652
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
nevertheless not satisfied with the sanitation of the Colony. I think that the town of Victoria might be made a model of sanitation, with its position on the slope of a hill, the possibility of obtaining an almost unlimited supply of water for drinking and washing purposes, and, above all, having here a native population who will readily carry out the Chinese custom by which the sewage and refuse is carried out of the town, and used for agricultural purposes. Having a population accustomed to that sensible practice, I have very little doubt this Colony can be made a model of sanitation. I observed the other day that Professor Huxley said that some Oriental nations that we had been in the habit of calling barbarous, were actually more civilised than ourselves in the mode in which they treat sewage. He exposed the danger to public health of the existing European system. It is a subject in fact in which we may have something to learn from the Chinese. In England people are now considering the evils of the underground drainage system carrying off excrementitious matter by water supply. Eminent sanitary authorities seem now to be in favour of what is called the Chinese process.
Baths and Wash-houses.
There are, no doubt, in this Colony other things necessary for good sanitation. Eighteen months ago I called for information from the Survey Department as to the establishment of baths and wash-houses for the poor, and recently I have been again in communication with the leading Chinese inhabitants of the Colony on the subject, and the result is that a system of private baths which now exists to some extent for Chinese, for which 20 cash, that is, two cents, are paid for a single bath—that system can be extended, and I believe the poor will be able before long to avail themselves of baths and wash-houses where the payment will be extremely moderate, that is, beginning at a scale of one or two cash. These baths and wash-houses, with a supply of warm water, can be built without much cost. You will require a certain number of them, and when the plans are completed I will have much pleasure in submitting them to you and asking for the small vote that their cost will entail.
Land Sales.
I have told you that the item from the sale of Crown lands, which reached in 1881 the sum of $205,680, I was not disposed to treat as one of actual revenue. With respect to that item there has also been some expression of opinion in the Colony. I have seen it stated that the sale of Crown lands effected in 1881 was a speculative sale, that the Crown sold lands for sums far higher than purchasers were entitled to pay, and that the land so sold would not be applied to practical purposes, but was in reality
652
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
nevertheless not satisfied with the sanitation of the Colony. I think that the town of Victoria might be made a model of sanita- tion, with its position on the slope of a hill, the possibility of obtaining an almost unlimited supply of water for drinking and washing purposes, and, above all, having here a native population who will readily carry out the Chinese custom by which the sewage and refuse is carried out of the town, and used for agricul- tural purposes. Having a population accustomed to that sensible practice, I have very little doubt this Colony can be made a model of sanitation. I observed the other day that Professor Huxley said that some Oriental nations that we had been in the habit of calling barbarous, were actually more civilised than ourselves in the mode in which they treat sewage. He exposed the danger to public health of the existing European system. It is a subject in fact in which we may have something to learn from the Chinese. In England people are now considering the evils of the under- ground drainage system carrying off excrementitious matter by water supply. Eminent sanitary authorities seem now to be in favour of what is called the Chinese process.
Baths and Wash-houses.
There are, no doubt, in this Colony other things necessary for good sanitation. Eighteen months ago I called for information from the Survey Department as to the establishment of baths and wash-houses for the poor, and recently I have been again in com- munication with the leading Chinese inhabitants of the Colony on the subject, and the result is that a system of private baths which now exists to some extent for Chinese, for which 20 caslı, that is, two cents, are paid for a single bath-that system can be extended, and I believe the poor will be able before long to avail themselves of baths and wash-houses where the payment will be extremely moderate, that is, beginning at a scale of one or two cash. These baths and wash-houses, with a supply of warm water, can be built without much cost. You will require a certain number of them, and when the plans are completed I will have much pleasure in submitting then to you and asking for the small vote that their cost will entail.
Land Sales.
I have told you that the item from the sale of Crown lands, which reached in 1881 the sum of $205,680, I was not disposed to treat as one of actual revenue. With respect to that item there has also been some expression of opinion in the Colony. I have seen it stated that the sale of Crown lands effected in 1881 was a speculative sale, that the Crown sold lands for sums far higher than purchasers were entitled to pay, and that the land so sold would not be applied to practical purposes, but was in. reality
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