266
were put in their houses, lest their houses be upset by the disinfecting gangs. The best policy of the Board is to offer the cleansing to the tenants with disinfectants supplied free of charge. In that case we may hops that the destruction of rats may be done eff sotually."
Mr. Lau Chu Pak:-"Past experience does not show that disinfection can successfully prevent infection. But as the M.O.H. advises that it should be kept on, I am in favour of giving permission to the people to carry it out themselves, the Sanitary Board to supply the requisite disinfeo unts free of charge. If the people are subjected to the same hardship and annoyance as they used to be they cannot be blamed for refusing to help in destroying rats on their premises.”
Colonel Webb:-"I think the suggestion of the Hon. P.C.M.O. should be carried out,"
Mr. A. Rumjahn: The present system of compelling owners of property to flap rat-runs should be changed. Th occupiers ought to be made to do it; thereby the destruction of cats would be carried out more expeditionsly."
Mr. Hewett:-"If the suggestion is acted upon someone must see that the 'people' properly disinfect their own premises.
The PRES DENT said this rat problem seemed to be a very serious one. During last summer they had come to the conclusion that rats were being introduced into the Colony for the sake of the bonus. Accordingly the Bard altered their system and employed a much smaller staff thinking they might be able to get more rats out of the houses. They were right in that supposition because more had been got than formerly. The question was what steps should be taken in regard to those houses in which rats were found. Pro essor Simpson recommended in his memorandum that not only the house in which a plagne-infected rat was found but also the three houses on each side should be similarly dealt with. Winter was the time to attack these pests, and the present "seemed to them a suitable time to
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The D.P.W. minuted that, as he had already stated, he was not aware of any available sui- able site in the Western District of the City, with the exception of the recently reclaimed area west of Cadogan Street, Kennedytowa. In Kowloon he would suggest sites on the re. claimed areas a little to the south of the Police Station at Yaumati and to the west of Gillies Avenue at Hunghom; both of these would be of a paraly temporary nature.
Mr. E. A. Hwett:-" A site at the western end of the town is to my mind imperative, and if the Government have no such site available one should be purchased or reclaimed."
The PRESIDENT moved that the Government be recommended to authorise the use of these areas of land, as defined, for this {urpos3.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK sesonded, and the motion was agreed to.
AN APPLICATION.
There was laid on the table father corres- pondence relative to the application for permis- sion to erect a trough closet oa Inland Lot Lot
No. 1633.
Mr. HEWETT submitted that it was imperative there be a sufficient, continuous flow of water to keep the pipes of this proposed trough. closet abs lu'ely clear from the house down to the sea, and as there was not a suffioient supply hare the Board would be setting a danger. ous precedent if they allowed the application, No fixed water-closets should be granted for any house within a very few feet above the level of the sea.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK 8300nded.
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[October 10, 1909,
2. Notice calling Spɔcial General Meeting of Members for 18th February, 1903, 15, 24 ty 3. Published minutes of Special General- Meeting,—I have, &c.,
A. R. LOWE, Secretary.
Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office.
Hongkong, 23rd March, 1903. SIE, With referenes to your letter of the 18th ultimo, I am directed to inform you that a copy of the Resolution therein contained will bf warded to the Secretary of State for the Colbaies in due course.—I have, &o,
F. H. MAY. Secretary,
Chamber of Commerce.
Government House, Hongkong 2a1 April, 1903. SIR-I have the honour to transmit for your information the enclosed copy of a letter from the Chamber of Commerce regarding the proposal to fix a rate of Exchange between gold and silver and so relieve trade in this* Colony from the diffulties and embarrass- ments caused by the flaotustions in their relative value. As stated in the letter, a majority of the Chamber have at a recent meeting, alopted the following Regolation: That in the opinion of this Meeting it is desirable the 'raits Currency Commission should extend its enquiries to Hongkong with
Oa a division, this motion was defeated by 5 a view to ascertaining whether reform of the to 3.
The application was granted
RAT RETURN,
The rat return showed that during the two weeks endad 5th inst. 595 rats were destroyed; of these 8 were found to be infected with plague. There was no other importat business before the meeting.
bring this matter up. They might adopt som THE such plan as this, that in every house in which a plague-infected rat is found the inspec or should attend and fill in rat-runs with carbolic acid and give the people the option for a week of cleansing the premises themselves, the Board supplying the necessary disinfectants.
If at the end of that time it was found that this had not
been done then the Board must take the matter in hand and deal with it themselves. There was another question, and that was the adoption of a system of destruction of rats by producing epidemic amongst them, which was also recom- mended by Professor Simpson. Dr. Barnett would be able to tell them that that system had been used in London.
