October 6, 1902.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ANALYSES OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES.
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251
The report of the Government Analyst upon widely as possible, and further, to remove what that they might be given as speedily and as the analyses of the public water supplies was to appeared to be a legacy frour the Director (Dr. the effect that the results showed the water of: Doberck) himself, the reproach that this Obser- the Pokfulum, Tylam, Korvloon and Chenug.vatory was not in touch, or at all events not in shawan services to be of excellent quality.
L'MEWASHING RETURNS,
The limewashing returns for the fortnight 1,220 houses in the Central District and 271 in en led Saturday. 27th September, showed that the Eastern had been dealt with.
sympathetic relationship, with the kindred Institution at Sicawei, no doubt to the dis- advantage (soientifically) f both, and certainly | What occurred between the Director of this to the detriment of navigators in these seas. Observatory and the Manila Observatery a few years ago was too well known to need repetition, The mortality statistics for the week ended but the baneful results to this Clony were of 1,000 of the population per annum as compared to 20th September showed a death-rate of 197 per so pressing a nature in that case they had with 21.6 in the previous week and 236 in the regrettable the sime pressure was not applied
ba rem died, and at once, and it corresponding wek of last year.
in this instance.
TH DEATH-RATE.
RETURNS OF R`TS,
the world—in London or anywhere els:—would a Chinese theatre-I am talking now of a Chinese theatre, with all its accompanying noises and nuis nces-be permitted within hear- ing of a great hospital. And as you, sir, right ly say, the inmates of an hospital are as much entitled to have their health consider,d as those persons living out of the bospital. But apart from that, you see I have minut d that tho Sanitary Board should recommend the Govern- ment to refuse to licenso tbis theatre simply on the grounds of its causing further overcrowding, I know it will be stated that it is just the reverse-that, if the theatre not there, there will be Chinese houses orowded with people. That is quite true, but the mere fact of the proximity of a theatre brings in its train a number of other trad ́s, and the surrounding district will be more crowded than ever. Ricksha-coolies, restaurants, sellers of all kinds of wares. lodging-houses and every description of Chinese life will be scattered round that theatre as they are round theatres in other parts of world, Therefore I say you will have a greater overcrowding in the neighbourhood than if that theatre did not exist. We unfortunately have no power to do anything. We have no power to stop the erection of this theatre; we can only rocom. mend the Government to do so. And again that we ought to doll in our power to empel the Chinese to spread out by prohibiting HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER such places as theatres, opium-divans and such like. If they want their theatre, let them put it somewhere elso and the people will follow it, If they want their opium-divans, spread them for apart and the people will go near to them. By that means we can do little towards stopping this overcrowding.
a
say
Mr. LAU CHUPAK-Sir, I do not quite agree with Mr. Osborne. As far as I know, thore are no opium-divaus or restaurants near the present theatres. No doubt this site is situated in one of the most ins uitary and overcrowded localities. but I think it is more desirable to have an up-to date building like this theatre that the present insanitary tenement houses there. So long, in my opinion, as the good derived from such a change will fully compensate for the additional noise, there should be no objection on the part of the Sanitary Board.
The PRESIDENT-You do not propose au amendment?
Mr. LAU CHUPAK-I beg to move that the plan be passed with such alterations as the Board may require.
On the two motions proposed by Dr. Clark being put to the meeting, all (with the exception of Mr. Lau Chupak, who declined to vote) supported the first; the second was carried by 4 votes to 3, the minority being Messrs, C. McI. Messer, Fung Wa Chun, and Lau Chupak.
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The returns of rats showed that during the wook ended th September 1,166 rats had been destroyed in the Colony, and 798 in the pre- vious week. During ho week ended 15th alt., while the rat-catchers were ont on strike, the returns fell to 273. Up to the end of Augus: the total number of rats killed was 68,665 as compared with 69,115 and 37,068 at the cor- responding date of the two previous years respectively.
This was all the public business.
OF COMMERCE,
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WJS
A letter, date 16th instant, was also read, on the subject of the warnings issue by the 138 stemmers on the China Coast, and it was Hongkong Observatory, signed by masters of decided to forward a copy of this to the Goreru- ment.
PROPOSED LICENSING OF PILOTS.
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Read the report of the sub-committee, dated subject, datel 16th July last. The conclusions 8th instant, on the Government's letter on this arrived at by the sub-committee were that there is a necessity for pilotage properly so called at this port and that certificates of competency Licensing Board need not be entirely composed should be granted by the Goverument. The of Government fficials but might be supple- mented by experts. It was pointed out that the At the monthly meeting of the Committee of granting or refusing to graut a certificate, as the Hougkong General Chamber of Commerce suggested by the Government, could be acted held in the Chamber Room, City Hall, on Tues- day, 16th September, 1902, at 4 p.m. Present:-respousibility to which the Government would on by private individuals without pecuniary Hon. C. S. Sharp (Chairman), Mr. W. Poate | (Vice-Chairman), Hon. C. W. Dickson, Mossra,
A. Haupt, N. A. Siah, J. R. M. Smith, H. Tomkins, R. C. Wilcox, Hou. R. Shewan (ex-officio), and A. R. Lowe (Secretary).
MINUTES.
not be liable aud that the commi tes were only asking the Government for what is done as Ei.matter of course in home and other Asiatic ports.
