402
In addition to the resumption of Taipingshan other active measures for improving the sanita- tion of the colony have been undertaken.
The provisions of The Public Health Ordinance, 1887, and of Ordinance No. 4 of 1895 have been strictly and steadily enforced, and upwards of 400 common lodging-houses have been licensed. It would thus appear that the evil of overcrowding has at length, to some extent, been successfully checked.
The enforcement of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894, which gave this Council no little trouble, has been accompanied by a marked amelicration of the sanitary condition of private premises throughout the colony. Accumulations of filth and rubbish, illegal cocklofts, mezzanine floors, and back-yard obstructions have been removed, and the ground surface of upwards of 700 tenements have been concreted.
A special inspection of the drainage of private premises was made in the early part of the year and revealed a most insanitary state of affairs as regards the old drains, whereas the drainage of those premises in which the new system has
been introdu-ed was found to be in excellent
progresses, IA
condition. 1. re-draining of private premises ds of 2,150 houses having been already drain and with a view to the early completion his work arrangements have been made by which drainage connections can be carried out by the Public Works Department. Owners should readily avail themselves of this facility.
The work of raising the dam at the Tytam resorvoir has advanced, and there is now storage capacity for an additional 40 million gallons of water. Unfortunately the small rain. fall up to date has not admitted of this addi. tional quantity being stored. The long and unprecedented drought has been a source 01 much anxiety to the Government. The rain- fall up to the 30th September last was some 38 inches below the average, and some 15 inches below the minimum yet recorded.
As a naturel result the dry season commences with a water supply of 242,000,000 gallons instead of the usual quantity of 378,000,000 gallons. It has therefore already been necessary to curtail the supply to the city of Victoria by some 1,400,000 gallons daily. By this economy and by close supervision over the consumption of water generally, it is believed there will be a sufficient supply for ordinary wants until the rainy season comes round again. The new waterworks at Kowloon are sufficiently advanced to admit of water being supplied from public fountains to the most populous parts of the district, and a continuous supply is being maintained. When the pumping machinery is erected, the supply will be extended to the higher levels, but at present there is not enough pres- sure of water to reach them.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
has been some misunderstanding between the Government and the unofficial members of the Sanitary Board in regard to this appoint- ment and it may not be out of place. here to explain briefly the position of the Government in this matter In my address to this Council on the 28th November last, I expressed my own views, which coincided with those of the Re- trenchment Committee, regarding the Sanitary Board as hitherto constituted. I deprecated the division of responsibility which such a con- stitution involved, and I urged the desirability of placing the sanitary system on a different basis Some opposition has been offered to my views in certain quarters, and it is not impro- bable that a compromise will eventually be suggested by the Secretary of State, but as yet no decisión has been arrived at. In this uncertain state of affairs, I was unwilling to assign any definite position to the newly appointed Medical Officer as the subordinate of a Body which might at any time cease to exist.
I accordingly adopted the modus vivendi which was offered to me by the suggestion of the Medical Committee and which afforded the Government an opportunity of weighing the further recommendations of the Committee in regard to the reconstitution of the medical staff on which the future position of the Medical Officer of Health must, to a great extent, depend. I should not have thought it neces- sary to make this explanation were it not for certain insinuations. which have been made as those who have pretended to see in the action to the motives of the Government. There are
of the Government an attempt to deal a death- blow to the Sanitary Board. I disclaim any such motive and even had such been my object, I should at least have adopted measures better calculated to effect it-measures which would have left no doubt whatever as to my intentions.
As a matter of fact, however, the respon sibility of deciding this vexed question does not rest with me. Having expressed my views, my duty ends, and I can only hope that whatever conclusion may be arrived at, it will effectually secure the sanitary well-being of this com- munity, which after all is our common object.
Turning to other matters of general interest, the shipping returns up to the 30th September last are more than encouraging.
For the first nine months of this year, as compared with the corresponding period of last year British shipping shows an increase of 378 vessels, aggregating 575,306 tons.
Foreign shipping, with a numerical decrease of 75 ships, also shows an increase in tonnage of 11,887 tons. European vessels have handled and carried some 276,000 tons of cargo more than last year.
There is likewise an increase in the foreign and local junk trades of 178,747 tons and 79,263 tons respectively.
The mortality statistics show that the health of the colony is good, and the present year pro- mises to be the healthiest on record, notwith-
The total increase over last year in the standing the somewhat alarming prevalence of
number of ships entered and cleared at this malarial fever, which is no doubt due to the export is no less than 5,551 vessels, aggregating ceptional drought.
