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October 5, 1907.]
of securing capable translators of western books. As a matter of fact English is taught in most, if not all, of these more advanced schools.
"A thorough knowledge of English Grammar, ability to speak and understand coll qu'il Eng- lish, and fair ability in English composition," is put down as one of the requirements for admission to the Pei-Yang "niversity, Tientsin. In the Imperial University, Peking, and in the Shansi University large attention is devoted to the teaching of English both in the preparatory and in the advanced department.
INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
Another most convincing sign that we are living in a new China is the way in which the Chinese Government is endeavouring to fit the working population for intelligent government and efficient production and service. Technical and Industrial schools are being started, in- fluenced no doubt in large measure by the interest and success of the Japanese government in helping its farmers and artisans to a know- ledge of the best tools and methods to be used in their various callings. This matter has most important and direct bearing on the develop- ment of national wealth and the well being and contentment of the people. One welcomes the advent of the new Industrial Institutes, like those in Tientsin and Canton, where silk and cotton weaving, dyeing. drawing, em. broidery, and the manufacture of furniture pottery, looma, and matches are taught. In the Tientsin lnstitute there is a short course of six months for weavers. There is a longer course in this and the other subjects of from one to two years, for Fatisfactory students. The graduates are prepared to become foremen and superintendents of similar institutes elsewhere. The mother institute undertakes to guarantee their graduates, and to transmit a fixed portion of their salaries to their families. These schools and those for agriculture, commerce, navigation, and fisheries, may reasonably be expected to work a needed revolution within the next gene- ration in the efficiency and comfort of the wage- earners and producers of China,
On the whole we may conclude that while there are many crudities and deficiencies in the present system of modern education in China, she is definitely and finally committed to the change, and that there are many indications of real and substantial progress in the direction of an education that is true and that will increase the wealth, efficiency, and well-being of the people. For testing the full benefits of the changes that have been made a generation is not too long to wait, or until the present pupils in the schools have become the workers, leaders, and rulers of the country. Meanwhile we of the West have confidence that untold good will result.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Oct. 1st at the Board Room. The Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (president) presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G. (Vice-President), Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin (Registrar-General), Lieut.-Col. Reid, R.A.M.C., Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. Lan Chu-pak, Mr. Fang Wa-chun and Mr. G. A. Woodcock, secretary. QUESTIONS.
A. Shelton Hooper, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions, to which the President made the attached replies: (a) How many notices to abate nuisances under Part III of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance have been issued by the Sanitary Department or Sanitary Board Office on the yeports of Sanitary Inspectors since the Or-
dinance came into force. A-14,913. These notices relate to such sanitary matters as brokeng round surfaces, obstructed yards, smoke nuisances arising from defective flues, rooms inadequately lit, illegal cubicles absence of yards and house drainage works. (b) Whether any, and if so, how many of them
have been betore the Building Authority. A-A of every notice issued is forwarded
Copy to the Building Authority.
(e) Whether any of these notices emanating from the Sanitary Dep rtment were issued by the direct instigation of the Building Authority or any officer in the office of the Building Authority.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
(d) Whether any part of the salaries of the Sanitary Board or Sanitary Department officials who have done any of the above work mentioned in question No. 1 is charged to the Building Authority's Department or A-Wholly to the Sanitary Department.
charged wholly to the Sanitary Department.
Mr. HOOPER said there were two things arising out of the answers. He would like to know if the notios reached the Building Authority, Mr. Chatham, personally.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKs replied in the negative, but added that before a case went out for prosecution he saw it.
Mr. HOOPER referred also to the reply to Question 3 and elicited the information that it was a very small proportion of the 14,000 notices issued that were instigated by the Building Authority.
217
ment granted them sites in Tai Hang village gave them plans and also stone and earth where- with to build themselves houses. These houses were passed by the Director of Public Works and the petitioners have since then lived there in pesce, always filled with gratitude towards the Government,
Recently some painters came and printed allowed by the Government in each hous. Bat on the walls of the houses the number of inmates
labourers, it will be hard on those, whose families as the petitioners are only poor farmers and exceed the limited number by one
or two
for their accommodation. members, to have to rent another house Hang is a country village and is outside Moreover, Tai the boundary ioners therefore pray the Hon.
of the city. The petit- Registrar General to show special favour to the poor inhabitants by exempting Tai Hang from the and they will be forever grateful.” regulation of limiting the number of inma‘e-
The petition was signed by 39 inhabitants. HOD. Mr. HEWETT minated-It would be preposterous to enforce the fall regalations in such a village.
lying villages I think the law should not be Mr. LAN CHU-PAK-In the case of the out- enforced so strictly.
