:
September 2, 1899.]
“To the Honourable J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, is dus the admir- able results that have been attained in the Civil administration of this Territory during this brief state of turmoil; his measures have been taken with great energy and ability and in a manner that, long experience has shown him, were suitable to the occasion. The result has béén a most complete success.
Only those on the spot can realize the amount of labour and care he has devoted from early morning till late at night to the discharge of these trying duties.
A most hearty co-operation has existed throughout between us and no difference of opinion on any one point has arisen.
“In conclusion, I wish to say that great care has been taken to keep the Troops in good health and that the Medical Officer with me, Major Watson, R.A.M.C., has assisted most efficiently to this end."
HOW THE NATIVES OF THE NEW TERRITORY REGARDED THE BRITISH OCCUPATION.
་
V CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
The following is.one of the placards posted in the New Territory before the recent distur❘ bance occurred
We hate the English barbarians who are about to enter our boundaries and take our land, and will cause us endless evil. Day and night we fear the approaching danger. Certainly people are dissatisfied at this and have deter- mined to resist the barbariana If our fire-arms are not good, we shall be unable to oppose the enemy. So we have appointed an exercise- ground and gathered all together as patriots to drill with fire-arms. To encourage proficiency rewards will be given. On the one hand we shall be helping the Government; on the other we shall be saving ourselves from future trouble. Let all our friends and relatives bring their fire-arms to the ground and do what they can to extirpate the traitors. Our ancestors will be pleased, and so will our neighbours. This is our sincere wish. Practice takes place every day.
First prize:--One gauze coat. A packet of 1,000 crackers.
Second prise:-One pair of brown gauze tronsers. A packet of 500 crackers.
Third prize :-One straw hat. 17th day 2nd moon. 25th year of Kwong-sui (28th March, 1899).
A placard issued by the Yak-on Hin ("Wish for Peace" library) of P’ing-shan.
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THE CHINESE CUSTOMS AND THEIR POSITION IN THE NEW TERRITORY, In the New Territory blue book the follow- ing despatches with reference to the Chinese Customs appear :-
TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.
were warned of the impending change two months ago.
·BLAKE.
(TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.)
14th April, 1899. Pending further arrangements, but in case beyond October, the Customs Stations re- ferred to in my telegram of the 11th instant must remain occupied. You should inform Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking of this arrangement, urging earliest possible with. drawal.' Your proposal to assume possession on the 17th approved.
CHAMBERLAIN.
[Noto-Above telegram repeated to Peking, 14th April, 1899:
TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY OF STATE.
14th April, 1899. Have informed Peking. Am I to understand Customs Officers can function in the territorial waters of Colony pending removal?
BLAKN. TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.
16th April, 1899. The Imperial Customs Officials will have no legal status. They will be in same position as those within Hongkong itself. Communicate this to Sir R. Hart,
CHAMBERLAIN.
TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY OF STATE.
21st April, 1899. I have been able to make satisfactory local arrangements with reference to the Customs Question.
BLAKE.
The nature of the satisfactory local arrange. ments mentioned in the last telegram is not stated.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
noon.
The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hong- kong Sanitary Board was held Thursday after- occupied the chair, and there were also pre The President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson)
sent the Vice-President (the Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendant of Police), Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. Lowson (Acting Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. C, W. Duggan (Secretary),
INSPECTION OF THE HEALTH DISTRIOTS.
The report of the sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Ormsby, May, and Osborne, appointed to make quarterly inspections of Health Dis- tricts, was submitted. On 15th August the Committee visited and inspected the following houses in No, 5 and 6 Health Districts:-Nos. 6, 8, 9, 11, and 21 Tung Man Lane; Nos. 1, 34, and 38 Wing On Street; Nos. 1, 13, and 15 Mi Lun Lane (each three floors); No. 3 Kan U Fong, consisting of one floor; Nos, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 Circular Pathway, and 14 and 16 Lower Lascar Row. Plague had oc curred at 3 Kau U Fong and Nos. 27, 28, and 29 Cironlar Pathway. The report proceeds :- These houses were said to have been white- washed this year, but in most cases it is impos sible to verify this, as the heat and smoke rapidly make the walls discoloured. We con- sider these houses from their construction ill- fitted for human habitation, and decidedly unfit for the occupation of the great number of
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We considered the ground floors of Cironlar Pathway houses unfit for human habitatios and they should be condemned; they diately below the back premises Hollywood Road, and receive all their or leakage, making them damp, un and pervaded with foul odours. ́-W. opinion that in
on that in many cases no real pe improvement can
efected" in th
buildings, and that nothing short tion, demolition, laying out of the broad streets and back lanes, and co by law a different and more sanitary styl of sonstruction will suffice.
