Appendix
10.
(4)
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Before we proceed with Dr. CLARK's examination would it not be well to have a statement inserted in the proceedings showing the number of houses and streets which the Commissioners visited?
The CHAIRMAN-Yes, the Secretary has a list of all the houses.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Will detailed statement be pat in?
The CHAIRMAN-It will be printed in the Appendix.
Dr. FRANCIS CLARK was then called.
The CHAIRMAN-Dr. CLARK, you are the Medical Officer of Health attached to the Sanitary Board?
WITNESS-I am.
The Director of Public Works and you have furnished the Commission with a general report, dated 9th September, 1896, as to the sanitary condition of the buildings in the Colony?—Yes.
With regard to that report I observe you divide insanitary dwellings structurally into four classes, namely, back to back houses, houses fronting on narrow lanes, houses with insufficient open space in their rear, and houses abutting against the hillside ?-Yes.
With regard to the houses we visited the other day, a list of which will be inserted Appendix in the Appendix, to what class do they belong ?-Back to back houses, houses fronting ou narrow lanes, houses with insufficient open space in their rear, and I think one house was visited which abutted against the hillside. They practically comprised all the classes specified in the report, but principally the first three,
Then the houses we visited include all the classes you have given in this report ?—Yes,
Taking the first class, back to back houses, are there many houses of that kind in Hongkong ?—Yes, there are a large number. I cannot give you the numbers now.
Could you let us know what the numbers are?-Without going through every house in the city I do not know that I can give them. In connection with several of the houses which the Commissioners visited there was a narrow lane, and you may remember we got into one lane at the back of a house and there was just room enough to stand there; the lane was about two feet wide.
Could you give us the total number of houses in Victoria and state how many of those houses belong to the various classes of insanitary dwellings mentioned in the report of the 9th September, 1896 ?—I could let you have that: my last annual report gives the total number of houses as about 7,000.
It would be useful to know how many houses really come within the classification.- In the Colony or in the City?
In the City of Victoria and in the villages.-I can give no information upon that point in regard to the villages at present.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Are the villages a portion of the subject into which we are asked to enquire?
The CHAIRMAN-Yes, the villages are dealt with in the report of the 9th September. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I would suggest the desirability of the Medical Officer of Health furnishing a statement to a later date giving the number of houses which come under the various headings in the report.
The CHAIRMAN—According to the classiñcation?