Page
3
=
April 8, 1899.]
dwellings which, in their present condition, are unfit for human habitation. The back portions of a number of the houses visited by us are dark, ill-ventilated, extremely dirty, and in some cases mere dens of filth. The interior of the cubicles or sub-divisions of the living rooms was such that in the great majority of cases their contents could be seen only by the aid of an artificial light. We wish to call particular attention to the tabulated statement of the Medical Officer of Health (Appendix No. 12) in which he states that in the Health Districts Nos. 5 and 6, out of a total of 3,095
Chinese houses only 565 can be said to be in
a fairly good sanitary condition. He further states that the balance 2,530 are insanitary and have been classed into A., B., C., D., aud their various defects are shown therein. In the other health districts of the Colony, it ap pears from his evidence that a similar unsatis- factory state of affairs exists. The Medical Officer of Health in his annual report for 1896 shows that 3,095 houses in the said districts represent 8,700 separate dwellings and embrace a population of about seventy-two thousand inhabitants,"
And the utmost importance should be at. tached thereto as the report up to and including para. 16 was a unanimous report, nud as there is perhaps no one who has had a more extensive or has a more thorough knowledge of house
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
the Municipal Bill
I considered it my duty to support with all my power the Bill which I consider so essential and so desirable from every point of view. Essential because in all large cities it is of the first importance that the controlling Municipal authority should be strong and representative, energetic and progressive. Desirable because, with the present prospect of that most dangerous disease plague invading our city, wa must be prepared, in auticipation, and by adopting the most necessary sanitary precautions we should at least endeavour to free this great city. the capital of India, from the accusation of being disgracefully backward in the principles of sanitation.
A most important ques- tion which must engage the attention of all be- fore long will be the improvement of Calcutta
Bombay is ahead of as in this respect; an improvement Trust has been formed in that city and the members are already at work.
+
We may look upon plague as likely to stay in the country for some years, perhaps it may become an endemic disease in India, in which case it is the more necessary that the ports of India should be made as complete as practicable in point of sanitation so that there would be the least possible danger of a obeck to the com. merce of the country."
THE IMPERIAL CHINESE CUSTOMS. He said: The continuance of the Imperia Chinese Customs office and establishment in and about Hongkong is extremely undesirable, and the very unsatisfactory position of matters obtaining should now be remedied. Paragraph of section 3 of the Chefoo Couvention of 1876
reads:-
The Governor of Hongkong having long complained of the interference of the Cautou Customs revenue cruisers with the junk trade of that Colony, the Chinese Goverumout agrees to the appointment of EN Com- mission
in order to the establish-
ment of some system that shall enable the Chinese Government to protect its revenue without prejudice to the interests of the Colony."
!
281
to collect duties in British water. The Brit ment should permit the Chinese Governm di Government might just as readily permit European Government to establish it Custom Houses or offices in the Thames, at Dover, for Folkestone. for the collection of its duties. Opium smuggling from Hongkong was the main and continues the chief reason for the continued blockade of Hongkong waters by the Imperial Chinese Government's revenue oraisers.
In some respects the Government's opium farm has been and is a great ourse" to the colony; it seriously interferes with the free- dom of the port and the movement of the pämi anger traffic; it is attended with grave abusÒS, it is the cause of much state created crime, and it is most objectionable on political as well; df- out the Opium tax is bad, and is directly op- ou commercial grounds; the system of farming posed to the established laws of Great Britain. Government may sustain by placing the opiam Hongkong is now in a position to face the los ita importation and exportation on a sound basis. The opium trade from India is a decaying one and into insignificance, as the cultivation of opium. it is only a question of time when it will dwindle
throughout the provinces of China is increas ing annually, and the latter being the cheaper must necesarily drive out the dearer artiolé: Opium could be handled and dealt with as iu Shanghai in bulks or in bonded warehouse or
otherwise, and the Chinese Government should be required to collect its Customs duties as all other countries do in their own ports and nov in British waters or in stations specially ́es- tablished on our frontiers. That British prestige suffers injury in the eyes of our Chinese subjects → from revenue ornisers frequenting our waters and through the continuance of the Chinese Gns. toms office in the colony goes, I think, without saying. The Chinese revenue cruisers manuod by Chinese and officered by Europeans of all uationalities, including Americans, have by cour tesy the status of men-of-war. It has been tacitly granted but has never been formally conceded, and the privilege, a not inconsider able one, frees them from harbour dues and permits of their free movement in and about British waters at all hours of the night and day. The dangers which in time of war may arise from their continuance in our waters are too apparent to need to be detailed. All reasons for having the Imperial Chinese Customs in and about Hongkong waters should be abolished at the earliest date possible.
The meeting then adoptel the annual report,
NEW-MEMBERS.
Before the confirmation of the election of the; new members, Mr. WHITEHEAD proposed the election of the General Agency of the P. M. and, O. and O. Companies and Mr. A. G. Stokes,
Mr. SHARP seconded. Carried.
