Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
us the cost of the repatriation of persons of all nationalities, and, in self-defence, it will be necessary to reduce this cost to its legitimate minimum. Foreign Consuls will assist none of their nationals unless they can produce papers to prove their nationality, and this rule is so rigidly enforced that the care of 99 per cent of the destitutes arriving in the Colony has hitherto devolved, on mere grounds of humanity, entirely on the Government of the Colony. The Trees Preservation Ordinance seems to be serving its purpose, and it is hoped that by means of it the villagers may, in time, be taught to leave untouched that which adds so much to the beauty and the salubrity of the island. I think it may be safely asserted that the Ordinance for judicial investigations into the causes of Fires has been a great success. The insurance companies recognise this to the fullest extent. Immediately on its passing into law the number of fires decreased at once, and although prosecutions for arson have not been very successful there can be no doubt that the effect of the measure on the minds of the Chinese community has been most salutary. The European District Reservation Ordinance will require some amendment. It is a most necessary measure, but as there has never been any clearly defined Chinese quarter of the city it is most difficult to draw a line which will not inflict some hardship on someone.
6. The Sanitary Board, as re-constituted under the Public Health Ordinance, has not hitherto been of much public utility. The anomaly of placing the house drains under the Board and the public sewers under the Surveyor-General has led to a good deal of friction; but the subject is receiving every attention, and an amendment of the Ordinance is contemplated.
7. The influx of Chinese, leading to a steady increase of population in spite of the restricted area of the Colony, is a subject of great importance and of no little embarrassment. Doubtless the land made available by the Praya reclamation scheme will tend to diminish the difficulty, but the relief from overcrowding will only be temporary, and I think it is clear that, before long, building land will have to be sought for in the interior of the island, and communication established with it by means of tramways. Those residents who have most closely watched the development of Hong Kong believe that its present prosperity is only beginning, and that, at no distant period, every available corner of the island will be covered with dwellings or manufactories. The history of the past few years seems clearly to indicate that this is no mere ideal; but the realisation of it will have to be accompanied by much forethought, to prevent the mistakes of the past from being repeated. A complete survey of the island will have to be made; the land laws will have to be revised; the best means of opening up the interior carefully thought out; and a complete understanding arrived at with the military authorities as to the land which they require for defensive purposes.
8. The advance in education is one of the most gratifying features in the progress of the Colony. There is yet much to be