CORRESPONDENCE THE HOUSING PROBLEM, {TO THE EDITOS OF "THE HONGKONG.
DAILY PRESS."] STR.--The enthusiasm displayed at the large and representative Public Mest- ing held in the City Hall on the 7th November to consider the Housing Prob lem clearly demonstrated the existezes of a strong public anxiety and desire for a settlement of this important question, The meeting unanimously passed are solution asking the Government "to appoint a Commission to inquire into "the housing problem and transit question in connection with same." It is to be hoped that the Government, when con sidering this resolution, will not over look the fact that this question is one in which every member of the community is directly interested, and that the argu- ments which have in years past been advanced against other proposed Com missions 'do not, for this very reason, apply to a Commission on the housing problem. which
On
the. Government should it a satisfactory solution is really desired, lose no opportunity of meuring the opinions and suggestions of all sections of the community. The question with its many ramifications is clearly not one for any single Govern- ment Bepartment to investigato A Commission on similar lines has had excellent result in Singapore; here the housing problem demands much more argent and comprehensive action than in the Southern Colony, and we have no
doubt that, in view of the unanimous expression of public opinion evinced at the City Hall meeting, the Governmedt will readily approve of a representation and disinterested Commission to investi
gate and report on the matter in all its
aspects.
The steady growth of the Colony's population since the early days, of. British occupation, and the limited area
THE HONGKONG DAILY, PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 1818.
Tain Wan to Kowloon City, most of which land is now occupied for cultiva tion purposes by the people of these villagon
COMPANY MEETING. CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO., LIMITED..
The seventeenth ordinary general meet-- ing of the China Light and Power Co.. Lid, was held yesterday morning, at the offices of the company, St. George's Building Mr. R. G. Shewan presided, and there were also present:-Sir Paal Chater, C.M.G. (Consulting Committee),. Messrs. M. S. Northcote, H. F. Camp- bell, R. Henderson, Lo Chenng Ip, Tong Lai Chuen and T. Leeman (wcretary).
The CHAIRMAN said:-Gentlemen,--At our annual meeting last year, "when we laid before you our accounts, I referred to the difficulties we had to contend with,
In all these houses,” he continues, the villager of Pak Uk Isai and Ngau "the legal restrictions insist on seven | Chi Wan, around Hammer Hill, and the to mine persons to the floor, the actual villages of Sha Ti Un, Un Ling, Nga number was thirteen to twenty." Here Iu Tao, Po Kong, Pak Hang and Nga we have, in a few words, the awful seriousness of the present conditions We have solemnly decreed by Ordinance that a certain floor is to contain not more then soven to nine persons, but
The enterprise shown by those associat. because there is no more available build.ed in this great undertaking should serve ing space on this side of the barbour, as an inspiring example to us in the and because vested interests have in some problem with which we now confronted mysterious manner been able to thwart in connection with the provision of all attempt at development of building housing Accommodation for the Euro- sites and means of communication on pean and Portuguese communities, and the mainland, the Sanitary Officials of for the great labour population of the the Government are obliged to close their Colony. The Kowloon Bay Reclamation
yes to flagrant and wholesale breaches considerably, as it is hoped that with an and, during the past year, these diffi fortunately simplifas the problem very of the regulations which they see around extension to the north, which the pro-culties have not been lessened-rather them daily in every Chinese house in the moters will doubtless be prepared to the contrary. In spite of this our Colony.
business has continued to grow, and tho accounts now laid before you show a nett profit of #99,411.51 which, as we are un able to pay a dividend for want of funds, we propose to dispose of by writing off
From value of lines From value of buildings and
-
Lieut. Olitsky sums up the situation thus "Hence there are too many houses iver too small an area, there are no sanitary arrangements for Hight and air within the houses, and there are 100 many persons living in the houses.
"It is beyond the scope of this in vestigation to show how this great social and economic problem of delocating se it were the enormous numbers of Chinese from the small area of their community may be accomplished. Reclamation of land and colonising the adjacent New Territories by improving transit facili
ties
suggest themselves. But this ques- tion is left for solution by the Govern
Exent.""
