[C.S.O.18yü of 1877.]
THE GOVERNOR'S MINUTE ON THE FOREGOING REPORT AND LETTER.
1. The actual facts as they now appear in Inspector MCKINNEY's Report are worse than I had anticipated, though from the evil consequences to my own health and to another member of my household from using the water from the little valley N.E. of the Governor's Mountain Lodge, I was convinced that what was called the Government sanitary station was a dangerous place to reside at.
2. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. PRICE's sound judgment and eminent professional skill in dealing with the very difficult question of the sanitary state of this Colony, of which the facts now disclosed in his Inspector's Report constitute, comparatively, a very insignificant part; but I do not concur with him in thinking that the best remedy, in this particular instance, would be to insist upon all the residents at Victoria Peak sending down daily to the town the night-soil and garbage which at present tend to contaminate the water supply, not only of the houses at the Peak, but to poison the streamlets flowing into the Pokfoolum Reservoir, from whence the inhabitants of the town get their drinking water.
3. It is quite possible to put a complete check to the contamination of the water supply and to the improper system by which the few paths near the Governor's so-called sanitarium are defiled, without sending down buckets of excreta every day to the town.
4. I have already intimated, in a former minute, what the real remedy is, namely, the efficient and general working of the dry earth system.
Let instructions accordingly be issued, with as little delay as possible, to the following effect: -
a. Every residence in the neighbourhood of the Peak to have a proper supply of dry earth closets, and dry earth latrines for the servants.
b. The mixture to be disposed of in the way pointed out in Dr. BUCHANAN'S Report, which was transmitted to Hongkong in Lord KIMBERLEY'S despatch of the 11th of August, 1871, and which I annex herewith. Such cesspits as Mr. PRICE proposes in para. 6 of his letter would, if completely sheltered from the rain or from water drainage, comply with Dr. BUCHANAN'S most essential requirement.
c. No night-soil to be removed in future from any house without being first subjected thoroughly to the dry earth system.
d. No drain from any residence to be permitted into any well or stream supplying a reservoir for drinking water.
5. I entirely approve of Mr. PRICE's idea of inducing the residents at the Peak to adopt those essential sanitary reforms, by friendly communication with them, so as to avoid the necessity of enforcing the penalties provided by Ordinance No. 14 of 1845 and No. 8 of 1856.
6. When my instructions have been carried out, let me receive a report to that effect. Looking to the injury my own health has already sustained by the flagrant neglect of sanitary arrangements in the vicinity of the Governor's Lodge, - should any great delay occur in inducing the residents concerned to do what I now require, I shall be compelled to quit the Lodge and, in spite of the inconvenience of removing at this season, to return to Government House.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
9th August, 1877.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Forwarded for the information and guidance of the Honourable the Surveyor General.
10th August, 1877.
By Command,
C.C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
The Office Register contains an entry showing that the foregoing document, with the Acting Colonial Secretary's minute of 10th August, 1877, was sent to Mr. PRICE the same day, together with C.S.O. No. 1865, of 9th August 1877, and the Secretary of State's Circular Despatch of the 11th August, 1871. -- C.S.O. No. 1890 of 1877, was returned to this Office on the 15th instant on being called for. No report thereon has as yet been received from the Surveyor General, nor is there any record of any instructions having been issued.
21st September, 1880.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
[C.S.O. 18yü of 1877.]
THE GOVERNOR'S MINUTE ON THE FOREGOING REPORT AND LETTER.
1. The actual facts as they now appear in Inspector MCKINNEY's Report are worse than I had anticipated, though from the evil consequences to my own health and to another member of my house- hold from using the water from the little valley N. E. of the Governor's Mountain Lodge, I was con- vinced that what was called the Government sanitary station was a dangerous place to reside at.
2. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. PRICE's sound judgment and eminent professional skill in dealing with the very difficult question of the sanitary state of this Colony, of which the facts now disclosed in his Inspector's Report constitute, comparatively, a very insignificant part; but I do not concur with him in thinking that the best remedy, in this particular instance, would be to insist upon all the residents at Victoria Peak sending down daily to the town the night-soil and garbage which at present tend to contaminate the water supply, not only of the houses at the Peak, but to poison the streamlets flowing into the Pokfoolum Reservoir, from whence the inhabitants of the town get their drinking water.
3. It is quite possible to put a complete check to the contamination of the water supply and to the improper system by which the few paths near the Governor's so called sanitarium are defiled, without sending down buckets of excreta every day to the town.
4. I have already intimated, in a former minute, what the real remedy is, namely, the efficient and general working of the dry earth system.
Let instructions accordingly be issued, with as little delay as possible, to the following effect :~~- a. Every residence in the neighbourhood of the Peak to have a proper supply of dry earth closets,
and dry earth latrines for the servants.
b. The mixture to be disposed of in the way pointed out in Dr. BUCHANAN'S Report, which was transmitted to Hongkong in Lord KIMBERLEY'S despatch of the 11th of August, 1871, and which I annex herewith. Such cesspits as Mr. PRICE proposes in para. 6 of his letter would, if completely sheltered from the rain or from water drainage, comply with Dr. BUCHANAN'S most essential requirement.
c. No night-soil to be removed in future from any house without being first subjected thoroughly
to the dry earth system.
d. No drain from any residence to be permitted into any well or stream supplying a reservoir for
drinking water.
