715
12
The cost of the re-drainage has rightly fallen upon the property owners, the Government undertaking only the connection of the drain from the boundary of the property to the main sewer.
9,957 houses have been re-drained.
The total expenditure by the Government under the heading of Drainage and Sewerage Work from 1889 to 1900 has been $542,869.
From 1883 to 1888 a sum of $485,000 was expended under the heading of "Sanitary Works."
Food Supply.
The works which come under this heading include an extension of the Market at Yaumati in 1884, the Hunghom Market erected in 1887, and the Central Market, completed in 1895 at a cost of $260,537, exclusive of the site, which entailed a further outlay of $158,058. A full description of the building appears in the Annual Report on Public Works for 1895.
The Slaughter Houses and Animal Depôts have an important bearing on this subject and come under the category of Sanitary Works. The miserably inadequate accommodation for the slaughtering of animals for food, existing prior to 1895, gave place in that year to an establishment which, for its method of construction and arrangements, is unsurpassed anywhere. Up to that date also the pigs and sheep destined for slaughter had been kept in the ground floors of a number of the houses in the West end of the City. Now they are housed in large and airy sheds which are fitted with every appliance sanitation can require. The cost of these important works has been $116,566.
Additions have been made, as found necessary, to the Cattle Depôt; a Slaughter House and Animal Depôt have been erected in Kowloon and a Market at Tai-kok-tsui.
A commencement has been made with the construction of the new Western Market in the City and various other works of an analogous nature to the above will be undertaken at an early date.
The expenditure under this heading from 1883 to 1900 has been $588,137.
Public Latrines.
The provision of these conveniences has not been entirely neglected, but great difficulty has been experienced in finding suitable sites which were at the same time in proximity to the more populous portions of the City or large villages. The difficulties arising out of the possibility of actions being brought against the Government in consequence of the establishment of such places were only overcome by the passing of the Latrines Ordinance in 1897. This Ordinance has not done away with the difficulty of finding sites but merely protects the Government in the manner indicated when the latrines have been built. Should strong opposition be raised to any site selected, it may be found necessary to abandon it, as was done in the case of one in the Tai-ping-shan District in consequence of the objections raised by the Directors of the Po Leung Kuk.
During 1884-89, a number of latrines, some of a permanent and some of a temporary character, were erected in the City and Villages.
In 1890-91, two permanent latrines were built in the City and ten iron structures were erected in the principal villages of Hongkong and Kowloon.
More recently, five permanent latrines, containing from 20-40 seats each, have been built in the City and another has been extended, whilst an iron latrine has been erected at Happy Valley.
Two large permanent latrines, containing 40 seats each, are in progress in the City and Yaumati and two more, of the same capacity, are about to be undertaken.
In addition to the above, latrine accommodation has been provided at the Central Market, Slaughter Houses, and other places where large numbers of men are employed.
The total expenditure under this heading for the period under consideration amounts to $42,479.
Construction of Roads and Drains prior to Sale of Building Lots.
Roads are almost universally formed, where practicable, before land is sold adjoining them. A reference to Mr. Chadwick's Report will show that the object of this recommendation was to ensure the erection of houses at a suitable level to admit of their being properly drained and, in cases where it is impracticable or inexpedient to form the roads in advance, care is taken to see that this condition is complied with.
13
The cases referred to are those occurring in connection with the reclamation of foreshores or the levelling of hills to form building sites, where it would obviously be imprudent and a gross waste of public funds to attempt to construct the roads by themselves in the first instance.
Miscellaneous Sanitary Works.
In addition to the works already described, several others of minor importance have been carried out. They include 10 public laundries, 20 tanks for washermen to carry on their operations in under sanitary conditions, a Vaccine Institute, and a Disinfecting Station, the combined cost of which amounts to $38,081.
Anyone acquainted with the villages of Tai-kok-tsui, Mong-kok-tsui, and Fun Tsun Heang as they existed 6 or 7 years ago would find difficulty in recognizing them again today. It may safely be asserted that a revolution has been wrought in these and other villages.
Back Alleys and the Formation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary Schemes.
It will scarcely create surprise that these recommendations have not been given effect to when it is borne in mind that, so recently as the end of 1892, when discussing the Estimates for the following year, the Member for the Chamber of Commerce stated "That our revenue is not of an 'elastic nature' is, I think, palpable, and it is more likely to shrink further in the future than even to remain at its present figure."
