to the cleansing of the streets; but 14 days does it take the whole of that time for the holi- days?
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-Yes, as I told you at the Board, there are preparations for the New Year which the Chinese naturally do not want to be interfered with. I may inform the mem- bers that, according to Ubinese custom, the poorer people do more for the Chinese New Year than the well-to-do people. They prepare a sort of cakes or puddings as presents for their friends. If we go and disinfect their houses, they could not do that, and besides the coolies work as hard as possible to save a little money for the New Year, and if they were expected to stay at home and assist in cleansing they could not work. They must have at least a few days for their New Year.
Hon. Mr. BREWIN—I do not think the request is unreasonable. We are all aware that the Chinese New Year holidays last a longer time even than Mr. Fang mentioned, that shops and places of business do not open sometimes until the 12th or 13th; and as a matter of fact I think it is the 7th day of the Chinese New Year which is almost as important as the Chinese New Year itself. Of course it is unfortunate that the Chinese should require so many days for their New Year holidays; but I think that every day that Mr. Fung has selected is con- sidered by them to be as much a holiday as we consider our own Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after, to be; and I do not think they are asking for any more than we should be if we asked that these three days should be exempted.
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Mr. FONG WA CHUN-I think I should tell you that the Chinese do not have holidays except at the New Year. (Laughter.) Well, they have Christmas Day, Sunday, no Bank holidays or Easter Monday. New Year is the only time they get.
Mr. OSBORNE-I should say they have about two months every year.
Dr. CLARK—I think we had better give way. I have done my level best to persuade Mr Fung to cut it down to a week, and I should think a week is enough. But if he will guar- antee that the Chinese will help us all the more, I think we should give way and concede a fort- night.
Mr. Fung WA CHUN-I will do that. The supplementary motion was carried un- animously.
WORK OF CLEANSING GANGS.
The SECRETARY laid on the table a record showed that during the fortnight ended 4th of the work done by the cleansing gangs, which January 691 honses had been dealt with, 1,406 floors fumigated, and 1,774 floor, cleansed. These show & considerable falling-off on the figures of the previous fortnight owing to the Christmas and New Year holidays.
COLLECTION OF RATS.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
DEFENCE AGAINST RATS.
The PRESIDENT drew the attention of mem- bers to four samples of the netting which it is proposed to put over, the mouths of drains to prevent the egress of rats.
Three of those guards were made of wire- netting of various sizes of mesh. The other was made by the insertion of a thin metal rod between the bars of the existing drain-gratings. After careful inspection by the members of the different samples it was agreed on the motion of Lient.-Colonel HUGHES, seconded by Mr. OSBORNE, to adopt the wire-net type, the mesh to be of a medium size.
Mr. OSBORNE-I would suggest that when these guards are put on the gratings, the police be asked to look after them so as to meet the objection that they will be choked with dbris. I think the majority of householders would themselves help to clear the drain if they found the street being flooded. The Captain Super- intendent of Police might instruct them. -
Mr. BADELEY—We could keep an eye on them to prevent them being choked, but it is hardly the work of the police to clean them. This was all the public business.
DEPARTURE OF H.E. THE
GOVERNOR.
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[January 18, 1902.
Mr. W Norton Kyshe, Mr. H. P. Tooker, Rev. R F. Cobbold, etc., and many leading members of the Chinese community. As the Valetta steamed past the various war-ships their crews manned the sides and the bands played patriotic airs.
At a meeting of the Executive Council held shortly after His Excellency had taken his departure, the prescribed oaths of office were administered by His Honour A. G. Wise, Acting Chief Justice, to His Excellency Major- General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.O.M G., who assumes the administration of the Government of this Colony and its Dependencies during the Governor's absence.
Lieut. Blake, H.E. the Governor's son and A.D.C., will shortly leave for home also.
THE FINAL PROTOCOL. The following is the official English transla. tion of the French text of the final protocol made between China and eleven Powers, 1991-
The Plenipotentiaries of Germany, Monsieur A. Mumm von Schwartzenstein; Austria- Hungary, Baron M. Czikann; Belgium, Monsieur Joostens; 3pain, Monsieur B. J. de Cologan; United States, Mr. W. W. Rockhill ; Frauce, Monsieur Beau; Great Britain, Bir Ernest Satow; Italy, Marquisa Salvago Raggi; Japan, Monsieur Jutaro Komuro; Nether- M. Knobel; Russia, lands, Monsieur F three
Monsieur Michael de Giers; and the Plenipo- tentaries of China His Highness Yi-K'uang, Prince of the first rank; Ch'ing, President of the Board of Foreign Affairs; and His Ex- cellency Li Hang-chang, Count of the first rank; Su-Yi, Tutor of the Heir Apparent, Grand Secretary of the Wen-Hus Throne Hall, Minister of Commerce, Superintendent of Trade for the North, Governor-General of Chihli, have met for the purpose of declaring that China has complied with the conditions laid down in the Note of the 22nd of December, 1900, and which were accepted in their entirety dated the 27th of December, 1900 (Annex No. 1). by His Majesty the Emperor of China in & Decree
of China and of the Chinese Government at
His Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G., left the Colony on the 4th inst. by the P. & O. Valetta for a
to return in months' holiday at home,
