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They delight in those efforts in the Sanitary Board, successful in their object but futile in their effect, to show up the shortcomings and imbecilities of a dilatory Government. Even lordly members of Council have dilated in strong language over the dinner-table on the woes of Hongkong, and their own ridiculous position. Would that the words had been spoken in the Council chamber, but perchance they feared even His Excellency's presence might not protect them from bellicose officials!
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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enhanced and new locs opened Workmen,
the Colony
MAY 25, 1001.
to ube
rishing
the treasury Hongkong.
world
the city system of tramways
The game is worth, the will benefit in as the third shipping port of the
the long will proper by leaps and bound. But how is the Colony to prosper if, throu continued presence of plague, it is quaran. tined year after year by the various trading centres of the world? It is therefore clear that for crying evils we need drastic remedies.
For tropical countries public baths are necessity, not only for coolies, but for all of the community; and H.E. the Governor deserves the thanks of the Colony for being the first to introduce them. At present they are run at a loss to the Government, but in ■ adding to the revenue of the Colony. couple of years time they will be the means of
difference to everything connected with the The air of nearly every ground-floor in the tion of their new ruler, with the enthusi- Colony is contaminated and charged with astic outbursts of loyalty in India, Ceylon, the poisonous sewer gas, and the wonder is that Straits, indulged in by his Majesty's other there is not more sickness. Asistio subjects.
- remove to the Before the system of traps and gullies was Any one who mixed amongst the good citizens introduced, we had very few, if any, mosquitoes, at the Refineries or Docks would know that they (and none of the abominable stinks which often took a real interest in the Colony's well-being, greet our nasal organs as we pass along the and felt that here they were being deprived of streets of the city. We were also free from a controlling power in local matters which at plague! But, of course, I don't mean to say home they would have possessed in affairs of that the drains are the sole cause of plague, as Empire, de 1920
doctors say there are other agents at work.
It is useless to cover the traps with bags and chloride of lime, and to pour gallons of Jeyes Fluid and other disinfectants down the drains. This is only cheating ourselves. The protection is imaginary, and money is wasted.
Why not remove the causes of the present deplorable state of affairs by (a) introducing covered cement, rendered cement-concrete, drains, where advisable (these give a smooth channel and allow of the free passage of swaze); system of traps and gullies, or if this cannot be (b) abolishing the mosquito and germ-breeding done, covering these up during the dry season; (c) introducing more covered manholes; (d) point which requires careful study, and which In dealing with plague patients there is a introducing high sewer ventilating pipes; (e) may lead to riots and strikes as in India, if not adopting surface drains for houses, with traps attended to in time. I hope the Government and ventilating pips in the yards, and lastly, will give this point its serious attention. but most important of all, erecting large flush- I mean the transfer of the sick and dead from ing tanks on the high levels for the thorough the Colony to the mainland of China. It is a flushing of the sewers with salt water pumped concession which the Chinese are praying for, from the harbour. The sewage should not and for which I believe they have already be allowed to pollute the harbour-as witness petitioned the ⠀⠀ Government. the state of the Praya at low tide-but of the sick and dead can do no harm to The removal should be pumped and carried out to ses. the Colony, but the contrary, as it will The last item means a heavy annual vex-relieve the place of its nick and dead, thereby penditure, but if we want to keep our city decreasing the chances of infection and future fresh and healthy and free from plague and outbreaks. Of course it will be necessary to other diseases, we must be prepared to pay for register and supervise these departures as in it. Better spend money sensibly and effectually previous years. Thousands and thousands have than waste thousands of dollars annually on died and been buried in and around Canton, and imaginary preventive measures, exasperating any sensible man can see that the few from and annoying alike to body, mind and temper. Hongkong are but a drop in the ocean.
From drains we come to houses.
Who would be free themselves must strike the blow," but up to the present the only offensive attempt has been the Chief of Police's celebrated challenge.
Let us be up and doing. The Hon. T. H. Whitehead is again amongst us. He organised a crusade in Parliament to further our interests, which had a moderate success. “Opportunity makes the man. "Let him put his hand to the plough. The land has lain fallow long enough. He will find his fellow-citizens true and
READY.
11
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS
Hongkong, 22nd May 1991. SIB-It is evident that the present newspaper agitation for municipal freedon is the outcome of past failures in sanitation and attempts to improve the health of the Colony. Although we have introduced and adopted a new and elaborate system of drainage, concreted nearly the whole surface of the Colony, and whitewashed the honses of the city twice every year for the past saven years, plogue is still with us. In certain respects it is worse, several Europeans having already succumbed to the disease.
