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(b) the housing programme proposed in para. 8 of this Note.
(ii) A Senior Executive Officer be appointed to the staff of the C-in-C, with powers equivalent to a Minister of Reconstruction, to co-ordinate the work of all branches of the Government in carrying out this programme. He should be specially chosen for his energy, drive and administrative ability.
(iii) That sufficient building materials be purchased and imported without delay. An adequately staffed Stores Department, with men experienced in pur- chasing, shipping, storing and issuing engineering and building construction stores, should be set up by the Administration. Local production potential should be organised and encouraged, and the services of local firms should be enlisted and co-ordinated for importation, storage and distribution of materials.
(iv) That the Colonial Office should send out by air before April 20th all the officers and technical subordinates on the list of P.W.D. Buildings & Lands personnel signalled to the Cabinet Offices on February 12th, 1946, and that all remaining fit Buildings and Lands men should follow by May 15th at latest.
In addition, technical supervisory staff sufficient to bring the Buildings and Lands Branches up to at least pre-war establishment should be immediately recruited in United Kingdom or elsewhere on a temporary agreement for 2 or 3 years and sent out by air.
(v) That a special allocation of staff cars and load-carrying lorries in reason- able running repair be made forthwith to bring the Buildings and Lands Branches up to, say, 75% of the amended War Establishment for vehicles. And that cars and load-carrying vehicles be purchased from U.S. Services known surplus stocks in the Pacific and brought to the Colony for the use of all engaged on building reconstruction.
(vi) That a decision be reached, if possible before the end of April, on the
question of subsidising building reconstruction work.
(vii) That a Priority Committee, as already proposed, be appointed forthwith.
(viii) That a speedy decision be made regarding renewal of Crown Leases due
to expire within the next 15 years.
(ix) That a Sub-Committee be appointed to advise on control of civil building
construction work and of materials.
Hong Kong, 30th March, 1946.
(Signed) L. W. AMPS,
Lt. Col. R.E.
S.O. I (CA) Works, Buildings & Lands.