1924-08-28 — Page 5

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1924.

“ALMOST MEDIEVAL.

COLONY'S OBSOLETE HEALTH SYSTEM.

UNOFFICIALS CRITICISM.

Laisser Faire Policy Strongly Condemned.

THE CHINA MAIL.

limitations, it is out of date with CANTON STRIKE:

the neads of the Colony, and for the reason that we are all convinced

SAME.

that there is urgent need for POSITION MUCH THE reform, submit the resolutions standing in my name, confidently unticipating they will be unani- Įmously passed-by this Council

The Hon, Mr. C. G. Alabaster seconded the resolution, but as

Latest Prospects.

GOLF.

SUMMER MEETING.

:

Weather permitting, the Sinamer Meeting, under the auspices of the Royal Hongkong Golf Club, will take place on Saturday and Sunday next. The competition is being

Happy Valley.

he spoke extempore, we are unable IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS, to include his speech in this issue.

HON. MR. BIRD'S' VIEWS.",

EXPECTED. -

Hongkong's obsolete health system was the subject of n very important debate in the Legislative Council this afternoon when the Hon. Mr. P.. H. Holyoak submitted his resolution pressing for a board and department of public health with a qualified chairman. The Unofficial Members were very outspoken in their criticism, as will be seen from the speeches we have been able to print this afternoon.Complete Overhaul Necessary."Canton merchants resumed busi-present in the Sar Theatre last Mr. Holyoak described the existing Sanitary Board as “almosi medieval" in its powers and sphere of action, and the other speakers were not leas pointed in their remarks. The resolution which Mr. Holyoak submitted was as follows:--

Mr. H. W. Bird said:--In sup porting the resolution now before this Council, I venture to make

1. That it is the opinion of the Unofficial Members of the Legisla-some suggestions relating to the

tive Council that the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board and Department should be extended

(a) in order that food may be properly inspected and

controlled.

4.

control of public health matters in this Colony.

I know how easy it is to criticiso

Despite a threat by the Canton Civil Government that unless the

ness by eight o'clock yesterday morning, no responsibility would be taken for disorder in shops un strike, a large number of mer- chants are still on strike.

The fortunes of war seem to he, fluctuating,, While one class of business resumes another joins the strike movement. On the whole.

(b) in order that a campaigu against flies and mosquitoes and how impossible it is to create the number of shops closed has

Utopia at a moment's notice, particularly in a place like Hong-decreased since yesterday's report. long where so many of the in- Retail establishments and eating- habitants take no interest in houses in particular are nearly all Health matters, but there can be open. no doubt that the machinery which propels the Public Health service of this Colony has not kept pace with the growth of the Colony and now a complete over- (From Our Own Correspondent.) [hau] is necessary. -

may be properly organised and efficiently conducted. 2-(a) That the constitution of the present Sanitary Board and Department be enlarged in order that they may function as a Board and Department of Public Health such new Board and Department to have complete analytical and bacteriological control of the water supply of the Colony together with all the powers of the present Sanitary Board and Department. (b) That the "Head" of the Board and Department shall be one with the necessary special qualifications in Public Health. NEED FOR REFORM.

Strong Public Opinion.

bas again had to rely on voluntary Jassistance, freely and ably given.

ant, the least of which were the two. emallpox vaccination campaigns, Mr. Holyoak said --Sir.-ft the first by "St. John's Ambulance was eviht Trom the moment the Brigade, the last by the "Boy President of the Sunitary Board Scouts," for work which we submit "somewhat lightly flented the strong the bourd should have been pro- public opinion behind Dr. Korb's perly organised and equipped to Tesaulinis at the Sanitary Bourdandertake and, we are fortunate Meeting beld

12 at no worse epidemic is betallen fast, that the matter would not endļas. there, and must find other repres sentation.

on August

Drift Must Stop.

This Colony has long suffered The Hesolutions which 1 lave proposet, and which represent the band still suffers from the fact that neither the Home Government, nor considered opinion of as all, are the at times, this Government, recog natural-ontemne, of that feeding, nise that it is no longer a "bube which has font voice in the Press in arus" but a full grown lusty max, expable of forming judgments and the general public is. I run and of insisting upon improve- --assure Jour - Excellingy, veryments and reformus in local matters

here.

