3
fishermen. Finally, gentlemen, I would express my hope that our united labours may, under the blessing of Divine Providence, advance the true object of all government and of all legislation, that is, the general welfare and happiness of the people.
Hon. P. RYRIE—With your Excellency's permission I will make a few remarks. The proposition which you have so clearly laid down for the re-organization of the Council will, I am sure, meet with the entire approval of the community of Hongkong. I would also take the opportunity of this occasion to welcome your Excellency to the Council, and to express the hope that the Council may enjoy the advantage of your presence for many years. I am sure, from the expressions your Excellency has let fall to-day, that during that time there will be nothing but harmony and good feeling in this Council and that all the members will work together for the public benefit.
FINANCE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the passing of various votes approved by the Finance Committee. They included the salary of a Sanitary Inspector at $220 per month, and $35,000 for a Police Boat Dock. Several of the other items were re-votes, and the remainder were for small sums.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
THE ORDER AND CLEANLINESS ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I have to ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled the Order and Cleanliness Ordinance, 1883. The Council is probably aware that the provisions of law relating to the subject with which this Bill deals are contained in the Ordinances 14 of 1845, 8 of 1856, 9 of 1867, and 10 of 1872. These Ordinances make provision upon all those points which are comprised within the scope of Sanitary Ordinances generally. They provide for regulating the construction of buildings, the protection of the water supply, the definition and punishment of various kinds of nuisances; they provide for the various kinds of scavenging, and Ordinance 9 of 1867 also makes provision for a sanitary staff to work the law. Without going in detail into the matter it may be enough to say these provisions have not been found adequate to the purpose, and the report made by Mr. Chadwick, who recently had the whole subject of sanitation in this Colony under his consideration, points to the necessity of completely re-modelling the whole of the sanitary laws of the Colony, providing a new Health Ordinance, a new Building Ordinance, and a new Ordinance regulating the water supply. It is intended as soon as it can be properly and conveniently done, to introduce Ordinances carrying out the recommendations of Mr. Chadwick's report; but meanwhile, and for the purpose of dealing with some of the evils which cannot wait, providing particularly a proper and sufficient sanitary staff to carry out the sanitation of the Colony, and arming them with powers to do what is necessary for that purpose—it has been thought proper to introduce an Ordinance at once. That Ordinance gives very large powers to the Board which is constituted now for the purpose of regulating and controlling the sanitation of the Colony. The Board is to consist of the Surveyor General, the Registrar General, and the Colonial Surgeon for the time being, and of such other members being not less than two in number as the Governor may from time to time appoint. This will, in fact, supersede the provisions made in Ordinance 9 of 1867, which provides for the appointment of a Sanitary Officer.
The powers which are to be given to the Board are partly taken from Ordinances already existing. Section 3, which gives the Board power to examine into the state of unwholesome houses and to give notice to the owners and occupiers to put them into proper condition, and section 4, which enables the Sanitary Board, or Inspector of Nuisances when deputed by them, to enter any house and examine into its condition, are substantially taken from Ordinance 9 of 1867; but under section 4 of this Ordinance the power of inspection is undoubtedly a good deal larger than it was before, for whereas under the old Ordinance only the Sanitary Officer appointed under the Ordinance could exercise the power of inspection, under this the work may be deputed to the Inspector of Nuisances.
Then there is a new provision, one entirely unknown hitherto in this Colony, contained in section 5, which provides that where persons suffering from infectious or contagious diseases are either on shipboard, or in tenements inhabited by more than one family, or in places where they are a source of danger to others, on the certificate of the Colonial Surgeon the Magistrate may make an order for their removal to some proper place. Then there is another provision which relates to the disinfecting of houses occupied by persons suffering from infectious diseases. These provisions, though hitherto unknown here, are taken from the Health Acts of 1866 and 1875, in operation in England. Then there are provisions which more particularly relate to the scavenging. The powers with which Sanitary Officers have hitherto been armed have not been sufficient to enable them to effectually control the scavenging and removal of night-soil and so on from dwellings in the Colony. Sections 8, 9, and 10, are intended to give the necessary powers to the Sanitary Board to regulate that matter. Section 12 enables the Governor in Council to make rules and regulations, which of course will be recommended by the Sanitary Board as from time to time their experience may suggest. Then Section 11 deals with a matter already provided for by Ordinance, but it is somewhat larger in scope and will probably be more effectual than the old provisions; it relates to goats and cattle. Finally, there is a provision that the Ordinance shall not come into force until a day to be proclaimed by the Governor. The object of that is to enable the proper rules and regulations to be prepared, and that householders and all persons affected by the Ordinance may have time to make the necessary arrangements and bring themselves into conformity with its requirements. The powers vested in the Board are undoubtedly very large and stringent, and they might work considerable hardship; but I apprehend the constitution of the Board, the official constitution so far as it is already provided for, will be an ample guarantee to the public that the provisions of the Ordinance will not be enforced without great consideration and regard to the feelings and circumstances of those interested. I now beg to move the first reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and it was read a first time.
