PRICE: $1
ANNUAL
DEPARTMENTAL
REPORTS
1956-57
QUARTERING AUTHORITY
HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
QUARTERING AUTHORITY
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1956-57
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY S. YOUNG, ACTING GOVERNMENT PRINTER,
AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS,
JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
г.
PREFACE
THIS report covers the activities of the Quartering Authority for the financial year ending March 31st, 1957.
This year saw a further increase of 53 non-departmental quarters over last year's total but with the continued expansion in most departments there were still a considerable number of officers quartered in hotels, hostels and private tenancies at the end of the year.
Once again the greatest difficulty has been the problem of finding suitable office accommodation to meet increasing demand. The west wing i.e. the third section of the New Government Offices should be completed by early 1959 but is not expected to solve this pressing problem as commitments are changing constantly.
The facts of Hong Kong's ever increasing population are well known and it naturally follows that further expansion will be needed in many departments with a consequent demand for more staff and extra office accommodation.
PREFACE
REQUISITIONING
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
1
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION (RESIDENTIAL) FOR GOVERNMENT
OFFICERS:
(a) Non-Departmental Quarters
(b) Hotels
2 - 6
7 - 9
10
13
-
12
..
14
15
16
17
-
19
(c) Hostels
(d) Departmental Quarters
(e) Private Tenancies
STAFF
TABLE:
20
I. List of non-departmental quarters according to grades,
as on 31st March, 1957.
II. Numbers of non-departmental quarters and estimated numbers officers eligible to apply for them on 31st March, 1957.
III. Numbers of officers in hotels and hostels on 31st March,
1957.
IV. Numbers of officers in private tenancies on 31st March,
1957.
REQUISITIONING
REQUISITIONED property falls into the following three categories, depending upon the user:—
(A) Property Requisitioned for Government's Use.
At the end of last year 26 units were held under requisition. Nine units (unoccupied stone units) were requisitioned by Government for use by the Resettlement Department during the year and 21 units de-requisitioned making a total of 33 units still held under requisition.
(B) Unoccupied Property Requisitioned in 1949 to Relieve the
Housing Shortage.
A total of 32 units was requisitioned in 1949. At the begin- ning of this year 22 units were still held under requisition. It is gratifying to report that all these units have been de- requisitioned during the year under review and that there are now no units remaining under requisition.
(C) Property Requisitioned for the Armed Services.
A total of 214 units (land and buildings) was held under requisition at the end of last year. These units were divided between the Services as follows:
Premises Land
Royal Navy.
8
Army.
R.A.F.
Total.
79
46
133
79
2
81
8
158
48
214
During the year under review 43 units (all premises) were de-requisitioned on behalf of the Armed Services as follows:
Royal Navy. Army. R.A.F. Total.
Premises Land
2
14
27
43
The total of 171 units still held under requisition is divided between the Services as follows:
Premises Land
Royal Navy.
Army.
R.A.F. Total.
6
65
19
90
79
2
81
6
144
21
171
1
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
2. During this year many departments were moved into additional leased office accommodation to enable other depart- ments to expand.
3. The Labour Department moved to "Baskerville House" to allow much-needed extra office space to the Social Welfare Office in the Fire Brigade Building.
4. A sub-division of the Urban Services Department moved to "Baskerville House" thus enabling the Urban Services Department to expand its office accommodation in the Post Office Building.
5. Upon the completion of the Government-built Shamshuipo District Branch Office the following departments were allocated office accommodation therein, consequently releasing (in some instances) office space for other departments.
Department.
Post Office Medical Department (Malaria Bureau) Registrar General
(Births Registry) Registration of Persons
Office, Kowloon Branch Urban Services
Department Labour Department
Secretariat for Chinese
Affairs (Tenancy Inquiry Bureau)
Social Welfare Office
(Community
Development Section)
Kowloon Women's
Welfare Club
Previous location. Nam Cheung Street Un Chau Street
Remarks. Expanded Service
New District Office
New District Office
H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, Mongkok
H.K. & Shanghai Bank Building, Mongkok Princess Theatre
Building
New District Office
The offices previously occupied by the Labour Department in the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank Building, Mongkok were allocated to the Registrar General for use as a new branch of the Marriage Registry in Kowloon in order to fill a much needed requirement. This is proving such a success that it is antici- pated that more office space will be required.
