THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY, JULY 9. ́1908.
SOCIAL WORKERS ATTEMPT TO FIND
SOLUTION TO H.K. SLUM
Suggest
Government
Builds
Model Chinese Tenements With Supervision, Schools REPORT
ISSUED
Every one in the family is happy and good,
Cablele No. 2 Normal Capacity 4 persons, Present Rent $4,00 p.m. (Economic
it
IN NOVEMBER LAST, a group of young men in Hong-nest 54,50).
kong conceived the idea of an experiment in solving Losung Fatt, aged 33, has a wife, the slum problems of Hongkong. It took the form of a ring together,
baby son and a dependant, sluter- renting Chinese tenements in Yaumati, converting them's Wharf, at a salary of $25 per into cubicles and bed-spaces, providing sanitation, lighting, month.
a schoolroom, warden's quarters, and other features, and charging the lower class Chinese rentals which their means would allow them to pay.
The plan has been in operation ever since and at the end of six months a report was drawn up. It has now been issued and is published below. The report admits comparative failure, but a note of optimism is struck throughout, the suggestion being put forward that a scheme on similar lines, but much big. ger in scope, and operated under the aegis of the Government, could be a practical contribution towards liquidating Hongkong's
alums.
thes
་
More space per person Airter cubicles.
Adequate ghung.
Sanitation,
|
a night-watchman in the
Very good and happy.
Cublelo No. 3
Normal Capacity 4 persons. Present Reat $3.00 p.m. (Economie Rent $3,90).
wife, 2 doughters and 2 sons. Elder Yip Fook Chou, aged 36, has a doughter and
Kindergarten School,
attending the
Beluga Photographer, employed, in Chinese Photograph shop In 1 Kowloon, at o salary of $25 per month.
Very fair, the whole family recent- ky arrived from Canton as refugeen.
Bed-Space No. 4
11
PROBLEMS
成藥
Kiddles at the Wai Ching Street Social Settlements kindergarten school, enjoy a game. These little students are children of Social Settlements tenants.
SUBSIDY PER HEAD
IS REQUIRED
Yip Fook Man, aged 36, has a wife, three som and two daughtera.
The eldest son is working in Iriend's house in exchange fur food. The second son and daughter are attending the Kindergarten School.
Cubicle No. Pa (Bed-Space). Nornul Capacity 1 person only. Present Rent $100 p.m. (Economic Rent $1.00),
0
Dependana mother-in-law, now living with tenant.
His wife is working in a Chinese Medicine Shop as a medieine sorter, earning some 30 to 40 cents a day, if work is offered to be.
In cuse both the busband and wife Eu to work the children are left in charge of the mother-in-law.
The mother-in-law is the eldest sistor
of No. und 11 tenants' wives.
10 Being a foreman in a Chinese Coolle Employment Bureau, Kowloon, at salary of $30 per month.
"Pok luck" for the
Punity....or Dewan
Parade, wiệh Extra
beaver in tim table
• you and your
Westinghouse WILE
triumph with clever
salade, beverages,
froren deserts Bo
本日 4月14
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This would entail the erection of tenements specially designed for the purpose, a possible subsidy per capita, and strict supervision by
Nurmsal Capacity 2 persons. responsible wardens. Heavy emphasis is placed upon the success of the
Present Rent $1.50 pm (Economie kindergarten school which is in operation at Social Settlements, and the
Itent $1 501). sponsors strongly recommend similar schools in any Govertiment seleme,
Lee Thye Lang, aged 36, hus A Tailor (Chinese style) had made The report read.
little duughters all Hying some money in the past, but lost it then placed there, they were refused, wife, and 1. The Wai Ching Street Social because, it win stated, the verandahs together with terunt.
ull and becaine bankrupt.
