June 1, 1907.]
outside the Board of which we can take no notice, but I fail to find the information in this report.
The PRESIDENT-I am sure that there are many of the officers and servants who are straightforward and trustworthy men, and I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to this. With regard to the actimonious attack on myself, I do not intend to rep y to it here. My defence has been addressed to another quarter. That is all I wish to say at present. Mr. HEWETT-I do not propose to go into personalities but, as chairman of the late Commission, I will say that if you read the report of the Commission with an impartial mind you will see we have not stigmarised all the inspectors and the servants of the Board as corrupt. We have most emphati. cally stated--I may say we have proved to the ⚫alisfaction of the ommunity-that bribery and corruption has been ramfant throughout the Department, There were many whom we could not bring to book and the report pointed out that there were a large number of cases into which we were prevented by time from inquiring. Wa Lave honestly and fearlessly stated exactly what prepared to
prove from the evidence brought before us, and on behalf of the Com. mission Ibject to the statement made by you that we have been unduly severe on the Depirt ment. We are not. We are prepired to endorse all that you have said with regard to the hones' able, and fully efficient servants in the Depart mart, but at the same time we have to essert that bribery and corruption exist. to a scindi- lons extent in that Department. We can also en dorse what H.E, the Acting Governor has writ- ten, bat we don't---
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SECTION 175 AGAIN.
A reply from the Government relative to the modifications of section 175 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903 in respect of Nos. 191 to 231 Station Street North, Mongkoktaui, was submitted as follows:-Sir, In reply to your latter of the 3rd instant I am directed to state for the information of the Sanitary Board that an inspection of the premises Nos. 11 to 231 Station Street North. Mongkokteni, showed that they are of a very objectionable type, having no ventilation or light in the rear, except from the kitchen door which is owing to the smoke of cooking usually kept shut. The matter is, therefore, referred | back to the Board for consideration of the not unusual modification permitting half verandah and half kitchen.
It was agreed that the Board should adhere to its former resolution,
Another Government reply was received relative to a modification of the requirements of the same section with respect to Nos. 112, Wing Lok Street and 23, Des Voeux Road Central, The Colonial Secretary stated that the recommendations submitted in the Board's letter of April 4th had been approved by the Governor in Council,
Consideration deferred.
NEW MARKET AT SHAUKIWAN.
A letter from the Director of Public Works stated "I beg to forward for submission to the Sinitary Board a plan showing accommodati. n proposed to be provided in the new market for the Western portion of Shaukiwan village. I also forward a block plan showing the proposed site of the market itself on the north side of the road and immediately beyond the lots recently purchased by Messrs. Butterfild and Swire for the erection of workmen's dwellings. The site is about three quarters of a mile dist-ut from the arising market at Shaukisan East, ba' this distance will probably be considerably dimi- The Com-nished by the reclimation of a ay r and which
The PRESIDENT-What I object to is the sweeping statements,
Mr H&WETT-The sweeping statements were justified by the evidence before us. mission here and elsewhere are preparel to stand by every word in this report.
After a silence,
Mr. HOOPER a-ked the President if a special meeting was to be called to discuss the report.
The PRESIDENT replied that a special meeting would be called if he received the usual intima- tion from three members
Mr. HOUPER-ou are not prepared to call the meeting yourself?
Mr. HOOPER then reid the latter be wrote to the Government and the reply received thereto,
Letter from Mr. A. Shelton Hooper to the Colonial Secretary, dated May 25th; --
Sir. In the minute by the late Colonial Secretary to His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan on the report of the Commission to enquire into the working of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, etc., under the heading of 'New Scheme' Section 16 he says.-Iustad of a glorified Secretary I would introduce, as soon as opportunity offers to do so economically, a working Heid of the Department who cin devote the whole of his time to the Department. He should be nominated by the Governor to be Chairman of the Board the constitution of which might otherwise be as suggested by the Commissioners, viz.:-Four official members and six ungfficials including the Principal Civil Medical Officers. As there appears to be some doubt as to the orrect meaning of it, would you kindly inform ms whether it is proposed to increase the number of members of the Board from tea to eleven, or whether it is proposed for the Principal Civil Medical Officer to take the place of one of the official or unofficial members of the present Board.
I have etc."
་་
Reply dated May 27th-
Sir,-Referring to your letter of the 25th inst. on the subject of His Excellency Mr. May's minute regarding the proposed constitution of the Sanitary Board, I am directed to state that the words Principal Civil Medical Officers are a misprint for the words Principal Medical Officer and that the suggestion is that the Bo rd should consist of eleven members. I am to add that if t is considered by the Board that the Principal Medical Officer should be regarded as an official member His Excellency sees no objection to the reduction of the number of official members to three in place of four, in which event the Board would consist of ten members-I am, etc."
the road ruas.
The construction of the market will be somewhat similar to those at
caretaker. Taikokisui. Quarters will be provided for a
The plan is to ba considered. A SUJGESTION.
An application was read for a modification of the requirements of section 18 of the Public | Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903 in respect of No. 58, Queen's Road West.