5. I entirely approve of Mr. PRICE's idea of inducing the residents at the Peak to adopt those essential sanitary reforms, by friendly communication with them, so as to avoid the necessity of en- forcing the penalties provided by Ordinance No. 14 of 1845 and No. 8 of 1856.
6. When my instructions have been carried out, let me receive a report to that effect. Looking to the injury my own health has already sustained by the flagrant neglect of sanitary arrangements in the vicinity of the Governor's Lodge,-should any great delay occur in inducing the residents con- cerned to do what I now require, I shall be compelled to quit the Lodge and, in spite of the incon- venience of removing at this season, to return to Government House.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
9th August, 1877.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Forwarded for the information and guidance of the Honourable the Surveyor General.
10th August, 1877.
By Command,
C. C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
The Office Register contains an entry showing that the foregoing document, with the Acting Colonial Secretary's minute of 10th August, 1877, was sent to Mr. PRICE the same day, together with C.S.O. No. 1865, of 9th August 1877, and the Secretary of State's Circular Despatch of the 11th August. 1871.--C.S.O. No. 1890 of 1877, was returned to this Office on the 15th instant on being called for. No report thereon has as yet been received from the Surveyor General, nor is there any record of any instructions having been issued.
21st September, 1880.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
[C.S.O. 18yü of 1877.]
THE GOVERNOR'S MINUTE ON THE FOREGOING REPORT AND LETTER.
1. The actual facts as they now appear in Inspector MCKINNEY's Report are worse than I had anticipated, though from the evil consequences to my own health and to another member of my house- hold from using the water from the little valley N. E. of the Governor's Mountain Lodge, I was con- vinced that what was called the Government sanitary station was a dangerous place to reside at.
2. I have the utmost confidence in Mr. PRICE's sound judgment and eminent professional skill in dealing with the very difficult question of the sanitary state of this Colony, of which the facts now disclosed in his Inspector's Report constitute, comparatively, a very insignificant part; but I do not concur with him in thinking that the best remedy, in this particular instance, would be to insist upon all the residents at Victoria Peak sending down daily to the town the night-soil and garbage which at present tend to contaminate the water supply, not only of the houses at the Peak, but to poison the streamlets flowing into the Pokfoolum Reservoir, from whence the inhabitants of the town get their drinking water.
3. It is quite possible to put a complete check to the contamination of the water supply and to the improper system by which the few paths near the Governor's so called sanitarium are defiled, without sending down buckets of excreta every day to the town.
4. I have already intimated, in a former minute, what the real remedy is, namely, the efficient and general working of the dry earth system.
Let instructions accordingly be issued, with as little delay as possible, to the following effect :~~- a. Every residence in the neighbourhood of the Peak to have a proper supply of dry earth closets,
and dry earth latrines for the servants.
b. The mixture to be disposed of in the way pointed out in Dr. BUCHANAN'S Report, which was transmitted to Hongkong in Lord KIMBERLEY'S despatch of the 11th of August, 1871, and which I annex herewith. Such cesspits as Mr. PRICE proposes in para. 6 of his letter would, if completely sheltered from the rain or from water drainage, comply with Dr. BUCHANAN'S most essential requirement.
c. No night-soil to be removed in future from any house without being first subjected thoroughly
to the dry earth system.
d. No drain from any residence to be permitted into any well or stream supplying a reservoir for
drinking water.
5. I entirely approve of Mr. PRICE's idea of inducing the residents at the Peak to adopt those essential sanitary reforms, by friendly communication with them, so as to avoid the necessity of en- forcing the penalties provided by Ordinance No. 14 of 1845 and No. 8 of 1856.
6. When my instructions have been carried out, let me receive a report to that effect. Looking to the injury my own health has already sustained by the flagrant neglect of sanitary arrangements in the vicinity of the Governor's Lodge,-should any great delay occur in inducing the residents con- cerned to do what I now require, I shall be compelled to quit the Lodge and, in spite of the incon- venience of removing at this season, to return to Government House.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
9th August, 1877.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Forwarded for the information and guidance of the Honourable the Surveyor General.
10th August, 1877.
By Command,
C. C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
MINUTE BY THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
The Office Register contains an entry showing that the foregoing document, with the Acting Colonial Secretary's minute of 10th August, 1877, was sent to Mr. PRICE the same day, together with C.S.O. No. 1865, of 9th August 1877, and the Secretary of State's Circular Despatch of the 11th August. 1871.--C.S.O. No. 1890 of 1877, was returned to this Office on the 15th instant on being called for. No report thereon has as yet been received from the Surveyor General, nor is there any record of any instructions having been issued.
21st September, 1880.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
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