£
There is now very little available level building space on the Hongkong side of the barbour. For this reason the sperches at the recent public. meet ing showed desire to get away altogether from this "tight little is land in formulating plans for future development. As Mr. J. P. Braga put it, After considering all other possible localities Kowloon appears to present all
undertake when the time arrives, this area" will be sufficient to meet the needs for many years to come of the class for which the reclamation is intended, wealthier and better namely, the class Chinese, including persons such as English speaking clerks for whom bright well-ventilated fats on modern lines, will box available at reasonable rentals.
those
common.co
$30,000.00
The transit question in connection with Portuguese Reservations, Shamsuipo and all these three scheme—the European and
machinery. ............
39,411,54 We explained to you at our last meet. the Kowloon Bay Reclamation is one which demands the prompt and earnest ing the necessity for increasing our plant consideration of the Government, It is
and acquiring a now site for the factory. understood that the construction of tram-
for which, of course, more capital would ways on the Kowloon side may be ex- pected to alter the war.
within a year or so be required, and you have probably It is to be hoped that the lines will not ran merely to the wondered why nothing further has been and gaul, but will be continuer it done in regard to new capital. The fact thickly populated districts of Yaumati
areas which are being towlys that the now turbines, etc., we ordered developed in the territory beyond. The have not been delivered, and under Success of all schemes aiming at thei development of outlying districts must present conditions, it is impossible to ways depend to a very great extention say when we shall get them. But, no munication? These now districts should doubt, with the recent happy termina
cass
and rapid means" of com
Bersion from the early stages of their be served by a moderately frequent tram development, even if this should neces- sitate Government subsidy to the Tram- way Company for a certain number of year until such time as the population would be sufficient to make the service remunerative.
It may appear that I have here dealt more with the Chinese than the European housing problem, but, as many know from experience, the latter has to a consider- able
degree arisen out of the former. The class into the Colony in recent years has considerably accentuated the urgency of a problem which has been always demand ing solution since the early days of Bri
this the Kowloda insala have consid. tish occupation. As a natural result of properties in Hongkong and the arably appreciated. These Chinees are
manufacturing and shipping will be, at tion of hostilities, the restrictions on
least, modified if not done away with. In the meantime we have done something; we have come to an end of our negotia- tions with the Government for a new site, and I think the arrangement we have made may be considered satisfac tory on the whole. Briefly it is this:-
We have obtained & Marine Lot be tween the Cement Works and the Kow-
of land available on the Hongkong side the conditions required for a new settle large influx of the Chinese of the better loon Dock in exchange for our old site,"i
ment with ample means for future development," A model European or Portuguese settlement is suggested in the of Coronation and Taipo Roads and Mr. district lying between the prolongation Bowley has suggested the development of
and we receive, in addition, un, allow
have rendered the housing question one of the most serious problems to be solved by our local administration. Owing to the scarcity of level land the necessity for reclamation was realized as early as 1851 (only ten years after the ocction.the flat urea between the. Taipo Road not temporary residents; they have come exchange for an Inland Lot, and we may
ance of $10,000 to cover the value of our old buildings and the cost of ling in
same, but we shall have a Marine Let, and making the new site. The areas of the two pieces exchanged are about the the advantages of which are obvious, in remove any temporary buildings on the old site that "we can utilise for the new factory. We thing that the Government have met us fairly in this matter, and we trust you will feel satisfied that we have done the best we could in your interests.
and Taikoktani with a view to accom to make Hongkong their home. Their pre- tion), when some shy acres were reclaimed modating the very class among which the sence will undoubtedly be an asset to the between Wilmer Street and Bonhan most serious over-crowding at present Colony and will have an ultimate bene Strand West. In 1873 the East. Prays, namely the great labour popula- ficial effect on the Colony's financial life,
of the Colony.
