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Mr. Humphreys.-You said that it would be a good thing for all tenement houses to be limewashed twice a year. On what ground, do you say it would be a good thing-that it would be better to do it twice a year? Do you suppose for one moment that it is any good as regard plague ?
A. All experts have said so. I have not analysed.
Q.-I think experts' opinions differ a good deal.
A.-All technical books say limewash is a good thing.
Q.-For plague ?
A.- Not as against plague, but as a sanitary covering to a wall.
Q. How do you account for 15 per cent. of germs? If it is good stuff, that ought not to be.
A. Yes.
The Chairman.-You have been in business a good many years in Hongkong, Mr. Lemm. Do you think there is any advantage in putting house owners to the expense of limewashing twice a year, beyond the fact that by compelling him to limewash twice a year everything is cleaned out? I think we admit that is an advantage.
A. If done properly, I would say that once a year would be quite sufficient.
Q.-My question is whether setting aside the advantage which accrues from having everything cleared out of the house, everything moved, and all the corners swept and garnished, beyond that there is any advantage from a public health point of view, by putting it on twice instead of once?
A.—No, I don't think so.
Q. Is there any further advantage do you think, speaking from a professional point of view, if not from a medical or bacteriological point of view?
A.-I think once a year is quite sufficient. I met a man in Bridges Street, mixing sewer water with lime to form a limewash. Under that sort of thing, even the best line
would be a breeding place for germs.
Q.-The lime used would not kill any germs which might be in the water?
A.-I would say it would neutralise all the effects of the lime.
Q. Would be more powerful than the lime?
A. Yes.
Mr. Shelton Hooper.-What is the procedure, when you are instructed to put up a building with regard to getting the sunction of the Building Authority and Sanitary Board ? You have got to send in plans to whom?
A.—To the Public Works Department-the Building Authority.
Q. You have also to send plans?
A.-Drainage plans for new blocks of buildings to the Sanitary Board.
Q.-And taking a fair average, about what length of time elapses from the time you send in that plan, until you get your permit to build ?