As regards (b) the Committee, while most anxious to see underground drains abolished in Chinese houses, was divided in opinion as to the practicability of substituting any other drainage system where the construction of scavenging lanes was found to be practically impossible. Messrs. TURNER, JACKSON, and TOOKER were of opinion that, where scavenging lanes are impossible, underground drains in Chinese houses are indispensable, and that such drains should be inspected periodically, and maintained in a sanitary condition.
Dr. Ho Kai, and the Chairman on the other hand, held that, where no scavenging lane is practicable, all drains in Chinese houses should be pipe-drains above ground, discharging into an open channel in the pavement, which in turn will run into the side channel of the street.
The Committee further agreed to recommend that, where underground drains are adopted inside houses, there should, instead of a trap at the inlet of the same, be a plain bend or brick sump with an iron grating over it, and that the trap should be placed outside the building.
6 Paragraph VII. Several of the provisions of this paragraph have been dealt with above.
As regards the prohibition of the occupation of shops and stores on the ground floor as dwelling rooms, except for a very limited number, the Committee does not consider that the matter requires special attention in view of the provisions already recommended with regard to air space, and occupation of basements.
The occupation as dwellings of common cook-houses is prohibited by Section 71 of the Public Health Ordinance.
In the opinion of the Committee the prohibition should be extended to all cook-houses. As regards enclosed yards, the Committee does not consider their occupation as dwellings open to grave objection.
As regards these latter, it is, however, of opinion, that, in no case should a back yard or an area be roofed in, in whole or in part.
7. It will be observed that the recommendations of the Housing Committee contained in this letter are strictly confined to existing houses.
Its recommendations as to houses to be hereafter erected will form the subject of further correspondence, but, knowing His Excellency's anxiety to be furnished at the earliest possible date with its views as to what is immediately required, the Committee has deemed it best to forward its report on this portion of the case without delay.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
N. G. MITCHELL-INNES,
Chairman.
Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
Enclosure &
CORRESPONDENCE RE SANITARY IMPROVEMENT OF TAI-PING-SHAN.
(In Continuation.)
TREASURY, 13th August, 1894.
17303
REC?
REG/OCT 94.
The Committee's last letter dealt with the sanitary improvement of existing houses.
In the present letter it is proposed to consider regulations applicable to houses-
(a) Built to replace those previously existing,
(b) Built on land not previously occupied by buildings.
2. Before, however, taking up consideration of this branch of the subject, the Committee desires to supplement its last letter by strongly urging that, if any dwelling-room in existing houses is without direct communication with external light and air by means of a window of suitable dimensions, remedial measures should be at once adopted.
3. Further, as regards the construction, in existing blocks of houses, of scavenging lanes, the Committee proposes to ascertain the views of representatives of owners of Chinese property as to whether they would not agree to forego compensation for the necessary surrender of land, if Government were willing to take down and re-erect the back-walls of their houses; it being, of course, understood that the Committee does not propose in any way to bind the Government to that or any other course.
4. The Committee is unanimously of opinion that all the restrictions recommended for existing houses (both in its letter of the 28th ultimo and in the present one) should be applied to all houses hereafter to be erected.
5. As regards mezzanine floors, Mr TOOKER is of opinion that in all new houses (including such as may be re-constructed from the foundations) mezzanine floors should be prohibited.
The rest of the Committee hold that
(a) In all new houses erected to replace those previously existing, mezzanine floors should be permitted as in the case of existing houses.
(b) In all new houses other than the above no mezzanine floors should be allowed.
6. The Committee recommends that in all new houses, built in a block (other than corner-houses), no room of a greater length than 40 feet be allowed to be used as a dwelling-room unless such room has direct communication with external light and air by means of a window of suitable dimensions in each end.
7. As regards house drainage, the Committee has nothing to add to the recommendations re existing houses contained in its last letter.
8. With regard to new houses, built on land hitherto unoccupied, the Committee recommends-
(i) That no houses built in a block (other than corner-houses) be of a greater depth than 50 feet.
(ii) That no back-to-back houses be erected.
The Honourable
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,
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