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412
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
considered mostof the points concerned in the Bill but through a combination of various That was the answer given to the petitioners. circumstances. We have the opium question Before that Sir, we had a commission on the sub- looming in the background and ear ject of the Public Health Ordinance. This was ingatiable Director of Public Works quoted by the Attorney-General on the occasion wa its 118 to incur AU expenditure of of the second reading of the Lill which three million dollars in increasing our water subsequently became law. The Attorney supply. In these circumstances, gentlemen, I General in his speech quoted from the report of do not think that any matter which runs into the Commissioners (reads from report) I may millions of dollars is within the region of here say that these quotations are practically consideration. In the compensation of which correct. The Bill was read a second time on the hoo, member nominated by the Chamber of that day.
That was in November, 19:2. No Commeros spoke, I do not think that his quota. further discussion took place on section 175. tion from the Public Health Act will altogether The community was apparently well satisfied help him The origin, as the Colonial Secretary that the compensation Enhject had been properly pointed ont, of this sub-section of section 175 dealt with in a generons spirit by the Govern which requires open spaces in the rear of ment. The letter laid on the table was dated houses is the report of the Iusanitary Proper- 3rd December, 192, and the bill did not ties commission, acknowledged to be one of become law till February, 1903; it is therefore the strongest commissions that ever sat in thi perfectly obrious that they had emple Colony, composed of no less than Sir Paul opportunity to represent to the Gorera-Chat-r, Sir Thomas Jackson. Mr. Thomas ment the fact that their representation Whitehead, Mr. Nathaniel Ede, and tha on the subject of compensation had not been former Colonial Secretary. This Commis. | properly dealt with. The hon. membersion reported after personal investigation that further said "When he wrote that letter be they regretted to have to report that was under the impression that the Gove n- there were many insanitary properties and met bed honestly and loyally adopted the dwellings which were unfit for hum in habita. (Quotes) recommendatious put forward in the report tion under their present condition. which had been drawn up at the instrucs of "We regret to report that there are many the lando pers. I submit that the inference insanitary propr etjes in the colony and dwellings from his statement was that the Governmen which in their present condition are unfit for had not dealt with the matter honestly and
human habitation. The back portions of a loyally. I think I have giren sufficient facts number of the houses visited by us are dark, ill to show that the Government had dealt with ventitated, extremely dirty and in some cases the subject as honestly and loyally as they mere dens of filth.' They made recommenda could, and the hon. member's remarks on the tions which the Colonial Secretary read-
"The subject were entirely unjustified.
The Hon Mr. HEWITT--Your Excellency, May I make a personal explanation?
His EXCELLENCY-You are not in order, You have already made your personal explana- tion on behalf of Mr. Hooper at the last meeting.
The Hon Mr. HEWETT-I submit Sir when the Colonial Secretary quotes from Hansard or some other source with special regard to remarks m de by me at the last meeting, I am absolutely within my_rights.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I could not reply to your remarks at the last meeting.
Tue lion. Mr. POLLOCK-Surely the bon. member is entitled to auswer the Colonial Secretary who has criticised him.
Mr. POLLOCK and Mr. HEWETT were now speaking together,
sai-1 properties should be improved in the muauer suggested and carried out by at their own cost." Now it was
the owners
given in evidence before that Commission that in compelling owners to make insanitary proper- ties sanitary the Government were only doing what they could compel those owners to do in another way. (Quotes from section em- powering magistrate to declare a house unfit for human babitation.) That is the same as in England. If the Sanitary Authority is of opinion that property is unfit for human habitation they have to apply to a Magistrate for an order before they can compel thess premises to be closed or made fit for babitation. Gentle тел: In addition to the evidence given before the Commission, and in addition to the recom- mendation of these high authorities, I bow to add my evidence. I was on the special Com-
His EXCELLENCY-Will you allow me to mission of the Sanitary Board in 1891 when speak.
The Hon, Mr. PULLOCK-Yes. His EXCELLENCY-If the explanation is purely personal-
I
we closed and s-aled up scores and scores of these houses on the ground of being unfit for ha. man habitation. And they were unfit for buman habitation. I venture to say that the lower The Hou Mr. HEWETT-I have told your classes of this town are in many cases not as well Excellency that it is purely a personal explan housed as the dumb four footed animals in ation, and only on that ground I demand it. Mr. Kennedy's stables in Causeway Bay. There each horse bus one window. The hon. member told your Fxcellency that I wished to make a personal explanation with reference to the nominated by the Chamber of Commerce re- quotations made by the Colonial Secretary marked that certain houses in 1902 were sanitary, from a report of the speech made by me and became insanitary by the operation of this at the last meeting of the Council. I do law of 19 3. Gentlem-n, we took the power to not know from what
the Hon. the grant modifications in hard cases
where pro- Colonial Secretary obtained his version,perties were not altogether insanitary, and we if from Hansurd the report is not a verbatim are now taking power to deal with certain
8 I have conditions which affect one but it is substantially correct.
block of houses venture to say the hon. member nothing to withdraw, nothing to apologise for, which I and nothing to take back. I stand by thuf. had in his mind when he spoke. The property (The Hon. Mr, Pollock: bear, bear)
belongs to the Humphreys Estata Company aud is situated at Kowloon.