2
(
6. The Roads Office of the Public Works Department trans- ferred to the East Wing of the New Government Offices thus enabling the Registry of Trade Unions, CASAM Club, Hong Kong Housing Society, War Memorial Fund Office and Veter- inary Office, Hong Kong to be allocated space in lieu of the temporary office accommodation previously occupied in the Statue Square Huts, which are to be demolished.
ACCOMMODATION (RESIDENTIAL) FOR
GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
Non-Departmental Quarters.
7. There were 441 quarters available at the beginning of the year. An additional 82 quarters were acquired during the year under review and 29 lost thereby creating a net gain of 53 non- departmental quarters, making a total of 494 available at the end of March 1957. Details of quarters acquired, returned to owners on the termination of the lease, etc. are as follows: —
Nos. 1-12, 14-25, Peak Man-
sions, Hong Kong
Acquired
24
'A' grade
Purchased by Government.
106, Mountain View, ground
& top floors, Hong Kong
2
'C' grade
Leased.
113A, Mountain
Mountain View, 3rd floor, Hong Kong
1
'C' grade
Leased,
Flats Nos. 4 & 6, Braga Man-
sions, Kowloon
2
'C' grade
Reverted to non-depart- mental quarters from Medical
quarters.
departmental
Flats Nos. 18-20, 38-40, Nairn
House,
Argyle Street,
Kowloon
6 'CD' grade
Built by Government.
No. 262, Prince Edward
Road, Kowloon
1 'CD' grade
Reverted to non-depart-
mental quarters from Medical
quarters.
departmental
Flats Nos. 3-12, 14-16, 23-33, 35-36 Nairn House, Argyle Street, Kowloon
Flat No. 4, Conduit Apart- ments, Conduit Road, Hong Kong
26
'D' grade
Built by Government.
1 'D' grade
Reverted to non-depart- mental quarters from Prisons Department.
3
Flats D, E, I, J, Courtlands,
Hong Kong
Flats B, C, G, H, Courtlands
4
'D' grade
4
'E' grade
Returned to the pool of non-departmental quarters following modification.
Flats Nos. 1, 2, 21, 22, Nairn
House,
Argyle Street,
Kowloon
4 'E' grade
Built by Government.
Flats 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, Block C, Nga Tsin Wai Road, Kowloon
5 'E' grade
Flats A & & F, Courtlands,
Hong Kong
2 'F' grade
Formerly H.K. & S. Bank Flats. Taken over by Government.
Returned to the pool of non-departmental quarters following modification.
Total
82
Lost
No. 11, Braga Mansions,
Kowloon
1
'C' grade
Transferred to Police Department.
Flats Nos. 2 & 3, Conduit Apartments, Conduit Road, Hong Kong
2
'D' grade
Transferred to Prisons Department.
24A, Austin Avenue, 4th floor,
Kowloon
1 'E' grade
20, Austin Avenue, 2nd & 3rd
floors, Kowloon
Lease determined.
2 'E' grade
20A, Austin Avenue, 4th floor,
Kowloon
1
'E' grade
Flats 3A, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 3H, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, Courtlands, Hong Kong. 14
Withdrawn from the non-
'E' grade
Flats 31 & 51, Courtlands,
departmental pool pend- ing modifications.
Hong Kong
2
'F' grade
No. 3, Sunning Road, 1st
floor, Hong Kong
1
'F' grade
No. 4, Hoi Ping Road, 1st
floor, Hong Kong
1
'F' grade
No. 6, Hoi Ping Road, 2nd
floor, Hong Kong
1
'F' grade
Transferred to Police for
No. 7, Sunning Road, ground
use
as
departmental
floor, Hong Kong
1
'G' grade
quarters.
No. 9, Sunning Road, ground
floor, Hong Kong
1
'G' grade
No. 14, Hoi Ping Road, ground
floor, Hong Kong
1
'G' grade
Total
29
4
8. Certain quarters were regraded during this year; details are as follows:
Nos. 5, 9 & 10 Braga Mansions from 'C' to 'CD'.
No. 12 Braga Mansions from 'C' to 'D'.
9. A complete list of non-departmental quarters available at the end of the year is given in Table I of this report whilst Table II gives the number of non-departmental quarters by grades together with estimated numbers of officers (by grades) who were eligible to apply for them.
Hotels.
10. The increase of 53 non-departmental quarters during this year did not have any material effect in reducing the numbers of officers in hotels at the end of March 1957, as the flats in the newly constructed NAIRN HOUSE, Argyle Street, Kowloon were only ready for occupation towards the end of March 1957. The effect will be noticed in the early days of April of the next financial year.