His departure was April with Lady Blake. made from Blake Pier at a quarter past eleven o'clock in the forenoon and was witnessed by a numerous concourse of people, including many ladies. A guard of honour of 200 men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers was in attendance at the pier, under Captain Rotherham. They marched from barracks headed by the brass band and the white goat which is so prominent s member of the Fusiliers, and the regimental colours were also in evidence. Order among the large crowd of people who had assembled to witness the departure was kept by the police, and a special guard of eight men
Art. I.-By an Imperial Edict of the 9th of under Sergeant Garrod attended on His Excel-
June last (Annex No. 2) Tsai-Feng, Prince lency. It was shortly after eleven o'clock when of the first rank, Chun, was appointed Ambas- His Excellency arrived at the pier. He was
sador of His Majesty the Emperor of China carried down in a chair, and on his arrival went
and directed in that capacity to convey to His up to and greeted Major-General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., Officer Commanding the Majesty the Emperor of Germany the expres Troops; the military meantime giving the sion of the regrets of His Majesty the Emperor general salute, and the band playing the
Baron von Ketteler, German Minister. Prince respects by lifting their hats. His Excellency Chus left Peking the 12th of July last to carry National Anthem. The spectators paid their the assassination of His Excellency the late proceeded to inspect the columu, accompanied out the orders which had been given him. by Major-General Gascoigne, Colonel Browne, Art. 11,-The Chinese Government has stat-
ommanding the R.E.; Major Hamilton D.A.A.G.A.; Lieut. Blake, A.D.C. to the Go-ed that it will erect on the spot of the assass vernor, and Captain Trefusis, A.D.C. to the Gen-ination of H. E. the late Baron von Ketteler, a commemorative monument, worthy of the eral.__ When the inspection had been concluded, His Excellency shook hands with and bade good rank of the deceased, and tearing an inscription bye to Captain Rotherham; then he lifted his in the Latin, German, and Chinese languages, hat to those present, and, after shaking hands which shall express the regrets of H M. with the members of the Legislative Council, the Emperor of China for Government officials, and many others pre- sent and conversing briefly with the Colonial Secretary, Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., and H.E. the General, he went on board the launch Victoria which lay alongside the pier. As he stepped on to the launch the On the motion of the PRESIDENT an applica-war-ships in the Harbour fired a salute. The tion for exemption from the provision of yards launch immediately made her way to the ss. of the full size in respect of houses Nos. 67, 69, Valetta, which with the Governor on board Among those who and 71, Kramer Street, Taikoktsui, was grant-left shortly afternoon. ed, with certain modifications.
assembled to wish him bon voyage beside those already mentioned, Hon. W. Meigh Goodman, Attorney-General; Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Hon. A. W. Brewin, Registrar-General; Hon. Com. mander R. Murray Rumsey, R.N., Harbour Master; Hon. C. Mol. Messer, Acting Colo- nial Treasurer; Hon. J. Thorburn, Hon. J. J. Bell Irving, Hon. T. H. Whitehead, His Hon- our A. G. Wise, Acting Chief Justice; Hon.
Tsai Hsan, Prince Chuang, Ying-Nien, Pre- Dr. Ho Kai, Right Rev. Bishop Piazzoli, Com- mander W. C. H. Hastings, R.N., Postmaster-sident of t & Court of Censors; and Chao Shu- General, Mr. R. F. Johnston, Acting Clerk of chiao, President of the Board of Punishments, Councils, Sr. Conselheiro A. G. Romano, Sr. J. J. Leiris, Mr. F. A. Hazeland, Police Magistrate; were condemned to commit suicide. Mr. F. J. Badeley, Acting Captain Super intendent of Police, Mr. H. H. Gompertz, Mr. Basil Taylor, Assistant Harbour Master; Mr. E. C. Lewis, Assistant Postmaster; Mr. A. Babington, Mr. A. Mackenzie, Mr. R. Shewan,
A return was submiteed showing that the number of rats collected by the rat-catchers during the four weeks ended 3th December. 1901, was 6,253-alive, 1,316; dead, 4,937. During the preceding five weeks 4,570 was the number collected-alive, 1,547; dead 3,023.
The Vice-President minuted :—“ An increase of over 100 per cent. in the number of dead rats."
PROVISION OF YARDS.
WATER ANALYĢES.
There were laid on the table returns regard. ing the analyes by Mr. Frank Browne, Govern- ment Analyst, of water from the Kowloon. Tylam, and Pokfulu mreservoirs. In each case, the results showed that the water was of excellent quality.
LIMEWASHING RETURN.
A report was submitted showing that 2,806 houses in the Western District had been lime- washed during the fortnight ended 31st Decem-
ber.
MORTALITY STATISTICS. The mortality statistics submitted showed that during the week ended 21st December the death-rate was 19.3 per 1,000 of the population per annum as compared with 23.6 in the preced. ing week and 24.2 in the corresponding week of the previous year.
were,
committed.
the murder
The Chinese Plenipotentiaries have informed H. E. the German Plenipotentiary in a letter dated the 25th of July last (Annex No. 3) that
an arch of the whole width of the street would
be erected on the said spot, and that work on it was begun the 25th of June last.
Art. IIa.-Imperial Edicts of the 1th and 21st of February, 1901 (Annexes Nos. 4, 5 and 6) inflicted the following punishments on the principal authors of the attempts and crimes committed against the Foreign Governments and their nationals;
Tsai-I, Prince Tuan, and Taxi-Lan, Duke the Autumnal Court of Assize for execution Fu-kuo, were sentenced to be brought before
to grant them their lives, they should be exiled and it was agreed that if the Emperor saw fit to Turkestan and there imprisoned for life, without the possibility of commutation of these punishments.
Yu Hsion, Governor of Shansi; Ch'i Hsin, President of the Board of Rites; and Hsu Ch'eng-yu, formerly senior Vice-President of the Board of Punishments, were condemned ›
to death.
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