CO129-231 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1887 [1-3] — Page 335

little Island with England, think of the ridiculously limited space at our disposal, and then say can we really spare the comparatively vast number of feet for back- yard purposes especially witli a rapidly growing population? Again, consider the Lilly und rocky nature of Hongkong, how nearly every house is built as it were on the top of another and how many high as well as low retaining walls there are; is it necessary then that almost every house should be built four feet away from its neighbour, and does not after all my proposition to legislate against inhabiting cellars or basement floors underground obviate all difficulties? Once again, the original mode of building in most of the English towns is different from that adopted here from the beginning. With or without prohibitory law and sanitary considerations most English houses were built from the commencement with a front and back garden, so that the innovation is not so great to the great majority of the people. The differences of habits, constitutions, requirements &c., between the Chinese and English are also very great arguments against the adoption of the English law here without great modifications. There is yet another point which has to be noticed, and that is however sweeping a law is in England it is passed by the people through their representatives. The minority bows to but not rules the majority, and the people are consulted before any measure is put forward and carried.

In conclusion, I beg to record my strongest objection against this Bill and its Bye-laws as a whole as unnecessary and inefficient. I submit that there are better ways for providing the Colony with sanitary improvements without on the one hand shaking public confidence, and on the other securing unanimity and

success.

1. The first thing I submit is to overhaul all the public drains, traps, &c., and to put them in un efficient and sanitary condition, so that all who connect their house drains with them may have no reasou to repent.

2. Next we should insist upon the construction of good draius in every honse and proper connections with the public drains; upon the speedy execution of the scheme to carry the sewage matter from the drain-outlets well out into the Sulphur Channel; and upon the immediate construction of ven- tilating shafts above the drains on the hill side, supplied with proper apparatus to destroy the ascending foul air. The provisions respecting drainage in this Bill should certainly be enforced, with a few alterations. 3. Let the people have a free and abundant supply of water without which no

cleanliness is possible.

4. Let the foreshore be thoroughly cleared of all rubbish and decayed matter, not by only one small dredger but by even half-a-dozen dredgers if necessary.

5. Let building operations where the turning over of virgin soil is necessary,

be confined to the few cold and dry mouths in the winter.

6. Let all low and swampy grounds be filled in and planted over with trees of such a kind as to perinit the rays of the sun to penetrate to the ground underneath their foliage.

7. Let a stricter system be established for the removal of filth and exereta from the Colony and let the workmen engaged in this work be placed under more efficient and more numerous European skilled supervision.

8. What is more important of all is the prevention of overcrowding not by compulsory and arbitrary legislation but by the extension of the town east and west. For this purpose let us endeavour to procure a continuous roud along the Praya, open new building sites, facilitate the requirement of small lots for building purposes, and connect the two extremities of the island with a tramway. By these means people will not overcrowd as long as there are quick, easy, and inexpensive means of communication with the centre of the town. These and many more, such as the preveu- tion of the sale of wholesome food and unripe fruits, the enlargement and improvement of markets, the spread of medical and sanitary know- ledge among the public, &c., are worthy of the immediate attention of the Sanitary Board and the Government, and which if properly carried out, would secure health and prosperity to the Colony. Finally, let us also see to the proper carrying out of our already innumerable Sanitary rales and regulations, and be content to work these and the few points I have just pointed out above thoroughly and in detail and not waste our time over unnecessary Sanitary provisions, which look well no doubt on paper, but are utterly impracticable and would take years to accomplish. Let us work at the real, the probable, and not strive after the imaginary and improbable. According to recent reports and complaints I think we as members of the Sanitary Board have quite enough in hand to do without this debatable Ordinance and its Bye-laws introduced and considered in our various meetings.

Dated this 2nd December, 1886.

(Signed) HO KAL

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