Fortunately for the Colony, this evil prognostication has not been fulfilled, but it appears to have been forgotten by the Chamber that such a statement was made by its representative only 8 years ago.
The foregoing summary of works accomplished shows clearly that large Sanitary Schemes have not been delayed on account of the non-existence of such a fund, nor is it obvious how a fund could have been established in any other way than by raising a loan, seeing that it was necessary to obtain a loan in 1893 for the purpose of carrying on the large public works then in progress.
In all recent laying out of building lots for the erection of houses, care has been taken to provide public lanes and, in this way, the Government has done what was in its power to give effect to the recommendation.
The accompanying statement on Sanitary Legislation shows that the clause in the original draft of the Public Health Ordinance for the provision of back-yards, in which form an endeavour was made to embody Mr. Chadwick's proposal, was so violently opposed by the Unofficial Members and the Public generally that it was abandoned.
Taipingshan Resumption.
Any description of the sanitary schemes carried into effect during recent years would be incomplete without a reference to the large resumption of insanitary properties in the District of Tai-ping-shan. Here an area of 64 acres of private property was resumed at an outlay of $818,098; the whole of the houses were pulled down and the area was laid out afresh with roads, lanes, sewers, storm-water drains, and other necessary works at a cost of $107,875.
A list of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations is prefixed, from which it will be seen that only two items in the shape of works to be initiated by the Government—namely Public Baths and Model Dwellings—have not yet been undertaken. The other items not given effect to include the Formation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary schemes; acquisition of Latrines; and Resumptions to admit of forming Continuous Back Alleys. These are practically questions of finance only, and enough has been said to show that the Colony has not been in a position to undertake the enormous expenditure involved in these proposals, in support of which the opinion of the Honourable T. H. Whitehead, Member for the Chamber of Commerce in 1892, has been quoted.
In conclusion, it will be well to summarize the expenditure on the works mentioned during the past 18 years:
Waterworks, $2,130,983
Drainage and Sewerage Works, $1,027,869
Markets, &c., $588,137
Public Latrines, $42,479
Miscellaneous minor Works, $38,081
Tai-ping-shan Resumption and Improvements, $925,973
Total $4,748,522
715
12
The cast of the re-drainage has rightly fallen apou the property owners, the Government noder- taking only the connection of the drain from the boundary of the property to the main gewer.
9,957 houses have been re-drained.
The total expenditure by the Government under the heading of Drainage and Sewerage Work from 1889 to 1900 has been $542,869.
From 1883 to 1888 a sum of $485,000 was expendod under the heading of "Sanitary Works."
Food Supply.
The works which come under this heading include an extension of the Market at Yaumati in 1884, the Hunghom Market erected in 1887, and the Central Market, completed in 1895 at a cost of $260,537, exclusive of the site, which entailed a further outlay of $158,058. A full description of the building appears in the Annual Report on Public Works for 1895.
The Slaughter Houses and Animal Depôts have an important hearing on this subject and come wonder the category of Sanitary Works. The miserably inadequate accommodation for the slaugh- tering of animals for food, existing prior to 1895, gave place in that year to an establishment which, for its method of construction sud arrangements, is unsurpassed anywhere. Up to that daro also the five pigs and sheep destined for slaughter, had becu kept in the ground floors of a number of the houses in the West end of the City. Now they are housed in large and airy sheds which are fitted with every appliance sanitation can require. The cost of these important works has been $116,566.
Additions bave been made, as found necessary, to the Cattle Dopôt; a Slaughter House and Animal Depôt have been erected in Kowloon and a Market at Tai-kok-tsui.
A commencement has been made with the construction of the new Western Market in the City and various other works of an analogous nature to the above will be undertaken at an early date.
The expenditure under this heading from 1883 to 1900 has been $588,137.
Public Latrines.
The provision of these conveniences has not been entirely neglected, but great difficulty has been experienced in finding suitable sites which were at the same time in proximity to the more populous portions of the City or large villages. The difficulties arising out of the possibility of actions being brought against the Government in consequence of the establishment of such places were only overcome by the passing of the Latrines Ordinance in 1897. This Ordinance has not done away with the difficulty of finding sites but merely protects the Government in the monuer indicated when the latrines have been built. Should strong opposition be raised to any site selected, it may be found necessary to abandon it as was done in the case of one in the Tai-ping-slan District in consequence of the objections raised by the Directors of the Po Leung Kuk.
