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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22ND JUNE, 1895.
Latrine Service.
7. The order of the Board with regard to the disinfection of the night-soil in the latrines open to the public has been enforced to the utmost possible extent. Three soldiers were detailed for this service to assist the inspectors in charge of the Health Districts. 10,000 lbs. of chlorinated lime have been expended during the month for this purpose alone. At first there was some reluctance on the part of the keepers to comply with the order; but in only one instance did it become necessary to have recourse to legal proceedings, viz., in the case of the Gough Street latrine the keeper of which was fined $25.00 by the presiding Magistrate.
Disinfection of Houses, &c.
8. The 4 soldiers originally detailed for this service in the event of the plague obtaining a firm hold in the Colony were subsequently told off to strengthen the house-to-house visitation parties and to assist the inspectors in the work of their districts.
9. The Board having approved of a reduction from the 1st instant of the number of Police and Military engaged on special sanitary service, 9 men of the Rifle Brigade and 9 European and Asiatic Police were withdrawn from that date. The addition of chlorinated lime to the night-soil in public latrines has been discontinued, but as it was considered desirable to maintain for the present the use of this disinfectant on a modified scale, a number of earthenware pots containing small quantities of the powder moistened with water have been distributed in all the latrines open to the public in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
10. The following are the details of the new scheme for house-to-house visitation by a party consisting of 3 European Police Constables, 12 Chinese Police Constables, 5 Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Royal Engineers and 7 Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Rifle Brigade. The detachment now works in 3 sections instead of 5 as formerly, each section being in charge of a European Police Constable. The extent and nature of the duties of these sections are set forth in the attached copies of the instructions handed over to the 3 Constables, detaile to take charge, on the night of the 1st instant.
11. Only 5 cases of plague are known to have occurred since the day on which the first case was reported, viz., the 29th of April. Not a single case has been reported since the 10th of May. Particulars of these 5 cases will be found in schedule B.
12. 14 persons from infected premises were provided with accommodation in the "marriage" boats or native marine hotels hired for this service and anchored at the back of Stone Cutter's Island. No sickness developed among those segregated. On the 8th of May the last batch was released.
Mezzanine Floors and Cubicles.
13. In schedule C will be found a statement of the progress that has been made in the eight Health Districts of the City of Victoria in enforcing compliance with the provisions of section 7 of Ordinance 15 of 1894. In all 1,705 notices to remove either the cubicles or cocklofts have been served. A very large number of petitions for permission to allow cubicles and cocklofts to co-exist, which the Board has power to give, have been received. A considerable time must necessarily elapse before the law on this subject has been fully enforced throughout the City. In many instances where compliance with the law will involve considerable structural alterations the parties concerned have placed the matter in the hands of their architects.
Basements.
14. Notices in writing of intention to take legal proceedings after a stated time have been served on the actual tenants, householders and owners of 95 basement rooms in illegal occupation as dwellings. The exact situation of each basement is set forth in schedule D. This return does not include a large number of basements which when first inspected were found to be inhabited and were subsequently vacated after the law had been explained to the occupants and a verbal warning conveyed. A complete descriptive return of all basements in the City and the uses to which they are applied is in preparation.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servants,
WM. C. II. HASTINGS,
Acting Capt. Supt. of Police.
W. EDWARD CROW,
Asst. Sanitary Supt.
The Secretary,
SANITARY BOARD.
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