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December 22, 1900.j
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
man to please in every respect. However, he had no objection to calling for Mr. Ladds report. The Medical Officer of Health had approved the plans.
Mr. McKIE thought that seeing that Mr. Ladds would have most to do with the Western Market it would be advisable to get his report.
Mr. OSBORNE, in referring to his minute, said the Central Market was absurdly dark, In the middle of the day the stall-holders in the centre had to burn lamps, He believed that in other parts of the world-in Shanghai, for instance-people were able to build a Market where light could enter in the middle of the day, and he did not see why they should not have a similar thing in Hongkong. God gave thom in Hongkong the same amount of light as was given to Shanghai, and he did not see why they should not get it in the middle of the market. He thought the point might be refer red to the designer of the plan as to whether sufficient light would enter the Market in the middle of the day.
actly the same as those sold by the shopkeepers immediately behind them. They were no more hawkers in the true sense of the word than. were shopkeepers. Their place of business was in the street-a fixture. A bona fide hawker was not a fixture. He went about the town, and his great utility lay in the fact that he took to the homes of the poor the food which perhaps they were unable to procure for them selves The Chinese hawker did not in the slightest sense do that. He only monopolised a large proportion of very narrow thoroughfares, and was not only not a necessity but a posi- tive nuisance. Under these circumstances, con- tinued Mr. Osborne, he thought that, in spite of the Vice-President's minute, and in spite of his known antipathy to moving in this matter, they ought to ask the Government to take some steps to remedy the evil, so far as it was an evil. He would not ask the Government to abolish the bona fide hawker, but that they should instruct the police to stop those men who set up their tables in the street, and who did not even take the trouble to carry their wares about. Mr. McKIE asked why there should not be The motion he had to submit was: "That the a good light in the Market all the day. Board request the Government to give direc- The PRESIDENT said that in this matter he tions prohibiting the erection of stalls in the was rather in the hands of the Board. He was public streets and footpaths by so-called haw-responsible to a great extent for these designs. kers, who should be restricted to bona fide hawking."
Mr. MCKIE had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He could verify all that Mr. Osborne had said.
Mr. CHAN A FOOK doubted the advisability of interfering with what Mr. Osborne had called the "shop hawker." His place was not a fixture; it was very likely put up in the morn- ing and moved in the evening, and if the shop-keepers in front of whose promises he erected his stall did not object or lodge any complaint with the Government, it would be very inadvisable for the Board to interfere in the matter. He therefore opposed the recom. mendation.
ever,
The PRESIDENT said he had not yet made up his mind on the subject. He thought, how- that the food stalls might be a necessity, and as Mr. Chan A Fook had pointed out, if the shopkeepers themselves did not complain, the only objection that could be taken would be one of obstruction. To his mind, there was nothing particularly unhealthy in the erection of a table in the street. At the same time, he had a very open mind on the question,
The motion was then put to the meeting and carried.
Dr. CLARK, dealing with the congested state of dwellings in Shek Kai Lane and Sham Pin Lane, commented on the report of the Inspection Committee, and said he himself had seen the houses, and he was of opinion that they could very easily and very rapidly be improved. He wished to move: "That notices be served on the owners
of houses in Shek Kai Lane and Sham Pin Lane declaring the said premises to be unfit for human habitation, and requiring the owners to to make further provision for their adequate lighting and ventilation."
Dr. BELL was of opinion that the proper procedure in such cases, if any place was deemed unfit for human habitation, was to declare itunfit. and then to take such vigorous steps as would ensure that these houses would be put into order and made habitable. If that were done little by little-if they made themselves obnoxious- these people would very probably pull the houses down or make the repairs themselves. He therefore had much pleasure in seconding the motion.
The recommendation was put to the meeting and unanimously carried.
THE PROPOSED NEW WESTERN MARKET.
A plan of the proposed new Western Market was submitted.
The question of light was very carefully con- sidered. This would be a much lighter place than theentral Market. The passages would scarcely be anything else but windows. He fancied there would be abundance of light. He was quite willing that the architect should attend the Board meeting and explain the plans more fully.
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thought he would be creating a dangerous pre- cedent if he put the plans of a private individual before the Board for public oríticism.
emana.
