کر پیر
April 25, 1805. |
opened as against 2 and 18 closed would seem to show that notwithstanding the large exodus during the plague there was, taking the year as a whole, an increased demand for food; but on the other hand there was a decrease in rice dealers, the number of shops. opened under this designation being 25 and the number closed 31. Other decreases wore as follows:-Chandlers, opened 60, closed 77; carpenters, opened 40, closed 45; silversmiths, opened 16, closed 21; tailors, opened 32, closed 44. The total decreases are, however, largely outnumbered by the increases, and the colony may cou- gratulate itself that it was able to stand a blow like the plague with so little check to the growth of its trade.
THE CANION STEAMERS AGREE. MENTS.
After many years of opposition on the Canton River, the Hongkong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company and the China Navigation Company-which have long worked in conjunction-have come to an arrangement with the Chinese owned steamers running on the great waterway of Kwangtung. The agreement, which was signed yesterday, provides for a uniform tariff of passage rates and freight charges, and these are not to be materially increased from the low scale heretofore in force as the result of the competition. Of course there will be some increase, because the rates charged of late years have been insufficient to ensure a fair dividend and provide for the proper working, depreciation, &c., of
the fine steamers hitherto employed
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. | A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 17th April. Present :--- ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. A. G. WISE, Acting Attorney-General. Hɔn. A. M. THOMSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.
Hon.F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works. Hon. R. M. RUMSEY, Harbour Master. Hoo. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hon. A. MCCONACHIE.
301
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of should be a Medical Officer of Health appointed. Councils.
REPORTS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid upon the table the report of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade for 1894. and the report of the Finance Committee. The reports were adopted. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS moved the adoption of the report of the Public Works Committee, a meeting of which was held on 11th April. This report was a lopted.
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH ORDINANCE.
With
Excellency, in moving the second reading of the
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Your | Bill entitled an Ordinance to confer certain powers and authorities on the Medical Officer of Health, I really have nothing further to add to what I said last week, simply because the Bill is so short, and speaks for itself. There are two small additions, or alterations, which I intend to add a section which is simply about noting the make when we get into Commitise. One is to appointment in the Government Gazette. regard to the Bill itself, it has been determined that a Medical Officer of Health should be ap- pointed, and under Section 1 the Governor has power to appoint him, and he will be a member of the Sanitary Board and perform the duties and have the privileges and rights of an ordinary member. Sections 3 and 4 will give him power thinks best for himself. I have already spoken to'enter premises with or without assistants as he about the section respecting the notice in the Gazette, and under the circumstances. I do not think there is anything further for me to do than to propose the second reading of the Bill.
this
I have
ance in its present form, because the duties to which it refers could be delegated to its Medical Officer by the Sanitary Board. The Board has passed resolutions for the guidance of the Veter- inary Surgeon who is attached to the Board, and also regulations referring to the duties of the various officers who assist the Board in carrying out the sanitary arrangements of the colony. If this Medical Officer is appointed ha could very well be attached to the Board in some way. I think there was a Medical Commission appointed by your Excellency to consider the subject of the medical staff of this colony. i do not know whether that Commission has sent in to the Government its report, but cer tainly it is not before this Council, and I do not know its recommendations, but believe I express the public feeling in saying that there
and that the officer should be attached to the Sanitary Board to assist the Board in carrying out its onerous duties, and he should have no separate power beyond what is conferred upon should be guided by the determination or re- him by the Board, and that in all things be
solution of the Board, so that there will be no friction and no Medical Officer of Health and the Board.
cross purposes between the
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Though the motion of the hon. member has not been seconded, made to his remarks it may be expected that some reply should be. very great care
I have listened with the hon. member in order to try to discover, to the remarks made by if possible, some reason for his motion. listened in vain. I have endeavoured to find in them some good cogent reason for not passing this Bill to-day, but I think the hon. member members to concur in his views. He says that bas not advanced anything that will lead hon.
his motion has not been seconded by any ho expresses the opinion of the public, but bon. member representing the public in by the Steamboat Companies, and which
what the opinion is about it.
