106
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
any custom
custom as
to consulting the Senior event of the service of any tenement house being Unofficial Member, and I am very sorry we did disconnected by the Water Authority under not do it, While I am on the subject, sir-if the powers conferred by this section, no tenant I am speaking within my rights-it seems to shall be entitled to determine his tenancy or me as a new member coming here t'at the shall have any right of action against his standing rules and orders are very incom lessor by reason of such service being plete, and I would appeal to the Attorney-disconnected." This addition might not be of General to ask if he cannot out of his very much importance, but he thought it would lengthened experience give us something better. have the eff et of preventing litigation in cases HIS EXCELLENCY-Then I would like to were there might be quarrels between landlords know how the matter stands. I can scarcely, and tenants. He had not brought this forward I think, receive it, however much I might without consulting one of the leading barristers wish to do go. As the Attorney-General of the Colony, and the latter had drafted it ha pointed out, the proper way would for him. bo to draw up a protest, which this virtually is, against what you think wrong; but I think this can hardly be accepted as an amendment.
Hou. R. SHEWAN-Ihat being so, sir, I beg to withdraw the amendment, and my seconder is willing to follow the same course. I only brought it up in order to ventilate the matter, because I did not think it right that the unofficial members should be asked to vote away money without knowing how much they were voting. I now beg to give notice of the motion already standing in my name.
HIS EXCELLENCY To what does the hon. member refer the despatch from Mr.' Chamberlain about the widows' and orphaus fund
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Hon. R. SHEWAN-Yes to have it published in the Gazette.
The HARBOUR MASTER-I take it, sir, that if anything is done with that despatch it will be laid on the table, not published in the papers? The COLONIAL TREASURER-It has already been published in tle Gazette, a fortnight ago, HIS EXCELLENCY-It was laid on the table at the last meeting of Council, at which I think the member was not present
Hon. R. SHEWAN--If it has already been published in the Government Gazette, ' I apologise for the trouble I am causing.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-It has been published.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Then I understand the hon. member to withdraw this?
HOD, R. SHEWAN-Yes, sir.
The HARBOUR MASTER- We appear, sir, to be suffering from a want of information.
THE BUILDINGS BILL.
all
The next item down on the agenda was the second reading of the bill entitled Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to l'ublic Health and to Buildings,
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HIS EXCELLENCY--I had intended to save delay by bringing this Bill up for the second reading to-day, as I was under the impression that His Excellency Sir Henry Blake, the Governor, would probably wait in England to attend the second Coronation ceremonial. Since | then I learned that Sir Henry Blake will be with us within a very few days, He is expected here on the 19th. After a great deal of con- sideration and although I am against post- poning this Bill, I thought it would be fairer to him and to you that the same chairman should carry out the whole important matter, which is the second reading, of the Bill and the time spent in considering it clause by clause in Committee. Therefore I have settled to post- pone the second reading until after the arrival of Sir Henry Blake. (Applause.)
THE-WATER BILL.
The Council then resolved itself into Com- mittee and resumed consideration of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for and regulate the Supply of Water in the Colony of Hongkong and for the Maintenance and Repair of the Works in connection therewith.
The following sub-sections were added to section 5.—In the cas: of any tenement house in the City of Victoria, the Water Authority shall disconnect the service within a period of fourteen days from the date of notice in writing having been served on the owner by the Water Authority or within such extended period as may be conceded by the Water Authority, and shall refuse to re-conuect the same and shall also refuse to connect any new service unless such owner shall have obtained the previous consent of the Governor in Council; and (2) in no case shall the Water Authority disconnect any service until in his opinion there shall be established an adequate provision of public fountains.
Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR proposed as a I third sub-section to this section that "In the
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The ATTORNEY GENERAL did not think that the last part of the proposed amend nt, begiu. ning at he words "er shall have any right of action," was at all necessary. With regard to the former part he did not have any objection to putting in certain words to prevent litigation, but he did not know why they should prevent a tenant giving up his tenancy if he so desired. The landlord and tenant might be left to settle any differences in the ordinary way between man and mau. Although it
would be hard on the land rd for the tenant to draw out of his tenancy, it would be equally bard on the tenant to compel him to retain his tenancy.
The CLONIAL TREASURER thought the landlord and tenant should be all wed to settle their differences in the usual way.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY was convinced that the introduction of this proposed ameud- ment would set a very bad precedent.
The. HARBOUR MASTER pointed out that it could he made to press hard upou a tenant who wanted to leave a house not because of the want of water but perhaps for some entirely different reason.
On a division, the proposed amendment was defeated by 7 votes to 6 the minority being Dr. Ho Kai, Messrs Wei A Yuk, C. S. Sharp, C. W. Dickson, G. W. F. Playfair, and R. Shewan.
Some minor amendinents were afterwards mada.
On the Council resuming.
