[6]
Q.-Is there a village here?
A.-No, the village is at some distance from the spot I have marked. Q.-There is plenty of space here if it is desirable?
A. Yes.
Q.-Can you state what the proportion of the population to area is, say, in Taipingshan compared with English ports?
A. It is three times as dense as the most populous parts of the United Kingdom.
Q.-Have you made any study of quarantine yourself in connection with tropical countries.
A.--No.
Q.--In 1886 there was considerable objection made here to any relaxation of the quarantine regulations, on the ground that the sanitary state of the Colony was such that if disease was once introduced it would surely do a tremendous injury. Can
you tell us what has been done in the shape of sanitation, and particularly the improvements which have been made with reference to the Chinese quarter since that time?
A.-Practically, water is now distributed throughout the whole of the city. There is a constant supply to all those houses whose owners have asked to have it laid on.
There are about 2,500 houses with water directly laid on.
been done during the last two years.
Q.-As to the Chinese district, what is the water supply ?
That bas
A.-There is a large number of hydrants, fountains and wells. A little of the new drainage works have been carried out in Taipingshan. New houses are drained in a proper and systematic manner, but there is still a great deal to be done in that way as regards old houses. In a good many places main drains are already laid down in the western part of the central portion of the town. We have commenced main sewers in Bonham Strand and other parts of the Chinese quarter.
Q.-What remains to be done with the old houses?
A.-The main drainage may be very good but if the house drainage is bad it is practically no use. They are all being taken in hand gradually, and until the work is done the sanitation of the town cannot be satisfactory.
Q.-Have you any experience of English ports in respect to sanitation ? A.--Not of seaports. My connection has been with inland towns. Q.-You could not form a comparison with the sanitary condition of this Colony and the state of ports at home such as Cardiff ?
A-I have never seen any place where the sanitary arrangements are so defective as they are here with regard to house drainage. The drainage works are going on very satisfactorily.
Honourable Dr. Ho KAI.
How many years will it take to complete the house drainage?
A.-It depends upon the owners of property. The public drainage will be completed in the central and western parts next year. But there is no reason why the individual house owners should not at once have their houses properly attended to and put into a good sanitary condition.
Mr. COOPER then withdrew.
The Commission then adjourned.