REPORTS FOR HIS EXCELLENCY. A letter was received from Government re. questing that copies of the report of the Medical Officer of Health be sent with recommendations from the provisions of Ordinance 1 of 1933.
Mr. A. 8. Hooper minuted-I think it is quite right for H. E. the Governor to have before him the views of the M. O. H before coming to a decision, but these views should be accompanied by the views of members of the Board who often are able to put a different complexion upon the Hon. REGISTRAR GENERAL-The overcrowd- oase. The Board's decision ought not to being does not seem to be bad except in the case of governed solely by the hygienic aspect of each
a very few houses. The standard ia an open case but in addition, by those general lines of village of two storeyed houses need not be so policy, expediency and equity which the interests high as a town of four storeyed houses. of the community clearly necessitate, and be
The PRESIDENT moved that no action be taken into consideration as shown by the taken for six months, except in cases of houses discretionary powers vested by the Legislature where double the number of inmates allowed in the Board.
was found.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT wrote that His Excellency should be provided with a list showing how members voted in such cases, as the question went to a division.
Mr. LAU CHU-PAK endorsed Mr. Hooper's remarks,
The PRESIDENT did not see how views of members could be sent to His Excellency, as they had no Hansard reporter.
Mr. HOOPER said he was quite aware the Brd had no regular Hausard, but he believed thDaily Press report of the proceedings of the Sanitary Board was filed. He also under- stood that if a member dissented from a certain proposition his dissent was recorded, and he could state briefly in writing the ground of his dissent. In such cases if a member dissented from a proposition his views should accompany the recommendations of the M. O. H. sent to His Excellency.
The PRESIDENT said that was frequently done. It was only for a member to express the wish to have that done.
ANNUAL LIMEWASHING AND CLEANSING. Dr. MACFARLANE, the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, wrote as follows regarding the annual limewashing and cleansing of Kowloon city and Shamsuipo:-Kowloon City and Sham- suipo have now been limewashed once a year for the last three years. I recommend that the annual limewashing start about October 15th this year, as last year it was not finished in time for Chinese new year, aud there was considerable trouble in getting the remainder finished. Plague was very bad in Kowloon City early this year, and was undoubtedly a focus from which plague spread into Kowloon proper. In view of the impossibility of put- ting Kowloon City into condition at present, thorough limewashing a proper sanitary and cleansing seems to me to be the least that can be done.
Mr. LA CRU-PAK minuted-It appears that the Assistant Medical Officer of Health looks upon limewashing as a plague preventive. The REGISTRAR-GENERAL –I should like to see former papers.
OVERCROWDING AT TAI HANG. QUAINT PETITION,
Returns having been submitted to the Board showing that overcrowding existed at Tai Hang village, the inhabitants presented a petition oraving exemption from the regulations limiting the number of inmates per house. The petition read:
"The petition of the inhabitants of Tai Hang village praying that the number of inmates in a hoose may not be limited.
A BELATED OPINION. Mr. HOOPER asked if the opinion of the Attorney-General asked for several months ago awaiting decision. had been given yet. There were several cases
The PRESIDENT gave an answer in the negative, but undertook to inquire about the
matter.
MORTARITY STATISTICS
mortality statistics of the whole Colony for the At a death rate por 100 per annum the
following weak 21.1, as against 18.5 for the week ended August 24th were 222; and for the
corresponding week last year.
LIMEWASHING.
this work showed that for the fort night eading The report of the inspector in charge of September 10th, 2,083 houses were limewashed in the Eastern and 41 in the Central District.
SUPREME COURT.
MONDAY, 30TH SEPTEMBER.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE).
LEARNING THE ENGLISH CUSTOM.
In the case of Remigio Perez against H. Barbey for $65.20, the olsim was for one month's defendant in respect of the second floor of the rent and proportionats part of taxes due by house No. 2 Glenealy Road. Mr. E. J. Grist conducted the case for the plaintiff. Defendant he appeared a few minutes later accompanied was not in court when the case was called, but
by a gentleman who was understood to be his interpreter, defendant being a Frenchman who said he could not speak English.
The interpreter explained that he was not the original interpreter who had failed defend- aut at the last moment, and he only attended the court to make that statement on behalf of Mr. Barbey.
to-day?
His Lordship Is he going to speak English
the gentleman in question was persuaded to sot A reply in the negative was returned and
as interpreter for the defendant.
Mr. Grist then stated the esse for the plaintiff. The claim was for rent for the mouth of July or alternately for the month of August. Defendant occupied part "The petitioners used to live in matsheds at house for the two months mentioned, buke So Kon Po and Causeway Bay, but the Govern- "only paid for one mouth.
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the