1923-05-04 — Page 5

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STATUE OF SIE HENRY

'MAY UNVEILED.

GLOWING TRIBUTE BY SIR PAUL CHATER...

Cilre,

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, MAY ATE, 1928.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM,

NUTSHELL

-repealed the landlords will, as can only be humanly "expected, at onge, raise rents to

A COMPLETE SOLUTION IN Auch an extortionate extent that it will be

Tearful to contemplata the attending it.

results

Then bead lines are given by the author (Mr. F. M. Xavier) to a letter He did not, of course, realise that it which would occupy nearly four columns would inevitably give fresh incentive to of our space. We have reduced the fand just cause for, more and more strikes **Nutshell " to more reasonable dimen of wich a natura as to eclipse in their ions. Mr. Xavier writes:---

intensity all these previously kanen and. majority of

Ti qestionably true that the makes the already, very high cost of living| tenichts and sub-tenants 50 high as to bring in its train wide! have a very imperfect knowledge of the spread misery to the poor till the situa protection they are entitled to under the tion becomes so chaotic, su insuperable (if Rents Ordinance.

the limit is reached as I have aiready} on that the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock life-blood-trade; for then and only then 1.have always bern ander, the impres painted out) that the Colony will lose its knew this Tact wit

saw his letter will supply exceed the demagh, becausoj

Sir Henry May was known to me intimately, both privately and officially, from the commencemicht of his career as a ci servant of the Colcay sotna 40 year ng His progresa was marked UNVEILING BY BE. THE GOVERNOR. | [hroughent by a consistent display of those great qualities of conscientiousness In the presence of a large and note

and of counter, which cause a man to "Horthy gathering of residents of the Colony the unveiling ceremony of the

stand out amongst his fellow men. He statue erected by public subscription to which his experience and his duty point- never faltered or merved from the course the memory of the late Sir Henry Maged out as demanded by the interests com- G.C.M.G., D.CL. LLB, who sant-

Imitted to his

Undeterred by thirty.ight years in the public arnice of the Colony, rising from Cades to criticism and undaunted by obstacles, he Governor of the Colony took place yes pressed unflinchingis forward to the end ho had in view, an end he rarely failed terday afternoon. E the Governor (Sir R. E. Stubbs, K.C.M.G.) attended into achieve. To an unrivalled experience his official uniform as Governue to unveit/ of the needs and interests of the Colony, recently in the, al papers explaining the population of the Colony, will, then! the statue, being accompanied by Lady be added the natural genius of his race, clearly the legal rights the tenants and have been thinned. This is too dismal aj Ordinance, The explanations offered are picture and may appear incredible, but still timely and should certainly do a it is nevertheless true. great deal of good if they were properly brought home to their knowledge: other wise it is practically of little use to base grevious pass, and as there is still teft As matters have not yet comme to such a any Rents Ordinance at all if it is some fencious remedies to combat the imperfectly understood and not legally malady, let it be carefully diagnosed enforced while malpractics are going on and be given a radical care, safeguard not only the tenants against Apart from unabated, as its primary intention is to the landlords but also the sub-tenants touched upon. the following are

other points already "gainst the principal tenants.

outstanding erila by which the housing problem is confronted and which requires proper treatment.

work

sub-tenants have under the guil

HOW TO MAKE THE EESTS DEDINANCE-

UNDERSTOOD.

TENANTS AND BUB-TENANTS.

Л.

Stubbs, his A.D.C. (Capt. Neville) and had the aptitude, given to few, of his Private Secretary (Mr. Eric llie").

fastening on the keynote of any problem The ceremony attracted large numbers which confronted him; often when others of Chinese and many of these who did notŢcould not see so wisely or so well.. gain admittance to the temporarily erected The Government records, it searched, tands in front of the monument witness would tell of great resuits achieved by ed the proceedings from beyond the rail him, eminently to the Colony's advantage, ings surrounding the action of the square which never came under public notice. where the statue stands. Two companies He was not apt to blazon his sucess of the King's Regiment were present, to the public eye. Silently and unspar these being drawn up in parade formarjingly, the worked to preserve and protect tion on the grass plot at the back of the important interests committed to him, the statue facing the stands, and directly and no man can deny him acknowledged His Excellency had diawn aside the success. There is no need for me to refer Ordinance widey understood will be tot The best way of making the Reuts Union Jacks which had concealed the jin detail to the outstanding features of merely to ask the Tenants Association to status the soldiers presented arms,

