36.
October 2, 1895.] HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Thursday afternoon at the offices. Hon. F. A. Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided, and there were also present Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings (Acting Captain Superin. tendent of Police), Dr. Atkinson (Acting Colonial Surgeon), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES,
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
MEZZANINE FLOORS.
The report of the Committee concerning the erection of mezzanine floors in new buildings was read, and regulations were passed dealing with the subject.
THE NUISANCE OF FAT BOILING.
The Acting Medical Officer of Health for warded the following report concerning fat boil- ing in Circular Pathway :-" That a nuisance exists at 21, Circular Pathway, ground floor, caused by the noxious odours of the fat boil. ing trade which is carried on there. It is a crowded district and quite unfit for such a trade."
The following minutes were attached: Mr. Ede.--I think notice should be given to abate the nuisance, and remove within a reasonable time, say a month, and the by-law re inhabiting such base ments put into force.
The Acting Colonial Surgeon-I agree with Mr.
Ede.
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police--I "gree with Mr. Ede.
On the motion of the President it was resolved to take the action suggested by the Acting Medical Officer of Health.
INSANITARY OPIUM DIVANS.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
notice of the inspectors, and under these cir- cumstances I feel inclined to postpone any further interference by way of special licences for any of these premises.
These were
The ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON -I find that in 1894 some regulations were drawn up by the Sanitary Board in reference to the sanitary condition of the opium divans. issued in the Government Gazette, and I think it would be as well to have them reprinted, so that the attention of the inspectors might be drawn to them and the regulations enforced. They evidently have not been carried out, or else the divans could not have got in the con- dition in which they are reported to be.
The SECRETARY-I do not think they are in force now.
The PRESIDENT-The inspectors will be per- fectly justified in calling upon the owners to do anything appertaining to the sanitary con- dition of the divans. I move that the Colonial Secretary be informed that this Board is of épinion that the present laws affecting the sanitary maintenance of premises in this colony appear sufficient to meet requirements, and that the Board is averse, at the present at any rate, to calling upon the owners to take out special licences. It is quite possible that at present things are not what they ought to be, but the inspectors have had an enormous lot of work to do, but from what I have seen myself and from what I have heard, a decided improvement is being effected in the sanitary condition of the city.
Mr. EDE Secorded the motion. Carried.
THE CATTLE DEPOT AT KENNEDYTOWN,
The Colonial Secretary wrote requesting to know whether the Sanitary Board is prepared to undertake the management and control of the Government cattle depot at Kennedytown upon the expiry of the present lessee's tenure on the 31st December next.
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over the regulations; it is simply for the sake of sanitary purposes. Petitioners have the clothes washed in the streams as clean as can be, and they have to smooth them in their shops on some ironing boards which are apart from the beds on which the men sleep. Petitioners have kept their shops clean, and anybody can inspect them. Petitioners undertake washing clothes, and do not do it badly. If they do not wash their clothes properly they lose their business. In consequence of this they cannot but keep their shops clean. Now they have received in- structions from the Sanitary Board, and if they do not obey the law, they are to oppose the above precept, but it is impossible to obey it. Petitioners are therefore constrained to come prostrate to your Honour's tribunal, and beg that you will allow them to carry on their poor business as formerly. And petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. Here follow 45 chops.
The following minutes were appended Mr. N. J. Ede-The by-laws framed for the pur- pose of putting and maintaining laundries in a pro- per condition are not oppressive or unreasonable, and if their meaning be properly explained, in Chi- nese, to the laundry masters they should easily be able to conform thereto. A reform in the condition of the laundries of the colony is in my opinion im perative, and I hope the Government will firmly insist upon the carrying out of the by-laws. If there clothics of Europeans (as I believe was once arranged should be a strike I think the gaol might wash the for when a strike was threatened) until arrangements can be made to import Japanese or other washermen. I am also in favour of the Secretary's suggestion to deport the ringleaders of a strike.
The Acting Colonial Surgeon-I agree with the President.
The President--The petitioners have. evidently not taken the trouble to find out what the regulations involve. I think if petitioners were so infornied and referred to Secretary, Sanitary Board, such a course would meet the case.
floor.
The Acting Medical Officer of Health made a report on the insanitary condition of opium divans. He said that the regulations and control of these divans is evidently a matter which can be no longer delayed. It is a question.
The Secretary-An exact copy of this "petition The following minutes were appended:- for consideration as to whether they should be
was presented to us a few days ago. When the men Mr. Ede. The revenue estimated by the Sanitary called fiere I explained to them that they were dealt with as public houses or as common Superintendent is $3,200, and the expenses $684, mistaken in supposing that room necessarily meant lodging houses. Most of them profess to be leaving nett $2516. In 1894 the revenue was
If a man had only a comparatively small closed at twelve midnight, but it is very evident$2,580, and the decrease in 1895 is attributed to the business the flook of the house he occupied could be that the smokers can stay as long as they wish bubonic plague, which it is hoped will not recur. divided into two-rooms, one for his trade purpose, by day or night, and it would probably be better Are there any special reasons for changing the pre-and one for the accommodation of his workmen. If to regulate them in a manner similar to the sent system of letting out the cattle depot? Apart common lodging houses. The divans are con- from the question of revenue I am in favour of the ducted on two systems. Some of the owners
Sanitary Board undertaking the arrangement, as it procure a license from the opium farmers at a
is better for the cattle owners to be in direct contact cost of $6 a month, and supply accommodation,
with the controlling authority. pipe, and lamp without any charge, the smokers bringing their own opinm, and the keeper making his profit entirely out of the sale of the opium dross which he collects from the pipes. The majority supply the opium in pieces at 16 and 32, cash. The business is evidently so lucrative that the possibility of making a small addition to the revenue of the colony by charg- ing for licences to keep divans suggests itself."
