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Crowded, particularly out at night, and ill-ventilated, the effects I am perfectly certain would be infinitely more fatal than they are at present.
I am decidedly of opinion that more than I am dec... an annual examination of the state of the Chinese tenements would be a most useful measure.
I have always understood that the mortality here as compared with other cities in the tropics is considerably lower than Canton, and equal to Macao; this is due to the fact that no extensive defects can exist in the drainage. Nor do I believe that the fevers prevalent in badly drained towns in England are of frequent recurrence here, and I can declare that it is infinitely better drained than any city I have seen in China.
Breakdowns frequently arise, which cause inconvenience and create nuisances by the stoppage of drains; there are, however, remedied as quickly as possible; but in such a city, with such a population, works of all kinds in progress, a degree of dirt will accumulate which would not be apparent in a finished city.
Since the date of the Colonial Surgeon's Report, further works in draining the district have been authorized, and are indeed in progress, but more are yet demanded, and will be carried on as quickly as the Department can do so, and when the proposed Police By-laws come into operation, and a more effective...