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of Commons who represent trading con- stituencies will not fail to follow up their criticism of the present unsatisfactory system and in conjunction with the interested Press will refuse to let the matter be shelved once more. We quite appreciate what Government apologists say about the lack of energy so often shown by British cou- cessionaries, in China as much as anywhere, in taking up the concessions granted to them. This, however, is beside the point whether the British Government does give its subjects proper assistance and protection when appealed to through its consular agents. There are two totally different faults, com- mitted by different classes of individuals, which are responsible for what decline there is in British trade compared with the trades of other countries. It is useless for those who have committed one of these errors to excuse themselves by pointing to the other class. A double reform is necessary.
THE MACAO-CANTON RAILWAY
(Daily Press, 29th September.) The report conveyed in a Peking despatch to Shanghai, that the new Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consented to the petition of certain Portuguese subjects to construct a railway between Macao and Canton, recalls the discussion of some seven or eight weeks ago over the question of railway-building in the Macan neighbour hood, It will be remembered that we wrote early in August of the desire of the French to obtain a railway concession in this part of Kwangtung in order to work it in conjunction with their general railway chemes in the province. We said at the time:"We cannot imagine, on inter- "national grounds, that it will be permitted "to achieve success.
There is another government which surely has the prior "claim to build any railway from Macao,
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD,
[October 6, 1902.
yard space whateve· is provided. The 4 ft. lane [shown on the plan] obstructed by stair-. cases should be made an 8 ft. lane and unob-
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A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Thursday in the Board Room. Present. Dr.structed." J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer (President); Hon. W. Chatham, Director of Public Works; Hon. F, W, Clark, Medical Officer of Health; Mr. C. Mel. Messer. Ating Registrar-General; Mr. E. Osborne, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, Mr. Lau Chupak and Mr. G. A. Woolcock (Secretary),
THE WESTERN MA) KET.
A letter was submitted from Mr. A. Gibson, the stalls of the Western Market. Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, with reference to It was couched in the following terms:- Trade in the Western Market is greatly hampered for want of room, and the suppply of pork, reget- able and fresh fish stalls is not equal to the demand. I attach a statement showing for what purpose each stall in the Market is used, Fifteen of the stalls in the Market are used for selling salt fish. The groater part of the retail trade in salt fish is done from shops, and, as salt fish are not a very perishable commodity. I do not think any great hardship would be inflicted 011 the lessees of these salf fish stalls if they were compelled to shift their quarters and find shops elsewhere. This would leave a good deal more room for the sale of those articles which more p operly belong to a market for the sale of perishable good-stuffs, viz., fresh Park, fish or vegetables, eto. I would therefore recommend that those stalls bo no longer let as salt fish stalls, but be let for the sale of fresh fish, pork or vegetables.”
The Acting Registrar-Goueral, having been requested by the M. O. H. to state whether he concurred in the recommendation of the C. V. S., minuted as follows:-" I quite agree with the C. V. S. Salt fish can be sold elsewhere than in a market, and the Western Market is in an overcrowded state. By turning out the salt, fish keepers they will suffer hardship so I think that at least three mouths' notice should be given them to quit If this plau be adopted, the C V. S. should state what each stall should be allowed to sell, and in letting out the stalls some effort might be made to cause of position to the present monopolies."
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'The Director of Public Works minuted It would be well to ascertain how many people would occupy the premises and where they would be quartered. I do not see that the Board can deal with the application on the basis indicated in the President's minute."
The Captain Superintendent of Police The minuted :—" I agree with the D.P.W. Beard is only concerned with the application so far as sanitation is concerned and cannot go into the question of proximity to hospitals or other general considerations."
Mr. E. Osborne minuted :-- "This is an instance where the Board can do something towards preventing further overcrowding. It can refuse to approve the plaus and make a strong recommendation to Government to prohibit the theatre altogether. Wherever you hava a theatre there will be overcrowding. The Board's efforts should be directed towards spreading the population, and this can to somo extent be done by keeping theatres, opium diyans and such like places far away from each other."
Mr. Lan Chan Pak minuted
There are at
present one Chinese theatre nearer to the Tung Wah Hospital and another to the Government Civil Hospital than the proposed one. application be refused on the ground stated in
If the
the President's minute it may be just as well to close the other two. As regards the site, I should say, if not hotter, it is not worse than the others. I think the Board might entertain the application if the owner undertakes to comply strictly with the requirements of sanitation."
The Medic 1 Officer of Health further minuted : ~" The architects state that it is
impossible to state how many people will occupy the theatre. It will vary from time to time.”
