The Daily Press.
Hongkong, August 27th, 1887.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
The Council resumed consideration in Committee of the Public Health Bill.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said clauses 40 and 41 were adjourned last week upon an observation by the Acting Chief Justice with reference to the powers of entry given to the Sanitary Board. The clauses were to be applied merely in case of epidemic, and he submitted that at such a time the Board should be armed with extraordinary powers. He read the corresponding clauses of the English Public Health Act of 1875, which give the sanitary authorities power to enter houses in time of epidemic without notice. He therefore moved that the sections stand.
Carried.
In clause 45 the SURVEYOR-GENERAL moved the adoption of 6 inches for 4 inches as the minimum internal diameter of house drains. He said 4 inches was the English minimum, but he thought it would be wise to have 6 inches here.
The motion was adopted and the clause amended accordingly.
With regard to clause 48, which provides that every house drain shall be provided with a trap, ventilating grating, or disconnecting manhole, Hon. P. RYRIE said he thought the ventilation of house drains might do much more harm than good. The result might be, instead of ventilating the house drains, to admit the vapour and gases from the main drain. He understood that in places where house drains were ventilated there were large ventilators to the main drains and that the house drains were subjected to no pressure from the gas outside. Until these large ventilators were put up in Hongkong he thought this clause should be held in abeyance. Every one had his own theory as to how the gas came up from the main drain—whether it was driven up by the tide or otherwise. He had experience of it himself some years ago when he lived up the hill. There were pipes to the water closets and other chambers, and when the tide was full an immense quantity of gas was forced up, and he was given to understand this would be the case in all houses if the drains were ventilated.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said he agreed with his hon. friend that the proposed ventilators would be dangerous if there were not at the same time ventilation of the main sewers. Steps were being taken to provide ventilation for the main sewers, but it was none the less necessary to take steps with regard to the house drains. If both were ventilated they would then have done what every town at home was doing with admirable results.
HON. P. RYRIE—Will these public ventilators be undertaken?
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—Unquestionably. They are being undertaken. But whether they are undertaken or not we must have some provision to compel ventilation of house drains.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the house drain would be cut off from the public sewer by a trap, so the ventilator would only ventilate the house drain and not the public drain.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said this Bill would have the effect of effectually cutting off the private drains from the main sewers, which had never yet been thoroughly done, and would prevent what the Hon. P. Ryrie had complained of, as they would then only have to cope with the sewer gas generated on the premises.
His EXCELLENCY—You have some of these ventilating shafts already?
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—Yes.
HIS EXCELLENCY—And they are working admirably, are they not?
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—They are, Sir.
HIS EXCELLENCY—I hope the hon. member (Hon. P. Ryrie) is satisfied.
Hon. P. RYRIE—I only hope no person will be compelled to ventilate his house drain until the ventilation of the main drains is completed. I don't want people to get sewer gas into their houses.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—They cannot. The drains are to be trapped.
Hon. P. RYRIE—But I suppose you will not enforce this until you have completed the other.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL—No.
Hon. P. RYRIE expressed himself satisfied with the explanation that had been given.
The clause was then passed.
Clause 50 was, on the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the SURVEYOR-GENERAL, amended by providing that ventilating pipes shall be carried up clear of the eaves or to such a height as shall effectually prevent any escape of foul air into any thoroughfare or building. The clause as it stood fixed the height at 10 feet above the ground.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that with reference to clause 51, which provides that all overflow and waste waters shall be conveyed in a water-tight waste pipe to a gully trap, objection was taken by some Chinese who waited upon him to the provision that such waste pipe shall not be brought down any external wall when such wall looks upon any external thoroughfare. From the expressions the Chinese made use of he was under the impression they believed this applied to pipes for the rain water, and they complained it would be very inconvenient indeed were they obliged to bring the rain water down inside their houses. But the clause applied only to sullage or refuse water. It would be a very extraordinary circumstance if sullage pipes were put in front. In every case, he thought, pipes such as this referred to would be at the rear of the house, and therefore there was no hardship whatever in enacting that these waste waters shall not be brought down on an external wall which looks into a thoroughfare. The proper and most convenient place for them was the back of the house, the pipe leading into the back-yard and thence to the public sewer. With this explanation he hoped the gentlemen who waited upon him would see there was no hardship sought to be placed upon them.
