875
made to the formation by His Excellency the Governor of a permanent Sanitary Board to supervise and control the sanitation of the Colony. Previous to this, there had been urged upon Government the necessity for practical reform in the management of Hongkong's sanitary arrangements, described as being "most imperfect.
Praise was given to Sir George Bowen for displaying sound discretion in taking the responsibility of the sanitation question off the shoulders of the Surveyor-General's department, and in substituting for the absolute rule of that gentleman a permanent board of experienced officers with special powers to carry out the improvements and alterations deemed requisite in the interests of the public and for the preservation of the general health of the Colony.
The first Sanitary Board "for the supervision and control of the practical sanitation of Hongkong" was composed of: The Surveyor-General (Dr. F. Stewart), the Colonial Surgeon (Dr. F.B.C. Ayres) and a newly-appointed Sanitary Inspector (Mr. Hugh McCallum) who officiated as honorary Secretary.
The new body started right away to improve matters. In an issue of the Telegraph dated August 30, 1883, reference is made to steps taken by the Sanitary Board to implement the terms issued by the Registrar-General calling on the people to cleanse and purify their houses. It had been arranged that the people of Hongkong be given eight days to throw out into the streets between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. the filth and rubbish collected in the cleansing of their houses. This was done, and on the evening of the first day immense heaps of rubbish were to be seen at almost every street corner in the Taiping-shan and Saiyingpun districts.
Unfortunately the people did not stick to the prescribed hours, with the result that the Nuisance Inspectors could not cope with the enormous quantities of filth in the streets. During the eight days 2,415 tons of rubbish were removed!
It seems like a modified version of the cleansing of the Augean stables: but it led to the vastly better sanitation and gradually improved health of the Colony.
875
made to the formetion by His Excellency the Governor of a permanent Sanitary Board to supervise and control the sanitation of the Colony. Previous to this, there had been urged upon Government the necessity for practical reform in the management of Hongkong's senitary arrange- ments, described as being "most imperfect.
Praise was given to Sir George Bowen for displaying sound discretion in taking the responsibility of the sanitetion question off the shoulders of the Surveyor-General's department, and in substituting for the absolute rule of that gentlemen a permanent board of experienced officers with special powers to carry out the improvements and alterations deemed requisite in the interests of the public and for the preservation of the general health of the Colony.
The first Sanitery Board "for the supervision and control of the practical sanitation of Hongkong" was composed of.- The Surveyor-General (Dr. F. Stewart), the colonial Surgeon (Dr. F.B.C. Ayres) and a newly-appointed Sanitary Inspector (Mr. Hugh McCallum) who officiated as honorary Secretary.
The new body started right away to improve metters. In an issue of the Telegraph dated August 30, 1883, reference. is made to steps taken by the Sanitary Board to implement the terms issued by the Registrar-General call ing on the people to cleanse and purify their houses. It had been arranged that the people" of Hongkong be given eight deye to throw out into the streets between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. the filth and rubbish collected, in the cleansing of their houses. This was done, and on the evening of the first dey immense heaps of rubbish were to be seen at almost every street corner in the Taiping-shan and Saiyingpun districts.
.i
Unfortunately the people did not stick to the prescribed hours, with the result thet the Nuisance Inspectors could not cope with the enormous quantities of filth in the streets. During the eight days 2,415 tons of rubbish were removed!
It seems like a modified version of the cleansing of the Augean stebles: but it led to the vastly better sanitation and gradually improved health of the Colony.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.