Sessional_Paper_1946 — Page 47

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APPENDIX 12.

ACCOMMODATION PLANNING.

To: Chief Civil Affairs Officer.

From: Quartering Commandant.

26th March, 1946.

1. I was requested by Chairman of B.R.A.C. to prepare a scheme for the accommo- dation of 3,000 Europeans who may be expected to arrive in the Colony between present date and end of September, 1946. I have made enquiries from 36 business firms and 10 Government Departments, who estimate that 504 and 153 individuals respectively will reach Hong Kong by the end of September. Some of these are women and children. The list is of course NOT complete but tends to suggest that fewer than 3,000 may actually arrive in the next 6 months. This planning figure should, therefore, be on the safe side.

2. I attach as appendices 'A' to 'D' proposals as to how accommodation for 2,303 persons can be provided in premises NOT under service requisition. At Appdx. 'E' is a list of premises capable of holding a further 904 persons, if derequisitioned by the Services, with approximate dates by which we are likely to require entry. It is possible, however, that the Services may NOT be able to derequisition the bulk of these premises though they may be able to release some of them.

3. I would emphasize that much of the accommodation to be provided under this scheme is more akin to barrack accommodation than civilians normally expect to occupy, but I can see no hope of accommodating the numbers which I have to plan for unless this accommodation is made full use of and reduced scales of comfort accepted.

4. Everything possible is being done by my Billeting Officers to encourage business firms to take on suitable private houses for their staffs before they are derequisitioned and certain smaller houses and flats have been disposed of in this way. Certain firms have already arranged to provide their own accommodation for 315 out of the 504 expected arrivals.

5. Large and very large houses require different treatment as they are too big for a family or firm to take on. The most satisfactory solution would appear to be to run them as hostels. Possibly certain business men might be prepared to undertake this either as a business project or on behalf of Government. Failing this Government itself might have to operate certain Hostels itself and provide management and staff.

6. The problem of opening these hostels and equipping them with management, staff, furniture, beds and bedding is not an easy one and requires immediate attention.

7. In certain cases the provision of transport will be necessary. I have mentioned this probable need to D.C.C.A.O. (Mil), but no full examination of the problem has yet been made.

8. A summary of the contents of Appendices 'A' to 'E' shows that accommodation is available, or might be made available, between now and end of September for the following:-

Detailed at

Nature of Accommodation

Numbers which can Running be accom- Total

modated

Remarks

Appdx. 'A' In hotels or in premises

acquired privately by business firms or avail- able now to Govt. Depts.

1,112

1,112

Appdx. 'B' Premises available,

520

1,632

likely to be available by

given dates for use as

hostels if requisition is

retained or hire agree- ment made.

Appdx. 'C' Govt. Property being

repaired by P.W.D.

Numbers are in excess of those now in hotels. Hotels will have to be used to maximum capacity to attain this figure and additional sheets, pillows and mosquito nets will be necessary.

Will require to be staffed and furnished, and, in some cases, provided with transport.

Provided materials are suffi- cient.

Will need furniture,

249

1,881

&c.