i
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1924.
HEALTH OF COLONY.
LEGISLATIVE.COUNCIL DEBATE.
GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS
PROPOSED BOARD OF HYGIENE.
In last night's issue of the members can ask for. Önything China Mall" were published the more as regards the proper inspec speeches of the Hon. Mr. P. Htion and control of food. Holyoak and the Hon Mr. H. W. ¡ I have only dealt with meat.' So Bird (proposer and supporter respectively of a motion in the Legislative Council to improve the Colony's health system) Below will be found the speech of the Mr. C. G. Alabaster, who seconded the resolution together with the replies of
the Hon. Colonial Secretary and H. B. the Governor
to.food.
Flies And Mosquitoes. Coming now to the question of
THE CHINA MAIL.
there and try and Improve condi dans. The same conditions apply in a lesser degree at other Police Stations in the New Territories and this officer will give his attention to-them-also-The-Government so far as mosquitoes are concerned will not neglect any measure to reduce the amount of malaria that exists in certain places.
Regarding the lack of ambul- ances, I don't know exactly what the hon, member means, '
Hon. Mr. Bird: Launch ambul ances.
responsible for the breeding of mosquitoes there. Our object in Raking that this resolution, should be passed is in no Bense that we may harry our Chinese friends in the New Territory with Hon. Colonial Secretary: A regulations. This point was most launch is available for the-removal- thoroughly discussed with the of cases from ships. As regards Chinese members of the Council removal from Kowloon to Hong- who pointed out the difficulty of kong, we have in cases occasionally H.E. The Governor.. carrying out regulations in anused a launch and occasionally a H.E. The Governor: I am afraid agricultural district which are ferry Unfortunately the other that, in common with the Colonial applied to the town and we are day there was a rather urgent case Secretary, I had mistaken the potaking that all the powers that led to a lot of correspondence meaning of this resolution. It was which obtain to Hongkong under in the public Press and editorial extension of the Sanitary Board should be remarks, but if was mostly based understood that the jurisdiction" meant an extension carried out with all the rigour that on entire fabrications, and the dealt "with of its powers, to which I was going we expect them to be applied in to reply that if you mention what the crowded city of Hongkong extension you desire I would conWe are asking for powers that sider it. I now and that the desire could be used with discretion is that the extension should be We have at the present time no geographical. It may be foolish of power of control and for that reason me, but this did not enter into my e ask that the powers of the mind when I read the resolution Sanitary Board and Department and I have not paid any attention should be extended. to that side of the question. If I had I would be inclined to say that it would be better to restrict than extend the present jurisdiction and to have a new Board to deal with 'Kowloon and the New Territories. But this is a matter which I should like to consider. further.
H.E. the Governor, referring to the Hon. Mr. Holyoak's remarks on mosquitoes breeding in nullahs observed that mosquitoes were more addicted to breeding Lo empty sardine tins nullahs.
than in
Hon. Mr. Holyoak said the Unofficial Members foresaw the difficulty of wording it otherwise, and recognised that the official vote would be against it.
❘
matter has been with those by correspondence concerned. It is hardly necessary to have a special ambulanco launch now, because the Kowloon hospital I expected to be opened, next March-I think at least we have given a promise for next March and to embark now on building a special ambulance launch for the few months remaining is hardly necessary considering that we
ferry company to clear a certain
have made arrangement with the
part of the ferry,
Hon. Mr., Bird: That does not deal with the case of ships.
