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12 Foremen Interpreters.-The engagement of temporary European Inspectors for plague work is very unsatisfactory on account of the difficulty of obtaining trustworthy men, The extra provision under this head has been made with a view to the discontinuance of the engagement of temporary Plague Inspectors and substi- tution of 12 permanent Portuguese Foremen at a slightly increased pay. Of the 12, six will assist the Plague Inspectors and six will perform the duties of Rat Foremen and assist the Plague Inspectors generally.
6 Temporary Foremen Interpreters.-Provision has been made for these for 4 months, during the period when plague is usually at its height. They will be Por- tuguese, and will be employed similarly to the permanent Interpreters and paid at the same rate without increments,
60 Coolies at $144 ench.-An increase of 20 coolies is provided for at the same rate of pay. It was found necessary to employ these 20 extra men and they have been paid during 1903 out of the vote "Coolie Labour" under the heading "Other Charges" (Plague). They are employed in the removal of dead bodies from the Convents, Tung Wa Hospital and private premises to the nortuary; and the cleansing and disinfection of houses in which plague rats have been found is carried out by them. The 60 coolies are fully employed throughout the year.
3 Foremen Rat-catchers,
30 Rat-catchers.
The system by which rats were caught and destroy- ed has not proved a success. Obstruction and disobedience on the part of house- holders, suspected bribery and extortion on the part of the rat-catchers, and the probability of the importation on a large scale of dead rats from Canton and Macao for the sake of the bonus, have made a change in the system imperative. No bonus will henceforth be granted, and the work of rat-catching will be carried out by 14 coolies at a fixed salary of $144 each, whose duty it will be to collect rats from the various Health Districts and to carry traps to the premises of anyone apply- ing for the services of rat-catchers or traps. Their work will be supervised by the Plague Inspectors assisted by the Portuguese Foremien.
10 Temporary Inspectors for Disinfecting Purposes.-The appointment of the 12 Portuguese Foremen renders these men unnecessary.
2 Temporary Inspectors for Rat-poisoning Purposes.-No longer necessary under the new Rat system.
Temporary Inspector in charge of Burials.-It has been found that an Inspector is required for six instead of four months.
2 Temporary Inspectors, Observation Blocks.-As the Observation Blocks are essentially shelters and not in any sense Quarantine Camps, it is unnecessary to have special Inspectors in charge of them. The Plague Inspectors in whose districts these blocks are situated will be able to exercise the necessary supervision with regard to cleanliness, etc.
Telephone Clerk, Kowloon Disinfecting Station.-This new Station is not ex- pected to be open for more thau 6 months. (See "1 Temporary Sanitary Inspector for Kowloon Disinfecting Station.")
ment.
40 Rat-poisoning Coolies and & Foremen.-Unnecessary under the new arrange-
2 Messengers.
3 Bot. Formerly paid out of the open Plague vote and in 1903 out of
Boutmen.
Coolie Labour.”
Caretaker and Meseenger, Public Mortuary, Kowloon.--The new Public Mortu- ary at Kowloon was handed over the to Sanitary Board in April, 1903, and a Caretaker and Messenger at once provided, as plague cases were daily occurring in Kowloon.
14 Coulies for Collecting Rats at $144 each.—To replace the Rat-catchers under the old system see remarks under "3 Foremen Rat-catchers and 30 Rat-catchers."
Nurses, Doctors, Attendants, Coolies and Cooks for District Hospitals.--This staff is necessary in consequence of the decision, based on a resolution of the Sani- tary Board, to establish 8 district plague hospitals, to give patients a better chance of recovery by treating them close to their own homes and near their friends. (See Gov-