"Almost Medieval.”

"

Quarantine Station.-In spite of the fact that Hongkong is one off the biggest shipping ports of the world we have no Quarantine Station. It may be said we have got on very well up to now with out one. That may be. But one never knows when such an institu- tion may be urgently needed. It is not very many years ago that several cholera cases arrived here na ship and they had to be housed in junks. Can we be proud

of that?

. Disinfecting Station. Here again we have no proper Govern- ment diainfecting station. What has been done in this direction up to date has been carried out by private enterprise-how does the Government justify this state of affairs?

Second Class Port.

- League of Nations.- believe it to be a fact that on account of

DANGEROUS SITUATION.

}

Canton, August 28.

There is no important change to report in the Canton situation.

To-day a report was current that the Government would defer action till noon to-day.

PREMYSLAV CONCERT.

There with mother large audierice night when M. Leopold Preniyalay, violinist, and Mn. Eugenio Promyslav. eellist. gave their second concert, ally asisted by That Mr. Harry Ore at piano. the audience, thoroughly enjoyed Reell, goes without saying. All three artists were in excellent form and fully deserved the enthusiastic applause which greated each item.

A red-haired boy applied for a position in a messenger office. The manager, after engaging him, sent him on an errand in one of the most fashionable districts. Half an hour later the manager was call- ed to the telephone and the follow- ing conversation took place.:-

'Have you a red-haired boy working for you?".

"Yes,"

"Well, this is the butler at Oak land House, where your boy came to deliver a message. He insisted on coming in the front way, and was so persistent that I was forced

to get a stick."

"Surely you didn't strike him ?", "No, but I want my stick back."

Although the strike is now by no means "general," it is still felt that a continued deadlock will prove intolerable for the Canton Government and that important ately despatch telegram to developments may take place Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen and before the week is out., However, the Civil Governor, at Canton. there are some who still hope that The message was in the following the dispute may be talked out sense before then,

THREAT TO STORES.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Canton, August 27.

-Text of Telegram. "The Hongkong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the twenty-four trade guilds, and the Commercial Unions of the various districts and the merchants of Hongkong, in view of the general cessation of business throughout Ruses and counter-ruses are the Kwangtung Province, which the lack of these two important being employed by the Govern-has adversely affected the trade of ment and the bourgeois in the pre- Hongkong, express the earnest redical qualifications Hongkong ranks only as a 2nd Class Port in sent dispute which arose over the hope that the Canton Government detention by the authorities of a will-have the matter, speedily the League of Nations.

Infectious Diseases Hospital.-large shipment of arms on the s.s. settled, lending an ear to popular. I know an Infectious Diseases Hav," allegedly, for the Canton opinion in order to relieve the

Merchants Volunteers Corps. distress of the people." Hospital does exist in name at Kennedy Town. Is the Govern- ment proud of it? And does it do credit to our Colony?

Ambulances. We have seen a

Persuasión by the authorities The object of the meeting was resulted in the department stores to discuss means by which bust- on the Buld resuming business.ness throughout Kwangtung Pro- It was rumoured that the Governvince may be resumed at an early lot of correspondence about the ment informed the department date, the cessation being due to lack of ambulances and whilst not stores that unless they dis- the detention by the Canton accepting all one reads as Gospel associated themselves from the authorities of the arms shipped without hearing the other side of general strike, steps would not be on the a.. "Hay" for the Kwang- the case, on enquiry there does taken to prevent disorder on the tung Volunteer Corps.

Messrs. Ho Kwong, Ho Wing, seem to be a grave lack of this premises. After replying that it

was of little use opening when Chan Chak-U. Hon. R. H. Kotewall, very necessary accommodation.

no customers; the J. M. Wong, Wong Kwong-tin, would suggest the immediate there were acquisition of a launch to be fitted emporiums did make a pretence of S. W. Tso, Tan Wing-kwong, up for ambulance purposes, to resuming business. The Sun Co., Kwok Tsum, Ma Wing-tsan and a for instance, opened one gate on number of other Chinese prornin- work in connection with the motor the Bund but kept the side ardent in the Colony were present. ambulance and be under the con-back doors closed and put ur their The meeting broke up at half past trol of the same authority who shatters at a much earlier hoa three. should be able to give instructions than usual. relating to its use at all times of the day or night. Further I would attention and, in the majority of Other shops also came in for like to see an attendant with some cases, yielded. To cope with the nursing qualifications on the Government's step the bourgeois launch and motor ambulance dur-leaders are said to have devised a ing the transit of patients.

