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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND that some member has interested himself in
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[September 7, 1907.
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BOARD,
consider "if it should seem to be necessary," |
limits of an improvement bill, which pro- the advisability of incorporating the pro-a public question embracing a personal inter-perty may be affected by the passing of the posal in an Ordinance embodying those est and thus upcousciously incurred official bill, has such an interest as in the judgment poin's in the Public Health and Buildings displeasure. This is mere suppositina, but of the House, disqualifies him as a member Ordinance 1903 which call for amendment. we suggest. it only to express the opinion of the House and the representative of If the matter had come up for consider that the proposed standing order would general local interests from voting on all ation a first time in a general amending bill not prevent such cases, unless the under- questions affecting the preamble or clauses Here is the very question it might have been made to appear unt lying purpose of it is to practically exclude, of the said bill." quite so offensive, but would still not have from the Board everybody who is in any which may be expected to frequently aris› The House of been free from objection. It will not have i way identified with property interests in at the Sanitary Board. cscaped general notice that the Government the Colony. The business of the Sanitary Commons considered three propositions will only consider the matter again "if it Board is mainly with house property, and submitted by way of answering the question, should seem to be necessary." Presumably, the members of the Board who know this but all were ultimately withdrawn, and the it did seem to be necessary when the work best are those most likely to be, House of Commons could do nɔ more thau proposal was made a couple of months ago, accused of having a beneficial interest in reter the Committee to the rule of the and the proviso in the Colonial Secretary's' almost every important question of policy House that no member who has a direct letter excites a little curiosity to know dealt with by the Board. A member whose, pecuuiary interest in a question shall be whether that necessity is now deemed by votes are constantly challenged can scarcely, allowed to vote upon it. That rule was the Government to s st no longer. When be expected to tolerate it long, and the use explainel by a Speaker to mean that direct interest the Standing Orders of the Sanitary Board which may be made of this standing pecuniary interest must be an
separately belonging to the persons whose were first drawn up, the advisability of order would therefore tend
votes are questioned and not in common incorporating a rule of this nature, already; the ratepayers' choice of representatives. well established in England, could scarcely The Sanitary Board during the past with the rest of his Majesty's subjects,
Imad
If a in
olour have been left undiscussed and the fact few
on a matter of State policy.' there is still a member's beneficial interest is to be that it appears neither among the Standing with the public, and Orders of the Sanitary Board nor thoss of deplorable lack of confidence in that holy, interpretel in the same way, we fail to see the Legislative Council suggests that there as is evidenced by the present stagnation what purpose the standing order would may have been special reasons for its in the property market. Money is plentiful serve except, as we have said, to promote a In these omission. We think such reasons de but the investing public is timid; the continual unelifying wrangle. actually exist. The proposal of such a rule į capricious arts of the Sanitary Board in the days and "in this Colony the standard of for the Sanitary Board seems quite super-past have involved heuss-owners in heavy hour among public men is surely high fluou. If the Sanitary Board possessed expense, and only, it seems In us, can, enough to render such a standing order Intally unnecessary, and if it were not, the powers of a similar Council in England confidence regained by having some
the fact that the Sanitary Board is merely there would be better reason than exists at į representatives of the property interest on present for adopting a rule of this character, the Board-men who are well-acquainted, an advisory body, and that the Governor- But the Sanitary Board, as both Mr. HooPER with the mischievous errors of the Sanitary in-Council is the der 'ding authority, plainly and Mr. HUMPHREYS found occasion to'lninistration in the past, as set forth in makes the rule superfluous and simply remark at last Tuesday's meeting, is merely the Report of the Sanitary Commission, vexatious. an advisory body whose decisions on all and possessing the necessary experience important matters of sanitary administration and knowledge of detail to emible them fo are subject to the approval of the informatively discuss the various propɔsals · HONGKONG SANITARY Governor-in-Council, who would certainly submitted to the Board and help to protect decline to approve any recommendation the public from unnecessary harassments, passed by the Sanitary Board in the The property int rest is not over-represented, inanter implied by the suggested standing; and we should be sorry 11 see useful and active members drivcu from the Board by order.
