CO129-527-2 Discovery of unidentified dead bodies in the streets 22-05-1830 - 29-07-1830 — Page 8

prosperly

improve the beeterify of those

affected.

3. I shall also be glad

to know if you have considered

the actual disposal of bodies

whether some improvement in

mitigation

of the practice of

abostoning deponting

dead

Streets

bodies

in

the

2

elsewhere

ould not be affected by the'

organisation of a Standing

Board of Chinese Unofficial

a

persons to administer the funds

of public moneys

contributed from the rates for

the purpose of according facilities

for the burial of thedead

to poor Chinese persons who

wright

may apply to them.

4. I trust that in spite of

the difficulties, which I fully

might not be effected

appreciate, all possible steps will be

taken to deal with these distressing

and unhealthy conditions.

I have etc.

(Signed) PASSFIELD.

Page

Page

No 282.

RECEIVE

by Lord,

2 3 JUN 1950

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG. 22nd May, 1930.

احمد

12 on

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of

62896 Tour Lordship's despatch No.299 dated 11th November, 1929, on

the subject of the Annual Report for 1928 of the Captain

Superintendent of Police and in particular of the number of

unidentified dead bodies discovered in the streets and

elsewhere.

2.

The Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance of

1896 prohibits the removal of any dead body from a house except

with the appropriate permit following the registration of the

death, but in practice the detection of these illegalities is

extremely difficult.

3.

The Chinese as a race are conspicuously careful

of their dead and the chief cause of the prevalence of this

objectionable practice is the extreme poverty of a considerable

proportion of the local population.

4.

An analysis of the 1928 figures shows that out

of a total of 1680 abandoned corpses no less than 1494 or 89%

were infants of three years or less.

5.

A further cause of the practice is the fear of

the consequent disinfection of premises in the case of deaths

from infectious diseases and, in particular, small-pox.

This

factor

Ard

&

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD PASSFIELD,

&C.,

&C.,

&C.