Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 522

Enclosure 2.

Enclosure 1.

Plan.

HONGKONG.

TAIPINGSHAN PUBLIC GARDEN.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Νο. 223.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 24th April, 1903.

SIR,-I have the honour to request your authority to reserve the portion of Taipingshan remaining unbuilt upon as an open space, to be converted into a public garden adjoining the most densely crowded portion of the City.

2. I regret to say that so far I cannot say that results have shown the efficacy of the unremitting efforts of the past four years to combat the annually recurring epidemic of plague. Those efforts were redoubled last year and I have no reason to doubt the thoroughness with which the large Sanitary Staff have performed their duties. Yet the number of cases reported to this date is 164 as against 4 last

year.

3. In all these matters we are evidently groping in the dark to a large extent and Medical science does not appear to have determined accurately the causes of its origin or the means of its cure; the cases sent to the plague hospital show an appalling mortality that I cannot help feeling is due in many cases to the conviction among the Chinese that to go to the plague hospital is to be carried to the grave, with the result that patients sent there enter its doors already moribund with despair.

***

4. On the 26th ultimo I opened a new wing of the Tung Wa Hospital, and in my address I took occasion to call the attention of the Chinese, of whom a large number of their leading men were present, to the provision of the new Public Health Ordinance by which in certain cases permission could be given to treat plague patients in their own houses. I attach a copy of the proceedings reported in the "Daily Press" as also an article from that paper of the day following. My observations would not bear scientific criticism, but they were drawn in broad lines to impress the Chinese portion of the audience and secure their co-operation. In the course of my address I mentioned my determination to request authority to devote the adjoining portion of Taipingshan as an open space, and for that author- ity I now have the honour to apply. That such a space on the borders of a densely crowded district should be built upon while money is being spent upon the resump- tion of houses for the purpose of admitting more air and light to the overcrowded city does not commend itself to me, and of all the methods adopted for the defence of the community against plague, the relief of overcrowding, personal cleanliness, and air and sunlight seem to offer most hope of ultimate success.

5. Should you approve of my proposal I shall place a sum on the Estimates for 1904 that will enable the open space, of which I enclose two photographs,* to be levelled and properly laid out.

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

The Right Honourable,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

* Not printed.

35

No. 1903