21
It is unwise to attach too much importance to them, unless supported by the general public with no uncertain voice and unmistakable earnestness of purpose.
114
In this case I saw no signs of such indications, the only fear being that the public is rather apathetic in the matter, which is perhaps natural in a place where hardly any belonging to the European Community makes his permanent home and where the Chinese (also by far the greater part of the population) fail altogether to recognise the need for the most ordinary sanitary requirements.
I was, therefore, bound to feel that it was necessary for the Government to take the initiative, especially as regards the sanitary condition of the poor, who have seldom been known, I believe, in any country to make legislation move on the subject if left to themselves.