Arising therefrom it was resolved at the last meeting of the Board to recommand the Governor-in-Council to make an amendment iu section 180
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shall sign a receipt for property returned to the store by men leaving the department. The value of all articles not accounted for shall be entered on the back of the receipt by the storekeeper who shall notify the secretariat; and the value of such articles shall be deducted from the pay due to such officer or servant, whole of the stores in charge of the Sanitary department shall be kept in the godowns at Beaconsfield or at the store honse at the Dia- infecting Station, Caine Lane, or wherever be marked with the letters "8. D." before being specially authorise by the Governor, and shall
taken in charg by the storeke per Heavy stores, such as coal, wood, atc., will be delivered at the place where they are requir d, but they will not be taken in charge until their delivery has been certified to as correct by the store. keeper. Leather, etc., required for the making of coolie boola will be tiken in charge by the Gaol, and on the conversion of the same into bio's, etc., they will be taken in charge by the Sauitary Department. The storekeeper shall. be held responsible for the stores placed in his charge, and on no account shall the storekeeper receive or issue any stores without the pr duction of the proper voucher. The storekeepr shall ke pa bok in which he shall outer day by day all stores received or issued. When articles are received from the Crown Agents the invoice shall be carefully -xamined and checked with the acual rec-ipts by two responsible officers of the departmut, and the condition of the stores shall be returned for the signature of the Principal Civil M «dical Offer and the Colonial Secretary. For arti- eles purchased locally an order book shall be kept. All orders shall be numbered consecuti- voy and all orders shall be duly signed by a esponsible officer and the counterfoils ex mined from time to time by the Principal Civil Medical Officer and initialled by him. No articles shall be written off the stock books as unserviceable except with the cuucurrence of the Board of Survey and with the approval of the At the end of every year the stock books shall be balanced. The stock taking shall be mude every year, and as far as practicable, by ind-pudent offisers ant responsible fo· stores.
Tue results shall b› forwarded from the Colonial Treasurer to the Ical depar mout at the conclusion of such suck-taking. On no account shail any erasore b. mid in the boks or vouchers, 40 84ry alterations must be initialled by the officer making them.
Jovernor.
MODIFICATION WANTED.
He recommen led refusal of the application.
Mr. A. SHELTON HO PER failed to see, from could be to granting the application. a sanitary pint of view, what objection there
The matter will be considered.
MORTALITY STATISTIC 3.
Messrs. LEIGH and ORANGE applied for a The Secretary minuled-It has been laid mod fication of section 188 with respect to No. down in No. 9628, C.5.0, that there is no power
153. Des Voeux Road. Dr. Clark minuted that to modify the requirements of section 186 (1) (n), he failed to see any no-ssity for the extra sidering the modification of section 18" (1: (fruit store and there was a kitchen on each floor. The difficulty might be overcome by con.
kitchen. The house was used as a preserved
submit, an unsatisfactory mode of procedure and as a modification of section 180 (1) but this is. I
that the sub-c ions of 189 (1) be re-arranged I beg to suggest that the Board recommend
eight, and thus empower the Governor. in and sub-section (a) be placed after sub-section
(g), (b). The Board might also consider the 27th April 1907 show that Council to grant mudifications (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), The mortality statistics for the week ending advisability of recommending that sub-section
the death rate (4) ba ame ided by inserting the words "or except 16.4 per thousand compared with 24.9 in the in the British and foreign community was from". As the section now stands the Board corresponding week of last year, and that ein grant an exemption from the provisions the death rate for the whole Colony was 20-2 Council cannot grant an exemption from the corresponding week of last year. of a scavenging lane but the Governor-in-pr thousau compared with 15.5 In the
requirements of the section. provision of an open space or any other
Members will consider the matter.
SANITARY STORES.
The Colonial Secretary forwarded a letter with regard to the control of stores. Mr. E. W. storekeeper, a sited by two Chinese stationed Dawson, Sanitary Inspector, is to be appointed at Beaconsfield and the Disinfecting Station respectively.
The following regulations are to be put in at stated periods during the year, except in the force at n early date:-Clothing shall be issued
joining, etc., when, as far as possible, part worn case of officers returning from leave, officers clothing only should be issued for us during regular issue. That articles of clothing requir such time, as may be necessary, peading the
of the Board of Survey be written off the books ed for departmental use shall after the report and taken on again as rags. The storekeeper
RAT RETURN.
The rat return for the year 1906 showed that in Hongkong and Kowloon there were 30,701 rat、 killed, uni of these 679 were found to be infected.
The Strait Times of May 17th says:- -We Gougratulate the Commission on the boldness of its report, and we hope it has been able to suggest a means of checking`s repetition of the crimes it has investigated. We fear Hong- kong is not the only place where a thorough investigation of the service is required, and that the accepting of illegal considerations is similar investigations would revesi the fact
understand the reluctance that prevails to stir not confined to subordinates only. We can
well to know that the self-righteous finger of up the muddy waters of corruption, but it is scorn cannot be pointed at Hongkong.
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Private notes are available after approval.