71
12
On
and falls under two main heads, viz:-(a) houses built on land bought prior to the passing of the Ordinance in 1903, where the open space must not be less than one fourth the area of the site and (b) houses built on land bought subsequently where the minimum is raised to one third of the area. plan the usual frontage of each house is fifteen feet (a dimension owing its origin more to early structural limitations than to economics) and a depth of about thirty-five feet, whilst each storey consists of one large "room" with a native type kitchen in the rear. This room is then subdivided by thin partitions seven feet high into three cubicles each of which may acconi modate a family. A latrine is built at ground floor level, one to each house irrespective of the number of occupants, and is common to all.
5. Structurally the earlier houses are of blue bricks (of native manufacture having a very low structural value) and timber, (usually China fir which is extremely susceptible to the ravages of white ants). Lately, however reinforced concrete and better quality bricks have been used.
6. In the City of Victoria the major defect of housing is due to lack of town planning, but since a large proportion of the City was erected in the early days of the Colony, when town planning was little practised even in Europe, the conditions to-day are a heritage, the elimination of which involves immense sums of money, and probably considerable opposition if attempted on a large scale.
7. Generally many of the old houses suffer from defects which are attributable to the Ordinance of that time. Passed in 1903 the measure was framed to meet existing conditions, both structurally and hygienically as they were then understood and practised. But, viewed in the light of modern practice and knowledge, many of its provisions are found to be lax and the following are the main resultant defects:-
(a) The open space is insufficient, especially with regard to earlier houses, i.e. those built on land purchased prior to 1903.
(b) Latrine accommodation is insufficient.
Note:-
(c) Staircases are too narrow and steep, and often
unlighted.
(d) Means of escape in case of fire insufficient.
(b) In the case of new buildings where owners are able to provide by means of a well or otherwise ar adequate water supply, flush sanitation is now usually provided on each floor. This is one of the most important steps forward in sanitation that has been achieved.
- 13-
(c) and (d) have been provided for by recent amendments of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, which call for any new staircases in tenement houses to be of fire-proof construction, with alternative means of egress from all floors more than twenty three feet above the footpath. The remarks above apply more particularly to the housing of the wage-earning Asiatics. The housing for the wealthier classes is provided for by modern flats three or four storeys high, and in the suburban areas by detached or semi-detached houses usually two storeys high which may be occupied separately or as flats.
8. A new Buildings Ordinance has been drafted, which will eliminate many of the present defects and demand a higher standard generally, whilst the building owners are themselves realising the advantages of modern constructional methods. Town planning improvements are being carried out wherever possible in Hong Kong whilst the development of Kowloon is proceeding according to a definite lay-out.
Chapter VI,
PRODUCTION.
Hong Kong is the port for South China, and the greater part
other
of the large volume of goods that pass through it is in transit between South China and
parts of the world, including North and Middle China. The Colony itself produces comparatively little, though the shipbuilding, cement, sugar refining and cotton knitting industries are not unimportant. Neither agriculture nor mining is carried on to any great extent, though the former is practised throughout, the New Territories. Rice and vegetables are grown, and there is considerable poultry farming, but in insufficient quantities to supply the needs of the urban populations of Victoria and Kowloon. The cultivation is in the hands of the Chinese villagers. Sea fishing is an important industry, but here again local supplies have to be augmented by importation from outside.
2. Reports on the principal industries for the year 1933 ure given below:-
Refined Sugar-During the past year the difficulties of the Chinese merchant have been many. The high rate of import duty in China has rendered the burden of financing large purchases almost insuperable; while ready money has been tight. Nervousness as to price levels, a consistently falling market and fluctuation in the relative value of currencies from day to day have added to the merchant's problems. These and other economic factors have contributed to the continued down-
72
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.