Quartering Authority
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ong Kong
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HONG KONG
ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT
BY THE
QUARTERING AUTHORITY
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR 1955 - 56
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY W. F. C. JENNER. GOVERNMENT PRINTER,
AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS,
JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG.
PREFACE
This report, which covers the activities of the Quartering Department for the financial year ending 31st March, 1956 describes briefly the variety of work carried out.
During the year under review, which was one of un- precedented activity, new financial and accommodation records. were created.
In view of the continued expansion in most departments it was not surprising that at the end of the year under review there were still a considerable number of officers quartered in hotels, hostels and private tenancies although there had been a substantial increase in Government quarters.
The greatest difficulty which had to be contended with was the increasing demand for office accommodation. The third portion of the New Government Offices which it is estimated will be completed about the middle of 1958 will go a long way to solve this problem but there are still many departments functioning in old inadequate buildings; these departments cannot be offered accommodation in the New Government
Offices.
PREFACE
REQUISITIONING
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
OFFICERS:
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
(RESIDENTIAL)
FOR
GOVERNMENT
(a) Non-Departmental Quarters
(b) Hotels
(c) Hostels
(d) Departmental Quarters
(e) Private Tenancies
STAFF
1
2 - 4
5 - 7
00
8
11
13
-
-
10
12
14
15 - 17
•
18
Table
I. List of non-departmental quarters according to grades,
as on 31st March, 1956.
II. Numbers of non-departmental quarters and estimated numbers of officers eligible to apply for them on 31st March, 1956.
III. Numbers of officers in hotels and hostels on 31st March,
1956.
IV. Numbers of officers in private tenancies on 31st March,
1956.
REQUISITIONING
1. Requisitioned property falls into the following three categories, depending upon the user:—
(Á) Property Requisitioned for Government's Use.
At the end of last year there were 27 units held under requisition. Half a unit was de-requisitioned during the year under review and 26 units still remain under requisition.
(B) Unoccupied Property Requisitioned in 1949 to Relieve the Housing Shortage.
A total of 32 units was requisitioned in 1949. At the beginning of the year under review 26 units were still held under requisition. During this year a further 4 units were de-requisitioned, leaving 22 units still under requisition.
(C) Property Requisitioned for the Armed Services.
A total of 205 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
861
46
1401
63
2
65
8
1491
48
2051
During the present year 17 units (all land in the New Territories) were requisitioned, and 8 units (71⁄2 premises and 1 land) de-requisitioned on behalf of the Army, making a net increase of 8 units. The total of 214 units still held under requisition is divided between the Services as follows:-
Premises Land
Royal Navy
Army R.A.F. Total
8
79
46
133
79
2
81
8
158
48
214
1
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
2. The year under review was a busy one for the Quarter- ing Department in consequence of the continued expansion of most Government departments and the competition from outside firms for office space. Although there has been great activity in private building development on Hong Kong Island there has been keen competition for any available office space in the central district; furthermore it will become increasingly difficult to obtain the office space needed to meet anticipated demands in the centre of the city.
3. During
During the year under review alternative office accommodation was leased at Tower Court, Hong Kong, for the headquarters of the Medical Department in place of the accommodation previously occupied in the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank Building.
4. The following other leases were negotiated and finalized:
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department:
One bungalow on Cheung Chau Island.
Medical Department:
Ebenezer Blind Girls Home for use as a godown.
Auxiliary Fire Service (Fire Brigade):
Part of Ground Floor of British Cigarette Company
Building.
ACCOMMODATION (RESIDENTIAL) FOR
GOVERNMENT OFFICERS
Non-Departmental Quarters.
5. There were 335 quarters available at the beginning of the year.
An additional 121 were acquired during the year under review and 15 lost, thereby creating a net gain of 106 quarters, making the total number available at the end of the year 441.
Details of those acquired, returned to owners, de-
requisitioned, etc. are as follows:
No. 557 The Peak, Hong Kong
Acquired
1 'A' grade.
Converted from 2 'C' flats.
2
"Foothills", No. 2A Cornwall
Street, Kowloon
No. 2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos.
8 and 10, Kowloon
No. 2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos.