Dr. BARNETT stated that such measures were
adopted when the Strand was being pulled
down and the rate invaded the bar of the
Gaiety Theatre to such an extent that the barmaids could hardly stand it (laughter); the rats ate all the food that was left on the counters. The PRESIDENT suggested that they uti'isɔ both methods, recommending the Government to require the Bacteriologist to preparé a certain quantity of cultures of this rat- infecting bacillus for distribution amongst the inspectors; als that the measures he had recommended should be taken with regard to the Chinese either cleansing their houses or the Sanitary Board taking the matter in hand.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked if this bicillas affected rats only ?
CURRNECY QUESTION
IN HONGKONG.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S DECISION. At the meeting on Monday of the Hongkonz Legislative Council, the Colonial Secretary (Hoa, F. H. May, C.M.G.) laid the following
correspondence on the table :-
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.
Hongkong, 28th February, 19 )3. SIR-I am directed to inform you. for th information of His Excellency the Governor, that in November last the Singapore Chamber of Commerce addressed this Chamber, drawing attention to the steps taken by that Chamber the possibility of arriving at some method by with the object of investigating and considering
silver in Singapore and the Straits Settlements which the fixing of exchange between gold and might be solved, and asking for this Chamber's views as to the advisability of taking any action in the sam direction with regard to the currency of Hongkong.
At a meeting of the Committee specially called to discuss this matter, ed on the 23rd Dacamber last, it was decided to reply that, although they greatly apppreciated the friendly desire for joint action, the Committee regretted that, by reason of the very different position occupied by the two Colonies, they were unable to se their way, whilst China still retains a The PRESIDENT replied that it did not affect tend to lead the Government to adopt another silver currency, to take any steps which might either man, or domestic animals.
a'andard.
Me. HEWETT asked if there would not be a nuisance caused by daad rats lying abou?
The PRESIDENT replied that any nuisance of that kind would be light; the dead c rc3933 would soon dry up.
The VICE-PRESIDENT seconded. Ta's con.
cession, he said, was a great as could be possibly made in the matter. If they conceded so much the people ought to meet them and render further action unneonssary.
The motion was agreed to.
THE DEPOSITING OF RUBBISH DURING STORMY WEATHER.
Further corresponencs was submitted ra- lative to suggested sites for the depositing of rubbish, eto, during stormy weather.
Since the expression of opinion by the Com received calling for a special general meeting mittee, a requisition from five members was
of the members of the Chamber, for the purpose of discussing the question of local currency, and this meeting of members was
held on the 18th instant, when the following resolution was carried by a majority.
"That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable the Straits Currency Commission should extend its enquiries to Hongkong with a view to ascertaining whether reform of the Colony's currency arrangemɔut is advisable.”
In this connection, I enclose copies of the following papers :-
1. Published minutes of Committee Meeting held 23rd December, 1902,
Colony's currency arrangements is advisable.”
I laid the letter from the Chamber of Com- merce with the Resolution therein contained before my Executive Council and was advised by a majority that it would be woll to have a Commission appointed to enquire the currency question so far as it affected Hongkong, but that such a Commission should be separate and distinct from that appointed to enquire into the questioa in 8 ngapore. The Cɔanoil offered no
opinion on the ultimat question as to whether
gold standard should or should not be adopted for Hongkong, but alvised that in the event of His Majesty's Government deciding to appoint
Commission, the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce should be invited to nominate two
gentlemen for appointment as members, one to represent that section of the Chamber which is in favour of the status quo, and the other to represent the section which is in favour of
dopting a gold standard.
I enclose also for your information copies of the proceedings of the Chamber of Com- merce at Meeting of the Committee hold on the 23rd December, 1902, and of a General Mesting of the Chamber held on the 18th forwarded was adoptel by a majority of February, 1993, at which the Resolution now 40 to 25,
9
As it appeared to me that the papers real that occasion by the gentlemen who pro- pose the Resolution in opposition to the conclusion formed by the Committee of the Chamber at the Meeting of 23rd December had been carefully prepared, while the time was palpably doonpied in the discussion not sufficient to admit of well-considered
communicated reply, I
with a number of Managers of Shipping Companies, and bankers most important Merchants, in the Colony requesting their views on the subject. I attach their answers which will show largest stake in the Colony, including British, that, among the mercantile men who have the
the
German and Chinese, there is an almɔst unani- mous feeling against any interference with the remains what it is. present currency so long as the Chinese currency
The arguments put forward in these various statements cover the whole ground from a busi-
gold value of capital then invested has increased ness point of view, and a glance at the gold value of shares ten years ago and now shows that the very considerably even with the depreciated dollar. But there is another aspect of the question that requires very grave consideration ven before Commission be decided upon, for the appointment of a Commission would at Colony afford to pay the cost of conversion? once further affect Exchange. Can this
and token silver coins, is the paper to bea Assuming a gold reserve, with paper currency.
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