Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1963-1964 — Page 32

ance to a domestic 'H' block, though the four most recent ones at San Po Kong in Kowloon are all built to an 'I' pattern. Each block has five floors, but in future the new 'I' blocks will have seven storeys. Access to each floor is by a central staircase and ramp, with additional staircase access at each end of the block. There are no lifts as the intention is to reduce building costs as much as possible, consonant with functional efficiency. Each floor is divisible into units of 198 or 256 square feet, being the clear space between the bearing columns in the old and new type factories. A verandah running round the building gives access to all units, and there are communal latrines and bathrooms. The roofs of each building are used for drying purposes. Rents are described in Chapter X and Appendix VII.

72. The minimum area which may be allocated to any one concern is one unit and the maximum is around 2,000 square feet-ten units in the old and eight in the new factories. This reflects one of the two limitations which operate when clearing factories and workshops into resettlement accommodation. One of them is the size of the undertaking- to be eligible for resettlement, a squatter factory must not exceed 2,000 square feet of covered enclosed working space, although discussions on raising this limit were in progress at the end of the year-and the other is suitability of trade. Whilst the latter does not prevent the allocation of factory space, the owner is required to change his trade to one approved by the department. These factors give rise to difficulties in management which are described below.

73. After taking up accommodation in the factory the individual tenants have to provide their own partition and front walls facing onto the verandahs. The internal layout adopted by the tenant requires the approval of the Labour and Fire Services Departments, and each concern has to make its own arrangements for the installation of water and electricity.

74. As already mentioned, the design of the buildings and the fact that a large number of concerns are housed close together, have made it necessary to exclude certain trades. These fall into four main categories: those that require more storage space than can be provided, for example, timber yards and waste or scrap metal dealers; foundries, where adequate ventilation is the problem; waste cotton refiners and bedding manufac- turers, because of the obnoxious processes involved; and all food proces- sing, because the simple design of the buildings and the proximity of other trades preclude the maintenance of the necessary standards of hygiene.

25