308
KOWLOON QUESTIONS.
YEAR'S ACTIVITIES OF THE RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION.
Mr. C. A. da Roza presided at the annual meeting he'd, on March 22nd, at St. Andrew's Church Hall, of the Kow- loon Residents' Association. An exhaus- tive review of the year's activities was given by the Chairman and afterwards the Rents Ordinance, the Cemetery site and other questions were discussed.
THE CHAIRMAN'S REVIEW. The CHAIRMAN mentioned that the membership had remained constant during the year; the subscription was only $1 a year and the funds available, therefore, did not permit of printing a full report of the Association's activities. The letters sent and received would convince mem- bers that the Association had been full of activity.
HOUSING.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS & there is an encouraging activity as re gards house building and the hope of your Committee is that the time is not far distant when the supply of houses will be adequate to our requirements.
MOTOR 'BUSES.
[Mar h 25th, 922.
to send two representatives to a meeting of the Public Works Committee at which the plans of the hospital were to be con- sidered. The estimates presented at the Budget meeting of the Council showed that a total sum of $360,000 had been
Government Gazette lengthy regulations 1921, was $50,000, and that it was ex- Last year there were published in the mated expenditure up to 1st December, set down for the hospital, that the esti-
governing the establishment of a proposed | pected to spend $220,000 on the under- motor 'bus service. Those regulations taking during the present year. were very largely based on our recom- mendations and it seemed that at last Kowloon was to have an adequate and cheap transportation service. Tenders were later asked for and given. But, to regret of the whole community, that scheme was dropped by the Govern ment and has never been heard of since. Through private enterprise, however, Kowloon now possesses a motor 'bus service which is a means of speedy, cheap and efficient transport. Although this small pioneer service has its value, it is, by its very nature, of little or no benefit to the European residents of Kow. loon who had been led to expect some- As the development of outlying districts thing very much superior in every way. for the purpose of providing European residential areas is one of the obvious needs of Kowloon it is the hope, not only of this Association but of residents gene rally, that matters will not be allowed to reinain where they are at present, and that before very long we on this side of the harbour will possess modern travelling facilities better suited to our needs.
WHY NOT TRAMWAYS?
Continuing, the Chairman said:- One of the very first subjects which the Association took up after its establish ment and has closely watched since was that of housing and increased house rental.
When the Government proposed, in April last year, to increase the Assess ment Rate from 13 per cent. to 20 per cent.. the Committee very vigorously pro- tested on the ground that house rents were already exorbitantly high and that the residents of Kowloon suffered dis abilities as compared with residents in Victoria. We pointed out that Kowloon In this connection it is to be hoped has no trams, no hospitals, an uncertain that the Government will seriously con- water supply, indifferent street lighting, sider the advisability of providing an no cemetery and is insufficientiy policed efficient and modern tramway service. and we also emphasised the fact that When one remember that on the Hong house rents in the Peninsula had already kong side tram-cars run to such outlying reached a limit beyond which it would be districts as Quarry Bay and Shaukiwan iniquitous to go. Frther, we urged the there is surely reason in establishment of a Fair Rents Board as that Sham Sui Po, Mongkok, Yaumati, our suggestion being highly necessary to stop the con- Hunghom, Kowloon City, etc., could be stantly recurring increases landlords were similarly served, more especially in view imposing. In May last the Committee of the fact that the roads along which combined with the Constitutional Reform such cars would run would undoubtedly Association in a public meeting of protest open up much desirable territory for re- against the Gnment's rating pro-sidential purposes. posal and it was gratifying to learn, why a circular route could not be designed There is no reason subsequently, that the Government had to cater for all these district's. This is abandoned its proposal.
a matter which might well engage the early attention of the in-coming Com- mittee.
THE KOWLOON HOSPITAL.
