The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, AUGUST 20TH, 1887.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The Council resumed consideration, in Committee, of the Public Health Bill commencing at clause 19, which defines the word "nuisance." Hon. P. RYRIE drew attention to the fact that failure to supply privy accommodation was to be a nuisance by the first sub-section of the clause, and said there was strong objection to that.
It was explained that the presence of the word "privy" in the clause was due to a clerical error and that the provisions with regard to that subject had been relegated to the Building Ordinance.
Hon. P. RYRIE also objected to the declaration that a house is to be considered a nuisance "the clear cubic capacity of which is less than three hundred cubic feet for each person or inmate passing the night therein." He said he thought to lay down a hard and fast line that every individual in the Colony should have 300 cubic feet of space would cause great dissatisfaction. In fact, it would be almost impossible to ascertain at any time whether the number of occupants in a house were in proportion to the cubic contents. Visitors were continually passing through. He proposed that that portion referring to 300 cubic feet be struck out. The question would be whether the occupation of a house by numbers in excess of the proportion named would render it unhealthy. The Chinese did not think so. We see it stated in public prints that on board ships nothing like three hundred feet are allowed. The licensed coolie-houses could be easily regulated, but he thought it would be impossible to regulate ordinary Chinese family houses.
Hon. WONG SHING seconded.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he did not think this was the proper place to discuss the question of overcrowding. That would arise properly on section 71, which read as follows:- "Every domestic building or portion thereof found to be inhabited in excess of a proportion of one adult to every three hundred cubic feet of clear internal space shall be considered to be in an overcrowded condition and shall be deemed a nuisance." He therefore had no objection to striking out the words from section 19.
His EXCELLENCY said he hoped that hon. members perfectly understood that the subject would be resumed when they got to section 71.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN-Perhaps it would be well to inform the Council in the meantime of certain objections I have received from the Chinese for consideration when clause 71 comes before us. They say the objection is that 300 cubic feet of clear internal space for every adult Chinese is unnecessary. The poorer classes of the Chinese object most strongly to this clause. They allege that they are too poor to afford more room to themselves and families on account of their low wages and the high rent. They also say that they are generally away from home the greater part of the day, are continuously in the open air and very often sleep out in the street. Their wives and children too are for the most part of the day out in the open air and only for a few hours they are within doors. There is very little doubt that some of the middle class and the whole of the lower class will be very seriously affected by these overcrowding clauses, and the subject is of such vital importance as to merit the earnest attention of the Government. The consequences may be to drive away many poor but useful residents from the Colony and the creation of discontent and ill-feeling among the labouring classes. I only beg to point out these facts to you before you come to consider the clause.
The subsection was then passed with the words referred to deleted.
Hon. C. P. CHATER suggested that at the end of subsection 6, which read as follows-"Any noxious matter, or waste waters, flowing or discharging from any premises wherever situated into any public street, road, or into the gutter or side channel of any street or road, or into any nullah or water-course, or the bed thereof" the words "provided a public sewer exists with which connection can be made" be added.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said there was also an objection on the part of the Chinese to the throwing of waste waters into the side channels being considered a nuisance, because they said they were in the habit of throwing the water, after washing, into the side channels.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said that side-channels in a civilised city were made exclusively for the carrying off of rain water, and that if sewage were led into such places it would create a most intolerable and abominable nuisance. One of the duties of the sanitary staff was to prevent the nuisance that would arise from allowing people to throw their refuse into the side channels. There was always a house-drain into which such waste water ought to be thrown. It was provided every house should have a house-drain, and if there was a house-drain there was no reason why this abominable nuisance of leading the sewage into side-channels should be tolerated, and as every house would have a house-drain, he was not quite able to see the point of the suggestion of his hon. friend on the right (Hon. C. P. Chater) because obviously if there were an aggregation of houses with house-drains there must be a public sewer.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-There are isolated cases where there are no sewers.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he thought every house had a drain though it might not lead to a sewer.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-Perhaps they lead to the side channels.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-No, I must correct my hon. friend. There is no such case. Besides, the sewers are being extended every day and that is one of the objects-to provide complete sewerage for the city. I strongly urge my hon. friends not to press the amendment, which would transform the side channels, at present tolerably clean, into open sewers.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said he thought the explanation given by the Surveyor-General was satisfactory. It only showed the necessity for ventilating these points because the Chinese were apparently ignorant of them.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that if such a thing existed as a house without a drain, it would be impossible for the Sanitary Board to proceed against the householder for throwing his waste water into the side channel. It must go somewhere, and if there were no drain or sewer it must go on to the roadside. But the Surveyor-General said there was no such thing. Every house had its own drain.