The report was unanimously adopted, aud after some discussion,
It was decided again to address the Govern- The Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the ment on the subject and to enclose a copy of 12th ultimo were read aud confirmed.
the sub-committee's report. STORM-WARNINGS,
The correspondence under this heading which bad already been published was laid on the table, The final reply, dated 10th ult,, from the Colonial Secretary was read, in which he stated that it does not seem either desirable or expedient for the Government to criticise the flag sigual code and meteorological exhibits submitted or to test the relative accuracy of the information and typhoon-warnings issued by the Sicawei and Hongkong Observatories, but that the Acting Director would give every assistance to the Chamber in making a comparison.
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Hon. W. CHATHAM-I consider, sir, that there is no objection to this Board making a recommendation to the Government with r. gard The CHAIRMAN said the Government ap- to the proximity to the Hospital of this pro- reared to think the Chamber had coufused the posed theatre, but in reality I consider that is difference between forecasts and the observa- rather outside the province of the Board. Itions on which these are based, but he assured tink it rests more with you, sir, in your capa. them that was not so. The net result of all the city of Principal Civil Medical Officer, to ap- correspondence they had had with the Govern- proach the Government on that subject. Stillment on this subject would appear to be that I have no objection to this being done. For the public now received an occasional Express the other matter, I generally agree that the giving notics of typhoous, and the circulation building should be made to conform with the of the China Coast Mateorological Regis er had sanitary requirements of the Colony with regard been slightly eularged. He supposed that, in to open spaces.
default of better results, they must for the present rest content with these small improve meats in the publication of weather warnings in this Colony, only made as the result of such gitation, be it observed, but he hoped that the Chamber would never suffer this matter to rest till that system was so improved that it became much more of a credit to this Colony than it Director of the Observatory was was at present. It appeared that the Acting presuaded just now
nt to be changes, and, possibly as his was only acting into making further appointment, this attitude can well be under- stood, but, so long as this position continues, it was evident that Hongkong would have to be content with a second-class system of making weather warnings generally known, as compared say with that at Shanghai, where, however, these matters were conducted by the Jesuit Fathers as a labour of love," and not by a Government Institution. As to the efficiency, or accuracy of the weather-warnings themselves, they had never for a moment presumed, or felt it within their province to meddle with or ques- tion these. Their efforts had been wholly and solely directed towards obtaining some needed improvement in the method of publishing these to the shipping, and shore communities, so
ANALYSIS OF WELL WATER.
Mr. F. Browne, Government Analyst, reported that he had, by instruction, analysed a sample of water procured from a well at the rear of the Tung Wi samshui-distillery, Tung Lo Wan, and was of opinion, from the results obtained, that the water was fit for potable purposes.
THE SOKONIOO MARKET.
Correspondence was laid on the table with reference to certain alteratious recommended to be made on the Sokonpoo Market, which have received the approval of the Government. The recommendations were that (1) a large entrance from Jardine's Bazaar be made on either side of the central column, (2) the dwarf → wall be removed, and (3) the stalls arranged in the central part of the vacant space as in the rest of the Market and not round the sides. The estimated cost of the work is $250.
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ATTEMPT TO
IMPOSE LEKIN AND BATTERY TAX ON YARNS IMPORTED INTO CANTON BY BRITISH STEAMERS.
at Canton, dated 29th August, stating that a Read letter from H. B. M. Consul-General
Proclamation had been issued by the Canton Lekin Office recognising that Foreigu importa while within the port area. were free from lekin and other such charges
The CHAIRMAN observed that this was satis- factory and he thought the thunks of the Com- mittee were due to Mr. Consul-General Scott for the energetic manner in which the case had been pushed, and the satisfactory conclusion to which ue had brought it.
remarks,
The Committee cordially concurred in these
INCREASE OF TAXATION LEVIED ON OPIUM AT CANTON,
In accordance with the decision arrived at the last meeting a telegram was despatched to H.B.M. Minister at Peking on the 15th ult. urging representation on the serious state of affairs.
the wire and giving the reasons for the protest
The Chamber's letter of 19th idem confirming . against increased taxation was read and also Sir Ernest Satow's reply stating that the matter had been placed before H.M.'s Government.
The CHAIRMAN said that there was a rumour in Hongkong to the effect that the Chinese Authorities had abandoned the additional tax, but so far it lacked confirmation; proposed enquiries were now being made. advices from Canton were to the effect that the Mr. WILCOX said he had heard that latest proposed tax had not been abandone 1.
ALTERATIONS IN THE LAW BETWEEN MASTER AND SERVANT.
The draft Bill by the Attorney-General to meet the difficulties pointed out by the Chamber in their letter to the Government, dated 18th July, was laid on the table. Read letter, dated 2nd instant, to the Attorney-General expressing the Committee's hearty approval of the Bill and adding a few suggestions to increase the scope of its usefulness,
SCARCITY OF WATER AT SINGAPORE.
Commerce, dated 1st instant, on thissubject was The telegram from the Singapore Chamber of read and the Secretary reported forwarding it to the papers for publication as soon as received
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