562
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD NOVEMBER, 1878.
in, particularly criminals of the Chinese class. Now, Sir, with regard to Stone Cutter's Island, I have but one opinion, and that is that it should be utterly condemned. I believe there is no necessity for it. On the other hand, believe were the Gaol to be removed the cost would be enormous to construct a new one, and the cost would not end there. We should have an annual burden upon the tax-payers for the keeping up of a strong guard, for Stone Cutter's Island is in a distant part of the harbour, also a costly service of communication with Hongkong. We should in addition not get rid of this Gaol. It is, in my opinion, absurd to imagine we could. We must have a Gaol, small or large, in the town. I think that was admitted at the last Meeting. At least several speakers seemed to be of my own opinion that it is absolutely necessary for the administration of justice that there should be a prison in the town. Your Excellency alluded at our last Meeting to a conversation which passed a few months ago. I then heard of this possible scheme of reviving the Stone Cutter's Island Gaol and I ventured to express an opinion that the community would learn of such a project with great dissatisfaction. I also mentioned, if I remember rightly, that they were tired of the manner in which one Governor might propose and execute an undertaking and his successor destroy it. We have had experience of these costly undertakings, and my impression is the Colony is not in love with them. It would be well, it appears to me, that the policy of a Governor-the hobbies or ideas which more or less we all like to air-should be confined within the narrow- est bounds when it is a matter which concerns an expenditure of money. There is in this matter an enormous expenditure of money involved, and I think there is reason for this community to view with the greatest possible objection the expendi- ture of more money on Gaols at Stone Cutter's Island, or even in the extension of the present one. The reasons I have for entertaining such strong opinions are briefly these. That I understand the state of the native town is indescribably bad, that the increase of population to which your Excellency alluded at our last Meeting-which is undoubtedly one of the best signs of the prosperity of the Colony-has also its alarming side, and that is that there has been nothing done, or compara- tively little, to make such an influx to the population of the town anything but dangerous. I believe, Sir, that in 1875 the Surveyor General and the Colonial Surgeon were appointed a Commission to report upon the sanitary state of Victoria. Their labours were commenced, but unfortunately soon after the work was begun the Surveyor General was taken ill-
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER.-The Colonial Surgeon, I think.
Honourable W. KESWICK.-They were both taken ill at any rate, and their illness was attributed to the very un- pleasant and painful duty they had to perform, that of visiting houses which it was almost poisoning to enter. That report, I have no doubt, has been seen by your Excellency. It has not been published.
His EXCELLENCY.-What is the date of it?
Honourable W. KESWICK.-February, 1875. That report, I understand, was of too horrible a character; it was feared the alarm created by it would be too great, and it has not seen the light of day yet, that is, it has not been published. I hope it has gone to the Secretary of State. Some of the facts that were elicited by the gentlemen who investigated the sanitary state of the Colony at that time, you will understand, perhaps, if I mention one or two cases.
His EXCELLENCY.-May I ask, one moment, has this report been laid before the Council?
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER.---NO.
Honourable W. KESWICK.-I have not got the report.
His EXCELLENCY.--I thought you had.
Honourable W. KESWICK.-No, I was going to say I had some notes.
His EXCELLENCY.-I have not seen the report, I arrived in April, 1877. If it was not forwarded to the Secretary of State or laid before this Council, I am not to blame. Furthermore, if anyone has supplied my Honourable friend with extracts I shall not be able to deal with them. It ought to have been forwarded to me, but I have not seen the report.
Honourable W. KESWICK.-I have no extracts from the report, I have not seen it. What I was going to say was this, that I have no doubt the report contained some such statements as these-
His EXCELLENCY.-May I ask the authority?
Honourable W. KESWICK.-A creditable authority.
His EXCELLENCY.-I hope my Honourable friend will have no objection to state the authority, as this is a public board. Honourable W. KESWICK.-Mr. ALFORD is my authority.
His EXCELLENCY.-A very high and trustworthy authority.
Honourable W. KESWICK.-If I may be permitted-
His EXCELLENCY.-Certainly.
Honourable W. KESWICK. The first case I would mention is this:-
"No. 51, East Street, Taipingshan, ground floor 29 feet 6 inches long, 16 feet 1 inch wide, 11 feet high, floor of mud 2 feet 6 inches below street and side channel, kitchen 7 feet by 10 feet with a sleeping room in it, no smoke flue, a back door and a hole 1 feet square. 8 chambers or partitions, 7 families. 18 people including 12 females and children, a loft 8 feet high, containing 6 more people. Rent $7.50 per month, Chinese landlords, tenant 6 years in possession, sub-tenants of several years' occupation. The cookhouse leaks, the house has not been repaired during tenancy, water comes in at the door. There is a well in the house, and 8 more in its immediate vicinity. It is 7 feet down to the water which stands 1 foot 3 inches deep. The sub-tenants are bricklayers, hawkers, ship-coolies, a cook, and a boat-builder; 2 of them do not come home at night, the others nightly wash themselves in the cookhouse."
Now, I maintain that these people ought to have their comforts attended to in a sanitary point of view, if they have not the attention the prisoners in Victoria Gaol have. There is another case:-
"10, Lower Lascar Row, Seamen's Boarding House, licensed for 45 men, 18 bunks below, room there 37 feet 3 inches by 13 feet 6 inches by 8 feet 9 inches high, One bunk 6 feet 5 inches by 3 feet 3 inches high. 28 men on the next floor 163 cubic feet per man.'