420
out which it was most important to train first. The PRESIDENT proposed that Mr. Hewett's letter, if no one objected, accompany the report. and this was agreed to.
Hon. REGISTRAR GENERAL mentioned that there were a large number of matsheds at Wongneichong that ought to be pulled down.
Dr. BARNETT said that the matter had been under consideration for the past month.
APPLICATION FROM STATION STREET.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
LODGING HOUSES,
Mr. E. A. Hewett, in reference to further
follows:
[June 4, 1904.
HONGKONG GENERAL
washing accommodation in certain common CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. lodging houses, minuted ar
This
requires discussion, but it appears to me that as it has not hitherto been the custom to provide baths I do not think we can insist upon landlords doing this. The Government should provide public bath-houses.
This was not discussed,
PEAK STATION.
An application' for a modification of the requirements of the Public Health and Build- Further correspondence relative to the pro- Ings Ordinance, in respect of Nos. 2 and 34,posed erection of a urinal in the engine-house Station Street, Mongkoksui, came before the at the Peak tramway terminus was discussed. Board. No open space is provided in the rear Permission to erect an urinal was refused. of these premises, so the Sanitary Board recently
VETERINARY REPORT. issued a notice to abate the building unisance by opening out on each story one-half of the entire space intervening between the principal room or rooms and the main wall at the back” of the building, as well as the corresponding portion of roof, and by providing each story with a window of at least ten square feet superficial area, opening into the open space.
Mr. A. Rumjahn minuted: Grant exemption. This matter was left over for further infor- mation.
A QUESTION OF BACK-YARDS.
Application was made for exemption from the provision of back-yards, in respect of Nos. 140 to 168, Reclamation Street, Yaumati.
The applicant in his letter explained that there was a 15ft. lane at the rear of the houses, which are well let and ventilated. He under stood that a block of houses close by this lot was altered in a similar manner, exemption being granted.
The application was granted.
APPLICATION. A YAUMATI
Another application for the modification of the requirements was in respect of No. XI. Temple Street, Yaumati.
Hon. D.P.W. minuted: To obtain the 92 feet would mean setting back the wall seven feet. This would reduce the house to only 22 feet .6 inches. As it is a corner one I think it might
be exempted on this count.
Mr. A. Ramjahn minuted: As is seen from the block plan, the lot is 45 feet in depth accord ing to the scale given, with a lane about 15 feet wide at the rear, the lane being a public one. I
If such is the case I do presume.
not see how the open space proposed to be provided would come to 146 square feet, and the ground floor diagram showing a space of six feet to the boundary line of the property cannot be correct at the same time. I would suggest in future that full detailed measurements of the lot and the width of the lane, if any, at the rear; as well as the nature of such lane, whether private or public; should be given by applicants, so that members may easily see what is laid before them. As this is a corner lot with a public street 30 ft. wide on the side, and a lane 15 ft. wide at the rear, the building when completed should be well lighted, and think exemption might be granted.
The application was granted.
EXTERNAL AIR.
The owner of No. 5, Sun Wai Lane applied for exemption from removing certain cubicles from his house, as ordered by the Inspector of Nuisances. He stated that he had only one cubicle on the premises, and that one opened on to a side lane with an air space of about 10ft. in width. He was prepared to open another window in this cubicle.
This was conditionally granted.
OTHER APPLICATIONS.
An application was made for a modification of the requirements in respect of No. 30, D'Aguilar Street. It was granted.
An application was made for exemption from the provision of back-yards in respect of No. 4 to 32, Station Street North, Kongkoltsui. It was granted.
An application was made for exemption from the provision of open spaces in respect of No. 149, Des Voeux Road and No. 137. Bulkeley Street, Hunghom required.
With reference to the latter Mr. Rumjahn minuted: Dividing up the kitchen to form a lobby with a window opening into the lane would be preferable.
The report of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon for 1903 was laid on the table and adopted.
SERVANTS QUARTERS,
An application was made for a modification of the requirements in respect of external air at the servants quarters of No. 15. Quseu's Road Central. This was granted.
OTHER ITEMS.
Various applications relative to renewal of licences were discussed, and dealt with on their respective merits.
the
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The Mortality Statistics for week |
on the table ending 14th May were laid
the following death rate per They showed 1,000 per annum :-British and Foreign com- munity. 30.8; Chinese population. 22.2: Chinese boat population. 19.5; the whole Colony, exclud- ing Army and Navy, 22.0. The corresponding week of last year showed 23.9 for the whole Colony, and the week ended 7th May this year,
20.6.
The Lime-washing Return for the fortnight ending 24th May was laid on the table. The Rat Return for the week ending 30th ult. showed that out of 325 rats caught at Hongkong 53 were found to be infected, and out of 18 ruts caught at Kowloon eight were infected.
