$26
avoiding the native quarters with their infected population and infested anopheles.
"VI. European dwellings should, therefore, be distant not less than 400 to 500 yards from the nearest native dwellings, other than those servants quarters which are a necessary adjunct to the dwelling, and which come under the per- -sonal supervision of the European occupants of
the dwelling."
The following minutes were appended :— Dr. Hartigan: Hig The moral to be drawn from this pamphlet is the absolute necessity of a European reservation area.'
Dr. Clark :-" I thoroughly agree with Dr. Hartigan. The longer the question of a Euro- pean reservation is delayed the more difficult will it be to obtain.”
from ?".
21
+
Dr. Bell: Where do the natives get fever
A preliminary report which the trustees of the British Museum lave had prepared by Mr. F. V. Theobald on the collections of mosquitoes received at the Museum from various parts of the world in connection with the Government investigation into the causes of malaria was also submitted.
The following minutes' wore appended: Dr. Hartigan —“ "No ancpheles sent from Hongkong? I understand they swarm in sever- al districts to the East, West and Peak."
Dr. Clark:- "Yes! they were subsequently found by Mr. Ladds in most of the malarious districts of the colony."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[October 27, 1900
of this Board. We simply ask for a definite locus standi no greater nor less than that of the Sanitary Board of any country town in the United Kingdom.
•
| thought-out plans for the improvement of the by a majority
colony to be quashed by a caustic minute writ ten in the privacy of the official sanctum, where it can neither be explained nor contradicted, as has occurred in the past. We are quite willing Mr. OSBORNE, in seconding, said there was to listen to every argument brought forward, undoubtedly a feeling on his part, and he and where such are used by those having special thought on the part of every unofficial mem- knowledge of the subject-matter in hand, they ber there, that that Board, as Dr. Hartigau naturally carry great weight with the Board had said, were merely a sop to the demooratio which usually is guided by the opinion given. tendencies of this colony. It had been ruled over This Board is undoubtedly looked upon by and over again by those in authority at home that many of the officials as a necessary nuisance-- a municipal government in Hongkong was im- necessary because the democratic Secretary of practicable. However they might differ on that State did not wish to run contra to the ex-point the fact remained that that was the de- pressed opinions of the ratepayers of this cision of the Government at home, and that colony when, by nearly 400 votes to 8, they decision as law-abiding subjects they accepted; decided that the Sanitary Board shoul" exist, but the Sanitary Board was created withi but all the same they consider it a nuisance, view to obtaining from persons long resident in which shall be a Board only in name, shall not the colony their opinions on sanitary matters, have power to dismiss its most worthless coolie which were closely allied to municipal matters, or turn on the most necessary water-tap, a and to obtain the opinions of men who knew the, Board to be played with or snubbed as the wants of the colony and who were in a position humour takes them, and occasionally, very octo lvise the Government as to the best men- casionally, to be thrown a sop when such a gift sures to be adopted for the health of the colony. neither hurts their own amour propre nor is Such being the case, it seemed marvellous that likely to be of any use. I do not reiterate there should be so much ill-feeling, so much these facts for the sake of controversy or jealousy of the Board. There was not a mem to rake up old sores, but simply that we and bor there who gained anything by being » the public of Hongkong may have a plain member of the Board. There was a certain simple issue before us. Will we make this amount of work to be done and time to be Board a reality or leave it the impotent body spent, and they did that work and spent that: with little form and no substance that it is at time, he took it, because they felt that the resi- present? My own opinion is that this Board dents of the colony should in some measure Mr. OSBORNE said the connection between might be most useful. Two beads are certain have their wishes and wants known. Therefore, mosquitoes and malaria was a most importantly better than one for deliberation, though he thought the Government should always give *matter to this colony and one they were likely one is best for executive work. The Govern- the fullest consideration to the recommenda
to overlook. He should be glad if the Medicalment are here represented by their special- tions of the Board, and that one and only Officer of Health could tell them what was ly qualified advisers, both civil and military. one excuse should be given for refusing to being done locally by the Government in con- The unofficials have only the good of the carry out the recommendations nection with the matter. He knew some steps colony at heart and devote their time and brains was on the score of expense. Dr. Harti- were being taken by the military anthorities, for its benefit. Why then is the Board gan had said that it should not be possible who were cutting away the undergrowth below A failure? Because the official element is not for one man to veto the recommendations and the Sanatorium at Magazine Gap. But as with us.
