of what might be re the demand mine owners for Chinese labour once conceded. A lot of wild talk reeins to have been indulged in about the Chinese event ually owning South Africa and for some days, before the meeting placards were paraded in the streets showing the China- man trampling on the Union Jack. All this, of course, is sheer hysteria, and not likely to convince anybody,
The crux of the whole question is the sufficiency or otherwise of native labour The advocates of Chineso labour declare that there is a most serious deficiency of native labour, while at the indignation meeting above referred to the mover of the resolution, who described in the Times report
recent arrival from New Z alaud," talked of a hundred million natives in Africa, mentioning Moors and Arabs as a possible source of supply. Against this we have to place the dictum of men like Sir GEORGE FAREAR, one of the largest employers of labour in the Rand. A liberal estimate, he says, gives a population of 6,000,000 natives South. of the Zambesi of whom only 820,000 could be counted upon for work. The deficiency of native labour for the gold and coal mines on the Rand was 91,084; the labour required five years hence would be 800,000; and added to these were requirements of labour for rail- way construction, public works, etc., also for Rhodesia, amounting to about 20,000. Sir GEORGE FARBAR, the report adds, did not anticipate much succ.85 from efforts to recruit in other parts of Africa, and finally gave his opinion that Asiatics provided the only solution of the question, which he regarded as a vital national question. He stipulated that "if Asiaties unfortunately have to be brought into this country they can only be brought under Government control and only as unskilled labourers, and must be prohibited from trading and “holding land and competing with the
white man."
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
LAGA NEW MEMBER. The Secretary laid on the table a formal letter from Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., inform. ing the Board that H.E. the Governor had been pleased to appoint Mr. E. A. Hewett member of the Sanitary Board in place of Mr. E. Osborne r.signed.
FLOORS OF OPIUM D.VAYS. -
Correspondence was laid ou the table dealing with the question of concreting the upper floors of opium divans:
The PRESIDENT said that according to the first of the Bye-laws dealing with the question of opium divans the flors required to be laid with concrete. There was a number of these opium divans on other than ground floors that matter had been referred to the Board to make was to say, on first and second floors. The a ruling in respect of this. Personally be thought that at present at any rate they should limit their operations to insisting upon these cement floors only in the opium divaus that were on the ground floors. It would be a great hardship on the proprietors to have to concrete the first and second floors, because that would necessitate in some cases, he understood, the patting in of iron girders before they could lay cement on the upper floors.
Colonel WEBE seconded.
Mr. HEWETT presumed that as it had been considered necessary that this bye-law should apply to all opium divans generally, licenses for such places would be issue only for ground the Ordinance should be brought into force as floors. It was very necessary that the terms of
soon as possible.
The PRESIDENT said that could be done as the divan zeepers appliel for new licences
The motion was agreed to.
PLAGUE-INFECTED_HOUSES. Correspondence was laid on the table relative to the removal of furniture, bedding, etc., from plague-infected honses.
In a letter to the Board the Colonial Secre- tary asked: Has the Board considered the question of prohibiting the removal of furniture, bedding, etc., in plagus tine without a permit? It would stop the removal of infected effects from plague-infected houses before the police or sanitary inspector arrive on the scene.
The Secretary wrote This may be done under No. 2 of the Bye-laws for the Prevention or Mitigation of Epidemic, Eademic or Con- tagious Disease,”
Mr. Pollook minuted :— 1 don't think that the Bye laws cover all the grund which is covered by the Colonial Secretary's minute."
Mr. Fung Wa Chun:-"General prohibition is inadvisable as it interferes with the freedom concerned the idea is good." of the people. As far as infec ́ed houses ara
Captain Lyons:A copy of the Bye-l ws in question might be attached.”
Every effort is apparently being made in in South Africa to obtain native labour, but the supply even at the present time falls far short of the demand, The Rhodesia Mining Co. is seeking permission to import 1,000 Chinese as an experiment and it is also suggested that the Government itself might import 2,000 for works of construction on the new railway lines, under a scheme which The President:-" The Crown Solicitor sta'es proposes the repatriation of the men at the that this bye-law empowers the prevention of end of two years. It is urged that if this the removal of furniture, etc., to or from any, scheme should prove successful and no hitch premises in the districts defined by the Board." The PRESIDENT said that according to No. 2 occurs with the Chinese authorities, impor-of th Bye-laws for the Prevention or Mitigation Intion might be extended still further, of Epidemio, Endemic, or Contagious Disease, Whatever else might be said of such a
it was evidently illegal for any person or sch me, it must be admitted that it offers persons to remove clothing or furniture from but little chance of reproducing in South one house to another in any district that had Africa the Chinatowns of California. been defined by the Board. The whole of the That being so the agitation against the im- districts had practically been defined by the port of Chinese labour loses its main prop: inspectors had powers to stop the removal of Board, and inferentially the police and sanitary Bat in
that plans had 54 houses, and drainage was con to carry forward. tions of drains of hous
were in band during the quarter completed. Certifloites had been grap 137 new hou es. - Drains of 39 houses had reported upon; 31 required amending. addition to the above, 7,722 houses had inspected by the drainage inspectors and 431 minor drainage nuisances were discovered. nuisances were reported to the M. O. H. and 91 to the D. P. W. 792 choked drain traps on private property had been c'eared.
