302
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 25, 1895.
is such as was expressed by the hon. member. Board, but under the directions of the Govern-matter was given further consideration, as by how is it that his motion has not been seconded ment. The by-laws had been carefully copied resigning they would be playing into the hands by any of the hon. unofficial members in this from the instructions of the Local Government of their enemies, who wished to get rid of Council representing the large interests in Board in England, but with the omission of them. He thought the passing of the Or Hongkong? I do not think it is necessary for everything that was necessary to give him a linance was a mistake, and that the Medical me to enter into further details on the subject. proper status in connection with this Board. Officer should have been attached to the Board The hon, member has not advanced any reasons He was required to act directly under the au-in a similar way to any other officer.
He pro whatever to show why the ill should not be thority of the Governor, and he would act abso-posed the following resolution :- "That a letter passed or to show how this officer as appointed lately independently of this Board on which he had be addressed to the Colonial Secretary asking will do anything but promote the sanitary wel- a seat, The officer was in the position of—he | that His Excellency the Governor be pleased to fare of this colony, which is of supreme im- did not mean any offence to Dr. Wescott-but be make an order directing that the Medical Officer portance to all the residents of Hongkong. was in the position of a spy. It had been alleged of Health shall not only advise the Board but Hon. A. MCCONACHIE-I do not think that it is that the Sanitary Board was not capable of per-assist the Board in the carrying out of its various at all urgent that this Bill should be passed to-day, forming its duties, and that the sooner it was executive duties and at all times place his services I merely suggest that delay may be granted until got rid of the better. But the Sanitary Board at the disposal of the Board, so that by resolu. after the members have had an opportunity of had not shown itself incapable of doing its work tion the Board can delegate to him part or any seeing the report issued by the Medical Com-efficiently and thoroughly. The Permanent of its powers, duties, or functions; and, further, mission.
Committee had performed all the duties imposed that the Government be requested to place the The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I have already upon it during the trying crisis last year, and Medical Officer of Health in the same position as explained to the Council that the Medical Com the by-laws were enforced promptly, efficiently, far as practicable in relation to this Board as a mission differs only as to what status should be courageously, and without regard to any con- Health Officer is to the Sanitary Authority of assigned to the Medical Officer as a Member of sequences whatever so long as the interests of his District at home." the Sanitary Board instead of a vote they con- the colouy were concerned. He for one would The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS seconded sider he should have only a consultative voice. I refuse to serve on the Sanitary Board under the resolution. He was considerably surprised am unable to see what good purpose would be existing circumstances. By acting under the to hear the remarks which had been made, and served in delaying this matter. It is important orders of the Government Dr. Westcott would it appeared to him that members had assembled that there should be as little delay as possible. only be an impediment to the Board and not an for the purpose of causing the collision which Delays have already occurred, and although a assistance. There had been several conflicts they all prophesied the Government would create medical officer has been kindly placed at the between the Government and the Board, and the for itself. He was at a loss to conceive why disposal of the Government by the Military Government had on many occasion refused to objection should be made to the Health Authorities more than a month ago, the Govern- assist the Board or act upon suggestions which Officer receiving his instructions from the ment, in consequence of difficulties as to his had been made. The Government had not on a Governor, as there was nothing in the Ordin status, has not availed itself of his services. A single occasion consulted the Board in reference ance to permit of anyone giving instructions farther delay is to be deprecated. The Govern. to the plague, although the Government had contrary to the wishes of the Board. That idea ment is much indebted to the Medical Com-consulted everybody else. Under the present ||was, in plain language, simply moonshine, and mission for its valuable report, which will receive conditious the unofficial members and the Per-there existed no justification whatever for such the care and attention it so fully deserves. manent Committee would not move one hand | prophetic utterances.
Hon. A. MCCONACHIE-I would like to read towards getting work done during the plague. The resolution was carried. the exact words.
He resigned his appointment as a member of the Permanent Committee, aud also as a member of the Sanitary Board, and he should notify to his electors-the ratepayers of Hongkong—the fact that he could not, under existing circumstances, any longer usefully act as a member of the Sani-
HIS EXCELLENCY-From the report of the Commission ?
Hon. A. MCCONACHIE-Yes.
The hon. member then read the following quotation, “That the medical officer should be adriser to the Government on all sanitary mat-tary Board. (Applause). ters through the Sanitary Board to which he should be attached, and on which he should oc- | cupy a seat. He should have no vote, his duties on the Board being purely of an advisory nature, it being undesirable that he should enter into dis- cussion on points on which he should be called upon to advise, bis duties to be of a similar nature to those laid down by the Bradford Cor- poration and the City of London.”
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I think that re- presents what I said on the subject. If there was anything I omitted it was unintentionally done.
The Council then went into Committer, and after two small amendments, and an additional minor clause being added, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
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THE SANITARY BOARD AND THE PLAGUE.
THE DISEASE EPIDEMIC AT MACAO,
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT.
At the special meeting of the Sanitary Board on Monday, Mr. Francis called the attention of the members to the plague at Macao.
