ENG-1947 — Page 112

This large-scale destruction of housing, combined with the very large numbers of persons flowing into the Colony, produced a serious degree of overcrowding and the requirement for a large amount of new building as well as repair work. Discouraging factors were the high cost of building materials and labour, but in spite of this, reconstruction, rehabilitation and repairs to properties damaged during the war continued throughout the year. Nevertheless, there are still many buildings which have not been rebuilt or rehabilitated and many which although occupied, are in urgent need of repairs. As an illustration of this latter fact, 60 buildings were reported to have collapsed during the year, involving a loss of life to 28 persons and injuries to many more. During the year 1947, plans were submitted for work on 5,431 buildings. It is unfortunately not possible to say how many of these works were major and how many were minor works. Completion permits, which are only issued in respect of new buildings were issued in respect of 170 Chinese- type houses, 38 European-type houses and 113 miscellaneous non-domestic buildings. Much total rehabilitation, for which no completion permits were issued, has also taken place.

Town Planning.

The laborious and extensive process of reconstruction can hardly overtake the demand for some time to come; meanwhile, a good opportunity exists to remedy for the future the defects which are due to the lack of town planning and of modern standards of hygiene in the past. On 1st April, 1947, a Town Planning Office was established and a civic survey comprising the preparation of land utilisation plans, detailed zoning plans and reports covering the whole of the Colony was put in hand. This work was an essential preliminary to the visit of Sir Patrick Abercrombie whose services were obtained by the Government under an allocation from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund for the purpose of advising on the future development of the Colony. Sir Patrick visited the Colony for slightly over one month during the autumn; his report is in course of preparation.

The Town Planning section of the Public Works Department was augmented by the arrival of two town planning architects from the United Kingdom late in the year. Several meetings took place during 1947 of the housing and town planning sub- committee of the Colonial Development and Welfare Committee.

Shortage of European Type Housing.

The shortage of European type accommodation remained very acute.

Although many such properties which had suffered damage during hostilities or at the hands of looters were rehabilitated, the increased population caused by the relative stability of Hong Kong compared with commercial conditions elsewhere outstripped repair work.

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