2, 3, 5 and 7, Kowloon
Nos. 1 & 2, Burnside Estate,
Hong Kong
No. 107 Mountain View, Ground, 1st & 2nd floors, Hong Kong
Nos. 5, 9, 11 and 12 Braga
Mansions, Kowloon
"Foothills", No. 2A Cornwall
Street, Kowloon
Leighton Hill, Hong Kong
Chater Hall, Hong Kong
Leighton Hill, Hong Kong Chater Hall, Hong Kong
Leighton Hill, Hong Kong Chater Hall, Hong Kong
No. 2 Forfar Road, Flats Nos.
1, 4 and 6, Kowloon
Total
•
1
'B' grade. Leased.
2 'B' grade.
Purchased by Government.
4
'C' grade.
Purchased by Government.
2
'C' grade. Leased.
3 'C' grade. Leased.
4 'C' grade. Leased.
2 'CD' grade.
8 'CD' grade. 8 'CD' grade. 28 'D' grade. 40 'D' grade. 4 'E' grade. 'E' grade.
11
Leased.
Built by Government. Built by Government. Built by Government. Built by Government. Built by Government. Built by Government.
3 Ungraded. Purchased by Government.
121
No. 557 The Peak, Hong Kong
No. 111 Austin Road, Ground
& Top floors, Kowloon
No. 56 Conduit Road, Flats Nos. 1 and 4, Hong Kong
No. 26 Homuntin Street, 2nd
floor, Kowloon
Nos. 1A and 1B Minden Row,
Kowloon
No. 6 Hoiping Road, 1st floor,
Hong Kong
Lost
2 'C' grade. Converted to 'A' grade
house.
2 'D' grade.
2
De-requisitioned.
'D' grade. Transferred
to Prisons
as depart-
Department mental quarters.
1
'E' grade. Leased determined.
2 'E' grade.
De-requisitioned.
1 'F' grade. Transferred to R.H.K.D.F. as departmental quarters.
00
3
No. 3 Sunning Road, 3rd floor,
Hong Kong
No. 5 Sunning Road, 1st floor,
Hong Kong
1 'F' grade.
1 'F' grade.
No. 14D Hoiping Road, 3rd
floor, Hong Kong
1 'G' grade.
Transferred to Police Force as departmental quarters.
No. 14C Hoiping Road, 2nd
floor, Hong Kong
1 'G' grade.
No. 6 Hoiping Road, Ground
floor, Hong Kong
1 'G' grade.
Total
15
6.
During this year consideration was given to the regrad- ing of certain flats and as a result the following flats were regraded. This does not offect the overall total but has affected the numbers of quarters in grades 'B', 'C', 'CD', 'D' and 'E'.
Nos. 7-12 King's Park
From 'C' to 'B'.
Nos. 126 & 128 Argyle Street,
Ground floors.
From 'C' to 'B'.
Nos. 251 & 252 The Peak
From 'D' to 'C'.
No. 270 The Peak, Ground, 1st &
2nd floors
From 'C' to 'CD'.
No. 271 The Peak, Ground & 1st
floors
From 'C' to 'CD'.
No. 32B Braga Circuit, Ground &
1st floors
From 'CD' to 'D'.
7.
Nos. 3D, 3F, 3H, 5B, 5F and 5H
Courtlands
Mount Nicholson Bungalows
Nos. 7, 9 & 11 Cornwall Street ...
No. 6 Macdonnell Road, Flat No. 6
From 'D' to 'E'.
From 'E' to 'Ungraded'.
From 'E' to 'Ungraded'.
From 'C' to 'CD'.
A complete list of non-departmental quarters available at the end of the year is given in Table I of this report while Table II gives the number of non-departmental quarters by grades together with the estimated number of officers (by grades) who were eligible to apply for them.
4
Hotels.
8. The increase of 106 non-departmental quarters during the year under review had the effect of reducing the number of officers accommodated in hotels this year compared with last
The following figures give the difference:
year.
1955/6
1954/5
1955/6
1954/5
Highest Total accommodated in Hotels.
96 (48 single, 48 married of whom 22 had children). 123 (57 single, 66 married of whom 41 had children).
Lowest Total accommodated in Hotels.
80 (42 single, 38 married of whom 18 had children). 71 (54 single, 17 married of whom 8 had children).
