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August 26, 1901.]
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS, [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] SHANGHAI, 16th August, 8.12 p.in. Reports come from Tientsin of heavy rains having seriously damaged Manchurian and Northern railways.
The reported Russian reverses during the troubles in Manchuria have been discredited. The Empress Dowager censured Li Hung: chang for his apparent apathy and arrogance, and Chang Lui for his in- adequate appreciation of the gravity of the present situation.
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The report sent to the Empress Dowager by Yang Yu, the Chinese Minister to Russia, a reported secret agreement between England and Russia not to interfere with each other on their respective sides of the Great Wall, has greatly alarmed her.
THE LATE EMPRESS FREDERICK.
HONGKONG'S CONDOLENCES.
We have been furnished with the following copy of the telegram from His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State, sent on the 13th August :-
Resolution passed by Legislative Council to- day: That the members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong desire humbly to express to His Majesty the King and His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor the sorrow with which they have received the intelligence of the death of the Dowager Empress Frederick of Germany and Princess Royal of England, and their deep sympathy with Their Majesties
in their bereavement.
BLAKE. The following is a copy of telegram received in reply from the Secretary of State on 15th Angust:-
His Majesty the King thanks Legislative Council for message of sympathy.
CHAMBERLAIN."
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on the 22nd inst, in the Board Room. The President (Hon. W. Chatham, Acting Director of Public Works) occupied the chair, and there were present the Vice-President (Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. E. Osborne, Mr. Fung Wa Chnen, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary).
THE MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Board, with an alteration in connection with the motion then brought forward by Mr. Osborne in relation to markets, latrines and urinals, were approved.
RE-APPOINTMENT OF MR. OSBORNE.
The re-appointment of Mr. Osborne as a member of the Board was intimated to the meeting.
The PRESIDENT-We are all very pleased to see that Mr. Osborne is going to continue as a member of the Board for another period. I hope we will benefit by his advice in sanitary
matters.
TRAPPING DRAINS.
A reply was received from Government re. lative to trapping the inlets to the storm-water
drains.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
161
buildings, when erected, would be unfit for the plan to the effect that, in his opinion, the, when the report has been adopted and merely
human habitation. It seemed more desirable, however, that the law should not permit the erection of such uninhabitable buildings, and it was not at all certain that the magistrate, who | alone could decide the question of habitability, would be prepared to condemn a new building erected in accordance with all the existing sanitary and building laws of the colony.
The recommendations of the Sanitary Im. submitted at a meeting of the Board on the provements Committee, whose report was 11th ult. and has already been published in full, are to the following effect in relation to the depth of buildings: -
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1. That the Government be advised to
enact: That every domestic building hereafter erected of a greater depth than forty feet (as measured in accordance with sub-section E of 1900), shall be provided by the owner with a section 56 of the Public Health Ordinance of glazed skylight in the roof of a total area of not less than 1/25th of the total floor area of such domestic building, and every upper floor shall be provided with a well-hole corresponding in position and area to such skylight.
Provided that no such provision shall be required in the case of domestic buildings which are, in the opinion of the Sanitary Board, adequately lit by means of windows opening into a side street or other open space of a width of not less than 15ft, in addition to being lit from the front."
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forwarded?
The PRESIDENT-In one or two cases the Board, in forwarding a report to the Govern- ment, has made specific mention of some item contained in such report. In a 0180 like that, where the Board makes specific allusion to any item, it is included here; otherwise it is not.
Mr. OSBORNE-Do I understand that Mr. Ladds's frequent recommendations are not included there-those recommendations not whole report has been merely adopted? specifically mentioned by the Board, where the
The PRESIDENT-They are not included hero unless the Board made some specillo mention of them in forwarding the report to Government.
Mr. MAY-I think it would be as well to point out that till this year no sonual report was critically examined by the Board. This year, on Mr. Osborne's recommendation, a sab they found that some of the recommendations committee was formed to go through them, and contained in the reports would not hold water.
The discussion then dropped.
CLOSING OF A WELL.
Correspondence was laid on the table relative to the closing of the well at the back of the market at Hunghom.
COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCE FOR A WIDOW, It was intimated that H. E. the Governor had approved the recommendation of the Board of a compassionate allowance of $300 to Mrs. Cruz, whose husband was a foreman in the Sanitary Department, and who, with his four The following minutes were appended :— children, died of plague. Dr. Atkinson: "It remains for the Board. I SANITARY WORKS AND THE 1992 ESTIMATES. presume, to consider if they agree to adopt the report of the Sanitary Improvements Committee. table relative to the provision for certain A reply from Government was laid on the Personally I am doubtful re their recommenda-sanitary works in the 19.2 Estimates. tion as to "skylight." Is it possible to con struct these so that they do not leak? A damp condition of a honse would be detrimental, and it is not much light you would get from one in weather like this. What would be the cost of constructing such a skylight with a space right
down below it?
