T
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH DECEMBER, 1895. 1219
In consequence of the improvement of Taipingshan a large area of land will probably be ready for sale in the course of next year, and with an expanding revenue it is to be hope? that the debit balance will disappear at the end of 1896. Then again, 1897 should witness extensive land sales in Taipingshan, and when the account is finally closed, the result will, in all probability, be more than gratifying. As regards the expenditure on this work, the total cost of which is estimated at $83,000, a sum of $30,000 has been provided in the Esti- mates for 1896, and you will be asked to vote the balance when the Supply Bill for 1897 comes before you. I have now, gentlemen, put briefly before you the financial position of the Colony, and having regard to all the circumstances you will doubtless agree with me in thinking that the state of affairs is both satisfactory and hopeful.
In addition to the resumption of Taipingshan other active measures for improving the sanitation of the Colony have been undertaken.
The provisions of The Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and of Ordinance No. 4 of 1895 have been strictly and steadily enforced, and upwards of 400 common lodging-houses have been licensed. It would thus appear that the evil of overcrowding has at length, to some extent, been successfully checked.
The enforcement of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894, which gave this Council no little trouble, has been accompanied by a marked amelioration of the sanitary condition of private premises throughout the Colony. Accumulations of filth and rubbish, illegal cocklofts, mezzanine floors, and back-yard obstructions have been removed, and the ground surface of upwards of 700 tenements have been concreted.
A special inspection of the drainage of private premises was made in the early part of the
year and revealed a most insanitary state of affairs as regards the old drains, whereas the drainage of those premises in which the new system has been introduced was found to be in excellent condition. The re-draining of private premises progresses, upwards of 2,150 houses having been already drained; and with a view to the early completion of this work arrangements have been made by which drainage connections can be carried out by the Public Works Department. Owners should readily avail themselves of this facility.
The work of raising the dam at the Tytam Reservoir has advanced, and there is now storage capacity for an additional 40 million gallons of water. Unfortunately the small rain- fall up to date has not admitted of this additional quantity being stored. The long and unprecedented drought has been a source of much anxiety to the Government. The rain- fall up to the 30th September last was some 38 inches below the average, and some 15 inches below the minimum yet recorded. As a natural result the dry season commences with a water supply of 242,000,000 gallons instead of the usual quantity of 378,000,000 gallons. It has therefore already been necessary to curtail the supply to the City of Victoria by some 1,400,000 gallons daily. By this economy and by close supervision over the consumption of water generally, it is believed there will be a sufficient supply for ordinary wants until the rainy season comes round again. The new waterworks at Kowloon are sufficiently advanced to admit of water being supplied from public fountains to the most populous parts of the district, and a continuous supply is being maintained. When the pumping machinery is erected, the supply will be extended to the higher levels, but at present there is not enough pressure of water to reach them.
The mortality statistics shew that the health of the Colony is good, and the present year promises to be the healthiest on record notwithstanding the somewhat alarming prevalence of malarial fever, which is no doubt due to the exceptional drought.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.