Board and that now- embodied in the Bill on. titled an Ordinance to amend the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903 (No. 1 of 1903) and passed at the Legislative Council Meeting on the 14th instant?
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
This information is asked for as the objects and reasons of the amended Bill state a new definition of the expression “External Air” is | submitted in order to give effect to the Board's recommendation.
(2.) With regard to the above amended Or- dinance, will the President be good enough to explain to the Board the exact meaning of the definition of “External Air" as shown in Sub- section No. 26 of Part 1 ?
con-
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[January 2, 1904,
these
(1) Will you state how many houses | definition, i It was recognised that dimension (approximately) there are in the City of Vic would about cover the provision toria? Will you also state how many houses spaces at the sides of ordinary Chinese (approximately) in the City of Victoria will houses if an intermediate house were demolished require exemption by the Governor in Council, in whole or part, but in case it did not the power under the definition of " external air" which of modification was inserted. There is, no appears in Section 2 of Ordinance No. 23 of spe-ch, document, or paper, so far as I am aware, 1903? Will you also state how many houses leaving out the above statement, as the matter, (approximately) in the City of Victoria have was settled at a conference hell at Government windows fronting on lanes which are less than House in October, 1902. ⠀⠀ 13 fost in width?
(2.) Is it not the fact that the dimension of 13 feet was inserted in the definition of "external air" in Ordinance 1 of 1903 because there was a mistaken impression that every third house would be pulled down and would thus enable every cubicle to be lighted by lateral windows opening into a space, thirteen feet wide? If you contend that the above is not the fact, will you, please, state how the said dimension of 13 feet came to be fixed upon in the said definition, and will you also please refer me to any speech, document, or paper, in support of your contention ?
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The PRESIDENT —With reference to the Vice-President's remarks concerning the form in which these questions have been put, I think members would be more in order if in future. questions were put to the President. Then I shall endeavour, myself, or from any other sonroe available, to give the information asked for.
OFFENSIVE LATRINE. GLAWgjes On the motion of Mr. HEWETT, seconded by Mr. LAU CHU PAK, it was agreed to recom mend the Government to resume the block at 2, Gough Street, in which a latrine is placed.
EXEMPTIONS.
Exemptions were granted in respect of 31, First Street, for the provision of a backyard; for the provision of open spaces in respect of certain houses on Kowloon Inland Lots 1089,- 1091, 1092 and 1093; from the provision of open spaces in respect of Nos. 48 and 58 Des Vaux Roai Central; and from the provision
full open spaces for Nos. 2 to 7, Star Street. Further correspondence was submitted re- lative to the application for the renewal of lisence to sell fresh pork at No. 18, West Street.
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MARKET ACCOMMODATION.
The SECRETARY read the replies as follows:- (1.) The Public Health and Buildings amendment Ordinance definition of external air differs from the Board's definition of external air in the following respects: (1) The Publio Health and Buildings Amendment Ordinance definition requires the open space in all cases to be 13 feet wide and to extend parallel to th› building for at least 5 feet. (2) The Board's definition allows an open space which extends The VICE-PRESIDENT-Before replying to along the side of existing and new buildings the questions, sir, I would just state that I am to count if it extends three-fifths of the depth here as an ordinary member of the Board, and of the building and is 12 feet wide
no member of this Board has any right to give (3) The Board's definition allows a street notice of questions to me in the form in which 8 feet wide in front of an existing building these have been given notice of here. At the and an
which extends open space
same time I hope I shall always be found tinuously along the side of the building and willing to impart any information that may b is 8 feet wide to count AB external air.is my power to members of this Board in The attached diagrams will explain clearly connection with matters that may be within! the differences between the two definitions. the purview of the Board. With regard (Diagrams laid on the table.)
to question No. 1, according to the sí.O.H's (2.) This question is answered by Diagram A
report for 1902, there are 9,010 houses | (Diagram laid on the table)
the city. I am quite unable to i Mr. Ramjaha minuted :-"It must be answer the second part of the question. As admitted that market accommodations are not regards this part a statement of narrow lanes is sufficiently provided for the needs of the Colony contained in appendix 9a of the Insanitary Pro- (1) With reference to the answer given at perties Commission's report, 1893. Itshows about the last meeting to my question No. 4, will the 807 houses as fronting on lanes under 13 feet in Vice-President be pleased to quote the Section width, and of these about 232 front on lanes of (if any) in the Public Health and Buildings 12 feet in width or over, These figures have Ordinance No. 1 of 19 3, under which he, as probably undergone modification since the the Building Authority, is empowered to authoreport was published as, under the Building rise Sanitary Inspectors to enter and inspect Act of 1889, houses fronting on private lanes domestic buildings for the purpose of ascertaining had to be set back at least 74 feet from the the existence or otherwise of "building nuis- centre line of the lane upon reconstruction, and doubtless some of the houses included in the ances "?
statement have been reconstructed. As regards question No 2, Public Health and Buildings Ordinance,
POWERS OF SANITARY INSPECTOKS,
Mr. RUMJAHN asked the following ques
tions R-
*1
(2.) Will the Secretary be pleased to state under which of the provisions of the Public Health and Buildings Urdinance, No. 1 of 1903, or, under what authority, notices for the abate- ment of building nuisances are being made out in the office of the Sanitary Board instead of the office of the Building Authority?
