M 55
LABOUR CONDITIONS.
214. There are no estates, plantations or mines and comparatively few large factories. The majority of the urban labouring classes are engaged in matters connected with commerce, shipping or public works and the bulk of the remainder find employment in shops or workshops or independent businesses. There is no need for recruitment of labour, the supply being sufficient to satisfy all demands.
215. Labourers find their own accommodation in the many tenements and lodging houses which exist in Hong Kong and Kowloon.
216. The Factories and Workshops Ordinance contains sections bearing on the health of factory workers. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance also contains sections bearing on the health of factory workers.
217. Ordinarily there are no special arrangements for the medical care of labourers other than the Government Hospitals, the Chinese Hospitals, the Chinese Dispensaries and the Mission Hospitals. The total number of third-class beds in these institutions available for general diseases are about 1,000 or 1 to 750 approximately.
218. Special arrangements were made for the care of the labourers engaged in the Shing Mun Water Works Scheme which was in full swing during the year. Anti-malaria precautions were taken and hospital accommodation and medical supervision provided. The Medical Department co-operated with the Engineering Authorities.
HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING.
219. 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.
220. 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 4-8).