New apartments built with government subsidies were unveiled to more than 2,700 needy residents in Shenzhen's Bao'an District on Wednesday, the Shenzhen Evening News reported.

A total of 15 seven-floor apartment buildings in Guangming Sub-district were allocated to 880 households. Of these, 656 were decided by lottery.

The municipal and district governments, the Guangming Group and the residents shared the cost of 80 million yuan (US$9.6 million). The residents were also given home appliances and furniture by the government. The poverty-stricken residents had been living in cramped and damp conditions.

The estate is one of two projects that will provide cheap and better housing for Guangming residents. Construction will start soon on the other project, in the north of the sub-district, which will accommodate 698 needy families. Senior provincial and municipal officials have inspected the construction sites.

(Shenzhen Daily January 27, 2005)