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DR. HARTIGAN AND THE SANITARY BOARD.
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THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENIS.] .:
SHANGHAI, 15th March, 7.28 p.m. A private telegram from a high official at Hsianfu received here to-day says that the future course of events is very uncertain and rather menacing.
The Chinese public meeting here to-day strongly denounced the Manchurian con vention, the ratification of which assuredly means the partition of China, according to those present at the meeting.
SHANGHAI, 20th March, 7.15 p.m.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[March 28, 1901:
valuable institution which it should be, and vitriol-throwing becoming as common here in this Far Eastern city, threatened · con- as it once was in London, Paris, and other tinually, as are all cities in the East, with Western centres of civilisation and crime. (Daily Press, 21st March.).
grave problems concerning the public health, It would be horrible to think that every On the 27th-April, 1895, Dr. HARTIGAN, sanitary affairs are in a confused and un-coolie who took unbrage for a scolding in conjunction with the Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, satisfactory condition, which reflects great dismissal might invest a few cents in a little wrote to the Colonial Secretary of this discredit on those who have refused for so vitriol with which to blind his employer Colony, tendering his resignation as a mem-long to alter the state of affairs. It was and thus to gratify his hatred and spite, ber of the Sanitary Board, of which both suggested in 1895, when not only Drs. We trust therefore that this article will be were then unofficial members nominated by HARTIGAN and Ho KAI, but also Messrs. placed among the goods prohibited for sale the Governor. The resignation was accepted, J. J. FRANCIS and R. K. LEIGH, the repre- by retail except to those furnished with a and Dr. HARTIGAN ceased to be a member sentatives at the time of the Hongkong licence to deal in it. Means should be of the Board. On the 19th December, 1899, ratepayers, resigned their posts on the Board, found to check so dangerous and dastardly Dr. HARTIGAN. was re-elected by the Hong- that the ratepayers should refuse to send a form of crime at its very first inception. kong ratepayers, with Mr. JAMES MCKIE, to ny further representatives to the Board the Sanitary Board. On the 7th instant the until it was put on a more satisfactory foot- fact of Mr. McKIE's resignation was mening; and this being done the Sanitary Board tioned at the Board's meeting, and this week, was reduced to a collection of official members. as has been seen from the letter appearing Unfortunately, this extreme protest. did not in our columns yesterday, Dr. HARTIGAN lead to the desired result, for the Board is has publicly informed the ratepayers of the hardly a more free or more useful body now Colony that he has notified H.E. the Goy- than it was even in 1895. The real reason ernor of his resignation of his seat. On the for this is the apathy of the ratepayers. former occasion Dr. HARTIGAN resigned be-They do not trouble to support their repre- cause he could not approve of the appoint-sentatives' protests, though they appreciate ment to the post of Medical Officer of Health the justice of the complaints and see that of a gentleman selected by the Government, their present representation is a farce. The stating in his letter that he was of opinion consequence is that each fresh protest by an that the Medical Officer's position and in unofficial member of the Board simply falls dependent powers, unless considerably ino- flat, and the old state of affairs continues dified and in complete accordance with the practically unchanged. As long as this is Board's unanimous resolution in the matter, so, it is useless to expect any amelioration were inconsistent with the Board's constitu- of existing conditions. If the ratepayers tion and dignity. Now Dr. HARTIGAN bases would publicly support their representatives, his resignation on wider grounds. Speak the latter might be listened to with some ing, as every one must admit, from a long respect, and the reports of the Sanitary experience of sanitation in Hongkong, he Board would not be mere records of a states his opinion that "the Board, as such, debating society, can satisfactorily accomplish nothing what- ever, unless and until it is made a free agent, with adequate powers, acting directly under the Governor, and solely responsible to His Excellency and the community." It The outrage perpetrated on Mr. REEK, of is, in fact, on the question of the actual the Royal Naval Dockyard, is a new and status of the Sanitary Board that Dr. serious development on the part of the HARTIGAN feels compelled now to make Chinese rough. We are familiar with the this very strong protest. It is very un- stealthy attack from behind, with the big fortunate that at the present moment, bamboo, by the Celestial footpad; we are when the Colony is threatened with the aware, also, that the Cantonese bravo uses possibility at least of two epidemics, various disguised weapons, such as walking that a body capable of much useful and sticks made of iron, fans with solid iron indispensable work as is the Sanitary Board cases, and other implements intended to should have been reduced to such a situation inflict deadly injury; and we have often that a member who certainly cannot be heard of them throwing pepper in the eyes| accused of a lack of public spirit should see of their victimus; but this is the first time no course before him but to give up his seat, we heard of Chinese resorting tỏ vitriol as convinced that the Board in its present a weapon of offence. The attack was, it is position can satisfactorily accomplish noth-needless to say, most cowardly, and but for ing whatever. Dr. HARTIGAN'S contention that time and trouble alike are demanded for the due consideration of the many im- portant subjects which come up before the Board can be denied by none. It is there fore absurd to expect that busy men, who have their own business to attend to, can
THE VITRIOL OUTRAGE.
