(C.S.O. 1283).
407
6. Let all low and swampy grounds be filled in and planted over with trees of such a kind as to permit the rays of the sun to penetrate to the ground underneath their foliage.
7. Let a stricter system be established for the removal of filth and excreta from the Colony and let the workmen engaged in this work be placed under more efficient and more numerous European skilled supervision.
8. What is more important of all is the prevention of overcrowding not by compulsory and arbitrary legislation but by the extension of the town east and west. For this purpose let us endeavour to procure a continuous road along the Praya, open new building sites, facilitate the requirement of small lots for building purposes, and connect the two extremities of the island with a tramway. By these means people will not overcrowd as long as there are quick, easy, and inexpensive means of communication with the centre of the town. These and many more, such as the preven- tion of the sale of unwholesome food and unripe fruits, the enlargement and improvement of markets, the spread of medical and sanitary know- ledge among the public, &c., are worthy of the immediate attention of the Sanitary Board and the Government, and which if properly carried out, would secure health and prosperity to the Colony. Finally, let us also see to the proper carrying out of our already innumerable Sanitary rules and regulations, and be content to work these and the few points I have just pointed out above thoroughly and in detail and not waste our time over unnecessary Sanitary provisions, which look well no doubt on paper, but are utterly impracticable and would take years to accomplish. Let us work at the real, the probable, and not strive after the imaginary and improbable. According to recent reports and complaints I think we as. members of the Sanitary Board have quite enough in hand to do without this debatable Ordinance and its Bye-laws introduced and considered in our various meetings.
Dated this 2nd December, 1886.
(Signed)
HO KAI, M.B.,
C.M. (Aberd.), M.R.C.S. (Eng.)
Barrister-at-law, and a Member of the Sanitary Board.
The Sanitary Board's Rejoinder.
SIR.
SANITARY BOARD ROOM,
HONGKONG, 1st June, 1887.
In reply to your letter, No. 1114,* of the 9th ultimo requesting to be furnished with the observations of the Sanitary Board on Dr. Ho Kai's Protest against the Public Health Bill, we have the honour to inform you that although none of us were able to admit the correctness of Dr. Ho KAI's alleged facts or deductions, we did not consider ourselves called upon-in forwarding you his Protest-to enter into any controversy with a colleague, as we apprehended the Government would readily form its own opinions after the first perusal of the document.
2. As however you now intimate to us the wish of the Acting Governor to have our views on the statements advanced by Dr. Ho KAI, we beg, in response to His Excellency's desire, to submit the following observations which will be limited rather to the pointing out of errors and inconsistencies than to any discussion of the speculations and predictions which recur in the Protest unsupported by facts, figures or arguments.
3. Dr. Ho KAI begins by stating that the Bill will sacrifice property to the extent of millions of dollars, that it will greatly interfere with vested interests and
* Not printed.