THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST JULY, 1888.
749
CONSERVANCY CONTRACT.-Considered a letter from Mr. ORANGE, commenting on the decision arrived at by the Board at a previous Meeting with regard to certain complaints from residents in the Hill Districts of a non-fulfilment of the Conservancy Contract.
• Mr. FRANCIS moved that the Board confirm the resolution on this subject passed at the last
Meeting.
The Captain Superintendent of Police seconded.
Mr. EDE moved, as an amendment, that the Board take the matter up and prosecute the Govern- ment Contractor.
The Registrar General seconded.
The Board divided:
The President.
For
The Surveyor General.
The Registrar General. Mr. EDE.
Mr. HUMPHREYS.
Mr. WONG SHING.
Amendment carried by a majority of three.
Against
The Captain Superintendent of Police. Mr. FRANCIS.
Dr. Ho KAI.
HEALTH OF THE COLONY.-The following Minute by His Excellency the Governor, which had been previously circulated among the Members of the Board, was taken as read :-
G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.
The number of sudden deaths which are daily occurring preceded by vomiting and purging, renders it certain that whatever may be its exact nature, we have prevalent among us a most dangerous disease of a choleraic character.
Under these circumstances I am of opinion that other measures of prevention and pre- caution are required than have as yet been taken. The serious attention of the Board should, I think, be at once directed to the question of closing all contaminated Wells, and to the passing of the necessary bye-law on the subject. Though the Chinese habit of drinking water only after it has been boiled, no doubt produces comparative immunity from this source of danger, there must, I presume be always some danger from water-poisoning, so long as plates, dishes, clothing, &c. are washed in unboiled water. I am advised that abundance of water in the Pokfulam Reservoir, together with the prospect of the Tytam Works being available within a few months renders it safe to permit a continuous supply from the present mains, so that the inconvenience that would otherwise arise from the closing of Wells may be largely obviated. Possibly it might be entirely prevented by the provision of additional pipes and hydrants.
As regards the free supply of medicines I am of opinion that this should be rendered more generally available. Many Chinese shopkeepers might, no doubt, be found who would distribute medicine to those requiring it; and I am disposed to think that the people would more readily resort to them for supplies than to the Police Stations. If I am rightly informed that the Chinese have a strong prejudice against liquid medicine for cholera, that provided should be as far as possible solid.
While it is unnecessary to point out that special measures should be taken to enforce cleanliness, I am of opinion that, in order to render them as little as possible unpalatable to the people, their object should be plainly stated in a public notice.
The opportunity might at the same time be taken for issuing some simple directions for precaution against Cholera, and for its treatment in its initiatory stages. The pamphlet Cholera, how to prevent and oppose it" which was published by the Sanitary Board in 1885, no doubt contains very valuable hints for the intelligent, but it appears to me too elaborato for the ignorant, and the directions are in some respects inapplicable to the case of the poor, besides requiring supplement to provide for the peculiar local conditions. I request the earnest attention of the Board to these points; and I have full confidence that the Members will, both collectively and individually, use their utmost exertions to devise and carry out all practicable measures for combating the epidemic.
Government Honse, Hongkong, 26th June, 1888,
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