!
April 3, 1909.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
preliminary protest as the action has been | 1,000 per annum for the whole Colony, and forced upon us by the Imperial Parliament 17.2 inclusive of the army and navy. against our wish and we believe to the detriment of the Colony at large.
The CHAIRMAN-The question will come up when we let the new farm. We will then know how much the letting valne has been diminished. I have no doubt, as his Excellency has informed the Council. we will receive every consideration from the Home Government. It only compli- cates matters to bring up this small matter, as it was understood we would not press a claim of Hon. Mr. HEWETT We look to the Home Government and expect liberal compensation, but it does not follow that we will get it unless
this kind.
we make a protest at once.
The CHAIRMAN-I think His Majesty's Government understand that However, I will inform His Excellency of what hon. members have said.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, The Governor recommended the Council to
vote a sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) in aid of the vote, Medical Department, A-Staff, Other Charges, Health Officer of Port, Boat's Crew and Messenger.
OBSERVATORY VOTE.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars (8950) in aid of the vote, Observatory, Laboratory Expenses for purchase of Anemograph and Chronograph.
SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Mor. 30th at the Board Room. Mr. R. O. Hutcheson presided, and there were present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, .M.G. (Vice President), Colonel Bedford, Hon. Mr. Irving, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Dr. G. H. L. Fitzwilliams, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. Pearse and Dr. A. Gibson (Secretary).
EXHUMATION OF BODIES.
On the reading of the minutes of last meeting Mr. LAU CHU PAK said that although he was not in order he craved the indulgence of the Board as the matter was one of great urgency.
He would like to ask what steps the Government had taken with regard to the issuing of permits
for the exhumation of bodies. Some Chinese had written him on the matter pointing out that as the Chinese festival was approaching when they wished to exhume the remains of their relatives and send them to the mainland it was important that they should be able to secure permits for exhumation.
по
The PRESIDENT said he realised the importance of the question, but he regret- ted that up to the present he had information except the letter read from the Government. He understood that as soon as the law was passed, powers would be given to certain persons to grant permits. Until that law is passed no exhumation permits can be issued.
Mr. HOOPER-I assume no exhumations are going on?
The PRESIDENT-None.
THE NEW MEMBER.
He re-
RATS IN EUROPEAN HOUSES. houses in Tsimshatsui wa
Correspondence relativo to rats in Europian
submitted. Was Dr. Macfarlane, Assistant Medical Offer of Health reported that in consequence of houses, he appointed Inspector Brown to numerous complaints, re rats in European visit every one and enquire whether; (1) if traps, bird lime boards, rat poison, or all three. they had rats or not; (2) if they wished This took two days to do owing largely to the tenants in many cases keeping the inspector waiting 15 to 30 minutos, a rather inconsiderate proceeding. The result of these inquiries is shown in attached sheet. On the following day alltraps, asked for were supplied by Inspectors McKenzie, Hynes and Brown: sixty-one traps, 137 bird lime boards, and 62 pieces of rat poison. In ad- dition there are 35 houses rented by the Military Authorities in Austin Avenue, Salisbury Avenue, R.A.M.C., kindly agreed to issue traps etc. and East Terrace etc. To these Major Macdonald, 35 traps, 35 bird lime boards and 300 pieces of poison were issued for this purpose. Therefore there are now in the European quarter 96 traps, issued by the Sanitary Department in 126 172 bird lime boards, 360 pieces of rat poison
European houses, the remainder refusing to have them, or for other causes not wanting any. As the matter is of some importance, it might call attention to the seriousness of allowing rates in houses if the matter were circulated to the
Board.
Mr. HOOPER, referring to the statement that certain European householders had objeeted to allow rat traps or rat poison to be placed in their houses. said he thought if the matter wis properly brought to their notice, they would had a right to go into these houses and place not object. He would not say that inspectors them where they liked, but he thought a cir cular letter emanating from the Board might
be distributed to each of the houses where it had been refused, pointing out the by refusing to receive rat poison or traps. serious responsibility they were incurring More particularly should it be pointed out that up till now out of 19 cases of plague 18
had been on the other side of the water.
It
was
only that day that there had been one on this side. Although the majority of the cases which had occurred had been in Kowloon city, other cases had been found in Tsim Tsa Tsui, right in the locality where these complaints were made. He did not think it was' necessary to move a motion, but he thought if it were known that the circulars emanated from the Board rather than the Department it would indicate to the people that the matter had been discussed by their re- presentatives and that it was their wish that this work should be carried out.
THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE
SANITARY BOARD.
The following letter was read from the Colonial Secretary,-Sir., I am directed to inform you that, in view of the present constitution of the Sanitary Department, it is considered that the duties of the Secretary to the Sanitary Board are no longer so responsiba The PRESIDENT extended a welcome to the Separa'e Head of the Departmant. (2) An or arduous as they were when there was no new member, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, who took his opportunity offers to transfer Mr. G. A seat at the Board for the first time.