Because each head wishes to be decisions of that Board. It should not be this was a matter which concerned the health supreme, conscious of its own innate infallibility possible. They were practically the only of the colony he thought they should know in all matters of sanitation included. But are municipal body in the colony, and they were what was being done to follow the matter up they infallible? I can point out to-day ex- the only body which had anything in the nature with a view to coming to some conclusion. pensive red brick and cement drains which have of a continuity of policy. Officials came and Dr. CLARK said that all he could say was never been used; others which were cut through went. There were continued changes in every that he knew unofficially that Dr. Thomson almost as soon as completed because a new system department of the colony, and what one man was collecting mosquitoes from various parts was introduced. Another King of Brent had did to-day lis successor undid to-morrow. of the colony. The military authorities arrived. Buildings unhealthy from their first Dr. BELL said that with regard to the were taking steps to do away with the day of occupation; so-called improvements Plague Hospital the plans had been sum breeding ground for mosquitoes in the neigh- made which were no improvements at all, mitted to three P.M.C.O.'s. Whether it was bourhood of the Sanatorium at Magazine and others neglected which time after time right for the Sanitary Board to have the Gap. He thought that if the Board took any have been advocated by the Board, such as plans laid before them he could not say. Per- action at all in the matter the best thing the training of nullahs and drainage of un-sonally he was not in favour of plans for hos they could do would be to start at Kennedy-healthy areas (the usefulness of which the mili-pitals being laid before the Board. There town on the same lines.
tary had proved by their successful training of would not be very many hospitals erected in the fever-breeding Victoria Barracks ravine). the colony. The only object in bringing plans The Board's recommendations were pooh-pooh- of hospitals. before the Board was to get in ed, its advice persistently ignored, until it formation, and he did not see how they could ex- remained for a progressive Governor who reads pect the Board to give any information about the medical papers to act on his own initiative a hospital. Except the medical members of to inaugurate these mad (?) schemos; the colony the Board, the Board knew, nothing about the meanwhile losing the services of its police and management of a hospital." As to the Inspec- other servants through disease, and money being tor's quarters at Kennedytown, that was a sorry thus recklessly wasted which might have been example of the inadvisability of submitting such saved by the asking of a little advice; so on in plans to the Sanitary Board. The Sanitary many other things. Friction can be avoid- Board in 1893 passed the plans for the Inspec ed if the beads of departments when dealing tor's quarters at Kennedytown and chose the site, with sanitary matters will record their opini-and yet in 1900 the Board said that the site was ons before and not after the Board has deliberat- a bad one.
Mr. OSBORNE expressed himself in favour of this being done, and suggested that the Medical Officer be asked to prepare a small scheme for taking the matter in hand.
This was agreed to.
THE BOARD AND CERTAIN PUBLIC
· BUILDINGS.
Dr. HARTIGAN, pursuant to notice, moved:- (1.) The Board having noticed that it is the intention of the Government to construct a new market for the Western district, and that the Government have approved of the erection of a Plague Hospital in the same district, the Board request that the plans, &c., of such new buildings be submitted to them for suggestions. (2.) That in future the plans of all buildings which when completed are under the Board's management, such as markets, &c.," or such as have a direct connection with the health of the Colony, such as infections hospitals, public con- veniences, &o,. may be submitted to the Board by the Government." He said: This motion practically explains itself. The request conveyed in it is not unreasonable; in fact the wonder is that such an appeal should be necessary. If we are a Sanitary Board in anything more than name it is our duty and privilege to deal with all things connected with the Sanitary condi- tions of this colony. To define wherein our pro- vince lies, to indicate what does or does not come within its jurisdiction, what are and what are not sanitary matters, presents no real difficulty and in all such cases I, and not only myself but every man who takes any interest in sanitation in the colony, maintain that this Board should be consulted, and its decisions, unless for good cause shown, should not be over-raled. We do not meet here to register the pious opinions of any heads of departments however pre-eminent in their special spheres; nor do we wish our carefully
report.
and that
Dr. HARTIGAN-If the Sanitary Board did not do their duty at that time and did not examine the site, that is no reason why we should continue on the same lines.
ed, or where they are members of the Board they Dr. HARTIGAN contended that the question can support their views here in public and not of the site for an infectious hospital was de in cloistered seclusion, and thus they must act cidedly a question for the Sanitary Board. If if my motion is successful. The complaint an Infectious Hospital was placed in a thickly of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon anent the populated district it was a case for the Board. proximity of a plague hospital to the cattle, As to the site of this house at Kennedytown the Depot Slaughterhouse, of which the Board have only person to approve of it was Mr. Ladds. no official knowledge whatever, emphasises my The PRESIDENT-The Board adopted his point. I believe we have got the sympathy and goodwill and can earn the respect of those high in authority, but to do real good useful work we mast all pull together both in spirit and action, but this is impossible whilst the unpleasantness to which I have referred continues. I The PRESIDENT said he thoroughly agreed want to appeal from the individual official with all that had been said by the P. C. M. O, to the Government as a whole. We have What was said before he spoke would lead only to concern ourselves with minor municipal many people to imagine that buildings were matters, which those playing at being great designed and carried through on officers of the Crown sometimes think beneath mendation of one man, thereby, he supposed, their notice, or neglect. We do not try to referring to the official holding the position of usurp in any way the functions of the Govern- Director of Public Works. With regard to ment, with whom the final decision, whether the Western Market, he did not suppose any right or wrong, must he, but we do object to lie question had taken up more time and consider under the thumb of any single person who may ation. The site for the market and the design happen to hold an opposite opinion or divergent for the market had been under the consider- views from those emanating from and approved ation of the Government, he believed, for ten
the recom