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like the improved artillery in the Transvaal, till some dire necessity forces them on public
attention.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
On the afternoon of the 3rd inst., the usual fortnightly meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was held. The President (Dr. J. M.Atkin son, Principal Civil Medical Ofoer) ocoupled the chair, and there were also present the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works, Dr. Clark, (Medical Umoer of Health). Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. Hartigan, Major Brown, Mr. J. McKie, Mr. Chan A Fuk, Mr. Fung Wa Chuen, and Mr. C W. Duggan (Seorotary),
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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(February 10, 1800,
glosed either at the present time or a few a considerable amount hence. That must come sooner or later, but | tion, owing to the gros one of the principal objections to having these | demanda. 1 think this new cemeteries over the harbour was the means ter in the first instanos than and ways of transport. Rich Chinese could take man, and is certainly worthy of atte care of themselves. As a matter of fact | which it would be far cheaper. Total they did not find the deal bodies rich Chinamen ever being buried in a Hongkong round fisures $1500. Such a system as propose
of per annum for maintenance $1530, or bay: cemetery. They were removed to the interior would if carried ont effectually do away with the of China or to Canton. It was the poorer necessity of quarantining any animals which classes of Chinese who might be subjected to a might be brought into the extension from time hardship. He would propose as an amendment to time, for the reason that should they carry that some means should be recommended any infection of rinderpest with them, thone wherby the difficulty as to transport might be already in the Territory having been inoculat remedied.
ed would be proof against the disease and so prevent its spreading amongst them, as has been the case hitherto. After the initial ex- pense of starting the enterprise had been in- carred the Laboratory might be made self. supporting by imposing a small annual fee of say 40 cents per head for each animal inoculated which the owners ought to willingly pay for protection against such various losses as they have formerly sustained.
Mr. OSBORNE seconded the amendment. Dr. HARTIGAN strongly supported the mo tion. He remarked that the only objection was as to the expense of transport:-" But in a fow Yeais time it would be absolutely necessary to do something.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY spoke against the proposal, He said Monnt Davies was studded with cemeteries all round, and that was the first time he had heard it was overcrowded. The last
time an extension was granted the surveyor had no difficulty in working off a few sores.
Ultimately the resolution was carried, Dr. Clark meeting Mr. Chan A Fuk's objection by inserting in his motion the words, "on condition that free transit is provided by the Government for dead bodies and mourners."
The PRESIDENT, answering a suggestion of
Government in considering this question would consult the directors of the Tung Wah Hospi- tal.
CATTLE AND INOCULATION FOR RINDERPEST
IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
Mr. C. V. Ladds (Colonial Veterinary Sur- geon) submitted a report, dated January 17th, on the requirements for a bacteriological labor. atory and cattle inoculation for rinderpest in the New Territory. In the course by his report Mr. Ladds sys:→→
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sent upon the extension as 4,0), this at 4) Counting the total number of cattle at pro...
cents per head would bring in $1,600 per annum, being $100 more than my estimate for maintenance; but even if it were thought advisable to inoculate gratis, which might after all be the better plan, the outlay would be small and would eventually be amply repaid by the results.
The scheme is one of some magnitude, and, as may be gathered from the foregoing, the majority of the scientific part of the work would fall upon me, both at the Laboratory and also in the new Territory, and I trust therefore,. that should the Government see fit to adopt it. they will at the same time consider the question of additional remuneration to me for such services.
Dr. Clarke minuted :—† All cattle in the New Territory should be inoculated against rinderpest gratis. It would not be necessary to exclude the few cattle that are brought into the New Territory overland (for the reasons, given by Mr. Todds), so long as some means (such as branding) are used to distinguish the inoculated from the uninoculated cattle and the police are instructed to report any instances of cattle not inoculated. The Board should I think strongly support Mr. Fodda' inexpensive scheme for a laboratory for the manufacture of
In my opinion at would require a large staff of officers to effectually regulate the importation of cattle from the mainland into the New Territory, and on this account I am more inclined to advise the inoculation treat meat for rinderpest of all animals which are kept in the extension itself, Given a little encouragement and assistance from the Government, and under proper and constant supervision, with a view to the prevention of
On the motion of the Hon. R. D. ORMSBY, animal diseases, the new Territory should in a seconded by Dr. CLARK, the report was adopted, very short time produce sufficient animals, both and it was decided to forward it to Government. cattle and swine to enable the colony to be self-
A sub-committee, composed of Dr. Clark supporting in this respect, instead of being as
and Dr. Hartigan, with Mr. Ladde, was ap- at present almost entirely dependent upon out-ported to go into the several matters raised in side sources.
the report.
the necessary serum.”