9. The cost of accommodating officers in hotels and non- Government hostels during the year amounted to $1,154,053.47 as against the previous year's figure of $1,058,598.06. It will be noted that the cost of hotel accommodation has increased against last year's whereas it is stated above in paragraph 8, that the numbers of officers accommodated have decreased. The rise in costs is due to an increase in hotel charges and further increases must be expected in the future as more hotels become modernized to meet the undoubted increase in tourist trade.
10. Table III gives the number of officers accommodated in hotels as at the end of the financial year.
Hostels.
11. 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, of their own choice, were accommodated in non-Government hostels such as the Y.M.C.A., Hong Kong Club, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Helena May Institute, Church Guest House, etc.
12. Table III gives the number of officers accommodated in both Government and non-Government hostels at the end of the financial year.
5
Departmental Quarters.
13. 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 "departmental quarters" in contrast to "non-departmental quarters" referred to in paragraphs 5-7 above which are allocated by the Quarters Allocation 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 was as follows:-
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries
& Forestry
Civil Aviation Department
Department of Commerce & Industry
23 quarters
32
17
5
"}
Civil Aid Services
Education Department
Fire Brigade
Government House
Kowloon Canton Railway
Marine Department
Medical Department
Police Force
Post Office
Prisons Department
Public Works Department
3
"
121
95
51
7
""
193
17
37
446
District Administration, New Territories
15
77
1,044
10
"
224
126
""
Resettlement Department
Royal Hong Kong Defence Force
Royal Observatory
72
""
3
&
A
Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
Social Welfare Office
1
33
Stores Department
Supreme Court
8
4
""
Urban Services Department
296
6
7
14. In addition to the above departmental quarters most departments had a number of 'barrack' type quarters for accommodating various sections of their lower paid staff who are "on call."
Private Tenancies.
15. Private Tenancies, i.e. non-Government quarters rented privately by officers themselves in respect of which they draw an allowance from Government, decreased from 87 at the end of the previous year to 68 at the end of this year. The allow- ances paid by Government for this year compared with last year are as follows:
Year
1954/1955
1955/1956
Amount
$675,196.00
$785,175.66
16. 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 a hotel.
17. Table IV gives the numbers of officers accommodated in private tenancies at the end of the financial year.
STAFF
18. 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.
7
H. R. J. WOULFE FLANAGAN, Quartering Authority.
TABLE I
List of Non-Departmental Quarters according to Grades, as on 31st March, 1956
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
1
4-room house
1
6-room house
556 The Peak, Middle Gap
1
5-room house
557 The Peak, Middle Gap
1
5-room house
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,
18, 20, 22, 24 & 26)
10
5-room flats
>
Queen's Gardens (Nos. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13,
17, 19, 21, 23, & 25)
10
4-room flats
45 Shouson Hill
1
5-room house
Total
33
GRADE "B"
Albany Flats (Nos. 1-5, 7-10, 12-14)
12
4-room flats
126 & 128 Argyle Street, Ground 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
ลง
2
4-room flats
16 Homuntin Hill Road
1
6-room house
King's Park (Nos. 7-12)
6
4-room flats
150A, B, C & 151B & C, The Peak,
(Homestead Flats)
10
5
5-room flats
155 & 156 The Peak (Homestead
Houses)
2
5-room houses
403 The Peak, Severn Road (Bottom &
Top floors)
2
4-room flats
00
8
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE "B"-Contd.
No. of Quarters
Address
Brief Description
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
GRADE "C"
126 & 128 Argyle Street (Ground & 1st
floors)
4
5-room flats
165 Argyle Street (Ground & 1st floors)
2
5-room flats
Braga Mansions (Nos. 5, 9, 11 & 12)
4
4-room flats
Burnside Estate (Nos. 1, 2, 9 & 18)
4
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
107 Mountain View, Ground, 1st & 2nd
floors
251 & 252 The Peak
Victoria Flats (Nos. 2 & 3)
Victoria Flats (Nos. 4 & 5)
97C Waterloo Road, Ground Floor
Total
~ N N 2 –
2
3
5-room flats
2
3-room bungalows
1
75
3-room flats
4-room flats 5-room flat
9
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE "CD"
Address
No. of Quarters
Brief Description
32B Braga Circuit, 2nd & 3rd floors
2
4-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 26, 29, 56 & 59) .