The following figures show the position as on 31st March, 1957 compared with the corresponding date last year:-
Year.
31-3-56
31-3-57
Married Single officers. officers.
Total Number of officers in hotels.
32 (10)
38
32(17)
39
70
71
Note:-Figures in brackets indicate numbers of married officers
with children in the Colony.
11. The cost of accommodating officers in hotels and non- Government hostels during this year amounted to $1,023,040.30 as against the previous year's figure of $1,154,053.47.
12. Table III gives the number of officers accommodated in hotels as at the end of the financial year.
Hostels.
13. The two Government hostels, Buxey Lodge for single men and the Hermitage for single women, were kept fully occupied during the year. A number of officers were accom- modated of their own choice in non-Government hostels such as the Y.M.C.A., Hong Kong Club, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Helena May Institute, "On Lee", Cherry Hill Lodge and Church Guest House.
LO
5
14. Table III gives the number of officers accommodated in both Government and non-Government hostels at the end of this
year.
Departmental Quarters.
15. Departments such as the Police Force, Medical, Urban Services, Civil Aviation, Public Works and Prisons have a large number of quarters allocated to them for the use of officers in the departments who by the nature of their duties have to reside in close proximity to their work. The quarters are allocated by the heads of the various departments and are known as "depart- mental quarters" in contrast to "non-departmental quarters" referred to in paragraphs 7-9 above which are allocated by the Quarters Allocation Committee.
Committee. The numbers of quarters, which varied from 'A' grade down to 'L' grade, allocated to these departments as at the end of the year were as follows:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
& Forestry
Civil Aviation Department
Department of Commerce & Industry
25 quarters
46
""
10
Civil Aid Services
3
Education Department
121
"}
Fire Brigade
51
>>
Government House
7
>>
Kowloon Canton Railway
193
""
Marine Department
37
""
Medical Department
466
District Administration, New Territories.
16
27
Police Force
1,051
""
Post Office
10
>>
Prisons Department
226
??
Public Works Department
126
""
Resettlement Department
72
Royal Hong Kong Defence Force
3
"J
Royal Observatory
23
>>
Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
1
""
Social Welfare Office
33
"
Stores Department
8
Supreme Court
4
"}
Urban Services Department
296
""
16. In addition to the above departmental quarters most departments had a number of 'barrack' type quarters for accom- modating various sections of their lower paid staff who are "on call".
6
Private Tenancies.
17. Private Tenancies, i.e. non-Government quarters rented privately by officers themselves in respect of which they draw an allowance from Government, decreased from 68 at the end of the previous year to 66 at the end of this year. The allow- ances paid by Government for this year compared with last year are as follows:-
Year. 1955/56
1956/57
Amount. $785,175.66 $674,735.80
18. Government's continued support of private tenancies proved a relief to those officers who for various reasons failed to obtain a Government quarter and did not wish to reside in an hotel.
19. Table IV gives the numbers of officers accommodated in private tenancies at the end of the financial year.
STAFF
20. The complement of the staff remained the same as last year and in this connexion I would like to express my apprecia- tion of the loyalty and keenness shown by all officers who have at times being working under great pressure.
H. R. J. WOULFE FLANAGAN, Quartering Authority.
7
TABLE I
LIST OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS ACCORDING TO GRADES, AS ON 31ST MARCH, 1957
GRADE "A"
Address.
No. of Quarters.
Brief Description.
152, 153, 154 The Peak (Homestead
Houses)
3
6-room houses
157 The Peak, "Homedale"
1
7-room house
275 & 276 The Peak
2
7-room houses
361 The Peak, "The Bracket"
1
5-room house
406 The Peak, "Sailing Look"
1
4-room bungalow
407 The Peak, Severn Road 534 The Peak, Magazine Gap 556 The Peak, Middle Gap
1
4-room house
1
6-room house
1
5-room house
557 The Peak, Middle Gap
1
5-room house
Peak Mansions (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,
15, 17, 19, 21, 23 & 25)
12
5-room flats
Peak Mansions (Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
14, 16, 18, 20, 22 & 24)
12
4-room flats
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13,
17, 19, 21, 23 & 25)
10
4-room flats
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 4, 6, 8,
10,
12,
18, 20, 22, 24 & 26)
10
5-room flats
45 Shouson Hill
1
5-room house
Total
57
GRADE "B"
Albany Flats (Nos. 1-5, 7-10, 12-14)
12
4-room flats
126 & 128 Argyle Street, 2nd floors
2
5-room flats
12 & 17 Branksome Towers
2
3/4-room flats
2A Cornwall Street, Ground floor
1
5-room flat
2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos. 8 & 10
2
4-room flats
16 Homuntin Hill Road
1
6-room house
King's Park (Nos. 7-12)
6
4-room flats
150 A, B, C & 151 B & C, The Peak,
(Homestead Flats)
155 & 156 The Peak (Homestead Houses)
LON
5
5-room flats
2
5-room houses
403 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom &
Top floors)
2
4-room flats
404 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom &
Top floors)
2
4-room flats
405 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom &
Top floors)
2
4-room flats
Peak Pavilions (Nos. 1-9 & 11)
10
5-room flats
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 2 & 16)
2
5-room flats
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 1, 3 & 15)
3
4-room flats
White House, Taipo
1
7-room house
Total
55
00
8
Address.
