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6. Conclusions:
From the foregoing it is evident that:-
(a) Goyt. control over hotel accommodation will be necessary until new building and reconstruction of damaged houses catches up with the demand for accommodation.
(b) Pressure must be brought on European Firms to induce them to plan ahead to provide and furnish accommodation for expected arrivals of staff and for individuals now residing in hotels. Govt. should offer to accommo- date in hotels or hostels only a specified percentage of the European staffs of each firm. Numbers in excess of this percentage should not be permitted to return unless the firm can guarantee that the individual has accommodation available immediately to him in places other than hotels.
(c) Govt. should control allocation of incoming building material to the extent of fixing the priority under which different types of accommodation are repaired or constructed. It is necessary for Govt. to insist that certain particular buildings are repaired before others.
(d) Pressure should be put on the services to vacate the Royal Court Hotel, Knutsford Hotel, Repulse Bay Hotel, Courtlands and the Hermitage, all of which are capable of housing large numbers of people. If the proprietors of these places are unable to operate them commercially at reasonable prices, Govt. should be prepared to instal the necessary staffs and to run the places as Govt. Hostels.
(e) The return of women and children to the Colony should be prohibited unless the individual has private accommodation other than in Hotels, available immediately on arrival.
(f) The possibility of delaying until next winter, when tents could be used, the arrival of certain troops, is worth consideration in those cases where postponed arrival would enable accommodation to be freed now or in the near future.
Gen. Adm. Branch,
Colonial Secretariat,
Lower Albert Road,
HONG KONG.
(Signed) J. D. MILNE, Lt. Col.
S.O.I. Adm. and Quartering. 1. 4. 46.