..
Page
208
because any one was entitled to registration on application, and the interest of the Registrar-General's department was con fined to making the book entries and issuing the registration certificate.
SANITARY BY-LAWS.
March 20, 1895.
and 7 refer to the prevention of overcrowding and regulate the character of the partitions that are to be allowed. The next few sec- tious refer to inspection, and here the Board has shown a desire to avoid causing annoy- ance by any unreasonable entry of houses by its officers. When it is desired to ascertain the number of persons housed in any parti cular premises for the purpose of passing the night the inspection must be made be- fore midnight, and in no case are houses to be entered for inspection between midnight and 5 a.m. without the written permission of the Secretary countersigned by the Pre- sident of the Board. No Sanitary officers other than the Secretary or Superintendent shall without written authority enter any building if the occupant thereof objects to his doing so; and ordinary inspections for the purpose of ascertaining the sanitary condition of a house are to be made between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., three hours notice in writing being given where objection has been raised to the entry of the officer. Other sections regulate the removal of refuse. Then we come to a series of sections dealing with the occupation of basements, which we reproduce in full:-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
any assistance the police might derive would between the ground floor and the ground be worth the trouble and expense that would surface from carrying out the require- be entailed. If it be the case, as Mr. MAY ments of this by-law. No. 2 requires suggests, that a boy who has robbed his impermeable floors for all kitchens, latrines, master can find employment probably next back-vards, court-yards, or other spaces The police might display more energy in door it does not say much for the efficiency on which slops may be thrown, and No. 3 the matter than the Registrar-General's of the detective department of the police. provides that back-yards, etc., shall bave a department did, but what could they do? It might be more advisable to give attention fall of in. to 1 foot towards the drainage If servants had to apply for registra-to the improvement of the latter than to in-channel. Nos. 4 and 5 forbid obstructions tion, or for a licence, the police would no troduce a cumbersome system of licensing in narrow streets and back-yards. Nos. 6 doubt become better acquainted with their servants. identity, and that might prove useful in in- vestigating cases of dishonesty. The common every day complaint of employers, however, is not that servants are dishonest, but that they are insolent, disobedient, and unruly, And in reference to these matters the police would be comparatively powerless. In cases of squabbles between master and servant it occasionally happens that there are faults on both sides. Some employers are given to ebullitions of temper that provoke insolence on the part of a servant, while others make unreasonable demands or impose unreason. able restrictions. Let it be supposed that the licensing system is in force and that an employer lodges a complaint against his servant for] insolence. The mere lodging of the complaint would not be sufficient to justify the cancellation or endorsement of the servant's licence with the consequent endangerment or deprivation of his means of livelihood. There would therefore have to be something in the nature of a judicial inquiry, conducted by a re- sponsible officer, and insolence being at the best a difficult thing to prove the chances are that the charge would break down, for the accased would always have to receive the benefit of the doubt. "But apart from the uncertainty as to the issue, how many em- ployers would take the trouble, for a case of insolence or any other small fault committed by his servant, to go to the Police Station and waste an hour or two over the matter? The majority would do as they do now, either cut the offender's wages (an illegal though sometimes effective way of dealing with such matters) or dismiss him. Dis. obedience of orders is, under the law as it at
The by-laws made by the Sanitary Board under section 13 of the Insanitary Dwellings Ordinance will be submitted for the approval of the Legislative Council at its meeting on Wednesday. These by-laws were finally passed by the Board on the 4th inst. and were to have come before the Legislative Council on the 12th, but the Hon. J. J KESWICK requested that they might be deferred, on the ground that members of Council had not had sufficient time to consider them and that he was satisfied there were several clauses which it would be necessary to alter. His Excellency thereupon fixed the 20th inst. as the date for the next meeting of Council, the Government being of opinion it was highly important the by-laws should be adopted and passed with as little delay as possible, as they involve matters of great importance to the health
of the colony. If however, there are any amendments to be proposed in the Legislative Council affecting any material principle of the by- laws it is to be hoped that due deliberation will be observed before adopting them, for much care and attention have been devoted to the subject by the Sanitary Board, whose members probably have a closer acquaintance with it in all its details than the members of Council. Strictly construed the Ordinance appears to give the Council no power of amendment, but only a power of veto. The provision is that by laws made by the Sanitary Board "shall not take effect until approved by the Legislative Council." In case, therefore, present stands, a punishable offence, and it of the Council disagreeing with the Board is to be regretted that employers do not to any particular by-law the formal more frequently bring disobedient servants procedure would be simply to negative before the magistrate. But if employers will the motion for its approval; but as not avail themselves of the law as it at pre-matter of common sense and to facilitate sent stands would they be any more ready to business the reasons for the disapproval should be stated in order that the Board avail themselves of a new law?
