Few European residents of this generally supposed clean town know of or would believe the things I have brought to notice in this and my report of the brothels, and it is no wonder, under the circumstances, that, in their ignorance, they think the town is clean enough and more water is not required, seeing, as they do, only the best quarters, and those that are fair enough outside but foul within and behind.
In many places the people have to go long distances for water, or else get it from foul wells; so that they have to do without it as much as possible, not because they don't want it, but because it is a great deal of trouble to procure. They never wash or clean the floors of their houses, because the construction of the floors does not admit of it; so water is not used in this way.
I am of opinion that, in the town, there is no fit or proper place for pigs to be kept at all, and this, at all events, should not be sanctioned by Government; but that places should be found out of town, over at Kowloon, and the pigs brought to market when required.
No house in the town should be permitted to have floors so constructed that they cannot be properly cleaned; in upper floors the boards should be well fitted together, so that they can be washed, and all ground floors should be well tiled and kept in repair. For the same reason, no mud floors should be permitted; every house should be well whitewashed within, ceilings and all, every six months, or at least every year. The landlord should be held responsible for these things, and for the drains being in proper order that belong to the house.
In some cases, however, the house drainage cannot be managed, as there is no proper drainage to the streets or gullies.
In future, no houses should be built without sufficient yard space at the back, and in no case should they be built back to back.
With such a state of things as I have reported here, no one will dispute, I think, that there is good reason for my prognostications as regards typhus and typhoid fever, and it is not to be wondered at that cases become more and more frequent. I have seen three this week. A cholera epidemic here would be something too dreadful to think of, and small-pox, crowded as the inhabitants are, is by no means to be thought lightly of.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Honourable J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
THE PIG LICENSING SYSTEM.
[In C.S.O. No.2321.]
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
BANK BUILDINGS, HONGKONG, 6th August, 1874.
SIR—Several applications have been made to me for ground to the westward for the purpose of keeping pigs, and I propose to prepare two considerable areas for this object, viz., Inland Lots Nos.671 and 674 Shek-tong-shui.
As these places are almost close to the slaughter house and removed from the neighbourhood of foreign residences, will you have the goodness to inform me whether the locality would be deemed unobjectionable.
I have the honour to be,
Honourable C. C. SMITH,
Registrar General.
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
GRANVILLE SHARP.
Few European residents of this generally supposed clean town know of or would believe the things I have brought to notice in this and my report of the brothels, and it is no wonder, under the circumstances, that, in their ignorance, they think the town is clean enough and more water is not required, secing, as they do, only the best quarters, and those that are fair enough outside but foul within and behind.
In many places the people have to go, long distances for water, or else get it from foul wells; so that they have to do without it as much as possible, not because they don't want it, but because it is a great deal of trouble to procure. They never wash or clean the floors of their houses, because the Construction of the floors does not admit of it; so water is not used in this way.
I am of opinion that, in the town, there is no fit or proper place for pigs to be kept at all, and this› at all events, should not be sanctioned by Government; but that places should be found out of town, over at Kowloon, and the pigs brought to market when required.
No house in the town should be permitted to have floors so constructed that they cannot be properly cleaned; in upper floors the boards should be well fitted together, so that they can be washed, and all ground floors should be well tiled and kept in repair. For the same reason, no mud floors should be permitted; every house should be well whitewashed within, ceilings and all, every six months, or at least every year. The landlord should be held responsible for these things, and for the drains being in proper order that belong to the house.
In some cases, however, the house drainage cannot be managed, as there is no proper drainage to the streets or gullies.
In future, no houses should be built without sufficient yard space at the back, and in no case should they be built back to back.
With such a state of things as I have reported here, no one will dispute, I think, that there is good reason for my prognostications as regards typhus and typhoid fever, and it is not to be won- dered at that cases become more and more frequent. I have seen three this week. A cholera epidemic here would be something too dreadful to think of, and small-pox, crowded as the inhabitants are, is by no means to be thought lightly of.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Honourable J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
THE PIG LICENSING SYSTEM.
[In C. S. O. No. 2321.]
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
BANK BUILDINGS, HONGKONG, 6th August, 1874.
SIR-Several applications have been made to me for ground to the westward for the purpose of keeping pigs, and I propose to prepare two considerable areas for this object,, viz., Inland Lots Nos. 671 and 674 Shek-tong-shui.
As these places are almost close to the slaughter house and removed from the neighbourhood of foreign residences, will you have the goodness to inform me whether the locality would be deemed unobjectionable.
I have the honour to be,
Honourable C. C. SMITH,
Registrar General.
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
GRANVILLE SHARP.
Few European residents of this generally supposed clean town know of or would believe the things I have brought to notice in this and my report of the brothels, and it is no wonder, under the circumstances, that, in their ignorance, they think the town is clean enough and more water is not required, secing, as they do, only the best quarters, and those that are fair enough outside but foul within and behind.
In many places the people have to go, long distances for water, or else get it from foul wells; so that they have to do without it as much as possible, not because they don't want it, but because it is a great deal of trouble to procure. They never wash or clean the floors of their houses, because the Construction of the floors does not admit of it; so water is not used in this way.
I am of opinion that, in the town, there is no fit or proper place for pigs to be kept at all, and this› at all events, should not be sanctioned by Government; but that places should be found out of town, over at Kowloon, and the pigs brought to market when required.
No house in the town should be permitted to have floors so constructed that they cannot be properly cleaned; in upper floors the boards should be well fitted together, so that they can be washed, and all ground floors should be well tiled and kept in repair. For the same reason, no mud floors should be permitted; every house should be well whitewashed within, ceilings and all, every six months, or at least every year. The landlord should be held responsible for these things, and for the drains being in proper order that belong to the house.
In some cases, however, the house drainage cannot be managed, as there is no proper drainage to the streets or gullies.
In future, no houses should be built without sufficient yard space at the back, and in no case should they be built back to back.
With such a state of things as I have reported here, no one will dispute, I think, that there is good reason for my prognostications as regards typhus and typhoid fever, and it is not to be won- dered at that cases become more and more frequent. I have seen three this week. A cholera epidemic here would be something too dreadful to think of, and small-pox, crowded as the inhabitants are, is by no means to be thought lightly of.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Honourable J. G. AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
THE PIG LICENSING SYSTEM.
[In C. S. O. No. 2321.]
PH. B. C. AYRES, Colonial Surgeon.
BANK BUILDINGS, HONGKONG, 6th August, 1874.
SIR-Several applications have been made to me for ground to the westward for the purpose of keeping pigs, and I propose to prepare two considerable areas for this object,, viz., Inland Lots Nos. 671 and 674 Shek-tong-shui.
As these places are almost close to the slaughter house and removed from the neighbourhood of foreign residences, will you have the goodness to inform me whether the locality would be deemed unobjectionable.
I have the honour to be,
Honourable C. C. SMITH,
Registrar General.
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
GRANVILLE SHARP.
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