Dr: HARTIGAN heartily concurred with Mr. Francis's remarks, and hoped that the Govern- ment, who he could not think had considered the matter very fully, would now see the matter Mr. FRANCIS said Mr. President, the first in its true light, unmindful of individual pre- thing I desire to draw your attention to is a judice, or ingrained or almost natural official letter which I received at 2:30 to-day from the dislike to anything however humble in the form Colonial Secretary, in which he says" Sir, I am of popnlar representation. The Legislature bad directed to transmit for the information of the deliberately chosen, without publicly giving any Permanent Committee the enclosed reports (in reason whatever, to give the Health Officer such original, to be returned) relative to the a status as must necessarily entail either a dual epidemic of plague at Macao. I have the control in sanitary matters, or enable the Go- honour to be. &c., J. H. Stewart Lock- vernment, through an officer responsible to itself hart, Colonial Secretary." Enclosed were the alone, to direct or hamper the action of the following letters addressed to the Colonial Board; in short to subordinate the Board to an Secretary.-"Sir, I have the honour to forward officer whose instructions may emanate from the for the information of his Excellency the Gov. prolific brain of an Acting Assistant Deputy ernor the enclosed report from Inspector Quincey Colonial Secretary. (Laughter). No Board having regarding the plague in Macao. The statement The Council then adjourned until Wednesday the slightest self-respect could acquiesce in such that there has been a large influx of prostitutes an arrangement; no men would throw away from Macao is confirmed from other sources.—I their time in attending such a farcical perform- have &c., F. H. May." Inspector Quincey's as follows:-" 22nd April. Sir. THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH ance as the Board's meetings would be. They report was
would only be equalled by the Legislative Coun-I have the honour to report that I have ORDINANCE.
cil solemnly debating whether they should vote received news that the plague in a certain sum of money to the home Govern is worse.
I am told that the day before ment when the cash was already placed to the yesterday over thirty persons died in Crown Agents' credit in London. (Laughter). brothel in Fuk Sung San Kai. Seven girls Some people declared that the members of the out of nine died in one day. Many prostitutes Board were making a fuss over a trifle. The have left Macao and come to Hongkong, and are Colonial Secretary called it a trifle; he (Dr. located in the boarding houses on the Praya.-I Hartigan) called it a principle. The Government have the honour to be, &c., W. Quincey." could not hunt with the hare and run with the hounds. If they want one man power let them try it honestly, though it may seem like going back in a small way from 19th century ideas to the good old times of George III. and Lord North.
Meek.
RESIGNATION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS
OF THE SANITARY BOARD,
A special meeting of the Sanitary Board, called at the requisition of members, was held on Monday afternoon, Mr. F. H. May presiding. There were also present Hon. F. A. Cooper, Director of Public Works, Dr. Hartigan, Mr. JJ. Francis, Q.C. Mr. R. K. Leigh. Hon. Ho Kai, and Mr. W. E. Crow, Acting Secretary.
Macão
one
Mr. FRANCIS continuicg, said-The letter of the Colonial Secretary was addressed to me as Chairman of the Permanent Committee, and I Mr. FRANCIS, in a long speech, said he desired
think it my duty under the circumstances to to draw the attention of the Board to the ap-
move the Board to apply to the Government, pointment, gazetted in Saturday's Gazette, of a
under the provisions of section 31 of the Health Medical Officer of Health, and to the communi- Mr. LEIGH said he must certainly resign his Ordinance, to issue a proclamation, as the colony cation received by the Board from the Govern- seat, first as a member of the Permanent Com is threatened with the advent of an epidemic or ment defining the duties and position to be mittee, and secondly as a member of the Board. an endemic of contagious disease and by the oconpied by the Medical Officer. The Govern. He could not any longer consent to act upon issue of such a proclamation to put into force ment had stated that the new officer, Surgeon the Board unless the whole system were sections 32, 37, and 38 of the Public Health Major Westcott, would act under the Govern- changed. He had been a member of the Ordinance, which enables this Board to legislate ment and not under the Board, As a matter of Board only a year, but his position on the Per- for and to deal effectively by its own officers fact under the Public Health Act the Medical manent Committee had involved a considerable with any epidemic that might arise. The Officer of Health in England was an officer of amount of work. If, however, the Board was re-issue of such a proclamation now will involve the Sanitary Authority in every urban and stricted in any way, he could not act upon it rural district, no matter how small, no matter any longer. It was quite clear that the Govern- how unimportant, and no matter what people constituted the Sanitary Board. In Hongkong they had three fully qualified medical men on the Board, and yet this Medical Officer of Health is placed as a member of the Board, to advise the Board, but not to act under the direction of the
ment had intended to do without them. All right; let them do so. Let it go on with its own one handed authority, and the landlords of this colony would live to rue the day.
Dr. Ho KAI hoped the three gentlemen would reconsider their decision of resigning until the
no risk or danger to the colony. To wait until the epidemic has arrived in the colony, or until there are one or two cases in the
colony, will be a very serious disadvantage, be- cause a proclamation issued after the disease came here would become known at all the ports, and immediate action would be taken to quarantine this place, and to impose very serious restrictions