The Committee wrote to the Govern. ment enquiring the aproximate date of completion, and was informed that tenders would probably be invited in about two months from the date of the letter (December 28th last) and that the first portion of the building would take about two years to construct. In the opinion of the Committee this delay is unwarrantable. Since the receipt of that reply, your Committee has written to the Government, emphasising once again the urgency of the matter, expressing its disappointment at the length of time es timated to be necessary to erect the the whole scheme be placed in the hands building, and once more suggesting that of outside contractors under the super- vision of
architects.
one of the local firms of
on
gone beyond the point of argument; it The case for a hospital for Kowloon has is admitted Census taken last year showed that there the Government. The were over 3,000 non-Chinese residing on the Kowloon Peninsula and for these 3,000 residents there is absolutely no the mainland. hospital accommodation whatsoever ground for complaint in the fact that, Surely we have some whereas a site was decided upon so long ago as September, 1920, tenders have not yet even been called for and two years are expected to elapse between the time of commencement of work and the com- We can only express the hope that the pletion of the first part of the building. Government will now see that the scheme is rapidly pushed forward and that its fulfi'ment will not be in any way delayed by other works, such development of the locality in which the as the general
this Association has alreeady intimated hospital will be situated. In any case, as to the Government in a report on the sub- ject, the necessity of peace and quietude for patients should be kept in view and THE RENS ORDINA CE. This announcement was a most immed-
no buildings, either residential or indus- iately followed by the introduction into
trial should be allowed in the vicinity the Legislative Council of what was rer.
As to the question of a hospital forng in the case of the Government Civil of the site. These disadvantages, exist- haps the most important legislation of the Kowloon, the Chairman said:-Over year-the Rents Ordinance. There have twelve months ago, the late Mr. Noronha, this side of the harbour.
Hospital, should not be duplicated on been two subsequent Ordinances passed speaking at the annual meeting of the in order to make the original Ordinance Association, regretted that there was no- thoroughly watertight and your Com- thing fresh to report as to the Hospital, mittee is confident that members share and to-night there is not a great deal better to-day than it was a year ago. Traffic control in Kowloon is very much with them the gratification at the fact more to say.
There are still very few Definite routes have been laid down for that the Government of this Colony has visible signs of fulfilment of our desires, rickshas and motor cars approaching and seen fit to act and act strongly in the for, as yet, although the site was decided leaving the ferry wharf, and using other interests of householders. We sincerely upon fully eighteen months ago, tenders roads in the Peninsula. Much better con- hope that the Government will continue its for the erection of the building have not trol is exercised by the police. Caution policy of protection and wi.. refrain from even been called for. But I shall be able signs for motorists, in English and imposing any additional burden by way to show that the fault for the intermin- Chinese, are now displayed in Nathan of a rates revision on the rent-paying able delay cannot be laid at the door of Road and it would be of great assistance community. The housing shortage in this the K.R.A. Colony, and especially in the Kowloon
to the police if residents would take care always to observe these signs and the Peninsula, is still acute and we trust that
signa's of police officers. the Government will not suspend the ope
brought to notice that ricksha coolies It has been ration of the Ordinances have referred
have often been encouraged by the pas to until the housing supply is adequate Government intended, in the first in- sengers to act contrary to the community's needs.
stance, to commence with a small build-signals. It is hoped that all Kowloon to signs and There is no doubt that the Government ing, capable of extension when the needs residents will co-operate to prevent viola- found assistance and moral backing from of Kowloon became better known. How-tions of regulations which have been de the many letters which we sent it prior ever, time went on with no indications signed for their special benefit. to the framing of the Rents Ordinance. of activity on the chosen site, and accord- in which we exposed cases of raising and jingly, in March, 1921, representations were I think members will appreciate the fact once more made to the Government, that that as the Government moved so strong it was not then possible to give any date, ly in the matter the publication of much but that when detailed plans were fin sh correspondence on this point was rendered, tenders would be invited. In July, ed unnecessary.
At the present time the Government invited the Association
Our hopes were raised high when, in the Budget for 1921, a sum of $30,000 was set aside for the provision of a hospital for Kowloon, it being explained that the
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TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.
MEDICINE AND WATER.
The Chairman briefly referred to other matters with which the Committee had dealt during the year. One was the in- convenience caused to Kowloon residents by the lack of dispensing facilities after
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