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Sanitary Condition of the Colony and the General Sanitary Administration then in force. 45. This caused a petition to be drawn from the principal residents here to the Secretary of Btate calling attention to the
sanitary oondition prevailing and asking for the appointment of experts to be sent out to report thereon.
46. In accordance with this request Professor Simpson, M.D, and Mr. Chadwick, C.F., came out and made their reports thereon, and to gire effect to their recommendations, a New Ordinance was drafted and submitted to the Legislative Council.
47. So far as the administration of the Sanitary Board was concerned this Bill proposed that whilst the Board should still exist, there should be appointed an Officer of the Govern- ment to be called "The Sanitary Com. missioner ".
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48. The following is an extract Professor Simpson's Report dated 22nd December, 1902, on the subject:-
"The most noticeable feature in regard to sanitary matte a in Hongkong is that no one is responsible. Independeuce of action by different officers and absence of co-ordination tend to spasmodic action and inefficiency. There is a anitary Board and a President who meet at stated times and discuss public health matters, but their functions are advisory. Th-re is the Medical Officer of Health for the Colony, whose duties are executive, but there is no admiuistative head who is responsible to the Government for the conduct of health matters in the Colony and for the maintenance of a continuous and progressive policy. It is advisble that all municipal health matters be brought more or less under ne d-partment, controlled by a sanitary or health commission.r who would be the administrative officer. There is more than ample work to occupy the whole time of such an officer. In addition to being President of the Sanitary Bard be would administer the several branches of the Public Health Department, dealing with the health question relating to water supply, sewerage and drainage, alignment and laying out of streets and back lanes, the prevention of the crowding together of new bouses, or the formation of new unhealthy areas, the scrutiny of plans of new houses, and the enforcement of compliance with the requirements of health, the preparation of schemes for the consideration of Government in connection with the demolition of insanitary areas, and the reconstruction of sanitary lines, pr. vision of markets, public latrines, urinals bath houses, &c., and the general enforcement of the Public Health laws. Lastly, he would be responsible to the Government for the efficient working of the Department, and, like the Director of Public Works, should have a seat on the Legislative Council. Mr. Osbert Chad wick, C.M.G., is also strongly of opinion that a Sanitary Commissioner is required."
the
49. The Bill was read a first time in July 1902. 50. The public both European and Chinese ou examining it, saw that a very large number of the sections were quite unworkable, dra tic and aajast,
THE HONGKON) WEEKLY PRESS AND
51. The Europeau section represented by the *principal owners of property formed themselves into a committee and employed the service of the 4 principal firms of architeols here to examine the Bill section by section and report on the Bill with their suggestions for the improvement of sime.
52. This was done and their report forwarded under cover of a Petition from the Committee to His Excellency on 20th September, 1902.
53. The Government thereupon withdrew the Bill and on 6th November substituted another therefor which was read a second time on 27th November.
54. The Attorney General said in moving the second reading of the Bill "That the original Bill as introduced was the produca of Messrs, Chadwick, Simpson and Clark. Every word of it was placed there by themselves. So much was the Bill criticised by the architects and by persons who were affected by the Bill such as landlords and others that this Government felt that the Bill could not be forced through the Council without the criticisms being considered. In considering them the Government found many useful and valuable suggestions which they have thought it right to adopt and give
effect to""
55. One of the most obnoxious clauses in the original Bill was the proposed appointment of the Sanitary Commissioner and the petition draw particular attention to that part in paragraph 8 as follow:-
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16. Another important matter of principle is the question of tho expediency of giving to "one Officer of the Sanitary Bard-the pro- "posed Sanitary Commissioner-such large and arbitrary powers as the Bill contains-with au ideal man whos) successors at least could not "be assured a despotic system may be the most "convenient. 88 otherwise it is certainly the worst. Your petitioners urge that all 'important discretionary matters whereof none would permit a reference to the Board my be "so referred and that the functions of the Commissiocer if such an officer is to be app inted may be exercised under the control of the Board restricted to points of detail and "routine. Further as it is intended the Com- "missioner shall be & medical man, Your Petitioners submit that he should at any rate "be relieved from all such work as specially "falls within the province of the Civil Engineer
and Architect,”
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57. In the new Bill which afterwards became law, the proposed creation of the new office of Sanitary Commissiouer was deleted
58. This deletion was quite approved of br the Principal Civil Medical Officer (Dr. Atkinson) who was averse to the creation of such office.
59. His reasons for the non-approval of the appointment were that they wished to appoint a medical man whom he thought would not have sufficient knowledge to fulfil all the require- ments of this office-rather than in the office itself. He did not think a medical man who was A Biranger to the Colony should have these powers.
6. It is an open secret that. Dr. Clark who had been Medical Officer of Halth since June, 1895 (7 years) is the medical man Dr. Atkinsou refers to, and Professor Simpson in his Repor: said Dr. Clark's knowledge of Sanitary require ments of Hongkong unrivalled.
