Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 528

Public Works Department.

No. 369.

[v]

Appendix No. 3.

SIR,

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 29th August, 1895.

I have the honour to report as follows on the question of Public Latrines,

2. The present latrine accommodation within the City of Victoria, as shewn by Mr. RAM's report, is quite inadequate to meet the requirements of the population, when it is considered that the majority of Chinese houses have no accommodation of this nature within their curtilage.

3. The Chinese population of the several health districts may be taken at approximately,-

—

District No. 1,

6,000

2,

>>

15

14,000

13

3,

21

1,000

"1

"

4,

30,000

5,

17

"

40,000

6,

11

"1

35,000

**

>>

7,

25,000

>>

8,

"

9,000

160,000

Total,.......

4. There exist at present in the City 12 Government latrines which have a total number of 167 seats and 19 public latrines, privately owned, having a total number of 579 seats, making in all 31 latrines and a total of 746 seats, or at the rate of 215 persons

to 1 scat.

5. It cannot be expected that the whole of the Chinese population, including women and children, would make use of public latrines, but, supposing the number of persons be reduced to one half, we have upwards of 100 persons to each scat,

Under ordinary circumstances, where the pail systein is adopted, oue seat for every 30 persons is considered a reasonable allowance, we, therefore, find that to provide adequate provision in this respect 2,700 seats are at least required.

6. These should be distributed according to the population in the several districts, and so placed as to render them easy of access; conditions by no means easily acquired in a densely populated city like Victoria and situated on a steep hillside.

7. In Districts 1. 2, 5 and 8, suitable sites on Crown Land can be obtained for the erection of latrines containing in all 554 seats which, added to the present number in Government latrines, make a total of 721.

8. For providing the remaining number required, say 2,000, it will be necessary to resume private property.

9. I estimate the cost of erecting new latrines on Government land and improving the existing ones at $50,000, and the cost of resuming the necessary land and erecting latrines containing 2,000 seats at $400,000 making a total of $450,000.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

JC.,

&c.,

&c.

FRANCIS A. Cooper,

Director of Public Works,