HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
QUARTERING AUTHORITY
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1958 - 59
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. F. C. JENNER, GOVERNMENT Printer
At The Government Press, JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
EXCHANGE RATES
When dollars are quoted in this Report, they are, unless otherwise stated, Hong Kong dollars. The official rate for conversion to pound sterling is HK$16 £1 (HK$1=1s. 3d.). The official rate for conversion to U.S. dollars is HK$5.714=US$1 (based on £1=US$2.80).
REQUISITIONING
Office ACCOMMODATION
CONTENTS
+
ACCOMMODATION (RESIDENTIAL) FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS :
Non-Departmental Quarters
Hotels
Hostels
Departmental Quarters
Private Tenancies
STAFF
TABLES
Paragraphs
1
2-9
10 - 12
13
-
14
15
-
16
17 - 19
20 - 23
24 - 28
Table
I. List of non-departmental quarters according to grades as on 31st
March, 1959.
II. Number of non-departmental quarters, estimated number of officers eligible to apply for them, and of those eligible to retain them whilst on leave, as on 31st March, 1959.
III. Number of officers in hotels from 31st March, 1957 to 31st
March, 1959.
IV. Number of officers in private tenancies from 31st March, 1957 to
31st March, 1959.
REQUISITIONING
REQUISITIONED property falls into the following categories:
(A) PROPERTY REQUISITIONED FOR GOVERNMENT'S USE
At the end of the previous year thirty one units were held under requisition. There was no change during the year under review, and the total of requisitioned units on 31st March, 1959 was therefore thirty one.
(B) PROPERTY REQUISITIONED FOR THE ARMED SERVICES
A total of 127 Units (lands and buildings) was held under requisition at the end of the last financial year. These units were divided between the services as follows:
Premises Land
Royal Navy Army R.A.F.
Total
51
51
74
2
76
125
2
127
During the year under review twenty nine Units, seventeen of premises and twelve of land, were de-requisitioned for the Army. In addition, twenty eight Units of land were formally requisitioned on behalf of the Army with retrospective effect to the years 1945, 1954, and 1955, to enable compensation claims to be settled. These Units were, however, immediately de-requisitioned, and a total of ninety eight Units was, therefore, still held under requisition on 31st March, 1959, divided between the services as follows:
Premises Land
Royal Navy Army
R.A.F.
Total
34
34
62
2
64
96
2
98
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
2. During the year there was again some expansion in office accom- modation held by various departments, as well as movement into alternative accommodation.
1
3. A total of 9,791 sq. ft. in Buckingham Building, Kowloon, was leased to accommodate the following departments:
(a) 100 sq. ft. on the 2nd floor for use by the Women and Girls
Section of the Social Welfare Department.
(b) 7,167 sq. ft. on the 6th and 7th floors for use by Crown Lands
& Survey Office, Development Office and Waterworks.
(c) 2,524 sq. ft. on the 6th floor for use as District Health Office,
Kowloon South, (Urban Services Department).
4. Portions of the 2nd and 5th floors of Shaws Building, Kowloon were leased for the use of the Education Department.
5. 1,006 sq. ft. on the 8th floor of Des Voeux House, Des Voeux Road West were leased for the use of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs.
6. 3,264 sq. ft. on the 8th floor of Li Po Chun Chambers were leased for use by the Headquarters of the Resettlement Department.
1,400 sq. ft. on the ground floor of 35 Argyle Street was leased for use as Kowloon Sub-Treasury. The lease on the former accom- modation at 657 Nathan Road was terminated.
1.
8. The lease on the bungalow on Lots Nos. 585-6 and 596 in Mui Wo D.D.2., formerly used as Silvermine Bay Police Post, was terminated.
