June 2, 1902.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Mr. OSBORNE-The Director of Public Works
· HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
does not quite understand me. At the begin- A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held ning of the wet season, say, the meter would be on the 29th alt. in the Board Room. Present:--- read, and when the water is running to waste Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical | it should he supplied free When the dry season Officer (President); Dr. Clark, Medical Officer came the meter would be read again and the of Health; Lieut.-Col. Hughes, R.A.M.C.; Hon. full charge made. The meter would be rad W. Chatham, Direo!or of Public Works; Hon. twice-once at the commencement of the wet F.J.Badeley, Captain Cuperintendent of Police; season and once at the end, Mr. E. Osborne, Mr E, R. Hallifax, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, Mr. Lan Chapak, and Mr. G. A.plan is unworkable. Woodcock (Secretary).
MR. CHADWICK'S REPORT.
Hon. W. CHATHAM-But there again the Last year the reservoirs, with the exception of l'okfulam, did not over- flow at all, so that if th· Board docided to adopt A minute was submitted from Dr. Clark anything of this sort it would be equally There would be no recommending that the Board concur in the unworkable in that way. following recommendations of Mr. Chadwi koverflowing' of the reservoirs, and so there -Water Supply-(1) That the provision of a would be no reason why the water should be low-level reservoir (with pumping station) in distributed in the way suggested by Mr. Taitamtak Valley be proceeded with at once. Osborne. Another thing. if people want the (2) That works at Tytam in connection with the water laid on in their houses. I don't see wby water supply should take precedence of any they should not pay for it. such works at Pokfulam. (3) That the shutting off all house services not provided with meters and the provision of stand-pipes in the streets is the only suitable method of curtailing the water supply, and should be adopted withont delay so as to obviate recourse to the intermit- tent system which is a source of danger to the community owing to the possibility of the conamination of the supply through the entrance of foul, air, foul liquids, and pos- Ribly disease-germs into the
The resolution was not se ouded, and was consequently lost.
Hon. W. CHATHAM-I think, sir, with regard to the allowance meationed, the matter will probably be dealt with in a different manner, either by rating valuation or by an allowance per head per day. If the latter method is adopted. I should say that ten gallons per head is a very fair allowance.
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411
Mr. OSBORNE-The remarks I made just now in connection with Mr. Chadwick's report fall with even greater conviction on Professor Simpson's report. I do not know whether Mr. Chadwick has sent in another report, but Pro- fessor Simpson has. Now, sir, the Colony has applied to Cæsar in the shape of the Secretary of State, and in consequence Cesar has sent oug these two experts to judge between the com munity on the one side, in the statements it has made as to the instary condition of the Colony, and the statements that have been made on the other side. Now, sir, having ap plied to Cresar, I think everyon must agres that we are bound to abide by Cæsar's decision, and if the recommendations of these sanitary experts are of any valno at all, they are worth bɔing put into effect immediately. Perhaps not all of them can be put into eff of, and although I qnito agree with you, sir, that in some respets it would be better to wait until we have Pro- fessor Simpson's final raport. I cannot agree with you altogether, and for this reason-that the Estimates for 19 3 are now being prepared, and if we delay the forwarding of our recom- mendations to the Government we may have to wait for a whole year, because they would be too late for insertionin the 1903 Estimates. There I would suggest to the Board that we forward our recommondations at ones, and in doing so urge upon the Government that we shall have to take action ut oft. We should recommend them to give immediate effect to certain of the and services. (4) That as implied in (3), all thouse services be motored and that an extra
recommedatious, and these recommendations I charge be made for all waters used in excess of
would suggest should be, firstly, the appoint ment of a permanent plague staff under the (ton) gallons per bead per day. Sewerage and drainage (5) That all galleys and other inlets Mr. Fung WA CHUN -I suppose this refers control of the Medical Offer of Health. Now, sir, unless this recommendation is immedi- to the street sewers and storm drains should be to new houses. trapped. (6) That close-barred gratings be fixed Dr. CLARK-To new buildings, practically.ately forwarded for insertion in the Estimate; on all inlets to sewers and drains. (7) That the Nos. 9 and 10 having also boon" read, Mr. | there is a great probability of this staff not Provision maintenance (scavenging and flushing) of the OSBORNE said Before the motion for the adop being supplied for another year. street sewers and drains be transferred to the tion of these recommendations en bloc I should should also by made for obtaining informa- Sanitary Board, so that the whole of the sca-like to recommend that the Board inform the tion regarding the spread of the disease in the Colony, Professor Simp- wenging work may be under one authority, (8) | Government that in the presenting of these districts outside "That all pipes used in house drainage work be recommendatious to the Government their ac- not fi .al, These required to be in accordance with a standard tion in the matter is specification and that to attain this object a reports of Mr. Chadwick are far too num- depôt be provided by the Government where erous and far too important to be dealt with at pipes should be inspected and tested under the one single sitting. I believe the intention of supervision of the Board's surveyor. (9) That the Government is to proceed at once with the all house drains laid under a building be required most urgent matters referred to in this report, to be of iron of standard quality. (10) That as and in presenting it to the Government I many as possible of the existing storm-water should like it to be stated that the Board will drains and nullahs be uncovered and kept open, take an opportnuity later on of making further so that they can be scavenged in the same recommendations on other points touched manner as a street, and that the duty of sos-apon in the report. If we don't do this it venging such nullahs be transferred to the may be said afterwards that we brashed the Sanitary Board. At the same time any existing whole of the recommendations aside at one sit storm drains which are not actually needed ting, and if the faults that Mr. Chadwick has should be removed and the ground filled in. pointed out are not remedied the blame will to
some extent rest upon this Board.
water mains
The PRESIDENT—I think it would be better if we take these recommendations separately.
