1 topic 5 state and public housing. 2 1.manuel castells’s theory castells contribution extends...

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Topic 5 State and Public Housing

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1. Manuel Castells’s Theory

• Castells contribution extends beyond the traditional conflict between labour and capital. He highlighted the conflict between local government and the working class arising from local administration of various social welfare programs.

• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

• 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.

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• 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.

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2. Characteristics of HK Public House

• 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.

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2. Characteristics of HK Public House

• 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.

• Thus public housing is the most significant cultural factor for nurturing common community identity in Hong Kong.

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3. Historical Origin of Public House

• 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.

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Public Housing Development in Hong Kong 1953—1973

(Produced by housing Authority)

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• 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.”

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• Two-layered temporary resettlement squatter in restricted area.

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• 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.

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• 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

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4. Reason for Public House Development

• 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.

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• The focus of public housing service was very selective:

a. Squatters were rehoused in the resettlement estates on the land equivalent only to 38% of the area they previously occupied.

b. Crown land supplied a cheap and available source of labour for industrial production

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• Public housing rent cost less than 10% of tenants’ household income

• Not a social welfare, but a social investment

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5. Initiative Stage of Public House in HK

• 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

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• 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 was raised to $600 per month in 1970.

North Point Estate

Kwun Lung Lau

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• 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

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6. Community Building

• 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.

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• The plan was to rehouse 1.8 million within the ten- year period

• The New Housing Authority formed in 1973

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• 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.

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• “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.

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7. 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

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Mark III Tsz Wan Shan

第三型慈雲山 Mark IV Tsz Man Estate 第四型慈民邨


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Mark V Sau Mau Ping (I) Estate

第五型秀茂坪一邨

Mark VI Building

第六型大廈


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Twin Tower Wah Fu Estate

雙塔式華富邨

Slab Cheung On Estate

長型長安邨


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Cruciform Tai Hing Estate十字型大興邨

H Type Shui Pin Wai Estate工字型水邊圍邨


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Double H Block

雙工型大廈

Trident Tak Tin Estate

Y 型德田邨


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Harmony Cheung Hang Estate和諧式長亨邨

Harmony Rural Ma Heng Estate和諧式鄉村型馬坑邨


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Concord Wo Ming Court康和式和明苑邨

New Cruciform Block Chung Ming Court新十字型頌明苑


1 topic 5 state and public housing. 2 1.manuel castells’s theory castells contribution extends...

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