185 (26)
Overcrowd-
ing.
Appending No, 6.
Entry and Inspection of Buildings.
232. In view of the difficulty experienced by Chinese of moderate means in securing house accommodation for their families at reasonable prices, we would suggest to Your Excellency the advisability of considering whether it could not be possible in part to meet the difficulties occasioned by the abolition of cubicles by the framing of special rules for native houses.
233. These houses to be confined to one, or not more than two, stories, to be of cheap construction, and while built on sanitary principles, to be less costly than is entailed by the present building regulations.
234. One advantage would be that one or two families could share a house and while thus ensuring greater privacy at a reasonable rate, than is now possible, the present excessive overcrowding in the four storied houses in Victoria would be prevented.
235. The system has for many years worked very well in Shanghai where two classes of building regulations are in force, (a) one for Chinese buildings which are limited to two stories, and (b) the foreign buildings regulations, which apply to all other classes of building, private or otherwise.
Copies of the Shanghai Municipal Rules are attached, and we believe that were soine such system adopted here, much good would result.
236. We are of opinion that should such a change appear desirable, no time should be lost in considering the matter, in view of the great extension of building more particularly in the Kowloon peninsula, which we anticipate will take place in the immediate future.
237. In order to encourage the erection of this type of houses, it might be worth while for the Government to put up lan 1 for sale at a low figure on the condition that only houses of this type be constructed thereon.
238. From enquiries made, we gather that considerable irritation to the public is caused through the thoughtless and inconsiderate manner in which the right of entry under this Urdinance is carried out.
It is obvious that such a right must exist in order to detect nuisances and prevent overcrowding but it is equally clear that the greatest tact should be exercised in the carrying out of this provision.
239. Instead of this it appears that as regards day visits for nuisances most of the Inspectors and subordinate officials of the Department do not even go through the form of asking permission to enter a house. Instances have been quoted where in the houses of well-to-do Europeans these men enter without permission, or by merely notifying their intention to do so to some coolie whom they may meet in the servants' quarters.
240. With regard to Chinese dwellings of all classes, this disregard for the feelings and rights of the householder is even more marked.
It is the universal custom in China that a visitor on arriving at the door of the dwelling should call out in a loud voice announcing his presence, and asking permission to enter, The omission to do so even on the part of a friend would be considered a grave breach of manners, and even to the coglie class would be most repugnant.
The
241. Instead of this, Sanitary Inspectors frequently enter a house during the day time without warning and even go into the women's quarters quite as a matter of course, and as though they were armed with a search warrant. subordinate servants such as rat catchers and others presuming on this also force their way into houses, set traps where they will and threaten the owners with prosecution if they are moved.
The average Chinese, particularly of the lower orders, are too ignorant of the law and in too great a fear of all Sanitary Officials to question their authority.