Source
His EXCELLEN CY-Gentlemen, I think I have already explained the reasons why I did noti want the bon. meruber on my left to proceed. I have no desire to barko discussion and I wish to say tha I am not afraid of criticism either of what I write or say. As a matter of fact I rather enjoy it, but it seemed to me that on a future occasion when the general amending bill came to be considered his remarks won'd come in
it
now.
Oue
more fittingly. The hon. member has suggested I do not a scheme for dealing with cubicles. want to take up the time of the Council by going into
He made rather light of the expenditure, and there is word of warning I would like to utter ou that point because it may weigh with him and others in considering that scheme. the present time this colony is in a very difficult position. We have a very large rail- way scheme on hand which is not going to prove a gold mine. We bave our currency in
condition
got, I very deplorable submit, through the fault of the Government,
&
At
The Hou. Mr.HEWETT-Really, I cannot all w that to pass. When I spoke I had no particular properly in my mind. I was speaking on a general principle of the Act which was suddenly brought into force, making a large amonat of property in the Colony insa:itary. I take all dus objection to your assertions, with respect to your high position, and object to your trying to twist my words to imply that I am working in the interest of some individual
members of the Community, more pa ticulary Mr. Humphreys, one of my late colleagues on the Sanitary Commission. I roll no man's log, 1 sharpen no man's are. I object to your im- putations which are auworthy as they are untrue.
18
His EXCELLENCY-I did not twist your
words.
The Hon. Mr. HEWITT Yon imputed mo- tives to me which I repudiate.
His EXCELLENCY-I said that I thought you had these buildings in your mind when you spoke.
(June 24, 1907.
The Hon. Mr. HEWITT-No sir, I bad not. His EXC LLENCY-Very well; I accept your explanation. I thought that it might be so, be- cause the property was so particularly referred to in the Report of the Commission. The Colonial Secretary has explained that the question of compensation ander this partionlar section was put forward in 1903, and did not commend iself to this Council, and the Government are determined not to reopen the question. You will also find that in the debates ou that Ordinance of 1903 mention was made of compensation for loss of cubicles. It was agreed by this Council that such compensation The Goverument do should not be granted. not propose now to reopen the question of compensation for cubicles.
The motion was agreed to.
The Council went into committee to consider the Bill.
On resuming.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL, in the absence of objection, moved the third reading of the bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
THE NEDERLANDSCH-INDISCHE
HANDELBANK.
The
Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled Au Ordinance for giving to a Foreign Company called the Nederlandsch-Indische Handelsbank cer- tain facilities for carrying on its business in the Colony.
The COLONIAL TREASUREB seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into committee and con- sidered the Bill clause by clausęz
On resuming, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL re- ported that the Bill had passed through
committee without amendment.
The Bill was then read a third time, passed, and became law.
Council adjourned sine die.
THE SANITARY COMMISSION.
GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.
Following is the Sessional Paper containing the recommendations of the Sanitary Com- mission, and the proposals of the Government thereon laid before the Legislative Council on June 13th.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Open spaces.
to be deleted;
Section 175. Paragraphs 25-58. Sub-section (1). Words "by the owner private lanes and publio streets in the rear to be allowed to count as open spaces. Compen- sation for loss of land devoted to provision of open space to be provided for.
Sub-section (2).
See paragraphs 36-38.
Un-intelligible and unworkable-to be re-
vised.
Sub-section (4).
Sanitary Board to be employed to grant, with the consent of the Governor-in-Council, exemption as well as modification.
CUBICLES,
Sections 153, 154. Paragraph 73.
Require careful consideration and thorongb
F revision.
PROPOSALS.
Words "by the owner
for reasons given in the Colonial decretary's minute will not be deleted.
Private lanes, if in the sime ownership as the hous-s abutting on them, are now allowed to count as open spaces.
For reasons given in the Colonial Secretary's minute compensation will not be granted:
Will not be amended.
A Bill to give effect to this stands in the Orders of the Day.
1. In houses that existed before the passing of Ordinance 23 of 1903, the Board has ample power with the consent of the Governor-in- Council to grant modification and exemption from the law which, therefore, requires no amendment, except to place the power of modification or exemption in the hands of another body.
2 As regards houses built since that date the Government is prépared to confer power
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