ENG-1951 — Page 91

platform or gallery used for storage or for extra sleeping accom- modation. The roofing consists of rafters and tiles with no room- ceiling or chimney. There are few windows.

Village houses which have passed from father to son are rarely sublet by the owner, who pays generally about 50 cents a year Crown rent. These houses are constructed of locally made blue brick or roughly cut granite blocks, a tiled roof and, in recent years, cement floors. The less permanent houses in the poorer villages are built of sundried mud-brick faced with plaster; these houses deteriorate after a few years, the owner again rebuilding in similar style.

Village populations vary considerably; a small single-family village may consist of only about 30 people, while in the larger villages the population may be 2,000 or more.

New Buildings and Repairs

During 1951, 604 plans involving the construction of 1,375 buildings were submitted to the Director of Public Works for approval. These include 404 European type dwellings, 794 Chinese type dwellings, 46 factories, 3 hotels, 13 cinemas or theatres, 10 schools, I church, 2 amusement parks and 72 godowns and stores.

There were

also 2,023 plans covering rehabilitations and alterations and additions, mostly to domestic property, 40 site developments and a large number of plans covering minor construction works such as garages and temporary buildings.

A total of 614 new buildings comprising 194 European type and 377 Chinese type dwellings and 43 other structures were completed during the year.

218 other miscellaneous non-domestic buildings were

also completed.

SOCIAL WELFARE

Before the war social welfare work in Hong Kong was largely in the hands of voluntary associations, and the Colony has always been fortunate in the number of organizations which have interested themselves in practical and constructive work in this field.

The setting

up in

1947 of the Social Welfare Office of the Hong Kong Government did not create a ponderous official organization for the control of the voluntary associations which had served the Colony so well. On the contrary the Social Welfare Office, as the link between Government and the voluntary organizations, serves to assist each to continue to play its full part in its particular sphere and to encourage all to achieve the necessary coordination by means of consultation and constant liaison.

During the under review there was no lack of

year

for work in the welfare field both by official and voluntary agencies.

scope

As an

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