M 56
Anti-
243. Special arrangements have been made for the care of the labourers who will be engaged in the Shing Mun Water Works Scheme which will be in full swing next year. Malaria precautions will be taken and hospital accommodation and medical supervision will be provided. The Medical Department will work in cooperation with the Engineering Authorities.
Housing and Town Planning.
244. There is no Town Planning Ordinance and Housing comes under that portion of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance which is administered by the Public Works Department. There is little or no zoning in the older parts of Victoria and blacksmiths' shops or even foundries are to be found in the midst of shop houses and domestic houses. The new reclamation in Victoria known as the Praya East has been laid out on modern lines with wide streets and backlanes. The greater part of Kowloon and New Kowloon has been planned on up-to-date principles. The zones recommended by the Town Planning Committee of 1923 are being adopted.
245. The following list shows some of the work done during the year by, or under the supervision of the Sanitary Department (items 1-4) and the building branch of the Public Works Department (items 5 to 8).
Nature of work. | No. of cases. | 1931 | 1932
------------------|---------------|------|------
1. Obstructions removed from open spaces........ | | 305 | 472
2. Obstructions to light and ventilation removed. | | 814 | 617
3. Rat holes stopped | | 1,026 | 796
4. Water closets installed in private buildings... | | 4,842 | 1,121
5. Houses demolished (domestic) | | 155 | 257
6. Houses demolished (non-domestic) | | 16 | 4
7. Houses erected (domestic) | | 1,258 | 1,240
8. Houses erected (non-domestic) | | 21 | 25
246. 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 294 acres where there are approximately 1,000 persons to the acre, sanitary conditions are very bad indeed.