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July 2, 1904.]
and verbal; and if every visiting inspector was authorised to order some alterations to be made or something removed the people would not know whose instructions were correct and whose to obey. In justice to Dr. Pearse he must say that since he took over the office of M. O. H. he had done a great deal to remedy the evil. but as Mr. Rumjahn had pointed out there Was still much room for improvement. Many instances had come to his knowledge which created confusion and would have resulted in unnecessary prosecutions if not checked in time. Members were perhaps aware that there were among the inspectors men who were very ignorant as to their duty and who seldom con- descended to explain things to the Chinese, but simply jotted down a few almost illegible notes and strutted away leaving the Chinese to find it out. Mr. Lau Chu Pak proceeded to mention several cases illustrating the evil to which he referred.
now
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORг.
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cases to
quarters and the verandahs had not been touched. On the 25th of May Dr. Barnett visited the place for the second time and found the necessary work was not done. He explained to the compradore that unless it was done they would be prosecuted On 9th June Inspector Lyon reported that the work had not been done, and there was no other course left for Dr. Barnett but to order a prosecution, which he did. Unfortunately he prosecuted under Section 4, sub-section 26. of the Ordinance instead of for a breach of No. 5, of the Domestic Cleanliness and Ventila- tion Bye-laws, and for that reason, he took it, the Magistrate decided against the Board. He visited the premises on the 25th June and found the manner in which the limewashing had been done ansatis. factory. The Crown Solicitor had also visited the premises and he reported simi- larly. He regretted that a gentleman who had served on that Board should have been The PRESIDENT moved as an amendment treated in this way, because he was sure a per- to the proposed amendment that the present ronal interview with Mr. Osborne would im. procedure remain as it is. The Board by re- mediately have cleared a way out of the difficul solution had deputed certain officers to perform ty. He had written and told him exactly what certain duties. Amongst these officers the he thought was the reason for the prosecution, sanitary inspectors were deputed under the being instituted, and referred to the fact that new Ordinance at the meeting of the Board on during his absence certain conditions had been 19th February, 1903, to institute summary introduced in and were now insisted on with proceedings before a Magistrate under Section regard to limewashing which were not the 30 when instructed in writing by the Medi- custom in former years. Personally he thought cal Officer of Health, the Sanitary Surveyor the whole trouble had arisen between the over. or the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon. At the seer and the inspector. Many of the firms in following meeting the senior inspectors Hongkong had difficulty in getting suitable were similarly appointed. The procedure men as overseers. The inspector told this which was
These in force with regard to man exactly what he wanted done. illegalities was that the district inspectors on overseers in many cases were unreliable. With their rounds were supposed to notice any con- reference to Mr. Hewett's resolution. he might traventions of the sections of the Ordinance mention that 1,258 prosecutions were instituted or of the bye-laws; such Contraventions last year at the instance of the Board. If, as had were reported by them to the senior been suggested, one officer should have to approve inspector, and at the same time the district of these prosecutions it would entail amongst inspector issued a small notice on the tenant other things that he should ascertain that the calling attention to the defect: the senior in-person to be prosecuted was the actual offender spector's duty then was to verify this notice which might involve visits to the Land Office. which had been sent by the district inspector: Personal visits would have to be made he then applied to the Secretary for a legal in
verify the existence notice or letter which was ined by the Secretary of contravention; and practically he would and if the illegality was not remedied by that have to perform the greater part of the duties means the matter was reported to one of the of 18 sanitary inspectors and three Medical M.O.H.'s, the Sanitary Surveyor or the C.V.S. Officers of Health. On the face of it he as the case might be, who decided whether a thought it was impracticable. As showing prosecution should take place or not. In all that the officers had been doing their utmost to doubtful cases the senior inspectors had improve matters, last year there were 770 prose. been instructed by the M.O.H. to consult cution for dirty premises and failing to cleanse one of the M.O.H.'s before requisitioning and limewash. Up to the 28th inst. the prosecu- the Secretary for either a legal notice or a letter. tions had been only 94 against 355 in the corres- With reference to the case of the Godown Co.'sponding six months of last year.
