To the Right Honorable
The Secretary of State
For the Colonies,
&c. &c. &C.
Sir,
C.O.
245
38006
H
RECO 14, Fourth Avenue
30 OCT 01
Hove,
Oct. 1901.
As Sanitary questions in Hong Kong are now attracting much attention, chiefly, no doubt, on account of the annual recurrence of the plague, I would beg leave to make some observations on these matters, chiefly in connection with the composition and powers of the Sanitary Board and on overcrowding. My excuse for doing so, is that although I did not personally draw up the Public Health Ordinance of 1887, yet I was acting Attorney General and Member of the Executive Council when the Bill was under discussion in that body and I was entrusted with the duty of passing it through the Legislative Council.
I am now writing from memory of what took place about fourteen years ago but I believe I am quite right in saying that that law was a compromise and a tentative measure.
At that time legislature was urgently required
to compel connection of private drains with the Public Sewers,
A.
B.
to provide, for the purposes of ventilation sufficient size especially in those cases where the rapid rise of the ground behind brought the back of the house against or close to the hill side.
C.
To deal, if possible, with the great evil of overcrowding, and
D.
to confer certain powers on the Authorities in times of epidemic.
In order to facilitate the passing of a law dealing