Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 486

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allow you on my ground an inch," and the other man has to do the same thing, and so you have these little alleys you have referred to. Another reason why these alleys have been left is the discrepancies in the old Crown leases. It is not the owners' fault and it could be avoided in the future by introducing Part 8 of the London Building Act. You will find most of it embodied in the modern Building Acts of large municipalities at home. There is another suggestion in the matter of latrines. A few years ago I had to report on that point. In my opinion some provision ought to be made compelling owners, or the Government should do it for them, to provide latrine accommodation. As the Ordinance now stands an owner may put up one or two thousand houses and there is no power to compel him to provide latrine accommodation.

The CHAIRMAN-You think there is a want of latrine accommodation in the Colony ?-A decided want.

You are in favour of meeting it by the owners or the Government providing the accommodation ?--It ought to be met and I think the Government should do it, as there would be better supervision. That is a great want. In the whole of Taipingshan that was resumed there were only two latrines and they were close together.

Mr. EDE-You are referring to the state of things that existed then ?—Yes, but things are not much better now in the matter of latrine accommodation.

This concluded the examination of the witness.

Mr. ROBERT KENNAWAY LEIGH was next examined,

The CHAIRMAN-Mr. LEIGH, you are a Civil Engineer of the firm of Messrs. LEIGH & ORANGE?

WITNESS-I am and a Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers.

You were in the Surveyor General's Department?-I was.

And you were a member of the Sanitary Board and also of the Permanent Committee?—Yes.

You have had a long residence in Hongkong?-Over seventeen years.

You are acquainted with properties in the Colony ?--I am.

Are there many insanitary properties in Hongkong?—Yes,

Can you classify them generally for us? Of what special nature are they?-They vary in degree of insanitation from various reasons,

The CHAIRMAN-Would you consider this a fair classification? Back to back houses, bouses fronting ou narrow lanes, houses with insufficient open space in their rear, and houses abutting against the hill-side. That would generally cover the insanitary properties ?--Apparently so, yes.

Hon. C. P. CHATER--Are there many back to back houses?—Yes, there are a large number.

What is the description of them?--Most of the back to back houses are those which are built on narrow properties-properties of shallow depth. The properties that are of greater depth have generally some form of backyard.

Are these back to back houses all insanitary ?--No, certainly not.

Which are sanitary and which are not ?--I should say that a dwelling room which is lighted on one side and does not extend beyond a certain depth cannot be said to be insanitary. There are lots of such rooms in good European houses.