During 1884-89, a number of latrines, some of a permanent and some of a temporary character were erected in the City and Villages.
In 1890-91, two permanent latrines were built in the City and ten irou structures were erected in the principal villages of Hongkong and Kowloon.
More recently five permanent latrines, containing from 20-40 scats cach, have been built in the City and another has been extended, whilst an iron latrine has been erected at Happy Valley.
Two large permanent latrines, containing 40 seats each, are in progress in the City and Yaumati and two more, of the same capacity, are about to be undertaken.
In addition to the above, latrine accommodation has been provided at the Central Market, Slaughter Houses and other places, where large numbers of men are employed.
The total expenditure under this heading for the period under consideration amounts to $42,479.
Construction of Roads and Drains prior to Sale of Building Lots.
Roads are almost universally formed, where practicable, before land is sold adjoining them. A reference to Mr. Chadwick's Roport will show that the object of this recommendation was to ensure the erection of the houses at a suitable level to admit of their being properly drained and, in cases where it is impracticable or inexpedient to form the roads in advance, care is taken to see that this condition is complied with.
The cases referred to are those occurring in connection with the reclamation of foreshores or
13 -
the levelling of bills to form building sites, where it would obviously be imprudent and a gross waste of public funds to attempt to construct the roads by themselves in the first instance.
Miscellaneous Sanitary Works.
In addition to the works already described, several others of minor importance have been carried
t. They include 10 public laundries, 20 tanks for washermen to carry on their operations in, under sanitary conditions, a Vaccine Institute and a Disinfecting Station, the combined cost of which amounts to $38,081.
Any one acquainted with the villages of Tai-kok-tsui, Mong-kok-tsui and Fun Tsun Heang as they existed 6 or 7 years ago, would find difficulty in recognizing them again to-day. It may safely be asserted that a revolution has been wrought in these and other villages.
Back Alleys and the Formation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary Schemes.
It will scarcely create surprise that these recommendations have not been given effect to when it is borne in mind that, so recently as the end of 1892, wheu discussing the Estimates for the following year, the Member for the Chamber of Commerce stated “That our revenus is not of an "elastic nature is, I think, palpable, and it is more likely to shrink further in the future than even to *remain at its present figure."
Fortunately for the Colony, this evil prognostication has not been fulfilled but it appears to have been forgotten by the Chamber that such a statement was made by its representative only 81
years ago.
The foregoing summary of works accomplished shows clearly that large Sanitary Schemes have not been delayed on account of the non-existence of such a fund nor is it obvions how a fund could have been established in any other way than by raising a loan, seeing that it was necessary to obtain
u loau in 1893 for the purpose of carrying on the large public works then in progress.
In all renent laying out of building lots for the erection of houses care has been taken to provide publie lanes and, in this way, the Government has done what was in its power to give effect to the recommendation.
The accompanying statement on Sanitary Legislation shows that the clause in the original draft of the Public Health Ordinance for the provision of back-yards, in which form an endeavour was made to embody Mr. Chadwick's proposal, was so violently opposed by the Un-official Members and the Public generally that it was abandoned.
Taipingshan Resumption.
Any description of the sanitary schemes carried into effect during recent years would be incom- plete without a reference to the large resumption of insanitary properties in the District of Tai-ping- shan. Here an area of 64 acres of private property was resumed at an outlay of $818,098, the whole of the houses were pulled down and the area was laid out afresh with roads, Janes, sewers, storm-water drains and other necessary works at a cost of $107,875.
A list of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations is prefixed, from which it will be seen that only two items in the shape of works to be initiated by the Government--namely Public Baths and Model Dwellings--have not yet been undertaken. The other items not given effect to include the Form- ation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary schemes; acquisition of Latrines; and Resumptions to adinit of forming Continuous Back Alleys. These are practically questions of finance only and enough has been said to show that the Colony has not been in a position to undertake the enormous expenditure involved in these proposals in support of which the opinion of the Honourable T. H. Whitehead, Member for the Chamber of Commerce in 1892, has been quoted.
In conclusion it will be well to summarize the expenditure on the works mentioned during the
past 18 years—-—--
Waterworks,
Drainage and Seworage Works,
Markets, &c., *****
Public Latrines,
2,130,983
1,027,869
583,137
42,479
38,081
Tai-ping-shan Resumption and Improvements,
925,973
Total $4,748,522
Miscellaneous minor Works,
÷
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