March 18, 1899.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ever difference of opinion there might be as to the best means of preventing plague, he thought there could be but one opinion as to the absolute necessity of keeping the town clesu. He thought it would be a good thing if the Board could be assured by some means that this law was being strictly and effectually majority aud 31 for an official majority. | of the Government services the situation has
community, exclusive of members of the Im-information which has already been gained on perial and Civil Services, was held, the question the subject. submitted to the voters being whether the Sanitary Board should consist of a majority of officials or of unofficials. The result of the plebiscite was that 331 voted for an unofficial
and consistently carried out. He proposed that a return showing the number of teuements in each health district and the number of tenements
lime-washed and cleansed up to the date of the report be supplied to the Board every fortnight.
The VICE-PRESIDENT secouded.
Dr. CLARK said that during the year there had been 17 cases of plague and l deaths. During the last two days there had been no cases reported. The map before him showed the actual position of each case. There was a small group in West Point-in the usual places, One, Two, and Third treet,-there was a small group at East Point, and the rest were generally distributed. With regard to the lime-washing of premises, he thought Mr. Osborne had some- what confused the bye-law made under the Ordinance of 1894, which provided for the lime- washing of premises by the offers of the Board during the prevalence of an epidemic and the Bye-li male unler Ordinance 21 of 1837, which only provilal that all team at houses in the city should im washed twice a year.
The motion was carriel.
Mr. Grihs, Acting British Consul at Tai-
naa, wrote that tae nambar of cases of bubonio plagas reported in the prafeoture from Feb. 21 to Fab. 27 wis 23. There ware 21 deaths and five recoveries. From Jan. 7 to Fab. 27 there were 145 cases; the deaths numbered 98 and the recoverias 17.
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Among the former only three or four Chinese voted and among the latter none.
3.From this plebiscitum it appears that 331 British residents are in favour of a Board which should be controlled by unofficial mem-
bers.
4.-In view of my previously expressed opini on on the importance of undivide·l responsibil. ity in sanitary mitters, it is hardly necessary for me to state that I am not in favour of a Board the responsibility of which will be divided ani which will exercise its functions indepen- dently of Government control. Judging from the working of the present Boird, which con- sists of an ofisial and anoff sial element, the latter of which preponderated, I consider that & mixed constitution, such, as is now provided for, does not work well in practice and leads to constant friction. In fact, this seems to be not infrequently the result of attempts to graft on a Crown colony constitution popular in- stitutions which do not appear suited to work smoothly or successfully under such conditions.
5. After carefully considering the question of the constitution of the Sanitary Board. I am of opinion that in order to secure undivid- ed responsibility the sanitary affairs of the colony should either be placed directly under Government control or should be entrusted to a Board composed entirely of unofficials.
6.—In view of the peculiar circumstances of Hongkong and of the fact that the population is chiefly made up of Chinese, who will be more easily and more effectively dealt with by Govern- ment than by a popularly constituted Board; I am in favour of sanitary affairs being placed dirotly under Governmsat control and managed entirely by a Government department raspon
Mr. R. W. Hurst, British Consul at Pakhoi, writing on Feb. 27, said he was informed by Dr. Hill, one of the medical offers in charge of the Chinese Hospital there. that there were several sporadio cises of bubonic plagus at that port, an l that a few daths had occurred. The malady had not so far assumed an epidemic for n, being soufiasi at present to one particnsible to the Governor. lar locality, and that a very diety ons.
Should
7. The alternitive-a Board composed en- it assam alarming proportions he would com-tirely of nuofficials-would not, I fear, work well municate with the Board again.
A telegram, dated March 19, stated that plagae had broken out in two Bengal villages, one in Faridpur and one in Dacca.
This was all the business.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SANI AKY BOARD.
In view of the questious acced by the Hon. T. H. Wuitəhsil at, the last mesting of the Legislativa Chansil conserning the recon- strustion of the Sanitary Board, we republish the last two despitches on tas subject :-
GOVERNOR TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
Govaramint House, Hongkong, 3th June, 1896 Sir.-I regret that I have one more to refer to you tas qustioa of the constitution of the Sanitary Bard.
3.-I have come to this conclusion in part because I think that, on reflection, you must concur with me that in taking a plebiscite of the British community exclusive of the members been much complicated.. I have every reason to assume that the British merchants and sidents in Hongkong have the same good sense and public spirit as their countrymen else. where, but it is impossible that Hongkong should be other than a Crown colony; it is inconsistent with Crown colony govern. and in no community whatever, whether Crown meat to seek the guidance of a plebiscite;
question, in which the whole body of the rate- colony or not, can a satisfactory solution of payers and many outside that body are in- terested, be induced from an expression of the opinions of one seotion alone.
4-In the present instance, the plebiscite having been held, you have found yourself con- strained to advise à course opposed to that for which the very large majority of the votes
were cast.