Profiting by last year's experience, and look ing to the prevalence of the plague in the neighbourhood of the colory during the early part of 1895, I appointed a Committee of officials to consider what exceptional measures should be taken to protect the colony against the re- appearance of the disease, or, in the event of its reappearing, to limit its ravages as far as possible. Temporary hospital accommodation and burial grounds were at their suggestion provided, and arrangements made for the re- moval of patients, the isolation of those who had been in immediate contact with the disease, and the disinfection and cleansing of infected premises. It was further deemed advisable to prohibit Chinese immigration from certain in- fected neighbouring ports for several months during the year, but this restriction was not continued longer than was absolutely necessary. The precautions taken against the recurrence of the plague and the timely arrangements made for dealing with it have been efficacious. I am glad to inform you that only 29 cases have occurred during the year, and that at no time was an epidemic threatened.
In accordance with the recommendation of a Committee of enquiry into the Medical depart ment, a Medical Officer of Health has recently been appointed. I regret to state that there
845,203 tons-a distinct improvement even on the exceptionally good returns for 1893,
The passenger traffic returns show an in- crease of 25.186 in the number of emigrants, but immigration has fallen off considerably, doubtless on account of the prohibition in force during several months in respect of certain neighbouring ports infected with the plague.
Chinese seamen's boarding-houses have re- cently been inspected and licensed for the first time, and there are now 67 such houses duly licensed, affording accommodation for 1,120
men.
The criminal statistics are gratifying, and there has been no repetition of the riots which occurred in the early part of last year. The public peace has been efficiently preserved by the Police, and with the exception of the coolie strike, which took place at the latter end of March last in connection with the enforce ment of the by-laws for the regulation of common lodging-houses, and the robbery with violence on the 18th and 22nd inst., there is, I rejoice to say, no "Police News" worthy of record.
November 27, 1895.
will, I think, be generally adimitte success achieved was not too dearly
The community is indebted to the Military authorities for their ready in the emergency, and the Police, as excellent work in keeping order and the situation as far as possible by pro coolies and cargo boats for the several firms,
With regard to education, it appears that the Fattendance at the several schools, which fell off
last year, has now recovered its normal pro tions. Including Queen's College, there are now 16 Government schools and 105 Grant-in- Aid schools (of which latter 10 have been opened during the year), in addition to numerous Chinese "Kaifong" schools.
The firm attitude of the Government during the coolie strike was, however, not maintained without loss and inconvenience to the commercial community, but the circumstances did not admit of concession, and looking to future interests it
It has often struck me as extraordinary—not to say discreditable-that, after 55 years of British rule, the vast majority of Chinese in Hongkong should remain so little" Anglicised." I have thus been led to enquire more thoroughly than I have hitherto done into the system of education adopted in the local schools, and I am of opinion that, too much attention has hitherto been paid to purely Chinese subjects. With view therefore of promoting a more general knowledge of English amongst the Chinese the Government proposes in future to subsidise only those schools in which special attention is paid to the teaching of the English language and modern subjects. It is hoped that this will tend to educate the rising genera tion of Chinese to more enlightened views blind superstition which have proved and still and ideas, and to dispel the ignorance and
are proving such a stumbling block to the promotion of their moral and physical well- being.
The silver question remains as much a problem as ever. I had hoped that before this the evils of a depreciated dollar would have been compensated for in some degree by an influx of English capital into the colony, but the stability of exchange appears to be beyond all control, and so long as that is the case English capitalists will probably prefer to assist the apparently failing industries of Lancashire rather than run any risk in industrial ventures abroad I notice, however, that in Shanghai capital is being readily subscribed for the establishment of cotton mills and other in- dustries, and I could wish to see a similar spirit of enterprise abroad in this colony. With its unceasing water supply the "model settlement" has advantages in this respect which are denied to Hongkong; but there is no reason why local difficulties should not be faced and ultimately overcome, or why this valuable entrepôt of Eastern commerce should not also become ere long a great industrial centre.
•
Past and passing political events in the Far East are of special importance to Hong kong.
The peace of Shimonoseki, which brought the hostilities between Japan and China to a close in May last, has not been un- productive of disappointment, nor is the political horizon yet quite as clear as could be wished. It is to be hoped, however, that the great Eastern problem will work out peacefully and beneficially. In the meantime we may rest assured that the interests of Great Britain and her possessions will be safely guarded and judiciously forwarded by Her Majesty's Government as opportunity offers, and in this connection I would incidentally remark that whilst for a time at least local interests may necessarily be postponed in favour of purely Imperial interests, I have every reason to believe that the questions most particularly affecting this colony have by no means been lost sight of.
1
and
In conclusion, gentlemen, I thank you for the patient hearing which you have accorded to me. The period which I have reviewed. has been one of activity in sanitary reform improvement in many other directions. I have looked in vain for the symptoms peculiar a people "writhing under injustice" and "taxed up to the limit of endurance," and I have dis- covered only that happy condition of 1 and prosperity which usually obtains well-ordered community. To the maint of that progress and prosperity, to economy, to sanitary improvements, furtherance, generally, of the best this community, I shall faithfully devote myself. With your ready
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.