THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 30гn JULY, 1898.
hardly arises. We are of opinion, as to the great majority of insanitary dwellings, that they can be rendered fairly sanitary and fit for habitation by the enforcement of the follow- ing recommendations, as the principal defects in the existing buildings arise from want of adequate light and ventilation.
Class A.
Back-to-back Houses.
6. Where these houses have each a greater total depth than 26 feet from front to back one-half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls at the back of the premises on each floor should be open to the sky, severe penalties should be inflicted on any one closing or allowing said space to be closed and the Magistrate should have full power to order the prompt removal of the obstructions.
Where in back-to-back houses over 26 feet in depth there is now no space between the principal rooms and the enlcosing walls at the back of the premises the land-owner should be compelled by law to so alter the construction of his house as to provide for an open space at the back of not less than 40 square feet.
Wherever there is now, or wherever there is to be constructed under the recom- mendations contained herein, an open space at the back of any house, a window not less than one-thirtieth of the floor area must be opened into it from the back of the main room. These regulations should not apply to houses situate at the corner of two main streets, and adequately lighted from two sides.
Class B. Houses fronting on narrow lanes.
7. In houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width, no cubicles should be allowed on the ground floors.
Class C. Houses with insufficient open space in the rear.
8. One-half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls at the back of the premises on each floor should be open to the sky such space not to be less than forty square feet in any case.
Class D. Houses abutting on the hill-side.
9. One-half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the hill- side against which the premises abut should be open to the sky such space not to be less than forty square feet in any case.
10. We are of opinion that the provisions of Section 9 of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894 are sufficient for the purposes of abating overcrowding.
11. We are of opinion that immediate effect should be given to these recommenda- tions by legislation.
12. We consider that no cubicles should, in future, be permitted on any floor in any dwelling that has not a window or windows opening directly into the external air of a total area of not less thau one-tenth of the floor space.
13. In his examination the Medical Officer of Health referred to the question of cubicles and suggested their reduction from the present height of eight feet to six feet, but in this he is not supported by the other witnesses the local architects being averse to any change as the present height was decided upon so recently as 1894.
We, however, recommend that no cubicles of a greater height than seven feet unless the height of the room exceeds thirteen feet he permitted to be erected or re-crected hereafter in any domestic dwelling.
14. We recommend that owners of Private Streets and Lanes be required at their own expense to surface, channel, and light such Streets and Lanes, and to maintain them in a sanitary condition.
15. In conclusion, we now deal seriatim with the questions referred for our con- sideration in the order set forth in the Commission.
We are of opinion-
(i) That it is unnecessary for the Government to resume insanitary properties
generally, and improve them and re-sell them.
(ii) It being unnecessary to resume insanitary properties generally, no means
for their resumption need be provided.
(iii) The said properties should be improved in the manner suggested in this Report, and should be carried out by the owners at their own cost, failing which they should be carried out by the Government, and the owners called upon to refund the cost.
(iv) It is not necessary to provide means for housing the occupants of any dwellings pending improvements, as such improvements could be carried out without any undue inconvenience to such occupants.
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