The mere licensing or registration of night if it thought fit make such amend а servant would not be sufficient to ments as would meet the Council's views, effect his regeneration, and if it is It would be a good thing, we think, if by proposed to go further and establish laws sent up by the Sanitary Board for some machinery for adjudicating in petty disputes between master and servant we think it is doubtful policy for the Govern. ment to undertake anything of the kind. Not only is it outside the proper sphere of governmental activity, but we can conceive of circumstances for instance, if the ad. ministration of the law should fall into the hands of an official of strong pro-Chinese proclivities-under which employers would be placed even more at the mercy of their servants than they are at present. There
We are unaware of the points upon which are some things which it is better for the Government to leave alone, and interference the Hon. J. J. KESWICK takes exception to between master and servant, except in cases the by-laws now awaiting approval, but of breach of contract or the commission of presumably it is only on a few matters of some offence cognizable by the law, is one of detail, for on the whole the by-laws appear them. If, however, there is good reason to to have been framed with care and to believe that the licensing of servants would accomplish what is required. Clause 1 assist the police in investigating the numerous provides that the entire ground surface cases of larceny that occur, by all means let of all domestic buildings shall be covered them be licensed, but let it also be clearly with at least six inches of good lime or understood what the object is, and that it is cement concrete, finished off smooth to not intended to introduce any system of the satisfaction of the Sanitary Board; grandmotherly control into our household provided always that the Board may in its relationships. And looking at the matter discretion exempt the owners of existing from that point of view it is doubtful whether houses the floors of which have a spac
as
the Legislative Council's approval were, before the latter body takes up their con- sideration, published in the Gazette for general information, so that any parties affected might if they wished make re- presentations with regard to them, for some of the Sanitary Board's by-laws, as, for instance, those now pending, are more im- portant than many of the Bills which en- gage the Council's attention and which the standing orders require to be duly published before being passed into law.
16-It shall be lawful to occupy any oellar, vault, underground room, or basement, any side of which abuts on or against the earth or soil to the full extent of such side or sides for the purpose of a kitchen or outhouse (not intended for human habitation) or for the storage of goods only..
16-It shall be lawful to occupy any cellar, vault, anderground room, basement or room any side of which abuts on or against the earth or soil as a shop provided it fronts on a street of a clear width of not less than 8 fost, but such shop shall not be used as a domestic dwelling except by a caretaker or such num-
ber of persons as the Sanitary Board may authorise in writing.
In every case where accommodation is provided
for persons to spend the night in such shop, such ac commodation shall be provided by the erection of a mezzanine floor, which shall have a clear space of at least four feet between it and each side or sides of the cellár, vault, underground room, or basement as abut against the earth or soil.
17-It shall be lawful to occupy as a domestic build. ing any cellar, vault, underground room, basement, or room any side of which abuts on or against the earth or soil, provided the ground against which such cellar, vault, underground room, or basement abuts is not more than 4 feet above the floor level, and pro- such cellar, vault, underground room, or basement the ground is at least 4 feet from the external wall of such cellar, vault, underground room, or basement. The succeeding sections refer to the removal of persons suffering from contagious dis- eases, or the bodies of persons who have died from such diseases, the cleansing and disinfection of the premises, bedding, cloth- ing, furniture, etc.
vided also that for the remainder of the height of
Section 25 reads as follows:-
"
!
in
If in the opinion, duly certified in writing, of a duly
qua ified medical practitioner, any building, bedding, authorised officer of the Sanitary lloard, or of a legally clothing, furniture, or other article cannot be effec- tively disinfected or ought for any sanitary reason to be destroyed, it shall be destroyed in such magner and in such place and with such precautions as the said Board may from time to time direct. The inclusion of the word "building the above section appears to be a mistake, for section 27 provides that premises which cannot be thoroughly disinfected, cleansed, or made safe shall be vacated and shall not again be occupied without a special order from the Board; so that by this section destruction of buildings is not contemplated. And by section 33, also, it is provided that houses unfit for hunan habitation even although cleansed and disinfected may be closed, but no mention is made of their de struction. But according to section 25 any