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204
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
awaited of the sanitary expert who, it was hoped, | Director of Public Works, and it requires a would be sent out from England.
The reply was laid on the table.
HONGKONG FREE FROM PLAGUE. On the 20th ult., H. B. M. Consul at Foochow telegraphed asking if there was any bubonic plague in this Colony. Two days later a reply was sent to the effect that bubonic plague no longer exists in Hongkong.
The correspondence was laid on the table.
THE COMBATING OF THE PLAGUE.
The following letter of thanks was read from Government relative to the manner in which sanitary duties have been performed during the recent epidemic of plague :-
Colonial Secretary's Office,
26th August, 1901. Sir, I am directed to request you to convey to the members of the Sanitary Board and to the staff of the Sanitary Department tho thanks
of H. E. the Governor for the excellent manner in which they have discharged their duties duing the recent epidemic of plague.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. H. STEWART-Lockhart, Colonial Secretary.
The PRESIDENT,
Sanitary Board.
MR, OSBORNE ON HIS HOLIDAY.
A letter was read from Mr. E. Osborne, in- forming the Board that he will be absent from the Colony for three months.
Mr. Osborne left on Wednesday, 25th ult., for Japan.
REPORT ON BUBONIC PLAGUE.
A report by the Medical Officer of Health on bubonic plague for the half year ending June 3th, 1901, was laid on the table.
The PRESIDENT-This report was considered at the last confidential meeting of the Board, and amended. The report as now presonted is this amended report. I move that it be adopted and forwarded to the Hon. Colonial Secretary for the information of H. E. the Governor.
Mr. CHATHAM seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The PRESIDENT-With reference to this report, I move that the special thanks of the Board be conveyed to Inspector Reidie for the excellent services rendered by him during the recent outbreak of plagne. I might mention
that when at home On leare he took the opportunity of inspecting all recent im- provements in England with reference to the disinfection of infected premises, more especially during the epidemic in Glasgow. I move that the special thanks of the Board be conveyed to Inspector Reidie for his excel- loat services during the recent outbreak of plague, and that the Board also thank the following officers-Inspectors Rogers, C. W. Brett, Fincher. Knight, and Police Inspector Robertson-for the way in which they have performed their duties.
Mr. CHATHAM-I have much pleasure in seconding the proposal, and in doing so I just wish to say that if the Government could see its way to allow of some more substantial re- cognition than the mere tendering of thanks by the Board, I shall be very pleased to support anything of that nature.
The proposal was carried unanimously.
ERECTION OF URINALS APPROVED.
The Government has approved the erection of two urinals, one near the Canton and Macao Steamboat Wharf and one near the old Nam Pak Hong Pier.
ADDITIONAL LATRINES.
Dr. CLARK, pursuant to notice, moved : That the Board recommend the Govern ment to erect a public latrine-
(a) On the south side of a lane between Inland Lot No. 652 and the compound of No. 3 Police Station-forty seats.
(b) On the south side of a cross street to the west of the Kowloon City Road and about 100 yards to the west of Kowloon Inland Lot No. 633-fifty scats.
formal resolution by the Board before notice can be inserted in the Gazette and before the latrines can be built.
The PRESIDENT seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
STANLEY AND THE SANITARY LAWS.
A petition from Chinese at Stanley was laid on the table. The petitioners, in effect, ask that certain sanitary laws may not be applied to this bay," so that the inhabitants may live in peace."
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members of the Board, and the following The petition was circulated amongst the
minutes were appended :-
Lient. Col. Hughes: be enforced on all alike."
"The law should
Mr. Lau Chu Pak :-"I would leave those poor people alone, if no plague cases have ever occurred amongst them."
Mr. Fung Wa Chuen :-" If the bye-laws are to be enforced, I would suggest that the Government afford these poor people some help."
Mr. Osborne :-" Whatever alterations can be done without any expense to them, make these do. But do not enforce the laws other wise, except as regards cleansing and lime- washing, which should be rigidly enforced."
Dr. Clark:-" Dr. Pearse and I visited Stanley on the 24th inst., and I have instructed the inspector in what directions he can enforce the Public Health Ordinance without undue hardship."
The President:" The M.O.H. might call for a report from the sanitary inspector specify. ing what is required to be done. Either he or the Assistant M.O.H. might visit Stanley and inform the Board."
Mr. May - The law should be enforced with a certain discretion. There is до reason why cubicles and cocklofts should not be removed and ventilation improved as far as possible, and a good deal will be found possible without inflicting hardship."
Mr. Chatham-"Modoration should be ob- served in dealing with such places."
[September 9, 1901.
Mr. CHATHAM seconded, and the motion was carried.
LIMEWASHING return.
The limewashing return for the fortnight ended 2nd inst. was laid on the table. The return shows that in the Eastern district, ont of a total of 1,880 houses, altogether 1,147 have been limewashed.
WATER ANALYSIS.