Woodcock, the present Secretary, elsewhere and gretted that the paper announcing his appoint-it is accordingly proposed to reduce the salary ment had arrived too late for circulation. They attached to the appointment from its present were pleased to see him.
figure to a rate of £360, rising by triennial increments of £30 to £420 per annum, (3) The post will be offered, subject to the approyal of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to Mr. C. F. W. Bowen Rowlands. (4) It is further proposed to abolish the post of principal clerk as it is not considered that such an officer is necessary when the Head of the Department devotes the Department.
whole of his time to the I am to request you to lay this letter before the Board.
Mr. Ho Koм TONG bowed his acknowledg- ments. PROPOSED SLAUGHTER HOUSE AT SHAUKIWAN. The reply from the Government was as follows: Sir,-Referring to your letter of the 9th instant I am directed to state that an estimate of the cost of a slaughter house at Shaukiwan has been called for with a view to the further consideration of the project in connection with the estimates for 1910.
ANTHRAX.
A minute by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon was read in which he reported a case of anthrax at Kennedy town on the 24th March. The animal came with fifteen others from Pakhoi and those had been placed under observation.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics for the month ended 27th February gave a death rate of 162 per
Mr. HOOPER-This is a very important change and should be fully discussed.
Mr. LAU CRU PAK-Even if members wish to retain Mr. Woodcock's services I do not suppose it can be done.
All who know him, I am sure, sincerely regret that he is to be taken away from the Sanitary Board. Ever since he Was appointed secretary as the oldest official member I can say without hesitation
TL-
279
that Mr. Woodcock invariably discharged his onerous duties most assiduously and conscien- tiously. My colleagues on the Sanitary Com- mission will no doubt concur with me in saying this. In all matters connected with the previous Board he had always been polite and considerate not only to members and European inquirers also to the lowest Chinese coolie to whom, when for information who came up to the office, but applied to, he always took the trouble to explain required. I am very sorry that his much ap fully in Chinese what the law actually preciated services areno longer available to the present Board as, with a secretary sympathetic. and knowing the Chinese and their language well as Mr. Woodcock does, much friction in carrying out sanitary measures would be
obviated.
Mr. HOOPER-I would just like to add on behalf of some of the European unofficial members that we considered Mr. Woodcock was one of the most conscientious and hard- kong. Having said that I move further working officials in the Government of Hong- consideration should be deferred till a con- fidential meeting to be held afterwards.
The PRESIDENT-As this is rather a difficult question, I second that.
This was agreed to.
LAND FOR FRIVATE CEMETERIES. The report of the committee appointed by the Sanitary Board to consider the general advisability of disposing of land to be used as private cemeteries was as follows:
otherwise are subject to the regulations made by All cemeteries in the colony, whether leased or the Board for their sanitary maintenance and an increase in the number of detached and isolated staff of officers for their supervision. For this cemeteries would therefore necessitate a larger
land being disposed of by the Government reason we consider it inadvisable to approve of
under special circumstances for denominations for isolated and detached cemeteries except
or
in.
ย
classes of the community not at present provided for. If, however, any Chinese affluent circumstances wishes to have space reserved as B permission might be given for an area to be so private graveyard,
Chinese cemetery or on land adjoining such reserved, and railed off either in an existing cemetery; the charge to be made for such special reservation to be calculated at the same Cemetery, namely at the rate of $2 per square rate as grave spaces in Class D or the Chinese
foot.
of the Department, the Director of Public The report was signed by the Acting Head Works and Mr. Hooper,
Hop. Mr. HEWETT minuted-I agree with the Committee's report.
The report was adopted.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Mr HOOPER gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting the following resolu- prohibit the burning of joss sticks and firing of tion: That as the new cemetery byelaws
that the Government should select a new site crackers in the Colonial Cemetery, it is desirable
for and authorise a cemetery for the interment
rites and ceremonies. of the bodies of persons of the Buddhist faith where it may be lawful for the practice of such
་
PLAGUE IN KOWLOON CITY.
one other matter.
The PRESIDENT remarked that there was Mr. Hooper had asked at the last meeting what steps could be taken with a view to preventing the further spread of plague at Kowloon City. He had consulted the Medical Officer of Health and the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, and it was thought that the only feasible plan was a general clean- sing in the city, by which it was hoped they would be able to do something to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Mr. HOOPER- re you doing that there? The PRESIDENT-Yes. notices.
We are issuing Mr. HOOPER-I think it is a matter of sufficient urgency for the Government to do it.
The PRESIDENT-I think it will practically come to that.
Mr. LAU CA PAX-Don't they do it, generally?
had a general cleansing at all.
The PRESIDENT-Kowloon city has nevg