Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 293

185 (33)

evidence.

299. Another form of present is the providing of free steam launches. This See Lai appears to be a fat more common practice that is generally supposed. Certain Ching Him's contractors do supply such launches for picnics, bathing parties, or for people to Pages go on board steamers in harbour. Special evidence has been given that SAM IU 885/836. is in the habit of regularly hiring launches for the use of Sanitary Inspectors for evidence. such purposes.

The public rates charged for the hire of launches are in themselves sufficient to show that the expense incurred by a contractor for supplying such launches is not inconsiderable, and it is evident therefore that those inaking such a sacrifice would naturally ex pect some quid pro quo.

Li Long Hin's

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2619/24.

New Scheme.

300. Attached to this Report will be found a brief history of Sanitary Preamble to Administration in the Colony, drawn up by one of the Members of the Appendix Commission.

The Commissioners consider that in order full and fitting consideration be given to the recommendations we now submit to Your Excellency with a view to placing the working of the Sanitary and Building Regulations in this Colony on a more satisfactory basis, that the history of the Sanitary movement in Hongkong should be well understood.

301. The compilation of this memorandum has taken considerable time, but we believe as now set forth, it clearly outlines the policy adopted by succeeding Governments towards Sanitary Administration.

302. The Report speaks for itself, but the chief point to which we would draw the attention of Your Excellency is that while the existing Ordinance as amended by No. 23 of 1903 has placed the whole control of the Adminis- tration of the Sanitary Department in the hands of the Principal Civil Medical Officer reducing the Sanitary Board to something even less than a Consulting Committee, the general tendency of legislation for years past has been to gradually give the rate payers of Hongkong an increasing say in Municipal matters, thus in a manner compensating for the fact that under the rule of a Crown Colony they are practically in the hands of the Government, representatives of His Majesty, through the Secretary of State.

as

303. This principle of a very modified form of self Government was sanc- tioned many years ago by the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, and up to the present date no doubt inany of the rate payers in the Colony believe that they still are represented in what is the Municipal Government of Hongkong by the unofficial Members of the Sanitary Board.

We now know from evidence given before the Commission that this belief is entirely illusory.

304. The President of the Sanitary Board claims that he is the sole head of the Department within the terms of Ordinance 23 of 1903, and that it is only in certain comparatively small matters, or as a matter of courtesy, that he consults the Board as to the working of the Depart ment, or even keeps them informed as to what is taking place in the Department. All matters relating to finance, the control, appointments, promotions, &c., of the staff conduct of business between the Board Meetings, and the ordering of the daily work of the Department being outside the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board.

305. Under the Amending Ordinance, the Members of the Commission du not dispute the correctness of the attitude taken up by the Principal Civil Medical Officer. They feel it however their duty to point out that not only has such a change been brought about without the public being clearly informed as to what the real result of the passing of this Amending Ordinance would be by which they were practically defranchised from such share as has been enjoyed for years past in the Municipal Government of the Colony, but further that the result of this new legislation has not carried out the anticipations of the promoters, or by an improved service justified its inception.

No. 7.