CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12] — Page 194

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I had an interview with Dr. Ho Kai the

Senior of the two Chinese Members, who on behalf of the

Chinese Community laid particular stress on the objection to

the appointment of the Medical Officer of Health as a Member

of the Board. He informed me, indeed, that Sir Henry Blake in

discussing the original Public Health and Buildings Ordinance

with him had partly secured the support of himself and his

Chinese colleague on the Council by an undertaking that the

Medical Officer of Health would not have a seat on the Board.

I have no knowledge of any such undertaking, and as there is

no record of it, it is probable that Dr. Ho Kai labours under

some misapprehension on the subject.

2.

As regards the first objection, that the

Official Members of the Board should not be increased in

number unless an extra Unofficial were also added, I do not regard it as of material importance. There is no obligation on the part of the Official Members of the Sanitary Board to vote in accordance with the wishes of the Government, and

enquiry has shown that it is extremely rare for the Official and Unofficial Members to find themselves all ranged on separate sides. Whether there is an Official or an Unofficial majority on the Board seems therefore to be a matter of indifference; especially as the Board is chiefly an advisory body and can- not carry any important proposal into execution without the sanction of the Government.

3.

The second objection, however, is a more

real one, and I concur in the unanimous opinion of the Executive Council that in view of the special functions of the

Medical