Hon. Colonial Secretary: I don't know. what the arrangements are, but I understand that arrangements exist.
far as regards vegetables and other articles of food which become unfit for human consumption, they come under the Inspection of various officers of the Sanitary Department, but if there is any suggestion that there is lack of of inspection and that deleterious food is being sold, the Government would certainly be prepared to Mr. Alibaster's Speech. The Hon. Mr. Alabaster: Your action an increase in the number of officers whose duty it is to see Excellency, I beg to second the that no deleterious food is exposed resolution. This resolution is directed to extending the area of for sale. I thought I should probably hear from the proposer, operation of the present Health seconder and sponsers of this Department in
this Colony, motion some proposal to make "When the present Department was these sections of the Ordinance formed and constituted as it now more drastic.. As no such proposal
His Excellency, commenting on is, it was designed and intended to is put forward I take it that they
the form of the resolution, "it is be used as 2 weapon against
With regard to the extension of the opinion of the unofficial plague. Its main object was to acknowledge that the sections are
sufficiently strong. When they the jurisdiction of the. Sanitary members of the Council," remark attack and destroy, the plague ratdid speak they spoke of extending Department over the Newed that the other members of the and the plague rat's fica. In that the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Territory, the Colonial Secretary Council could not say it was not. Now, Sir, coming to the motion work-it-was-not-necessary to a Department-to-other places. I has pointed out that the views of
itself, I don't think I have studied outside the congested areas of don't know whether the mover and the Chinesa living In the New
the local papers, their correspon- Hongkong, Old Kowloon and New seconder intended that to apply Territory may not be the same in
dence, articles, sub-aruclos, etc., Kowloon. No doubt it was better
regard to the subject as those of
more closely than I have during the in attacking the plague rodent
the inhabitants of the more ancient
last few weeks on the subject of the and its
confine the flca to
parts of Kowloon. Though I do
proposed Board of Health. I have of operations to a 2rea
not go all the way with him in
read everything that has been stricted district: In that campaign files and mosquitoes, a merciful regard to what he said in regard to
published on the subject and I must the Department has been entirely, Providence has reduced the fly flies I think it is possible that we
say that after reading it all I was successful, but there are other plague in humid atmospheres like
entirely in the dark as to the rea- campaigns which are necessary for ours to places where there is human may do more harm than good by
harrying the villagers with restric the Department to undertake and manure. In other places they do tions which I think might be con-
should be this Board of Health. son for the suggestion that there which require a wider area of not exist or are so few that they sidered excessive interference.
I had hoped to-day that I would it We have
be practically ignored. The villagers have a right to be authority of the Principal Medical believe the hon. member who considered in these matters and the present Sanitary Board and the Unfficial members on the sub- 2(a) That the constitution of receive some enlightenment from Officer to the Garrison that malaria represents the Justice of Peace is do not think we would be justified Department be enlarged in order ject but I have not. I gather that is increasing amongst the troops. rather an authority on flies. Where We hear constant complaints, alles are a nuisance they can be in imposing rules and regulations that they may function as a Board they met together, probably they
on them without especially from Peak residents, dealt with under Section 25 and them first. I would propose to such new Board and Department words of Lord Palmerston they consulting and Department of Public Health,looked at each other and to use the that mosquitors are getting worse. subsection 13 of the. Public Health ask the Chinese members of the to have complete analytical and concluded" It does not matter what We know that these mosquitoes and Building Ordinance although Council to confer with me and bacteriological control of the water we say as long as we say the same carry most diseases which appear they are not specially mentioned, others as to what extent the rules supply of the Colony together with thing." They put two pieces of We have the If any place is found to be the now in existence in the Sanitary all the powers of the present paper into the hat, who's fort" anopheles which breed malaria breeding place of fies cause of district, of Hongkong and Kowloon and we have others which in other the accumulation of manure of
may be applied to the ways carry yellow fever a disease some sort, offal, or such matter as Territories.
(b) That the Head of the out "For I have been here, now Board and Department shall be for a considerable time, and the which, up to the present, we have lends itself to the breeding of flies been spared. We also know that the in abnormal numbers, the Board tbiak hon. members need not pay, qualifications in Public Health, me
With regard to mosquitoes. one with the necessary special Department has always struck as being a very efficient mosquito can travel six or seven would treat that as a ..common
too much attention to what is in after the Hon. Mr. H. W. Bird and department which performs its miles from its breeding place nuisance and of course the
the newspapers as to the work the Hon. Mr. Montague Ede had duties expeditiously and efficiently. and therefore in order that a proper Board has very definite that has been done in malarial spoken in support, the Hon. when a very bad epidemic of To take one point for instance, campaign be undertaken against powers in the matter and no countries. In places where I have Colonial Secretary replied as mosquitoes it is desirable that person who allows such a nuisance noticed that successes in this follows: the area of operation should be to exist in his premises would be connection are not infrequently extended. It is also necessary that allowed to escape.