The statue of Sir Henry May is

his career. They are known to all. Efis disseminate such knowledge bat to request, the proper authrities to eud their! as Captain Superintendent of representatives to pay periodical visits to in bronze and shows him scated in Police: his promotion of education; the every flat and house for that purpose. chair, swearing. Wis official uniform as impetus he gave to the Volunteer Forces: Governor of the Colony. The height of his close cooperation with the Chinese the statue from the ground is about community; and, later, the development fourteen feet. and it is on granite base of the Colony and the New Territories hy 7. ein. by 5ft, 10in. It rests on well-planned roads. Pedestal about seven feet in height, of

As a Governor, he made a mark which polished Peterhead granite, which is will be indelible from the Colony's' his super imposent on

another pedestal of tory.. In the sports and prstimes of the Jocal granite measuring about $ feet by Colony, Sir Henry was ever a prominent man and a golfer, he affected all by his figure. As a keen racing man, a yachts- enthusiasm, and no one bester realised ways of fleecing their victims. Use of how play is nu rasential complement to these ways, which are

Now, the landlords, too, bave, divers work, and forms an integral part of known but often practised by certain bold not generally our national life. our outdoor pastimes was highly appre-houses occupied by them under m

His participation in unscrupulous landlords, is to havn their ignorant tenants ejected from the ciated and they never tacked his gtmost pretext or other in order to obtain a support And what of the man himself! much higher rest by letting them out to Of the man as his friends knew hom! Of cases, as much as 100 per cent, higher new tenants from whom they get, in many utmost loyalty, of abonating hamour, of rest for old houses and not for new The status as already stated has been open heart, his friendship, once acquired, houses, or houses so reconstructed as to mrreted by public sabecription under the

never list. Adversity could not the Building Ordinance.

he exiled new" within the meaning of supervision of a Committee of which Sir alienate it, nor difference destroy it. In Paul Chater, C.M.G., was the chairman.sunshine or in trouble, it could be count The cost will be between $80,00 anded and drawn upon without exhaustion

and without stint.

10 feet.

The memorial is not yet completed for there is to be a background in the form of a niche, some 28 fret in diameter which will be formed of local granite, including two ornamental piers on rither wich of the monument, surmonted by urns and inscribed with laurel wreaths The statue is the work of the well kuosh sculptor Sir Bartram Mackennal, K.C.V.O., A.R.A.

$25,000

Was

This deficiency in knowledge, especially made up principally of the coolie and an the part of the sub-tenants, who are labourer classes, has always been source of glaring abuses by their principal tenants who bave

escing their anfortunate sub-tenants of!

been unmercifuly flat of a house or of several room and xtent of in many case; as much as bed spaces in a dat to the inordinate, hundred per cent, over and above the actual rent paid by them to the landlords,

1

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

LANDLORDS AND PRINCIPAL TENANTS TO HE PROSECUTED.

I do not know whether the Treatury Office is aware of any such malpractices. not been paid to the Government. If not, it seems that proper taxes have

As I suggested above, if proper persons were sent to every house and flat, not

violations of the Law. And, without, tho least exaggeration, I can confidently say that, not hundreds, but thousands upon thousands of such cases will be brought to prosecuted. light, and the defaulters should be

PRESEST RENT MOSTLY UNREAL.

.

With extortions such as theso going on unchecked, it is obviously clear that the real, that is to say, not Standard rents of most houses in this Colony are Rents as laid down Ordinance.

by the Rents

+

1

THE EVILA-

SUBJECT TO RESTS QEDINANCE.

the

legal profiteering by the Landlords by obtaining higher rent than standard rent from all tenants.

Ditta from HUT

tenants

after

4.

legally ejecting old tenants. Ditto from now tenants for premises vacated.

4. Illegally ejecting old tenants by

Landlords.

5. legal profiteering by Principal

13.

tonants from sub-tenants for whole flats rooms and bed spaces.

Legalised profiteering by land'ordis on hawes so reconstritetsl as to be called "new".

stands does not apply to the whole list of

High rent charged for new houses

evily excepting the first part of it Clearly the Rents Ordinater as it now

planaiked under Subject てる Rents

and 7, they do not corte under it, and Ordinance beginning with clane down to clause 5; but with regard to clauses

to counteract the evils.. it is therefore necesare to have it amend, ORDINANCE AGAINST PROFITEERING ON

P Bew

RECONSTRUCTED HOUSES.

profiteering by the Landlords on new The obvious remedy against irgalised houses so by the addition of such a section as will reconstructed as to be called is to amend the Rents Ordiniues give to the Landlords in addition to the old standard rent before such remus tion such further rent to be calculated on 4 percentage basis, not exceeding per cent, on the actual cost of the outlay which is to be assessed by the proper anthorities.

