Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 285

HONGKONG.

COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1893.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor

281

No.20

94

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES,.

HONGKONG, May 17th, 1894.

SIR,--I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Sanitary Board, my Annual Report for the past year which also includes that for the last quarter of 1893.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Acting Secretary,

SANITARY BOARD.

C. VIVIAN LADDS, Colonial Veterinary Surgeon.

REPORT.

INSPECTION OF CATTLE.

1. During the past year no cases of infectious or contagious disease amongst cattle were brought to my notice, the health of all animals in the Colony being exceptionally good, though the quality of many of the cattle which were imported for slaughtering purposes left much to be desired.

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2. In the early part of the year a difficulty arose between the Mandarins of the districts around Canton, from which many cattle are imported, and the agents and dealers who supply the Hongkong market, but upon reference to the Honourable the Registrar General the matter was satisfactorily adjusted. During the second quarter of the year, the importation of cattle from the Swatow district was largely interfered with by floods.

3. I regret that so far nothing has been done to provide Inspection Lairs to which all animals should be conveyed directly upon landing there to remain at least 12 hours before being inspected and passed into the permanent depôts or elsewhere.

I reported to the Board upon this matter as far back as 1888 and in my Annual Report for the year 1892, I again referred to the subject and pointed out that even where this method was adopted occasional cases of disease escaped detection, hence it will be easy to understand the risk attendant upon the present system of animal inspection in Hongkong where we have no such lairs at all,

CATTLE DEPOTS.

4 The health of the animals housed in the Government Cattle Depôt during the year was good, but as before mentioned their quality was not quite up to the usual standard. In the twelve months 17,222 animals were admitted into the depôt and passed as fit to be slaughtered for human food, whilst 451 were rejected as unfit; the principal reason for rejection being their extreme emaciation.

5. Nothing has yet been done to establish a permanent Cattle Depôt at Kowloon where cattle might be housed until slaughtered instead of being allowed to wander all over the district as at present. Given a building of this description it would be an easy matter to control an outbreak of disease at Kowloon, but as things stand now should an epidemic occur it would be very difficult to confine it to the peninsula.

I do not think that an Inspection Lair is required for Kowloon at present, but that a permanent depôt is very necessary and would answer every purpose:

SLAUGHTER HOUSES.

6. Victoria. The new slaughter house at Kennedy Town is rapidly approaching completion, and I hope to see it ready for occupation shortly. The building at present in use is in a good state of repair, but, owing to the large increase in the number of animals for slaughter during the last few years, the accommodation is very cramped and inconvenient.

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