Dr. Clark: "The_recommendations of the Sanitary Improvements Committee have already been adopted by the Board, who should therefore refer the Government to those recommend
tions."
Mr. May: What we are asked to do is ap- parently to suggest how the width of a street should be measured. We made a recommenda- tion about this recently in connection with the height of dwellings and verandahs.”
Dr. CLARK -I don't see how the Bard cau do any better thau to refer the Government to the recommendations of the Sanitary Improve
ments Committee. I more that the Board beg
to refer the Government to the report of the Committee, and that the Government be in formed that the Board is still of the opinion that the measures they recommended will meet
the case.
Mr. OSBORNE seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously,
STATEMENT FURNISHED TO MR. OSBORNE.
The statement furnished in reply to Mr. Osborne's question relative to additional markets, latrines and urinals was laid on the table.
Mr. Osborne minuted: "This is not what I
asked for, but only a resumé.”
The PRESIDENT
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market for Kowloon Point, a vote had al- The reply stated that, with regard to the ready been taken for the preliminary expendi ture on account of this work, and a further sum would be inserted in the Estimates for
next year. As regards B (ten urinals) and C (four latrines), provision would be made in the 1902 Estimates. As to D (refuse-estructor), the report in this matter would reach the Board in due course. E (quarters for the sanitary inspectors) would have to be further reported
o0.
Chinese food) was still under consideration, and F (a large open shed for the sale of cooked the Board is requested to give particulars as to size without further delay.
Dr. Clark minuted ; With reference to F, the size, as to which the Government asks for information, depends entirely on the amount of space available. Will the Hon. D. P. W. what land is available for the purpose "
say The PRESIDENT-There is absolutely no space available, as it is all monopolised by the market. be sent to the Government.
I propose that a reply to that effect Dr. CLARK seconded, and the proposal was agreed to unanimously.
ERECTION OF A LATRINE. A letter fron the Director of Public Works notifying the erection of a latrine at Yaumati was laid on the table.
MR. OSBORNE ON THE MEMORANDUM TƏ THE PETITION, The following remarks by Mr. Osborne on the Memorandum to the Petition, dated 23th Jane, were laid on the table, with the covering letter from Mr. Osborne and the reply from the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, O.M.G., Colonial Secretary:-
M
The minute by Mr. Osborne, I understand, refers to the cord nsed statement which was laid on the table at last meeling. I may say, in connection with that statement, that Mr. Osborne in his question asks for the production of B statement
Hongkong, 14th August, 1901. showing what recommendations the Board tion to the fact that in the Memorandam on Six-I have the honour to direct your alten. and its officers have made during the past The PRESIDENT This paper, as you know, ten years in respect of markets, latrines, Petition, dated 25th June, 1901,” the following states that the Governor has decided to post and urinals. The recommendations, I take Paige having reference to the Sanitary Board pone this matter until the advice of the sani.it, are those made to Government, because,ccars:- tary expert who is expected from home can of course, the recommendations the Board has be obtained. as it is quite possible that he may recommend some radical alteration in the present system, by which foul waters and storm-waters are conducted to the sewers and storm-water drains respectively.
Correspondence relative to the depth of buildings was laid on the table.
THE DEPTH OF BUILDINGS.
In a letter, dated 19th June, to the Govern. ment, Dr. Clark mentioned that he had received & plan showing two new dwelling-houses, each of which had one living room of a depth of 89ft. Sin. and of a width of 13ft. He had endorsed
made are to Government, and I would just say that no officer of this Bosed is authorised to make any recommendation whatever to Gov- ernment. Therefore, in this statement none of those recommendations--or suggestions, as you might more properly term them-have been noted. The reports of officers of the Board are included if they have received endorsement by the Board.
Mr. Oanonky-May I ask whether that statement includes recommendations by officers of the Board in their annual reports not specifically recommended to Government,
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The statement in par. 5 that it is not in any way responsible for the overcrowded and insanitary condition of Hongkong. not correct."
In the concluding paragraph of the name Memorandum are the following remarks : ---
“In conclusion, we canot refrain from ex- pressing our regret that the Petition as drafted
calculated to mislead.”
is
The inference to bɔ drawn from the front. quotation is that the Sanitary Board is respon- sible for the overcrowded and inmaitary condi- tion of Hongkong, and the inference to be drawn from the second quotation is that the
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