CO129-626-5 Crown Lands 1-1-1950 - 31-8-1951 — Page 12

SAVINGRAM

To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Office_Administering the Government From the Governor, Hong Kong.

Date 21

21st July 1950

778

No.

14 11

2

In your telegram No.832 of the 24th July 1948 you approved the proposals set out in the third and fourth para- graphs of Sir Alexander Grantham's despatch No.138 of the 118th June 1948, and granted authority, for a period of two

years from the 1st August 1948, to dispose of Crown land by Ky private treaty for the purpose of comprehensive workers'

housing schemes.

2. That period is now about to expire and I recommend, with the concurrence of Executive Council, that it be extend- ed for another year as from the 1st August 1950.

3. The considerations mentioned in the third paragraph of Sir Alexander Grantham's despatch referred to above still obtain. The population has greatly increased since 1948 and the influx of new industries has continued since the concession

There are, therefore, 14 granted two years ago was made public.

It is some factory managements who may be unaware of the concession or whose plans to make use of it have not yet matured. only within the last 18 months that the Labour Department has stipulated, when dealing with building plans for factories, that quarters for persons living on the factory premises should be provided.

4. It is a deplorable fact that, because of the shortage of accommodation and the high rentx prevailing, many employees of large factories and utility companies continue to live in squatter settlements, which are now larger and more numerous than ever. Although there has recently been a fall in building costs which may tend to induce some employers to provide adequate housing, that incentive might prove to be insufficient if the opportunity of obtaining land by private treaty were no withdrawn, and promotors had to compete with other more speculative bidders at public auction.

5. If you approve I shall be grateful for an early reply in order that the necessary public announcement may be made as soon as possible.

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28 JUL 1951 REGISTRY