These remarks are appropriate and applicable to the conditions obtaining here. There are property in Hongkong than Mr. Chater; Mr. gain sporadie cases of plague in our midst and Eda had a long experience and not only con- the water supply of the city is wholly inade. sidered questions carefully bat he was noted for quate. In fact, another mouth's drought means his ability and impartiality; while Mr. Jack-water famine. Further delay in effecting son's views deservedly carry great weight. The the long-postponed sanitary reform is attended Sanitary Board in August, 1996, applied to the with grate and growing dangers. The Com. Government to have the Public Health Ordin-mittee you elect to-day would do well to ance amended, and the Medical Officer of memorialise the Government as to the press- Health's tabulated statement of 1st May, 1897, ing and urgent necessity for doing ia due shows that no more than 18 per cent. of the course and withont farther delay what is Chinese dwellings in the City of Victoria at requisite under the circumstances.--The hon that time could be regarded as "in a fairly gentleman then went on to refer to good sanitary condition." Notwithstanding these facts and that numerous official reporte on the subject as well as the unanimous recom- mendations of the Insanitary Properties Com- mission have been and are before the Gov. ernment (who alone possesses the authority to act in the matter), yet up to this date the requisite legislation has not been enacted which would give the Sanitary Board the power to put the city into a thoroughly sanitary con- dition and thus render Hongkong as far as human energy and ingenuity can make it the reverse of a congenial habitation for the plagus bacillns. It is true that a bill entitled Au Ordinance to make farther provision for the sanitation of the colony and to repeal certain enactments of the closed Houses and Insauitary Dwellings Ordinance 1894" was read a first. time on the 22nd November last, or five months ago, but the speech of the Hon. the Captain Superintendent of Police introducing the pro- posed crude legislation was su condemnatory of the measure that nothing has since been heard of it, In respect of the important ques- tion of insanitation our paterual Government| continues to indulge in the policy of laissez faire "drift," as former Governments did, and evidently thinks that "everything is for the best in this best possible of all worlds." The Sanitary Board is still in existence but is not constituted or formed in accordance with the law, and not unnaturally some doubt exists as to the legality of the Board's actions. On more than one occasion when taken before the Supreme Court in respect of its wrongful acts the Board has been maloted in damages | and guilds are in favour of the Customs being | of the Committee is taking place, it would be w which no doubt ultimately came out of the required to withdraw into Chinese territory. | very graceful act if the members adopted a re- ratepayers' pockets. Ordinance No. 24 of 1837 The original reason for permitting the Customs solution in connection with meteorological warn. requires that the Board shall consist of foar to establish themselves in and about Hongkongings from Manila. In consequence of the gräst official and not more than six additional men- was the collection of opium revenue, but now practical value of the information hitherto grå- bera, but for years past it has been composed of they are not only collecting duties on opium for taitously supplied by the Directors of the about five official members and one other mem- Chinese Imperial purposes, but in this British Meteorological Department of the Manila ber. At the end of the 19th century it is in colony they are collecting general duties on Observatory, and of their having rendered? credible that the most vital interests of this goods and merchandise for the Provincial Gov-the colony and the shipping interests ins important British colony should be allowed to
ernments. Goods and merchandise which have continue at the mercy of an omasoulated paid duties to the Chinese Cutsoms in Sanitary Board constituted at variance and not Hongkong through stress of weather or other in accordance with the law by which it was wise may never reach their destination, but if established. The Chairman of the Bengal they do arrive at ports on the coast where Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting there is no branch of the Imperial Maritime held in Calcutta six weeks ago said in connection Customs the native officials may exact lekin and with sanitation:-
subject the said goods to other duties as if they had not already paid duty to the Chinese Gov- ernment at its Customs office in Hongkong. It is contrary to all precedent that our Govern-
or
“The most important and prominent measure which has come before the Legislative Council for consideration during the past year has bes.
|
|
|
in
L
The Commission was appointed and resulted in a memorandum of the basis of Agreement signed in Hongkong, 11th September, 1886, which the Hongkong Government reserves the right to cancel the arrangement if it proved injurious to the revenue or to the legitimate trade of the colony." The 1886 "ar- rangement" permits a Chinese Customs office in Hongkong and tolerates Chinese revenue and armed cruisers to visit British waters day and night-they have by courtesy the status of meu. of-war-&o. The "arrangement" has worked seriously to the injury of the legitimate trade of Hongkong, more especially the trade în na- tive vessels, and this fact has been demonstrated by the statistics furnished by the Assistant Har. bour Master. The principal Chinese traders
|
The CHAIRMAN proposed the confirmation of the election of the following membera :- Mya G. P. Lammert, Messrs. Smith, Bell andeling Mr. P. Brewitt, Shell Transport Trading Co. Vander, Stegan and Co., the General Agency of Ltd.. Messrs. George R. Stevens and Col, the P. M. and O. and O. Companies, and Mr. A.
G. Stokes.
Mr. JACKSON seconded. Carried.
The meeting then proceeded to aloot the Côm- mittee by ballot.
THE TYPHOON WARNINGS; Mr. WHITEHEAD said-While the election
valuable services, I beg to submit the following: resolution. In view of the very satisfactory letter dated 28th alt. received by the Chamber from the Government in connection herewith; which has been published in the local í proud #I= need scarcely do more than express the hope that the motion will meet with the unanimons support of the Chamber ---
"The members of the Hongkong, General Chamber of Commerce desire to compay the the Rev. Father Jose Algué, B.J., the