Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 558

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The question of making the addition to the latrine was postponed till the passing of the Ordinance, which became law in June, 1897.

After the Ordinance had been passed it appears that by an oversight the Board failed to comply with the formalities required by the Ordinance before a latrine can be built on a particular site.

When the Board finally made the necessary formal application in 1898 funds. were not available for this particular work, which was accordingly postponed.

The necessity for a latrine at Kowloon Point was largely due to the fact that insufficient conveniences were provided by the Wharf and Godown Company for the large number of coolies employed by them in this locality.

The Sanitary Board asked the Government in December, 1896. to put up a latrine at this spot and in January, 1897, addressed the Wharf and Golowa Com- pany on the subject of providing increased latrine accommodation for their em- ployees. That Company made the increase required by the Board.

The question of erecting a Government latrine was postponed pending the passing of the Ordinauce referred to. Since the passing of the Ordinance the Sanitary Board has not made any formal application under the Ordinance for a site in this locality to be set aside for a latrine, perhaps because the existence of a. privately owned latrine rendered the necessity less urgent.

In 1897 the Board made formal application that sites for 13 latrines be re- served in the resumed area of Tai-ping-shan in accordance with the approved plan for the laying out of the area.

These sites are still reserved, but owing to the fact that very little of the re- sumed area has been taken up for building purposes only one of the latrines has been built.

The Board asked at the same time for a latrine to be erected at Leighton Hill. It was erected in 1899. They also asked for a latrine near Ship Street and for one at Tai-k k-tsni. The former was built (after the necessary formalities had been complied with) in 1899 and the latter, which took the form of a matshed structure, peling the further development of the village, in 1898.

In 1898 the Board recommended the erection of 2 latrines. Provision was made in the Estimates for 1899 for two latrines and two were erected during the latter year as shown above.

In June, 199, the erection of 4 latrines was sanctioned by the Governor. The. sites were duly published and the latrines, together with one additional one making 5 in all, were completed in 1900.

The statement that nothing was done in the matter of building latrines in the years 1897-1899 inclusive is, therefore, incorrect.

We would point out here that had not the provision in the Building Ordinance for making privies in domestic buildings compulsory been waived in the face of the strong opposition it evoked from Uu-official Members, the necessity for so many Public Latrines would not have been felt.

As to the want of urinal accommodation referred to in paragraph 12, steps have been taken this year to further increase the accommodation.

11. The question of the provision of au incinerator for carcases of diseased cattle has been delayed owing to the mistaken idea on the part of some members of the Sanitary Board that such an incinerator could be combined in a retuse de- siructor. The desirability or otherwise of a destructor has been, we need hardly?