9. The lease on Nos. 64-68 Main Road, Tai Po, previously used as a School, was terminated.
ACCOMMODATION (RESIDENTIAL) FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS
10. There were 485 quarters available on 31st March, 1958. Twelve quarters were acquired and three were lost during the year under review, resulting in a net gain of nine non-departmental quarters. The total number of quarters available on 31st March, 1959 was, therefore, 494. Details of quarters acquired or lost are as follows:
ACQUIRED
'EU Gardens' 154-158 Argyle
Street, Kowloon
6
'B' Grade
Leased.
12A Hoi Ping Road, Ground
floor, Hong Kong
1
'F' Grade
2
Transferred from a departmental quarter.
Flat 2, Ravencourt, The Peak 14 Queen's Gardens
14A Macdonnell House
37 Nairn House ...
...
1
'B' Grade
Leased.
...
1
'B' Grade
1
'C' Grade
...
1
'CD' Grade
Transferred
Elliot Filters, Ground floor
1
'E' Grade
Exchanged for depart- mental quarter.
Transferred from a
departmental quarter.
from a
departmental quarter. Temporarily transferred from a departmental quarter.
Total ...
12
LOST
271 Stewart Terrace, The Peak,
Hong Kong (Ground floor)
1 'CD' Grade
Lease determined.
18 Queen's Gardens
1
'A' Grade
6A Carnarvon Road
1
'F' Grade
Allocated to Police as departmental quarters. Allocated to Police as departmental quarters.
Total ...
3
11. During the year, the grading of the flats at Braga Mansions was reconsidered, and as a result six of the flats in question, previously graded as 2 'C' and 4 ‘CD', were regraded as 1 'CD' and 5 'D' quarters.
12. A complete list of non-departmental quarters available at the end of the year is given in Table I of this report. Table II shows the number of non-departmental quarters by grades, the estimated number of officers by grades who were eligible to apply for them, and the number of officers by grades who were eligible, by reason either of long service or seniority, to retain quarters during absence on leave from the Colony.
HOTELS
13. The number of officers accommodated in hotels during the year under review is compared, in Table III, with the number of officers in hotels during the previous year. The general increase in the number of officers so accommodated throughout the year reflects the increase in establishment.
14. The total cost of accommodating officers in hotels rose from $1,023,040.30 in 1956/57, to $1,101,013.60 in 1957/58, and again to $1,687,205.08 in 1958/59. This marked rise in costs is attributable both to the greater number of officers so accommodated, and to the increase in hotel charges.
3
HOSTELS
15. The Government hostel at Buxey Lodge, which provided accom- modation for twelve single men, was closed down on 20th January, 1959, the site being required for the construction of a new block of Government flats. A large house at Conduit Road was leased as a temporary replacement and opened as a hostel on 10th March, 1959; proving as popular as it's predecessor. It provides accommodation for eight single officers. The hostel for single women at The Hermitage, which provides accommodation for seventeen, gained in popularity during the year, and for most of the time was fully occupied. A number of officers were accommodated 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, Cherry Hill Lodge and the Church Guest House.
16. The number of officers accommodated in both Government and non-Government hostels at the end of the year, is shown below:
Single Officers Married
Totals
Male
Female
Officers
No. of Rooms
Govt. Hostels Non-Government Hostels
7
16
23
23
6
4
2
12
12
Totals
13
20
2
35
35
DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS
17. 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 who, by the nature of their duties, have to reside in close proximity to their place of work. (Departmental quarters are allocated by Heads of Department and not by the Quarters Allocation Committee). Of a total number of 3,823 departmental quarters of grades 'A' to 'L', the majority are for local employees in the grades 'H' to 'L'. The numbers of quarters allocated to each department at the end of the year were as follows:
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department
Civil Aid Services
Civil Aviation Department
Commerce and Industry Department
40 quarters
2
58
""
97
8
""
District Administration, New Territories
21
53
Education Department
148
35
Fire Brigade
50
>>
Government House
6
26
4
Judiciary
Kowloon-Canton Railway
4 quarters
151
Labour Department
Marine Department
Medical Department
Police Force
Post Office
Prisons Department
Public Works Department
Resettlement Department
Royal Hong Kong Defence Force
Royal Observatory
Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
Social Welfare Department
Stores Department
Urban Services Department
1
"
34
59
453
""
1,708
59
12
"
263
373
141
"
3
6
8
25
99
7
315
"
3,823 quarters
18. During the year, there was no significant change in the number of quarters held by any department.
19. In addition to departmental quarters, many departments had a number of barrack type quarters for accommodating lower paid staff.
