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2nd. As to the trapping of the house drains.-The report upon the water traps in use in the Colony will draw attention to the liability of the same to become useless owing to the insufficiency of the dip into the water allowing of rapid evaporation, and the forcing of the trap from the pressure of sewer gas more especially at the higher levels. Indeed with a strong wind blowing against the mouths of the drains on the Praya wall, especially when unvalved, the insufficiency of the traps is but too apparent.
Map
3rd. As to the opening of drains at the Praya.-The present position of the mouths of sewers far above low water level on the foreshore, is prejudicial to the health of the Colony, whether as regards the insanitary state of the foreshore itself, or as regards the effect on the dwellings in the town and hill side suburbs.
The Commissioners are aware that extensive alterations are in contemplation and can well understand the difficulty experienced in dealing with the question of the fore- shore sanitation until it is definitely settled as to the Praya extension scheme.
From a sanitary point of view the Commissioners would urge the settlement of this question, i.e., the Praya extension scheme one way or another as speedily as possible; and when the question is settled they would urge the Sanitary Board to exercise great care before committing the community of Hongkong to the great expense, and to a serious sanitary problem, as to the sewage outfall which the contemplated alteration in the conditions involves.
4th. As to the coolie quarters.-The general insanitary state of the coolie houses found on inspection, lead the Commissioners to make the following recommendations for coolie quarters attached to European houses in the suburbs:-
*
a. No coolie to be allowed to sleep on the ground floor unless it be ventilated
below.
b. No coolie house to be built unless provision is made that there be at least
two storeys. †
No coolie apartment to be under 9 feet high.
d. No coolie to have less than 300 cubic feet allowed for sleeping room. e. That perforated air bricks be let into each coolie apartment; the air bricks to each department to be two in number and situated on each outside wall, but not opposite each other; the size of each brick to be 10 x 6 inches with an open area of 24 square inches.
f. That greater care be taken with the coolie latrines: by the provision of a proper vessel to receive the soil; by the daily removal of the same ; and by the prevention on the part of occupants of houses of their coolies using the soil, whether fluid or solid for manuring the gardens around their own houses.
The system of coolie latrines is one upon which the Commissioners feel strongly. They would advise that a reward be offered by Government for the best practical method of dealing temporarily, i.e., whilst in the premises, with the question of coolie soil. It is hoped that thereby the attention of practical engineers and sanitarians be drawn to the subject and a much needed improvement brought about. The plan of dealing with the night soil in the Colony is understood to be that of the pail system. That this is not the case in all instances is viewed with concern. Moreover the irregularities well known to exist by the carelessness of coolies and others render the pail system a mere name. In the first place much of the fluid night soil is used for manuring private gardens, unknown it may be to the lessees of the houses. Again the overflow from coolie latrines, and in many instances the permanent flow, finds its way directly into the house drains.
* What constitutes a suburb or suburban residence to be from time to time determined by the Sanitary Board.
The ground floor is counted as a storey, but a basement is not.