740
of the district, and a continuous supply is being tuaintained. When the pumping machinery is erected, the supply will be extended to the higher levels, but at present there is not enough pressure of water to reach them.
The mortality statistics shew that the health of the Colony is good, and the present year promises to be the healthiest on record notwithstanding the somewhat alarming prevalence of malarial fever, which is no doubt due to the exceptional drought.
Profiting by last year's experience, and looking to the prevalence of the plague in the neighbourhood of the Colony during the early part of 1895, I appointed a Committee of Officials to consider what exceptional measures should be taken to protect the Colony against the re-appearance of the disease, or, in the event of its re-appearing, to limit its ravages as far as possible. Temporary hospital accommodation and burial grounds were at their suggestion provided, and arrangements made for the removal of patients, the isolation of those who had been in immediate contact with the disease, and the disinfection and cleansing of infected premises. It was further deemed advisable to prohibit Chinese immigration from certain infected neighbouring ports for several months during the year, but this restriction was not continued longer than was absolutely necessary. The precautions taken against
the recurrence of the plague and the timely arrangements nude for dealing with it have been efficacious. I am glad to inform you that only 29 cases have occurred during the year, and that at no time was an epidemic threatened.
my
In accordance with the recommendation of a Committee of Enquiry into the Medical Department, a Medical Officer of Health has recently been appointed. I regret to state that there has been some misunderstanding between the Government and the Unofficial Members of the Sanitary Board in regard to this appointment, and it may not be out of place here to explain briefly the position of the Government in this matter. In address to this Council on the 28th November last, I expressed my own views, which coincided with those of the Retrenchment Corumittee, regarding the Sanitary Board as hitherto constituted. I deprecated the division of responsibility which such a constitution involved, and I urged the desirability of placing the sanitary system on a different basis. Some opposition has been offered to my views in certain quarters, and it is not improbable that a compromise will eventually be suggested by the Secretary of State, but as yet no decision has been arrived at. In this uncertain state of affairs, I was unwilling to assign any definite position to the newly appointed Medical Officer as the subordinate of a Body which might, at any time, cease to
exist.
I accordingly adopted the modus vivendi which was offered to ine by the suggestion of the Medical Committee and which afforded the Government an opportunity of weighing the further recommendations of the Committee in regard to the reconstitution of the medical staff, on which the future position of the Medical Officer of Health must, to a great extent, depend. I should not have thought it necessary to make this explanation were it not for certain insinuations which have been made as to the motives of the Government. There are those who have pretended to see in the action of the Government an attempt to deal a death- blow to the Sanitary Board. 1 disclaim any such motive; and even had such been my object, I should at least have adopted measures better calculated to effect it--measures which would have left no doubt whatever as to my intentions.
As a matter of fact, however, the responsibility of deciding this vexed question does not rest with me. Having expressed my views, my duty ends, and I can only hope that whatever conclusion may be arrived at, it will effectually secure the sanitary well-being of this community, which after all is our common object.
Turning to other matters of general interest, the shipping returns up to the 30th September last are more than encouraging.
last
For the first 9 months of this year, as compared with the corresponding period of year, British shipping shews an increase of 378 vessels aggregating 575,306 tons.
Foreign shipping with a numerical decrease of 75 ships also shews an increase iu tonnage of 11,887 tons. European vessels have handled and carried some 276,000 tons of cargo more than last year.
There is likewise an increase in the Foreign and Local Junk Trades of 178,747 tous and 79,263 tous, respectively.
The total increase over last year in the number of ships entered and cleared at this port is no less than 5,551 vessels aggregating 845,203 tons--a distinct improvement even on the exceptionally good returns for 1893.
The passenger traffic returns show an increase of 25,186 in the number of emigrants, but immigration has fallen off considerably doubtless on account of the prohibition in force during several months in respect of certain neighbouring ports infected with the plague.
Chinese seamen's boarding-houses have recently been inspected and licensed for the first time, and there are now 67 such houses duly licensed, affording accommodation for
1,120 men.
The criminal statistics are gratifying, and there has been no repetition of the riots which occurred in the early part
of last year.
The public peace has been efficiently preserved
by the Police, and with the exception of the coolie strike, which took place at the latter end of March last in connection with the enforcement of the bye-laws for the regulation of and the
there is, I rejoice to say, no "Police News" worthy of record. robbery with on lodging-house virlehce The firm attitude of the Government during the coolie strike was, however, not on the 18th maintained without loss and inconvenience to the commercial community, but the eir- +92d instant.
cumstances did not admit of concession, and looking to future interests it will, I think, be generally admitted that the success achieved was not too dearly purchased.
The community is indebted to the Naval and Military Authorities for their ready assistance in the emergency, and the Police, as usual, did excellent work in keeping order and relieving the situation as far as possible by providing coolies and cargo boats for the several firms.
With regard to education, it appears that the attendance at the several schools, which fell off last year, has now recovered its normal proportions. Including Queen's College, there are now 16 Government Schools, and 105 Grant-in-Aid Schools, (of which latter 10 have been opened during the year) in addition to numerous Chinese " Kaifong" Schools.
of
It has often struck me as extraordinary-not to say discreditable-that, after 55 years British rule, the vast majority of Chinese in Hongkong should remain so little "Auglicised.” I have thus been led to enquire more thoroughly than I have hitherto done into the system