6
injunctions have been given that they shall be carried out with discretion and forbearance, so far as the Chinese are concerned.
6. I annex, moreover, one of the Wonghong Newspapers, an article from The Daily Press, which sums up fairly the general opinion of the Europeans on this subject in this Colony.
HONGKONG, JUNE 15TH, 1888.
The Government have marked their sense of the urgency of the Order and Cleanliness Ordinance by proclaiming it at once without waiting, as is customary, for the sanction of the QUEEN. Sanitary matters have for years past, during the late Administration, been allowed to drift without any attempt to promote the cleanliness of the Colony. Since, however, Mr. CHADWICK made his report, the Authorities have displayed every desire to carry out his suggestions as far as possible.
The improvements in the system of drainage must necessarily be deferred for some time, but the task of regulating the disposal of rubbish and offensive matter, the closing up of cesspools or drains, the keeping of pigs, goats, or cattle, and other matters, can be undertaken, and has accordingly been grappled with. Under the new Ordinance, the night-soil coolies will not be permitted to poison the air or foul the drains at any hour they please, nor will householders be allowed to accumulate dust, garbage, or other rubbish to propagate the germs of pestilence.
The side-channels in the streets will have to be kept clear, so that the flow of rain drainage may run off unimpeded. No person will be allowed to deposit dust, earth, or dry rubbish on any waste or vacant lands, nor will lazy employers be permitted to shoot débris into any drain or stream or thoroughfare, a provision most decidedly called for, seeing the prevalence of the practice by contractors of shooting their rubbish into the first convenient corner.
One of the most important of the new regulations published in the Gazette is that numbered 17, which is to the following effect:-"No house-boat or inhabited boat of any kind shall establish itself within the enclosure of the Typhoon Refuge at Causeway Bay or in the Bowrington Canal, or in the Yaumati Refuge, or on any foreshore above low-water mark for a longer time than in the opinion of the Police shall be absolutely necessary for its safety during stress of weather, or for the purposes of repair, or for embarking or landing persons or cargo, or under normal circumstances for a longer period than one low tide, and any nuisances committed in respect of the disposal of waste products by the owner or the occupants of a boat shall be deemed the same in all respects as if committed by a householder or occupant of a shore tenement."
Causeway Bay has gradually for the past twelve months been growing more and more unbearable. A host of sampans and small boats--some in a very dilapidated condition--are permanently located there, the inhabitants of many being employed on shore. The Bay, which is slowly silting up, becomes shallower each year, and when the tide goes out a vast expanse of the foulest mud is left exposed, which, under the influence of a tropical sun, gives forth the most unwholesome vapours.
It is simply marvellous that this reeking cesspool, for it is little better, the tides as a rule only creeping in, has not caused the outbreak of an epidemic long ago. The regulation above quoted, if properly enforced, will certainly go far to work a cure, but it will doubtless excite some opposition from those marine squatters who believe they have acquired a vested right to the particular position of which they have for so long held undisturbed possession.
It would, however, we think, be worth while for the Government to consider whether it would not be advisable, at some early date, to reclaim that portion of Causeway Bay extending out as far as the old causeway. This is exceedingly shallow, and at low tides is a mere stretch of slimy mud. The cost of reclamation would not be great and it would provide valuable sites both for Chinese houses and industrial undertakings.
The outer portion of the Bay would still be available for a harbour of refuge and might be dredged if necessary. It would then be comparatively easy to prevent the Bay being made a fever bed, while a fine stretch of ground would be placed at the disposal of the Government for sale or public use.
111
6
injunctions have been given
they
that
shall be carried out with
discretion and forbearance, so far
as the Chinese are concerned
6.
I a
annex moreover,
one
of the Wonghong
an article from Newspapers which sums up fairly
the general opinion
of
the Europeans
on this subject
in this Colomy.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JUNE 15TH, 1888.
TRE Government have marked their sense of the urgency of the Order and Cleanliness Ordinance by proclaiming it at once without waiting, as is customary, for the sanction of the QUEEN. Sanitary matters have for years past, during the late Administration, been allowed to drift without any attempt to pro- mote the cleanliness of the Colony. Since, however, Mr. CHADWICK made his report, the Authorities have displayed every desire to carry out bis suggestions as far as possible. The improvements in the system of drainage must necessarily be deferred for some time, but the task of regulating the disposal of rubbish and offensive matter, the closing up of cesspools or drains, the keep- ing of pigs, goats, or cattle, and other mat. ters, can be undertaken, and has according-
ly been grappled with. Under the new Or- dinance, the night-soil coolies will not be
permitted
Dermitted to poison the air or foul the drains
at any hour they please, nor will bouse- holders be allowed to accumulate dust, garbage, or other rabbish to propagate the germs of pestilence. The side-channels in the streets will have to be kept clear, so that the flow of rain drainage may run off unim- peded. No person will be allowed to deposit dust, earth, or dry rubbish on any waste or vacant lands, nor will lazy employér be per- mitted to shoot débris into any drain or stream or thoroughfare, a provision most de cidedly called for, seeing the prevalence of the practice by contractors of shooting their rubbish into the first convenient corner.
One of the most important of the new i regulations published in the Gazette is that numbered 17, which is to the follow- ing effect:-"No house-boat or inhabited "boat of any kind shall establish itself "within the enclosure of the Typhoon Re-
(4
fuge at Causeway Bay or in the Bowring- "ton Canal, or in the Yaumati Refuge, or "on any foreshore above low-water mark "for a longer time than in the opinion of "the Police shall be absolutely necessary "for its safety during stress of weather, or "for the purposes of repair, or for embark. "ing or landing persons or cargo, or under "normal circumstances for a longer period "than one low tide, and any nuisances com- "mitted in respect of the disposal of waste "products by the owner or the occupants of. "a boat shall be deemed the same in all re- "spects as if committed by a householder or 'occupant of a shore tenement." Causeway Bay bas gradually for the past twelve mouths been growing more and more unbearable. A host of sampans and small boats--some in a very dilapidated condition--are permanently located there, the inhabitants of many being employed on shore. The Bay, which is slowly silting up, becomes shallower each year, and when the tide goes out a vast expanse of the foulest mud is left exposed, which, under the influence of a tropical sun, gives forth the most unwholesome vapours. It is simply | marvellous that this reeking cesspool, for it is little better, the tides as a rule only creeping in, has not caused the outbreak of an epide- mic long ago. The regulation above quoted, if properly enforced, will certainly go far to work a cure, but it will doubtless excite some opposition from those marine squatters who believe they have acquired a vested right to the particular position of which they have for so long held undisturbed possession. It would, however, we think, be worth while for the Government to consider whether it would not
be advisable, at some early date, to reclaim that portion of Causeway Bay extending out as far as the old causeway. This is exceed-' ingly shallow, and at low tides is a mere stretch of slimy mud. The cost of reclama- tion would not be great and it would provide valuable sites both for Chinese houses and industrial undertakings. The outer portion of the Bay would still be available for a bar- bour of refuge and might be dredged if ne- cessary. It would then be comparatively easy to prevent the Bay being made a fever bed, while a fine stretch of ground would be placed at the disposal of the Government for sale or public use,
111
Y
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