October 20, 1902.]
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 16th inst. in the Board Room: Present:-Dr, J. M. Atkinson Principal Civil
Medical Officer (President); Hon. Dr. F, W. Clark, Medical Officer of Health; Mr. F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Police; Mr. E. Osborne. Mr. Fang Wa Chuo, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and Mr. G. A. Woodenek (Secretary).
CLEANSING OF THE COLONY, Mr. OSBORNE moved, in accordance with notice previously given, "that the Government be asked to sanction a general cleansing of the Colony similar to that which took place last winter, but omitting fumigation." He said The plague season of 1992 is now closed, and I think the Sanitary Board should take steps to put to practical use the lessons we have learned. The outbreak of 1902 was not proportionally so severe as some of those of previous years, but I think it will be generally admitted that it was mere spread over the Colony. Doubtless there are people who will say that this state of affairs this year is in no way due to our efforts; thy will say that Canton, Macao, and neighbouring places were equally fortunate, and will of course oppose any repetition of what took place last winter. But I think myself that fair-minded unea will agree that we are entitled to assume
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
infected as before. All the houses in the Colony should be cleansed and disinfected simultaneously and regularly, at fixed intervals, and in order to do this tho Board must at least have the
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18.6 in the previous week and 21.9 in the corresponding week of the previous year. SALT-FISH STALLS IN THE WEB1ERN MARKET. The approval of H. E. the Governor of the sympathy and c.operation of the inhabitants. Board's recommendation to do away with the Instead of sending out gang, of reckless and salt-fish stalls in the Western Market to make thieving coolies to harass the people, it would roam for stalls for the sale of fresh goods was be to the benefit of both if the Board were to reported. give overy facility to induce people to cleanse their own houses at cortin periods. I am sure the inhabitants would be very glad to assist in carrying the work on, especially if it was brought home to them that by doing so they were likely to prevent plagge.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUx-Sir, I think my Chinese colleague does not exactly oppass the motion; he is in favour of cleansing, and so am I, for there is no question that if properly car ind out it is a very useful measure to adopt. I think we ought to have cleansing, but I agro with Mr. Lau that the way in which the cleansing was carried on last year was not very satisfactory. I think we had two very good is away now and th other engaged on dif inspectors in charge, but I understand that one ferent duty. We ought to be very careful in getting inspectors to take charge of the cleansing, and
think it would be better if the M.U.H. would write out a scheme as to
how to cleanse these bonsos. It is of course far
better, as Mr. Lau has sail, to allow the
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8. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE. An application was submitted for permis ion to erect a water-closet in S. Joseph's College.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. Fox, WA CHUN, the application was refused,
LIMEWASHING.
The limewashing returns for the fort ight eaded 11th October showed that 668 houses in the Central District had been cleansed.
PLAGUE AT YOKOHAMA,
Copy of a telegram from →.B.M.'s Minister at Tokyo, of date 10th inst., to H.E the Governor of Hongkong, was submitted, stating that plague had appeared at Yokohama and that there had been four cases up to that date.
NEW CATTLE-SHEDS. Plans were submitted from the Director of Public Works for the erection of a large cattle-shed at Kennedytown.
approved, ccnditional on the construction of a On the motion of Hon. Dr. CLARK they were
that the measures taken by the Sanitary Depart- inhabitants to cleanss their own houses, under Faleway to connect the new shed with those
ment and the energetic cl ansing work gener- ally done by the sanitary officials had a most marked effect in the keeping down of plague, ani if this is go, we are entitled to ask the
Government that these measures should be cou- tinned; it is for that purpose that I bring forward this motion. Speaking from my own per sonal experience, as bing connected with about two thousand Chinese, I can say that whereas in previous years a large proportion succumbel ti the disease, not one single case occurred during this last outbreak, and I believe that that result Was solely and wholly due to the extermination of the rats and the keeping of the premises clean. Now, sir, the only objection which anyone, including the Government, can have to this proposal, is on the score of expense. We all know that the preventive measures takeu this year have been most costly, but with practice we shall also learn economy, and there will be no need for squandering money in the reckless fashion of this last year. I think we can again carry out all the measures of prevention and reform carried out before, but with the experiencɔ gained we can carry them out a great deal more economically. In fact, the Medical Officer of Health tells me that this
cleansing need not cost more than about $20.00 For my part, I should like to see a special tıx imposed upon the residents of this Colony for plague prevention alone. I think that some such possible means for the prevention of plague, being constantly before the people, would have a more marked effect, and would teach them probably to keep their places clean. I believe that if we could in some way bring home to the Chinese, in their tenement houses,
that “dirt” meant "dollar," we should probably have less dirt and more cleanliness.
the supervision of an inspector.
already existing,
This was all the public business.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
MINUTES.
The minutes of the monthly meeting of the 16th ultimo were read and comfirmed.
STO M-WARNINGS.
