Sessional_Paper_1946 — Page 48

Detailed at

Nature of Accommodation

Appdx. 'D' Private Property which,

if repaired, is suitable

for use as hostels or flats.

Appdx. 'E' Property occupied by services for which no date of derequisition can yet be given. All these premises are very suitable as hotels or hostels IF they can be obtained from the ser- vices.

Appdx. 'F' Other property due for

44

Numbers

which can Running be accom-

Total

Remarks

modated

372

2,253

904

3,157

189

derequisition in March

which it is proposed to

hold until Govt.

can

induce firms to rent.

Govt. action to initiate re- pairs necessary and in certain cases arrangements will be necessary to staff and furnish these places as hostels or quarters.

Some of this property may be the same as that laid on by themselves by firms for their own use. It has there- fore been excluded from the grand total of property avail- able.

9.

Based on an anticipated intake of a further 50 in March, 450 in April and 500 in each of May, June, July, August and September, it is estimated that existing accom- modation, plus work completed by P.W.D. and premises acquired privately by firms, should suffice to meet the demand until approximately 7th June, 1946. To enable a reasonable standard of comfort to be provided, it will be necessary to issue to hotels additional sheets, pillow slips, mosquito nets and towels. I am taking up with Supplies, Transport and Industry Branch the question of provision. Between approximately 8 June and 30 Sept. it will be necessary, on present planning figures, to provide additional accommodation for a further 1,900. An indication of how this may be achieved is attached as Appdx. 'G’.

10. If these proposals are approved in principle, action will be necessary to examine in detail the proposals regarding specific houses and to select those which are to be retained or acquired by Government.

A decision as to which of these are to be staffed, and furnished and run as hostels and which are to be held under requisition until taken over by firms or Government Depart- ments will then be necessary.

Finally the machinery for initiating the setting up of the places selected as hostels requires to be decided, and action taken to acquire management, staf, furniture, and, in some cases, transport.

Gen. Adm. Branch,

Colonial Secretariat,

Lower Albert Road,

Hong Kong.

(Signed) J. D. MILNE,

Lt. Col.

Quartering Commandant.