1887-1903
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
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tection, and accept it readily—a fact which is the more remarkable, inasmuch as they, for the most part, reject altogether other applications of Western medical science.
21. (II.) "The Vagrancy Ordinance, 1888," was an attempt to meet an evil of growing magnitude, by rendering those having the management or control of vessels liable for the cost incurred by the Colony in respect of destitute persons introduced. Scarcely a week passes without the necessity of sending to their homes in Europe or elsewhere persons who have come here ostensibly to seek a livelihood; this repatriation being the preferable and cheaper alternative to their perpetual maintenance in gaol or other public institutions. Some of these are sent here apparently, according to instructions, by Her Majesty's consuls in China and Japan; and not a few come, I suspect, with the object of being sent home at the public expense. Those of them who are foreigners are almost invariably repudiated by their consuls, as having no means of proving their nationality; and thus, from one cause or another, all become a charge on the Colony. The Ordinance above referred to, which was intended as a remedy for this state of things, has probably done some good by inducing greater caution in the introduction of such persons; but it cannot so far be said to have been a marked success; and though it may perhaps be susceptible of beneficial amendment, I fear that the evil is one which can never be completely cured, and must be regarded as an inseparable incident of our position as a great shipping centre.
22. (III) "The Rating Ordinance, 1888," was, as the title implies, enacted for the improvement of the rating system of the Colony. It embodies the more valuable portions of previous Ordinances, and contains at the same time various useful additions and amendments, principally with the object of simplifying procedure, which are the result of the experience gained by Mr. Lister, the treasurer, in the supervision of the system, and of the careful attention given by him to the subject.
23. (IV.) "The European District Reservation Ordinance deals with an evil which has been recognised by successive Governors for years past, but for which this represents the first effort to provide a remedy. The close packing of the Chinese in their houses, which is the normal condition of all classes among them, including in some degree even the well-to-do, enables a much larger rent to be obtained from land in Chinese occupation than from that inhabited by Europeans, whose health in a climate unfavourable to them (not to mention their comfort) requires much more breathing space in connexion with their residences. Thus the large influx of Chinese in recent years, and the comparative advantage to landowners in providing residence for them, has caused a continually increasing intrusion of Chinese houses upon the quarter of the town formerly occupied exclusively by Europeans. This result would have been comparatively endurable if it were possible for Europeans to live in health or comfort when surrounded by such houses. But, unlike the Chinese, who have, probably by ...
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