Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 287

185 (27)

242. There is abundant evidence to shew that this constitutes a grave scandal and causes much resentment against the working of the Ordinance.

This action on the part of the Officials is no doubt in a large measure due to thoughtlessness and a want of proper appreciation in the manner of carrying out their duties, but with regard to the lower grades it would appear that authority is assumed in many cases with a view to obtaining bribes or venting spite against those who have refused to be blackmailed.

243. With regard to night visits for the purposes of checking overcrowding, a separate permit should be issued for each house, and the date the house is to be visited should be filled in when it is issued. Under section 27, sub-section 2, an inspecting official visiting a house to ascertain whether a nuisance exists has to produce an order to the occupier of the premises. If this is required during day time, how much more necessary should it be at night, and yet if a number of houses are included on the one order, it is impossible for the officer to produce a separate order for each house visited.

244. Recently a system has been introduced by which a number of houses are included on the one order, the date being left blank, and subsequently filled in by the Inspector often after inspection. This appears to have come into force during the recent absence of the Principal Civil Medical Officer on leave.

245. The excuse given for leaving the date blank, viz. that information would be divulged that certain premises are to be visited on a given date, does not appear to us to be sound, for if these documents, as they should be, were sent in closed covers to and fro between the Medical Officer of Health's office and the Inspector, there should be no opportunity for the Chinese clerks or other employees of the Departinent to obtain information which they could communicate, perhaps for a pecuniary consideration, to those interested.

and Building

246. Although we believe the principle has been admitted that Sanitary Enforcement and Building Regulations shall not be strictly enforced in outlying Districts, it of Sanitary appears that special provision for this night with advantage be made when revis- Regulations ing the existing Ordinances.

247. While it is admitted the Building Regulations should be fully enforced in the crowded parts of this city, it is equally clear that great hardship would be entailed on the poorer class of Chinese, were this insisted upon in the villages and scattered homesteads.

in outlying Districts.

Sau's

Page 2337.

248. A case of this nature has been especially reported to the Commission by See Reverend the Revd. Mr. FONG, to which we would call Your Excellency's attention. Mr. FONG Fong Yat stated that a petition had been presented by the people of Kowloon pointing out evidence. the hardships which were entailed by a too strict euforcement of the regulations, page 2339. and as at that time the petition had not been acknowledged, the Commissioners promised Mr. FoNG that this question would be specially brought to Your Excellency's notice.

249. The constantly increasing expenditure of the Sanitary Department has Estimates. not unnaturally attracted a considerable amount of public attention. The annual amount spent in this Department has largely increased of late years, but the gain to the Colony has not been commensurate with this enormous expenditure.

This increase is chiefly due to the steps taken to eradicate bubonic plague in the Colony.

250. In spite however of all efforts plague has not decreased, but varies according to the climatic conditions of the season as well as the season itself, in much the same ratio as in Canton, where no steps are taken to deal scientifically with this scourge.

251. It is open to question therefore whether considerable saving might not be effected without in any way impairing the sanitary condition of the Colony. This however is a debatable point, and is probably more a matter of policy than of administration.