of
June 8, 1901.]
vessels if they can produce a certificate from the institution in question that they are not suffering from plague. The application to which we refer admits that the Chinese concerned may be suffering from other complaints, but trusts that the firm will nevertheless permit them to use its vessels for passage to Canton. The argument is that the alarm felt by so many our Chinese residents will thus be largely allayed. The soundness of this is questionable, we think. We do not see how the panic will be lessened by the sight of streams of Chinese making the best speed out of the Colony. On the contrary, it is probable that as many as can will follow the example set. We shall then be brought | face to face with a grave economic crisis. We have no labour with which to replace the Chinese, and therefore it is obvious that any approach to a general strike or any excessive emigration would simply bring many businesses to a complete standstill. Nor do we see how the Chinese institution to which we have referred above is going to guarantee that the fugitives have not the germs of plague in them. It may be said that they are only going to Canton, and that China does not object to receiving them. But having reached Canton, do they all intend to stay there, and can we be sure that Cantou will not be but the first stage in their escape to other ports? It is probable that if our Government sanctions a wholesale exodus from Hongkong, the first result will be severer measures against us by the neighbouring ports. The effect of the proposed emigration on our own trade and on our relations with our neighbours must be seriously considered in connection with this new Chinese suggestion.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, 3rd June.) Dr. FRANCIS CLARK has the aptitude of making a dry departmental docu- ment interesting even to the lay mind. His Annual Report, as it appears in
the Government Gazette of 25th May, is no exception. It positively bristles with hard, incontrovertible facts, and is a perfect armoury of weapons of offence and defence in connection with vital and sani- tary statistics and statements. There is a decrease of 14 non-Chinese dwellings, as compared with 1899; and yet it is indisput- ably a fact that the number of houses usually classed as European residences was con- siderably augmented during the year. This apparent contradiction in terms is explained when we reflect that such houses are, nt the present moment, being largely bought and inhabited by the wealthy Chinese. As the non-Chinese section of the community, white and coloured, is greater than it was in 1899, it inevitably follows that its members are more crowded together now than before. During the year under notice, under the needs of the Insanitary Properties Act, as evidence of the unex- ampled activity in every branch of the building trade, the plans of new erections laid before the Medical Officer of Health were more than double what they were in 1899; and those of buildings wanting altera- tion were more than quadruple of the same class of work in the previous year. This is distinctly satisfactory, and broadly indica- tive of general prosperity. The results of the recent Census show us that the popula- tion, more markedly now than ever before, is one of male adults. This decidedly dis agreeable tendency is mainly, if not wholly, attributable to increased rentals, and to the enhanced price of food, fuel and the neces- saries of life. Dr. CLARK's remarks on the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
-
467.
THE COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON'S REPORT.
(Daily Press, 6th June.)
The
corrected birth-rate are characteristic and fearless, unexaggerated, dispassionate, and- pointed. The callous heartlessness of as far as an official Report can be—~impartial Chinese towards infant female lives is well-record of unremitting honest effort, and of nigh proverbial. In Cantonese there is good work steadily, solidly and unshirkingly a euphemism by which a new-born accomplished in the face of constantly recurr- child is styled a shit pun fo, or aing difficulties, much clogging discourage. chán ts' in ke, i.e.. an article onment, and many hampering trammels; and, which money is lost, or one on which on this score alone, it should be generously there is a gain the former expression awarded the most unstinted approval and alluding to a girl, the latter to a boy. support. The Colony has cause to be grate. These two phrases very accurately gauge ful, to say the least, for the unselfish and the ineradicable national repugnance to devoted services of such a man as our infant girls. The statistics given under the Medical Officer of Health. heading of Deaths will administer a mild shock of not unpleasant surprise to most; and yet they are absolutely correct. During the 9th decade of the old century, there was an annual average death-rate of 27.84 per 1,000; the worst year being 1885, when the The recently published Annual Report of figures rose to well over 32. In the 10th Mr. C. VIVIAN LADDS, our hard-worked decade, although plague returns are included, Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, is a distressing the annual rate fell to 23.40, the worst year, chronicle of excellent work uninterruptedly as might be expected, being 1894, l'année effected, in spite of many disheartening terrible, when bubonic plague made its hindrances, and of not