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[August 11, 1902,-
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sauitary Board was held on the 8th inst. in the Board Room. Present:-Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer (President); Ho, W. Chathem, Director of Public Works; Hon. Dr. F. W. Clark, Medical Officer of Health; Mr. F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Polic Mr. C. McL. Messer, Acting Registrar-te eral; Mr. E. Osborne, Mr. Fang Wa Chun, and and Mr. Lau Chn Pak,
PLAGUE PREVENT ON,
the
Farther correspondence was laid ou table with referencs to Professor Simpson's memoranda ou plagns prevention, especially with r. ference to the inspection of vessels asriving from Canton, Wacaq, and the West River during the months of Jaunary to June, and including a draft of additional quarantine regulations; also a letter from the Conncil stafing that they advised that such inspection was impracticable and should not be carried out.
The Principal Civil Medical Officer minuted: -" Until some measures are taken to prevent the introduction of the disease from neighbouring infected towns--I refer more especially to Cauton-I do not know how we cau expect to keep free of this disease. Even if we succeed in stamping it out of our midst, we shall always be exposed to the risk of infection from this town."
The Captain Superintendent of Police mianted :—“I have always thought the medical examina ion impracticable, but we had to support the plague patiout ever he can help it."
experts.' Besides no comes to Hongkong if
The PRESIDENT-This matter refers to the recommendation originally made by Prof. Simpson, and has been considered by the Government and the Government have decided that this is impracticable. I think it is a pity, because, as my minute states, the fact of our being so near to a large town like Cantoo, where plague occurs practically every year, must be an important factor in the continued
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL DIOved that the epidemic outbreak of the disease in Hongkong. Bill be read a third time and passed.
With regard to plague, it is a difficult matter to come to some definite issue upon it, but 1 think the Board might recommend the Govern-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Ion. Dr Ho KAI said 'that on behalf of the Chinese community be must move that the Billment to consider the question of advising the be not read a third time. It was the intention of the Chinese to present a petition to the Rt. Hou. the Secretary of State for the Colonies against the Bill_
Hon. WEI A YUK seconded.
steamboat companies to supply during these six mouths of the year medical men
on board the boats, in order to be able to detect, and to report when the steamers arrive here, any case of anyone suffering from this disease.
Hon. Dr. U.ARK (to Mr. Osborne)-H.re
The third reading was accordingly deferred. The Council adjourned until next Wednes-you anything to say? day at 3 p.m.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council, the Colonial Secretary (Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.) presiding.
SUPPRESSION OF MOSQUITOES. The (fficer Administering. the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of 8175 to meet the pay of a. native non-commis- sioned officer to supervise the work in connec- tion with the suppression of mosquitoes from 10th July to 31s December, 1902, inclusive.
The vote was agreed to.
DAMAGE BY TYPHOON.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote. a sum of 8880.79 to cover the cost of reparing the matsheds, etc., at Taipo, damaged by the typhoon of the 18th July, 19 2
Mr. OSEONE-It is no use saying anything, The Government have decided to do nothing with it.
SCHEME FOR A SPECIAL PLAGUE STAFF.
Correspondence was laid on the table relative to a scheme of organisation of a special plague staff; also a draft prepared by the Medical Officer of Health. The perman ent staff proposed was 85 follows: -2
The
assistant M.O.H ́'s, 2 Chinese assistants to the Bacteriologist for the examination of rats, 6 first- class inspectors, 1 clerk for the disinfecting stations, 5 foremen interpreters, 5 Chinese foremen, 20 artisans, 40 disinfecting cooli §, 3 foremen rat-catchers, 3) rat-catchers. additional staff required for not more than 20 cases of plague weak was as follows:-A tem. porary inspector in charge of burials, a tem- porary inspector in charge of observation block, I foreman interpreter, 1 Chinese foreman, 12 coolies for the removal of ambulances and dead- carts, contractors' carrying coolies for the con. veyance of clothing, removal of rubbish, etc. as certified by one of the assistant M.Ö.H.'s. For not more than 50 cases a week the follow. ing further additions would be required:-Six temporary inspectors for dis nfection, a tem porary inspector in charge of second observation block, 6 foremen interpreters, 20 artisans, 4) disinfecting coolies, 6 colies for ambalances and dead-carts and the necessary number of contractors' carrying coolies. For over 80 cases We notice the establishment at Bangkok of a
a week, the further additions required would Siam Hotels Company, Limited, with a capital be- 6 temporary inspectors for disinfection, of 100,00) ticals. This company is formed to 6 foremen interpreters, 20 artisans, 40 disinfect- acquire, establish, and carry on hot -ls in Siam,ing coolies, 12 coolies for ambulances and dead. and the first hotel to be taken up is the Oriental carts and additional carrying coolies as required. Hotel at Bangkok.
The schedule of salaries paid to temporary staff
The
The CHAIRMAN stated that these sheds were occupied by a large staff of clerks and officers in connection with the Land Survey. sheds had been practically blown away.
The vote was agreed to. This was all the business.
The U.S.S. Buffalo arrived at Singapore on the 26th ult, having left New York on the 5th June. She goes on to Manila.