Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 783

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GENERAL REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER

AND THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,

FOR THE YEAR 1906.

AREA.

The Sanitary Board's jurisdiction extends to the Island of Hongkong, which has an are of 29 square miles, and to that portion of territory on the mainland between the shore and the first range of the Kowloon Hills extending from the village of Tseung Kwan O in Junk Bay, on the East, to the village of Kau Pa Hang on the West-with a sea frontage of about thirteen miles and an area of about sixteen square miles. Old Kow- loon. with an area of about 2 square miles, has been in British occupation since 1861, but New Kowloon was leased to this Government in 1898 only, as part of what is known as the New Territories. The remainder of the New Territories is not under the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board.

The City of Victoria, built on the Northern shore of the Island of Hongkong, has a frontage to the sea of nearly five miles and is separated from the opposite mainland of Kowloon by the Harbour, which is rather less than a mile and a third wide opposite the centre of the City and widens out to somewhat over three miles at its widest part, con- tracting again at Lyemun Pass on the East to little more than a quarter of a mile in width.

The domestic buildings of the City of Victoria number 9,485 exclusive of Barracks and Police Stations, of which some 982 are Non-Chinese dwellings, while there are also some 155 European dwellings in the Hill District. The number of new houses completed during the year was as follows:-City of Victoria 100, Kowloon 34, Outlying districts 19,' and Peak 9, making a total of 162.

In addition to the above there were erected miscellaneous buildings such as offices, godowns, etc., to the number of 51.

GENERAL SANITARY CONDITION.

Twenty-one houses and a portion of one other were resumed in Gough Street, Mee Lun Lane, Shin Hing Lane and Hollywood Road, in the City of Victoria and these, together with thirty others, were demolished with a view to reducing surface crowding-the total area covered by these buildings was 29,502 sq. ft.

In connection with anti-plague measures to render houses rat-proof if possible, 837 ground surfaces in houses have been repaired and 286 buildings have had rat-runs filled up with cement. In addition 29 basements illegally inhabited have been vacated, while per- mits for the use of 38 basements have been issued and 166 houses have been set back from their original frontage or projecting eaves have been removed so as to obtain increased air spaces in front.

Open spaces in the rear have been provided to 125 existing houses.

In addition to the above improvements carried out under the supervision of the Sanitary Department various other permanent improvements have been effected by the Public Works Department.

These include the training of nullahs to the extent of 2,877 feet and the building of public latrines and urinals as follows:-one latrine in Second Street, one in Tsim-tsa-tsui and one public urinal in Salisbury Road, Kowloon.

A considerable improvement is always taking place in the matter of scavenging lanes but the full effect of the Ordinance in this respect will not be noticeable for a considerable number of years. Nevertheless the total area of lanes obtained for scavenging purposes during the year has been 18,178 sq. ft.

During the year three wells, the water of which was unsatisfactory, were closed by ord of the Sanitary Board.