Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 455

six feet, but in this he is not supported by the other witnesses the local architects being averse to any change as the present height was decided upon so recently as 1894. We, however, recommend that no cubicles of a greater height than seven feet unless the height of the room exceeds thirteen feet be permitted to be erected or re-erected hereafter in any domestic dwelling.

14. We recommend that owners of Private Streets and Lanes be required at their own expense to surface, channel, and light such Streets and Lanes, and to maintain them in a sanitary condition.

15. In conclusion, we now deal seriatim with the questions referred for our con- sideration in the order set forth in the Commission.

We are of opinion--

(i) That it is unnecessary for the Government to resume insanitary properties

generally, and improve them and re-sell them.

(ii) It being unnecessary to resume insanitary properties generally, no means

for their resumption need be provided.

(iii) The said properties should be improved in the manner suggested in this Report, and should be carried out by the owners at their own cost, failing which they should be carried out by the Government, and the Owners called upon to refund the cost.

(iv) It is not necessary to provide means for housing the occupants of any dwellings pending improvements, as such improvements could be carried out without any undue inconvenience to such occupants.

(v) As the improvements will be carried out at the cost of the owners of the properties, no capital will be required for resumption and improvements except in those cases where the making of such improvements may result in absorbing so much of the land as to leave the remainder so small or of such a form as to yield but poor return to the owner. In such cases it may become necessary for the Crown to resume; but such cases we are informed, on the authority of the Director of Public Works, will be extremely rare.

16. In support of the necessity for the above recommendations we would beg a careful reference to the following reports in which the urgent attention of the Government has been for many years and is again carnestly directed to the great depth of the bulk of the Chinese houses as compared with their width to the want of open space in the rear thereof, and to the consequent serious defects in the lighting and ventilation of such buildings. We desire to call special attention to Mr. Chadwick's reports of 1882 and 1890 and to the plans and drawings contained in the former.

(i) The Colonial Surgeon's reports dated Hongkong, 15th April, 1874, and 5th April, 1875, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 25th August, 1881.

(ii) Mr. Osbert Chadwick's report on the Sanitary Condition of Hongkong presented to both Houses of Parliament in August, 1882, more particularly paras. 149-154. Mr. Chadwick's reports dated 1st July, 1890.

(iii) The report of the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary Board dated 29th June, 1894.

(iv) The reports of the Committee on Housing the Chinese dated Hongkong, 28th July, and 13th August, 1894.

(v) The Colonial Surgeon's letter dated Hongkong 2nd March, 1895, forwarding to Government the letter and report of the Medical Officer in charge of Epidemic Hospital and Acting Superintendent of Government Civil Hospital, &c., on the Epidemic of Bubonic Plague dated Hongkong 1st March, 1895.--(the letter in question and paras. 149- 153 of Mr. Chadwick's report of 1882 will be found in Appendices Nos. 14 and 14 (a));