Fair. feing an odd-job coolie, employed Settlements came into existence on abutted ove Crown land! However, Thursday, November 23. 1937.
were, in Chise Contractor's firm, earn repsonably suitable posibonis primarily as an experiment in trying. round under the
It should, in some 40-50 cents a day, no wage stuireases
Wishing to gel tu lnd a sulution
to Hongkong's also be noted that they are test by in case of no work. problem
tenants only at of properly houshing the the
nigght timea permarunt jub elsewhere should;
Chan Kwok-Shi, aged 30, a widow,
Good and all happy in the family. of Chhiege at rents During the day the decupants of the there be a chance, class poorer
12-As will be seen frum The family is not so satisfactory as bas posthumous grandchild, ¿ within their econom
Mats use the public latrine, which is economic capacity.
months old to look after, while her
paying above, severni tenants Tr Earlier investigations by mem
expected. ahoit 100 yards away of
daughter is working as an amah in rentals below the "Dasie Rent" level, WIN which founded! Krup
these
the
Cublele No. 5 provisions
a Chinese family. Normal Capnelty 5 persons.
and in this connection it
must be Social Settlements, together with a tenants were assured off-
This tenant is being solely sup- frankly confessed that the
sponsors of the reports of prominent
Present Rent $4.00 p.m. (Bennomte study of
Mare as the So
Rent $5.00).
allowed themselves to be persuaded social institutions, such as Society
ported by her daughter.
Foir. for the Protection of Children, stic
into
tenants whose accepting
would not allow them the Street Sleepers Shelters Society,
means 10
the basic
of rentals pay conclu- had led the group to certain
the cubicles, As ц result the in mes! sions, the chief being that
tenants were being charged ex-
The daughters being over age for
Lee Siu Loon, aged 31, has a wife sportors have found it neccessary
to subsidise the Settlements in rents
of ae-mind was to beneill from the Settle the School, having no desire to learn for the class provided, LL they ments, strict supervision would be to show themselves up in future life and no children.
of the amount anticipated. In fact, Black-Smith Being a filter in a were invariably overcrowded, that required in accepting tenants. A The two younger sons are attend-
It might be suld, to an extent where salary of
closer to shop in Hongkong, at n
Social Settlements comes Inadequate sanitation was provided. House Committee was therefore aping the Kindergarten School. and that in the main, the conditions pointed, the members of which inter- Had been previously employed as $9 per month with free board and
He comes back only once being a charitable institution than a under which this class lived, were viewed
practical demonstration of slum pro- and house-cilie together with his wife lodging tenants prospective
blem cure. physically bad and morally degrad-satisfied themselves that they were as wasli-amah in European families. a week.
His last job was
Good with Mr. T. type... the proper
a question- Wing's family and he lost it owing To facilitate this, naire was prepared. This sought to to the death of Mr. Wing about three Ever since he has been ascertain the personal history of the years ago, prospective tenant and his family, to not able to and a job chiefly due to discover his station in life, and to his advanced age.
Very bad. the family is drifting reveal his economic level. Upon this Information the House Committee from bad to worse. accepted or rejected applicants for the flats.
odation
ing,
3.
The group, therefore, decided to create Social Settlements, with the following objects:---
a-To provide settlements in and around the slum disirtels of Hong- kong and Kowloon, catering for the poorer classes.
which Lew
other
tenements of this type provide,
-IL.
8. was realised that if the class
had group of presun which the
打
Law Shor, aged 48, has a wife, 2; gown-up daughters and 3 younger Roma, all under the support of the tenant
Cubicle No. 9 (Bed-Space) Normal Capacity 1 person only, Present Rent $1,00 p.m. (Economie Rent $1.00).
Cubicle No. 10 Normal Capacity 4 persons. Present Rent $3.00 p.m. (Economic
Rent $4.00).
Leung Sul Kat, aged 31, has a wife and a baby sor 10 months old.
Dependant-an aged mother now living with tenant, Cubicle No. 0
Being an add-job coolle on board Normal Capacity 5 persons.
steamers, earning about 80 cents to Present Rent $4.00 p.m. (Economic a dollar a day, when working.
