i
$58
said he would not give any money to deceased. Deceased then asked him, "Why don't you pay up" and apparently gave him a push-not a violent one. "It would appear that first prisoner then struck out with his hand at deceased some- what violently. On deceased turning back slong Bulkeley Street first prisoner went after him, and stabbed him in the left but- tock with a chisel. It appeared to be a sharp chisel, and the sort of weapon which sscording to Dr. Bell was quite capable of inflicting the wound discovered on deceased. Just before first prisoner inflicted this blow second prisoner appeared on the scene with a carpenter's hammer and gave deceased a blow with it on the back. The Doctor would tell the jury that it was quite possible a man with a soat on might have been struck with the carpenter's hammer on the back and yet there might be no mark left. The result of the blow with the chisel was that deceased after going one or two paces fell down in Temple Street, a side street off Bulkeley Street. Then accord- ing to the witnesses, prisoners ran away
in a westerly direction, and one of the people who witnessed this assault would be called who would tell the jury that he followed close on these two men and saw them enter No. 72, Temple Street, and informed the police almost immediately. In a box in this house a chisel was found, and that chisel had marks of fresh blood upon it. The police arrested prisoners and took them to the Police Station. Deceased was cared for as well as could be done by Ser- geant Cameron on the spot and afterwards removed in the ambulance to the Govern. ment Civil Hospital, but unfortunately after being there a few days he died of the wound which he had received with the chisel. The assault took place on August 22nd and deceased died on the 5th September-that. was to say, he died 15 days after the assault Dr. Bell would tell the jury that all deceased's internal organs were healthy, the only mark of injury he saw being this wound on the buttock, which wound extended down to the middle of the thigh. Several witnesses would be called to prove the identity of prisoners. With regard to first prisoner three witnesses would be called on behalf of the prosecution to identify him. As to second prisoner, the jury would have the evidence of one witness, who identified him as the man with the hammer. Beyond that in the case of second prisoner they had the fact that the witness who identified him followed up the two men immediately after the occurrence into a shop in Temple Street and within a few minutes after the occurrence pointed out prisoners to the police. He should also mention the fact that although only one witness identified second prisoner several witnesses could speak most definitely about two men attacking deceased, one with a chisel and the other with a hammer. The evidence for the prosecution was then given.
The case has occupied the whole week and is still uncompleted.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND ·
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There were plenty of such areas over in Kow- loon staring them in the face out of their Board room windows.
The Hon. R. D. Ormsby seconded, and the
motion was carried.
LIMEWASHING.
An application for the exemption of certain houses at Mong Kok Tsui from limewashing and cleansing was refused on the motion of Mr. OSBORNE Seconded by the VICE-PRESIDENT.
Mr. OSBORNE proposed that on the first of next month notices be served on certain property owners for neglecting to whitewash their premises during the months of September and October.
The VICE-PRESIDENT seconded, and the motion was carried.
THE PROPOSED NEW HONGKONG HOTEL.
An application was submitted by Messrs. Palmer and Turner, architects, on behalf of the Hongkong Hotel Company, with regard to a new block of buildings proposed to be erected on a portion of Marine Lot No. 7 of the Reclama- tion. It was requested that the Board would erected, it being pointed out that there was no allow a building of 110 feet in height to be
question of a lack of light or air, the roads on three sides being 75 feet in width. Messrs Palmer and Turner also asked for permission to make the bridges from the main block to the servants' quarters six feet in width.
of the building will be less than one and a half Dr. Clark minuted-"The proposed height times the width of street on which the building fronts, and therefore I see no objection thereto. With regard to the bridges I think a width of five feet would be ample, but the point is not a very material one in this case.'
..
T Hon R. D. Ormsby minuted-Ap-
both requests."
prove
[October 28, 1899.9
ensos. He did not know what the Captain Superintendent's idea was with regard to the dollar not being sufficient. Igould be unwise to make the compensation too big, be- cause it might result in patients being brought into the colony for the purpose of securing the reward.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said his experience of Chinese was that they would not give them any information about anything. If the Police found a man murdered in the street they might offer $100 for information and would not get it. Whatever reward they offered they would get a lot of scallywags reporting cases on spec." and it would give the staff a lot of trouble.
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Mr. OSBORNE said they could try the pro- posal by all means if they wished to do so, but ho did not believe it would have the slightest effect, except that a few informers and bad characters would try to earn their living by it.
The VICE-PRESIDENT said they would not get any information for a dolla", and if they made the reward high enough to tempt people to give the information they would have to make it so high that it would be dangerous. They would have to make it at least $10. The police had had to raise the fee for pointing men out who had returned from banishment to $10. He proposed · that the matter stand over.
The PRESIDENT pointed out that the motion was not seconded, and consequently the matter dropped.
THE LATRINE QUESTION.