The PRESIDENT-Iu the Panjaub I seo that an attempt is to be made to combat this diseaso by anti-plagae inoculation on an enormous sale. Same thirty-fire doctors have bзau engaged for this work, and it is proposal to inoculate som hundreds of thousands of the inhabitants. also understand that in Formosa anti-plaguə
At the monthly meeting of the Committee of inoculations were carriel on this year with the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce very successful results. It will be, interesting held in the Chamber Room, City Hall, on to us to see the results of these experiments, Wednesday, 5th October, 1982, at 33) p.m. but I doubt very much whether it would be Present:-Hon. C. S. Sharp (Chairman), Mr. practicable for us to enforce anything of this W. Poate (Vice-Chairman), Hon. C. W. Dick kind amongst the Chinese. I doubt, too, whether son, Messrs. A. Haupt E. A. Hewett, N. A. a general cleansing such as that carried on last, Siebs, J. R. M. Smith, H. E. Tomkias, R. C. year is really efficacious, and my reason for that Wilcox, and A. R. Lowe (Secretary). statement is that I am informed that many of the houses wore just as dirty three weeks after being cleansed as they were before. appears to me that what is wanted is that the District' Inspectors on their rounds should pay more attention to the stite of cleanliness of the houses in their districts. If the Medical Officer of Health considers that their tim is fully taken iu discovering and dealing with infringements of the Public Hoath Ordinance I suggest that The CHAIRMAN said the correspondence had the Board recommend that some temporary already been published in the Press and it would inspectors be engaged who e duty it would seem that the Government were not prepared to by to visit the houses and ascertain the take part in any enquiry, but had offered to stato of cleanliness or otherwise of these houses, take into consideration the information gathered If they are dirty, the Chinese should be given by the Committee. say, a couple of wooks to nudertake the work of cleaning them; then let the houses be revisited at the end of the fortnight, and if they are still dirty let the Board step in and undertake the work. A general cleansing, such at occurred last winter and which lasted from
Hon. Dr. CLARK-I beg to second the motion. Mr. LAU CHU PAK-Sir, I beg to oppose the resolution, which is to repeat almost the same measures as those tried last year, which were not attended with such results as to justify the large amount of money spent and the con- sid rable amount of trouble, hardship, and loss inflicted on the inhabitants, besides being attended by a wanton waste of precious water. which the Government has of late been so careful of in order to prevent the occurrence of another water famine. Farthermore, it is by no means certain that the reduction in the number of plague cases during the last season was due to the general cleansing and disinfection; it was due, I am inclined to think, to the long and unusal drought we had. According to our experience, the drynese of the weather is tue b st and surest disinfectant, and every year no sooner does the dry weather set in thau the plague begins to abate and then disappears altogether. But I say that if these measures go on-cleansing and disinfecting they should be carried out properly, had this year they were not carried out properly. The practice appa- rently was to cleanse a few houses and then to leave then for a few mouths or until thɔ next
season; in the meantime the houses became as
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November to April, would be very irksome to the Chinese, especially if this is to be repeated evory year; what we require is to strain at maintaining the town constantly in a sanitary condition. As members are aware, the staff of the Sanitary Department has been increased since last winter by the addition of five senior sanitary inspectors, and I may say tha', from my own observation and from information given to me by the Medical Officer of Health, the town' is much cleaner than it has been for many years. It sms to me to be necessary in the case of the Chinese to ascertain if they will cleanse the houses themselves, and if not it will then be necessary for us to undertake the work, as we did last year, with our owa staff.
The motion was then put to the meeting and negatived, Mr. Badeley, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and Mr. Fung Wa Chun voting against it. The President did not vote.
ANALYSES OF BLER AND SPIRIT?.
Mr. F. Browse, the Government Analyst, reported that during the quarter oudel 30th September he had analysed two samples of ber and five of brandy, all of which were found to be genuine.
THE DEATH-RATE
The mortality statistics for the week ended 4th October showed a death-rate of 19.3 per 1000 of the population per annum as against
Read etter dated 24th ult. to Hon, Colonial Secretary enclosing copy of Shipmasters' letter to the Chamber dated 16th ult. The reply of the Colonial Secretary dated 27th ult, was also read.
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The VICE-CHAIRMAN si zgested that All the shipping firms be asked to utain the views of their Captains on this subject and transmit them to the Committee, who could then formu- late a report. After some discussion this course was agreed to.
CHINESE STOWAWAYS TO THE PHILIPPINES.
Read letter from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., General Managors, Indo-China S. N. Co.,
Ld., dated 20th ult., drawing attention to the 8.8. Loongsang stowaway case and asking the Chamber to make representations to the Gor- ernment with a view to the amendment of the local ordinance relating to stowaways and their aiders and abettors.
The CHAIRMAN proposed that this question should be re-opened with the Government in the hope that they might now be disposed to reconsider their decision with the later facts before them, and make the penalty under the present Ordinance a really deterrent one. was unanimously decided to adopt the Chair- man's suggestion.
It
ALLEGED DIFFERENTIAL DUTIES ON PAPER MANUFACTURED IN HONGKONG and
IMPORTED INTO SHANGHAI,
The Tai Ming Paper Manufacturing Co.'s letter of 6th instant was real stating that their paper impors into Shinghai now only paid duty on basis of 5 per cent. on the invoic) cost, and expressing their thanks to the Chambər for the redress obtained.
COLO Y FREE. FROM PLAGUE.
A letter was read from the Colonial Secret ry, dated 18th ult., stating that the Colony having been free from plague for a period of ten days
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