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It is now understood to mean practically every whiskey?—Yes, as long as the whiskies have flavours similar to Scotch Whiskey.
The CHAIRMAN,What, in your opinion, is the best method of ensuring the sale of wholesome liquors?—I think Ordinance No. 18 of 1896 should be enforced by the authorities.
How many samples should be yearly examined under the Food and Drugs Ordi- nance No. 18 of 1896, and how does the number examined in this Colony compare with the number examined in England and Wales ?-The number of samples of all kinds examined in England and Wales in 1892 was 32,447. This for every 250,000 inhabitants, which is about the population of Hongkong, is 279. The number of samples of all kinds examined in Hongkong in 1897 was 26. Of the total number of samples examined in England and Wales, a certain number-36 only-were wines, spirits, and beer. In Hongkong, of the 26 samples examined, 11 were wines, spirits, and beers.
Mr. FRANCIS.—Then, in your opinion, the Ordinance of 1896 is not enforced as it ought to be ?—No.
The CHAIRMAN.-Can this number be now examined in the laboratory ?—No; that has always been the difficulty. I may state that certain arrangements are made with those who are responsible for sending in the samples. When we find a large number of samples coming from the Sanitary Board, the Government Analyst would write and say, "I have a lot of work on hand, it is no use sending any more." The Goverument Analyst has other work besides analytical work to do.
Mr. FRANCIS.-What is the number of public analysts in England and Wales for this 29 millions of population ?—I cannot give you that information.
The CHAIRMAN.-What additional aid would be required in the Government laboratory in order that a proper number of samples may be examined ?-Hongkong is a place where a very large amount of toxicological work is required, which, of course, is of great importance and requires a great deal of time, and I consider that the Govern- ment Analyst should be entirely free from work which is extraneous to analytical work, and that an assistant should be appointed to undertake the supervision at present undertaken by the Government Analyst, which is required at the Government Civil Hospital. That, of course, would require some additional help at the Government Civil Hospital, but it would really be only a small addition not costing at the utmost more than $3,000 per annum.
Mr. FRANCIS.-Would it not be better for the Sanitary Board to have an analyst of their own to do their work and nothing else? The Sanitary Bourd is responsible for the enforcement of this Ordinance. The Government Analyst could then be left to attend to the Hospital and the toxicological work?--That would mean two laboratories, and I do not think the Government would agree to go to that expense.
Mr. COBBOLD. It would be a greater expense than appointing another assistant to the Analyst ?—Yes; I do not think the system would work of having an analyst for the Sanitary Board and an analyst to do toxicological work.
Mr. FRANCIS.-Why not?-Because there may be a large amount of toxicological work to do, the same as during the past three months. Then two months may come when there may be scarcely any toxicological work to do, and the examination of food and drugs would all go on during the latter period.
You mean it might leave the Government Analyst without any work at all during certain periods?—Yes. For a laboratory to work properly you want to have a certain amount of work continually coming in but not too much.
Mr. FRANCIS. Then you think the whole of the Sanitary Board's work as well as the ordinary Government work could be effectively done by the existing establishment