HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
QUARTERING AUTHORITY
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1959-60
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).
CONTENTS
REQUISITIONING
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION (Residential) FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS :
Non-Departmental Quarters
Hotels
Hostels
Departmental Quarters
Private Tenancies
STAFF
•
Paragraphs
1
2-3
4 - 8
9 - 10
11 12
-
13 - 15
16 17
-
18 - 20
•
TABLES
Table
I. List of non-departmental quarters according to grades as on 31st
March, 1960.
II. Analysis of the total number of non-departmental quarters held on 31st March, 1960, showing the approximate location, number, and size of Government owned or leased quarters available at any level in the Service, together with the estimated number of officers by grades eligible to apply for them, and of those eligible to retain them whilst on leave.
III. Number of departmental quarters by grades held by various
departments on 31st March, 1960.
GRAPHS
Graph
I. Number of officers in hotels from 31st March, 1955 to 31st
March, 1960.
II. Number of officers in private tenancies from 31st March, 1955 to
31st March, 1960.
TRAINING DEFAKIMETODE E
REQUISITIONING
REQUISITIONED property falls into the following categories:
(A) PROPERTY REQUISITIONED FOR GOVERNMENT'S USE
At the end of the previous financial year, thirty one units were held under requisition. During the year under review fourteen units in Gloucester Building which formerly housed the Public Relations Office, six units at 1-3 Perth Street, Kowloon, formerly used to accommodate the staff of La Salle College, and one unit in St. George's Building, formerly used to accommodate the Waterworks Office of the Public Works Department, were de-requisitioned. This left a total of ten units held under requisition on 31st March, 1960.
(B) PROPERTY REQUISITIONED FOR THE ARMED SERVICES
At the end of the last financial year, records held in this office showed that a total of 98 Units (lands and buildings) were held under requisi- tion, divided between the services as follows:
Premises Land
...
Royal Navy
Army R.A.F.
Total
34
34
62
2
64
96
2
98
It was discovered subsequently, however, that one unit of land held under requisition for the Army had previously been surrendered to the Crown but not reported, and also that one unit, again held under requisition for the Army, had been recorded as being of buildings, when it was in fact of land. The true total of units held under requisition on 31st March, 1959, was therefore 97 divided between the services as follows:
Premises Land
...
Royal Navy
Army R.A.F. Total
33
33
62
2
64
95
2
97
During the year under review, thirteen units of premises and three of land were de-requisitioned for the Army, leaving a total of 81 units
1
་་་་་
held under requisition on 31st March, 1960. These units were divided between the services as follows:
Premises .. Land
Royal Navy
Army
R.A.F.
Total
20
20
59
2
61
79
2
81
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
2. Early in the year under review, the new West Wing of the Central Government Offices became available for occupation. Part or all of the Inland Revenue, Treasury, Urban Services, Registrar General, Audit, and Government Information Services departments were installed there- in, and premises previously leased or requisitioned by Government to house these departments in Gloucester Building, Prince's Building, Windsor House, and Macdonnell House, were handed back to the owners. The building also provides accommodation for a dental clinic, a post office and a canteen.
3. There was, however, during the year still a considerable demand from various departments for additional office accommodation to allow for expansion, as well as some movement by departments into alterna- tive accommodation. Details are as follows:
(a) Labour Department
The 2nd and 3rd floors of Rediffusion House were leased as office accommodation for this department.
(b) Medical and Health Department
One flat at No. 2 Tai Hang Road, and three flats Nos. 302, 303, and 304 Tower Court, Hysan Avenue were leased for use as office accommodation by this department.
On completion of the new Tai O Dispensary building, leased premises on Lot 674-713 in D.D. 313, previously used as such, were handed back to the owners.
(c) New Territories Administration
Part of the 4th floor of Shaw's Building, Kowloon, was leased for use as office accommodation.
(d) Police Department
Part of the 1st floor of Rediffusion House was leased for use as office accommodation.
2
(e) Public Works Department
The War Memorial Fund Office and the Hong Kong Housing Society vacated accommodation on the 1st floor of the Old Roads Office Building, in favour of new premises at No. 6 Duddell Street, and Edinburgh House respectively. The space left vacant in the Old Roads Office Building was allocated to the Public Works Department for use as office accommodation. An area of 125 sq. ft. in the basement of Buckingham Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon, was leased for use as storage space by this department.
(f) Radio Hong Kong
An area of 42 sq. ft. on the ground floor of Mercury House was leased for this department. The space was required for the erection of a reception desk.
(g) Registration of Persons
This department vacated hutted accommodation at North Point, in favour of newly leased premises on the ground and first floor of Golden Court, Lau Sin Street.
(h) Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
Part of the mezzanine floor of Printing House, No. 6 Duddell Street was leased as office accommodation for this department.
