16
-
17
367
Light
railways and mator-lorries.
More lighters
and tags
recon- mended.
Jacks
chischarging materials
at night.
Employment of middle-
men.
The-lecting
of whole contract.
Storage of materials Isnded from junks.
More larves
for landing
materials
Big supply depôts.
Site for
supply depôts
Cement. bricke.
*90. In letter (22) the use of light railways for conveying materials is suggested. In letters (22) and (41) the suggestion is made that motor-lorries should be substituted for push-carts as much as possible. We endorse this suggestion, which was supported by Mr. Jackman and Mr. White, and we hope that a company may be formed for the hiring out of motor-lorries.
* 01. We agree with the suggestion in letter (24) that more lighters are required, and we recommend the provision of a suitable service of tugs.
* 92. There is a suggestion (letter (35) in Enclosure 1) that time would be saved if junks were allowed to discharge their cargoes of building materials at night; and we suggest that the point be referred to the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Harbour Master for consideration as to whether the desired permission might be allowed under supervision.
*93. In our circular letter of the 9th April, 1923, addressed to architects, contractors and others, we ask whether the number of middlemen can be re- duced. The general opinion is that it is impracticable to do away with middlemen in the building of houses; and we accept this view after careful enquiries. At the same time we are strongly of opinion that the re-letting of a whole contract should be forbidden by-law, as the practice tends to increase the cost of buildings-see letter (24) in Enclosure 1, and the evidence of Mr. Jackman, Mr. White and Mr. Lam Woo in Enclosures 8 (5) (3) and (2) respectively.
* 94. We are of opinion that land for the storage of building materials from junks should, wherever available, be granted by the Government as near to the scene of operations as possible--see letters (10), (19), (24), (29), (35) and (40) in Enclosure 1, the evidence of Mr. Jackman, Mr. White and Mr. Lam Woo, and also Enclosure 4.
* 95. We also consider that there should be more wharves on the Praya for the landing of materials-see letters (14), (35) and (39). Mr. Jackman informed us that the matter was being enquired into by the Government (Enclosure 8 (5) ).
Sub-Head (2)-Cost of House-Building: (b) Materials.
* 96. We commend to the favourable consideration of contractors, with a view to saving expense in building, the following suggestion for big supply depôts, which is made in a leading article in the South China Morning Post of the 11th April, 1923:—
"Instead of innumerable contractors with their own work-yarts, plant and storage, we could have one or more contractors' supply firms, stocking timber, cement, steel, bricks and stone, and providing motor truck delivery of finished products as far as possible. The contractor is then left with no overhead cost, except his office and desk, and no function except to supply the labour
A big supply yard would have frame saws, and granite cutters, and might enter upon mass production of bricks with imported clay. Here is room for a considerable saving of expense
* We agree with another suggestion in the same article that the Govern- ment should be generous in its terms for granting a site for the above purpose, subject to proper guarantees being given by the lessees.
97. The use of cement-bricks is advocated in letter (24) in Enclosure 1, and we consider that such cement-bricks should be extensively tried, more especially as we understand that they do not cost more than ordinary red- bricks. We are informed that these bricks have passed satisfactory tests, and are to be used for the houses of the Kowloon Tong Company.
車
98. Suggestions that the Government should encourage the manufac ture of bricks, tiles and lime in the New Territories, and that investigation of suitable clays for brick-making be made by the Government, are made in letters (10), (23), (24), (27), (30), (31), (32), (35), (39), (41) and (49) in Enclo-
We support these suggestions.
sure 1.
99. In letter (30) it is stated that if a lime-kila is built at Tsun Wan, lime can be produced by piece work at about 30% below market price.
* 100. We agree with the writer of letter (23) in Enclosure I, that the Government should encourage the growing of bamboos and fir-trees in the New Territories, as these two articles are extensively used for scaffolding.
Manufacture of bricks,
tiles and lime.
Lime-klin anggeated at Taun Wan.
Growing of bamboo and fr.trees.
reinforced
concrete
101. Cast reinforced concrete for doors and window-frames is suggested Cast in letter (24) in Enclosure 1, and Mr. Lam Woo supports the suggestion. Steel frames for windows are recommended in letters (10) and (36) in Enclo- sure 1, and also by the Committee on Labour-Saving Devices (Enclosure 4).
That Committee also recommended-
(1) Decollite laid on concrete for flooring, as being cheaper than
timber, especially in offices, lavatories and verandahs;
(2) Terrazzo as a substitute for tiling; and
(3) Beaver woods for ceilings, as being an excellent substitute
for China Fir or Teak,
102. In letter (24) in Enclosure 1, it is suggested, and the suggestion was confirmed by Mr. Lam Woo, that rain-water pipes in cast-cement are cheaper than cast-iron pipes.
Sub-Head (3)-Measures for Decreasing Rental.
* 108. In addition to our recommendations in paras. 33 to 35 for the restriction of rents by conditions of sale, where land is sold by the Govern- ment cheap and without auction, we are clearly of the opinion that the Rents Ordinance should be continued until such time as the supply of houses meets the demand, and until the state of affairs in the neighbouring Provinces of China is sufficiently settled to put an end to the periodical large influxes of Chinese refugees from China to Hongkong.
doors, &c.
Decollite for flooring, etc.
Caal-cement rain-water pipes.
!
i
Continuation
of Rents Ordinance recom-
mended.
to check demolition
* 104. We also consider that the Government should forbid by Legislation legislation the demolition and reconstruction of houses which are stated by the Building Authority to be in either good or fair condition, because we consider it both inequitable and unjust to the tenants for the Government to allow their eviction from premises which are in good or fair condition, and because also of the following reasons:—
(1) Such eviction of tenants throws an extra demand on such premises as may be vacant, with the result that the tenant in many cases is forced to pay a larger rent for his accommodation; and
(2) Such reconstruction must tend, by competition for skilled labour and building materials, to increase the cost of erecting new build- ings upon land which has not been previously built upon.
105. Instances of the threatened eviction of tenants from premises which are reported by the Building Authority to be in either good or fair condition appear from the items marked with a red cross, in Enclosure 5. In this connection we also invite attention to letters (5) and (27) in Enclosure 1.
recom- mended.
Concrete cases of ejectment from bousce
in good or
fair
condition,
:
!