This great houses he regretted that he was not aware that such a prosecution was instituted, and if Dr. Barnett had consulted him in the matter he could easily have explained how it was that the work required to be done was not fully understood by Mr. Osborne. Dr. Barnett did not know that Mr. Osborne was formerly a mein- ber of the Board and had been away on leave in England for 12 months, during which the Board had од the recommendation of the M.O.H. somewhat modified the requirements with reference to the domestic cleanliness and limewashing bye-laws-in other words, they insisted upon the under surfaces of the roofs, staircases and verandahs, in the ser- rants quarters especially, being limewashed Since it came to his knowledge that this prosecution had been heard by the Magistrate he had requested Dr. Pearse to visit the premises and report. Dr. Pearse said that the houses were not properly limewashed in July and August last year, when they should have been done. It was only just he thought, to the officers con- cerned to go into the facts fully. Ultimately some limewashing was done in December, but not satisfactorily. Dr. Barnett could have ordered a prosecution for that, but for the fact that the next limewashing period, January and Febdary, was so near at hand. No lime. washing was done in January and February. A notice calling attention to the dirty condition of certain parts of the premises was sent to the owners in March. That was followed by two letters saying it was unsatisfactorily done. addition to that Inspector Lyon twice visited The PRESIDENT said Mr. Osborne's letter of the premises with Mr. Craddock, who was 9th May was not submitted to the on one occasion accompanied by Board because of the fact that the Assis compradore, and pointed out how the limewash-tant Secretary subsequently had the ing bye-laws had not been complied with and that the under surface of the roof in the coolie
diminution was due to the general, cleansing of tenement houses by the people under supervision of the Board's Officers and showed that the Board's Officers had been doing their utmost to raise the standard of domestic cleanliness and had to a great extent succeeded and should at once dispel any illusion as to the Board's Officers prosecuting people indiscriminately or unjustly ash been insinuated. The explanation why Mr. Osborne's letter of 9th May was not answered was that the Assistant Secretary saw Mr. Osborne afterwards and understood from him that the work would be done, and so the letter was set aside in that belief. He and the M.O.H. would always be glad to receive complaints from members or the public, and full enquiries would be made and the officer at fault punished. This had been done in certain cases during the last few months. One inspector was fined and another was dismissed.
Hon. Mr. BREWIN in seconding the Presi- dent's amendment said that after the explana. tion they had heard there was nothing in the case to justify any alteration. If Europeans had any complaints against the action of subordin. ate officers of the Board they had their remedy in writing to the Board or the news- papers or approaching one of the members. The Chinese had their remedy in going to him or the M. O. H. of Mr. Lau or Mr. Fung. With these precautions ho KAW why the inspectors should not be entrusted to carry on this work under the present rulos. In In reply to Hon Mr. Pollock.
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reason
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Mr. HEWETT replying said the case of the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. must be taken merely as an instance. The President admitted that if Dr. Barnett had placed the matter before him there would have been a discussion, and no prosecution would have been instituted. He thought that the President's speech clearly proved that the matter should have been put before him or the Vice-President. It would not be necessary for the President or Vice-President to go to visit the premises but they would rely on the information before them except in extreme cases. He thought the President's own speech was entirely in favour
of his motion.
The President's amendment was carried by the casting vote of the President. The voting wasFor the President's amendment-the President, the Vice President, the Registrar- General, the Captain of Police and Colonel Webb: against-Mr. Hewett, Mr. Pollock, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. Fung Wa Chun and Mr. Rumjahn.
A CONVENIENCE AT THE PEAK,
The reply of the Government to the Board's recommendation re the erection of a latrine for coolies at the Peak near the tramway terminus was to the effect that it must stand over till the site of the new tram station had been fixed.
CLOSING A WELL.
The M.O.H. recommended the closing of a well between 76 and 78A, First Street, on Inland Lot No. 629.
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The PRESIDENT moved that the recommenda- tion be approved.
Mr. HEWETT seconded and the motion was agreed to.
LIMEWASHING.
The limewashing return for the past fort- night showed that 3,128 houses in the Central District and 1,392 in the Western had been dealt with.
RATS.
During the two weeks ended 27th ult. 1.055 rats were caught. Of these 82 were infected with plague.
APPLICATIONS.
Several applications for exemptions, etc.. were disposed of, among them being one by Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., under Section 139 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, for a permit to erect and maintain a screen on the verandah of No. 18. Bank Buildings.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
At a monthly meeting of the General Com- mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce held in the Chamber. Room, City Hall, on Tuesday, 7th June, 1904, at 3. 45 p.m.,
PRESENT:-Messrs. E. A. Hewett (Chairman) D. R. Law (Vice-Chairman), Hon. W. J. Gres- son, Messrs. N. A. Siebs, J. R. M. Smith, H. E. Tomkins, R. C. Wilcox, A. G. Wood and A. R. Lowe (Secretary).
MINUTES.
Minutes of meeting held on 11th ultimo were road and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS.
The Secretary reported that since the last meeting the following had been elected to membership subject to the confirmation by the Members at the next Annual Meeting :
Fire Insurance Association of Hongkong. Abdoolally Ebrahim & Co.
ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.
Read letter from the Philadelphia Commercial Musuem inviting Hongkong business men visiting the Exposition to make use of the Institution's Special Office in the Manufactur- ers' Building, where information on all American trade matters can be obtained.
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS' Letters were read from the Hon. Colonial Secretary informing the Chamber that the Governments of Siam, Madras and Bengal had declared Hongkong to be infected with plague.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.
Read answer to the Chamber's representations to the Government on the subject of the Kowloon-Canton Railway in which it was stated that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government is sparing no efforts which are interview with Mr. Osborne and it was under-likely to assist in bringing about as speedily as stood that the work was going to be done. possible the realisation of the project.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.