•
The following minutes were attached :-- Mr. Ede-I am in favour of inspection of these places and their sanitary regulation; but I would not interfere with their closing fours.
The Acting Captain. Superintendent of Police Different sets of men occupy them at different hours. Don't interfere with hours of closing. They could well be licensed. It appears from section 11 of Ordinance 21 of 1891 that these divans are licensed under certain conditions. What are those conditions? The Secretary--In past years this question of opium smoking shops or divans has been at various times before the Board. That they are in need of stringent regulation is undoubted.
""
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police-I agree with Mr. Ede.
be managed on the same lines as the sheep and swine The Secretary-I think the cattle market should markets. If this is done, a small additional staff will be required.
The PRESIDENT proposed that the Colonial Secretary be informed that the Board would be prepared on the expiry of the present lease to take over the management of the depot.
Carried,
LAUNDRY BY-LAWS. PETITION FROM WASHERMEN,
Hon. Commander W. C. H. Hastings, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, forwarded five washermen in the colony. In a letter the a petition which had been sent to him by forty-
Acting Captain Superintendent of Police said :
Should the Board hold that it would be of any use having the petitioners up and talking to them they shall be warned to attend at the Sanitary Board meeting when desired.”
the business was of such a size that a whole floor was required for trade purposes then accommodation for the workpeople must be found elsewhere. They seemed quite satisfied with the explanation. Should a strike take place against the enforcement of this law, I am of opinion that the ringleaders should be deported as characters dangerous to the peace and good order of the colony, and that Japanese washer men be brought to the colony to do its laundry work.
The PRESIDENT-All the members of the Board concur on the subject, and I therefore expressed by Mr. Ede, and that his minute move that the Board agrees with the opinions be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary in reply to the petition, a copy of which, I may say, was sent down to-day by his Ex- cellency the Governor for the Board to report upon. The Secretary will take the necessary steps to inform the petitioners of the terms of the resolution.
Carried.
FALSE INFORMATION IN PLAGUE CASES.
The Acting Captain Superintendent of Police forwarded a report stating that a man had given false information in regard to a case of plague at 44, Second Street. He gave a false address, and there was no law to prosecute him.
The petition was as follows:"To Hon. W.
The PRESIDENT It is important that this The PRESIDENTI think this matter opens
C. H. Hastings.-Petitioners, who are the Board should be protected in some way from rather an important question, that is to say, if masters of washermen's shops, present the peti-persons who deliberately give false information houses are to be specially licensed in the colony tion, and state that several regulations concern. for certain purposes, and a certain number of ing the washermen's shops were sent them by licences issued, and only a certain number of pre- the Sanitary Board, which they ought to obey, mises opened, the work of the Board would be con- and not to violate, but their poor business fully siderably harassed. The city has recently been relies on their workmen, whose wages cannot be divided into a number of districts and additional reduced, and the price which they obtain from inspectors have been appointed for carrying out their customers cannot be raised. Moreover, the provisions of the Sanitary Ordinance. I the price for
food is dearer, and the think with their instructions, and the assistance rent for their shops has recently been they have, they ought to be able to keep such raised. If new regulations are to be made, a general look-out on the sanitation of the their hardships will be more than usual. It has colony that it would be unnecessary, except been proposed that only one man is allowed to under special circumstances, to subject any
look after a washerman's shop, so that they have special premises or trade to a special licence, to rent a shop for washing clothes, and another I do not think the question of hours for closing for abode, and men and articles are to be set affects the sanitation of the colony. Even if it apart: Petitioners have then to pay double did such an interference with the sanitation | rent, and if there will be any accident they can- would, in the ordinary course, come under the not see to it. Petitioners have been thinking
concerning cases of infectious disease or plague. In this particular case considerable difficulty was experienced in ascertaining exactly where the patient came from, and where he had been stay. ing. Under section 13, sub-section 24, of Ordin- ance 24 of 1887 certain by-laws were made re- ferring to the compulsory notification of con tagious diseases; but these by-laws come into operation only in cases of small-pox. It is quite within the power of the Legislature, however, to extend that power by a special Ordinance to other diseases from time to time, if thought proper. There is no penalty, how- ever, for giving false information, and the only, penalty is for neglecting to give any informa- tion at all. I propose therefore that a letter be addressed to the Colonial Secretary calling attention to the serious inconvenience and
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