But the pro-followed after an
interval by
operations.
in the blood.
16-
on can
even
New
H.E. The Governor: I take it that the Council agrees that it is the opinion of the Unofficial Members of the Council.
The resolution was passed. Hon. Mr. Holyoak's resolution, With regard to the second part of which read:
Sanitary Board and Department. and "who's.againar?" and it came
poser and seconder say that these relapses of which we see nothing powers should be extended beyond in the newspapers. I could quote the present limits of the Board. instances from my own experience, Certainly if we examined various but I will not take up the time of villages in the New Territories we the council. should probably find places which, A further point made by the
within the boundaries of hon. member who represents the There has been no quarantine seemed to have got everything
Justices of the Peace was that it is all very well to make regulations, but it is not altogether satisfactory unless there are inspectors to see that they are complied with.
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DRUG SMUGGLERS.
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plague broke out at the time when Dr. Frank Clarke was the Medical Colonial Secretary's Reply. Officer of Health, I went round campaign against flies should
think before I reply to the motion crowded parts of the City and e undertaken. The fact that this
I would like to refer to matters when I saw what action was being The Colonial Secretary: Sir, I with him on my first visit to Council realises that the Depart ment was restricted was shown by
raised by the seconder which do taken it struck me that the the fact that last year you passed
not arise out of the motion and it Department was acting with the the New Territories Amendment
may be convenient to do so now. most extraordinary efficiency. He Ordinance which gives power to the Governor in Council to make the territory administered by the
station here for 80 years, and I organised. It was a very bad taken in hand. The community regulations in regard to
any Board, would certainly be con
suppose we are very fortunate in epidemic. I think there were over came to the recue and under on which the Sanitary sidered places which tolerated a
having got along without one. 2,000 cases. On that occasion Dr. the guildance of the Department have power to make nuisance and they would be dealt
suitable station for some time and under contro! by the month of they We have been looking out for a Clark said he hoped to have it well of
officials by-laws under the Public Health with, but I think the inhabitants of
the Sanitary Department Im these places would be extremely
organised a: and Buildings Ordinance.
most I scarcely agree with him. The it is quite possible that we shall May. We were then in March and efficient. campaign... provement in public health is not annoyed if a body of officials bearing of the observation is in the have a very fine quarantine station, his prediction was fulfilled. There reports went Home HM. Govern
When the effected so much by rules as by invaded their village and pro application therept. It is not very We have not experienced great as beco another epidemic since ment expressed their very high inspection, education and supervi- ceeded to order them to remove much good to ask the Government need of one. Some people from then, which was dealt with in the appreciation of the work that had drug smugglers are being closely London, July 17.-International sion. No rules that flies should not heaps of manure and interfere to provide inspectors unless the another port a few years ago were same efficient manner. We have been done on both these occasions. be admitted into the market places with what I might call their in public play their part. If people so careless as to contract cholera. hardly any cases of plague this of the New Territories will ever tensive methods of cultivation, and instead of writing anonymous
Now we come to consider various watched by Scotland Yard experts. Those who contracted cholera year at all. The Colony is now activities of the Department. The
The labels on the heroin seized keep Ales.out. We require inspec-I think before these extended letters to newspapers would take were put on to one lighter and the practically free from plague and slaughterhouses are controlled by on Tuesday on board the Italian tion and education and adoption operations are demanded the of special methods to keep flies people concerned should be con-premises and see that there are light. I think there were one or the Sanitary Board and its officials an Assistant Veterinary Surgeon the name of T. and H. Smith, Ltd, the trouble to go round their remainder were put on to another in regard to that scourge I may say the Department and we have got liner Duilio" in New York, bearing away, and in this connecifol it sulted.. Mosquitoes can be no empty bottles and sardire two deaths on that occasion. That are extraordinarily efficient. would do a
to help the Veterinary Surgeon in great deal of good dealt with in two ways. If they tins lying about with pools of was the only time when there waa Forthese reasons I beg to support exist in private premises there are
Then we had an outbreak of the inspection of slaughter houses, London, have been proved to have the first resolution.