B few legitimate appearance and the rate that year went up to grievances; chief among which latter are a 30.37. Excluding deaths from plague, and hopelessly insufficient staff for the extremely utilising the figures given by Dr. CLARK, important and valuable work assigned to it, the average annual rate of mortality for the and a scale of salaries so ridiculously low as period 1891-1900 comes out at slightly to give cause for the gravest discontent and under 20.54 per 1,000, which, in whatever dissatisfaction. The labourer, no matter way we look at it, may be regarded as how lowly his sphere of toil, is worthy of evidence of sanitary progress. Whether or no his hire: and the Government should see this progress is as great as it should have been, that Mr. LADDS's pertinent remarks on the is a very moot question. Out of 59 deaths matter of salaries paid to the subordinates among the military, 20, or over a third, of this sub-department are placed on a were due to malarial fever; while of 188 proper footing, and bear some fitting relation recorded deaths among the non-Chinese to the nature of the work done. resident civil community, only 9, or less Animal Depôts and Shambles at Kennedy than one-twentieth were due to the same | Town, and the ten Public Markets scattered cause. This needless disproportion Dr. up and down the Island and on the Penin- CLARK makes ground for advocating the sula opposite, rank among the safest isolation of Barracks from the native popu- and most steadily paying of Government lation. The table showing infant mortality departments: and yet, Mr. LADDS, time and rate per mille, during the past five years, again, has seen his suggestions set aside seems to be clear proof that the pinch of and ignored, to all appearance, with no poverty, combined with the stress nnd satisfactory reason. Such myopic policy, aggravated intensity of the fierce struggle in ordinary mercantile life, would assuredly for bare existence, has practically annihilated spell financial diaster. To give a specific what little altruistic sense Chinese parents example; in the middle of last year Mr. possess, even in respect of male infant lives. LADDS pointed out to the Sanitary Board The figures given are appalling in their dread that the
establishment eloquence, and seem almost incredible. The Kennedy Town-Animal Depôts and total number of deaths among the Chinese Slaughter-houses-- could not be properly. from malaria, was greatly in advance of the supervised by one Inspector; and suggested number in 1899. The utter extermination that two men, of lower grade, should be of the anopheles mosquito, for the immediate appointed to assist. The suggestion was present at least, is outside the pale of not approved. It should be remembered possibility, although inuch may be done to that the killing of cattle, sheep, goats and limit its baleful sphere of action. All effort pigs and the dressing of their carcases as should be centred on the protection of food go on continuously in the Shambles, Europeans; and the greatest step in this night and day, for seven days each week; direction will have been taken when so that Inspector A. WATSON, the Inspector- European reservations are insisted on. The in-charge, theoretically at least, is on duty part of the Report dealing with this grave twenty-four hours a day, year in and year matter is put with the utmost. cogency, and out, Sundays not excluded. should be given the closest attention. question of the capability of these Deaths among the Chinese from beri-beri, buildings to bear the cost of which recent research seems to connect with extra men asked for, it is stated the consumption as food of mouldy rice, are that, after all working expenses have nearly double what they were in 1899, and been paid, they have brought in to the work out at 1.29 per 1,000 of the land Colonial Treasury during the six years they community, and at 1.64 per 1,000 of the have been in existence, no less a sum than floating population. In his Report for two and a third lakhs of dollars-an 1897, Dr. CLARK advanced the theory that amount, as is pointed out, more than Asiatics are not naturally immune to enteric double their total cost. Further comment fever, as many medical authorities aver, on this particular matter is needless. Shau- but that they are invariably protected by kiwan and Aberdeen, with which Aplichau an attack in infancy. His subsequent must be classed as it is a part of the latter experience lends a distinct colour of pro- place, still lack proper slaughter-houses; bability to this ingenious theory. We although the former place kills daily an purposely refrain from touching upon several average of twelve head of swine, and the other points in this Report, because they latter about half that number. It should have been ably handled in "Scrutator's" be borne in mind that both these thriving third letter. The whole document, with its localities have a large floating population exhaustive tables, is worth the attentive directly dependent on them for their supplies perusal of any and all who take intelligent of fresh meat. It is difficult to imagi interest in the Colony's well-being. It is a 'how such niggardliness on the part of
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