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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
appeared in the Midland Tribane' of August HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD. 24th, a copy of which I enclose berewith. It is therein asserted that His Majesty the King attended Mass at Marienbad on the previous Sunday, and was present through the service, accompanied by his suite. It is further stated | that on this occasion the King was seen bowing profoundly at the Elevation of the Sacred Host"; and that on the same evening 'His Majesty at tended Benediction and Vespers.' This service of Benediction is held for the special purpose of adoring the Host. I need hardly add that statements of this kind, if not officially contra- dioted, are calculated to give His Majesty's Protestant subjects considerable anxiety, and therefore on behalf of the Imperial Protestant Federation I have taken the liberty of bringing them before your nolice."
For nearly a month that important en- quiry was ignored, and it was only after a repetition of the application that Lord Knollys, on Sept. 17th, replied as follows:
"Sir,-In reply to your letter of the 13th instant, I beg to inform you that it is contrary to my practice to notice enquiries connected with the false statements which are sometimes
for
my
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"[
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circulated about the King, and this accounts not having answered your communica. tion of the 31st August. I have no objection now however to make an exception in the pro. sent case, and I beg to acquaint you that the report to which you allude is a pure invention."
His Lordship did well to have objection to lay such a ghost, to settle such a slander. He should have reco- gnised its importance sooner. In subse- quent correspondence he showed that be was awake to the gravity of the libel, and coufirmed its repudiation by adding that on the afternoon in question the King attended his own church. It may seem a little hard that His Majesty should not be allowed the same freedom that his subjects have fought for and are determined at all costs to maintain, but it is a vital condition of his Kingship. It is not that personally a Ro- man Catholic King would be more objection- able than one with any other or no creed; but our freedom of conscience has not been 30 very long won that we can afford to take risks. Those who made the condition were looking to the quarter whence they most feared intolerance and oppression, as history had taught them, and they met and we meet intolerance with intolerance until we feel safely out of the wood of superstition's tyranny. We are still at heart afraid of all those who call " schism a sin, and we certainly object to them getting any more power than they have. When disestablish ment comes, as it inevitably will come, and the people are safe from ail state or official interference with their own inner life, the King may please himself like the rest of
us.
But even theu, the ideal King will be attached to no sect at all. Meanwhile, severe repressive measures ought to have been taken against the libellous newspapers concerned.
AFTERMATH OF THE MACAO FESTIVAL.
The Chinese of Macao having rendered their thanks to the goddess Ma of the Barra Pagoda for ridding the Colony of the plague are now disturbed by the discovery that there was some "misconduct and mismanagement in con- nection with the great festival on the part of the bonze at the Pagoda. The managing committee of the Pagoda ordered his expulsion, but the bons, who is stated to have great influence with the powers that be, refused to obey the mandate of the committes. He disputed their competency to order bis expulsion. The Pagoda Committee appealed to the Protector of Chinese, and ultimately to His Excellency the Governor of Macao, but the bonze still remains at the Pagoda and denies the right of anyone to compel him to leave. The bonxe is alleged to have rendered no account of his management of the Pagoda for years past, and other acts are alleged against him.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Oct. 12th at the Board Room. The Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (president) presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G., (Vice-President), Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin (Registrar-General), Dr. F. Clark, (Medical Officer of Health, Captain Lyons, (Captain-Superintendent of Police), Lieut. Col. J. M. Reid, R.A.M.C., Hon. Mr. E. A.Hewett, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Mr. Fung Wa-chun, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock, secretary.
THE ANTHRAX OUTBREAK,
The PRESIDENT:- With referencs to the meeting held on November 1st, have to inform the board that the steamer Loong Sang arrived on the following Monday, and all the cattle some 120 head-bave been segre gated on one of the islands adjoining Stone- cutters. So far there is only one at all suspi. whether it is anthrax. Bat we will know by cious case, and it is very doubtful indeed
to-morrow morning whether it is or is not. Investigations are now being made, and if it is not authrax, it is proposed to release the cattle on Thursday.
CHINESE CAMETERY AT KAILUNGWAN. The COLONIAL SECRETARY wrote to the Board as follows:-I am directed to forward for the information of the Board a plan of the Government cemetery for Chin se at Kailuug- wan, which it is proposed to open on January 1st next. Part of the cemetery area will be loused to the Tungwa hospital authorities for barial purposes.
The letter was laid on the table.
THE BOARD AND THE GOVER VOR-IN-COUNCIL.
Farther correspondence was submitted rela- tive to section 188 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, in respect of the Ko Shing street houses on the southern portion of the Praya Reclamation to Marine Lot 57.
the Bard and seat to the Governor-in-Council
When
|
|
[November 16, 1907.
The PRESIDENT-When any member asks for information, it is given if it is possible to obtain it.
Mr. HOOPER-I don't exactly mean to say that pressure was brought to bear, but the Registrar-General thought there was no use in sending the application back to the Governor-in- Connoil without evidence.
