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the
176. Ordinarily there are no special arrangements for the medical care of labourers other than the Government Hospitals, the Chinese Hospitals, the Chinese Dispensaries and Mission Hospitals. The total number of third-class beds in these institutions available for general diseases are about 1,200 or 1 to 700 approximately.
177. 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.
HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING.
178. There is no Town Planning Ordinance and Housing comes under the Buildings Ordinance which is administered by the Public Works Department. Except that offensive trades are confined to the western end of the town, there is little or no zoning in the older parts of Victoria and blacksmiths' shops and even foundries are to be found in the midst of shop-houses and domestic buildings. The new reclamation in Victoria called the Praya East has been laid out on modern lines with wide streets and back lanes. The greater part of Kowloon and New Kowloon has been planned on up-to-date principles and the zones recommended by the Town Planning Committee of 1923 are being adopted.
179. 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. Cubicle rents range from seven to ten dollars per month, a bed in the passage costs two to three dollars, food costs at least six dollars, and the average earnings of a coolie are not above eighteen dollars.
180. The City of Victoria, for the area it occupies, is overcrowded 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 bad.
181. Government has appointed a Housing Committee to enquire into the situation with a view to bringing about some improvement. The problem is not an easy one, for there is no space to expand. It can only be solved by demolition and the erection of a new type of house which will be sanitary and at the same time more commodious.
182. One hopeful sign is that the people are being more and more attracted by Kowloon, Praya East, and North Point, where concentration is much less marked.