If It was unfair to the ratepayers no less than constant imputations of selfish motives. to the unofficial members themselves that there was legitimate use to be made of such the Government ignored the request for a a standing order as the one suggested, the statement of the reasous which had led to public ought to have been made arquainted the suggestion of the standing order. The with the circumstances which are deemed President of the Sanitary Board admitted, to require it; in the absener of such in that he was aware of no breach of the formation the stau ling order can only be, principle curbodied in the proposed ↑ viewed as a weapon intended for use by the standing order, and the Government can official against the unofficial nuits of the; blame nobody but themselves for the Board. It solid reasons exist they should suggestion appearing to the public in the be plainly stated; if they do not, the light of au unworthy and unwarranted Government should refrain from these attack on the personal integrity and public pricking methods of controversy and set honour of the ratepayers representatives. itself to promote a spirit of co-operation on The ratepayers equally with their elected, the Board. Autagonism between the two representatives have a claim to know what elements of the Board certain vital'acqusit you for the information of the Board prompted the suggested standing order. ff, principles of policy is apparently inevitable, any sound reason had existed, it appears to but us that the proper course would have been jon side nor the other an for the Governor-in-Council to refuse the dishonourable motives justly he imputed. recommendation concerned and send it back We hope therefore, that the suggested to the Sanitary Board with a plain intima- standing order way be permanently shelved. tion of the reason for the refusal. But. Its adoption would only serve to acreuluate following, as this suggestion of a Bew the present friction, for no member is likely standing order did, upon
a somewhat under any circumstances to make a harc- acrimonious discussion of the recommenda- faced attempt to serve his own personal changes in the Estimates will not appear in the to derid. draft estimates for next year is due to the fact tions of the Sanitary Commission, it seemed interests, and when it comes like the last retort of a desperate con ing what a member's beneficial interests, that a final decision on this matter cannot b
reached in time for inclusion, and will involve troversialist. The members of the Board really are, we fancy it will be found a very reference to the Secretary of State. are too well known to require from us any perplexing matter indeed requiring constant words in their defcuce. They do not need demands on the time of the legal advisers to be told that a vote given to serve their in the service of the Colonial Government. own private ends and not the general If the House of Commons is unable to define welfare of the public is one of the most
what a member's direct pecuniary interests contemptible acts that could he alleged arc, under very ordinary circumstances, it, against a member of a public body; and we will puzzle the Sanitary Board to defiuc the are equally sure that on a Board of which term "beneficial interest." Many years ago so many officials are members any abuse of ¦ a. Committee submitted to the House of that description would instantly evoke a Commons the following question for strong protest which would promptly result | decision: "Whether a member of the House in the cancellation of the vote. It may be of Commons having, property within the |
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A mosting of the Sanitary Board was held on Sept. 3rd at the Board Room. The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham C.M.G. (Vice-President), presided, and there
also were
preseal Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. H.
Medical Officer of Macfarlane (Ass stant Health), Mr. E. D. C. Wolfo (Registrar- General), don. Mr. E. A. Hewett, sir. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Me. Fang Wa-chun, and Mr. G. A.
Woodcock (secretary).
DRAFT ESTIMATES.
The repl; from the Government relative to the draft estimates for the Sanitary Department for the year 1905 was read as follows:- an directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter ut the 22nd inst. stating that the Sanitary Board had agreed to adopt the Estimates for the Sanitary 11partment, for the year 1998 subject to the item Luspector of Markets (£135) to £136 by £5 annually) being deleted, and to
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that in deference to its wishes the Government, that wither on the has no objection to changing the designation of that of Inspec. selfish aud the officer referred to to
or of Cattle Depot and Slaughter House, Kowloon, where an officer for this work is, in the opinion of the Government, absolutely essential. I am to add that the question of alterations in the constitution of the Sanitary Department is receiving the cousideration of the The tact that caused tential Goverum-at.
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The Vice-President Members of the Board will observe that the Government have adopted the proposal of the Bard that the Inspector of Markets should be dispensed with and the title altered to Inspector of Cattle With Depot and Slaughter house, Kowloon, regard to the paragraph which appeared in this morning's papers as to some further chang-s having been made in the duties of the Sanitary Department staff, i may say that the announ cement is a mewhat premature. Any further changes are still engaging the attention of the Government.