February 10, 1906.]
HONGKONG AND THE HOUSING
QUESTION.
Following the article in which it was shown
that the attempt to abolish cubicles had been abortive, although the letter of the Ordinance of 1903 has been carried out, and that Chinese houses were still overcrowded and insanitary habitations, it might be found of interest now to consider the question of house building as it affects the native community. It is a subject that must or should appeal to the white popula tion almost as keenly as those immediately concerned, because interests of public health demand the abolition of inzanitary conditions in our midst, while British dominance should be coincident with a general betterment in the community and an appreciation of the benefits of civilisation.
At the outset it ought to be insisted that the question is one for the consideration of builders as much as for the Government. With a city situated as Hongkong is, built at the base and on the slope of a hill, with a people given to swarming in vast aggregations, the authorities will find it well nigh im- possible to bring about unaided a better systom of housing. Unless they are assisted by builders and others interested they can effect little improvement in existing conditions, for as has been pointed out, the policy of resumption though relieving the congestion in some of the most unwholesome areas is too fragmentary, tardy and costly to result in any appreciable advance towards the city ideal at which it is believed all are aiming to make Hongkong. Builders are still allowed to crowd houses together, they are still allowed to build them with the same sanitary defects, while the over- crowding of the inhabitants continues in spite of a big staff ander the Sanitary Board.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
It may be argued that by endeavouring to procure a better and more healthful system of housing for the Chinese our attitude is too paternal, and that really the natives are better off here than in the country which gives them their name. That, however, is a mistake. Not only do the Chinese tenement houses differ in style from the European but also from the ordinary Chinese houses in Canton, or other cities in the empire. There, as a rule, the buildings often not more than one, but with the growth are not more than two storeys in height and of Hongkong there has developed a system of housing for the Chinese based on both European and native methods which possesses the defects of each without any of their advantages. Practically everyone knows that in tho-e tenements there is one little kitchen at the one end of the floor which bas to serve for the
of culinary requirements
the
at all, except perhaps in some of the newer whole landing, while there are no onvenience
tenements. The men have to make use of the public latrines, but for women and children there is no provision of any kind.
It has been pointed out that the defects in the design of Chinese houses are caused by their | great depth without lateral windows, bat though these defects are recognised and it is sought to make each compartment on the floor a legal room by having a window opening into it, the question arises-Why should builders slavishly follow the old style in building Chinese house? Why cannot they adopt a different design? Is there any reason, for instance, why the tenement houses should be built of such great depth? No one will gainsay the statement that six or more cubicles or apartmen ́s, as they are entitled to be called if they possess a window, on one narrow floor is too many for a Chinese tenement. Even in the improved houses there is a state of affairs which it is difficult to distinguish from overcrowding, and their lack of facilities for ordinary cleanli- ness is in itself a strong indictment against some of the buildings which are describert as an improvement on the abominable structures where so many are herded toget' er at present in the centre of the city.
I
To o nclude. The remedies which naturally suggest themselves are that the tenements should be built of less depth, and if deemed advisable, more lanes introduced to break up the tendency to congestiona iu native residential areas. Or, as before suggested, to deal with existing localities by taking away each third block to allow of each block having lateral windows. It might not be necessary to remove the ground floor-a concession to those who plead the great expenditure which it would entail. That might still remain and be utilised for shops, but the opening above would afford the necessary clear space, would allow of outside stairs, and would result in more of the sunlight and pure air being admitted to the humble dwellings.
|
The depth of Chinese houses being recoguised as one of the greatest objections against the present system, it seems only too obvious that one great source of improvement would be to build them less deep, Of course the reply will be forthcoming that the expense of the addi- tional land required to house a given number of Chinese under the suggested conditions precludes such an idea being carried into practice, but humbly let it be said in the midst of a community so keenly interested in dividends that the question is not one of securing a certain percentage on a certain amount of money invested. If the old order of things permitted a speculator to make twenty or thirty per cent. out of the necessities of the people, that is no reason for its continuancé. Houses can be built at a cost which will afford a reasonable margin of profit, and should speculators not be found willing to accept the reduced profits then the solution of the difficulty will devolve on the Government The well-being of the Colony If its interest, and though it may not be concerned with the monetary gain likely to accrue from the building of houses to accom- modate the people, yet, if compelled to undertake this duty, there is good reason to believe that it would not be a financial loss to the community and there would be the added satisfaction of Jessening the evils attendant on overcrowding and on a people living in insanitary conditions.
