No.573.
Sir,
C.0
2082
698
Government House,
Hongkong, 12th December 20.
M612.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 376 of 8th November, enclosing a letter from Sir E. J. Ackroyd on the Sanitary Condition of Hongkong.
2.
Sir Edward Ackroyd's letter is interesting as showing the very great difference of conditions existing in Hongkong fourteen years ago and now. Sir Edward Ackroyd is to be congratulated on having been instrumental in passing the Public Health Ordinance through the Council, but he underestimates the value of that measure in the assumption that its success depended upon the continuance in office of any particular man; and he fails to realize that the Sanitary Board has not alone very great powers, but has at its disposal all the available revenue of the Colony.
B.
With the work of the Sanitary Board I am entirely satisfied and, so far as I can judge, so is the public of Hongkong. The Chinese Members of the Board are efficient, and their presence is most useful.
I do not know that there is anything else to add except that the statement as to the relations between Government and the Land Owners is founded upon incorrect information.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&C.
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