plan of sending out customers to Water Supply, Etc.-The purity "blackleg shops and there make of the water, milk, and food sup- purchases with banknotes issued. ply should be the special care of by the Central China Bank whose the Board.

recent proposed issue-sponsored by Dr. Sun Yat-sen's government drow much opposition from the

merchants.

IN THE PROVINCES.”

STRIKE SPREADS 'UP- COUNTRY.

11

(From Our Own Correspondent:)

→ strongly behind that expression. when their necessity is elcurly The first. Resolution aaks that the proved, and in the present instance Jurisdiction of whatever Board and the policy of "laisser faire,' evid Department survive this debate need by the President of the should have its anthurity extended Sanitary Bourd when, in answer- beyond the present fimits of Newing Colonel Fitzgerald's reference Kowloon. There are important to the increase of malaria, he de markets which have grown up both precated the reforms asked for in in old Kowloon and in the New Dr. Koch's resolution, suggesting Territory which should be made that they should go on as at pre- subject in its control andi at present, sent doing what they could." That under the Cediname, escape it.is precisely what the colony is not. This highly important resolution content to do and beatise, it is will be more fully dealt with by my determined that funters should no Honowable friend representing the longer contine to drift that I have

Kantovel the resolutions named. Justiers, of the Praee who. member of the Sanitary Board, jus We have asked that a suggest- studied this subjiset 'more closely beard and department should than 1 can pretend to have done, have complete analytical and hac- though no one who is familiar with teriological control of the water the Philippine Islands and Hono- | supply of the Colony, and the lulu can fail to have been impress-ressly for this as well, as the ed with the great attention-which wisdom of it. has surely been -lue-been-paid by a American umply demonstrated in the revela- friends to the eradication of dies, tions made in connection with the squitos, water purity, the train, recent outbreak of typhoid, and we ing of ullahs, the treatment of are convinced that the present stagnant pools. and the extra-arrangement of allowing the bac- ordinary improvement in health teriological examination

to be conditions which has resulted from performed by an officer already it and the conspicuous absence of overburdened in his work, is not almost all suck applied hygiene safe and should no longer contime. indeed the "water problem" of the | Colony has now become so large a one that we are not sure that it 1 pars now to the discussion of would not be desirable to separate. Cause 1 of the Second Resolution the water control entirely front the which have moved, namely,dmittedly sidly overworked Public Tint de constitution of the pre-Works Department, and a separate sent Sanitary Board and Depart-water board" constituted, though ment he enlarged in order that they in such ease adeunte analytical may function as a Board and De- and bucteriological control would partment of Public Health--nuch also need to be provided—we should hew Board and Department to imagine that the Director of have complete analytical and bac Public Works would welcome the

of the teriological control.

water divorce. supply of the Colony together with

Qualified Head Required. ail the powers of the presenti Sanitary Board and Department." My resolution closes with the Scarcely a town of any import- demand thi the "head" of the auce in Englund is there, which has board of department shall be oneedly not its Board and Department of with the necessary special qualifica- Health, yet this port, with its tions in public health. I believe great shipping and vast trade in-that under the Ordinance of 1887. terests and its population of the "P.C.M.O." was the President upwards of 1,000,000 people is of the Board and it was not until controlled, from a health point of the 1903 Ordinance came into force view, by a Sanitary Board which is that "cadet" became the Pre almost medieval in its powers and sident of the Board. · We tre sphere of action in public health unanimions in our admiration for matters and mast wait, upon the the excellence of our Civil Service will of some other department in Administration in this Colony and. connection with vital questions the conspicuous ability of very affecting public health instead of many of its cadets, but whatever being in the position to demand and may be sold in defence of the control.