ORDINANCE TO COVER NEW HOUSES, To meet the case of new houars, an Ordinance ahould be made that rent should be based at the rate of 7 per cent. on the actual cost of land and building.

MORE TROUBLES, IF ORDINANCE NOT

AMENDE

If this is not done, there will surely he plenty of troubles infinitely worse than these we are having to-day in store for us in the future, as more than 2 years ago

witness to-day. 1 foresaw that we wonki have some much troubles as we have the misfortune to Even then I suggested.

as the only remedy capable of orreating by assessing the value of house properties 25. I have always suggested. rent control

the progress of evils attendant on the high cost of living mainly caused by high rent, but my note of warning ment, unheeded,

EXISTING ORDINANCE NOT WORKING

BMOOTHLY.

Amongst those present at the ceremony Your Excellency, this is the man whose wem:-The Chief Justice (Sir William-statue has been erected by the Community Bees-Davies) and Lady Rees-Davies, Sir Robert Ho Tung, the Aeting Generatas a mark of esteem, and to record their in' would the public have a clear nation the value of the property to be also Officer Commanding the Garrison (Col,igh appreciation of the eminent services of the meaning and intention of the assresed by the proper authorities. Such C. Wa Dasy, C.M.G., D.5.0.), Commo-Hongkong during his most honourably the extent of the evasions and now freely offered for landed properties,

which he rendered to the Empire and to Rents Ordinance, but the Governinput an Ordinance will have the effect of Hors H. E. Grace (representing the career as a servant of the Crown.

also, through their investigations, will checking speculation and the high prices Admiral) and Mrs. Grace, the Colonial

I have now the honour to ask Your Becretary (the Hon. Mr. A. G. M. Excellency to unveil this statur. Fletcher, C.M.G., C.B.E), the Colonial HIS EXCELLENCY, before anveiling the Treasurer, (the Hop. Mr. Mcl. Messer, statue, said: It is, I think very ätting O.B.E), the Secretary for Chinese that the only statie to Governor Affairs (the Hoa. Mr. E. R. Hallifax, erected in this Square should be that of CBE), the Attorney-General (the Hon. Sir Henry May, the first Governor Mr. J. B. Kemp, K.C., C.B.E.) and Mrs. succeed to that office after many years Kemp, the Director of Public Works (the of public service in the Colony. Sir Hon. Mr. T. L Perkins) and Mrs. Paul Chater has reminded you of the Perkins, the Director of Education (the eminent servicea which Sir Henry-May: Hon. Mr. E. A. Irving), this Hon. Mr. rendered not only in this Colony but to

LEGALISED PROFITEERING, EV. D. Parr, the Hon. Mr. H. E. the Empire. My own recollection of Sir Rents Ordinance at the recent public Mr. M. K. La did prick a hole into the Pollock, K.C.. the Hon. Mr. P. H. Henry May xlends over about half the were two houses exactly the same one new, E. Pollock's

menting when he said that where there Holyoak and Mr. Holyoak, the Puisne

I cannot agree with the Hon, Mr. H. Judga: (Mr. Justice Gompertz), the him. I knew him about twenty years. the other old the new one was let at Law Courts had not been thronged with period that Sir Paul Chater had known that it to say, to reconstructed as to Orditance had worked smoothly simply view that. the Rents Bishop of Victoria (Dr. Duppuy), the We met seldom but we corresponded exactly twice the rent of the old because litigants. If the approaches to the Law called new (the italics are mine) and because, contrary to bis expectations, the First Police Magistrato (Mr. J. R. Wood), the Harbour Master (Commander in the Colonial Offee and be was Gor- landlords to reconstruct old houses as the litigants, it was, believe me, catirely due constantly an many subjects when I was he rightly contended that it paid the Courts had not been blocked with C. W. Beckwith, R.N.), the Captain-

outlay was small compared with the to the imperfect knowledge or ignorance 2 letter which I discovered only, to-day reconstructed when they would be removed the public, and I desire no other support Wolfe). Mr. and Mrs. D. G. M. Bernard, kindly congratulating me on my appoint from rent control. Mr. A. D. Lang, Mr. O. N. Orme, Mr.ment to Ceylon, the past to which he