ACCOMMODATION (RESIDENTIAL FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS
4. In the Annual Report by this department for the financial year 1958/59, the number of non-departmental quarters available on 31st March, 1959, was said to have been 494. It was discovered subsequently however that this figure included five 'E' grade quarters at Nga Tsin Wai Road, which although demolished early in 1958, had not been deleted from our records at that time. The true total of non-depart- mental quarters available on 31st March, 1959, was, therefore, 489.
5. During the year under review fourteen quarters were acquired and eleven were lost, resulting in a net gain over the year of three non- departmental quarters. The total number of quarters available on 31st
3
March, 1960 was therefore 492. Details of the quarters acquired or lost
are as follows:
ACQUIRED
151A The Peak
1
'B' Grade
Transferred
from a
departmental quarter.
Flat 13, Nairn House
1
'D' Grade
*
55
18 Queen's Gardens
1
'A' Grade
"
271 The Peak, Ground & 2nd
floors
2
'CD' Grade
Leased.
Flats A-G, No. 8 Ho Man Tin
Road, Kowloon
7
'D' Grade
95
No. 31 1st floor, and No. 33 2nd floor, Stanley Village Road ...
2
'B' Grade
Total ...
14
LOST
151B The Peak
1
'B' Grade
Allocated to Police departmental quarters.
5 Sunning Road, 2nd & 3rd floor
2
'F' Grade
55
No. 5F, Courtlands
1
'F' Grade
99
"
No. 3A, Courtlands, Basement
1
'F' Grade
""
55
4 Hoi Ping Road, 3rd floor 6B-6D Carnarvon Road ...
1
'F' Grade
""
55
2
'E' Grade
1
'F' Grade
94 Waterloo Road, Ground floor
1
'CD' Grade
Elliott Filters, Ground floor
1
'E' Grade
Sold by Government. Allocated to Medical & Health Department as a departmental quarter. Returned to Public Works Department as a depart- mental quarter.
Total
11
6. During the year, the grading of No. 12A Hoi Ping Road was reconsidered, and as a result, this quarter was downgraded from 'F' to 'G'.
7. In May 1959, work was started on a new block of non-depart- mental quarters on the site of the former Government hostel in Conduit Road. These quarters are scheduled for completion towards the end of 1960, and will be known as 'Buxey Lodge'. There will be sixty flats, comparable in style and size to those at Chater Hall.
8. A complete list of non-departmental quarters available at the end of the year is given in Table I of this report. Table II gives a detailed analysis, by grades, of the total number of quarters held,
4
showing the approximate location, number, and size of Government owned or leased quarters available at any level in the service. This table also shows the estimated number of officers by grades eligible to apply for these quarters, 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
9. Graph I of this report illustrates the number of officers accom- modated in hotels over the period 31st March, 1955 to 31st March, 1960. The upward trend in the number of officers so accommodated reflects the steady increase in establishment.
10. The total cost of accommodating officers in hotels rose from $1,101,013.60 in 1957/58, to $1,687,205.08 in 1958/59, and again to $1,892,014.82 in 1959/60. This marked rise in costs is attributable both to the greater number of officers to be accommodated, and to the increase in hotel charges.
HOSTELS
11. The Government hostel at Conduit Road, now named 'Rocky- mount', which provides accommodation for eight single men was fully occupied throughout the year, and there was a waiting list for admission. The hostel for single women at the Hermitage, which provides accom- modation for seventeen, maintained its popularity and was also kept fully occupied for most of 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, and the Church Guest House.
12. The number of officers accommodated in both Government, and non-Government, hostels at the end of the year is shown below:
Single Officers
Male
Female
Married Officers
Total
No. of Rooms
Government Hostels Non-Government Hostels
8
15
23
23
1
7
1
9
9
Total
9
22
1
32
32
DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS
13. Departments such as the Police Force, Medical, 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
5
close proximity to their place of work. (Departmental quarters are allocated by Heads of Department and not by the Quarters Allocation Committee). Table III of this report shows the number of quarters by grades held by various departments on 31st March, 1960, and from this, it will be seen that the majority of these quarters, i.e. 3,463 out of a total of 4,010, are for local officers in the grades 'H' to 'L'.
14. During the year, there was no significant change in the number of quarters held by any department.
15. In addition to departmental quarters, many departments had a number of barrack type quarters for accommodating lower paid staff.
PRIVATE TENANCIES
16. During the year under review, the number of officers accommo- dated in private tenancies continued to rise. This is shown in Graph II of this report, which illustrates the growth in the number of private tenancies held by Government Officers over the period 31st March, 1955 to 31st March, 1960.