THE 2S. 4D. DOLLAR. ·
Under the headings, "Government tries to buy £190,000 at Saturday's Rate and then lowers the Dollar." "An extraordinary tour de finance," the Strait Times of Jan. 30th says:-Exchange was fixed yesterday at two shillings and four pence sterling for the dollar.
We stated yesterday that no measures ia respect of the fixity of exchange would be considered or debated.
This statement was made on the assurance of Mr. A. H. Lemon. the Acting Clerk of Council, to whom our reporter was sent to verify or deny the article in our morning con- temporary, stating that the fixity of exchange was to be a subject at the special meeting of Council convened for yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Lemon spoke officially, and while he spoke, Government was teudering to buy £100,000 at the then ruling rate of exchange, which was five-eights of a penny higher than
the rate at which it was decided to fix the dollar in the afternoon.
It may be offered in extenuation of such an not that Government threw out this offer as a
feeler."
*
We have consulted bankers and brokers, and the concensus of their opinion is that £100,000 is rather a large sum for a mere " feeler."
Messrs. Fraser & Co.-than whom there is no more reliable firm in the Straits-were the brokers
The scheme, whatever may have been its object, fell through because the bankers refused to sell.
That £100,000 is still on the market.
105
THE SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL
ELECTION.
The Shanghai custom, which does not countenance addresses, speeches, mestings, canvassing, and the other accessories of a contested ion at home, rendered the two days' polling for Municipal Councillors on January 23rd and 24th as tame a business as it always is. The result is that of the eleven candidates Messrs. Ayscough and Shorrock are unsuccessful, the latter being somewhat
prejudiced in the public mind through his con- nection with the tramway scheme, which has been accepted by the community. As was generally expected, Mr. Codil Holliday headed the poll, and it is not unlikely that he will be the new Chairman of the Council. As there are about 1,600 voters on the register the figures following show that the majority left it to thoir neighbours to vote : --
It would be possible to say a lot of things in the premises; but it seems that the foregoing simple statement of facts is amply sufficient.
DARING ROBBERY AT CANTON.'
THE ATTACK ON DE. BEATTIE.
Our Canton correspondent adds. that the robbers who bound and threatened Dr. and Mrs. Beattie at Fa-ti on the night of the 2nd inst. had both rifles and revolvers, and were seen in the light of torches carried by themselves to embark in long “dragon" boats. They ran" sacked the house thoroughly, and got away with at least $1,000 worth of property. The American Consul has the matter in hand.
C. Holliday
J. Liddell
ELECT: D.
W. J. Gresson W. H. Poate
G. Menser
H. De Gray F. C. Heffer E. S. Little F. Ellis
294
287
282
279
262
252
... 259
242
172
Total number of votes 307, and 3 irregular votes.-N.-C. Daily News.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
A MISSING SOLDIER.
following account of the disappearance of the We take from the M.-C. Daily News the
English officer last year. On March 18th, 1905, Lieutenant George Roland Graham, 1121) Native Infantry, Indian Army, is supposed to have left Tientsin by train for Kinchon with the intention of joining the left wing of the Japa 1880 army in Manchuria, which at that time was near Mukden. So far as is known, he intended to ride from Kinchou and he is believed to have travelled under the assumed name of P. Pooker. Whether he adopted à disguise or not is unknown. He had a know- ledge of the Chinese language. Description:- Age 21. Slight build. Height about 5ft. 6in. Complexion sallow. Blue eyes. Possibly of one foot slight monstache. Little toe
A reward of фе thousand contracted. Mexican Dollars will be paid to anyone giving definite and reliable information as to his
whereabouts if alive, or as to his fate if dead. In the latter contingency it is important to establish the exact date of his death. Any person wishing to give information is requested to communicate with the British Embassy at Tokyo, the British Legation at Peking, or any other representative of H. M.'s Government.
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE LAND INVESTMENT CO. AND ITS MANAGEMENT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,
SIR-I was astounded when I read your report of this Company Meeting, especially by the Chairman's remark that we have vacant Chinese bouses representing $75,000 per annum, capitalising at 74 per cent. equal to one million dollars worth of property lying idle. Is that good management? I never knew that I had invested my money in empty houses,—Yours truly,
SMALL INVESTOR.
The German Bundesrath has granted the right of municipal Government to the German settlements at Tientsin and Hankow, according to a telegram to the Deutsch Japan-Post,
The Fuji Spinning Company has been except- tionally successful in its working for the half year just ended. The company's net profit is Y810,672, and a dividend is declared at the rate of 20 per cent. per annum, while Y231,200 are added to the reserves. The company has decided to increase its capital by Y2400,000 for the extension of mills.