(3.) Will the Secretary be pleased to state under what authority or standing order (if any) Sanitary Inspectors are engaged in serving notices for the abatement of building naisan- "and in attending the Police Court to prove the existence of such nuisances, on behalf of the Building Authority ?
'The SHORETARY__road the answers follows:-
"
AS
(1., Section 227 of Ordinance 1 of 1903. (2 and 3.) No authority is required for the making out of notices or for the service of such. The making out and serving of notices by the Sanitary Department are inter-departmental arrangements. Under Ordinance 13 of 1901 there were many matters dealt with by the Sanitary Board's officers which on the passing of the present Ordinance were transferred from the Public Health section of the Ordinance (Part II) to the Building section (Part III). When it was discovered that the Board had no power to take action with regard to many matters-e.g., backya ds, window area, cubicles -with which it had previously concerned itself and to which the sanitary inspectors all along had been giving their attention as being part of their routine work, it became necessary to come to some agreement with the Building Authority on this matter. It was decided that the sanitary inspectors should still continue to inspect their districts in the same manner as before but that the legal notices with regard to any nuisances reported by the inspectors should be issued under the hand of the Building Authority.
EXTERNAL AIR.
Hon Mr. FOLLOCK had given notice that he would ask the following questions of the Vice-President :—
in
External Air": the original |
Public Health and Buildings Bill was dated 1902, and was read a first time 7th July, Section 149 in it contained the 1902. following "For the purposes of the four foregoing sections the expression external "shall mean a clear and unobstruct air
the whole ed space extending
length of the wall in which such windy or windows have been made, and of a width throughout of not less than one-third of the height of sach wall. There was no proviso of any kind as to a modification of the above requirement being made in any case. The above Bill was with drawn on the 6th November, 1902, never having got beyond the first reading on account of the Governor's (Sir Henry Blake's) return On to the Colony soon after that event. the same date, 6th Novemb r, 1902, an amend- ed Bill was read a first time. In it "External Air" appears among the definitions (Section 6) and is defined as a clear and unobstructed open space
of a width throughout of not less than 13 feet." The amended bill also contained the following proviso to Sect. 152 :- Provided that, in the case of existing buildings the Governor in Council shall have power in special cases to modify the requirements of this section in respect to the external air. The words "upon such conditions, if any, as may be deemed expedient" were subsequently added, otherwise the definition and proviso passed through the Legislative Council,
Speaking from memory the dimension of 13 feet was arrived at in this way. Most of the ordinary Chinese houses are three stories in height. The height of a three-storied house is about 40 feet and one-third of this is about 13 feet. Instead, therefore, of leaving the de finition as it originally stood, namely, one- third of the height of the wall, the width of the open space constituting external air was fixed at 13 feet. This was regarded as singular and more definite whilst practically ́giving effect to the intention of the original
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-hence prices of food are ever on the increase. The more licences are granted there would be a greater chance to lower down the prices."
The PRESIDENT said he understood the. applicant wanted the licence only until China,, New Year.
The application was grauted on these conditions.
LIMEWASHING,
The limewashing returns for the fortnight.... ended 22nd December showed that 771 houses in the Western District had been cleansed.
RAT RETURN.
The rat return showed that during the fortnight ended 28th December 793 rats were destroyed; of these 9 were found to be infected,
WATER ANALYSIS,
Mr. Frank Browne's report on his analysis of the public water supplies for December showed: that he had found the water to be of excellent quality.
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WELLS TO BE CLOSED.
The PRESIDENT said it would be remembered. that at last meeting the question - had been considered of closing two wells, one on -K.I.L. 1,092 and the other at Man Lam gard_ns and ✨. the matter was adjourned in order that the.. Medical Officer of Health might furnish further...
These had been obtained In particulars. view of Dr. Macfarlane's report Dr. Pearse thought it advisable to close the wells, but, as there was no standcook within 400 yards of the wells, suggested that the of one Public Works Department be asked to put:-
He moved up a standcock somewhere near. that the wells be closed provided that a waterɛɛ. supply be otherwise provided.
This was agreed to.
This was all the public business.
NEW YEAR GREETINGS.
The PRESIDENT,As this is the last time on you which the Board will meet this year I wish
'(Ap... all a happy and prosperous New Year. planse.)
AMENDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDINGS. Į
ORDINANCE.
The Board afterwards sat in committee, to consider the report of the sub-committee up- pointed to consider what amendments appear advisable in the Public Health and Buildings - Bill.
H. B. H. Princess Louise of Schleswig... Holstein, who was due in Colombo on the 28th ..., instant, was to be a guest of H. E. Sir Henry. and Lady Blake during her stay in Ceylon. Bir Henry Blake's first levee at Colombo was on the 14th ult.
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