Dr. Clark, in the absence of the Vice-presi- dent, proposed :-"That the Board advise the Government to close, with as little delay as possible, the Chinese Cemeteries at Mount Davis, Caroline Hill, and Matsuwaf in Kow. loon, and the existing Plague Cemeteries in Hongkong, and to open instead a Chinese Cemetery and a Plagne Cemetery either on the island of Chunghai or on the island of Tamme, and a second Chinese Cemetery as well as a Plague Cemetery somewhere to the north of Matauwai and either upon or close under the range of hills that bound the Kowloon Peninsula on the north." He said he had not had the opportunity of seeing Captain May to learn from him exactly what his views were on this point, but he took Mr. Chan A Fuk, said he should think the it that they were very much in accord in think- ing it was quite time that more spaces were opened ont so as to give them more room for the overcrowded Chinese in the city. At the present moment they had at the eastern end of the city the outlet blocked by a large Chinese cemetery and the various non-Chinese ceme. teries. On the western end of the city the outlet was blocked by a still larger cemetery. to say nothing of the Plague Cemetery and the Infectious Diseases Hospital. He thought the probability was that the city would spread eastward, rather than westwards. There were various reasons why that should be so, and when one came to think that every year they had some 1,500 interments in the immediate neigh- bourhood of the city, and that these interments absorbed no less than three acres of land every year, he thought that that was sufficient reason why they should, if possible, direct these inter- ments to some other place. This was extremely valuable land. It was becoming more and more valuable as building sites every year. The city could not spread up the hills, so far as the Chinese were concerned. It must spread out in one or the other direction, and he thought it would probably spread eastwards; so that if they closed these cemeteries and diverted the dead bodies they would be doing a great deal to relieve the enormous congestion of human beings in the centre of the city. In No. 5 dis- trict there was a population of 1,000 persons to the acre, which was a most excessive rate of overcrowding. The only remedy for that was "To build and equip a suitable laboratory on to spread the the city towards the eastern the Kowloon side, as recommended in my minute and western suburbs. Mr. May suggested of 19-12-99, would necessitate a large expendi- Tamma Island or Chunghui Island. Per- ture, and I therefore suggest as an alternative sonally he thought Tamma would be more measure that a temporary laboratory be establish. difficult, Changhai Island might be inaccessible | ed in part of the building which now constitutes during rough weather. Of course it was B the old Tung Wah Mortuary at Kennedytown, question for the Government to consider which has I believe been recently acquired by whether free transit should not be given for the Government. These premises could be Chinese dead bodies to the new cemeteries. He easily adapted for this purpose at a compara- thought himself it would be essential. But tively small cost, and for a long time would that was a matter which gould be settled after serve equally well. The equipment of such an wards. The only point so far as he was con- establishment and the purchase of the necessary
Dr. W. Hartigan :— All birds are unwhole.. cered was how to move the resolution before cattle would not exceed $3,600 to $4,000 in ad- some as food during the breeding, season, and him, which resolution practically meant that | dition to the cost of alterations which would be
as such unwholesome food the Market Inspec.. all intermente in Mount Caroline Cemetry to required. The annual up-keep might be estim-tors have a perfect right to seize them if ex-- the east and Mount Davies Cemetery to theated roughly as follows:-food for 12 months posed for sale.' west should cease. He believed the same matter 8700; up-keep of apparatus. chemicals, and was mooted some years ago. On that occasion incidental expenses $200; gas $100; ice $50; an an objection was raised by the Chinese to dead | intelligent coolie who could be trained to take bodies being taken ont of the colony. Tamma charge of the animals, clean apparatus, and look did not then belong to the British Government; after the place generally $120. A European neither did Chunghui for that matter. But now that objection disappeared. There might be some others on the part of the Chinese, but it seemed to him that the great objection would be done away with.
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Comparatively few cattle are driven through, the New Territory from the mainland for the Hongkong Market-only 1083 in 1899, as com- pared with about 20,000 brought direct from Canton, Hoi Fang, and other places by water.
assistant would also be required, and instead of engaging an additional man who would devote his whole time to laboratory duties I would recommend the appointment of the Inspector in charge of the Animal Depots at Kennedy- Major Brown seconded, but suggested that town as assistant at a salary of $300 per annum sites in Kowloon would be easier of access. in addition to his ordinary pay, as such duties Mr. Chan A Fuk said there was no great ob- would be entirely outside those of his substan- jection to having these two Chinese cemeteries ' tire appointment, and they would also involve |
THE SUGGESTED EXTENSION OF THE CLOSE TIME.
At a recent meeting the Board passed a re- solution recommending the Government to extend the time during which the selling of pleasants and partridges so as to include the month of March and be made to apply also to. the sale of gunil.
A reply was received from the Hon: Colonial Secretary which said: I am directed to in.. form you that His Excellency sees no necessity for any change in the Ordinance at present.
The following minutes were appended Mr. McKie:"The quail is a migralary bird“, that does not breed anywhere in the southern.. provinoes; and therefore requires no protection.
Mr. Fung Wa Chún: -“I agree with Mr.. McKie."
Major Brown: ----- Certain birds during the breeding season are tastelers and poor in con- dition, but they cannot, therefore, be called "unwholesome food." | Prot.otion is jenforced in England not to protect the public but the birds, and of the quail does not breed here ob- * viously protection is unnecessary."
THE DUMPING OF RUBBISH IN THE HARBOUR,
The question of dumping rubbish in the harbour and the power to arrest offenders - therefor was raised, and on the motion of Dr.