bat unfortunately the immediate result was reclaimed, and in 1881 some 23 serw Intion to these two ambitious that European and Portuguese resi were added at Causeway Bay. Two schemes Mr. Bowley yesterday also drew dents who cannot afford to live on the attention to the very extensive, raclama baly European reservation, the Peak, are years inter (in 1886) 9 acres were re- tion at present being carried out at the forced to quit localities where they have Now, in regard to new capital, we have claimed at Kennedy Town. Since that head of Kowloon Bay by the Kai Tack for years been able to find suitable homes decided with your approval to delay no time the largest of Ell our reclamations Land Investment Co. This great work, at more or less ruonable rentals, and longer. As explained to you last year which was first conceived by Dr. Wu Are, e a consequence, brought face to you will receive one $5 share in the new the Praya has been completed, provid Ting Fan, the eminent Chinese diplomat, face with a perplexing situation which company for every ahara (whether $1 or ing 65 acres to meet the Colony's growing and fostered by the late Sir Kai Ho Kai, is daily becoming more alarming, a situa-85) in the old, that is, the present Com population. So urgent was the demand taking ever initiated in this Colony by suitable properties to be found else further 100,000 share at 86, share for C.M.G., is the largest reclamation under tion the difficulty of which is accentuated pany. This will make 100,000 shares at by the fact that there are no more 23=$300,000, and we propose to issue for space, however, that every part of private enterprise This reclamation, where in Hongkong. Hence any attempt share, giving present shareholders the building ground on this large area was
which is being pushed forward rapidly at a solution of the problem of finding first refusal of them. Meetings will be covered with bousss almost an eco 8 Kowloon "Bay from Old Kowloon City Chinese of the better class must be offirm the necessary resolutions, which are extends across the whole of the head of accommodation outside Hongkong for the held in a few days to propose and con completed. Still another scheme of era to the Taiwan Glass Works, covering paramount importance in the greater magnitude is soon to be under an area of 210 acres. In order to convey tion of the European and Portuguese be
considera
now being drafted by the Company's taken the Fraya, East Reclamation some ides of the extent of this great here are big problems to be faced and As we do not have to pay off our
which will provide about 84 acres of building land exclusive of roads.
scheme the following particulars may be cited :—
1. The contract for the first portion of the scheme amounted to aae and three quarter million dollars. 2. The reclamation will considerably exceed in area the whole of that portion of the Kowloon Peninsula Bouth of Austin Road (including the Railway Reclamation).
3. The Fraya will be equal in length to the Hongkong Fraya from the General Post Office to Whitty Street,
4. Along this water frontage of over one and a half miles there will ber piers at which, ocean-going steamers can be herthed at low tide. 5. An area of four acres is being laid
cut as a Recreation Ground.
8. The Prays is to be 175 feet wide and the main central thoroughfare 100 feet in width All the other roads intersecting the settlement will be 50 7. The Praya and the main central thoroughfare are to be lined with
feet wide..
trees.
question.re
vested interests in many forms to be combated, but if the Colony is to go on and prosper in the future, as in the past, those problems must now be tackled and solved once and for all.-I am, pick, RATEPAYER.
Hongkong, 17th Nov., 1918.
THE QUESTION OF A VICTYOR
BONUS...
