EXEMPTION.
An application was made for exemption from the provision of an open space in respect of No. 29 Battery Street, Yaumati,
It was agreed to forward it with a recommen- cation for exemption.
CONSTRUCTION OF A STAIRCASE. The reply to a letter of Mr. H. P. To ker from Messrs. Palmer and Turner. was discussed: Mr. Tooker's letter was to the effct that, the Building Authority was unable to approve of their plan for construction of a ata reaso at No. 20-Connaught Road as the yard would be obstructed by the proposed staircase.
Messrs. Palmer and Turner replied that the staircase was in place of one of the bridges allowed by the Ordinance, and in no wis ay obstruction more than a bridge. It was the only means of access to the kitchen.
Mr. A. Rumjabu minu ed :—I think modifica- tion by the Governor in Council is not necessary as section 178 of Ord. 1 of 1998 allows the aren
to be obstructed by a bridge or a flight of steps
not more than 3 ft. 6 iu, in width.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
According to Reuter's telegram dated Lon- don, 12th January, It is announced in Berlin that Russia's proposals to Japan are essentially as follows :
•
(1) Japan is accorded various concessions in Cores.
(2) Japan is allowed to deal with Southern Corea economically and strategically as her in erests may require.
(3) Russia leaves Japan full commercial freedom in Northern Cores, but neither [there] nor in Southern Cores sball Japan permanently occupy any fortress-s, whether on the coast or in the interior.
(4) The establishment of a neutral fifty kilometre zone along the Yalu to the "Fumen, where neither Japan nor Russia shall establish fortresses, the Straits of Curea to be neutral aq free to Russian ships.
(5) Russia accepis no conditions in reference to Manchuria, but is ready to accord Jap u and other Powers representation for commercial
interests.
It is also stated that Russia has notified the Powers that she will respect all rights in Manchuria grauted under treaties with China. TROUBLE ON THE CANTON-
1 а
The PRESIDENT remarked that be thought it would be found that Section 178 did not deal with applications of this nature. Those areas referred to there are those that are mady by cutting away the hil:-side when a house is
was distinct from on a slope. Ан агна backyard. There was no definition of au area. He bad consulted with the Buildi, g Authority on this point and the latter agreed with him. He moved that this application be forwarded to the Governor in Council for modification.
Mr. RUMJAHN seconded and the motion was agreed to.
BAT RETURN.
The rat-return for the week ended 11th inst. was laid on the table: 263 rats (includ ng two infected rats) were caught in Hon kong, aud 124 (including five infected) at Kowloon,
CLEANSING WORK,
The Secretary reported that the result of the cleansing work being carried out by the Chinese under the supervision of the Board's officers was that up till 19th December 15,223 floors had been cleansed; up till 31st December 18,983; and up till the 9th inst, 21,360 floors.
CIRCULATION OF PAPERS.
Mr. HEWETT again complained of the want of promptness with which the Board papers were circulated. He had seen no papers siuce last meeting until Tuesday morning and he got three boxes, crammed with papers, all at. one time.
The PRESIDENT said the matter would receive attention, but remarked th t the papers were circulated on the 71b, that was a week ago.
EXTERNAL AIR
Mr. RUMJAHN said he had prepared a sketch showing that if a house compli d with the new definition of external air every flat of that house could be divided into four sections, three of which could be called rooms and the other one a lobly. If such was the case.
houses would be more insanitary than ever. He hoped the Board would recognise this and carefully consider the definition and recommend
modification.
:
The l'RESIDENT pointed out that the discussion was not quite in order and told Mr. Rumjan it would be better to make a motion dealing with the matter, if he wished to bring it forward Mr. RUJAHN suggested that it might be referred back to the committee which was con- sidering amendments to the Public Health and Buildings Ordinauce.
The PRESIDENT › aid that could not be done as the Ordinance was passed and was now law.
This was all the public business.
A despatch to the Asahi dated Peking, December 28, says: -It is reported that Chang Yik. who interviewed Viceroy Alexieff at Port Arthur recently, has given permission to Russia for the construction of a railway between Shin- mienton and Moukden. The sport is not yet confirmed, but it is believed to be true. British subjects here highly censure Chung's conduct, and Chinese officials also blame him. Vio-roy Yuan has declared that he will never endorse the promise said to have been given to Russia by Chang Yik.
FATSHAN RAILWAY.
[January 16, 1904.j
THE CHINA ASSOCIATION AND THE FISCAL POLICY,
Mr. C. Pemberton, Hon. Secretary of the Hongkong Branch of the China Association, informs us that the Committee on Wednesday despatched the following telegram to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain ---
Large majority of meniberas Hongkong Branch China Association warmly support your fiscal aims. Consider reciprocal treaties ab solutely necessary, failing which recommend adoption retaliation."
The members of the Association, who were a ked to vote on the subject, were practically unanimous in sanctioning its despatch, only one dissenting.
FIRE IN HONGKONG HARBOUR.
