Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 190

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Staff.

Inspector WATSON at the beginning of the year was in charge of Slaughter-house and Cattle Depôt, Kennedy Town, and was assisted by Inspector COTTON. In end of April Inspector WATSON _went on leave and Inspector COTTON was appointed Acting Inspector in charge to be assisted by Inspector ROGERS loaned from the Sanitary Staff. Inspector MCEWEN has discharged the duties of Inspector of Markets throughout, the year.

Mr. JOHANNSEN remains as Overseer of the Central Market and has assisted at the Slaughter-house and Depôts at Kennedy Town when any of the Inspectors was unfit for duty.

Towards the end of the year a beginning was made with the addition to the quarters provided for the Inspector in charge at Kennedy Town. It is hoped that the addition will have the effect of render- ing the quarters healthier. It is, however, somewhat remarkable that although malaria was very prevalent in some parts of the Colony during the year Inspector COTTON has never suffered from fever since he occupied these quarters on the 1st of May.

New Territory.

During the year, there were two outbreaks of suspected infectious disease among cattle reported from the New Territory by the Police, one from Hoi Ha in the district of Ko-Tong and the other from the district round Sha Tin. In both cases I visited the districts immediately on receipt of the report but was unable to be certain of the nature of the outbreak as all the animals concerned were either dead or better before my arrival. Fortunately in neither case did the disease extend beyond the limits of the villages first affected. I hope to be able during the year to devote more time and attention to the New Territory and more consideration to its needs in the way of improvements in the breeds of cattle buffaloes and pigs so that the New Territory may be of value to Hongkong as a source of its food supply in the way of beef and pork.

The SECRETARY, SANITARY BOARD.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

ADAM. GIBSON.