regulations laid down the book stagnant water in them there would any real necessity for quarantine. cerebrospinal meningitis which which are extremely well-run. been forged, has rather dusty covers-for deal This the public must do itself fortunate but I think it is quite expeditiously. The Sanitary Board them, building even more efficient us," said a director of the firm be far less cause for complaint. So far we have been extremely was also, also dealt with most We hope before very long to move Colonial Secretary's Reply.
"The drugs did not come from The Hon. Colonial Secretarying with them. There are certain and not leave everything to the likely that we shall get a on that occasion urged that an slaughter-houses under the proper Your Excellency, I was not aware bye-laws there which can deal Government. 1 sympathise with quarantine station.
expert should be got over from control of the Board. The markets yesterday, "but this is not the first exactly what form the speeches of to exist on their premises which the motives of the mover and ber's statement that there is no of the Rockefeller Institution he any defects are brought to "the The drugs seized in New York when I read the first resolution (with persons who allow conditions
With regard to the hon, mem- New York, and by the kindness are very well looked after and if time our labels have been forged. the han, members who proposed lead to the breeding of mosquitoes, application of the wording of this Government Disinfecting Station, came in about a month, and since notice of the Government we will cannot have come from England, and seconded the resolution were On Crown Lands the nuisance is resolution is a matter on which I would ask has he ever been to the that time our bacteriological in- be only too glad to rectify them. for the Home Ofice exercises a going to take. The actual wording dealt with by the training and am unable to agree with them. Government Disinfecting Station stitute has continued to act on the Then there are the cemeteries very stringent authority regarding of the resolution is that it is the draining of nullahs which is ex
Hon Mr. Holyoak: I do not Hon. Mr Bird: I have been to recommedations made by Captain which are also extremely well the export of this class of drug.” opinion of the Unofficial Members tensively carried out by the Public think a finer argument could a disinfecting station, which la a Olitsky and we have had no farther managed by the Board.
A Scotland Yard official said of the Legislative Council that the Works Department on the advice possibly be adduced for what the bulk.
outbreak of that disease. We have (Continued on page 11.)". Board. The unofficial members have advocated jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board of the Sanitary
yesterday that they were co- Hon: Colonial Secretary: I mean sporadic cases occasionally ex-Government is quite willing to than the reply of the Hon. Colonial the Government Disinfecting Stat
operating with and Department should be
the police of Take the two outbreaks of small- Good For the Whole Family
France, Switzerland, Italy, the -tended, firstly, in order that food extend
may be properly inspected End .connection 96 much as is desired Secretary that he could see no! ion below Caine Road. Mr. Lyon pox to which reference was made Cough Homedy for croupy coughs, colds, stop the supply of these drugs, Mathers always give Uhmberlain's United States, and Germany to reason why the conditions which is in charge,
by the mover of the resolution.” In were admittedly unhygienic should H. E. The Governor: I think these cases nothing could be more influenza cought. It is good for the little in England that it is practically difficult breathing, bronobial and and so complete is the net drawn not be continued.
the han, member is referring to complimentary to the efficiency of ones and grown ups too. And every one() apparatus for the disinfection of the Board than the way they were knows it contains no narcotics. Bold possible for any smuggler to
everywhere.
break through. ships
The Hon. Mr. Bird: I mean the actual disinfection of ships.
