HONGKONG.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 183, 3 August 1900, Page 5

HONGKONG.

THE FAR EAST,

GROWTH OF THE COLONY,

Hongkong is growing: at the rate of some five thousand inhabitants per year; at least, that is the official computation, writes the correspondent of a Sydney paper. The colony is now becoming so overcrowded that it is difficult to find house room. The Chinese houses are now being run up several stories in height' in order to afford increased accommodation, and as the streets are of the narrowest, the disgraceful overcrowding of the city can be better imagined than described. Chinese flats have risen in price more than SQO percent.; and one instance has come under any personal notice in which the rent of. a flat has been raised from 4dol. t0,28 dol. per month. The result of this great rise in rents is that the poorer Chinese are forced "to herd together as much as possible to accommodate space, and the official returns show that there are over double the number of persons to the acre in Hongkong1 city than are to be found in the verjr densest populated quarters of London. When the fact that we are within the tropics is taken into account, can it be wondered at that plague should be rife? For the Europeans matters are hardly any better. The demand for houses far exceeds the supply, and rents are simply alarming". I am. at present living in .a house of five roms, with a .garden attached in which, one might perhaps be able to swingl a very diminutive, kitten of the tailless variety without dashing out its brains. For this palatial residence I am paying a rent of Ssdql_ a month, or over £100 a year, yet l.am not living in an expensive -house. Many houses of the same size I.command1'.command a higher rent. When I mention the fact that the house I am now living1 in would pay a dividend 0f 15 per cent{

at two-tliirds of its present rent,'s'oa will be able to see what a golden harvest, our property owners are reaping. Food, too, is high in price, and a commission has been, appointed to inquire into the matter.