HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11,
SANTARY BOARD AND THE LOCAL
FLUSH SYSTEM.
SHOUD NOT BE USED AS "LEVER" AGAINST OWNERS
OF OLD STYLE HOUSES.
MR. M. KLO ANALYSES LOCAL ORDINANCE: BOARD'S POWERS CRITICISED.
BUIDING QUESTION NOT WITHIN ITS PROVINCE.
A poi denunciation of the bucket system of removing aight-soif" was made by Mr. Wong Kwong at a meeting of the Sanitary Board yesterday. Mr. Wong drew a picture of the sufferings a the risks borne by those who lived in houses where the water flush system was unknown.T. N. Chau, in seconding, the motion, expressed the hope that in the not distant future g Kong would be universally provided with a flush system.
The Hon. rector of Public Works, in the course of his speech, said that no Sanitary Board should enage a retrograde step. He was in favour of supporting Mr. Wong Kwong Tin's motion, excing that he could not agree with one of the clauses,
He thoughthat to perpetuate and prolong the life of an old building by allowing a water closet installion before other more important improvements were carried out was. retrograde step.
Mr. M. K. Lin the course of a lengthy and interesting speech, pointed out that the Sanitary Board shoul not exercise their discretion adversely to an owner for the ultimate Turpose of inducing 4h owner to pull down prenses which the Legislature allowed him to retain and maintain. Le looked forward to the day when Hong Kong will have sufficiently solved its water problesto enable it to give a supply for the universal adoption of the water Aush system.
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The resolution wich was anally decided on was that the Board 'should not use the permission to instal the ptor closet system as a lever to secure a more hygienic type of halldings, hat that it walconsidered essential to retain, full discretion of to decline permission in cases where the installion, in the view of the Board, was open to objection on hygienic grounds.
FULL REPORT
OF BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS.
Mr. G. R. Sayer presided at the
Use of Tap Water. meeting, and there were also pre-Clearly where there is not ap. Seat Dr. G.
W. Pope, Medical dequate and independent supply Officer of Health, Dr. A. R. Well-water and the use of tap water ington, Director of Medical and he to be employed, flushing would Sanitary Services, Mr. M., E. Lo, n be practicable. Tap water at Dr. W. V. M. Koch, Mr. Wong pisent at least, has to be conserved Kyong Tia, Mr. F. C. Hall, Mr. for more useful purpose; hence I I. N. Chau, Hon. Mr. R. Tamstressing the necessity of pro- Creasy, Director of Public Works, and Mr. J. Watson (Secretary),
Mr. Wong Kwong Tin proposed the adoption of the following motion:-
That this Board regrets the necessity for the continuance of the present crude bucket system of re- moving night-soil and recommenda that application for water closets be sanctioned on the following con- ditions being observed:-
vidig some, adequate and inde penent supply of, water, this pro- visiot to extend to the Peak Distlet.
:
门
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A Betrograde Stop.
1930.
I
Two Schools of Thought.
The particular case which would I understand that you, Sir, and appear to have led to Mr. Wong the Hon." the Director of Public Kwong Tin's resolution is the ap-Works, belong to the first school plication for W.C.'s to be installed of thought. I should naturally at No. 153, Queen's Road, in which besitate to dider from such high case the rooms of the house are 60 authorities on a question of this it. deep and the open air space kind. But the principle involved provided is only 1/11 instead of 1/3 in these divergent views is a very of the built over area. To per important one. Having given to petuate and prolong the life of such it the best consideration I can, and building by allowing a WC. | having arrived at a definite con- installation before other more imclusion, I feel it my duty to say portant improvements are carried out is a retrograde step that no Sanitary Board should encourage.
I would suggest that if the Board wishes to pass any resolution with regard to water closet installations, it should make it quite clear that property owners applying for such installations should first see that their property is mads to comply with the more rudimentary health requirements with regard to light and air before more modern im- provements are applied for.
that I differ from the first, and agree with the second, school of thought, and it remains for me to set out shortly my reasons.
water
Assuming that this Board is justi- fied in using the lover, of refus ing permission to instal closets, to prevent the retardation of the rebuilding of these "old type" houses, I remain to be con- vinced that the means still attäin the end. I do not know how many houses there are which were built before 1930. There must be thous
If and when section 180 of theands. I do not know how many P.H. and B.Q. is repealed, owners of these houses can obtain an in of old property would have to com, dependent water supply, eg., from must be relatively ply with modern requirenients more wells. There in keeping with the practice pre-
few. If this is so, it is obvious valling in modern cities and re- build their old insanitary houses to conform thereto.
futile to expect that the grant- ing or refusal of permission instal water closets can have any material effect on this question. Mr. Lo's Speech.
