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From the result of my observations I am confident that, given the necessary appliances, etc. I coul! successfully combat an outbreak of this disease, and think that at least 90% of the animals infected might be saved if taken in time.
On December 22nd Foot and Mouth disease broke out on the premises of the East Point Dairy at Wong-nei-Cheong. The disease assumed a very mild type and up to the end of the year had not spread to any of the other farms.
In both cases the premises were declared infected areas by the Board under the provisions of Bye-laws Nos. 12 and 13 of Schedule A of Ordinance 17 of 1887.
Although as far back as 1889 I recommended that no cow sheds be licensed by the Board within the precincts of the city, I regret to note that nothing has yet been done to consider or carry out my suggestion.
In my report to the Board dated 31st January, 1898, I went very fully into the subject of the milk supply of the Colony, and pointed out that consumers would do well if, in protection of their own interests, they were to insist upon a guarantee from the dairy supplying them that they had given up the practice of purchasing milk from outside sources--that is to say, from native dairies--as the con- dition under which their milk is collected leaves much to be desired.
Native cow-keepers can never be brought to understand how very essential it is that the strictest sanitary principles should be observed when dealing with milk, nor can they, I am afraid, be ever pre- vented from adulterating it, which fraud, I am sorry to say, is now carried on to a very large extent.
Pure water added to milk-although constituting in itself an illegal act-does not render such milk harmful, but when it is known that the added water may possibly be polluted, then the danger of consuming such a mixture becomes great.
At the present time, as mentioned above, much adulterated milk is sold in the Colony, and I think that if the Board's officers were to take more samples and submit them for analysis that much good might result to the milk consumers of the community generally.
To boil all milk before using it is the only real safeguard against the dangers of contamination.
MARKETS.
Central Market. This building is in a good state of repair and amendment, and most of the shops and stalls are let.
Owing to increase of trade additional accommodation is required in the Poultry Section for killing and plucking fowls, etc. Vide my report to the Board dated 7th September, 1898.
The lighting of the market is very inefficient.
Western Market. The central position of this market has always made it a very popular one, and it supplies a large district. The articles of food sold therein are almost entirely for native consump-
tion.
The building is old and cramped and does not at all meet present requirements.
In a report dated May 19th, 1891, the Board recommended that the inarket be rebuilt and some- what later I believe plans were made by the late Director of Public Works, Mr. F. A. Cooper, for this purpose, but nothing further was done in the matter.
I understand that arrangements are now being made to build a large new market upon a portion of the resumed area at Taipingshan to take the place of the present Western Market, which would be abolished upon the completion of the new one.
The Chinese generally, and more especially the present stall-holders in the Western Market, are unanimous in condemning this project, and I think not without reason when it is remembered that the old Taipingshan market-which was but a small one containing 74 stalls-had always more than half that number vacant from the time when I took over charge of the food supply of the Colony in 1887 up to June 19th, 1894, when it was closed.
One of the chief objections raised by the Chinese is that the extra cost of conveying all the market produce so far up the hill to the new building would necessitate a higher scale of prices for food stuffs sold therein, and that they would not in consequence be able to compete successfully with stall- holders in the other markets.
Another point is that instead of the market being situated as at present in the centre of a thickly populated district and fairly close to the harbour, it would then be removed to the extreme edge of that district up a steep hill, and as far away from the sea as possible.
Personally I am of opinion that the Taipingshan site as at present chosen is most unsuitable in every respect. A new market built upon the site of the present Western market, or even nearer to