185 (179) ·
2002
2016/7
Q. And did you during the eight months that elapsed between the starting of 1 of 1903, and the passing of 23 of 1903,--were you confirmed in your opinion by the result of the working of 1 of 1903, that it was still advisable to transfer that
power?
A.—That impression still remained.
72.-The Chairman.-Assuming that some such system be adopted, a good deal of work which is now done by the Secretary, and the various Inspectors, in the name of the Building Authority, would now be done in the name of the Sanitary Department, and so you would have all the Junior Officers working for the one head, and not for two heads, as they are at present.
A. That is so.
Q.-So it appears to me, that would be another advantage?
A. Yes.
Q. Could you see any objection to some such system?
A.--I think it would be an improvement.
Q-As you know, one of the greatest causes of complaint which have been raised by the Chinese population against the present Ordinance, has been the abolition of cubicles, which we must admit has caused great deal of inconvenience and expense to a large number of people. As you understand the working of the Ordinance now, do you think that in its working it has proved more extreme than was intended by the framers of the Ordinance, or do you think this was the result they intended to arrive at,--the practical abolition of cubicles?
A.-I think this section requires amendment.
Q.-That is the point: Whether in the working, the abolition has been carried far- ther than the Government in that day, intended.
A.-I can't auswer that question.
Q. Do you think with regard to the total abolition of cubicles, the Ordinance is extreme?
A. Yes.
Q. And you think with advantage this section might be modified?
A.-I do.
Q.--Without any detriment to the health of the Colony?
A. I certainly think that section 151 might be modified as well, I think 150, 151, 153, and 154 all require reconsideration.
Q. Are you prepared off hand to give us in brief what you think the amendment might be ?
A.--No. I think the result of the practical working of this section's provisions is that they are too drastic as they are.