636
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room intensify it to such an extent that none of the rooms are healthy habitations. The cubicle system leads to overcrowding in its worst form and, with the absence of light and fresh air, under its worst conditions, for with the existing design of buildings whenever there are more than two cubicles in a room even in the upper storeys the compartment is dark and devoid of fresh air, With darkness, absence of fresh air and overcrowding it is impossible to keep them clean.
New Designs.
22. In order to secure lateral windows to the rooms of Chinese houses and so provide a window for each cubicle, designs of various kinds have been sent to the Building Authority and several of these are now reproduced. They show that the problem is not an insoluble one and that the difficulties connected with the proper housing of the Chinese are not insurmountable.
23. Plate XIV represents an improved type of Chinese houses designed by the Honourable W. CHATHAM, Director of Public Works. It solves the cubicle question in the room, for it gives to each a window which will permit of sufficient amount of light and ventilation in the cubicle. The only objection to the building as a whole is that there is no provision for a back-yard, which is an important place for the inhabitants of the house if they are not to do their washing and carry on their general domestic work in the back-lane. Besides in a back-yard a water pipe can be placed for the use of the inmates instead of as now having a water pipe for every storey with extravagant waste and consequent scarcity in the dry
season.
24. Plate XV is a design sent in by WM. DANBY, Esq., M. Inst. C.E., to the Chairman of the Committee re the Housing of the Chinese, as far back as 10th July, 1894. It is an excellent design and plan not only intending to cover the question of cubicles but also that of the relation of houses to one another. We do not however agree with Mr. DANBY as to the number of persons he thinks these houses would contain and yet remain in a sanitary condition. He would allow 21 square feet for each person; 30 is the existing rule but it ought not to be less than 50 square feet. As Mr. DANBY's communication to the Housing Committee is important it is reproduced in the Appendix.
It has many
25. Plate XVI represents a design by Messrs. PALMER & TURNER. advantages in its arrangements especially with reference to the staircase which in the ordinary type of house is excessively steep and narrow as well as being dark, but the amount of yard or courtyard is not sufficiently wide for each house. Instead of being 11 feet it should be at least 15 with a certain amount in the rear extending the width of the house and courtyard.
OVERCROWDING.
26. There are two kinds of overcrowding in Hongkong-one produced by the close proximity of the houses, crowding the occupants of the houses on a small area; the other by too many inmates occupying one house.
Both of these may occur apart from one another but it is usual for them to be found together producing conditions of the worst kind. Plate I, showing a block of houses in Health District No. 5, furnishes an example of both kinds, for not only are the houses crowded together thus raising the density of population on the area, but the houses themselves are overcrowded with people. The interior of this block should be resumed and one or more streets cut through it so that the remaining buildings can be laid out on sanitary principles.*
There are many smaller areas like it, which can be rectified only by remov- ing every other row of buildings. The latter process would reduce the surface overcrowding, but it would not affect the overcrowding of the people in the
*Since this report was drafted a number of the houses in this area have been destroyed by fire and it is very important that advantage should be taken of the opportunity thus afforded to carry out the necessary reformis.—WF. J. S.