47
HOTEL RATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
REPORT.
1. The Committee was appointed on 3rd August, 1948, "to enquire into and advise Government concerning the rates to be charged for accommodation, food and services by hotels and boarding houses throughout the Colony."
2. The Committee was composed of the Hon. P. S. Cassidy, Mr. F. G. Maunder, F.C.A., Mr. J. M. Wong, Mr. Chung King-pui, Mrs. Morris-Comfort under the chair- manship of the Hon. T. N. Chau, C.B.E., Mr. J. M. Tan, A.C.A. of Messrs. Wong. Tan & Co., Chartered Accountants, assisted the Committee as Professional Adviser. Mr. P. F. J. Eardley was appointed Secretary. The duties of secretary were transferred to Mr. R. S. W. Paterson when he returned from leave on 4th October, 1948.
3. Since the Interim report dated 30th September, 1948, was submitted we have continued our enquiries and now report in full.
4.
It is regretted that there has been a longer delay than the Committee ex- pected in submitting this report but it is pointed out that:—
(a) The amount of data to be accumulated was considerable.
(b) The preparation and examination of accounts and returns took a long
time.
(c) Before coming to our final conclusions it was felt desirable to await the impending return of Mr. Paterson who as Quartering Authority had been associated with this problem since the hotels had been derequisi- tioned.
5. It is quite obvious that in a report of this kind we can only deal with broad principles. Cases of hardship either individual or collective both in respect of residents and hotel managements have been disregarded. It is our considered opinion that opportunity to appeal against any accepted recommendations should be given through whatever machinery Government may wish to establish for the purpose.
6. The Committee held fourteen meetings and on two days inspected various hotels and boarding houses of different classes.
7. In the course of our enquiries deputations were received from the Hong Kong and Kowloon Hotels and Boarding Houses Residents Association and the Hong Kong and Kowloon Hotels and Boarding Houses Association.
8. In order that we might be in a position to have the views of residents of the various hotels in Hong Kong, a questionnaire was sent out to the occupants of each of the rooms of European type hotels.
A copy of this questionnaire is attached, Appendix III. The following is a summary of the replies received:-
Number of questionnaires sent out
1125
Replies received within the prescribed period
Number of Persons agreeing to existing rates
Number of Persons disagreeing
399
70
327
Non committal
2
9. For the purpose of this report the Committee have defined a "Resident Guest" as one whose stay in a hotel or boarding house is of at least one month's duration, and who gives one week's notice of intention to leave.