CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934 — Page 43

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243. Special arrangements have been made for the care of the labourers who will be engaged in the Shing Mun Water Works Scheme which will be in full swing next year. Anti- malaria precautions will be taken and hospital accommodation and medical supervision will be provided. The Medical Depart ment will work in cooperation with the Engineering Authorities.

Housing and Town Planning.

244. 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 Depart- ment. 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.

245. The following list shows some of the work done during the year by, or under the supervision of the Sanitary Depart- ment (items 1-4) and the building branch of the Public Works Department (items 4 to 8).

Nature of work.

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247. 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. A cubicle rents for ten dollars per month, a bed in the passage costs three to four dollars, food costs at least six dollars and the average earnings of a coolie do not exceed twenty dollars.

248. There is no space to build further houses and demolition means an increase of concentration in the houses that remain

249. 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 and where there is room for extension.

250. The following plan shows the dimensions of the model type of house designed by the Public Works Department. Provided there be sufficient space in front and behind in the way of street and back lane and provided the occupants keep the building clean and free from obstruction to light and ventilation there is no reason why they should not live a healthy life.

No. of cases.

1931.

1932.

1. Obstructions removed from open spaces........

305

472

2. Obstructions to light and ventilation removed. 814

617

3. Rat holes stopped

.1,026

796

4. Water closets installed in private buildings...4,842

1,121

5. Houses demolished (domestic)

155

257

6. Houses demolished (non-domestic)

16

7. Houses erected (domestic)

.1,258

1,240

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8. Houses erected (non-domestic)

246. The City of Victoria for the area it occupies is over housed 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 very bad indeed.

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