The only minute'appended was one by Dis Lowson-At Lastly{
The PRESIDENT moved that the report forwarded to the Government, and that in meantime the Medical Officer of the houses referred to in Circular Path being unfit for human habitation.**
Mr. OSBORNE seconded and the motion was carried.
SPECIAL CLEANSING `INĀTHE KOWLOON
·HEALTH DISTRICT,
A report dated August 21st was rubmitted by Mr. F. Browne, the Government Analyst'as to the special cleansing in the Kowloon Health District. He said that speaking generally the houses throughout the district were found be very clean. The cleansing and removal rubbish in 1898 greatly improved, the but the householders had begun to con the good effects thus obtained' by the of bunks, cubicles, and similar obe
148
In No. 11 district. (Hunghom and vill floors were cleansed and limewashed and 181'eb. structions removed, and in No. 12 district (Yaumati, Laikok Tsui, and villages) 268 floors were oleansed and limewashed and 206 | obstructions removed. The obstruc- tions were removed owing to their depriving overcrowding in the district had been by the floors of light and air. The evil of these removals to a considerable extent miti- gated. Probably just as many coolies would sleep in the houses, but much more air had been provided for them, From April 8rd to July 3rd the number of deaths from plague in No. 11 district was 53. It was considered advisable to disinfect every house in Hunghom, so on July 8th a mixture of manganese di-oride, salt, and sulphuric acid was placed on every floor.” Only 15 cases had occurred since, and there was no doubt from this and past experience that where plague was widely spread over a district mich a complete disinfection was of considerable value in stepping epidemics, ⠀⠀ With the exception a few houses so: constructed that they get dirty very quickly, the whole of Hunghom was very elean. Of 64 deaths from plague in No:12 district from March 2nd to July 3rd only 18 cases could be traced to houses. The remaining cases had been found in the harbour in bosts. on the rocks, on the foreshore, and in other places. Of 50 bodies found since July 3rd only 18 could be traced to houses. The houses in the district were found to be in ex cellent condition. In conclusion Mr. Browne said the work was carried out by In
Sent 11th April, 1899, (10.25 p.m.),
Received-12th April, 1899. A request has been forwarded here from Sir R. Hart that the officers of the Imperial Chinese Customs may be allowed to occupy the Ch'eung Chau, Capsnimoon and Fotouchow persons who are now crowded into them. In Macdonald and McVicar, each of
stations until October, by which time new quarters should be ready for them. If you concur in this, which I consider not unreason- able, you should inform Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking of your concurrence on the distinct understanding that occupation is not delayed beyond October and that only these three stations are retained.
CHAMBERLAIN.
many cases there was insufficient light and ventilation. There was no latrine accommoda- tion, and apparently nightsoil and urine are collected in receptacles kept in the kitchens.
.:
Considering the very limited space at their disposal, the tenants seem to do their best with it, and as a rule do not appear to be dirty or untidy in their habits. The de- signer or builder of those houses seems to have TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY OF STATE,
had but one object in view, namely, to contrive 12th April, 1899. how many human beings could be crammed into In reply to your telegram of yesterday's date and exist on the space. The staircases are there I agree that the three stations mentioned fore only barely wide enough for a stout ahould be occupied by the Customs officials person to pass up, and so steep that ascent or des- pending further arrangements. But the At-cent can only be made by hanging on to a rope. torney General advises me that no power can The cubicles only provide the actual space re- be given them to function in the territories or quired by law for two persons, but appear often waters of the Colony; and the Chairman of the to be occupied by two adults and several children. Chamber of Commerce points out that such The passage leading along the cubicles is so nar- functioning would severely check the circula-
row as barely to admit of one person at a time tion of local trade within the Colony. * Traffic using it. As a rule one cubicle monopolises the to Deep Bay would be serionaly interfered with only window, the others only getting such air by any station S.E. of Ling Tin Island or and light as passes over the top of it; they are Chek Wan Bay and the same would apply to consequently very dark. The kitchens are ex- the trade on the E. side, with reference to a tremely small, and in them the cooking for all station in that Quarter. The Customs officials, the inhabitants of each floor has to be done.
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was in charge of a cleansing in his own district. Both Inspector and Inspector McVicar appeared to intimate knowledge of the houses- under. charge, and afforded me great amistance, In appendix 3 was a return showing that in No. 11 district 68 cases of plague were removed fro March 2nd to August 12th and that district during the same period 114 cases were moved. Mr.Browne continues gained in the epidemics of 1894, 1898, has shown me that much more dras than those that have hitherto been the supervision of plague in Hon to be adopted in order to free the recurrence of the disease, made some suggestions it is hoped may prove of a in its deliberations of plague." In. makes certain
the appointment of a house-to-hòn
visitation tor's district, the and a special disin Victoria and an
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