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE "C"
126 & 128 Argyle Street (Ground & 1st
floors)
165 Argyle Street (Ground & 1st floors).. Braga Mansions (Nos. 4 & 6)
No. of Quarters.
42 24
Brief Description.
5-room flats 5-room flats
4-room flats
Burnside Estate (Nos. 1, 2, 9 & 18)
5-room flats
Burnside Estate (Nos. 11, 14, 19, 21, 22
& 24)
6
4-room flats
Epworth Lodge (Nos. 1-4)
4
3-room flats
2 Forfar Road, (Flats Nos. 2, 3, 5 & 7) ..
4
4-room flats
2 Fortress Hill
1
5-room house
King's Park (Nos. 1-6)
6
4-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 1, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21,
23 & 25)
8
4-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 2-13, 16, 18, 20, 24
& 26)
17
5-room flats
6 Macdonnell Road (Flats Nos. 4, 5, 7,
8 & 9)
5
3-room flats
106 Mountain View, (Ground & Top
floors)
2
5-room flats
107 Mountain View, (Ground, 1st & 2nd
floors)
3
5-room flats
113A Mountain View, 3rd floor
1
3-room flats
251 & 252 The Peak
2
3-room bungalows
Victoria Flats (Nos. 2 & 3)
2
3-room flats
Victoria Flats (Nos. 4 & 5)
2
4-room flats
97C Waterloo Road, Ground floor
1
5-room flat
Total
76
GRADE "CD"
32B Braga Circuit, 2nd & 3rd floors
Braga Mansions (Nos. 5 & 9)
Chater Hall (Nos. 26, 29, 56 & 59)
Chater Hall (No. 27)
Chater Hall (Nos. 28, 57 & 58)
224 IM
4-room flats 4-room flats 2-room flats
1
3-room flat
3
4-room flats
2A Cornwall Street, Top floor (Flats
Nos. 2 & 3)
2
3-room flats
19 Homuntin Hill Road, Ground & 1st
floors
2
4-room flats
King's Park (Nos. 13-20, 23-31, 33-39,
41-48)
32
4-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 43, 44, 45 & 46)
4
4-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 63, 64, 65 & 65) 12 Lomond Road, 2nd floor
4
3-room flats
1
6-room flat
9
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE "CD"-Contd.
Address.
No. of Quarters.
Brief Description.
14 Lomond Road, 1st floor
1
6-room flat
6 Macdonnell Road (Flat No. 6)
1
3-room flat
Nairn House (Nos. 18-20, 38-40)
6
4-room flats
270 The Peak, Ground, 1st & 2nd floors..
3
3-room flats
271 The Peak, Ground & 1st floors
2
3-room flats
262 Prince Edward Road
1
5-room house
Ventris Road (Nos. 1, 4-14)
12
5-room houses
Victoria Flats (No. 1)
1
2-room flat
94 Waterloo Road, Ground, 1st & 2nd
floors
3
4-room flats
Total
87
GRADE "D"
32B Braga Circuit, Ground & 1st floors Braga Mansions (No. 12)
21
2
4-room flats 4-room flat
Chater Hall (Nos. 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23,
38, 41, 44, 47, 50 & 53)
12
2-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22,
25, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 54 & 55)
21
4-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21
& 24)
7
3-room flats
56 Conduit Road (Flats Nos. 4, 102, 103,
104, 202, 203, 204, 304, 401 & 404) "Courtlands" (Flats D, E, I & J)
10
4-room flats
4
5-room flats
Cox's Path (Nos. 1-6)
6
5-room houses
1 Fortress Hill, Ground & 1st floors
2
3-room flats
1 Garden Terrace, 1st floor
1
3-room flat
Leighton Hill (Nos. 49-62)
14
3-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 29-42)
14
4-room flats
Nairn House (Nos. 3-12, 14-16, 23-33,
35-36)
26
4-room flats.
