Sessional_Paper_1946 — Page 14

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All building materials imported into the Colony should be registered in a Government pool.

An adequately staffed Stores Department, with men experienced in buying and handling engineering and building construction stores, should be organised by Government.

The services of local firms should be enlisted for importation, storage, and distribution of materials..

Local production potential should be encouraged and utilised to the fullest

extent.

(ii) That Government should decide on a policy to assist property-owners to provide the necessary housing accommodation. Assistance should be given, conditional on reconstruction being completed within a specified period,-

(a) by allocating materials from the above-mentioned Government pool to property-owners in such a way as to make available the largest number of dwellings as soon as possible, having regard to the interests of the community as a whole; and

(b) by subsidising the cost of repairs to a price level closer to that exist-

ing when rent restrictive legislation was introduced.

(iii) That Government should lease selected blocks of property, such as apartment buildings, terraces of houses and tenements, repair where necessary, and sub-let to approved tenants.

(iv) That Government should investigate the desirability of developing new areas

for building adequate accommodation for its own employees,

(v) That so long as the housing shortage remains acute, rent restrictive legis-

lation should not be removed.

(vi) That speedy decision should be made regarding Crown leases due to expire

in the near future.

(vii) That adequate technical staff be engaged, and that every facility be afforded for the return of P.W.D. employees and others who are essential to supervise and carry out any building programme. The Committee wish to stress the urgency of the tasks involved, and therefore feel that the provision of per- sonnel for the prompt execution of any plans which may be adopted is a matter of immediate importance.

(viii) That Government should state its building and reconstruction policy without

delay.

(ix) That a Senior Executive Officer be appointed to the staff of His Excellency the Governor, with powers equivalent to those of a Minister of Reconstruc- tion, whose sole duty it shall be to co-ordinate and direct the work of reconstruction and housing.

Mr. LAWRENCE KADOORIE

Capt. C. N. LENTAIGNE

Wing Cdr. F. W. CHADWICK Capt. (Sp.) J. P. LUMLEY

Col. H. M. WHITCOMBE

Wing Cdr. R. H. RICHARDS

Mr. HAROLD W. LEE

Lt. Col. W. G. WORMAL

(Signed)

JJ

(In hospital) (Signed)

>

وو

(Left the Colony)

(Signed)

Chairman.

Lt. Col. J. D. MILNE

Lt. Col. L. W. AMPS

Wing Cdr. S. E. FABER

33

""

25

Lt. Col. J. FORBES

39

Mr. G. L. WILSON

23

Mr. A. M. BRAGA

"

Secretary,

Hong Kong, 9th April, 1946.

Damaged Buildings

SURVEY.

Hospitals

APPENDIX 1.