CO129-450 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1918 [10-12] — Page 364

be brought to the early attention of the

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NA-CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir.

7477

REG 4 FCB 19

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

369

HONGKONG. 16th. December, 1918.

REC?

With reference to my Despatch No.323 of

the 20th. November, I have the honour to inform you that the portions of Lieutenant Olitsky's report relating to the over- -crowding in the City of Victoria and its effect on the public health make it imperative in my opinion that the matter should be taken in hand as soon as possible with a view to discovering an efficient remedy. The subject is, however, of such importance that I would not ordinarily have dealt with it in the absence of the Governor. Sir Henry May's retum to the Colony has now been delayed for reasons with which you are acquainted, and I have, therefore, decided that the best course will be to place my views before you so that when Sir Henry May returns he may be able to deal with the

matter by telegraph if necessary.

2.

Since the last Census in 1911 a consider-

-able amount of building has taken place in the City especial- -ly on the levels below the three hundred feet contour, but no matter how many houses and flats are built they are immediately occupied by Chinese families and command high rents. During the past seven years 590 houses, containing about 1,750 flats have been erected in the Western portion of the City alone, excluding Kennedy Town, and every possible site is eagerly sought for. The consequence has been that

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

&c.,

&c. ..

the