158
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
with the proposed erection of living accommodation in one form or another-European type houses, flats and apartments, and Chinese tenements-illustrating that there is still no diminution in the demand for housing accommodation. The remainder of the plans covered buildings such as factories, godowns, schools, churches, offices, etc. Also submitted were several thousand plans dealing with building works not being new buildings-e.g. rehabilitation of, and alteration and ad- ditions to existing buildings, site formation schemes, drainage works and amendments to previously approved plans.
During the same period 1,104 permits were issued allowing the occupation of completed buildings. Of these permits 815 were for buildings to be used for residential purposes.
NEW TERRITORIES HOUSING
In the New Territories (apart from New Kowloon) the Buildings Ordinance does not apply, but control of buildings is exercised by the New Territories Administration, along the lines of the Buildings Ordinance where town buildings are concerned, but with wide latitude in respect of village hou- sing. No structure may be erected without the approval of the District Officer concerned.
In villages of traditional South Chinese construction the houses are built in rows one behind another, usually all facing the same way, the exact position of the village being deter- mined according to principles of geomancy. A typical exam- ple of geomantic siting is for a village to be built on the lower slopes of a hill, facing rice-fields and sea, with hills extending like two arms on the right and left, and with a grove of trees, which by tradition must not be cut down, immediately behind the village. Often there is a pond, and more trees, across the front of the village.
Many villages (but not so many as in the adjoining parts of China) have walls, gates, watch-towers, and even a moat. In front of the first row of houses there is usually an open