system which makes their appoint The Sanitary Board originated inments as interchangeable as they 1889, was enlarged in 1887, but frequently are, surely, it cannot be

men I suggest one or two leading People are still leaving for both to-morrow, but the districts are first came into prominence as a upheld when it becomes a question departihent during the great plague of what is or should be, a Publicitizens such as the heads of big Hongkong and Macao, t year of 1894 and theyond scaveng Health Department, and we are shipping and merchants firms who The number of regular troops have big interests at stake in the in the city does not seems to have ing. has largely confinedite convinced that the "head" of this attention to plague and its pre- Department should be a medical Health of the Colony, the Director bean increased and the police stil vention ever since. That it officer of high qualifications And of Public Works, Director of Edus preserve order. at 9-

cation, Forestry Department, and ***has foet with the success it has done large experience in sanitary and

in this direction is surely a con- public health hygiene. The Re- of course several prominent

Chinese vincing argument for extending and forme will mean inerente of staff augmenting its present powers and of course, cost more money. Epidemics of smallpox. spinal but the Colony needs them and meningitis and

andistterly typhoid, must afford stay united have brokent within recent The Banitary Board has done years and say the test of the excellentearvion in the past, but he earliest planie

Abuted af koresontal, with

A

E

Malaria-I speak subject 10

Pakkai, Kongmoon, August. 27, correction but I understand that

Kongmoon is expected to join in this disease on the increase in

the general strike but normal this Colony. If this is the case Native bankers give the appear-

conditions still prevail to-day, should like to know the Governance of being the strongest adher-

It has been confirmed that the iment explanation.

ents of the economic boycott and merchants at the following towns are already on strike; in sympathy Outline of a Board. general cessation. There is hardly with the Canton movement: Constitution of the Department, a banking establishment open to Wong Lin, Lak Lau and Koon The Volunteers at these -I would suggest, Sir, that the business in the Western Suburb, Shan. Board of Control be entirely. re- the old city and the new city, places enforce martial law every constituted. Firstly let it be Each of these firms includes in night.

its staff several Volunteers but greatly enlarged.

The silk town of Kow Kong has The President should undoubt-[none of these are to be seen. They joined the movement and a be someone possessing a may be on duty" in mufti or may native has informed me that 200 Fublic Health Degree,

have gone up-country.

I do not see the need for the P.C.M.O. on the "Board, his work. in his own capacity being chiefly administratíve.

1

Volunteers, have been sent to Fat- Order Maintained.

shan. A number of Volunteers are Although the fleet of tow-bonts also reported to have left Shek Ki

for Fatshan.. which maintain regular communi

Tai Loung, capital of the Shun cation with up-country ports areak ilk district has acted in: The M.O.H. should be the Prin not to be seen in Canton harbour, sympathy and business honses there cipal Medical Officer of the Board, supplies of foodstuffs and other have heen closeil. AL under him the Health Officer of essentials are still coming in. An

At Kongmoon & recruiting cam

the Port, two assistant M.O.H.'s. embargo has been placed on the paign has been started by the one for Hongkong and one for export of Fice but on no other com- Volunteers, drill and instruction Kowloon, and another medical modity. Several bage of ice being carried out daily. man with special qualifications as which were being taken on board an Entomologist and Malarial a river-steamer today for "ship's expert. The Bacteriologist and storea" were stopped by the police Analyst would also be members.

Later Kongmoon, Kang Yick and other and prevented from being taken towns in the Sunning and Sunwai In addition to these technical on board

districts are sil expected to strike still quiet. It is believed that business will be suspended to keep- in line with Cantor

Rather a formidable 1st you may any, ir, but the Department Isido important that: I consider it should be fully represented:

The debate was proceeding na, this Kdition went to prdas,

CHINESE E TAKE ACTION

Since Kamchuk was attacked by bandite and Konw Kong ravaged by Yunnanese troops the merchanta Have been busy organising their carpe of Volunteers which will act innnison with the Hok Blan Volunteers: Mr. Lif Yat-ngok. At & meeting held at the Chinese former Bok Shan, magistrate, in General Chamber of Commerceatmentioned as the the nominee forr 2.30 pm yesterday afternoon, the the portion of commandant of thes Chairman, Mr. Ll Yau-taun, and united corps, but it is not known other mumbers decided to immedit he will consent to serve

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