In any case, does it follow that Mr. M. K. Lo, in supporting the because water closeta cannot be in- motion, said: The jurisdiction of stalled, the owner is therefore more this Board in regard to water likely to pull down and rebuild?! closets is de: ived from section 1621 should have thought not. He of the Public Health and Buildings would be much more likely to con- Ordinance, as amended by Ordi-tinue to do without water closets. nance No. 6 of 1997. Section 162 (2) reads as follows:-
In this case the only result of the Board's refusal of permission is. to compel one more, household to carry on, with the insanitary bucket system.
Definite Ruling Wanted.
In seconding the motion, Mr. T. N.. Chau asid:-I beg to second the motion. It is time that this
No person shall, after the 23rd day of June, 1927, construct any Board got down to some definite
water closet or urinal, and co per principle for the guidance of the son shall maintain, or allow to Select Committee in considering
remain on any premises owned or
A Question for Legislature. applications for the installation of
occupied by him, any water closet, or urina, constructed after the My objection, however, to the water closets. In the mind of an 23rd day of June, 1937, except first school ef thought is based on ordinary intelligent person, Mr.
with the permission of the Board and of the Colonial Secretary and the more general ground that this Wong Kwong Tin's motion would
in accordance with the terms and Board is not justified in using the appear to have covered all the conditions of such permission. lever at all, even if the means essential conditions upon which It is common ground that the would attain the end. It seems to Whre the manner of construction any application should be granted, usual terms and conditions are me that the question as to what is cokerned and also that of up and I submit that, in the interest stereotyped. They, however, in- type of houses should be permitted keep, the matter is one for experte; of public health, it should be the volve this essential requirement, to remain, and what type of houses and Tuggest that the existing rebounden duty of this Board Let
that as regards premises situate should be pulled down and rebuilt, gelations no doubt drawn up on only to encourage the use of the outside the Peak area, an appli- forms part of the housing problem, to insist cant must satisfy the Board that which is for the Legislature, and expert dvice, "should continue to flush system, but also be obsered.
upon its installation wherever there is an independent water not for this Board, to decide, al- There is no denying that the possible.
supply, ie, a supply otherwise though it is within its province to water cariage system is decidedly Hong Kong often "boasts of its than from the water mains. The express to the Government its views superior to that of the precent wonderful development and its re-question as to the merits of this ex- and recommendations from the bucket, sytem, particularly when markable progress in many dires ception in favour of the Peak does point of view of public health. My (2) If there shall be (other than epidemics of typhoid and cholerations, and yet one still finds the not arise on this motion. The ex-
view is that this question was ex- in the Peak District) an iare rife, nd unless some strong crude bucket system so largely inception has been accepted, and is haustively considered by the Gov. dependent and adequate sup convincing argument against its use vogue in the Colony-a system which being acted on by this Board.
ernment in 1903, and that its con- ply of water for the purpose
elusions, in the shape of an enactment, bind this Board.
The Government's deliberations resulted in the Public Health and Ordinance was based upon recom- I believe, was drafted-by a great mendations mude and, indeed, as Public Health expert.
The Government, at the time, had to deal with three possible kinds of buildinga, namely:-.
(a) Those built before 1003.
(1) If premises affected have not been ordered by the Building Authority to be demolished.
(3) If the applicant undertakes is forthcoming, it must be admitted no progressive city would tolerate.
"that
Conflict of Views,
It will thus be seen that section
to comply with the existing that the water carriage system Mr. Wong Kyong Tin has pointed regulations as to the manner ought to be ujiversally encouraged. out many serious objections, sani- of construction and mainten- The sincerity of the Board has been tary or otherwise, against the 162 makes no distinction as to the Buildings Ordinance 1903. This auce." He said: In moving this motion, it is my called in question and our delibera-buckes system, and I am in accord type of house in respect of which object to obtain from the Board tions are being closely watched. with his reasonings. I do not for permission can be granted. But same definite ruling as regards the It has been expressed by the Hong a moment say that there may not conflicting views are entertained by policy to be adopted towards ap-Kong Telegraph that the impression be some reasons against the fn-members of this Board as to whether plications for erecting water closets, given is
the Sanitary stallation of water closets in some perinission should be granted in particularly where Chinese teae Authorities are setting their faces particular cases, but it behoves us respect of "old type" ment houses are concerned. It against any marked change for the to weigh the pros and cons in each-Some consider that permission seems that the matter has been left better," and the China Mail has decase and choose the lesser of two should be refused for reasons which entirely in the hands of a few mem-clared that what is wanted is evils. I sincerely hope that in the may perhaps be summarized as
"concrete evidence that the Sani-not distant future, Hong Kong will follows: bers who constitute the Water Closet Sub-Committee; and the lack of a tary Board is really sanitarily be universally provided with a fush deânite set of rules to guide them minded; that it is truly desirous of system. has often brought about complica eliminating in time the dry closet
The