The clause was adopted.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said, with reference to clause 53, which provides that all works in connection with house drains shall be carried out at the cost of the owner by the Board or persons approved by the Board, that there was a very strong objection, not only on the part of Chinese but Europeans also, to the last sentence, which read—“or by persons approved of by the Board under the supervision of the latter.” The objection was that such a system might lead to a great deal of corruption and the establishment of monopolies for the benefit of a few contractors. The landlords were going to pay for the work and it seemed hard that if they could get a contractor to do it at a reasonable rate they should not be allowed to do so, but must employ one of the contractors approved by the Board. He would suggest the clause should read—“shall be carried out at the cost and charges of the owner of the house to the satisfaction of the Board.” By that means they would allow the landlords to employ their own contractors and make their own arrangements as to the cost. He had heard a good deal about the prices charged to the Government; this was not the time to refer to that matter, but he must say he had received very strong objections from respectable Chinamen that they should be compelled to employ Government contractors and pay Government prices.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there was nothing in the clause compelling people to employ Government contractors and pay Government prices. It simply said the work should be done by persons approved of by the Board, and he did not think there was any reason for supposing the Board would refuse to approve of persons on whom they could rely. If the landlord could provide a respectable contractor who offered every guarantee he did not think the Board would reject him unless for very good reasons. They had six unofficial members on the Board, and he did not think the Board would for one moment sanction any system that would lead to any monopoly. All that was required was that there should be some security the work should be done well.
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said the amendment he suggested would afford security, as it provided the work should be done to the satisfaction of the Board.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said this provision had been made because it was absolutely impossible for the Board to carry out supervision over the many houses under construction at one time, and therefore it required some security that only men who were respectable should be employed. It was within his experience, his weekly experience almost, that house drains put in were, to use an engineering term, scamped. The contractors in...
Page 54
The Daily Press.
Hongkono, August 27TH, 1887.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
The Council resumed consideration ia Com- mittee of the Public Health Bill.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said clauses 40 and 41 were adjourned last week upon au oh- servation by the Acting Chief Justice with reference to the powers of entry given to the Sanitary Board. The clauses were to be applied merely in case of epidemic, and he submitted that at such a time the Board should be armed with extraordinary powers. He read the correspond. ing clauses of the English Public Health Act of 1875, which give the sanitary authorities power to enter houses in time of epidemic without notice. He therefore moved that the sections stand.
Carried.
In clause 45 the SURVEYOR-GENERAL moved the adoption of 6 inches for 4 inches as the min- imum internal diameter of house drains. He said 4 inches was the English minimam, but he thought it would be wise to have 6 inches here.
The motion was adopted and the clause amond- ed accordingly.
With regard to clause 48, which provides that every house drain shall be provided with a trap. ventilating grating, or disconnecting manhole, Hon. P. RYRIE said he thought the ventilation of house drains might do mnoh more harm than good. The result might be, instead of ventilating the house drains, to admit the vapour and gases from the main drain. He understood that in places where house drains were ventilated thore were large ventilators to the main drains and that the house drains were subjected to no pressure from the gas outside. Until these large ventilators were pat up in Hongkong he thought this clause should be held in abeyance. Every one had his own theory as to how the gas came up from the main drain-whether it was driven up by the tide or otherwise. He had experience of it himself some years ago when he lived up the hill. There were pipes to the water closets and other cham- bers, and when the tide was full an immense quantity of gas was forced up, and he was given to understand this would be the case in all houses if the drains were ventilated.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said he agreed with his hon. friend that the proposed ventilatora ! would be dangerous if there were not at the same time ventilation of the main sewera. Steps were being taken to provide ventilation for the main seware, but it was none the less ne assary to take steps with regard to the house drains. If both were ventilated they would then have done what every town at home was doing with admirable results.
HON. P. RYAIE-Will these public ventilators b. undertaken ?
