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(4.) Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works lay upon the Council table a statement

showing:-

(1.) The number of buildings in the Colony, which have fallen down, from Ist

January, 1895, to 16th instant.

(2.) The names of the owners of the said buildings.

(3.) The number of deaths caused thereby.

(4.) The number of Coroner's enquiries held in connection with such deaths.

(5.) The number of prosecutions, if any, instituted as the result of the said enquiries;

and

(6.) The causes, so far as ascertained, which have contributed to the tumbling down in each case, and, if the collapse of any or all of the buildings in question have resulted from defective construction, will the Honourable Member inform the Council:-

(1.) What precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent the erection

of such buildings in the future; and

(2.) What precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent a recur- rence of a like calamity attended with such heavy loss of life as that which occurred in Cochrane Street on 14th instant in connection with buildings already in existence?

The Acting Director of Public Works replied that time bad not permitted the preparation of the Statement asked for, but that, as soon as it is ready, it will be laid on the Council table, and all avail- able information given on the subject.

(5.) Will the Honourable the Attorney General inform the Council whether the "Venice Plague

Convention of 1897" applies to the Colony of Hongkong?

The Acting Attorney General replied that the Convention does not apply to the Colony of Hongkong.

(6.) If the "Venice Plague Convention of 1897" does not apply to the Colony of Hongkong, will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary inform the Council whether the Government will direct the Sanitary Board to take into consideration at an early date the question whether in the event of an epidemic of Plague occurring during 1902, sick Chinese will, as during the 1894 epidemic, be permitted to leave the Colony for their homes on the mainland-provided the Chinese "Government offers no objection—and if so, to determine under what conditions they will be allowed to do so?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

(7.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary lay upon the Council table a copy of the detailed statement already prepared by the Medical Officer of Health and the Secretary of the Sani- tary Board, by direction of its President, asked for by Mr. Edward Osborne at the Sanitary Board meeting held on the 8th instant, showing what recommendations the Board and its Officers have made during the past ten years in respect of additional Markets, additional Fublic Latrines, and additional Public Urinals, and how far such recommendations had been carried out?

The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Return asked for.

(8.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary inform the Council, whether the Government have telegraphed urging on the Colonial Office the imperative necessity, in the interests of the trade and the shipping of the port, of selecting and appointing a thoroughly experienced officer, first class in every respect, and of considerable professional standing, to take charge of the Public Works Department (in succession to Mr. R. D. Ormsby), and of the ever increasing duties devolving on that Department in respect of roads, streets, buildings, drainage, water-works, reclamations, and the many important public works now in pro- gress and in contemplation directly connected with the sanitation of the Colony?

The Colonial Secretary replied in the negative.

JURY CONSOLIDATION AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Jury Consolidation Ordinance, 1887.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.