Page
356
THE LAW RELATING TO SOLICITORS,
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the COLONAL SECRET- ABY, the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ord- inance to amend the Law relating to Solicitors,
was read a firat time.
THE ESTIMATES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the honour to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not ex- seeding two million six hundred and eighty-one thousand six hundred and fifty-one dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1900.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In accordance with the usual practice I beg to moro that this Bill be now referred to the Finance Committee.
Carried,
THE INSANITARY PROPERTIES BILL.
[October 28, 1899.
C
41
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Sub-sections e, f, q, and h also contain useful larger open spaces and consequent less over- provisions with regard to cubicles the object rowding; others have been inclined to make of which is fully explained in the objects less ohange in the existing order of things, and reasons attached to the Bill and I do not which proves the aphorism that there is no think I need go into them now. Clause 5 of the relation between hygiene and money getting, Bill contains certain provisions with regard Lawyers, doctors, engineers, officers of govern- to mezzanine floors and cock lofts, and I think the ment, from their position constantly in touch principal difference between clause 5 of this with the Chinese population, and others with section 7 of Ordinance 15 of 1894 is that the Bill and the existing law, which is contained in more or less personal interest in thé: matter on one side or the other, have put their cocklofts not being erected without the authori is the result of their mutual deliberations, latter provides for unch mezzanine floors and heads together and the Bill as it now stands.
ty in writing of the Sanitary Board, whereas The origin and cause of the terrible pestilence olaase 5 of this Bill provides for the Sanitary with which I fear the name of Hongkong Board making certain regulations with regard will be for ever connected is still a mystery, the Bill provides that in case of land ac- to mezzanine floors and cocklofts. Clause 6 of Many theories are put forward and upheld for a time only to be dissipated by statistics. quired from the Crown after the passing of One of the most eminent of modern writers this Ordinance no building shall exceed in
on sanitary subjects states: All sanitariaus height one and a half times the width of are agreed that mortality and density of popu the street upon which such building fronts. lation are directly proportional" and in proof The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg That is a requirement more stringent than the of this he proceeds to give very conclusive to move the second reading of the Bill entitled provision of section 12 of Ordinance 15 of 1894. figures from the statistics of the Registrar an Ordinance to make further provision for Clause 7 of this Bill provides for open spaces in General of England, shewing that the death the sanitation of the Colony and to repeal cer- the rear of domestic buildings and clause 8 pro.
rate increases in direct proportion to the num- main enactments of the closed houses and in-
vides for open spaces with regard to domestic ber of persons to a square mile. The corrected sanitary dwellings Ordinance, 1894. Honour buildings erected after the passing of this Ord- death rate for "Urban England is 22.32 per able members have had before them for some inance. Clause 7 provides that there must be at 1,000 as against 16.95 for Rural England." time past the statement of objects and reasons the rear of domestic buildings a back yard of at In summing up the elaborate proef of the evil which are attached to this Bill, and I do not least 50 feet in area. That is a more strin- of overcrowding, he says finally: Overerowd. think it is necessary, therefore, for me to go gent regulation than is contained in the pre-ing is the greatest of all sanitary evils and through the line of argument set forth in the sent law. The Insanitary Properties Com far and away the greatest of all moral evils. objects and reasons attached to the Bill. I mission recommended that there should be s Overcrowding is facilitated by modern methods would, however, beg leave to call the special at- space at the rear of 40 square feet. This of sanitation. Unless the crowding of houses be tention of the Council to olause 4 of the Bill, Bill goes further than that. Clause 8 provides prevented, great schemes of sewerage and water which I think introduces some vary Im- that every domestic building herefter erected supply will eventually make the health of a portant amendments indeed in the require in this Colony (except in cases provided for district worse instead of better. Open spaces ments with regard to cubicles. Clause 4 by section 66 of the Public Health Ordinance, and public gardens do not compensate for the of the Bill stands in the place of sub- 1887, or coming within the terms of Articles of lack of light and air in the dwelling or of our- section b. section 8, of Ordinance 13 of 1894. Agreement under the Praya Reclamation Or- tilage around it." I have little doubt in my own which is repealed by this Bill. Sub-section dinance, 1889) shall be provided with an open mind that the ultimate predisposing cause of of Section 8 of Ordinance 15 of 1894, provided space in the rear in accordance with the follow-plague will be found to be overcrowding, and that that where " any domestic building is divided ing scale: Houses not exceeding 40 feet in into separate compartments by partitions, it depth for each foot of width 8 feet square; shall not be lawful to put up, continue, or main houses exceeding 40 feet but not exceeding 50 tain partition walls of a greater hoight than 8 feet in depth, for each foot of width 10 square fest, or to leave a space between the top of the par- feet; houses exceeding 50 feet but not exceed titions and the ceiling or underside of the joists ing 60 feet in depth, for each foot of width 12 of less than 4 feet, or to allow such space to be square feet; houses exceeding 60 feet in depth, closed except in such manner and with such for each foot of width 14 square feet. In no material as may be prescribed by the Sanitary case may any obstructions whatever be placed or Board, and unless the whole of such compart- erected in those open spaces, with the exception ments are provided with light and reutilation to of a bridge or covered way on each storey the satisfaction of the