Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 550

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The clause in the original Bill relating to mezzanine floors prohibited such floors with less spaces than 9 vertical feet above and below them, and provided that when any mezzanine floors existed which had not the above spaces above and below and which appeared to the Sanitary Board to be injurious to health, they might be removed to such extent as might be approved by the Governor in Council,

In the result the clause regarding mezzanine floors was modified so as to exact the 9 vertical feet of space above and below only in the case of a mezzanine which extended over more than two

thirds of a room.

Where the mezzaninę extended over two thirds or less of the room 6 vertical feet above and below were only required.

This provision remained in force till it was repealed by Ordinance 15 of 1894 which prohibited mezzanines altogether except under regulations framed by the Sanitary Board. These regulations, which are very stringent, are to be found in the Schedule to Ordinance 13 of 1901.

Section 48 of the Bill, which required in every habitable room in a new domestic building a window opening directly into the air and equal to one tenth of the floor area of the room, was eliminated.

Privics which were made compulsory by the original Bill in all new domestic building were made optional only, His Excellency the Governor expressing the opinion that if they were made compulsory it would be impossible to ensure that they were kept clean.

The Bill, which like all other sanitary measures, was of the nature of a compromise, was read a third time and passed on the 18th April, 1889.

The Closed Houses and Insanitary Dwellings Ordinance 1894 (No. 15 of 1894).

The Bill was read a first time on the 15th September, 1894. It was based on the recommenda- tions of the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary Board coupled with those of the Housing Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor.

The Permanent Committee had drawn special attention to overcrowding and section 9 of the Bill accordingly required for each occupant of a house 30 square feet of floor space and 400 cubic fect of air space.

On the 22nd December the Bill was read a second time, and in Committee the Honouranie

E. R. Belilios moved as an amendment, and the Honourable Dr. Ho Kai seconded, that the floor space should be 21 square feet and the air space 300 cubic foot.

The whole of the Un-official Members including the Honourable A. McConachie, the represen- tative of the Chamber of Commerce, voted for the amendment and the Official Members against it,

and the amendment was therefore lost.

Section 10 giving power of inspection to ascertain breaches of the sectious against overcrowd- ing, was also opposed by the whole of the Un-official Members, but their amendment limiting the inspection to coolic-houses and common lodging-houses was lost.

Section 12 of the Bill limited the height of buildings to be erected in the future, and the

Honourable E. R. Belilios moved that the section be deleted from the Bill. He contended that in

cities in the United States and in Verona and Venice there were high buildings, and that the section would retard and prevent the progress of the Colony.

The Honourable C. P. Chater seconded.

The whole of the Un-officials voted in favour of the amendment and the Officials against it and

the amendinent was lost.

The Honourable C. P. Chater then proposed as a second amendment that where the width of of a lanc is 15 feet and does not exceed 25 feet the limit of height of buildings should be 46 feet.

He remarked that if the clause as it stood were passed there would, he thought, be " an uproar in the Colony the like of which has never been known before."

The section was left over for further discussion, and on the 24th of Decomber the Director of

Public Works to meet the objection of the Honourable C. P. Chater moved as an amendment clause 12 as it now stands. The amendment was accepted with a slight modification and the Bill was read a third time and passed.