17. The cost to Government of subsidizing private tenancies during the last five years has been as follows:
Year
1955/56
1956/57
1957/58
1958/59
1959/60
Amount $ 785,175.66 $ 674,735.80
$ 622,954.85 $1,045,968.27 $1,958,840.64
STAFF
18. Mr. R. A. L. ELLERY, Assistant Quartering Authority, retired from Government service with effect from 29th October, 1959. Mr. F. A. COLLEY, E.O. II, in replacement of Mr. ELLERY was seconded from Colonial Secretariat for duty with this department on 2nd April, 1959, and was officially transferred to the establishment of the depart- ment on 1st November, 1959.
19. Mrs. E. WHITLEY, part time Confidential Assistant, proceeded on no pay leave on 8th December, 1959. Mrs. R. REILLY, part time Confidential Assistant in temporary replacement of Mrs. WHITLEY, commenced duty on 7th December, 1959, but later gave notice of her intention of resigning with effect from 1st April, 1960. Mrs. E. BRIDGER, part time Confidential Assistant, was accordingly engaged, and com- menced duty with the department on 28th March, 1960.
6
20. Mrs. S. M. GOLDING, Confidential Assistant, Class II, reported for duty with this department on 11th January, 1960, on secondment from Colonial Secretariat.
27th June, 1960.
7
H. R. J. WOULFE FLANAGAN, Quartering Authority.
TABLE I
LIST OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS ACCORDING TO GRADES, AS ON 31ST MARCH, 1960
GRADE 'A'
Address
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
275 & 276 The Peak ...
152, 153, 154 The Peak (Homestead House)
157, The Peak, 'Homedale'
361 The Peak, 'The Brackets'
406 The Peak, 'Sailing Look'
407 The Peak, Severn Road 534 The Peak, Magazine Gap 556 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
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
GRADE 'B'
57
Albany Flats (Nos. 1-5, 7-10, 12-14) 126 & 128 Argyle Street, 2nd floors 12 & 17 Branksome Towers
2A Cornwall Street, Ground floor
2227
2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos. 8 & 10 ...
2
4-room flats 5-room flats
3/4-room flats 5-room flat 4-room flat
'Eu' Gardens, 154-8 Argyle Street
6
4/5-room flats
16 Ho Man Tin Hill Road
1
6-room house
King's Park (Nos. 7-12)
6
4-room flats
150 A, B, C & 151 A & C, The Peak, (Homestead
Flats)
5
5-room flats
155 & 156 The Peak (Homestead Houses) Flat 2, Ravencourt, The Peak
2
5-room houses
1
5-room flat
403 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom & Top floors)
2
4-room flats
404 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom & Top floors) 405 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom & Top floors) Peak Pavilions (Nos. 1-9 & 11) Queen's Gardens (Nos. 2, 14 & 16)
2
4-room flats
2
4-room flats
10
5-room flats
3
5-room flats
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 1, 3 & 15) ...
3
4-room flats
White House, Tai Po
1
7-room house
No. 31, 1st floor and No. 33, 2nd floor, Stanley
Village Road
2
5-room flats
Total
65
+
9
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)
4
5-room flats
2
5-room flats
4
5-room flats
Burnside Estate (Nos. 11, 14, 19, 21, 22 & 24) Epworth Lodge (Nos. 1-4)
6
4-room flats
4
3-room flats
2 Forfar Road, (Flats Nos. 2, 3, 5 & 7) King's Park (Nos. 1-6)
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) ..
2
4-room flats
97C Waterloo Road, Ground floor
1
5-room flat
75
Total
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) 270 The Peak, Ground & 2nd floors 271 The Peak, Ground, 1st & 2nd floors 262 Prince Edward Road
7
4-room flats
2
3-room flats
3
3-room flats
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, 1st & 2nd floors
2
4-room flats
Total
85
10
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)
1
4-room flat
+
6
4-room flats
12
2-room flats
21
4-room flats
7
3-room flats
56 Conduct Road (Flats Nos. 101, 102, 103, 104,
202, 203, 204, 304, 401 & 404)
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. 3-13, 14-16, 23-33, 35-36) Flat A-G, No. 8 Ho Man Tin Hill Road
27
4-room flats
7
3-room flats
Total
129
GRADE 'E'
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)
3
2-room flats
6
4-room flats
2
3-room flats
3
5-room flats
Leighton Hill (Nos. 47)
Leighton Hill (Nos. 27 & 48)
Leighton Hill (No. 28)
1
2-room flat
2
3-room flats
1
4-room flat
Nairn House (Nos. 1, 2, 21 & 22)
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)
4
4-room flats
1
3-room flat
4
4-room houses
...
14
5-room houses
...
41
Total
GRADE 'F'
4 Hoi Ping Road, 2nd floor
1
4-room flat
6 Hoi Ping Road, 3rd floor ...
1
4-room flat
+
12 Hoi Ping Road, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors
4
4-room flats
3 Sunning Road, 2nd floor
1
4-room flat
...
