29
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
TPH
5
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
No similar regulations for
the tropics
are available.
Require-
ments as to
"If the height of such building be fifteen feet he shall cause such distance to be fifteen feet at least.
"If the height of such building be twenty-five feet he shall cause such distance to be twenty feet at least.
"If the height of the building be thirty-five feet or exceed thirty-five feet, he shall cause such distance to be firenty-fire feet at least.
*
The remainder of the paragraph provides against subsequent obstruction of such
space.
155. I regret that I am unable to quote any similar regulations relating to Indian, tropical, or sub-tropical cities.
156. It would seem reasonable to demand in a tropical city like Victoria, sheltered as it open space in is during half the year from the direct influence of the prevailing wind, a still greater proportion of space than that thought desirable in England. The character of the site, however, prevents, I fear, the provision of so much space.
Victoria ought Lot to be less than that
quoted, but site Frevents this.
Tropical rules
as to space.
Space required
in case of an
enclosed court or yard.
Space required
in case of
alleya.
Alleys to com- municate with street.
Case of re-
ennstruction
of several
buildings out
of a row.
Courts and alley to be
kept clear of
obstructions.
Case of a scarp wall forming one mile of
an alley.
Surface of pavement of Riley to be below that of
floor of house. legal ex- pression and definitions omitted for the sake of
clearness.
Amount of
157. I would suggest the following rules as applicable to local conditions; though they do not provide all that might be desired, they will be an improvement on existing conditions, whilst they will not unduly restrict the utilisation of space.
158. (1.) In case of courts or spaces wholly enclosed by dwellings, and not being in the form of a continuous alley, the communication from the public street or from a private lane to them being through a covered passage, the minimum open space to be one hundred and fifty square feet, that it shall be equal to one fifth of the total roofed- over area for buildings not exceeding 24 feet in height and one fourth for buildings more than 24 feet high.
159. (2.) In cases where the space takes the form of a continuous alley, at the back of a row of buildings, a smaller space may be permitted. The alley to have a minimum width of 4 feet for a house not exceeding 16 feet high.
If the house be more than 16 and less than 24 feet high, then 5 feet.
If more than 24 and less than 32, 6 feet.
Upwards of 32 feet, 7 feet.
may
160. (3.) The said alley must communicate with a public street or private lane by an opening which
be closed by a door or gate, but the communication must not be by a covered passage, otherwise the alley will be considered to be a completely enclosed space, and must have the dimensions laid down for these.
161. (4.) In case of re-construction of one or more buildings forming part of an existing row, where it may not be practicable to make the alley communicate with the street direct, some latitude may be allowed, in order to secure the benefits of back com- If the alley be made continuous for a length of 50 feet or more (three munication. houses), then it may be allowed to communicate with the street by a covered passage of suitable dimensions, provided that no other more direct exit is available.
162. (5.) The courts or alleys to be kept clear of all obstructions except a latrine and ashbin. In alleys there must be a free passage for sweeping and removal of
rubbish.
163. (6.) Where one side of the back alley is formed by a scarp- or retaining-wall, then the width of the alley may be diminished by the fare-batter or slope of the wall, provided that the remaining width at bottom suffice to permit access for cleaning, and that the space measured from the top of the scarp or wall to the wall of the dwelling have the proper width due to the height of the house, measured from the lowest floor.
164. (7.) The surface of the alley or court should be at least one foot below the lowest floor of the building. It must be properly paved or concreted, and provided with a surface channel for the removal of storm water, as well as any pipe that may be Constructed for sewage.
165. In the above suggessions, for the sake of clearness and brevity, I have omitted all legal phraseology and definition. This may be added, when the general principle has been determined, the Model Byelaws referred to affording a most excellent example.
166. As to window-space, I would suggest that every habitable room should have a window space. clear window-space opening directly to the external air, the area of which shall be equal
at least to one-tenth the floor area of the said room.