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Officer of Health on an objection to a proposed A report was submitted by the Medical public latrine at 46, Gough Street, and with regard to this objection Dr. Clark, at the cou- clusion of his minute, observed—” This is the only available piece of Crown land in the neighbourhood, and the nearest Government latrines will still be about 1600 feet distant to the westward and two miles to the eastwards."
On the motion of the PRESIDENT it was
The Hon R. D. ORMBBY proposed that the request be granted. The building was quite of an exceptional character. It was not a Chinese house but a very handsome building apparently decided to forward the report to the Govern- would not suit. to be used as a hotel which a 3ft. 6in. bridgement, at the same time calling attention to the building would be no higher than buildings al-
With regard to the height, the non-publication in the Gazette of the notifica- ready sanctioned on the Reclamation.
Dr. CLARK seconded and the motion was carried.
THE NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES,
A proposal was submitted to give a bonus of one dollar for notification in cases of certain
infectious diseases.
tion as to additional latrines.
THE PLAGUE AT ALEXANDRIA.
The following report, dated September 7th. was submitted from the British Consul at Alex- andria I have the honour to report that during the week ending this day there was one fresh case of plague, which terminated fatally. From the 1st May last up to to-day there have been 89 cases of plague, out of which 43 term- inated fatally, and 46 were cured.'
MORTALITY STATISTICS,
The mortality statistics for the colony of Hongkong for the week ending October 7th show a death rate of 19∙1, against 22.8 for the previous week and 15.2 for the corresponding week last year. The rate for the following week was 20'1 against 21-1 for the corresponding week last year.
The mortality returns for Macao for the week ended October 7th showed 46 deaths, and for the following week 41 deaths.
Dr. Clark minuted-"A legal obligation is placed upon Chinese doctors (and others) by bye-law 17, made under section 13, of Ordin- ance 15 of 1894, to report to the nearest Police Station all cases of bubonic plague, cholera, or smallpox which may be under their care, and convictions have been obtain ed recently against snch Chinese doctors for failing to so notify their cases. I think an additional inducement should be offered to those men to notify by offering a fee of $1 for every case which shall prove on investig. ation by a registered medical practitioner to be really one of the above named diseases. There can be no question that the early notification of Hon. R. D. ORMSBY-In moving the resolu- doubtful eases will go a long way towards pre- tion standing in my name I may quote the old The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hong-senting widespread outbreaks of these diseases, and well known proverb that a example is better kong Sanitary Board was held at noon on Thurs- and I shall be glad if the Board will consider than precept.
I believe the present type of day. The President (Dr. Atkinson, Principal this matter, and if they concur make a strong Chinese tenement house is about as bad from a Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and recommendation to the Government on the sub-sanitary point of view as could well be devised. there were also present the Vice-President (the jeot." Hon. F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police), the Hon. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public Works), Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. C. W. Duggan (Secretary).
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
PROPOSED OBSERVATION STATION.
Papers were submitted dealing with the pro- posed observation station under the Venice Convention.
The Vice-President proposed that the quos- tion be considered this day six months. This observation station was going to cost a tremen- dous amount of money, no matter where it was pat, and if they thought they were going to stup plague and other infectious diseases by the
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The President minuted-"I think this bonus should be given to all persons notifying and not only to Chinese doctors."
The Hon. R. D. Ormsby minuted to the effect that he would like the matter to be discussed at the next meeting.
The Vice-President minuted—“One dollar is
no use."
Dr. CLARK proposed that the Board recom- mend the Government to make such arrange- ments as would result in the offering of a reward of $1 for every case of bubonic plague reported to the nearest Police Station, His only object in suggesting $1 reward was that they placed allegal obligation on Chinese doctors
MODEL CHINESE TENEMENT HOUSES.
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There is a great deficiency of light and ventila- tion in the sleeping compartments, the kit- chens are small and inconvenient, and as a rule there is no latrine or bathing accom- modation. But the Chinese are known to be averse to change, and block after block of huge tenement houses are added annually to the city, all of precisely the same type. This sub- ject has for many years engaged the attention of architects and engineers and I have seen some designs which were a vast improvement on the present typs of house. I have, no doubt that if a premium were offered we would obtain numerous plans to select from. I cannot. bat think that the Chinese would appreciate bet- tor-designed houses, more fitted for human a healthy and clean life made available. The Government now possess in the resumed area of Taipingshan -land on which houses for their own employés could be erected, land which has been lying idle for soma you though it cost the Government nearly $5 per
ing a great mistake. The only way to rid the he thought that if they made it obligatory colony of epidemios was to spread out the popu to report they ought to give some reward. It lation and let in air. If the Government had
was possible that in some cases some trouble got money to spend it ought in his opinion to and expense would be incurred in going up spend it in reclaiming areas whereon buildings to report. In any case it was wise, he for the working population could be erected.' thought, to offer an inducement to report
erection of observation stations they were mak- | and householders to report plague cases, and | babitation, with at least the necessities for t
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