CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5] — Page 243

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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fact that this figure has risen steadily during the past three

years is in my opinion a clear indication that the rat popula- tion has increased pari passu with the recent rapid increase in the human population. The figures for the past three years for the City of Victoria are as follows:-

1911

1912

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1913

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65,927 rats collected and examined

70,633 rate collected and examined

86,933 rate collected and examined.

Two probleme present themselves for consideration

(1) the limitation in the number of rats and

(2) the exclusion of rats from dwellings and workshops.

The only feasible method of limiting their numbers is to limit the food supply available for them this consists mainly of the waste food from houses, and rate will enter houses at night to search for food and will feed in the yards and lanes surround- ing them, if garbage is to be found there. It is necessary there- fore to prevent as far as possible the accumulation of garbage within and around houses and to this end householdere are required to provide themselves with portable metal rubbish bins, with covere, capable of holding the day's waste and a daily service of refuse removal exists, while the periodical house to house cleansing of the native quarters by the sanitary staff also serves the same purpose. It is an unfortunate characteristic, however, of the lower clase Chinaman to hoard all sorts of worthless rubbish, organic as well as inorganic, within hie dwelling, and it is only therefore by constant visitation and a thorough turn out of the premises every few months that any approach to cleanliness can be secured. In connection with the daily collection of rubbish from back lanes and yards, I have

recently suggested a special evening collection so as to remove

as much of this as possible before the rate come out to feed,

(3)

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