His EXCELLENCY asked if detached villas had drains.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—Yes, they are provided with drainage. I don't say house drains leading into sewers, but they are provided with drainage. At the Peak there are no sewers. The houses there lead their drainage to iron tanks, and those tanks are emptied periodically.
The subsection was then passed.
On the motion of the Acting Attorney-General the consideration of sections 20 to 25 was adjourned.
The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE moved that the words "nor less than five dollars" be struck out of section 28. He said that minimum fines had been abolished some years ago by Ordinance under orders from home.
After some discussion section 28 and also section 29, on which the same point arose, were left over for further consideration.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL sections 32 and 33 were struck out. He said the matters they referred to would be provided for as far as was necessary in the bye-laws.
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING pointed out that in section 34, which prohibits the keeping of pigs, goats, or cattle without a licence from the Sanitary Board, sheep had been omitted. He suggested also that the words "except for private use" be inserted after cattle.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the insertion of the words "except for private use" would open the door to great abuse. People might have a large number of pigs and say they were for private use. It would be impossible to say what the words meant.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL suggested that the wording be altered to read as follows:- "Cattle, swine, sheep or goats."
This suggestion was adopted and the clause amended accordingly.
A discussion arose with respect to section 36, which gives the Sanitary Board power to issue by-laws for the prevention or mitigation of epidemic and provides as a penalty for breach of such by-laws a fine not exceeding $200 or six months' imprisonment.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said six months' imprisonment appeared a very heavy penalty.
Page 52
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, AUGUST 20тH, 1487.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The Council resumed consideration, in Com- mittee, of the Public Health Bill commencing at clause 19, which defines the word "nuisance." Hon, P. RYRIE drew attention to the fact that failure to supply privy accommodation was to be a nuisance by the first sab-section of the clanse, and said there was strong objection to that.
It was explained that the presence of the word "privy" in the clause was due to a clerical error and that the provisions with regard to that sub- ject had been relegated to the Building Ordin-
ance.
Hon. P. RYRIE also objected to the declara- tion that a house is to be considered a nuisance "the clear onbic capacity of which is less than thres hundred cubic feet for each person or in- mate passing the night therein." He said he thought to lay down a hard and fast line that | every individual in the Colony should have 300 cubio fest of space would cause great dissatis. faction. In fact it would be almost impossible to ascertain at any time whether the number of occupants in a house were in proportion to the cubio contents. Visitors were continually pasa- ing through. He proposed that that portion referring to 300 cubic feet be struck out. The question would be whether the occupation of a house by numbers in excess of the proportion named would render it unhealthy. The Chinese did not think so. We see it stated in public prints that on board ships uothing like three hundred feet are allowed. The licensed coolie- houses could be easily regulated, but he thought it would be impossible to regulate ordinary Chi- nose family houses.
Hou. WONG SHING seconded.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL anid he did not think this was the proper place to discuss the question of overcrowding. That would arise properly on section 71, which read as follows:- Every domestic building or portion thereof found to be inhabited in excess of a proportion of one adult to every three hundred cubic feet of clear internal space shall be considered to be in ao overcrowded condition and shall be deemed a nuisance." Ho therefore had no objection to striking out the words from section 19.
His EXCELLENCY said he hoped that hon. members perfectly understood that the subject: would be rosumed when they got to section 71.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN-Perhaps it would be well to inform the Council in the meantime of certain objections I have received from the Chi- ness for consideration when clause 71 comes: before us. They say the objection is that 300 cubic feet of clear infernal space for every adult Chinese is unnecessary. The poorer classes of the Chinese object most strongly to this clanse They allege that they are too poor to afford more room to themselves and families on account of their low wages and the high rent. They also say that they are general'y away from home the greater part of the day, are continuously in the open air and very often sleep out in the street. Their wives and children too are for the most part of the day out in the open air and only for a few hours they are within doors. There is very little doubt that some of the middle class and the whole of the lower class will be very serious- ly affected by these overcrowding clauses, and the subject is of such vital importance as to merit the earnest attention of the Government. The consequenos may be to drive away many poor but useful residents from the Colony and; the creation of discontent and ill-feeling among the labouring classes. I only beg to point out these fact to you before you some to consider the clause.