The Hon. Colonfal Secretary:
the work
at
of
in that
seconder of the resolution but the
manner
of the
controlled, aud secondly, in order and I do not see how any that a campaign against flies and enlargement or extension of the mosquitoes may be properly or jurisdiction of the Sanitary ganised and efficiently conducted Board can help. The Government These were not perhaps his As regards the first part of the is at present clearing a large area exact words but they represent resolution if I had not heard. what at Mount Kellett. It is also the meaning of what he said. the speakers had såld I should working on certain areas in the regret, Sir, that the resolution have answered to the first part of island of Hongkong, not in the appears to be worded in the resolution that the food was hill district but our most difficult which has been open to some mis We have a disinfection station but properly inspected and controlled problem
present
the conception. We asked that the we are not satisfied with our pre- In in the Colony, at this moment. I jurisdiction
jurisdiction of the Board and Desent one. Mr. Duncan has the the Sanitary -will-deal-with-that-point-for-the-Department-is Kowloon penfasula,partment should be extended in matter in hand of selecting a site moment. The answer to the first Hills have been cut down and order that food may be properly for one and we hope to get a part of the resolution is that the large swamps are being filled to controlled and inspected, and that much better one.
With regard to the Hospitals for veterinary surgeon and qualified and it is obvious that with the campaign against dies and mor inspectors pass all beef, mutton heavy rainfall we have had this quiloes might be properly organfs Infectious Diseases the subject is and pork from the slaughter-year pools of stagnant water aru ed and conducted, and there was under consideration houses us fit for, human consump-created which cannot be got rid of never any idea of impeaching the Principal: Civil -Medical Oficer; tion. They take a great deal of at once and these pools obviously food control of Hongkong. It was who arrived recently, and the trouble over that. So far as food breed mosquitoes. Every effort is to point out to this Council that the Director of Publice Warks. I passed from the Government made to deal with these pools and Powers of the Sanitary Board and cannot tell you how much the slaughter-housea is concerned it the thing will right itself as soon Department do not provide for Government segrets that the is perfectly it for human con as, the work is completed. The proper control beyond New Kow building of the Infectious Diseus Asumption and that meat can Government is anxious to da loon and certain parts of Yaumati Hospitals-there are two of them only be sold in the market places everything in its power to des! and it is because of this anomaly le not at present under way, I set up for the purpose, and a few with these areas that we ask for this extension is obviously necessary where the other places licenced for the As regards the New Territories 1 of its jurisdiction. I have care Principgt Civil Medical Officer questions that purpose. I am not at all sure that am sorry to say, that the reports lency has said about keeping they should be discussed. I hope
fully listened to all your Excel raised certain the hon. members are familiar with have are bad as regards the increase sections 62 and 86 of the Public of malaria, Af Shotaukok it, h
taz_put_the_proposal befűre- the †dówa mosquitoes, but above and- Health and Buildings Ordinance. very bad at presect. A new road beyond that, and always bebing pance Committee before Jone They are very drastic as regards in being made in place or the old the Government's responsibility for the allocation of the ecessary the examination and passing of railway and no doubt the cutting for training nullahs and gagnant funds, but I am not able to say food, and the dealing in any food down of the bands has created pools which breeds them le no when. The present Infoerious not fit for human consumption. It pools where mosquitoes have been that in this matter parts of the its work fairly well, It has been control winstevar, and I mamit Diseases Hospital has performed is hardly possible to strengthen breeding, and as a result the police these sections which are based.. have sofered a great deal from New Territory should be brought open for only six months of the belleve, on the English law, and if malaria. We have obtained the under the jurisdiction of the Sani year, and if cases occur in tho those who have the administra. help of a military officer who has tary Board for that purpose other six months of the year tion of them administer them made a special study of mosquitoes could point out several aulinia have to send a special attendant eproperly, "I cannot believe, hun, and malaria and he is to me out which are malarious on the Peak and nurses down to take their
the present moment and directly residence there."
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