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Mr. HUMPHREYS-I have much pleasure in seconding Mr. Hooper's proposal. I say pleasure because I think it is about time the attention of the community was drawn to the very pernicious system the Government ha re recently adopted of extorting terms-very drastic terms too-for trifling concessions which they had been in the habit of giving for nothing for years and years; that is to say, for permis- sion to erect verandahs over Crown land. In some cases they carry this system to that I should say point
is a'm st dishonourable. To give yon
ia point: At some houses i am connected with in Kowloon, scavenging lanes were provided in ed that compensation should be given for The law provid- accordance with the law.
these scavenging lanes. The Government wait- ed until the owners had half finished the houses and could not pall them down, then a letter was sent in to say that the Governor-in-Council was pleased, on the recommendation of the Sanitary Board, to grant exemption from scavenging lanes; consequently no compensation was allowed No one asked the Board to recommend the Governor-in-Connoil to grant exemption, and it was simply nothing more or less than a dodge of the Government to get out of paying compensation.
The PRESIDENT-I must call you to order. It is scarcely a function of this Board to discuss the action of the Government.
Mr. HUMPHREYS-Wo are only here to advise?
The PRESIDENT-I think you are wandering from the subject.
The
VICE PRESIDENT-A、 regards the remarks made by Mr, Hooper, he said the duty of this Board was to deal with each case on its l'he facts tefore the Board are, Sir, merits. that this particular owner is building on every square inch of land that he can. He is erecting his houses to the fall possible height he can get permission to erect them; in fact, when he originally submitted plans the width of the street was measured in a diagonal fashion, instead of square across, so that he could obtain some additional height. Now he comes to the Board proposing to build houses which, I think, every member of the Board will agre, can be characterised as of the most insanitary type, and asks for something in excess of what the Ordinance permits him to have. If this case justifies recommendation from this Board, I think we may recommend every. These houses are thing that comes before us. certainly of such a type that no modification | should be allowed in connection with them.
Hon. Mr. HawETT -- Unfortunately I have not heard all the arguments in this case, in which we have two diametrically opposed statements. Mr. Hooper has brought forward a convincing argument, and the Vice-President comes forward with an argument that Mr. Hooper's is absolutely wrong. Mr. Hooper's rema-ks have been tak-n down by the members of the Press, and I would suggest that before coming to a vote those remarks should be circulated." Personally I sai not at all disposed to vote one way or the other. I think it advisable to have the question desit with in writing, and may be we shall have opportunity of forming a proper opinion.
Members agreed.
Mr. HOOPER said at the last meeting he proposed that this matter, which was passed by for approval, and returned unapproved, should be sent back to the Governor in-Council for reconsideration. There WAS a precedent for that, as they had had a similar case within the last three or four months which went back and was reconsidered, and the Governor-in-Conncil | he proposed doing the same with this ma ter at rescinded their original judgment on it.
the last meeting the Registrar-General thought it was useless unless they had further evidence on which to act. The Director of l'ublic Works stated that some of the reasons for refusal were that so many modifications bad been granted to this applicant. He might say. with regard to these modifications, that they had not been brought to the notice of the Board when the Board was asked to consider the matter in the first case.
Then they dealt with the case on its merits and came to a unanimous conclusion. When he said unanimous he thought it fair to say that three members were not present-the Director of Public Wor's, the Melical Officer of Health and Mr. Fung Wa-chun. [Me. Hooper here dealt seriatim with a paper drawn up by the Assistant to the Building Autho- rity in which the reasons of the Building Authority were given for not approving of the suggestions of the Board.] He conceived it to be the duty of members of the Board. when
made, an application was
con on its merits with all the sider each case evidence before them, documentary or other. wise, and to come to a conclusion justified by that evidence. The Board unanimously
to grant this application with the Works has stated that these are houses of the decided approval of the Governor-in-Council, but it most insanitary type in this Colony. I beg to came back from the Governor-in-Council refus-refer you, Sir, to a minute by yourself to the ed, without any reason at all being assigned as
Colonial Secretary. The Medical Officer of to why it was refused; and it was only on pres- Health's minute to this application was I sure being brought to bear, that they were able recommend that the application be granted.”
The PRESIDENT—That was in connection to find out these reasons which had been stated by the officer of the Building Authority. The with a latrice. reasons laid before them did not bear at all on the application, which, he moved, be sent back
to
to the Governor-in-Council for reconsideration.
The PRESIDENT-I scarcely think you can say that pressure was brought tɔ baar. When you requested the information it was supplied.
Mr. HooFEB-It emanated from you.
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Mr. HOOPEB-I think I have a right to reply to Mr. Chatham. The Director of Public
Sa
Mr. Hoops-With regard to increasing the height of the building, I pointed out the other day that, if it were a pitched roof instead of a flat one, there would be more sir space occupied. SECTION 175.
Application for exemption from the require- ments of section 175 of the Public Health and
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