Dr. HARTIGAN said-It will be in your re- collection that the Sanitary Surveyor when looking for a site for a pig and cattle cemetery wrote as follows regarding this locality: "Only about 2,000 feet can be used as the ground is marshy, The stench all over the ground was abominable and led me to suppose that most of the other carcases were buried at about the same depth" (i.e., one foot six inches!) The Committee appointed by the Board to choose site for the inspector's quarters will have a lively recollection of the place herein described. Now, sir, this abomination, for I can use no milder term, is almost directly above the pro- posed Hospital, whilst immediately below is a malarious swamp in which the anophele is, at the present moment, flourishing and increasing. This swamp, I have little doubt, speaking now from personal experience, was the principal cause of the fever which throughout the whole year, attacked each and everyone employed in the old glass-works, situated in the immediate vicinity, and drove away, thereby causing considerable inconvenience, the Manager of the Rope Works, whose family were saturated with paludism and whose former residence, - situated a few yards to the eastward, has now happily been demolished. Such surroundings are hardly the most salubrious for a hospital or most conducive to the recovery of. patients exposed to
the sickly tions therefrom. I may casually mention that two physicians who were recently visiting the Government Hospital at Kennedytown searched the whole of the Chinese premises, en- deavouring to locate the fearful stench which disturbed them in their work (upset them would perhaps be more correct) and only gave up when the darkening twilight warned them to desist Then one of the attendants who had been puzzled by their actions quietly informed them "that the odour proceeded from the neighbouring hill-side, and that it was always thus when the wind was from the east." I think the medical department deserve the greatest credit for fighting the plague under such adverse circumstances. Objections to improvements may be raised on the score of expense. Personally I should prefer that increased expenditure for sanitary measures should be incurred in districts more accessible and populous than Kennedytown, but such objection should have been remembered and considered when the site was chosen and grant- ed. I do not say on whose shoulders the outlay should fall. Perhaps the Government, with long. "I have not so far received any communica-sighted wisdom, have a deep scheme for laying tion from the Japanese Government with regard to quarantine at the ports of Japan upon vessels coming from this colony, and therefore believe that there is no such restrictions. But it is advisable for vessels destined for Japan from this port to take out the bill of health, as the medical inspection is made upon vessels entering the Japanese ports.”
It was the opinion of the Board that Mr. Ladds should report to them on the matter, and it was agreed that this should be done.
THE INSPECTION OF STEAMERS FROM HONGKONG.
The following telegram (dated Dec. 3rd) from the Consul-General at Shanghai relative to the inspection of steamers from Hongkong was submitted :-
"Fear Taotai on advice of Customs Com- missioner likely to continue to refuse pratique to steamers from Hongkong. It is purely vexatious officiousness. If Governor considers it neces- sary I shall remonstrate with Viceroy. Please inform me how Saigon, Philippines, and Japan act.”
A subsequent telegram (dated Dec. 11th) from the Consul General said :-
"Chinese authorities on recommendation of Consular body have suspended medical inspec tion of steamers from Hongkong,"
"1
The reply from the Japanese Consul was as follows:-
Mr. W. F. Aldrich, U. S. Vice-Consul, wrote:-
"The regular inspection service required by the U.S. Quarantine Regulations is observed at all American ports at all times, and no vessel will be detained unless sickness of a contagious nature appears on board. Chinese lily bulbs and salted eggs are not allowed entry. Steerage passengers to all ports are required to have their baggage disinfected at port of departure."
THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE NEW TUNG WAH INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.
The block plan of site of the proposed new Tung Wah Infectious Diseases Hospital was submitted.
Dr. Hartigan minuted-" Would it not be The following minutes were appended well for the President as a matter of routine Dr. Hartigan:-"A report might be obtained to lay all the plans alluded to, as they are com- from Mr. Ladds, particularly as to accommoda-pleted, before the Board. Such has evidently tion, situation, number of stalls and general always been the intention of the Government. adaptability to Chinese wants. See Mr. I cannot see why the President should think Osborne's note. The Central Market is always it necessary to ask him for such plans through wet also. Water after washing should have very the Colonial Secretary." full exit."
Mr. Osborne-"It is to be hoped that the New Western Market will be better lighted than the Central.”
The PRESIDENT said that these plans had been prepared in consultation with the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, who was rather a dificult
The PRESIDENT said that the Tung Wah Hospital was a private institution. The mem- bers of the Hospital were finding the money, and he had no more right to put their plans before the Board to be criticised than he had to put the plans of the handsome Hospital which was being erected near the Peak Hotel. He'
out a healthy area at the Tung Wah authorities expense, and will insist upon it before allowing the hospital to be opened or occupied. However that may be, this Board has to deal with hard facts and not amiable intentions, and I therefore beg to move: "That this Board strongly recommends that measures be taken with the least possible delay to remedy the dangerous nuisance existing on the hill-side at Kennedytown above and in proximity to the new infectious hospital; and also that the malarious swamp situated beside the old glass works and below the said Hospital be drained or otherwise made healthy."
Mr. McKiz had much pleasure in seconding. Dr. Hartigan had referred to the fact that members of the Board could speak from ex- perience. He was one of the committee who went down to look at and if possible to find a site for new quarters for the Inspector at the Cattle Depot, and his experience was a most unpleasant one. The stench was so abominable that he had to retire.
Dr. BELL observed that he had been connect-
ed with Kennedytown ever since he had joined the service. He had not only been down there many times a day but he had slept there, and he had never been ill nor had he noticed any smell. He did not care about anopheles or anything else, but the very healthiest place in this colony was Kennedytown Hospital, which was in immediate proximity to the proposed new infections Hospital.
Dr. CLARK mid there was a difference be- tween the site of the Kennedytown Hospital and that of the proposed new Infectious Hospital. The Kennedytown Hospital was on the top of hill some 60 or 70 feet high, and was also about