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Rooms to
lighted.
-
18
42.-(1) No room shall be maintained, or used for be properly sleeping purposes in any storey of any existing domestic building, or of any domestic building hereafter erected or re-erected, unless such room is provided with a sky-light, or with a window or windows opening either directly or across a verandah or balcony into the external air, and having a total area equal to at least one-tenth of the floor area of such room, and capable of being opened to the extent of one half at least, and unless the glazed area of such window or windows is equal to one-half at least of the total area of such window or windows:
Governor- in-Council
on repre-
sentation
of the Urban Council may order demolition of storeys, provision of additional windows, and other works in certain
cases, sub- ject to compensa- tion
Provided that, in the case of existing or re-erected domestic buildings. the Governor in Council shall have power to modify the requirements of this section in respect to the external air upon such conditions, if any, as may be deemed expedient.
(2) No screens or partitions shall be erected or maintain - ed in any room on the ground floor of any domestic building with the exception of such as form one 'ping fung', one show- case, and one accountant's office.
Such structures must comply with the following require- ments, namely:-
(a) A 'ping fung' shall be composed of wire netting, lattice work, railings or carved wood-work which shall be arranged in such a manner as to leave at least two-thirds of its area open and as far as possible evenly distributed.
(b) A show-case shall not extend more than two-thirds across the width of the room and shall leave a space of not less than four feet measured vertically between the top of such show case and the underside of the floor or joists of the floor above.
(c) An accountant's office must have either-
(i) its partitions with the exception of the one formed by a show-case composed of wire netting, lattice work, railings or carved wood-work arranged in such a manner as to leave at least two-thirds open and as far as possible evenly distributed or
(ii) the whole of its front open with the exception of a counter not exceeding three feet and six inches in height. or in the case of a pawnbroker's shop not exceeding seven feet and six inches in height.
43.-(1) Whenever the Urban Council on the repre- sentation of a Health Officer is satisfied that any of the rooms in any block of domestic buildings are so dark as to be dangerous or prejudicial to the health of the inmates, the Urban Council may recommend in writing to the Governor-in- Council the demolition of all storeys above the lowermost storey of every third building in such block, and the provision of additional windows for such of the buildings as are allowed to remain, and the carrying out of such consequential works as the Urban Council may deem necessary to render such buildings healthy and secure, and the Governor-in-Council may thereupon direct that such demolition and such consequential works be carried out, and the amount of compensation to be paid by the Government in respect of such buildings as are demolished wholly or in part shall be determined by arbitration in the manner hereinafter provided.
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(2) The cost of any works carried out under this section exclusive of any such compensation as aforesaid, shall be certified by the Building Authority, and the Governor-in- Council may thereafter
impose, in such proportions as he may decide, a special improvement rate upon the owners of auch of the adjoining houses as are in the opinion of the Governor-in-Council benefied by such works; such rate shall not exceed an annuity for such period not exceeding thirty years, as may be agreed upon, which shall be calculated at the rate of five per cent. interest, and of which the present value shall be the cost above referred to. Every such rate may be recovered by the Treasurer in the same manner as if it were a rate imposed under the provisions of the Rating Ordinance, 1901. The owners may, however, pay such cost into the Treasury at any time within one month from its being notified to them as certified by the Building Authority, and, further, may at any time pay into the Treasury the present value of the balance of any annuity unexpired.
(3) The Governor-in-Council may permit any part of any works directed under this section to be carried out by the owner at his own cost, but subject to the satisfaction of the Building Authority and to such conditions and in accordance with such plans and particulars as the Governor-in-Council may direct.
of windows.
44. No window of any tenement house shall be obstructed Obstruction by the erection of any structure or fitting whatsoever, or by prohibited. any household goods or merchandise.
Sleeping Accommodation
under which
cubicles may
and main.
45.--(1) No cubicle shall be erected, or, if already Conditions erected, be maintained in any room unless such room be provided with a sky-light, or windows opening either directly be erected or across a verandah or balcony into the external air, and tained. having a total area equal to at least one-tenth of the floor area of such room and capable of being opened to the extent of one-half at least, and unless the glazed area of such sky-light, window, or windows is equal to one-half at least of the total area of such sky-light, window or windows.
(2) Not more than three cubicles shall be allowed in any room, and in the event of any room not having a window at the rear opening either directly or across a verandah or balcony into the external air, only one cubicle shall be allowed in such room.
(3) No cubicle shall be erected, or if already erected maintained, on the ground floor of any domestic building.
(4) The cubicle or cubicles in a room shall be so placed as to leave at least two-fifths of the width of the window or windows required by this Ordinance without any cubicle partition in front of such two-fifths.
(5) No cubicle shall have a less floor area than sixty- four square feet, nor a less length or width than seven feet.
(6) There shall be a space measured vertically between the top of every portion of the partition of every cubicle and the ceiling or undersides of the supports of the floor above, or of the roof, as the case may be, of not less than four feet.
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