Connoil, which shows very clearly. haye ensured both comfort and safety to
Health Officer is an exceedingly needful officer, lo said that a the travelling public. No commercial un-
and everybody agreed that he dertaking 18, or ought to be, started for a
appointed, but he then said that the officer must be philanthropic purpose; it is, and ought to
Board. When I heard him say that a collision would come into collision with the Sanitary be, set on foot for the purpose of profitably employing capital, and the capitalist is
was likely to result, I was very anxions that he entitled to such profits as he can legitimately
be likely to occur, but throughout the whole of should point out in what way that collision would secure. It is to be hoped the companies who have for so long worked the river ser-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY--I beg to second. how that collision could take place, and it would his speech, he did not show in any way whatever vice under adverse conditions will iu future read a second time. There is no doubt that it is pointed under this Ordinance, and who is to Hon. Ho KAI-I move that th's Bill be not be interesting to know how the officer who is ap obtain a fitting reward for their enterprise. necessary to have a Medical Officer of Health in advise the Board, can in any way come into col- The time for coming to an agreement with addition to the Medical Officer for the port.lision with the Board. the small fry who were rendering the carry. The officer for the port has to look after the
It is for the Board' ing trade so unprofitable, if it were ever shipping, and bis time is fully occupied, and it
to røjent or accept his advice on its politic to admit of it, had certainly arrived. is impossible for him to combine the two offices. would only arise from a refusal of the Board own responsibility, and if collision arises it The present war between China and Japan It is evident no doubt to the Government, as to accept the views of the Medical Officer, who will have, as one of its consequences, the well as to the public, that the Medical Officer of is qualified by his training to advise them on the opening up of the upper waters of the Pearl Health should be appointed, but this Bill is in-subjects which it will be his special province to River to foreign trade and navigation This Health, but to give him certain powers which, this officer should advise the Board and have a troduced not to appoint a Medical Officer of deal with. The hon. member quite agreed that will lead to a very considerable expansion of if he exercises them, must bring him into col-seat on the Board, and therefore I cannot see why the river trade, of which the existing com-lision with the Sanitary Board. The Sani- panies will naturally take the lion's share. tary Board is the existing authority in the co-
on earth he should raise any objection to his As the Chairman of the local Steamboat lony for sanitary matters, and the inspec-referred to the report of the Medical Commission being appointed under this Ordinance. He also Company stated at the last half yearly meet-tion of houses and everything appertaining which your Excellency had appointed to enquire ing, the contingency has not been lost sight thereto was placed under the Board and into the working of the Medical Department of of, and no doubt new light draught steamers
solely under the Board Now this Ordinance this colony. That Commission consisted of will be ordered as soon
seems to give that power to another mau, Deputy Inspector-General Knott, of the Royal as any chance of namely, the Medical Officer of Health, and be- Navy, urgeon Col. Preston, of the A.M.S., their being required is known. The agree-sides that it was always thought necessary by the Dr. Cantlie, the hon. member who represents the ment for five years among the river steam-public, and also by the Sanitary Board, that the Chamber of Commerce in this Council (Mr. Me- ship owners, seeing how largely it will Board should have a Medical Officer of Health Conachie), and Mr. Thurburn. The report affect local capital, is 20 matter for attached to it, to advise the Board, and to carry that Committee was not received until yesterday, congratulation, more especially as it may, in out certain anties which the Sanitary Board I may inform the Council that the views the near future, have an important effect on
must delegate to some one, and also to take expressed in that report are similar to those the general prosperity of the Colony. At that they carry out their work in a pro-mittee consider instead of the officer having charge of the inspecting staff and to see contained in this Bill, except that the -con- the same time shippers will be glad to know per manner. Now if this Ordinance be not a seat and a vote he should have only that there is no danger of rates being raised passed, and if the Medical Officer of Health to a point likely to affect profits or restrict were appointed by your Excellency, and ap
soat on the Sanitary Board with a consulta- trade.
five voice. The hon. member differs from the pointed as one of the official members of the Commission, and for reasons which have been care- Board, then I think there would be no doubt fully considered the Government does not think it He would then, being an officer of the about the usefulness of the Medical Officer. advisable to have an officer with professional experi- Government, and taking his position on the ing power to give his vote in favour of his pinions. ence sitting as a mere dummy, without even hav- Board as tary Board, be able to give bis advice and The Government think it is only right and fair an official member of the Sani- I trust the report will be published in due course. have certain duties assigned to him by the Board that the Medical Officer should back his opinions. as a whole, and also, if such power of inspection The hon. member referred in his speech to by his is conferred upon him by the President of the vote public opinion in this colony being in Sanitary Board there will be no use at all for favour of his views. My own impression is that this Ordinance. It is useless to pass this Ordin- that opinion is the other way. If public opinion
It is reported, says the Kobe Chronicle, that Viscount Aoki, who is expected to reach Japan by the Empress of India, will bring with him the ratification by Emperor William of the revised treaty concluded between Japan and Germany. Ile is expected to stay but a short time in Japan, returning to Europe almost im mediately with the Japanese Emperor's ratifica- tion of the treaty, 407
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