THE TRAMWAYS. Hon. F. B. JOHNSON—Sir, the Ordinance which I now ask leave to lay on the table, and the first reading of which I propose to move to-day, is one which has been so often before this Council, and has been discussed so frequently as regards both its principle and its details, that but for respect for your Excellency, to whom the Bill is new, I should not have thought it necessary to offer more than a very few observations in introducing it. And I hope, Sir, your Excellency will permit me, on this first occasion on which I am able to rise after the assumption by your Excellency of the Government of this Colony, to follow my hon. friend on my left (Mr. Ryrie) in the observations he has made, and to express what I am sure is the unanimous feeling of this community, a sense of lively and hearty satisfaction that an officer so distinguished in the Colonial Service, and of such varied experience as your Excellency, should now be directing the affairs of the Colony.
In a community contiguous to a great Empire, delicate and complex questions are constantly arising, but we feel quite assured that the interests of this Colony, and the British interests allied to them, will be safe in the hands of your Excellency, and that your policy will be so administered as to prove that the careful protection of those interests is not incompatible with the maintenance of friendly relations with our neighbours and the promotion of contentment and good will amongst the mixed population over whom you rule. I am quite certain that the announcement which your Excellency has made to-day with regard to the reform of the constitution of the Legislative...
3
fishermen. Finally, gentlemen, I would express my hope that our united labours may, under the blessing of Divine Providence, advance the true object of all government and of all legislation, that is, the general welfare and happiness of the people.
Hon. P. RYRIR-With your Excellency's per- !mission I will make a few romarks. The pro
position which you have so clearly laid down for the re-organization of the Council will, I am sure, meet with the entire approval of the com- munity of Hongkong. I would also take the opportunity of this occasion to welcome your Excellency to the Council, and to express the hope that the Council may enjoy the advantage of your presence for many years. I am sure, from the expressions your Excellency has let fall to-day, that during that time there will be nothing but harmony and good fooling in this Council and that all the members will work togother for the public benefit.
FINANCE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the passing of various votes approved by the Finance Com- mittes. They included the salary of a Sanitary! Inspector at $220 per month, and $35,000 for a Police Boat Doek. Several of the other items
| were re-votes, and the remainder were for small
suma.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
THE ORDER AND CLEANLINESS ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have to ask leave to introduce a Bill entitled the Order and Cleanliness Ordinance. 1883. The Council is probably aware that the provisions of law re- lating to the subject with which this Bill deals are contained in the Ordinances 14 of 1845, 8-of 1856, 9 of 1867, and 10 of 1872. These Ordinances make provision upon all those points which are comprised within the s ope of Sanitary Ordinances generally. They provide for regu- lating the construction of buildings the protec- tion of the water supply, the definition ani pan- ishment of various kinds of nuisances; they pro vide for the various kinds of scavenging, and Ordinance 9 of 1967 also makes provision for a sanitary staff to work the law. Without going in detail into the matter it may be onon th to say these provisions bave not been fand adequate to the purpose, and the report made by Mr. Chad- wick, who recently had the wha'e subject of sanitation in this Colony under his con- sideration, points to the necessity of completely ra noong the whole of the sanitary laws of
lony, pr.viting a new Health Or dinact new Building Ordinance, and new Ordination regulating the water supply. It
is intended as soon as it cua bo properly and conveniently done, to introdusa Ordinances carrying out the recommendations of Mr. Chad- wick's report; but meanwhile, and for the pur- pose of dealing with a me of the evils which cannot wait, providing particularly a proper and sufficient sauitary staff to carry out the sanita- tion of the colouy, and arming them with powers to do what is necessary for that n*--- it has been thought propar to introduce au Ürdiuance at once. That Ordinance gives very large powers to the Board which is constituted now for the purpose of regulating and controlling the sanita- tion of the Colony, The Board is to consist of the Surveyor General, the Registrar General, and the Colonial Surgeon for the time being and of such other members being not less than two i in number as the Governor may from time to time appoint. This will, in ft, supersede the provisions made in Ordines 9 of 1867, which
rovides for the appoi
of a Faut ey
The powers whicu ura to ba giren to the Board are partly taken from. Ordinances ul. roudly existing. Section 3, which gives the Board power to examine into the state of unwholesome bouses and to give notice to the owners and docu- piers to put them isto proper condition, and section 4, which enables the Sanitary Board, or Inspector of Nuisances when deputed by them, to enter any house and examine into its onudition, are sub- stantially taken from Ordinancs 9 of 1867; but un ler section 4 of this Ordiusnoo the power of iuspection is undoubtedly a good deal larger than it was before, for whereas under the old
Anderson.