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The proper housing of the inhabitants is of the greatest importance to the health and pros perity of the Colony. The inhabitants, especially the poorer class of Chinese, are packed together If plague, malaria, typhoid and kindred like sardines. The houses are high in pro- diseases are to be stamped out, money must be portion to the width of the streets and lanes, spent; and the Government cannot help and there is a total absence of light and air. sacrificing its reversion and the wealthy land-The various flats are low and suffocating, and lords their incomes,
lacking in proper ventilation. Fresh air can. In improving the sanitation of the Colony, not circulate through them and neither can the there are many points which require careful sun's rays penetrate to their dark and fetid study.
interiors. In fact many of the houses are Two questions of paramount importance are:-surrounded and situated in dark damp lanes
1. Improvement of the drainage system. 2. The housing of the inhabitants. The
present system of drainage, although perfect in its way, is unsuitable, for the following
reasons :-****
The drain pipes are too small, and are liable to get choked.
The pipes are difficult to clean, and also the numerous traps and gullies.
The joints of the pipes interfere with the free passage of sewage and induce the mud and rubbish to settle.
The rotting rubbish and stagnant sewage matter is just the stuff to breed plague
Rats and other drain-vermin and get inoculated with these germs, rush out into the open for fresh air, die in the houses, poison the air, and so help to introduce the disease to man.
Mosquitoes breed in countless millions in the stagnant water and sewage of the traps and gullies and drains, and who can say that they, together with fleas, are not transmitting agents of plague, malaria, typhoid fever and other dreaded diseases P
we are
at present suffering, obliges us t
where even at daytime lights have to be lit by the occupants of the ground and first floors before they can see their way about. places breed plague and disease, and it is no Such wonder that the plague clings to the Colony so tenaciously when there are so many "breeding" localities in existence.
I would suggest that the Government lay out a model town on the New Praya (East), at Causeway Bay or at Kowloon by erecting twin houses, fronting wide streets, and with lanes between every alternate pair. This would give thorough ventilation, and tenants would have the benefit of fresh air and sunlight. The side walls of each pair of houses could be erected with large windows, and the party or dividing wall ventilated by means of circular windows or ventilators in order to insure a free passage of the air. Kitchens and bath-houses could be erected at the rear of each block.
very expensive and wasteful, but in consideration Some may argue that such a scheme would be of the benefits to be derived, I think it worth while sacrificing a little money and land. Such houses would bring in higher rentals, and a better class of tenants.
Of course it would be impossible
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Doctors may argue that this would be spread- ing the disease, but the argument is silly, when everything is taken into consideration. Nature will do her work.
as to have the bodies of their friends and There is nothing the Chinese dislike so mnoh relatives buried and burnt in quick-lime, another method of cremating them.
If the Chinese want to leave the Colony for their homes, and the Chinese Government has Government should not allow them to go... The no objection, I cannot see why the Hongkong present enforcement of the Convention is a farce. Although the Venice Convention forbids such removals, it was drafted for European countries, and the drafters of the convention being quite Colony and the mainland, the Home Govern- ignorant of the conditions prevailing in the ment should be approached through H. E the Governor with a view to amending the law as applied to Hongkong and granting the conces sion prayed for by the Chinese, Sa
Hoping others will come forward with better schemes for the benefit of the Colony.—Yours, etc.,
* TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.”
Bra, Borutator's ”- valuable and thought-
Hongkong, 23rd May. ful letter to the Daily Press has set free a flood of opinions, wise and otherwise, concerning this most important subject, the general result being an absolute disregard of the main principle which should govern a disonssion of this nature, manage his own anairs and control his own namely, the inalienable right of a ma expenditure. The concession of this principle is the basis of cipal organisations, as diametrically opposed to foundation of all muni-
that system of Governmental oligaroby under ng down, axiom i that, before complete, and in one or two other places. It is
partial, municipal freedom any community, have demonstrated
The mosquito plagued with - closed curtains at night, thus compelling us all the existing houses in this wayard deal with which we profem to be governed in 1
but on old
to shut ont fresh air and breathe the warm houses being demolished for re-erection, I think fetid air inside the curtains, to the detriment it would be well for the Government to pam a of our health... I need not mention that they law making it compulsory for landlords to erect, torment and worry the life out of us at times; where convenient and advisible, twin hous for I think can get many willing testimonials under the condition that the loss in the value of
point.
land is made up between them proportionately.
The traps of the drains being open day and night poisonous gases escape from them, and pollute the surrounding atmosphere. The traps is sickening, and what to say that such a state of not injurious to health?
The Government will have to suffer loss through compensating the landlords, but the money can well be spared in consideration of the benefit which the Colony will derive from such a change. There will be more hing space, the value of house property will be
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