He rightly termed for my assertion than his anxiety to this legalised profiteering. A. E Wood, Mr. Hugh Nisbet, Mr. G. Rhimself was appointed. though he had could not offer any remely against it, Instruct the public in the way I have

explain the intention Unfortunately, however, he did not or Ordinance in the local papers recently. of the Renta Sayer, Mr. D. Melbourne, Mr. H. never taken up the duties. The period which was expressly what that meeting suggested and you will have thousands of Hancock, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. There, which he spent in this Colony was one of was called for; and undoubtedly there is litigants trooping to the Law Courts. Mr. H. B. Phelips, the Rev. Copley wonderful development.

such a remedy. Bc cao, here Moyle, Rev. J. T. Holman, Rev. J. Kirkin 1883 and left in the year 1918. During

GOVERNMENT AS BUILDED." DANGER OF REPEALING EXISTING BENTS As I have just remarked, neither Maconachie, and many others.

that time the population of the Colony Mr. Lo, therefore, expressed the hope build cheap houses bonise they will have ORDINANCE.

private individuals nor corporations can There were a large mumber of Chinese had more than quadrupled; its shipping that the Renta Ordinance should not be to buy land in the open market for which present, both ladies and gentlemen in had trebled and the public revenues had continued until the supply exceeded the they will have to pay a very high price. Cluding Merers. Wong Ping-sun, Ip Lan- increased no less than fifteen times. It affairs would not he brought about for in spite of opinions to the contrary from demand because, he said, such a state of Therefore, no one but the Government, ebuer, Mrs. Kotowall (representing her is a wonderful record of progress in one another twenty years, and immediately certain quarters, can build chenn houses husband the Hon. Mr. Kotewall), Loma's service. I think it is well-known after he went on to say the Lord only and let them cheaply for the simple Cheung-shui, Wong Kwong-tin, Ho Fook to all of you who has been any longth if the people who hulle new houses are Aiderations, it need have to pay nothing"

knows what will happen in 20 years time reason that, apart from any other con- and Chan Tin-sen.

of time in the Colony that Sir Henrynowed to charge whatever rental for its own land. SIR PAUL CHATZR'E SPEECH, May had much to do with this develop. like, whilst the old dwellings are still In asking His Excellency to perform ment. Ho is a very fit and proper person

subject to the Rests Ordinance." the unveiling ceremony the Hon. Sir PAUL to honour in this matter and on behalf CHATER said:-Your Excellency, I have of the Colony I have much pleasure in naked to come here this afternoon to accepting this statue..

you unveil à statue of your illustrious, pre- His Excellency the drew the cord hold decessor, the late Sir Henry May. I may monament. These divided on either side that helief by saying the Lord only knows

ing the Union Jack's in position over the then at the gants breath he disclaimed to cutting down as much as possible the mention that after he resigned his position and the statue was unveiled,

what would happen during that time. Governor of Hongkong, owing to ill

after all, merely

Superintendent of Police (Mr. E. D. a/ernor, and I still have among my papers profits made after the house had been of the law on the part of the majority of

;

At the base of the monument, facing

-

so reconstructed as to be called

For even new housed other than those there is also. I emphatically say, remely. But how he did contradics him- the supply might exceed the demand, and self when he said that in 20 years time

!

AMENDMENT TO BUILDING ORDINANCE DESINABLE

has to po akon is, he would consent, the Prayn, there is the following inscripsistency in argoment; but what fors mating-nich in the way then

As to the suggestions which "new"

thi Housing Commission invited from the Public. the report submitted by the to the Housing Commission with the view Chinese General Chamber of Commeres

als one, and it is especially in when cost of building is on the whaie, a very dealing with the question of buibling has always been a

for which the Building of the existing Rents Ordinance. That tent, responsible

19. to

great AL demand if acquiexcel in would be pre- particular

us it, is rather judicial to the tenants in general, to materials to be used in house building.. regarding the kinds of which class the majority of the public Therefore this Ordinance, too, requires

to the erection cu statue. He agreed to do so, and appointed. Sir Bertram Mackennel, K.C.V.Ö., A.R.Á., to be the sculptor, and subsequently gave him zeveral sittings.

tion:

"SIR FRANCIS HEY MAY, G.C.M.G., D.C.L, LL.D.

Cadet and Governor of Hongkong, 1881-1910.

Erected by public aubscription,

matter, and matters much, was his building extraordinary demand for the abrogation Ordinance

I belong; for, once the Rents Ordinance is modification.

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Tr. 1323