type housing for 160 thousand persons and European type accommodation for 7 thousand had been destroyed during the Pacific War and the high price and scarcity of building material and the high cost of labour have delayed rebuilding. Nevertheless 211 new European type dwellings, 729 new Chinese type dwellings and 125 miscellaneous new non-domestic buildings were completed during the year. These new buildings have not sufficed to house the whole of the population which is now es- timated to be larger than it was before the war owing to the large influx of destitutes from China immediately after the war and the later influx of wealthier persons and business men who took refuge in the Colony from the unsettled economy of China. Thousands of people who in more settled times would have a house, flat or cubicle are living in small overcrowded spaces or even in crude squatters' huts and shacks without water or sanitation. Such squatters' colonies are gradually being eliminated and displaced squatters are being permitted to build for themselves on several prepared sites a hut of standard design. Furthermore, arrange- ments have been made for the alienation by private treaty of land to persons for the purpose of building on it their own homes.
As a result of the general shortage of accommodation hotels have remained full so that it is difficult for the casual guest to obtain lodging. A Committee was appointed to enquire into rates charged by hotels and to make recommendations Government regarding the control of such rates.
Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East.
to
this
Hong Kong is an Associate Member of the United Nations' regional Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, two sessions of which were held during 1948. One of these, the third session, was held at Ootacamund in South India in May and was attended by Dr. S. N. Chau as delegate for Hong Kong, accompanied by an alternate delegate. The fourth session took place in Lapstone, Australia, in November and again Hong Kong was represented by Dr. S. N. Chau, time accompanied by two alternate delegates. Between these sessions the Commission arranged a meeting of experts from the countries of the region to consider financial arrangements to promote trade, and by invitation Hong Kong was represented on this expert group by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports. The meeting was held in Shanghai and presented its recommen- dations to the fourth session of the Commission at Lapstone.
The work of the Commission is of necessity still concentrated on the collection of data which will provide a complete picture of the overall needs of the region, and Hong Kong is contributing to this end to the best of her ability.
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