*Bmoke hole"
able where
167. I do not see much objection to the use of "smoke-holes," provided that they do not objection not replace other more efficient means of lighting and ventilation. They afford a rude but effective means of ventilation. They are not in accordance with our habits, but the Chinese seem to like them; and I do not see that they are objectionable, provided they
they do not replace other
are at least 4 feet square. If smoke-holes are not used, then proper chimneys must be proper ap provided.
pliances.
with proper window-space
to higher rooms
168. In the paragraph 156, prescribing open space, the increment is made proportional Lower rooms to a somewhat smaller depth of storey (8 feet) than that usually given (10 feet). This is done because it seems preferable to encourage low rooms, with a proper amount of are preferable window-space in proportion to the floor area, rather than lofty rooms, which are almost sure to be subdivided by "cock-lofts," or temporary intermediate floors, whereby the subdivided with
"Cock-lofts" should he temporary window-space provided for one floor has to serve for two. absolutely prohibited.
169. The question of the amount of cubic space per inhabitant is one of sanitary police, Cuble space rather than of construction. The following are the amounts recommended by several authorities.
floors or "cock- lofts."
per inhabitaut, a question of sanitary police. Space required for English
ing-houses.
In the Model Byelaws No. III., Common lodging-houses, p. 6, Art. 2:- "Three hundred cubic feet is recommended as the proper standard of cubic space to common lodg- secure for each person; but in many rooms it will be right to appoint a larger space, and this can only be determined on inspection of the particular room.”
each
bouses let as
In No. XIII., "Houses let in lodgings," p. 11, 400 cubic feet is prescribed for Spaces for
above the person
of 10 years in rooms not used exclusively as sleeping-rooms, lodgings. age and 300 feet when the room is used exclusively as a sleeping-room. Half the above
of in each case respectively. amounts are prescribed for a child under 10 years age,
The French Police Regulations fix 14 m.c. or 494 2 cubic feet as the proper cubic by French space per head.
Space required
police regu-
Intions.
170. In Victoria I would suggest that 400 cubic feet might reasonably be taken as the Cubic space minimum cubic space where the room open, but this should be increased to 600 cubic suggested for
Hong Kong. feet when the room is divided into cabins, exclusive, in both cases, of the cookhouse. Considerable latitude must be given to the sanitary authority in each case, and any regulations of this kind must be introduced gradually to avoid the discomfort that would be caused by suddenly and simultaneously evicting large numbers of persons.
171. Earthen floors should be prohibited, all should at least be paved with tiles, bedded Floors. in concrete.
to include all
172. In framing regulations on these subjects, care must be taken to word them so Regulations that they may be made to include roofed-in spaces of all kinds, for there is little roofed-over exaggeration in saying that no house space, however small or unpromising, will be spaces. left untenanted; rooms, nominally shops, will always be found to be the sleeping quarters of one or more persons.
173. The question of latrines must now be considered. The present houses do not Latrines. as a rule contain one, and I do not see how they can be introduced without incurring danger. In the majority of houses the cookhouse is the only place where such a structure could be made, and the available room is scarcely sufficient to allow for the necessary space for ventilation, and a latrine, whatever be its construction, absolutely requires this. A single latrine for the inhabitants of a house comprising several families would not be in accordance with Chinese custom. Women, of the better classes at least, would continue to use pots; they distinctly object to places resorted to by others; this was emphatically stated by the Tung-Wa Hospital Committee. There is, however, an important exception to this rule in the case of the Hakkars.
public latrines,
should be
174. The men, as we have seen, use the public latrines; this affords great facilities for Men resort to introducing good conservancy. I think, therefore, that their use should be encouraged; the numbers they should be improved and increased in number. Still further to apply the principle of which of providing for these wants outside the dwelling, it is most desirable that semi-private increased. latrines should be encouraged, serving for the neighbours inhabiting a street, alley, or block. For instance, it might be practicable to construct a common latrine for the inhabitants of the blocks shown in Figs. 23, 27, and 28.
women.
175. Lastly, it is stated on good authority that the Hakkar women of the working Public latrine classes would use a public latrine, provided that they were convinced that women alone for Hakkar were allowed to enter it, and that female attendants only were employed. It is true that this idea was scouted by the Tung-Wa Committee, but it was subsequently suggested by a Hakkar, and approved of by others present of that tribe. The plan therefore seems
trial. well worthy
176. On the whole, I am of opinion that it would be premature to enforce the con- Compulsory struction of latrines existing houses, but they may be sanctioned, if desired, under introduction strict regulations. In new buildings it would be well to set apart some space that could existing borss be used for this purpose. This subject will be further treated under the head of premature. scavenging.
D 3
of latrines into