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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to build more houses. We are aware that we have a shortage of building sites and therefore redevelopment of slum property with increased accommodation must be depended upon for a solution. Dilapidated tenement houses with inflammable wooden floors and staircases are a potential danger to life and property and should be pulled down and rebuilt. The recent Canton Road fire is another sad reminder of the need to demolish such houses and to redevelop them with fire-resisting materials. Besides the loss of life and property every collapse and every fire mean more squatters. In order that such redevelopment may be expedited Government should review its overall housing policy and exempt inflammable houses from the operation of the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance in cases where an owner undertakes to redevelop his property within a stipulated period. Exemptions may be granted by districts with the ultimate aim of bringing about complete redevelopment. The object of exemption by districts is to minimize any possible inconvenience. It is a well known fact that exemptions applied for under this Ordinance entail exemption proceedings and compensation for disturbance as well as heavy legal fees which together add greatly to the cost of rebuilding. A higher cost of rebuilding can only contribute towards higher rent and therefore a higher cost of living. So far, redevelopment of slum property has been very slow and this is largely due to the cumbersome procedure laid down by the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. What is required is a less complicated and a less expensive procedure.
I wish to draw the Council's attention to another matter. I refer to an unsightly nuisance prevalent in this Colony and that is the practice of sticking bills and advertising matter on walls and pillars. I am afraid that some members of this Council who have served on the Select Committee dealing with such nuisances are not altogether immune from blame. Some of their election posters can still be seen sticking to walls in the City and in Kowloon. One suggestion is that the successful candidates should have the privilege of removing these posters. (Laughter).
I venture to suggest that the Council might consider putting up some bill boards so that advertisers could have no excuse for disfiguring walls and pillars.
During the past year many more food-shops have installed refrigerator-showcases. In general these shops carry a wide choice of foodstuff and by their improved arrangements they have rendered shopping a pleasure for housewives. Roast meat shops are also getting modernized and it is gratifying to note that many of these shops are now fitted with plate glass showcases which are not only pleasing to the eye but also serve to keep out dust and vermin. Our health staff is to be congratulated for the splendid manner in which they have induced shop keepers to co-operate with the Council in making improvements.
Mr. Chairman, on the whole, 1956 has been a year of progress for us and I trust that under your able guidance the efforts of this Council will continue to be directed with the same success towards promoting the welfare of the community. (Applause).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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DR. A. M. S. BELL :- Mr. Chairman, I understand, despite what our Senior Unofficial Member has said today, that this is the conventional time when we air our views about all and sundry affecting this great city and its people. I have a few particular points I want to make that arise out of our Reform Club's platform.
The Urban Council members are ex-officio members of the Housing Authority and it is not unnatural therefore that at election time much is said by the candidates in respect to our work as a housing authority and on which we are spending nearly fifty million dollars per year.
Our Java Road housing estate has taught us a number of lessons. Firstly, of course, we know we have built too many big flats, and a considerable number of applicants must of necessity be excluded from this estate because their families are not big enough; also the rent for the bigger flats has to be appropriately larger. Indeed, I would urge consideration to be given to a more liberal policy in permitting relatives to share a flat. There have been other important lessons. I think it would be preferable in future estates both from an economic and social point of view, to have blocks which cater for a wider range of incomes.
For instance that very few people with family incomes in the $300 to $400 per month group will be able to go to Java Road and I am pleased to note that consideration is being given to this aspect in the case of the plans now being prepared for So Uk. I would go one step further, however, and say that some flats must be built for those with family incomes of even less than $300 on the one hand, and somewhat more than $900 on the other.