4
2-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 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 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 & 66)
4
3-room flats
12 Lomond Road, 2nd floor
1
6-room flat
14 Lomond Road, 1st floor
1
6-room flat
6 Macdonnell Road (Flat No. 6)
1
3-room flat
270 The Peak, Ground, 1st & 2nd floors
3
3-room flats
271 The Peak, Ground & 1st floors
2
3-room flats
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
78
GRADE "D"
32B Braga Circuit, Ground & 1st floors Chater Hall (Nos. 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23,
38, 41, 44, 47, 50 & 53)
2
4-room flats
12
2-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 &
24)
7
3-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
56 Conduit Road (Flats Nos. 2, 3, 102, 103, 104, 202, 203, 204, 304, 401, & 404)
11
4-room flats
10
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE "D"-Contd.
No. of
Address
Quarters
Brief Description
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
Total
90
GRADE "E"
20 Austin Avenue, 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors
3
4-room flats
20A Austin Avenue, 3rd & 4th floors .
2
4-room flats
24, Austin Avenue, 3rd floor
1
4-room flat
24A Austin Avenue, 3rd & 4th floors ...
2
4-room flats
6B & 6D Carnarvon Road
2
2-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 5, 32 & 35)
3
2-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 1 & 3)
2
3-room flats
Chater Hall (Nos. 2, 4, 30, 31, 33 & 34)
6
4-room flats
"Courtlands" (Nos. 3A, 3C, 3E, 3G,
5A, 5C, 5E, & 5G)
8
3-room flats
"Courtlands" (Nos. 3D, 3F, 3H, 5B, 5F
& 5H)
6
4-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
255 Prince Edward Road, Ground floor
1
3-room flat
Wongneichong Road (Nos. 99, 101, 103
& 105)
4-room houses
Wongneichong Road (Nos. 97, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129 & 131)
Total
11
14
5-room houses
58
TABLE I-Contd.
GRADE "F"
No. of Quarters
Address
Brief Description
6A & 6C Carnarvon Road
2
2-room flats
"Courtlands" (Nos. 31 & 51)
2
3-room flats
4 Hoi Ping Road, 1st, 2nd & 3rd floors
3
4-room flats
6 Hoi Ping Road, 2nd & 3rd floors
2
4-room flats
12 Hoi Ping Road, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th
floors
4
4-room flats
3 Sunning Road, 1st & 2nd floors
2
4-room flats
5 Sunning Road, 2nd & 3rd floors
2
4-room flats
Total
17
GRADE "G"
4 Hoi Ping Road, Ground floor
1
4-room flat
14 Hoi Ping Road, Ground & 1st floors
2
4-room flats
7 & 9 Sunning Road, Ground floors
Total
2
4-room flats
5
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
1-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
441 quarters
12
TABLE II
NUMBERS OF NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS AND ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF OFFICERS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THEM ON 31ST MARCH, 1956
Grade
of Quarters
Government Property
Leased
Requisi- tioned
Total No. of
Estimated No. of Officers Eligible to Apply
Quarters
Married
Single
ABUNDEFGH
33
33
52
5
В
50
5
55
104
18
C
4.4
31
75
72
16
CD
66
12
78
94.
31
76
13
90
137
44
49
9
58
59
18
4
13
17
25
9
5
5
14
7
Η
2
Ungraded
30
30
Totals
352
88
1
441
561
150
Note:
The number of officers shown include those on leave but do not include those in departmental quarters.
TABLE III
NUMBERS OF OFFICERS IN HOTELS AND HOSTELS ON 31ST MARCH, 1956
Single Officers
Married Officers
Total
No. of Rooms
Male
Female
Hotels
Government Hostels.
22243
4
32 (10)
70 (10)
77
12
17
29
27
Non-Government
Hostels
13
6
19
19
Totals
59
27
32 (10)
118 (10)
123
TABLE IV
NUMBERS OF OFFICERS IN PRIVATE TENANCIES ON 31ST MARCH, 1956
Private Tenancies
Single Officers
Married Officers
Total
Male
Female
14
1
54 (44)
69 (44)
No. of Tenancies
68
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.
13