107
HONGKONG.
No.
10
1923
REPORT OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, 4th October, 1923.
By a Notification in the Gazette of the 6th April, 1923, we were appointed by His Excellency the Governor in Council to enquire." as to what measures are possible to increase the quantity and decrease the cost of hous- ing accommodation in the Colony ", and were directed to report to His Excellency the Governor our findings and recommendations at as early a date as possible.
2. Our report does not deal with 'office' accommodation, because we were subsequently informed by the Government, by letter, that the above expression, housing accommodation', was not intended to include office accommodation.
3. Although asked to report as early as possible, we have been so im- pressed by the gravity and difficulty of the task assigned to us, and by the undesirability of arriving hastily at any decisions, that we have deemed it advisable to take ample time to prosecute our investigations.
4. Whilst we have, in the course of our enquiries, collected a consider- able mass of valuable documentary and vivâ voce evidence (referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Report) which has assisted us greatly in arriving at our conclusions, we have necessarily drawn to a certain extent upon our long experience of the Colony, its circumstances and its needs.
5. We annex hereto the following documents :--
Enclosure 1 containing--
(1) our circular dated the 9th April, 1923, which was sent to all the authorised architects in private practice, and to Chinese contractors and engineers in the Colony on the Government list, and which was also published in the four local English news- papers; and
(2) the answers thereto, numbered 1 to 55, for convenience of reference.
Enclosure IA containing plans referred to in letters in Enclosure 1. Enclosure 2 containing our circular letter dated the 27th April, 1923, addressed to European firms on the subject of the housing of employees; with answers thereto, numbered 3 to 32.
Enclosure 3.-Minute (extracted from C.S.O. 3 in 364/1921) by the Hon. Mr. H. T. Jackman, dated 18/4/22, on the subject of the estimated cost of erection by the Government of lodging-houses for Chinese, together with the estimated annual expenditure thereon, and the estimated annual revenue therefrom.
Enclosure 4.-Minute (extracted from C.S.O. 1255/23) of the 6th Meeting of a Committee consisting of the late Director of Public Works Mr. T. L. Perkins, Mr. H. W. Bird and Mr. W. L. Leask on the introduction of labour-saving devices.
Enclosure 5 containing information received by the Chairman from the Buildings Office re the projected demolition and reconstruction of certain buildings.
Terms of Reference..
Office accommola- tion.
Necessity for careful enquity.
Evidence.
Enclosures = Documents received.