Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 138

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DEAR SIR,

HONGKONG, 5th November, 1894.

Referring to the decision come to by the Unofficial Members upon the ques- tion of the re-organisation of the Sanitary Board submitted to their consideration by the Government, and the understanding arrived at between us that the nin- ority--(Dr. Ho KAI and myself)--should furnish you with our reasons in writing for dissenting from our colleagues in their recommendation to His Excellency the Governor, I will now redeem the pledge.

The recommendation was, in brief, that the newly constituted Sanitary Board should consist of three Officials and two Unofficials, elected by the taxpayers, to be directly responsible to the Government.

To this I objected, urging that the Board should consist of three Officials only, directly responsible to the Government for the sanitation of the city, and that the introduction of the elective element would weaken the efficiency of the Board without securing any corresponding advantage.

We have already had experience in the working of the existing Board that the presence of Unofficial Members, out-voted by Officials, and powerless for executive purposes, has merely resulted in an overflow of debate and waste of valuable time.

But I object to the proposal for Unofficial elected Members chiefly because, while they would in all cases be out-voted and powerless, their presence at the Board, and the sanction given by their votes when in accord with their colleagues, would in some degree lessen the responsibility of the Officials, who might even seek to shelter themselves behind the Unofficial vote when some grave blunder had perhaps been perpetrated.

Honourable C. P. CHATER,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

I am, Dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

E. R. BELILIOS.

Memorandum on the Reconstruction of the Sanitary Board.

I am of opinion that the Sanitary Board hardly requires reconstitution or reconstruction. What it urgently requires are:-

(a) Enlarged power.

(b) Increased staff.

The Sanitary Board has done splendid work in the past, notwithstanding the unfavourable opinions of a few leading residents, and it would have done much better had its power been enlarged and staff increased.

The Board should have power over all public as well as private drains, and it should have under its control the water supply of the Colony. Its legal power should be enlarged in several respects, especially as regards the inspection of houses and house-drains, and the prompt closing of houses unfit for human habitation with or without compensation. It should have an adequate staff con- sisting at least of the following officers and persons :--

1. A Sanitary Superintendent and Secretary.

2. A Medical Officer.

3. A Sanitary Engineer.

4. A Chief Inspector of Nuisance or Deputy Superintendent.

5. Twelve Inspectors of Nuisance.

6. A sufficient number of Office Clerks, Overseers, Coolies, &c.

With such increased power and staff as suggested, the present Sanitary Board would become a much more useful and effective institution, and would be found equal to the discharge of the various important duties entrusted to it by the Government, and it would meet with public approval and support.

On the other hand, if the Government is determined to reconstruct the Board, I am of opinion that the next best thing to be done is to abolish the Sanitary