Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 506

แ

7. Dr. Clark then enumerated a number of recommendations made by Mr. Osbert Chadwick in 1882, all of which were necessary, but few of which had, up to the present moment, been carried into effect, while in most instances they had been simply ignored.

8. Thus, with regard to the separate system of drainage, most unhappily introduced into the Colony, one of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations was that flushing tanks for sewers to be filled by the flow in the mullahs should be erected. The Committee, while opposed to the separate system as eminently unsuited to the circumstances of the Colony, recognize that, if the system has to be endured, its evils will clearly be mitigated by provision being made through the frequent and copious flushing of the sewers, and they regret that this obvious fact was not also long since recognized by the Government.

9. Other recommendations made by Mr. Chadwick were:-

(1) The formation of continuous back-alleys;

(2) The provision of 600 cubic feet of space per head in all rooms sub-

divided by cubicles;

(3) The formation of a fund to carry out large sanitary schemes:

(4) The construction of all roads and drains prior to the sale of the

building lots;

(5) The acquisition by Government of all existing public latrines, their

reconstruction, and the provision of more;

(6) The abatement of the nuisance caused by hawkers squatting in the

public streets;

(7) The increase of the market accommodation; and

(8) The provision of public bath-houses with a good supply of water (which last suggestion the Committee note with satisfaction is now being acted upon with good results).

The report in which the foregoing recommendations were embodied concluded with the following remarks, which, in the light of subsequent events, were most prophetic:"I trust that even should the suggestions be found undesirable or impracticable, my report will show the necessity for strong and complete measures "of sanitation, and I trust that they will be undertaken for the immediate benefit of the public health without waiting for the necessity to be demonstrated by the “irresistible logic of a severe epidemic.'

(1

10. As Dr. Clark truly remarks :-"The logic came twelve years later, when "the necessity for these reforins was demonstrated by an outbreak of bubonic plague "in epidemic form. Almost all these matters are crying needs in Hongkong nine-

teen years after this report was written.”

11. In the opinion of the Committee, the Colony possesses in the Medical Officer of Health a valuable and energetic officer, whose untiring efforts to promote the sanitation of the city merit every encouragement; whereas, his recommenda- tions, like those of Mr. Chadwick, have been frequently ignored, shelved, or pared down when adopted.

12. My Committee desire to draw attention to the folly of allowing the pre- judices of officials, the fear of expense, or the dread of unofficial opposition to stand in the

way of the execution of sanitary measures which are known to be necessary and which have been insisted upon time after time by experts. If any doubt be entertained as to the practicability or expedience or otherwise of h recommenda-