- M 49
3. Rat holes stopped 1,026 769 4. Water closets installed in private buildings...... 4,842 2,211 5. Houses demolished (domestic) 155 50 6. demolished (non-domestic) 16 13 7. erected (domestic) 1,258 983 8. erected (non-domestic) 21 18205. The City of Victoria for the area it occupies is over-housed and grossly over-populated. In certain districts a great deal of improvement has been brought about but in some 200 acres where there are approximately 1,000 persons to the acre sanitary conditions are very bad indeed.
206. The position as regards housing in Victoria has been explained in the introduction to this report. The situation is at the same time a sanitary problem, a social problem and an economic problem. Victoria is the centre of attraction for the stream of immigrants from China most of whom are poor people who live from hand to mouth. Accommodation is limited but the people must find shelter somewhere. A cubicle rents for ten dollars per month, a bed in the passage costs three to four dollars, food costs at least six dollars and the average earnings of a coolie do not exceed twenty dollars.
207. There is no space to build further houses and demolition means an increase of concentration in the houses that remain.
208. One hopeful sign is that the people are being more and more attracted by Kowloon where concentration is much less marked and where there is room for extension.
209. The following plan shows the dimensions of the model type of house designed by the P.W.D. Provided there be sufficient space in front and behind in the way of street and back lane and provided the occupants keep the building clean and free from obstruction to light and ventilation there is no reason why they should not live a healthy life.