鄭屋邨 Mark II Tai Wo Hau Estate 第二型 大窩口邨

27. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Mark IV Tsz Man Estate 第四型 慈民邨 Mark III Tsz Wan Shan 第三型 慈雲山

28. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Mark V Sau Mau Ping (I) Estate 第五型 秀茂坪一邨 Mark VI Building 第六型大廈

29. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Twin Tower Wah Fu Estate 雙塔式 華富邨 Slab Cheung On Estate 長型 長安邨

30. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Cruciform Tai Hing Estate 十字型 大興邨 H Type Shui Pin Wai Estate 工字型 水邊圍邨

31. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Double H Block 雙工型大廈 Trident Tak Tin Estate Y型 德田邨

32. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Harmony Cheung Hang Estate 和諧式 長亨邨 Harmony Rural Ma Heng Estate 和諧式鄉村型 馬坑邨

33. Block types of Public Housing(built by Housing Authority) Concord Wo Ming Court 康和式 和明苑邨 New Cruciform Block Chung Ming Court 新十字型 頌明苑