PRIVATE TENANCIES
20. With the revision in July of the rules whereby officers may take private tenancies, the number of officers so accommodated showed a sharp and sustained rise.
21. The popularity of private tenancies, resulted in a slackening of the previously acute demand for Government quarters.
22. The cost to Government of subsidizing private tenancies during the last five years has been as follows:
Year
1954/55
1955/56
1956/57
1957/58
1958/59
Amount
$ 675,196.00 $ 785,175.66 $ 674,735.80
$ 622,954.85 $1,045,968.27
23. Table IV shows the number of officers accommodated in private tenancies during the previous year, and the year under review.
5
STAFF
24. Mr. H. R. J. Woulfe-Flanagan resumed duty as Quartering Authority on 15th December, 1958, on return from vacation leave.
25. Mr. P. G. Taylor, seconded from the Secretariat for duty as Assistant Quartering Authority, proceeded on leave on 26th February, 1959.
26. Mr. K. W. Wheeler, E.O. II, joined the department on 12th February, 1959, and was transferred to Marketing Department on 27th February, 1959.
27. Mrs. C. M. Forrow resumed duty as Confidential Assistant on 1st December, 1958.
28. Mrs. E. Whitley was re-appointed part time Confidential Assistant on 1st December, 1958.
25th May, 1959.
6
H. R. J. WOULFE FLANAGAN, Quartering Authority.
TABLE I
LIST OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS ACCORDING TO GRADES, AS ON 31ST MARCH, 1959
GRADE 'A'
Address
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
152, 153, 154 The Peak (Homestead Houses)
157 The Peak, 'Homedale'
275 & 276 The Peak
361 The Peak, 'The Bracket' 406 The Peak, 'Sailing Look' 407 The Peak, Severn Road 534 The Peak, Magazine Gap 556 The Peak, Middle Gap 557 The Peak, Middle Gap
3
6-room houses
1
7-room house
2
7-room houses
1
5-room house
1
4-room bungalow
1
4-room house
1
6-room house
1
5-room house
1
5-room house
Peak Mansions (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19,
21, 23 & 25)
12
5-room flats
+
+4
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
+
+4
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, 22, 24,
& 26)
9
5-room flats
45 Shouson Hill
5-room house
56
Total
GRADE 'B'
12
222-26
4-room flats
2
5-room flats
3/4-room flats
5-room flat
4-room flats
Albany Flats (Nos. 1-5, 7-10, 12-14) 126 & 128 Argyle Street, 2nd floors 12 & 17 Branksome Towers 2A Cornwall Street, Ground floor 2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos. 8 & 10 'Eu' Gardens, 154-8 Argyle Street 16 Ho Man Tin Hill Road ...
King's Park (Nos. 7-12)
150 A, B, C & 151 B & C, The Peak, (Homestead
Flats)..
4/5-room flats
1
6-room house
6
4-room flats
5
5-room flats
...
155 & 156 The Peak (Homestead Houses)
2
5-room houses
Flat 2, Ravencourt, The Peak
1
5-room flat
403 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom & Top floors) 404 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom & Top floors) 405 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom & Top floors)
2
4-room flats
2
4-room flats
2
4-room flats
Peak Pavilions (Nos. 1-9 & 11) Queen's Gardens (Nos. 2, 14 & 16) Queen's Gardens (Nos. 1, 3 & 15) White House, Tai Po
10
...