(4).
480
Ordinance only the Sanitary Oficer appointed | under the Ordinan ecoald exercise the power of inspection, under this the work may be deputed
Then there is a 3 to the Inspector of Nuisances. new provision, one entirely unknown hitherto in this Colony, contained in section 5, which pro- vides that where persons suffering from iafoo. tious or contagious diseases are ither on ship. board, or in tenements inhabited by more than one family, or in places where they are a source ! of danger to others, on the certificate of the Colonial Surgeon the Magistrate may make an order for their removal to some proper place. Then there is another provision which relates to the disinfecting of houses occupied by persons suffering from iufe tions diseases. These pro- visions, though hitherto unknown here, are taken from the Health Aots of 1866 and 1875, in operation in England. Then there are provisions which more particularly relate to the soavenging. The powers with which Sanitary Officers have hitherto been armed have not un sufficient to enable them to effe tually mutrol the scavenging and removal of night-soil and so on from dwellings in the Colony. Sections 8, 9, and 10, are intended to give the necessary powers to the Sanitary Board to regulate that matter. Section 12 e- ables the Governor in Council to make rules and regulations, which of course will be recommended by the Sanitary Board as from time to time their experience may suggest. Then Section 11 deale with a matter already provided for by Ordinance, but it is somewhat larger in scope and will probably he more effectual than the old pro. visions; it relates to goats and cattle. Fina ly there is a provision that the Ordinance shall not come luto force until a day to be proclaimed by the The object of that is to enable the Governor. proper rules and regulations to be prepared, and that householders and all persons affected by the Ordinance may have time to make the necessary arrangements and bring themselves into confor- mity with its requirements. The powera vested in the Board are undoubtedly very large and strin gent, and they mi ht work considerable hardship; but I apprehend the constitution of the Board, the official constitution so far as it is already provided for, will be an ample guarantee to the public that the provisions of the Ordinance will not benforced without great mation and regard to the feelings aud circunstances of those interested. I now beg to more the first readio: of the Bil
the ...
'OLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and 1.as read a first time.
THE TRAMWAYS. Hou. F. B. JOHNSON-Sir, the Ordinance which I now ask leave to lay on the table, and the first reading of which I propose to move to-day, is one which has been so often before this Council, and has been discu od so frequently as regards bath its principle and its details, that hat for respect for your Excellenes, to whom the Bill is new, I should not bare thought it aree-sury to offer more than a very few observation- inain in. troducing it. An I hope, Br, ** Lucil will permit me, on this first occasion on which I am able to rise after the assumption by your Ex- cellency of the Government of this Colony, to follow my hen, friend on my left (Mr. Ryrie) in the observations he has made, ani to express what I am sure is the unanimous feeling of this commanity, a sense of lively and hearty satisfuo. tion that an officer so distinguished in the Colonial Service, and of such varied experiease as your Excellency, should now be directing the affairs of the Colony.
in a community tiguous to a great care; delicate in craa paional questions are constantly arish, but we feel quite assured that the interests of this colony, and the British interests allied to tem. will be safe iu the hands of your Excellency, and that your policy will be seadministered as to prove that the careful protection of those interests je uot incompati le with the maintenance of friend- ly relations with our nei hbours and the pro- inotion of contentment and good will amongst the mixed population over whom yon rule. I am quite certain that the sunnaucement which your Excelleney has made to-day with regard to the reform of the constitution of the Legislative i
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