CO129-595-6 Building Reconstruction Advisory Committee Report 9-4-1946 - 10-6-1947 — Page 27

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1.

I. INTRODUCTORY.

A programme was adopted under which the work of the Committee was divided into two main parts, Fact Finding and Policy (Appendix 1).

Eleven meetings of the full Committee were held, in addition to many sub-committee meetings to carry out detailed

investigations.

2.

An Interim Report was issued on the 23rd February, 1946.

The Committee have considered the following reports:-

General Survey of Housing with estimate of materials required for recon- struction. (Appendix 2).

Survey of Military Accommodation available and required. (Appendix 3).

Statement on the Accommodation Situation.

(Appendix 4).

A.R.P. Census figures, March 1941. (Appendix 5).

Survey of Piers and Wharves with estimate of materials required for reconstruction. (Appendix 6).

13).

Statement of Building Materials purchased from Australia. (Appendix 7).

Supplies Mission to Okinawa. (Appendix 8).

Housing Finance, "A" and "B". (Appendices 9 and 10).

Godown Accommodation. (Appendix 11).

Accommodation Planning. (Appendix 12).

Programme for Building Reconstruction with estimate of costs. (Appendix

II.-DATA.

SURVEY OF PROPERTY DESTROYED AND DAMAGED.

4.

(a) Civilian Buildings.

These were placed under main heads as follows:-

European Residential Classes 1 and 2,

Chinese

19

Classes 1 and 2.

Chinese Tenement Houses.

Offices and Public Buildings.

Factories and Stores.

י,

Each building was divided into typical units". For example, the unit for a Chinese tenement house was taken as one floor of size 15' x 40'; so that an average tenement house four stories high was considered as 4 units.

The number of damaged building units may be summarised as follows:-

Type of Building

European Residential, Class I. II. Chinese Residential, Class I

Tenement Houses Offices and Public Buildings Factories

Building Units

Buiatged Destroyed

Destroyed

Totals

107

834

941

203

974

1,177

84

201

285

II.

78

368

23

446

8,217

8,039

16,256

169

301

470

141

274

415

361

155

516

Totals:

9,360

11,146

20,506

Stores

Included in the above figures are:-

Damaged

Destroyed Destroyed Damaged,

12

52

22-200

56

120

4

14

17

7

13

14).

Building Materials-Procurement, Storage and Control of Issues. (Appendix

Report of the Housing Commission 1935 (Signed 11th October, 1938).

3. From the facts examined it is abundantly clear that shortage of housing is arute and will become more so on a rapidly increasing scale.

The comparatively stable conditions of this Colony have already started a revival A large increase of population of all classes can and expansion of business and industry.

he expected, accommodation for which must speedily be found.

Churches

Police Stations

Hotels

Theatres

(b) Services Buildings.

Hospitals

Schools

Type of Building

Destroyed

Damaged

Totals

Dockyard Buildings

4

37

41

Navy

Barracks

15

15

30

De-requisitioning will

Other Buildings

15

6

21

only be a partial solution.

It is therefore necessary that-

Barracks (200 men)

5

8

13

Married Quarters (Men)

6

152

158

Army

Married Quarters (Officers)

6

12

18

(i) Government and private enterprise recondition and erect the largest number

of dwellings as quickly as possible;

(ii) materials with which housing can be repaired or built be provided; and

(iii) materials in short supply be used to the best advantage.

- 4 —

In addition to the above, H.M.S. "Tamar ", the Naval depot ship, is a constructive total loss; she accommodated 152 men.

Officers' Messes

2

3

5

Ancillary Buildings

65

215

280

Totals:

118

443

566

i

5

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