1
CHINESE THEATRES AND PLAGUE:
commend the closing of Chinese theatres during
The PRESIDENT moved that the i
the Board the prevalence of the present epidemic bubonic plague. It must be evident to member of the Board, he said, that the congregation of large members of people at such times present was inadvisable. In 1901 the course was pursued, and be thought it desirable to take this precaution now.
Col. WEBB seconded, and said he qui e con. curred in the President's view,
Mr. FUNG WA Chun opposed the motion for the simple reason that these thientres were the only places where the Chinese could have 'a little pleasure, and he thought it better that they should be encouraged to go out of doors în the evening rather than confine themselves, in ill-ventilated, badly-lighted houses. Besides, it was not fair for the Board to close the Chinese theatres and leave the English theatre open. The Board must be impartial,
Mr. HEWETT—In the event of these theatres being closed, sir, do I understand the order to extend to all places of entertainment, such as sing-song" houses? I suppose there must be uch establishments here,
44
Chiness theatres.
The PRESIDENT-No; merely the recognised
referred to it as the closing of the only places of Mr. H&WETT-Mr. Fung Wa Chun has entertainment open to the Chinese. Would any compensation be paid to these people if the theatres are closed by the Government?
Mr. FUNG WA CHUN-In 1901 compensation was paid. However, that is not the question.
The PRESIDENT said it was highly necessary that these theatres should be disinfected and cleansed, and the closing of them by the Government would afford an excellent opportunity to do so. The theatres contained thousands of people when they were full two or three thousand could get into the Ko Shing Theatre-and o1 pablic health grounds it was desirable that those large gatherings should not take place at presint. With reference to the English theatre, he was not aware that any performano s were going on there just now.
As an amendment, Mr. Lau Chu Pay moved that the theatres be oled for cleansing and disinfecting purposes once a fortnight, and not closed altogether.
Mr. Fuse WA CHUN seonded, but on a division the amendment was lost.
The PRESIDENT's motion for the closing of the theatres was carried by a majority.
LICENCES REFUSED.
Two applications for licences for the sale of pork were refused on the repom nendation of for the sale of fruit was similarly dealt with the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, and another
Site of all pressure, the Imperial clothing or furniture from one house to another, after the President explaining that the Board
authorities will not improbably remain sitting on the fence until the Report of the Commission before mentioned has been received and duly considered.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitory Board was held r the 7th inst, in the Board Boom. Hon. Dr. J
Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Offiser
Mr. POLLOCK--What do you take to be the meaning of the words during such time of this cleansing" at the beginning of clanse No. 2what does it refer to ?
1
The 'RES:DENT-That refers to cleansing operations actually going on in an infected house, e., in a house in which a oase of plague has occurred. There is a fall stop after “satisfaction" and the second paragraph applies to the removal from any premises within such defined district.
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Mr. POLLOC& did not agree with this interpre presided and the e were also J. Mol. Messer Acting Registrar seconded by Mr. POLLOCK, the matter was tation, and on the motion of the PRESIDENT, Colonel W. E Webb, R.A.M.C.; Mr.
Chun, Mr. Chu Pak, Mr. referred to the Attorney General for his H. Pollock, KC Mr. A. Rumjahn, Mr. opinion E. A Hewett, Mr. G. A. Woodcock (Secretary). and Dr. W W Pearse (Acting Medical Officer of Health).
SANITARY SURVEYOR'S REPORT.
The Sanitary Surveyor's report for the first quarter of 1903 was laid on the table. It stated
wished to keep sah goods within the markets if possible.
LIMEWASHING
The limewashing retard for the fortnight ended 28th April, showed that 2,554 houses in the Central District had been dealt with.
The PRESIDENT referred to this return as very satisfactory.
RAT BETUEN THE PEAK. During the two weeks ended 27th ult, and 4th inst., the numbers of rats destroyed were 3,620 and 3,193, of which total 321 were found to be infected.
The PRESIDENT took that opportunity of drawing the attention of the public to the fact that a rat-catcher and foreman had been appointed to the Peak District. The Sanitary Board would be very pleased to receive any application from residents of the Peak who had
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