AnnualReport-1926

Q 27

B. O. O. Work:

26. Plans. The following is a tabulated statement showing the number of buildings, etc. for which plans were deposited during the year, the figures for 1925 being given in a parallel column for purposes of comparison:—

Buildings. 1925. 1926. Increase. Decrease. European houses.. 201 67 134 Chinese houses, 475 147 326 Buildings and Structures other than the above, 171 180 9 Alterations and additions to existing buildings, 1,631 1,932 301 Verandahs, 322 144 178 Balconies. 82 38 44 Sunshades, 9 35 26 Areas, : Piers, Wells 4 9 5 51 56 Total,...... 2,946 2,608 346 684

As already pointed out, the year was marked by the practical cessation of speculative building in the Colony. Apart from local financial stringency, the supply of tenement houses far exceeded the demand and land owners generally evinced reluctance in fulfilling their building covenants. Many buildings, especially in the Kowloon district, remained in a state of semi-completion throughout the year, and in a number of cases measures had to be taken to remove portions of buildings rendered dangerous by continued exposure to the weather.

In cases, however, where owners were genuinely interested in building as an investment, Government rendered assistance by means of the Trade Loan, and towards the end of the year work was resumed on a great number of lots.

It is noticeable that there was an increase in the number of plans submitted under the heading "Alterations and additions." This was largely due to owners' expenditure on maintenance and improvements of old properties which, in more prosperous times, would have been demolished and rebuilt.

The number of plans deposited during the year was 1,874 as compared with 1,863 in 1925.

The number of plans approved during the year was 2,155 as compared with 2,636 for 1925.