61. Considering that the proposed Sanitary Commissioner was to have been the administra tive officer and to be responsible to the Government for the efficient working of the Department, it is a little difficult to reconcile Dr. Atkinson's objections to the office when he recommends to the Government the creation of & Sanitary Department of which he accepts the position of Administrative Head.
62. The Bill was fully debated and one thing that the unofficial members of the Legislative Council called prominent attention to, was the constant introduction of fresh Legislation on Sanitary matters- no fewer than 23 Ordinances relating to Building and Sanitation having been passed within 15 years. The Honourable M-. C. S. Sharp (Chamber of Commerce) said one thing he felt sure the Community ardently desired to arrive at in regard to these matters if possible was some sort of finality in regard to such legislation as continual introduction of fresh legislation baaring on the same subject cannot fail to bave and does have the effect of creating misgivings and great uncertainty in the mind of the public which must be bad for the place and its prosperity:
63. Mr. Chadwick said the Draft Ordinance which he drew up bad for its object the avoidance of the necessity for further Sanitary Legislation for the next few years.
64. His Excellency said he earnestly hoped the Bill would go through, and he hoped they would find some finality in this necessary legislation on Sanitary matters and that the result wou'd te w at they all hoped, beneficial to the Colony. Notwithstanding this statement as to the finality of Legislation by this Ordinance which became law 21st February, 1903, and the notification of the King's non- disallowance of sims in Government Gazette 29th August, 1903.
65. On 19th November, 1903, the Government introduced an Ordinance No. 23 of 1903 to amend the Public Health and Baildings Ordinance Number 1 of 1903 and amongst its provisions were sume which altered the whole character of the sanitary administration by the creation of a Sanitary Department, and thereby gave the Principal Civil Medical Officer the direct administration by holding him directly responsible, which the Attorney-General said
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[June 1, 1907.
at the time he was not, bouse he had no authority when he should have it and that although a Suitary Department did thea exist it was proposed to rea guise it by statute.
66. The Bill became law 19th December 1903. This was practically the death knell and extino. tion of the autho ity to administer the laws by tho Sanitary Board and reduced it to a department controlled by the Government through the Principal Civil Medical Officer and thereby nullified the public wishes as expressed in the plebiscite and approved by the Secretary of State that the canitary Laws should be administered by a Board having an unofficial majority.
A. SHELTON HOOPER,
THE "STAR" FERRY CO., LTD.
The ninth ordinary annual meeting of the
"Star
Ferry Co., Ld. was held at the offios of Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Co., on the 29th May. Sir Paul Chater prosided, other shareholders present being Hoo, Mr. H. Keswick (director), Hon. Mr. E Osborue (secretary), Messrs. P. C. Potts, H. Humphreys and Ho Fook.
The SECRETARY read the notice cilling the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen :-With your permissi Accounts as read.
n I will take the Report and
The Proft on Working Acount, notwith. stauding a d-crease of something lik, a million in the number of passengers carriol, and a loss of $98-6 in changing subsidiary coius is, you will observe, $5,024 more than last year, the explanation of this apparent anomaly being that in the latter part of the year we rais d the are of third class
passengers, whilst working expenses were less owing to a reduction in the prios of coal. The increased profit on Working Accoua', indeed cousider.bly more than this damage caused by the typhoon of Sep ember, to Bum, has however bien absorbed in paying for the the guid: piles at Ice House S reet Wharf which were comple ely destroyed, and to the Wharf itself which under our agreement with tae Government, we have to keep iu repair, after providing for which there remains sufficient able as these losses are, when we remember the for a 1 per cent, divid-nd. Gentlemen, deplor.
avoo wrought on that occasion, and con- template what others suffered, I think we have cause for congratulation in the fact that our boats escaped with injury so slight than within. an hour of the storm orasing the ferry service was r sumed. Tue reduction in your dividend, which, we hop, is only temporary, is but a small matter compared with what our loss might have been, and I feel sure you will cheerfully accord a word of praise to the crews of the boats who, at nɔ inconsiderable personal danger, saved your property from destruction. A new wharf is being built at Kowloon this time parallel with the Praya, which will enable the boats to berth without the loss of time and expan. diture of coal, the present one, by reason of its position across the tide, involves, This wharf like its predecessor, of which two thirds were swept away in the typhoon, is being erected at the expense of the Wharf Co. whose property it will remain, and.I think we may safely anticipate that when completed. and steamers are once again berthing at the other reconstructed Kowloon Wharves, a revival of former traffio receipts is almost anre to follow. With these remarks I will be pleased to answer any questions shareholders may wish to ask.
No questions were asked, and the CHAIRMAN proposed the adoption of the report and accounts as presented.
Mr. Ho Fook seconded, and the motion was carried.
Mr. POTTS moved the re-election of Mr. A. G. Wood as a director, and the confirmation of the appointment of the Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson.
The motion was s:coaded by Mr. Ho Foɔx, and agreed to.
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Mr. HUMPHREYS proposed, Mr. Ports seconded, and shareholders agreed to the reap- pointment of Messrs. F. Maitland and W. H. Petts as auditors.
The CHAIR YAN-That is all the business
gentlemen. Dividend warrants can be had on "application.