prosperly
improve the beeterify of those
affected.
3. I shall also be glad
to know if you have considered
the actual disposal of bodies
whether some improvement in
mitigation
of the practice of
abostoning deponting
dead
Streets
bodies
in
the
2
elsewhere
ould not be affected by the'
organisation of a Standing
Board of Chinese Unofficial
a
persons to administer the funds
of public moneys
contributed from the rates for
the purpose of according facilities
for the burial of thedead
to poor Chinese persons who
wright
may apply to them.
4. I trust that in spite of
the difficulties, which I fully
might not be effected
appreciate, all possible steps will be
taken to deal with these distressing
and unhealthy conditions.
I have etc.
(Signed) PASSFIELD.
Page
Page
No 282.
RECEIVE
by Lord,
2 3 JUN 1950
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG. 22nd May, 1930.
احمد
12 on
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
62896 Tour Lordship's despatch No.299 dated 11th November, 1929, on
the subject of the Annual Report for 1928 of the Captain
Superintendent of Police and in particular of the number of
unidentified dead bodies discovered in the streets and
elsewhere.
2.
The Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance of
1896 prohibits the removal of any dead body from a house except
with the appropriate permit following the registration of the
death, but in practice the detection of these illegalities is
extremely difficult.
3.
The Chinese as a race are conspicuously careful
of their dead and the chief cause of the prevalence of this
objectionable practice is the extreme poverty of a considerable
proportion of the local population.
4.
An analysis of the 1928 figures shows that out
of a total of 1680 abandoned corpses no less than 1494 or 89%
were infants of three years or less.
5.
A further cause of the practice is the fear of
the consequent disinfection of premises in the case of deaths
from infectious diseases and, in particular, small-pox.
This
factor
Ard
&
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LORD PASSFIELD,
&C.,
&C.,
&C.