Sanitary Board. For not exceeding three foot six inches in the purposes of this section every sub-division width when such bridges are necessary as a of a domestic building, unless it has one window means of access to any part of the domestic at least, as herein before specified, opening building. That same clause also contains a directly into the external air, shall be considered provision that if a lane is made opening a compartment," I think if honourable members upon a public street the requirements as to will compare that sub-section with clause 4 of width shall not be so great as in the case of an this Bill they will see the very great advance open space at the rear where no lane exists. in sanitary requirements which is introduced Clause of the Bill provides for the maintenance by that clanse. In the first place, honourable and lighting of private back streets, and clause members will notice that by the existing 10 provides for the surfacing, channelling, law it was competent for anybody to put up and draining of private streets and a cubicle on any floor, With regard to the lanes. Clause 1 provides for the time within amendment proposed by this Bill, sub-section which alterations, etc., required by this Bill a of clause 4, says: "In domestic buildings must be made, six months from the date of the fronting streets of a width of less than coming into force of the Ordinance being allowed, 15 feet, no cubicles or partitions shall be and in the case of any alterations as regards ereated, or if already existing shall be
cubicles three months. Anyone who delays the allowed to remain, except on the top floor." carrying out of the alterations reuders himself Sub-section b of the, same olause of the Bill liable to a fine. Sub-section e gives power to says: "In domestic buildings fronting streets close premises where the alterations have not of a width of 15 feet or over, no cubicles or been properly carried out: clause 12 of the partitions other than 'p'ing fung' (ie., shop Bill gives power to the Magistrate to order divisions) shall be erected, or if already exist. the removal of illegal structures; clause 13 ing shall be allowed to remain, on the ground deals with what shall be considered offences un- floor, and in the case of every such ping fung der this Ordinance; clause 14 provides penalties there must be a space between the top thereof for the commission of any of those offences; and the ceiling or under side of the joists of the and clause 15 deals with the schedule. I shall room of not less than four feet, which may be have some amendments to propose in committee closed in only by wire netting, lattice work, or on this Bill in certain points which have oc- sarved woodwork, arranged in such a way as to ourred to me since this Bill was read a first leave at least two-thirds open and as far as time. With these observations I beg to move practicable evenly distributed." Sub-section c the second reading of the Bill. of the same clause of the Bill contains the very necessary requirement that:-" "No cubicles or partitions shall be erested, or if already existing shall be allowed to remain, in any kitchen." Sub-section d of the same Bill provides that in certain cases when there are two cubicles the partition shall not exceed seven feet in height and when there are more than two the partition shall not exceed six feet in height, whereas the Ordinance 15 of 1894 allowed
1
the unenviable notoriety of our city is due to the faot that we have the densest population of any city in the world, amounting in one district to nearly 1000 persons per acre. The air of the more deusely crowded slums of our city is foul and fetid from absence of sun and circulation; men breathe the exhalations from densely packed bumanity, and what that air becomes on still, warm uights, when the streets are emply, the Praya deserted, and the whole population within the walls of the houses with doors and windows shut and secured, can be better imagined than described. Speaking of the neces- sity of pure air for the health of all living be- ings, Dr. Vivian Poore, a very eminent sani- tary authority, says: We have been long accustomed to hear that our chief sanitary necessity in this world is pure water. This would be quite true if we were fish. But it is obvious that the purity of the air we breathe is of far greater importance than the purity of the water we drink, seeing that we must take a draught of air about twenty times a minute, while many of us do not take a draught of raw water from week's end to week's end." Now, Sir, this Bill before us is undoubtedly calculated to do much to improve the present state of affairs, shafts through which some light and air can reach the back of the houses which have no lanes in the rear will be opened, while
the removal of cubicles and cooklofts will It is
permit of a freer circulation of airs expected that many landlords will see the great advantage of combining to open lanes between their properties. The concreting, draining, and lighting of private streets and lanes, will com- mond itself to all. It is much to be regretted that the first part of clause 6 was not the law in force 50 years ago. It is an extremely difficult problem now as to how overcrowding is to be abated. The lofty houses of three and four floors already built, cannot be kept empty by law, and, whatever sanitary laws may be passed, will still house a dangerously dense population per The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WOR^8-Sir, acre. The city has slowly grown to its present- In rising to second the motion of the Hou, the state and cau go through no sudden metamor- Acting Attorney-General I think I may safelyphosis. Without enormous expenditure on re- say that few measures have come before this sumption of lands we can but move slowly in un- Council which have received more careful doing the harm that has been done, and can only thought and consideration than this before us
hope that the provisions of this Bill when carried As in many similar cases the Bill as it now
into effect, will cause some abatement in the stands is somewhat of a compromise. Some of plague epidemies. I beg to second the motion those connected with its drafting in its preseut of the Hon. the Attorney-General. form, have wished to go much farther in the partition of eight feet in every case no
provisions for admitting light and air to the matter what the number of oubiales WAR. crowded houses in the City, in providing for
The Bill was read a second time and the Council went into committee to consider it olauso by clause,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.