5.-Uader existing circumstances, then, I In the course of a year or so it will be more have decided to defer giving any final décision.
evident what, if any, is the resl want, and how it may best be met. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Governor Sir W.
Lo., &c., &o.
J. ÜhambɛBLAIN. Robinson, K.O.M.G.,
DARING ROBBERY IN GLENEALEY.
A robbery of a most daring character was perpetrated in Glenealey in broad daylight on Tuesday, the victim being Mr. R. F. Gutierres, an old gentleman 76 years of age. Mr. Gatier. rez and his wife were coming down from Robin- son road to Caine road, and when half-way down Glenesly two Chinamen who had been" hiding in the locality sprang upon them ́an. awares. One of them thrust some paper in Mr. Gutierrez' face and knocked him down, while the other snatched his watch and chain. They then made off. Mr. Gutierrez and his wife were naturally very much alarmed. In formation was given to the police, but the ruffians are still at large.
CORPS.
in this colony, which, as Lord Ripon has pointed out, has become a Chinese colony under the British flag. Out of a population of 250,000, the Chinese amount to about 243,000, and it is with sanitation among the Chinese that a Board, whatever its constitution may be, must be chiefly concerned. Further, it would be extremely diffult to draw the line COLONELCY OF THE VOLUNTEER between matters which should come under the Government and the Sanitary Board, and this would most certaiuly lead to friction and mis- understanding. At the same time, it is easy to understand the desire of those who, having been accustomed to popular institutions in Great Britain, wish to extend similar institutions to| this colony. But so long as Hongkong con- tinues to retain its present character both as regards its constitution and its population, I do not think popular institutions would thrive ander saoh unusual and peculiar conditions.
servant,
WILLIAM ROBINSON,
Governor.
8. After mature consideration of this diffi- 2-From my previous despatches on this calt question, I am in favour of the Sanitary subject uoted in the margin you will Lave Board being placed directly under Government gathered that I am strongly in favour of control in the manner proposed in my despatch aalividel responsibility in sanitary matters. No. 163 of the 18th May. 1-95, but I have With this object în view I rasom a n led, in thought it right to place you in possession of the first instance, that the Sanitary Board as the views held by others as well as my own, so at present constituted should be ablished and that you may be in a position to consider both that the coutrol of sanitary matters should sides of the question before conveying to me be placed entirely under the control of your final decision in the matter.—I have the Government. Afterwards, however, I inform-honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble ed you in my dispatch No. 317 of 2nd Dacomber, 1895, that I wis willing, in de- ference to the views of the majority of the anoffisial members of the Legislative Council, to accept a compromise, according to which the Board would be constituted of 3 official and 2 unoff ial members, though I was not satisfied that an livided responsibility would be secured under such an arrangement. The adoption of Downing Street, 6th November, 1896. the proposed compromise having been sanctioned Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the by you, an Ordinance embodying it was in receipt of your despatch No. 150 the 30th of trofaced into the Legislative Council. Before, | Juns last and of your telegram of the 27th however, it was read a first time it became | ultimo on the subject of the Sanitary Board. evident that it wou d not prove acceptable to a 2.-I understand the Board. as at present con- portion of the British residents of this colony. stitnte:l, to be working well, and I consider that In order to ascertain whit might be the views the question of its future constitution may well of the British con nunity, I suggested that a stand over to be dealt with, if noosssary, hère. plebiscite should be taken. -- Arrangements were after by your successor, who will be in a position accordingly made, and a plebissite of the British to approach it de novo with the advantage of the
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The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, MP Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, &o., &o., &o.
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SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR.
A
LETTER FROM SIR WM. ROBINSON." The following letter from Sir W. Robinson, G.C.M.G., Honorary Colonel, Hongkong Vol- unteer Corps, is published in the Volunteer weekly orders:---
28, Evelyn Mansions,
Carlisle Place, S. W.
31st January, 1899,
Dear Sir John Carrington,
པ་
Before leaving Hongkong, I omitted to place in your hands the Honorary Coloneloy of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps. I do so now... I trust you will convey to the Officers and men an expression of my thanks for the kindness and courtesy with which they always received me. I shall be most glad to hear of the further success of the Corps, and hope under your able command it will increase in numbers and offiei- enoy. Very truly yours,
(Signed) WIlliam RobinsON.
THE FIRE BRIGADE REPORT.
The report for 1838 of the Hon. F. H. May, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, is published in the Gasette, from which we make the follow- ing extracts:-
There were 16 fires and 78 incipient fires during the year. The brigade turned out 23 times. The estimated damage caused by the fires was $35,000.74 and by the incipient fires $1,999.00.
The record for last year is the best in the series. The estimated value of property de stroyed is less than $3,000 more than the lowest recorded which was in the year 1891, whils the number of fires was double the number in that year.
!
There was one prosecution for arson in con neotion with the incipient fire at No. 113, Third
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