The PRESIDENT The opinion of several of the members seems to be that this is not a ques- tion that ought to be referred to in the way I have referred to it in that it is not a matter that deals with public health; but still I think Mr. OSBORNE-When we lay this before the anything that is a nuisance comes within ths Government, sir, we should also, I think, draw province of the Sanitary Board to consider. the attention of the Government to the report and that anything detrimental to the public of the Food Commission which enquired ato health, even although only a hospital is con- this very matter and one of the recommenda.cerned, is a thing that ought to be considered tions of which was that the sale of dried a nuisance. And this would be a nuisance provisious aud cinned provisions should be not only to the inmates of the hospital but prohibited in the markets, thus making room also to the European residents on the upper for fresh provisions, I am not aware that one levels in that neighbourhood-Upper Richmond single recommendation of the Commission his Road and Robinson Road-who have complained to me frequently about the noise from the other two theatres disturbing their rest at night: and I know from personal experience that it is
ever been carried out, but I think it might be as well to draw the attention of the Goreru ment to this point.
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The PRESIDENT- I move that this recom-considerable, menda ion be forwarded to the Government for
its favourable consideration.
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN―These people have no business in the market. There is no reason
The motion was adopted,
if China does not build oue herself." As a matter of fact, at the time when we wrote, it was actually hinted that the Portu- guese Government hal applied to China for the concession. The present report states that "certain Portuguese subjects have made the application, but it is evident that it has been urged by the Portuguese representative at Peking, if only from the fact at the Portuguese claim for an extension of the Macao boundaries has been dealt with at the same time. The latter request has been refused, but we hardly can suppose that the matter will rest there, With regard to the railway coression, we congratulate the concessionaires on their success and trust that the grant has not why they should not b⋅ turned out. merely been sought for with a view of dis- posing of the line afterwards to the highest hidder. There was at one time a rumour that the Americans had disposed of their railway rights to the Canton. Haukow construction to a Belgian syndicate-a rumour which happily proved false, for it was felt that a Belgiau syndicate might mean anything, among other things a preponderating French influence. If the Macao-Canton line is really going to be built, we shall trust to see it managed under the control of the Portuguese a d of course the Chinese Governments. Such an arrange- ment will be the best guarantee of peace. A line between Macao and Canton should in itself prove lucrative, running as it does through rich tract of territory; and when Canton is connected by rail with Central China it will be even more promising. We are once more impelled to ask the old ques-hood." tion, when shall we hear anything more of the Kowloon-Canton Railway? Is all the railway enterprise in this part of the world to be left to other countries ?
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Board.
PAOPOSED NEW CHINESE THE TRE. A plan of a proposed now Chinese theal e ou Iulaud Lot No. 1,207 was sent in by Mr. E. M. Hazeland, a.chitect, for consideration of the The building, Mr. Hazeland stated; would be used as a theatre and not as an o diu- ary domestic building, and it had practic ly lt fronted on to open space round it. Hollywood Road and was opposite the Chinese Recreation Ground which gave it au open space at the front of about 250 feet; on the east side was Po Yan Strest, 25 ft. 8 iu. wide, at its rear New Street, 25 ft. W.n. wide, and on its west
an open area.
The President notified the Secretary with reference to tis plan:-' Please circulate, as theatre on this site is in my opinion very un- desirable, situated as it would be close to the Tung Wah and near to the Government Civil Hospital. The noises from such a building would be very detrimental to the comfort and well-being of the patients. There a already two large Chiues, theatres in this neighbour
The Medical Officer of Health minuted :- "I do not consider this plan at all satisfactory, as these Cainese thea res are always occupied by a considerable number of persons and no
Hon. Dr. CLARK-There are two matters in connection with this which the Board might consider. First of all, the plan sent in by the architect does not conform with the provisions of the Public Health Ordinance, and so far should, I think, be refus d unconditionally. He proposes in building this theatre to provide a4ft, lane which he is filling with stair-cases. The law requires an 8 ft. lane without ob- struction; and I see no reason why this building should be allowed to deviate from the Ordin.
ance.
I quite agreo with you sir, that the theatre is a nuisance and it certainly comes within the province of the Sanitary Boa:d to make recommendations to the Government, although it is quite true we have no power to prevent the erection of the theatre provided it complies with the Ordinance. However, I think we would be justified in this case in forwarding a recommendation to the Govern- ment, that if they have the power they should prohibit the erection or refuse to license the Theatre when it is erected. I beg to move both these resolutions that the card refuse to accept the plan as at present sul mitted, as it is not in accordance with the Public He th Crdinance, and forward a recommendation to the Government strongly recommending the Government to prohibit or to refuo to license thi theatre when it is erected.
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Mr. OSBORNE-I beg to second both these motions, sir. I quite agree and sympathise with you in your efforts to keep this theatre from being built. I do not think that in any part of
part
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