ENG-1952 — Page 141

SOCIAL SERVICES

Private enterprise has again been active in building construction, and 555 Chinese and 373 European type domestic buildings have been completed and occupied during the year. As the majority of these buildings contain three or more separate floors of flats, this comprises a substantial addition to the Colony's housing accommodation.

Other valuable contributions have been made by certain of the larger industrial undertakings, which have provided dormitories or quarters for their workers, and further undertakings have indicated their intention of following this lead.

There are, however, many hundreds of old, and ill-ventilated tenement houses, containing approximately one family to every 64 sq. ft. of floor area, the different living spaces being divided into cubicles by the erection of flimsy partitions. One kitchen and one latrine may be shared by eight or more families. Many of these buildings are extremely dilapidated, and many statutory notices have to be served on the owners of these properties to carry out essential repairs.

However, at the end of 1952 the housing position was improved, and there is every sign that this progress will continue during the coming year.

The special problem of the squatter colonies has been vigorously attacked, and a good deal has been done to resettle occupants of these areas in properly controlled sites. Reference to this work is made on page 94. In a number of cases permanent buildings are being erected on the sites formerly occupied by the squatter huts.

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