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-Unquestionably. They are being undertaken. But whether they are undertaken or not wo must have some pro- vision to compel ventilation of honse drains.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the house drain would be out off from the public | sewer by a trap, so the ventilator would only vea- tilate the house drain and not the public drain. The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said this Bill would have the effect of effectually outting off the private drains from the main sewers, which had never yet been thoroughly done, and would pre- rent what the Hon. P. Ryrie had complained of, as they would then only have to cope with the sower gas generated on the premises.
His EXCELLENCY-You have some of these ventilating shafts already?
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL---Yes.
HIS EXCELLENCY-And they are working admirably, are they not P
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-They are, Sir. His EXCELLENCY-I hope the hon. member (Hon. P. Ryrie is satisfied.
Hon. P. Rrats-I only hope no person will be compelled to ventilate his house drain until the ventilation of the main drains is completed. I don't want people to get sewer gas into their houses.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL They cannot. The drains are to be trapped.
Hon. P. RYRIE But I suppose you will not enforce this until you have completed the other.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL-NO.
Hon. P. RYRIE expressed himself satisfied! with the explanation that had been given.
The clauss was then passed.
Clanse 50 was, on the motion of the AcTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the Sun- VEYOR-GENERAL, amended by providing that ventilating pipes shall be carried up clear of the eaves or to such a height as shall effectually prevent any escape of foul air into any thorough- fare or building. The clause as it stood fixed the height at 10 feet above the ground.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that with reference to clause 51, which provides that alloverflow and waste waters shall be conveyed in a water-tight waste pipe to a gully trap, objection was taken by some Chinese who waited upon him 'to the provision that such waste pipe shall not be brought down any external wall when such wall looks upon any external thorough- fare. From the expressions the Chinese made use of he was under the impression they bo lieved this applied to pipes for the rain water. and they complained it would be very in convenient indeed were they obliged to bring the rain water down inside their houses. But the clause applied only to sullage or refuse water. It would be a very extraordinary circumstance if sullage pipes were pat in front. In every case, he thought, pipes such as this referred to would be at the rear of the house, and therefore there was no hardship whatever in enacting that these waste waters shall not be brought down on au external wall which looks into a thoroughfare, ¡ The proper and most convenient place for them was the back of the house, the pipe leading into the back-yard and thence to the public sewer. With this explanation he hoped the gentlemen who waited upon him would see there was no hardship sought to be placed upon them.
The clause was adopted,
Hon. A. P. MACEWEN said, with reference to clause 53, which provides that all works in connection with house drains shall be carried ont at the cost of the owner by the Board or persons approved by the Board, that there was a very strong objection, not only on the part of Chinese but Europeans also, to the last sentence, which read-or by persons ap- proved of by the Board under the supervision of the latter." The objection was that such a system might lead to a great deal of corruption and the establishment of monopolies for the benefit of a few contractors. The landlords were going to pay for the work and it seemed hard that if they could get a contractor to do it at a reasonable rate they should not be allowed to do so, but must employ one of the contractors, approved by the Board. He would suggest the clause should read-shall becaried out at the cost and charges of the owner of the house to the satis- faction of the Board." By that means they would allow the landlords to employ their own contrac tora and make their own arrangements as to the cost. He had heard a good deal about the prices charged to the Government; this was not the time to refer to that matter, but he must say he had received very strong objections from respec. | table Chinamen that they should be compelled to employ Government contractors and pay Go- vernment prices.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there was nothing in the clanse compelling peo- ple to employ Government contractors and pay Government pricos. It simply said the work should be done by persons approved of by the Board, and he did not think there was Buy reason for supposing the
Board would refuse to approve of persons on whom they could rely. If the landlord could provide a respectable contractor who offered every guarantee he did not think the Board would reject him unless for very good reasons. They had six unofficial members on the Board, and he did not think the Board would for one moment: sanction any system that would lead to any monopoly. All that was required was that there should be some security the work should be done woll.
Hon. A. P. MACESN said the amendment he suggested would afford security, as it provid. ' ed the work should be done to the satisfaction of the Board.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said this provision had been made because it was absolutely impos. sible for the Board to carry out supervision over the many houses under construction at one time, and therefore it required some security that only men who were respectable should be employed. It was within his experience, his weekly experience almost, that house drains put in were, to nse an engineering term, scamped. The contractors in-
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