CO882-(3-4) — Page 462

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 882

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Division of report

into descriptive and suggestive matter.

Abstract desirable on account of length of report.

The question of sur- roundings of barracks treated separately. Bad sanitary condi- tion of Hong Kong. Mortality and vitality. l'aran, 111, 193.

quirements of anitation. Paras. 124–136.

Dry carth system, its

bjects and effects,

l'aras. 140-143.

Existing water supply

inadequate.

Necessity for mea-

4.

The main report is divided into two parts, the first descriptive of the state of thing Th as I found them, the second discusses the defects and suggests remedial measures. villages are treated in a third part. This arrangement perhaps involves some repetition, but it seemed well to distinguish clearly fact from opinion.

As the report is necessarily long, I will give a brief abstract of its contents and of the opinions therein expressed.

The special question relative to the surroundings of the barracks is discussed in a separate report.

The sanitary condition of Hong Kong is defective, and calls for energetic remedial

The death-rate is high, whilst the average age at death is low.

measures.

•

Complete sanitation demands the immediate and complete removal of all organic refuse. The dry-earth system facilitates the removal of human excreta, and abates nuisance in so doing. It does not effect the removal of the remaining and far larger amount of refuse for which purpose drains are required. It does not do away with the necessity for proper drainage, owing to difficulty of obtaining proper earth; it is. inapplicable to Hong Kong.

The present water supply is inadequate, but this is about to be remedied. Unless waste of water be prevented, neither the proposed works, nor works inany times larger, would sures to prevent waste satisfy the wants of the city. To provide powers for prevention of waste a new Water-

works Ordinance is required, also to provide a new scale of charges of water. present water rate is unequal and unjust in its incidence.

even with increased

supply. Parna. 74-84

and 219-939.

Nature of measures.

l'aras. 220, 221.

Scale of charges.

J'aras. 229, 230. Improvement of pre-

■ent intermittent supply. Paras 222 231–236.

Unsanitary state of dwellings. Paras. 24-61, 146-193. Amended building Juw required. House drainage urgently required. l'aras. 41-46,184–191.

Method of executing

Parna. 180-181.

The

To improve the present intermittent supply and render the distribution more uniform and effective, it would be desirable to lay down certain new water mains. These will also be required for the distribution of the augmented supply when the new works are

finished.

Both the design and construction of existing dwellings is defective-the Building Ordinance requires complete revision. The amended law must be enforced with more rigour and intelligence than at present, particularly as to alleys, lanes, and open spaces.

The system of house drainage is radically bad. The whole of the dwellings within the town require re-draining, and unless this is done but little health-improvement will be

made.

The complete cheap and proper execution of this work can only be effected by the distribution of charges. Government undertaking it. The cost of the work will be considerable, even if carried out with the greatest economy. It is unjust to compel a landlord to pay a lump sum for remedying defects which have virtually received official sanction. The payment for these improvements should be distributed over several years. As the general public and the tenants are the principal beneficiaries by the expenditure for house improvement, it will be just and expedient for the Government to pay for their execution out of general

Construction of inter-

181, 197–205.

cepting sewer. Paras.

revenue.

The constructing of an intercepting sewer to divert the sewage from the harbour is desirable. The benefits to health derived from this work alone will be small compared The determination of Determination of out to that derivable from improvement of house drains and sewers. fall. Parsa 300-801.

Improvement to ex-

-ixting sewers to render

them suitable for

the best outfall is the first step to be taken. This requires the investigation of the tidal currents at different seasons of the year.

The

present sewers may by minor improvements be made suitable for the conveyance of sewage as well as storm-water. The sewage only should be diverted from them to sewage. Paras. 203, the intercepting sewer by which it is conducted to a distant outfall; storm-water must

go direct to the harbour.

204, 207-208.

Scavenging and night-

soil removal. Paras. 240-278.

suitable Paras. .941-346.

As to scavenging and night-soil removal. To encourage the introduction of excreta into existing drains would be fatal. For the present at least some system of hand removal Dry-earth system un must continue. The dry-earth system is inapplicable on account of the difficulty of obtaining a supply of suitable earth, and the magnitude of the operations involved. Hence the present bucket system must continue in an improved form. To this end the night-soil removal contract should be separated from that of street sweeping. The night-soil contractors should have the complete monopoly of that substance for which they would pay a large sum on account of its value; they would see that complete collection took place. In the end a system of water carriage will certainly prove most

Proposed reforms of existing system. Paras. 149-278.

5

satisfactory; when all is ready for its gradual introduction. The proposed house drains are suitable for this purpose also.

to

acquired. Paras.

Public latrines are most valuable means of sanitation. They should be acquired by Public latrines to be Government, improved, their number increased, and they should be thrown open 88-91, 178-178, the public gratis. In towns having narrow streets, complete scavenging is of the highest 261, 162, 266. importance.

This work, when separated from that of night-soil removal, can be more completely carried out and supervised.

974-286.

For the proper supervision of all these works, to introduce habits of cleanliness, to An organised sanitary detect and remedy evils, an organised sanitary staff is required, operating under the staff required. Paras, personal direction of a responsible European officer. That either the Colonial Surgeon the Surveyor General should be required to exercise the necessary personal super- vision, is incompatible with their other duties.

or

sanitary officer re-

The appointment of a special officer is recommended, personally to supervise the Appointment of sanitary staff, the Surveyor General and the Colonial Surgeon and administrative retaining commended. Paras. their consultative functions. The Surveyor General's department will continue to 280-281. execute new works and repairs.

To reinforce the sanitary staff, and to make the work of inspection more palpable to Employment of dis- the Chinese, it is proposed to add the duty of enforcing cleanliness to the present duties trict watchmen in of the district watchmen, increasing, if necessary, their number and pay.

enforcing cleanliness. Paras. 282.

placed in once of

To bring the Sanitary Officer directly in relation with the district watchmen, it is Sanitary Officer to be suggested that he should be, to some extent, a member of the office of the Registrar Registrar General. General or Protector of Chinese, who now directs the district watchmen in their duty Paras. 988, 984. of maintaining order. The Registrar General is, and always must be, an officer speaking Chinese, whereby it is hoped that many minor difficulties will be smoothed over. The district watchmen being nominated by the community, and approved by Government, will tend to this result also, by giving the public some voice in the matter. The Sanitary Officer will receive technical instructions from the Surveyor General and Colonial Surgeon respectively, and refer, through the Registrar General, any technical difficulties to them for their opinions.

I would call attention to the indifferent condition of the markets, and the want of Condition of markets. baths for the poor, also public laundries. The second want was pointed out to me by Par. 275. the Tung-Wa Committee. The provision of a proper water supply for Kowloon washbones. Para. Peninsula is recommended, also for some of the larger villages.

Want of baths and

979-973.

1 beg to record my thanks to his Excellency the Governor and the official staff for Conclusion. the great courtesy shown to me, and for the great facilities afforded me in the execution of my duty.

I trust that even should these suggestions be found undesirable or impracticable, my report will show the necessity for strong and complete measures of sanitation, and I trust that they will be undertaken for the immediate benefit of the public health, without waiting for the necessity, to be demonstrated by the irresistible logic of a severe epidemic.

I have, &c. (Signed)

OSBERT CHADWICK,

A ssociate Member Inst. C.E.

A 3

AUCHTER HOUSE

KLCHERS POINT

4

DISTRICT No 1. SHEIMTONCTUSI

TO BE RECLAMID

PLAN OF THE

CITY OF VICTORIA

HONG KONG.

SCALE.

1000

500

Some Feat.