This was agreed to, and Nos. 1 and 2 were agreed to without discussion.
With regard to No. 3, Mr. 08BORNE moved that the regulations in force in the City of Victoria be also made to apply to Kowloon.
Hon. F. J. BADELEY—I think we might strengthen that paragraph if draw attention also to the extreme danger of large conflagrations if we have intermittent supplies
We
Hon. W. CHATHAM—It is not within the province of the Sanitary Board to introduce anything with regard to the prevention of fires. The recommendation was amended and made to apply to Kowloon and the other districts outside the City of Victoria.
Nos 5, 6, and 7 wero passed without comment. With regard to No. 8, Dr. CLARK aid there was no doubt that the present system was an unsatisfactory oue, and it was very desirable that the recommendation should be carried, which was done.
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sou laid great stress upon this point, and I think everyone will agree that we should lose no time in making our arrangements with the Chinese Customs and other officials to keep us informed with regard to ontbreaks of plague in their districts, which us to maintain an efficieat would enable
of shipping. This is a very inspection
which experieno) ha important matter,
with at
once.
us should be dealt showa We had an instance only the other day of a ship from Bombay bringing plague to Shang- hai, and the same might easily have happened to Hongkong. The principal recommendation I would suggest should be forwarded to Government is оце which will involve a the constitution very radical change in of this Board, and it if this-to appoint a sanitary commissioner. Now, opinions will no doubt differ as to the wisdom or necessity of making this appointment, bat, sir, we have had the recommendation from the expert seat out from home, and if 'we do Hon. F. J. BADELEY seconded, and the not follow that expert's advice we will only motion was carried without opposition.
The PRESIDENT-I move that the recom- mendations of the Medical Officer of Health, with the additions proposed, be adopted by the Board and forwarded to the Government.
Mr. OSBORNE-With these remarks ? The PRESIDENT —Yes.
PROFESSOR SIMPSON'S MEMORINDA ON PLAQUE.
The PRESIDENT-Professor Simpson's meш- oranda have been forwarded for the considera- tion of members of the Board, and we have to make any remarks or suggestions concern. ing them. Mr. Osborne has practically said Referring to No. 4, Mr. OSBORNE said what I was going to say with reference to With regard to that, sir, I would point out as Mr. Chadwick's report, and I would re-echo his a suggestion that, when the water is running to remarks with reference to Professor Simpson's. waste in the reservoirs, during that time the His memoranda was considered at a special water should be practically given free to people, meeting held in January, and the Board re- Professor Simpsom's as it is now. If it is running to waste-running commended that all over the bed-wash-I see no reason why it suggestions should be carried out, which should not be turned into the pipes and given recommendation has been in part given effect to. to the people to use. It seems to me to be a I refer more especially to the appointment great pity that when there is an abundance of of extra medical assistants, the increase in water there should not be an abundant supply. the number of rat-catchers, the establish
Hon. W. CHATHAM-That proposition, I ment of district offices and the supply of may say, sir, would be quite impracticable. It further accommodation for the staff. would mean that in order to carry it out think it would be very much better if the you would have to have a staff of men who Board delays making any further recommenda- -would run round immediately the reservoirs tions until the members have received the final began to overflow and read the meter, and then | report of Professor Simpson, as I understand run round again and read the meter immediately that another report is coming. In the circum the overflow ceased I think the Board will stances I think it would be more satisfactory see that it would be an almost impracticable if we postpone any remarks or suggestions we
have to make until we get the final report. proposition to adopt.
I
The have reason to regret it afterwards. work of fighting the plague must go on throughout the year; it cannot proced in the spasmodic manner in which we have con- ducted it in the past. The men who are to go round in search of the sick must be men trained for the work, and should not be men picked up here and there- men who accept this work as temporary employment because they cannot get employ
They should be men ment elsewhere. in permanent employment, who would make it We had -8 their business to deserve their pay and to retain their appointments. complaint yesterday morning of want of courtesy on the part of a sanitary inspector I am told he was an inspector-
Dr. CLABE-A Chinese doctor. Mr. OSBORNE -Now, sir,' complaints3 such as this would not be possible if we hnd a properly organised staff supervised staff, and we cannot have properi organi sation and supervision unless we have ✨ head-one administrative head, who will have the Sanitary Department in hila Schands, whole time and attention and give his to them. For these reasons I think we must give immediate effect to the recomm ndations made by Professor Simpson, and I beg to move accordingly.
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