Total...
7
11
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE 'G'
Address
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
4 Hoi Ping Road, Ground floor
14 Hoi Ping Road, 1st floor
1
4-room flat
1
4-room flat
12A Hoi Ping Road, Ground floor
1
4-room flat
Total
3
UNGRADED
7 Cornwall Street
1
3-room bungalow
9 & 11 Cornwall Street
2
2-room bungalows
2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos. 1, 4 & 6
3
14-room flats
Mount Nicholson (Nos. 1-12, 24 & 25).
14
2-room bungalows
Mount Nicholson (Nos. 13-22)
10
3-room bungalows
Total
30
Grand Total ...
492 quarters.
12
TABLE II
ANALYSIS OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS HELD ON 31ST MARCH, 1960, SHOWING THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION, NUMBER, AND SIZE OF GOVERNMENT OWNED OR LEASED QUARTERS AVAILABLE AT ANY LEVEL IN THE SERVICE, TOGETHER WITH THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF OFFICERS BY GRADES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THEM, AND OF THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RETAIN THEM WHILST ON LEAVE
No. of
Grade
Location
3 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
Govt. Leased Govt. Leased
1 Bedroom
Govt. Leased
Govt. Owned
Leased
Totals
Grand Totals
Total
Estimated No. of Officers of correct Grades Married
Officers
Eligible
Single
to Retain
Quarters
A
Hong Kong .. Kowloon
33
24
57
57
87
9
96
Hong Kong.. 20
3
21
2
41
5
B
65
135
30
20
Kowloon
2
7
8
2
10
9
Hong Kong.. 17
C
Kowloon
Hong Kong.. 12
CD
Kowloon
Hong Kong..
D
Kowloon
2 + 23 +6
4
9 in
12
14
2
4
31
27
75
83
21
10
5
8
12
5
12
w |
7
5
29
7
85
184
54
14
3
41
2
44
5
4
10
56
12
72
10
129
189
73
2
7
27
7
|
33
14
Hong Kong..
17
15
*
36
E
41
123
54
Kowloon
4
1
4
Hong Kong ..
7
F
Kowloon
Hong Kong..
3
G
Kowloon
│ │││ │
7
7
90
73
3
3
44
34
Hong Kong..
Ungraded
Kowloon
Total..
10
1
5
118
44
239
45
42
14
+4
24
30
6
399
93
492
935
348
142
13
TABLE III
NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS, BY GRADES, HELD BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ON 31ST MARCH, 1960
Grade:-
A B C CD
DE
F G H
I
IJ J K L
Total
Dept.
Agriculture, Fisheries
& Forestry
C.A.S.
Civil Aviation
Commerce & Industry
7
11 7
15
44
2
2
1
8 9
24
43
1
2
2
1
2
Co-operative
Development
4
Education
Fire Brigade
Govt. House
Housing
Judiciary
K.C.R.
Labour
Marine
Medical & Health
N.T.A.
1 3 9
1
9
6
10
5
2
2
6
-
6
16
51
82
163
-
12
1
47
16
7
2 2
4
:
:
3
4 10
2
16
14 142
198
1
1
7 2
2
1 2
19
33
3
18
6
43 8 111
86
80
70
25
456
1 1
3
2
7
2
―
|
5
10
16
1 39
Police
1 5
14
11
54
57
75
40 103
937
309 42
69 1,717
Post Office
1
1
3
1
1
ON
9
I
15
Printing
2
2
Prisons
Public Works
Quartering Authority
Resettlement
1 2 2 51
19 5 5
2 75
102
3 6
1
1
18
32 279
222 223
28
35
327
58
398
2
2
71
40
2 14 127
R.H.K.D.F.
1
1
1
3
Royal Observatory
1 2
2
5
S.C.A.
1
1
Social Welfare
1 1
2 13 7
24
Stores
―
1 1
2 1 1
7
Urban Services
1 4 7
3
―
29 181
92 317
TOTALS
1 14 20 19
133 118
151
91 260 1,234
6 658 740 565 4,010
14
NUMBER
OF
OFFICERS
160
150
140-
130-
120-
110-
100-
GRAPH I
NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN HOTELS FROM 31ST MARCH, 1955 TO 31ST MARCH, 1960
90
t
80-
70-
60
50-
40-
30-
20
10
31.3.255.
31.3.'56.
31.3.'57.
31.3.'58.
31.3.'59.
31.3.'60.
NUMBER
OF
OFFICERS
240
210-
180-
150-
120-
90-
0
60-
30-
GRAPH II
NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN PRIVATE TENANCIES FROM 31ST MARCH, 1955 TO 31ST MARCH, 1960
31.3.'55.
31.3.'56.
31.3.'57.
31.3.'58.
31.3.'59.
31.3.'60.