His wife is working in a Chinese Rent $5.00).
Lee Cheong, aged 34, has a wife Medicine shop as a medicine sorter, Elder daughter earning some 30 to 40 cents a day. "Basic Rent" and two daughters.
b. To attempt to provide sanitary ventilated, lighted, uncrowded uc- commodation for tenants at rents 10-As regards rentals, the broad whies their means allow. (It was basis was that no tenant should be decided that the rents charged should charged more then he had been pay- coincides with the estimated rents ing prior to cerning to Social Settle-
settlements.
However.
okl.
Being a
the
excess
are
13. Nevertheless, cognisance should be taken of the fact that one flat remains u capital charge, for it produces no revenue, as part of it is being used as a schoolrcom, and the remainder as warden's quarters. The elimination of these two factors na- turally would improve the financial position
of the Settlements, but un- doubtedly it would also deprive the scheme of two of its most imp
important and very necessary features. The
of Social Settlements sponsors convinced, following six months of this experiment, that the two vital necessities of a scheme such as this are a schoolroom, in order to give the tenants' children un opportunity of receiving some elementary education, and a supervising warden, who la constantly on the premises to attend to complaints, to report sickness, und to see that the requirements of the Lee Kan, aged 38, has a wife, and
sponsors, particularly in relation to three children, the eldest two athyglene, are carried out by the
of the mother.
Fuir, all appear happy.
Cubicle No. 11 (Bed-Space) Normal Capacity 2 persons.
that would be charged if the set was Axed in relation to each cubicle is ottending the Kindergarten School, In case both the husband and wife ments were owned by Government | and berl-space. This was assessce on the younger one is only a few months go to work the baby is left in charge or by some local body not seeking
night-watchman in the to make a profit. In cases where the basis of one dollar per person per Tenants could nut afford the full 30 square feet of space, as adjudged Kowloon Godown Co., at a salary
necessary by a local housing expert of $18 per month. rental, different rental would come for satisfactory and healthy living
into force at the discretion of the for
conditions. It also took into con- tenancy committee).
sideration the legal requirements of C-To attempt 10 rolse the over-crowding. On this basis the standard of living and the moral life maximum Income would have been of the occupants by education, super-$12 per flat. A further concession, vision and personal interest.
however, was mude, in that 11:
Good and all happy in the family.
Cubiclo No. 7. Normal Capacity 4 persons,
Present Rent $1.50 p.m. (Economic Rent $1.50).
Present Rent $4.00 p.m. (Economic tending the Kindergarten School. His te Undoubtedly, one of the most
wife
Rent $4.00).
Chan Lum, oged 14, has a d. To provide peints of contact capacity-to-pay rent level was per-and a baby daughter. between the European population mitted.
Dependant-father-in-law, a refu and these poorer classes, where the
11-The following Warden's Re- gee from Cunton, now living with one can help the other as a fellow ports show how this operates:- tenant. human-being, and in this way to
A professional cook, previously further the cause of human fellow-
employed in England, holding good ship and brotherhood.
reference and testimonials from War iOffice, as cook on board H.M. Troop-
ship.
eTo oct as a medium for re- search and observation in all matters of social welfare.
METHODS ADOPTED
Cubicle No. 1
Normal Capocity 4 persons (Children under 6-half persON).
Present Rent $3.50 p.m. (Economic Rent $3.50).
Soo Yee Lum, aged 27, has a wife, daughter and 2 sons, all living to gether with tenant.
liviny
Dependants Parents, nut with tenant.
