COPY.
Enclosure to Despatch No. 409%2
of the 11th.c
C.0.
September,1903,
42355
Report of the Committee.
RECR
(Red 13 OCT 02
416
Under date 14th. August, 1901, the Committee forwarded their report on the second part of the remit as follows:-
"The Committee discussed the second part of the remit, viz:- "As to whether it would be possible by degrees to build Govern- ment houses, and let them to Public Officers at moderate rents". They decided that they would consider the matter as referring to Officers who were ia receipt of exchange compensation. Before attempting any. large scheme the Committee were of opinion that an experiment should be tried, and that a terrace of 8 three-storied houses should be erect- ed, the end houses of the terrace to have 3 rooms on each floor, and the intermediate houses to have 2 rooms on each floor, and that such houses should be occupied by Sanitary Department Inspectors, and Public Works Department Overseers. The houses might be erected in the Woa- naichong District. Before proceeding farther with the proposed experi- ment it was decided to avait plans and information as to cost, mainte- nance c., from the Director of Public Works. The Committee were of opinion that such Officers of the Post Office as were entitled to Quarters should in lieu of such receive money as house allowance. In Discussing the scheme the following amongst other difficulties present- ed themselves to the Committee:-
1. Size of Panily.
3. Tied down to reside in a particular place considering that there are such localities as the Peak, Lower Levels and Kowloon.
*
3. The difficulty of obtaining sites. In the same connection
the Committee concurred in the opinion expressed in his. letter addressed to the Secretary of State by the Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements. (Sir Frank Swettenham) on 23rd. December, 1900, and which is as follows: →
"Again I see it is proposed to charge a moderate rent for quarters generally, but with certain exceptions. We have tried that plan and it signally failed. It could I have no doubt be enforced but it bristles with difficulties which would never be imagined from the very simple statements which accompany the proposal. It is of the utmost importance to know whether the privilege hitherto granted to European Officers in the .. .. S.. is to be continued or not. for the value of free quarters must of course be considered in determining the rates of salary.
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