(Daily Press, 19th March.)
A private telegram to-day from some friends of the Emperor at Hsianfu says that confusion is reigning as the Imperial Court.
The Emperor is said to be absolutely powerless, while the Empress Dowager furiously refuses to return herself or to permit the Emperor to return to Peking under existing conditions.
General Gaselee is expected here on Friday by H. M. cruiser Isis.
SHANGHAI, 21st March, 6.43 p.m. private telegrain received in Shanghai from Hsianfu to-day states that the Im- perial Court is going to Hsiangyang, in Hupeh, to await the evacuation of Peking by the Allies.
Tientsin reports that the situation both with the Russians and with the French remains highly critical. The British, it is said, are taking every precaution against- possible troubles.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
SPECIAL MEETING.
A special meeting of the the Sanitary Board was held on Monday, the 18th inst., at the Board Offices to consider what steps should be taken to deal with the present outbreak of small-pox in the Colony. Dr. Ball (Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer) was voted to the chair, and there were also present:--Mr. W. Chatham (Acting Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), the Hon. A. W. Brewin, Mr. Fung Wa Chuen, Mr. Chan A Fook, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary).
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an instinct that he was the object of one, the victim would almost certainly have been deprived of his sight besides being dis- figured. As it is, be will probably lose the sight of one eye, and has been severely burned on the face and head. The fact that revenge was the motive of the crime afford to attend the fortnightly meetings does not in the least mitigate the brutality merely for the purpose of airing their of it. No provocation could excuse such an
The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by opinions, with no prospect of benefitting outrage, and the fact that the instigator of stating the objects of the meeting, and said anyone thereby. The past history of the it hired another to perform the act he feared that the disease was slowly on the increase, Sanitary Board would seem to prove that to commit does not, in any way, tend to les-which necessitated some immediate action on the opposition between the official and non- sen the offence. If convicted, both pri- their part. A number of Europeans had official members is an inevitable and per- soners will be sure to receive a severe sen- been attacked,
than in previous manent phenomenon, and that the official tence, which they will have rightly earned. years. The number of cases reported up to view must always prevail in every case of Now that we know that there are bad date was 35, and during the week ending on Saturday last there were 15 cases and divergence of opinion. The only prospect characters of the species which are ready
4 deaths. Of the cases reported 9 of the unofficials having their recommenda- to perpetrate violence, whether by way of European, two of them proving fatal, so tions carried out therefore seems to be by per- open assault or secret murder to gratify that there had been a considerable increase suading the officials in the course of argument; revenge as well as for purposes of robbery, among the Europeans in the colony. There this prospect cannot be considerad a very we hope that the law will step in with a was a great need for immediate and rigorous hopeful one. When by chance the ideas of strong deterrent, in the shape of flogging in action in order to stay the ravages of the dis- the two sections happen to coincide, the addition to terms of imprisonment with ease, and stamp it out of existence Board has an opportunity of being of public hard labour. The sale of vitriol in small Dr. CLARK said that the whole staff of the service; but this occurs too rarely to justify quantities should also be forbidden or limited Sanitary Board had been directed to be vHO- cinated, and he thought it would be well if the the continuance of the body as at present to those whocan show that they need it for a Government would issue instructions to all constituted. After all the friction and un-specific purpose. Otherwise we may find heads of departments to see that the members pleasant incidents of the past, the Board the example of the prisoners in this case of their staff were similarly treated. I remains still as far as ever from being the Leing adopted by others, and the offence of previous epidemics arrangements had been made
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