The subsection was then passed with the words referred to deleted.
Hon. C. P. CHATER suggested that at the end of subsection 6, which read as follows-" Any noxious mattor, or waste waters, flowing or dis- charging from any premises wherever situated. into any public street, road, or into the gutter or side channel of any street or road, or into any mallab or water-course, or the bed thereof" the words "provided a public sewer exists with which connection can be made" be added
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said there was also an objection on the part of the Chinese to the throwing of waste waters into the side channels |
;
being considered a nuisance, because they said they were in the habit of throwing the water, after washing, into the side channels.
The SURVEYOE-GENERAL Baid that side-chan- nels in a civilised city were made exclusively for the carrying off of rain water, and that if sewage were led into sneh places it would oreate a most intolerable and abominable nuisance. One of the duties of the sanitary staff was to prevent the nuisance that would arise from allowing people to throw their refuse into the side channels. Thore was always a house-drain into which such waste water ought to be thrown. It was provided every house should have a bonse-drain, and if there was a house-drain there was no reason why this abominable nuisance of leading the sewage into side-channels should be tolerated, and as every house would have a house-drain, he was not quite able to see the point of the suggestion of his hon friend on the right (Hon. C. P. Chater) be. cause obviously if there were an aggregation of houses with house-drains there must be a public
sewer.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-There are isolated cases where there are no sowers.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he thought every house had a drain though it might not lead to a sewer.
Hon. C P. CHATES-Perhaps they lead to the side channels.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-No, I must cor- reet my hon. friend. There is no such case. Be- sides, the sewers are being extended every day and that is one of the objects-to provide com- plete sewerago for the city. I strongly urge my hon. friends not to press the amendment, which would transform the side channels, at present tolerably clean, into open sewers.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said he thought the explanation given by the Surveyor-General was satisfactory. It only showed the necessity for ventilating these points because the Chinese were apparently ignorant of them.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that if such a thing existed as a house without a drain, it would be impossible for the Sanitary Board to proceed against the householder for throwing his waste water into the side channel. It must go somewhere, and if there were no drain or sower it must go on to the roadside. But the Surveyor-General said there was no such thing. Every house had its own drain.
His EXCELLENCY asked if detached villas had drains.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—Yes, they are provided with drainage. I don't say hoase drains leading into sewers, but they are provided with drainage. At the Peak there are no sewers. The houses thero lead their drainage to iron tanks, and those tanks are emptied periodically.
The subsection was then passed.
On the motion of the Acting Attorney-Gone- ral the consideration of sections 20 to 25 was adjourned.
The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE moved that the words "nor less than five dollars" be struck out of section 28. He said that minimum fiaes had been abolished some years ago by Ordinanso under orders from home.
After some discussion section 28 and also sec- tion 29, on which the same point arose, were left over for further consideration.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY- GENERAL sections 32 and 33 were struck ont. i He said the matters they referred to would be provided for as far as was necessary in the bye- laws.
Hon. J. BELL-InvING pointed out that in section 34, which prohibits the keeping of pigs, goats, or cattle without a licence from the Sani- tary Board, sheep had been omitted. He sug gested also that the words "except for private use" bo inserted after cattle.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the insertion of the words "except for private ase" would open the door to great abusos. People might have a large number of pigs and say they were for private use. It would be im- possible to say what the words meant.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL suggested that the wording be altered to read BS follows:- "Cattlo, swine, sheep or goats."
This suggestion was adopted and the clause arended accordingly.
A discassion arose with respect to section 36, which gives the Sanitary Board power to issae by-laws for the prevention or mitigation of epi- demie and provides as a penalty for breach of such by-laws a fine not exceeding $200 or six months' imprisonment.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said six months' im-a prisonment appeared a very heavy penalty.
52
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.