Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 182

Ordinance 24 of 1887.-Public Health and amending Ordinances.

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12. I regard this as one of the most important and at the same time one of the most difficult questions to be considered in connexion with the new territory. I entirely agree with Mr. GooDMAN that the new district must not be left without any sanitary laws, but I consider that it would not be advisable to extend to it without any modification the sanitary laws of Hongkong. It has been represented 'to me by Mr. LOCKHART that they are too complicated and too advanced for the circumstances of the new territory; and that although the Sanitary Board may be the best machinery for dealing with the sanitary affairs of Hongkong which is in the main a city and a seaport it is not suited for the direction of sanitary matters in a territory extending over 376 square miles. Mr. LOCKHART is of opinion that the Village Councils and Elders should be held responsible for maintaining their villages in a sanitary condition, subject to the inspection and control of an officer of health and his staff, who should be held directly respon- sible to the Government. By this means the Village Councils and Elders will constitute the Sanitary Board in each village or group of villages, the influence of the leading men will be enlisted on the side of sanitation and matters will work more effectively and snoothly than they would under any other system. The expense, moreover, of applying the sanitary laws of Hongkong would, I am informed, probably be very great, whereas under the alternative system pro- posed it would be comparatively trifling.

13. I am of opinion, therefore, that these laws should be excluded, but you should lose no time in procuring the enactment of a simpler law on the lines above suggested, and here again you may possibly find it desirable to consult the Gov- ernor of the Straits Settlements as to the system under which Sanitary Boards are working in the Federated Malay States.

Ordinance 21 of 1886.-Spirit Licenses.

14. I concur in Mr. GOODMAN's opinion that this Ordinance should be exclud- ed for the present.

Ordinance 15 of 1889.--Building Ordinance and amending Ordinance.

15. I concur in Mr. GOODMAN's opinion that these Ordinances should be ex- cluded unless the Director of Public Works reports that they can be satisfactorily carried out in the new territory.

Ordinance 5 of 1890.--Vaccination.

16. I agree that this Ordinance may properly be included.

Ordinance 26 of 1891.-Merchant Shipping.

17. As a new Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance is about to be introduced it may be advisable to exclude the existing Ordinance from the new territory.

18. There is no question as to the "waters of the Colony," the limits being clearly marked in the map attached to the Convention, a copy of which is annexed,* and which should be closely followed in any definition in the proposed new Ordi-

nance.

Ordinance 17 of 1887-Cattle Disease and amending Ordinances.

19. Before deciding whether this Ordinance should be extended to the new territory the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon night with advantage be called upon for a report of any recommendations he may be able to make after a full and careful consideration of all the circumstances of the case. But I agree with Mr. GOODMAN that sections 4 and 5 of Ordinance 23 of 1890 dealing with the sale and importa- tion of unwholesome food should be extended at once.

* Not printed.