On Tuesday night the Fire Brigade were informed that a fire had broken out on the Norwegian steamer Prima (Captain B. A. Mayer), which was lying at the western end of the Harbour, just opposite the gas-works, A party of men was at once despatched, under Chief Inspector H. G. Baker, Mr. D. Macdonald, engineer, and Sergeant K. Macdonald, assistant engineer. The floating engine opposite the Harbour Office was soon got alongside the Prima. It was found that the fire was confined to the forepeak where the crow's quarters are situated. big and tw small, were led into the seat of the conflagration, and in the space of about two hours the flames had been flooded out. It was then discovered that the damage done had not been very extensive, being confined to the wood work in the neigh ourhood where it started. it appears that the case of the out- break was the explosion of a lamp in the lamp-
room.
Four hoses, two
An European who was working in the room at the time was somewhat seriously burned when the lamp exploded. The Prima arrived on the 8th inst. from Haiphong with s cargo of rice consigned to Messrs. Sander, Wieler & Co. and was light at the time of the outbreak.
Within the last two or three days rumours of a most alarming character have come to long- kong regarding the progress of the work on the Chuton-Fatshan railway. According to our information, the work is practically at a standstill on all the sections of the railroad. The natives are apparently bitterly opposed to the European venture, ud, if all ac counts are true, are ready to resist by force of arms the incoming of the foreigners. Eu ropeans) who have come down from the line lately all tell the same tale of the Chinese showing bad feeling towards the Westerners who are engaged on the line. The attack оп one of the railway construction camps lately will be fresh yet in the public memory On that occasion the matsheds were burned and all the tools and plant were destroyed. The Europeans were. chased for their lives into the middle of the river and had most of their property destroyed. Now it appears that the people in charge of the construction of the line have been informed of an imminent rising against the whites there. Orders have been issued that no Chinese are to be allowed in European houses there. It is an open secret that at Chinese New year a rising may be prophesied in Canton simil r to that and killed in the village Ao hain at the foot The brigand chief Ao Chan has been tracked which occrred a year ago. The rumour goes that all the Europeans in the neigh-trict. The dead bodies of Ao and three of his
bourhood of the new line are to be but- chered. Naturally, the
greatest possible precautions are bei g taken, and there is little fear of the white workers being caught napping: It is an eloquent fact, howeve, that there has been a steady exodus of men from the railway workings within the last week or so. The new arrivals in Hongkong give it out as a fact that trouble is expected, and that it will be serious when it comes. Work on the line is more or less disorganised owing to the recent looting of one of the camps, and it is quite on the boards that there may be a simul taneous attack on all the camps together. The workers have been ordered not to keep Chinese in their houses at all.-Daily Press, 12th January.
The Canton Fatshan railway authorities are continuing to experience troubles of the serious nature, alarming reports having arrived h ́re by the latest steamers. On Thurday it was confirmed that the Chinese labourers on the new line had gone on strike on the grounds of their receiv- ing an insufficiency of wages (although as a matter of fact their pay from the beginning was considerably above ordinary coolies wages) and that work is at a standstill. Many well- meaning labourer have been thrown out of work, and this has caused them to join in the riots. Considering that, as we have said, the pay these men are complaining of is liberal as compared with the scale their fellow workers, employed by Chinese, are in receipt of, it is to be hoped that prompt measures to quell the disturbince will be taken by the Chinese authorities.-Daily Press, 15th January.
On the 13th inst, the water. with which she had been deluged was pumped out and she went over to Kowloon Dooks in the afternoon for repairs.
CANTON.
Canton, 9. h. January.
THE END OF AO CHAN.
of the Saicbew mountain in the Namhoi dis-
adjutants were placed on the Government wharf at Canton for identification and barisl.
Some of Admiral Li Chou's soldiers who' were killed in fighting against the brigands were buried with honour, soldiers accompa- nying their remains to the burial ground. Yesterday Captains Ko How Chee, Pun Cheak Man, and Fu Chan Hoi were summoned before few appropriate Viceroy Shum, who in a words praised them and promised them pro- motion. The people here say thatone of the great- est mischiefs in Kwangtung has been destroyed.
JOSS-HOUSE IN TROUBLE.
The joss-house of Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Genius Wong, in Honam, has been doing a roaring trade, every day thousands of people going there to pray the joss to give them children or good luck, and the keeper thereof was making a fortune by selling Some of the gentry joss-sticks and papers. and graduates petitioned the Youroy, characterising all this as a great nuisance, and asked him to confiscate the te ple. His Excel- lengy ordered the joss to be shifted, and his temple converted into a public school.
MORE PIRACY.
Attack and robbery on an extensive scale is reported. Several hundred thieves went in two large boats towed by a steam-launch to Pakshek village in Sun Ui, nd attacked and robbed seven- ty or more hous-s and shops from 7 pm. to 5 s.m. next morning. The property taken. wis enor- mous..
At first the villagers were afraid to resist; but when to robbers were just leaving they went out and fought with them, two villagers being killed and several badly wounded