5-room flats
3
5-room flats
3
4-room flats
1
7-room house
Total
7
63
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE 'C'
Address
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
126 & 128 Argyle Street (Ground & 1st floors) 165 Argyle Street (Ground & 1st floors) Burnside Estate (Nos. 1, 2, 9 & 18)
Burnside Estate (Nos. 11, 14, 19, 21, 22 & 24) Epworth Lodge (Nos. 1-4)
...
2 Forfar Road, (Flats Nos. 2, 3, 5 & 7) King's Park (Nos. 1-6)
4
5-room flats
2
5-room flats
4
5-room flats
6
4-room flats
4
3-room flats
4
4-room flats
6
4-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 1, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 & 25) Leighton Hill (Nos. 2-13, 16, 18, 20, 24 & 26) ... 14A Macdonnell House
8
4-room flats
17
5-room flats
1
3-room flat
6 Macdonnell Road (Flats Nos. 4, 5, 7, 8 & 9) 106 Mountain View (Ground & Top floors) 107 Mountain View (Ground 1st & 2nd floors) 111 Mountain View, 1st floor
5
3-room flats
2
5-room flats
3
5-room flats
1
3-room flat
113A Mountain View, 3rd floor
1
3-room flat
251 & 252 The Peak
2
3-room bungalows
Victoria Flats (Nos. 2 & 3)
2
3-room flats
Victoria Flats (Nos. 4 & 5)
97C Waterloo Road, Ground floor
2-
2
4-room flats
1
5-room flat
Total ...
75
GRADE 'CD'
32 Braga Circuit, 2nd & 3rd floors
2
4-room flats
Braga Mansions (No. 4)
1
4-room flat
...
Chater Hall (Nos. 26, 29, 56 & 59)
4
2-room flats
Chater Hall (No. 27)
1
3-room flat
Chater Hall (Nos. 28, 57 & 58)
3
4-room flats
2A Cornwall Street, Top floor (Flats Nos. 2 & 3)
2
3-room flats
19 Ho Man Tin Hill Road, Ground & 1st floors King's Park (Nos. 13-20, 23-31, 33-39, 41-48) Leighton Hill (Nos. 43, 44, 45 & 46) Leighton Hill (Nos. 63, 64, 65 & 66) 6 Macdonnell Road (Flats Nos. 1 & 6)
2
4-room flats
32
4-room flats
4
4-room flats
4
3-room flats
2
3-room flats
Nairn House (Nos. 18-20, 37-40)
7
4-room flats
270 The Peak, Ground & 2nd floors
2
3-room flats
271 The Peak, 1st floor
1
3-room flat
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
84
8
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE 'D'
Address
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
...
32 Braga Circuit, 1st floor
Braga Mansions (Nos. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 & 12) Chater Hall (Nos. 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 38, 41,
44, 47, 50 & 53)
Chater Hall (Nos. 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 54 & 55) Chater Hall (Nos. 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 & 24) 56 Conduit Road (Flats Nos. 101, 102, 103, 104,
202, 203, 204, 304, 401 & 404)
1
4-room flat
6
4-room flats
12
2-room flats
21
4-room flats
7
3-room flats
10
4-room flats
'Courtlands' (Flats D, E, I & J)
4
5-room flats
Cox's Path (Nos. 1-6)
6
5-room houses
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 ...
121
GRADE 'E'
6B & 6D Carnarvon Road
Chater Hall (Nos. 5, 32 & 35)
Chater Hall (Nos. 2, 4, 30, 31, 33 & 34) Chater Hall (Nos. 1 & 3)
'Courtlands' (Flats B, C & H)
Elliot Filters, Ground floor ...
Leighton Hill (Nos. 47)
2362 M
2-room flats 2-room flats
4-room flats
3-room flats
3
5-room flats
1
4-room flat
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)
...
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) ...
514
5
3-room flats
3-room flat
4
4-room houses
14
5-room houses
Total
49
GRADE 'F'
6C Carnarvon Road
'Courtlands' (Flats A & F)
4 Hoi Ping Road, 2nd & 3rd floors
122
2-room flat
2
3-room flats
2
4-room flats
6 Hoi Ping Road, 3rd floor ...
1
4-room flat
12 Hoi Ping Road, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors
4
4-room flats
12A Hoi Ping Road, Ground floor
1
4-room flat
3 Sunning Road, 2nd floor
1
4-room flat
5 Sunning Road, 2nd & 3rd floors
2
4-room flats
Total ...
