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Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-What will best help. us to meet the evils which may come upon us is the requisite amendment of the Public Health Ordinance at the earliest date possible.
WITNESS-As long as the Sanitary Board is entrusted with the health of this Colony it must have power. There is no question about it. If it has not the power to do things it would be better to abolish the Board altogether. We cannot move as things are now; we cannot do anything to effectually deal with an outbreak of plague.
This concluded the witness's evidence and he then explained the plans of the City which he exhibited on the table.
The Commission, after deciding to call Mr. DANBY, Mr. LEIGH and Mr. PALMER, Architects, adjourned sine die.
The Commissioners met on Thursday. 29th April, 1897, in the Council Chamber.
Present: Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, (Chairman),
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Mr. N. J. EDE.
Mr. T. JACKSON.
Mr. A. SETH, (Secretary).
The SECRETARY read the minutes of the previous meeting and they were confirmed.
Mr. W. DANBY, Architect and Engineer, was then examined.
The CHAIRMAN-Mr. DANBY, you are a Civil Engineer and practise in Hongkong?
WITNESS-Yes.
Have you read this Commission which was published in the Government Gazette some time ago by His Excellency the Governor ?-I have.
The Commission have invited you here to-day in order that they may have the benefit of your experience in Hongkong in respect to properties, especially those which are of an insanitary nature.
Hon. T. II. WHITEHEAD-Are there any insanitary dwellings in the city, in your opinion?—A great number.
Unfit for human occupation?-Yes, but I think they can be made habitable.
Into how many classes would you divide these insanitary dwellings ?--I should divide them into back to back houses, houses fronting on narrow lanes, houses with insufficient open space in the rear, and houses abutting against the hill-side.
Are cubicles permitted by Ordinance 15 of 1894, section 8, in rooms 25 feet deep by 13 feet wide with partition walls 8 feet high? Are they extremely dark ?-Well some of them are.
Is it not necessary that the height of such partitions should be limited to 6 feet ?-- I do not think so. I think 8 feet is as low as you ought to have them.
Why?--I am certain that if they are reduced to 6 feet all the Chinese will object very strongly indeed.
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