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In the Markets there has been an increasing improvement in the Meat and Vegetables therein sold and both are slightly cheaper. Indeed as regards the latter they frequently compare well with those grown in the numerous private gardens in the Colony.
The dealers, however, complain of a depression in this trade and report sales amounting only to $146,000 against nearly $165,000 in the previous year. Still the Revenue derived by Government from the various lettings in the Markets being in 1869 $31,941.08 against $32,131.18, shewing ■ decrease of $190.10, exhibits the fact that in the different kinds of business a thriving state continues.
The trade in Salt Fish remained on the decrease as had been the case since the establishment of the cordon of Revenue Stations in our neighbourhood. Ping-chow and Tam-Tasi opposite Macao, have apparently reaped the benefit of the fulling off of the trade here, but I am glad to report that this year has opened with a great improvement and the dealers in this important trade are anticipating better times than the last three years have produced.
A large business has been done in prepared Opium, the exports to Australia and California reaching an aggregate of about 2,562,000 taels in weight. The value of this Opium is 5 mace and 5 candareens of silver per tael, so that the value of the amount exported was $1,950,000. In Hongkong about 648,000 täels weight was purchased.
The rent of Chinese houses has fallen about twenty-five per cent. There was very little building during the year and there are about 250 houses in some of the principal streets alone empty and unoccupied.
In the few buildings, however, both in the Foreign and Native districts, which have been erected or restored, attention has been paid to a recognized system, which has a decided tendency towards utility as well as appearance.
In conclusion I may refer to the Ordinances which are peculiarly connected with this Department. The Registration Ordinance still works satisfactorily, and under it 663 Householders have been regis tered, while the re-registration or removals amounted to 169, thus shewing the changeable nature of the Native population in che Colony. Regarding the Registration of Servants, matters remain almost in statu quo, owing to the lack of co-operation on the part of Employers.
The Special Watchmen complain that they are unable to display the same success as formerly, owing to the manifest decrease in crime. They have been engaged in 48 cases of any note in the Police Courts.
The Contagious Diseases Ordinance, 1867, well serves the aim and object of Government in passing such a measure; what is now most wanted is the building of a suitable and commodious Hospital. The control of the Registered Houses is good and it is believed that but few breaches of the Ordinance are committed. It is noteworthy how the feeling at home is changing on this subject, and how rapidly the opinion of the necessity of extending the powers of the Act (on which the Ordinance is founded) is gaining ground. There is not, I believe, any general feeling in Hongkong, amongst those who interest themselves in public affairs, against the working of such a legislative measure here, but I may add that the Magisterial functions exercised and the method of procedure which is clearly defined by the Ordinance, are based entirely on the provisions of the Imperial Act.
During the year, 61 cases were heard in this Office, of which 9 were dismissed, convictions being obtained in the remaining number. The amount of Fines paid was 329 Dollara.
The Honorable J. GARDINER Austin,
Colonial Secretary.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
CECIL C. SMITH, Registrar General.
No. 63.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Report of the Colonial Surgeon, with Returas annexed for the Year 1869, is published for general information.
By Command,
Hess.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 12th May, 1870.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 18th April, 1870. My Eleventh Annual Report, on the sanitary condition of Hongkong, has reference to the year 1869. The impression left on my own mind, and on that of other practitioners, is, that last season was remarkable, beyond previous years, for unusual heat, and for great immunity from serious sick- The following tables do not confirm either of those views; for it will be seen that the mortality amongst the Foreign Residents has exceeded that of the previous two years, Too much weight how- ever must not be attached to this, as the sources from which the data for constructing the table of mortality are derived, are somewhat unreliable; and the present discrepancy between the general im- pression, and the statistical returns, only serves to point out the necessity which exists for having all leaths properly registered,-a subject to which I have on several previous occasions adverted." In regard to the temperature also, I believe that although the thermometer never attained (according to the tables,) the same altitude as it did in previous years, it remained for a longer period than usual, at a point sufficiently elevated to be oppressive to most Europeans. But, taking the case as made out by the tables even, the increased mortality is trifling in comparison to what it was in former years, and the climate of Hongkong may be said to be now eminently salubrious for the tropics.
The many sanitary improvements undertaken within the last few years, have doubtless contributed greatly to this satisfactory result, and perhaps one more so, than the planting of trees, which has been carried out with great vigor. I believe that much good will follow the extension of this system, and that wherever a tree can find root, it should be put in; and that so long as all undergrowth is removed, there cannot be too many trees. Fortunately, a branch cut off from a tree, and stuck into the ground, is all that is required to produce a new plant, and, where not exposed too much to the influence of the strong wind, it flourishes in an astonishing manner. On the margin of the sea, per- haps, this result is less satisfactory, owing to the spray, and it has been suggested that the cocoa-nut palu might thrive there, and be remunerative as well. The preservation of small birds from wanton destruction, will also prove to be a useful sanitary measure, as their increase must tend to diminish the number of mosquitoes and other troublesome and irritating insects.
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The use of carbolic acid, which has been freely employed from time to time, in cleansing the drains, has been of great benefit, although periodical flushing can alone effectually keep them free from emitting unpleasant and unhealthy gases. On some parts of the sea-board, as on the foreshore at Wanchai, no amount of carbolic acid which could be employed, appeared to produce the slightest beneficial effect, and I believe that nothing short of carrying out the Praya into deep water, and running the drains beyond this, will prove sufficient to remedy this nuisance.
During the month of March, three vessels came into Port from Yokohama having Typhus Fever on board. "It was thought advisable to remove the infected men to Stone-cutter's Island, and place the ships in quarantine for a short time. Whether the occurrence of this fever on ship-board is in any way connected with the tidal mud ballast used, is a point to which the Health Officer's attention has been directed, and an auswer to which may be expected at the end of the present season.
A case, which came before the Coroner in April, attracted the notice of the Government to an Institution known as the "I-tsz." Land had been originally granted for the purpose of erecting a ten- porary resting-place for coflined bodies previous to their removal to their native districts, in conformity with Chinese custom. It was found that persons dangerously ill, and likely to die, were sent there to take their chance, wholly unprovided with the cominon necessaries of life. It is not easy to explain the inhumanity practised, except on the supposition that the cost and trouble generally attendant on parifying houses in which death has occurred, neted on the natural cupidity of the people. As soon as the condition of matters was recognized, it was at once put a stop to, and rooms were erected for the temporary reception of Chinese patients, to be treated by native practitioners. These rooms are regularly inspected by the Registrar General, Coroner and myself, and will suffice until the Chinese Hospital can be built, to which, besides a large grant from the Government, the wealthy Chinese have liberally subscribed. The death rate is still very great however; for, out of 211 alinissions since the 9th of June to the 31st December, 89 died, and 19 remained in the establishment.