Elder daughter and son attending the Kindergarten School,
Being an office messenger in the Holt's Wharf at a salary of $22 per
4. To give practical effeel to these aims the group rented five fints on the second floor of a row of Chinese tenements in Wai Ching Street, Yaumati, for which they pay $70 month. These flats were then divid ed into cubicles, including an area equal to one flat, reserved for a schoolroom and as quarters for a month. English-speaking Chinese warden op- pointed to supervise the Settlements. The remaining four flats were divid- ed off
to comprise nine cubicles and four bed-spaces.
ed
were
Allowances
the provision of indoor latrines, two non-flushi latrines being installed. The cubicles vary in size, the biggest providing space for a family of six, In all cases care was taken to pro- vide not less than the space laid down by. the Government 30 square feet per head, and in no case are the tenants receiving less than this minimum. The cubicles wer #toned off and dahs from being |
chre was
also made for #puer for
to prevent the
used for bed-spaces or föl any other form of accommodation. În erecting the partitions the group followed the height dimensions are laid down by the Government regulations-a maxi- mum of six feet.
6.Bicctric light was installed, the schoolroom furnished with the neces- sory equipment, and a certain amount of furniture was provided for the living
and working purposes of the warden.
An regards the installation of Jatrines, particular trouble was taken about their poultfor. Although in the averago Chinese tenement the post- tion of the latrines is either in the kitchen or in the cubleles, this
Is undesirable. The only really hyglente place is on the verandah, but when the sponsord requested per- mission from the authorsiles to have
Happy ploture
Iteturned to Hongkong after the war and started business of his own. His business failed and he became bankrupt. He has just secured a job as a cook on board German steamer which calls at Hongkong every three months.
Cubicle No 8.
Normal Capacity 4 persons. Present Rent $2.00 p.m. (Economic Rent $4.00).
The whole family arrived from Canton in December last year and was recommended to the Settlements by her sister (Wife of No. 10 Cubicle tenant).
wife is working in a Chinese Medi- cine Shop as n
as a incdicine sorter, earn significant feature of Social Settle Ing some 30 to 40 cents a day. If workments has been the daily educational is offered to her.
classes for the tenants' children. In this connection the sponsors have to record their deep gratitude to these who generously assumed the work of conducting the school, their efforts being made voluntarily. The school wns an immediate success. Tho curriculum is purely kindergarten in character. In accordance with the sponsors' alms, special stress has been Tald
on hygiene, and the children, through wall illustrations, and other have been of instruction,
the rudiments of personal and brithmetic, in both English and Chi-
taught,
Being a seaman on board an ocean going steamer which calls at Hong kong only once in 6 months.
Fair, all appear happy. Normal Capacity & persona.
Cubicle No. 12
forms
Present Rent $5.00 p.m. (Economic liness, Reading, wiring
Rent $6.00).
Kwok Ching, aged 41, has a very
large fumlly to support, a wife and nese, are also be that they have!
six children, the eldest three attend- ing the Kindergarten School.
school;"" taken:
The sponsors
every reason to be gratified with the result of this work. The children keep themselves clean and tidy and their parents are being influenced to appreciate the value of following the same ordinary principles of cleanli- ness.
15.-An effort was made to enlarge the educational side of the Social Settlements scheme by arranging adult classes in the evenings, but it was found that the tenants did not react favourably, largely owing to the fact that both husband and wife were usually working hard all day and were too tired and.could not leave their children. These classeo were therefore abandoned.
16-The tenants have displayed ». willingness to follow advice and in- structions in the matter of personal hygiene and to keep the cubicies clean and in good order. Frequent visita to the fats by different members of the group have revealed that the cubicles are well kept. The intrines are also cleared regularly, while the tenants have been instructed to use disinfectant In order to ensure that the flats shall remain sanitary,
17. On the surface the financial. resort appears to be rather, disturb- Ing. It shows that, excluding the founding
inding expense, the loss on opernt- Ing the Saltlements for Ave mons in $317.83, However, this does not present the entire story. It must be remembered that there are 60 souls living · in the Settlements, i which menna that the Rubaldy necessary for each one has been approximately one (Continued on Page 15;)
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