Hon. Mr. Creasy-The tions. Cases have been known evils, and the Wa Kiu Fat 'ao Building Authority can only issue where permission to erect water declares that infectious and conan order for the demolition of a elosets has been refused, although tagious diseases are likely to spread building if it is in a dangerous the premises concerned, in condi- when receptacles are placed in the condition. Lion, uge, appearance and situation kitchen where food for human-com-In the case of old buildings (on lots purchased prior to 1930), which were identical to those where par- sumption is prepared." mission has been granted; and i
Perhaps many members of the do not comply with the require
ments of section 160 of the Public again permission has been granted Board are not quite conversant with Health and Building Ordinance when the premises in like circum" the manner of living of most of the with regard to open space improve- stances has been refused. This fuc Colony's inhabitants and how the rents cannot be insisted upon until rebuilding is undertaken. To per bucket system affects them. It is mit modern sanitary fittings in old tor of uncertainty, dependent pet- haps on mood and temperament, not uncommon to find receptacles buildings before they comply with should be entirely eliminated under beds and in kitchens close modern requirements with regard to light and air is only prolonging Ozasiz who wish to improve their to where food is being prepared. the life of such insanitary build. property have a right to know what In the typhoon season, when shut-inga the conditions are before being put ters are closed and when there is the expense of submitting plans, never greater need for buckets to which may be disapproved for no be emptied, this satiquated system other reason than that the premises makes its faults all the more ap are not up to date. The question is, parent. Without going further into what is the type of house that will be detail, I will only add that apart
It is hoped that now that more new houses are, available for ac commodation, at no distant date all owners of old property will take the opportunity of improving their Property so as to make all such houses comply with modern open space requirements.
It is not possible at present to
considered up to dates What is the from noxious gases flies and posinsist on all buildings being fitted type of house that will be consider sible sources of contamination, the with the water dush system owing <d unfit for water closets. When nightly opening of the front door to the inadequacy of the water aak home will that to admut some evil-smelling in-supply. Every encouragement is, truder fouling the atmosphere and water closets to all new houses and unfitness be determined? am anggesting that any house, which caring little for the peace of the all existing buildings, which comply household is an experience few with the open space requirements has not been condemned by the members of this Board. will relish under section 179 of the P.H. & Building Authority as unit and It is indeed a and reflection to find B.O. where an adequate and inde ordered to be demolished, should be that such a backward state of pendent water supply is obtainable. affairs is allowed to prevail where deemed it for the installation of progress and good government are comply with the regulations as to All applicants must of necessity
the watchworda.
the manner of construction.
water closets,
houses.
(b) Those built after 1903, but upon land leased from the Crown before that date.
(c) Those built after 1903, but on land leased from the Crown after that date...
The type of housing existing in any place is an important
Taking the cases in the reverse factor on the general health of that place. Ideal sanitary con- order, the Ordinance provides that, ditions are incompatible within the last case, every house shall be slums or insanitary houses. In provided with an open space equal in area to not less than one-half of Hong Kong there still remain many houses built before 1903, the roofed over area; in addition to and these houses, being built be a scavenging lane (Section 179); in -fore the commencement of the the second case, the open area shall Public Health and Buildings be one-third of the roofed-over area, Ordinance of that year, obvious in addition to a scavenging lane ly are not so hygienic as those (section 180); and in the first case built in compliance with the dew it provides as follows:- requirements of that Ordinance. It is, therefore, desirable not to maintenance of encourage the this old type of buildings; on the contrary, every legitimate lever should be employed to in- duce the owner to pull them down and rebuild in accordance -with-modern-ideas It is known that the presence of water closeta in say premises is an enhance- ment of their value. The grant- ing of permission to instal water closet sorves therefore, in effect, to lengthen the life of, and thus to perpetuate, this undesirable, type of building.
The other view is that the use of water closets is but one of the modern sanitary conveniences
Every existing domestic build- ing shall be provided by the owner with an open space in the rear, by opening out on each storey one-half of the entire, space intervening between the principal room or rooms and the main wall at the back of such building as well as the corre- sponding portion of roof, unless such building is already provided with an open and unobstructed backyard of at least fifty square feet in area; the building airust. further be provided an every storey with a window of at least ten square feet superficial area opening into such open space— Section 175 (1).'
I understand that the effect of which one should be entitled to this requirement is that a house have as a right, and not as built before 1903 must be provided with onen space which in practice, comes to about one-third of the roofed, aren (but without the addi- tion of a scavenging lane), unless it has an open backyard of at least fifty square feet.
house is it to be occupied as a dwelling, there is no reason to make any unfair discrimination against it by withholding from it one of the ordinary conveni- ences of a dwelling house." Sec tion 189 makes no such distine tion, and there is no reason why the Board should.
This Board can, under sub-section (4), grant modifications and ex- emptione “
(Continued on Page 10.)
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