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG
DAILY FEESS."] SIE-Frem authentic privato Sorre "pondence I elicit the fact that the
kong, as well as all their branches Amatic Petroleum Co., Ltd., in Hons
throughout China, are giving & Peace bonus of three months pay to their staff as compensation for the various priva tions they have undergone during the
WATH
In spite of all these reclamations, and the rapid development of the" Kowloon Peninsula as a residential area, the great problem still remains unsolved. These successiva reclamations have added con aiderably to the area of level ground, yet the over-crowding in some districts is, so great that the number of people par aers exceeds that of the most crowded portions of the slums of London or New York. As Mr. Bowley remarked at yer terday's Sanitary Board meeting, it is standing disgrace to this outpoet of Western civilization that the City of Canton is far less crowded than Hong- kong. The clear and considered stats- ment of the overcrowding condition in Hongkong which appears in the "Be port of the Outbreak of Epidemic Meningitis" by Lieut. Olitaky, of the Bachefeller Institute for Medical Re 8. A service of well-appointed ferry search, is one of the most severe indict boats is to run to and from Honge for their bonerolence, and one is Much praise is due to the aforemen ments of a city's housing conditions
kong. which I remember to have scen. D. The site is undoubtedly the most suit inclined to be optimistic that the rest Olitsky inform us that the districts able for a settlement outside of the is of the mercantile firms and banks will which showed the greatest incidence of land of Hongkong Situated at the follow this model of generosity if not the disease were the most crowded head of a great sheltered bay, which is fully, at least to some extent, sections of Hongkong and Kowloon, the refuge for all the shipping in the That many firms have made tremendous while in areas where there was no crowd harbour during typhoon weather the profits during the period of the war rg, notably the Tsim Sha Tsui and the piers along the new Praya are with the cannot be gainanid, so that there is no Hill District, there were no, or com opening of connection with the railway reason why the employers should not paratively very few, cases Ho con undoubtedly destined to be a valuable devoto a little of this profit to the tinues
when per asset among the shipping facilities of benefit of their employés hat In the first place there are too many this great port. Sheltered by high hills also understand that some French houses on too inall a space, in this way from the cold winds in winter and ex- firms are giving as much as four months causing structures to be in close proxi posed to all the cool breezes that blow pay to their employés in celebration of mity. In return this gives rise to in across the harbour in summer, the site the Allied victory. suficient ventilation and for the most is an ideal one as a residential district. Now what about the Chinese Mari pirt very little light. The area-ways The splendid system of aullahs, which as and the streets or lanes are so narrow inspection even at this stage reveals is and the houses are so high (in proportion designed for the purpose of thoroughly to the narrowness of the street) that draining all the back areas between the not only ventilation and light becomes reclamation and the hills to the north, deficient but the air is always damp from so that no breeding place should be left the wetness of the passage ways. He for mosquitos in the whole of this exten- goes on to cite typical example of over sive district! crowding, one of which may be quoted:.. Another advantages of the scheme is 20 persons living in a space of 6995 that a larger aron. of level land is still cubic feet with two windows and one available to the north of the reclamation éta. door all of which were bolted" "The and of the Customs Pass or Baikung sir," he remarks, was quite foul" Road, over the ground now embracing
time Customs 1 They have done nothing, absolutely nothing, for their staffs since the commencement of the European struggle. They have always assumed an attitude of insouciant calm, There poor employes have had no increase of pay or bonus of any kind to boast of. It would appear that the power to move the hearts of the Customs authoritice in Peking reste not with human beings-Tours,
When
EXPECTANT Swatow, 20th November, 1918.
debentures till 1999 we really only re quire at the moment money to pay for pulling down and transferring oar pre- sent factory and rebuilding it on the new site. The cost of this should come well within $100,000, so we propose that $1 per share shall be payable on appli- estion, but at present we cannot give the exact date for this probably it will be some time in January-and the balance will be called up later on when the bills for machinery fall due. We are also now faced with the necessity for laying all our cables underground; which will mean a heavy outlay before long, but as to this we cannot give figures at present. There is nothing in the accounts that
War Charities which, I know, you will haps, the small subscription of £1,000 to requires special reference except, por
approve. In fact, if any of you wish to give us a lead we should like to make for the end of the war and for the a larger donation as a thank-offering Company's prosperity.
We have written off out of profits $2,347.70 for bad debts, but we hope some dian of Alien Enemy Property. of this will be received from the Custo Ay to our current business I need say very little, as the figures speak for them- solves and you are as well able to judge of the prospects of Kowloon increasing as we are. The present price of, coal, not to mention other things, is, as you can understand, a heavy handicap on long before there is a change in our our profits, but we hope it will not be
the adoption of the report and, accounts. favour in this respect. I beg to move! Bir C. P. CHATER conded, and the motion was carried unanimously.
Bir C P Chater and Mr H. P. White were re-elected to the Consulting Committee, on the proposition of M NORTHCOTE seconded by Mr. HENDERSON.
Mesare F. Maitland and-A. R. Lowe were re-elected auditors on the propeni- tion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Campbell
Mr. Norracore: Before we part I have pleasure in proposing that an ad- ditional douation of $1,000 to given to War Charities.
Mr. Lo CHEUNG IP seconded this, and it was carried unanimously,
The meeting was then erminated.
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