14
9
Address
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE 'G'
4 Hoi Ping Road, Ground floor
14 Hoi Ping Road, 1st floor
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
1
4-room flat
1
4-room flat
2
Total
UNGRADED
7 Cornwall Street
9 & 11 Cornwall Street
1
3-room bungalow
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
11-room flats
14
2-room bungalows
10
3-room bungalows
Total
30
Grand Total...
494 quarters.
TABLE II
NUMBER OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS, ESTIMATED NUMBER OF OFFICERS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THEM, AND ESTIMATED NUMBER OF OFFICERS ELIGIBLE TO RETAIN QUARTERS DURING ABSENCE ON LEAVE FROM THE COLONY, ON 31ST MARCH, 1959
Estimated No. of Officers of
No. of Officers
Grade of
Quarters
Govt. Property
Leased
Total No. of Qtrs.
correct Grade
Eligible to
Married
Single
Retain Quarters
ABC
56
В
51
43
122
56
77
10
87
63
129
20
22
32
75
61
16
9
CD
74
10
84
174
42
15
D E
104
17
121
181
93
3
:
48
1
49
65
38
F
G
3
11
14
30
34
2
2
Ungraded
30
30
21
22
12
Totals
409
85
494
739
265
136
10
TABLE III
NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN HOTELS FROM 31.3.57 TO 31.3.59
Date
Single
Married
Married
with Children
Total
31. 3.57
39
15
17
71
30. 4.57
31. 5.57
30. 6.57
31. 7.57
31. 8.57
...
38
12
10
60
34
7
11
30
11
5
46
...
+
29
52
35
10
12
32
11
...
30. 9.57
42
14
23
58
2 2 2
57
63
79
31.10.57
44
17
34
30.11.57
31.12.57
45
20
222 223
95
97
50
31. 1.58
28. 2.58
31. 3.58
30. 4.58
31. 5.58
30. 6.58
31. 7.58
31. 8.58
30. 9.58
31.10.58
30.11.58
56
22220
26
96
24
26
106
60
18
29
107
58
...
888
23
29
58
25
2220
110
24
107
55
22
...
54
17
...
52
18
22 23
24
101
93
27
97
52
21
•
49
21
..
22220
95
90
52
33
35
120
...
52
34
☺
30
116
31.12.58
54
28
27
109
31. 1.59
28. 2.59
61
24
28
113
68
18
27
113
31. 3.59
58
14
26
98
...
11
TABLE IV
NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN PRIVATE TENANCIES
FROM 31.3.57 TO 31.3.58
Married
Date
Single
Married
with Children
Total
31. 3.57
30. 4.57
20
17
29
66
:
:
20
16
31. 5.57
18
15
26
30. 6.57
17
13
25
31. 7.57
16
14
22
31. 8.57
16
14
2 2 2 2 2
26
62
59
55
52
19
49
30. 9.57
16
14
19
49
31.10.57
17
14
19
50
30.11.57
20
15
26
61
31.12.57
21
16
31. 1.58
20
18
22 23
27
64
25
63
28. 2.58
21
18
28
67
31. 3.58
24
18
26
68
30. 4.58
24
19
27
70
31. 5.58
27
17
31
75
30. 6.58
26
20
28
74
31. 7.58
26
31. 8.58
26
200
30. 9.58
30
31.10.58
33
30.11.58
37
2 2 2 2 ☹
23
28
25
29
29
29
∞ 2 2 mm
77
80
34
93
33
95
32
43
112
31.12.58
45
36
52
133
31. 1.59
48
39
55
142
28. 2.59
46
42
59
•
147
31. 3.59
47
46
61
154
12