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upon its
It is a very great pity indeed that the new Western Market is not to be re-constructed present site in accordance with many recommendations to that effect which have been forwarded to the Government by the Board.
Saiyingpoon Market—might be rebuilt and extended with advantage.
Wanchai Market-is too small, and might be easily extended to cover the vacant space fronting upon Queen's Road, which would make room for a good many more stalls.
Shaukiwan Market-also needs extension. In 1889 I recommended that thirty additional stalls be added.
Sokonpoo, Shektongsui, Hung Hom, Yaumati, and Tai-kok-tsui Markets-appear to meet present requirements.
Additional Supervision required.— Upon July 17th I recommended the appointment of an Assistant Inspector of Markets, ranking as a 2nd class Inspector, and pointed out that it was an impossibility that the supervision of these ten markets could be properly carried out by one Inspector, who is the only officer available for such duties at present.
The effectual supervision of the food supply of the Colony appears to me to be one of vital importance to the health and well being of the community. The magnitude of the work may be more readily understood when I mention that the total revenue collected as Market Rents during last year exceeded $80,000.
My recommendation was however not approved, hence I am obliged to do the best I can with the one Inspector, viz., Inspector Cotton, and he at present only receives the same pay and rank as the 2nd class Sanitary Inspectors although in my opinion the duties of his office as Inspector of Markets involve even a greater responsibility than do those of the 1st class Sanitary Inspectors.
In connection with this subject I may here mention that after considering the report of a Sub- committee consisting of the Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.. and Mr. Osborne, the Board in a letter to the Government dated December 2nd, 1898, recommended that the salaries of the Inspector at Kennedy Town and the Inspector of Markets should be both increased to $120 per month each, and this at a time when the Senior Sanitary Inspectors were only receiving $80 per month, yet now the Inspector of Markets is in receipt of $20 a month less than is drawn by the 1st class Sanitary Inspectors.
STAFF.
Inspector Watson remains in charge of the Animal Depôts and Slaughter House at Kennedy Town, and Inspector Cotton is still carrying on the duties of Inspector of Markets.
Both these officers performed their duties to my entire satisfaction during the year.
Mr. Johannsen has been unremitting in his efforts to keep the Central Market in a smart and cleanly condition in spite of many obstacles, and much credit is due to him for the manner in which he has performed his duties.
During Inspector Watson's absence from duty through sickness Mr. Johannsen also acted upon several occasions as officer in charge of the Animal Depôts and Slaughter House at Kennedy Town and here again he carried ont his duties very satisfactorily.
Inspectors' Quarters at Kennedy Town. These quarters again proved to be very unhealthy during the greater part of the year, both the Inspector and his family suffering from repeated severe attacks of malarial fever.
In a letter dated October 13th, 1899, the Board recommended the Government to improve the quarters by the addition of an upper story, which is really necessary, apart from the fever question, as at present the accommodation afforded is very inadequate, but the Board's recommendation has not ye been carried out.
Ittbeing now generally accepted that the Anopheles mosquito takes a very active part in the dis- seminat ion of malarial fever, a few remarks on the subject may not be considered out of place.
When in the Spring of 1899 I searched the Kennedy Town District for the Anopheles larvæ I could find them only in a few small pools in the vicinity of the Inspector's Quarters. At that time the ravine running down from the Pokfulam Road in front of the quarters remained in its original state; the brushwood had not been cleared away and the water-courses and streams had not been touched. But at a recent examination of the district, I discovered the larvæ in almost every pool.
The small pools bordering upon one of the largest nullahs have recently been filled up with lime concrete, but this I am afraid will do little towards lessening the number of larvae of these mosquitos, and will probably only have the effect of compelling the insects to seek other suitable breeding grounds in the district, which it would be out of the question to treat in the same way, except at enormous expense. Indeed what has already been done has not fulfilled its object, as I have since in several instances found Anopheles larvæ re-established in small pools which have formed upon the top of these newly concreted surfaces.
Seeing that the majority of the pools in the Kennedy Town district which are most suitable for Anopheles breeding places are formed by springs which issue from the hillside, it would appear useless to try to do away with them simply by the process of filling them up, as such a course does not cut off the water supply, or stop the spring, which running on as before very soon forms other small pools which are equally as suitable for breeding-places as were those which have been filled up.