Reports were laid on the table relative to the analysis of public water supplies for the
and in each case the water was found to be month of August. Samples were taken from the Kowloon, Tytam, and Pokfulum services,
of excellent quality.
MORTALITY IN MAÇÃO.
The mortality return from Macao for the
·week ended 25th August shows a total of 69 deaths. None was due to plague.
MORTALITY STATISTICS FOR THE COLONY.
The mortality statistics for this Colony for the week ended 24th August show a death-rate of 27.0 per 1,000, as against 16:8 in the preced- ing week and 21.8 in the corresponding week of last year.
'PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH
ORDINANCE,
Dr. CLARK moved that Inspector J. T. Cot- ton be authorised by the Board to institute prosecutions in casas of contravention of the provisions of the Public Health Ordinance.
Mr. CHATHAM seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
ADDITIONAL SENIOR INSPECTORS.
Correspondence was laid on the table relative to a telegram being sent to England regarding the appointment of five senior inspectors.
Dr. Atkinson on the 28th August wrote to the Government recommending that telegram be sent to the Secretary of State for
men
the Colonies requesting that these be appointed and sent out to Hong- kong at as early a date as possible. It was incumbent upon the Board, the President pointed out, to make every endeavour in its power to get the Colony into such a condition that the plague could be attacked at its onset when it appears, as it probably would, early next year. The first case appeared this year on the 4th of January. If these senior inspectors could arrive this year, so much the better, as there was much to be done to improve the sani pro-tary condition of the Colony. Eight first-class
The PRESIDENT This petition from the inbabitants of Stanley is against the laws of the Colony, really. It appears that the sanitary bye-laws have not been enforced there hitherto I think we might leave it to the discretion of the Medical Officer of Health to gradually introduce these bye-laws and enforce them
where he sees it necessary.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK seconded, and the posal was agreed to.
BACKYARDS TO HOUSES.
Correspondence relative to the backyards of the houses on Section A of Inland Lot No. 247 was laid on the table.
The houses, which are now nearing comple- tion, were, it appears, in course of construction at the time Ordinance 13 of 1901 became law, but they do not comply with Section 56 of that Ordinance, which provides for backyards to houses.
The attention of the owner was called to this fact, and he through Mr. J. F. Reece, solicitor, pointed out that the plans of the houses were approved by the Public Works Department and by the Medical Officer of Health before the passing of Ordinance 13 of 1901, but after the Bill had been read a first time and published in the Gazette. The plans were approved, there- fore, Mr. Reece held, with a full knowledge of the proposed legislation.
Dr. Clark minuted:-"I have inspected these houses, and find that they will be fairly sanitary when completed. In view of the circumstances right to compel the owner to alter the houses of the case I think the Board should waive its 110w, su as to meet the recent decision of the Hon. Attorney-General re Crown streets in the rear of private buildings not counting as "open spaces in the rear, provided by the owner.”
The Aeting Director of Public Works The houses are certainly well minuted :-" situated as regards open space in the rear. I consider it absurd to require the provision of What I would like to backyards in such cases.
(c) At the corner of Fourth Street and Ken- nedy Street, Yaumati, to the south of Fourth Street and to the east of Kennedy Street-899 would be a restriction in the enormous fifty seats.
height of the houses, frouting on such a narrow street. I am in favour of passing them.”
Dr. CLARK moved that the Board accept the buildings as they now stand as complying with
The President minuted :-“It would be as well to have a plan showing the proposed sites." Dr. CLARK-These sites have been select ed by myself, in consultation with the ' the Ordinance.
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inspectors had been provided for in this year's Estimates, but there were only three inspectors on the actual staff, therefore the senior in- spectors, provided they arrived this year, could be paid out of the lapsing salaries of the first- class inspectors.
H. E. the Governor approved the suggestion contained in the letter, and on 30th August the following telegram was despatched to the Secre tary of State for the Colonies-Referring to my despatch No. 265 of 23rd July, send at once five senior sanitary inspectors.”
This was all the business.
A correspondent relates in the Courrier d'Haiphong an amusing story, as he calls it, about General Lorne Campbell at Tientsin. He says that a French petty officer, in a state of intoxication, was passing General Campbell's house at night, when he was seized with the The official on idea of paying him a visit. watch at the house-door tried to prevent him, bat the Frenchman was too strong and broke in. Then appeared on the, scene the General himself, very scantily clad, but whip in hand. With whip and foot he assisted the French petty officer out of the house. At this moment * French patrol passed, to whom their country. man appealed loudly. Seeing a man in light attire, armed with a whip, they attempted to *rrest him, but General Campbell "with the Englishman's innate love of boxing" fell upon the patrol vigorously. They would, however, have treated him roughly, when they suddenly discovered who`he WAS. Next day General Campbell sent in an indignant complaint to General Goyron, who cordially agreed with him about the dranken petty oflour, but pointed out that his attitude toward the French patrol is hardly in keeping with his high rank. We wonder what amount of truth, there is in this litttle tale.