This was all the business,
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SANITARY SURVEYOR'S REPORT.
were
to
The report of Mr. J. J. Bryan. Sanitary Surveyor, is published in the Gazette. From it it appears that plans have been deposited and passed by him during the year for the drainage of 263 houses. The plans of 713 curried forward from 1902. honses making a total of 976 in hand during the year. The drainage of 415 houses has been completed, and the plans for 350 have been cancelled, leaving 211 to carry forward to 1904. Plans for re-drainage of, or additions to, the drainage of 94 houses were carried forward from 1902, and new plans have been received for 260 houses, making a total of 354 for the year. Of these, 245 have been comple ed
58 51 cancelled, leaving and
be carried forward to 1904. The drains of 106 houses have been tested and reported on, in consequence of complaints having been re- ceived regarding them. Of this number, 56 required reconstructing, 28 amending, and the remainder were found to be in order. Notices were served on the owners of the above 84 houses calling upon them to execute the neces- sary work. Of these, 80 have been complied with and the remaining 4 are in hand. 31,79 houses have been visited by the drainage in. spectors with the result that 1,878 drainage Notices have nuisances have been discovered. been served in each case, on the owner or oc cupier, calling upon them to abate the nuisance All of these have been complied with. 268 nuisances have been referred to t'a M O, HI, and 343 to the D.P.W. to be dealt with by them. 1 705 choked drain traps on private property have been cleaned by the drainage foremen.
The whole of the bodies dead of plague during the year have been buried in Cheungshawan Cemetery. There is room for about 40 bod es in Kennedy Town Cemetery, but he thinks it advisable to reserve that space for any emer geney that may arise. 25 new terraces have been formed in Mount Davis Cemetery, and a new terraces in Mount Caroline Cemetery.
Mr. A. W. Hills, acting usher at the Supreme Court, has been appointed usher in succession
A decision was postponed to enable further to Mr. V. A. Sales, who died at Macao about a information to be obtained.
week ago.
At a monthly meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce held in the Chamber Room, City Hall, on Wednesday, 11th May, 1904, at 3 o'clock p.m., Present:-Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chairman), Messrs W. J. Gresson, A. Haupt, N. A. Siebs, J. R. M. Smith, R. C. Wilcox, A. G. Wood, Hon. H. E. Pollock, K.C., and A. R. Lowe (Secretary).
NEW COMMITTEE.
The CHAIRMAN mentioned that this was the first meeting of the new Committee elected at th Annual Meeting and he took the opportunity of welcoming Mr. W. J. Gresson, who had not sat on the Committee before as had the other Members.
MINUTES,
The minutes of the monthly Committee Meeting of the 12th April were read and con- firmed.
REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.
The
The CHAIRMAN said that the Secretary had drawn his attention to an infringement of the Act under which the copyright of the Reuter's telegrams issued by the Chamber was protected. and he had authorised legal proceedings being instituted to punish the offenders and to deter others from acting in a similar manner. Police Court prosecution was successful. as a Japanese photographer waged 810 for publishing copies of the telegrams in his studio, and Messrs. Guedes. Go's delivery coolie was sentenced to 2 month imprisonment with hard labour for obtaining money on false pretences by selling copies of the wires which he was not authorised to do.
PILOTS ORDINANCE.
Correspondence was read dealing with the rules under which the Harbour Master would regulate the conduct of the pilots registered under the Ordinance, and the Secretary was instructed to advise the Government of the Committee's approval of the rules submitted subject to a minor alteration.
COTTON CULTIVATION IN THE NEW
TERRITORY.
The following reply to the communication from the Botanical and Afforestation Department brought before the last meeting was read :---
4
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 21st April, 1904.
Sir. I am directed to inform you that the Committee of this Chamber have read your letter of the 25th ultimo on the subject of Cotton Cultivation in the New Territory with- much interest.
Hongkong having entered into the manufac- ture of Cotton Yarn the availability of a good supply of the raw material rown within the limits of the Colony is of great importance, and the Committee are anxious that all reasonable' means should be taken to further the project.
It has therefore been suggested to the Govern- ment that Cotton seed or plants should be distributed amongst the Farmers in the New Territory and prizes offered for successful cultivation to stimulate interest in the experi ment. In this way it would be possible to prove at a small expense whether the theories advanced by you are likely to have a practical side.
Indian raw Cotton now costs locally 28 to 324 dollars and Chinese and Japanese 314 to 32 dollars per picul. An inferior Cotton to that grown in Shanghai district could be readily sold locally and the possibility of a large pro- duction at a reasonable cost in the New Territory and Kwangtung Province would undoubtedly lead to the greater prosperity of the local industry and a desirable extension of Cotton Manufacture in this Colony.
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In conclusion I am to state that efforts
any you may make with the above object in view will always have the warm support of my Com. mittee, and they will be pleased to be kept informed of the experimental steps which doubtless will be taken to prove your contention. --I have honour to be,
Your obedient servant, (Sd) A. R. LowE.
Secretary.
S. T. Dunn, Esq.
Superintendent,
Botanical & Afforestation Department.