Total
120
GRADE "E"
20 Austin Avenue, 4th floor 20A Austin Avenue, 3rd floor 24 Austin Avenue, 3rd floor 24A Austin Avenue, 3rd floor 6B & 6D Carnarvon Road
1
4-room flat
1
4-room flat
1
4-room flat
1
4-room flat
2
2-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 5, 32 & 35) Chater Hall (Nos. 2, 4, 30, 31, 33 & 34) ..
3
2-room flats
6
4-room flats
10
TABLE I--Contd.
GRADE "E"-Contd.
Address.
No. of Quarters.
Brief Description.
Chater Hall (Nos. 1 & 3)
2
3-room flats
"Courtlands" (Flats B, C, G & H)
4
5-room flats
Leighton Hill (No. 47)
1
2-room flat
Leighton Hill (Nos. 27 & 48)
2
3-room flats
Leighton Hill (No. 28)
1
4-room flat
Nairn House (Nos. 1, 2, 21 & 22)
4
4-room flats
Nga Tsin Wai Road (Block C, Nos. 7A,
7B, 8A, 8B & 9A)
5
3-room flats
255 Prince Edward Road, Ground floor Wongneichong Road (Nos. 99, 101, 103
& 105)
Wongneichong Road (Nos. 97, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129 & 131)
Total
1
3-room flat
..
4
4-room houses
14
5-room houses
53
GRADE "F”
6A & 6C Carnarvon Road
"Courtlands", (Flats A & F)
4 Hoiping Road, 2nd & 3rd floors
6 Hoiping Road, 3rd floor
NNN –
2
2-room flats
2
3-room flats
2
4-room flats
1
4-room flat
12 Hoiping Road, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th
floors
4
4-room flats
3 Sunning Road, 2nd floor
1
4-room flat
5 Sunning Road, 2nd & 3rd floors
2
4-room flats
Total
14
GRADE "G"
4 Hoiping Road, Ground floor
1
4-room flat
14 Hoiping Road, 1st floor
1
4-room flat
Total
2
UNGRADED
7 Cornwall Street
1
3-room bungalow
9 & 11 Cornwall Street
2
2-room bungalows
2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos. 1, 4 & 6 Mount Nicholson (Nos. 1-12, 24 & 25) Mount Nicholson (Nos. 13-22)
3
13-room flats
14
2-room bungalows
10
•
3-room bungalows
Total
30
....
Grand Total
11
494 quarters.
TABLE II
NUMBERS OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS AND ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF OFFICERS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THEM ON 31ST MARCH, 1957
Grade of Quarters
Government Property
Leased
Requisi- tioned
Total No. of
Estimated No. of Officers
of correct grade.
*
Quarters
Married
Single
A
57
57
54
4
B
50
5
55
107
17
C
44
32
76
74
16
CD
73
14
87
92
35
'D
106
13
120
152
50
E
4.8
5
53
68
24
F
4
10
14
27
17
G
H
Ungraded
30
Totals ...
412
81
NOTE:
118
2
2
19
12
4
2
30
1
494
597
177
The number of officers shown includes those on leave but do not include those in departmental quarters.
Officers are, however, entitled to be considered for a quarter one grade above or below their correct grade.
TABLE III
NUMBERS OF OFFICERS IN HOTELS AND HOSTELS ON 31ST MARCH, 1957
Single Officers
Married Officers
Total
No. of Rooms
Male
Female
Hotels
33
6 (1)*
32 (17)
Government Hostels.
12
16
71 (18) 28
86
26
Non-Government
Hostels
6
4
1 (1)
11 (1)
12
Totals
51
26 (1)
33 (18)
110 (19)
124
Includes divorced officer.
TABLE IV
NUMBERS OF OFFICERS IN PRIVATE TENANCIES ON 31ST MARCH, 1957
Private Tenancies
Single Officers
Married Officers
Male
Female
18
2
46 (29)
Total
66 (29)
No. of Tenancies
66
NOTE: (1) Figures in brackets indicate numbers of married officers with children in the Colony. (2) Single officers include officers whose wives are not in the Colony. Married officers
are those whose wives are in the Colony,
12