With respect to which the Sanitary Board might say they were absolutely unfit for habitation and they could not allow them to be built in the same way. He therefore suggested they should decide first of all on the definition of a new building and then they might discuss whether this clause should stand in its present shape or whether it ought to be modified.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said it ought to be borne in mind that the clause applied only to buildings where the basement was used for habitation, not where it was used as a shop.
Hon. Wm. SUGAR said Chinese shops always had caretakers who slept there.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said the fact mentioned by the previous speaker would not bring the building within the clause. It must be a tenement or a dwelling house.
HIS EXCELLENCY—I have no objection to letting this clause stand over for further consideration. Don't let the hon. member suppose we are not doing everything we can, consistently with the principles of this Bill, to help the landlords. We have this very question before us and we are devising certain expedients. Perhaps it would be rather premature for me to say what those expedients are, but we are endeavouring to do what we can to meet cases that might be considered cases of hardship. I don't think we are quite ready yet, and therefore on behalf of the Government I have no objection to let the clause stand over for further consideration. I think we shall be ready next time we meet to announce what we think had best be done.
The clause was then ordered to stand over, as were also the succeeding five clauses, which turned on the same point.
Clauses 70 to 74 were struck out, being relegated to the Building Ordinance.
On Clause 75 (renumbered 63), which prohibits water closets and urinals communicating with the drains, the SURVEYOR-GENERAL said it had occurred to him that they might perhaps strike out the word “urinal.” It might cause great hardship to such places as the Hongkong Hotel, the Hongkong Club, and the Garrison Club. He did not see any objection to striking it out.
The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE said he understood it was advocated on the part of sanitary wings that water closets should be allowed in places like hospitals.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said that hospitals were the only places where they should be allowed.
In reply to His Excellency the SURVEYOR-GENERAL said there were still some water closets communicating with the drains, but the number was gradually diminishing owing to their removal. It was very desirable, however, to make an exception in the case of hospitals, as suggested by the Acting Chief Justice. He ought to explain, perhaps, that there was a special sewer for the hospital and that was the reason for the exception.
The COLONIAL TREASURER suggested that urinals should still be allowed to communicate with the drains in cases approved of by the Sanitary Board. They might have new hotels, new schools, and new factories where urinals would be required. He therefore moved that the clause be amended to read as follows: “No person shall construct except in an hospital any water-closet having any communication with any underground public sewer or private drain, nor without permission of the Sanitary Board any urinal having such connection; and any such existing water-closet shall be removed by the owner upon his being required by the Board to effect such removal.”
Clauses 77, 78, and 79 were struck out, being relegated to the Building Ordinance.
With reference to Clause 80 (renumbered 70), providing that buildings on new Crown lots shall have back yards, Hon. C. P. CHATER suggested that it would be better to insert this condition in the Crown leases.
After some discussion the clause was reserved for further consideration.
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with respect to which the Sanitary Board might! say they were absolutely unfit for habitation and they could not allow them to be built in the samI WAT He therefore surgasted they should de- cide first of all on the definition of a new build- iag and then they might disones whether this olause should stand in its present shape or whether it ought to be modified.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said it ought to be horne in mind that the clanse applied only to buildings whera the bisement was used for habi- tation, not where it was used as a shop.
Hon. Word Surg said Chinese shops always had caretakers who slant there."
The SurveYOR-GENERAL said the fact men- tionad be the previous sneaker would not bring the building within the clause. It must bɔ a tene- ment or a dwelling house.
Hi: BXCALLENCY-I have no objection to lat- ting this clauss stand over for further consider- ation. Don't let the hon. meuber suppose we are not doing everything w、 esa consistently with the principles of this Bill to help the Jandlords. We have this very question be- fore us and wa ara devising certain expa dients. Perhaps it would be rather prama. ture for me to say what those expedients are. but we are endeavouring to do what we can to meet cases that might be considered cases of hardship. I don't think we are quite ready yet. and therefore on behalf of the Government T have no objection to let the clanse staud over for further consideration. I think we shall be realy next time we meet to announce what we think had best be done.
The clause was then ordered to stand over, as were also the succeeding fire clauses, which turn- ed on the same point.
Clau398 70 to 74 were struck out, baing re- legated to the Building Ordinance.
On olange 75 (renu:nbored 63), which prohibits water closets and urinals communicating with the drains, the SURVETOR-GENERAL said it had occurred to him that they might perhaps strike out the word “urinal." It might cause great hardship to such places as the Hongkong Hotel, the Hongkong Club, and the Girusa Club. He did not ses any objection to striking it ont.
The ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE said he ander- stood it was advocated on the art of sanitary wings that witer closets should be allowed in places like hopitals.
The SURVEYOR-GENERAL said that hospitals were the only places where they should be al- lowed.
In reply to his Excellency the SURVEYOR- GENERAL said there were still some water closets communicating with the drains, bat the number was gradually diminishing owing to their re- moral. It was very desirable, however, to make an exception in the case of hospitals, as suggest- Ha ought to ad by the Acting Chief Justice. explain, perhaps, that there was a special sawar for the hospita) anl that was the reason for the exception.
The COLONIAL TREASURER suggested that) araials should still be allowed to commuai- onto with the drains in cases approved of by the Sanitary Roard. They might have now hotels, aw schools, and new factories where urinals would be required. He therefore moved that the clause be amended to read as follows: No person shall contract except in an hospital any water-closet having any communication with any underground public sewer or private drain, nor without permission of the Sanitary Board any urinal having such connection; and aay such existing water-closet shall be removed by the owner upon his being required by the Board to offct such removal."
Clanses 77, 78, aud 79 were struck out, being relegated to the Building Ordinance.
With reference to Clause 80 (renambered 70). providing that building, on new Crown lots shall have hack yards, Hon. C. P. CHATER Sug gested that it would be better to insert this con- dition in the Crown leases.
After some discussion the clause was reserved for further consideration.
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