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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
just sat down. I need hardly say that it is my Mr. HOOPEE Very well. That strengthens desire to meet as fully as possible the views of my argument. Because a building or land was unofficial members and to give as long an owned by the Government was, he added, no adjournment as may be necessary, but I hardly reason why it should be less sanitary than build think-at any rate I have had no indication-ings or land privately owned. Ife mentioned the that it is the general wish either of the un insanitary condition of the gardeners' cottage in official members or of the o mmuni y that this Macdonnell Road and of the broken downpipe Bill should be hung up for a farther fire weeks. at the Supreme Court. Had these belonged to It had been may intention to take the Com- private owners they would have been served mittes stage in a fortnight but on 6 nsideration with a notice to abate within 24 hours or be of the fact that we were losing the honourable run up by the heels to the Police Court. He member on my right (Mr. Osborne)-a loss failed to see why the Government which was which I most deeply regret-sud also that the clamouring to make those places sanitary should be in a better position than the others. It might be that the Government was not flush with
money but that excuse could not be pleaded by private individuals and he did not think the Government should do 80. His motion was that Sir Matthew Nathan's departmental instructions should have legislativa effect given to them, and where a government building was found in an insanitary condition the owner should be served with a aummons to abate the nuisance or else appear before the Magistrate. The question arose as to who was the owner, and he proposed that the Colonial Secretary should stand for the owner in the same way as he being the Secretary of the Building Company stood for it.
honourable member at the end of the table on my left (Mr. Keswick) will also leave the Colony for a short time, I thought that it would be better to postpone the committee stage for a far ther week. That would give fully a fortnight in one case and three weeks in the other for the temporary members appointed to their plac's in the council to consider the provisions of the Bill, I could hardly adj urn the Committee stage for five weeks purely on the ground that one individual is going away on entirely voluntary business from the Colony, even though the cause is one we all deplore. I think that it woull be better to adhere to my proposal to take the committee stage three weeks hence.
The Bill was then read a second time.
FOREIGN CORPORATIONS ORDINANCE, The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the third
reading of the Bill entitled An Orinance to enable Foreign Corporations to acquire and bold land in the Colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the
motion was carried.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The Council stands ad. journed till this day three weeks.
FINANCE COMMITTEE..
A meeting of the Finacce Cot milles was held afterwards the Colonial Secretary pre siding. The following rotes were passed
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT VOTS. The Governor recommend d the Couuoil to vote a sum of thirty-nine dullars ($39) in aid of the vote, Medical Departments, B.-Hospitals and Asylums, Civil Hospital, Oiber Charges, Uniform for Indian Constable.
POLICE AND PAISON DEPARTMENTS. The Governor recommended the Coubeil to rote a sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) in aid of the vote, Police and Prison Departments, A.-Police, Other Charge, Secret Service.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand ore hundred and twenty dollars (1,120) in aid of the vote, Colonial Secretary's Department and Legislature, Per. sonal Emoluments, Temporary 1st Grade Clerk.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARI,
WAS
A meeting of the Sanitary Board held on Apl. 28th at the Board Rom. The Hons Dr. J. M. Atkinson (president), presi led, and there were a's present Lieut. Col. Martin,
Captain Lyons, Hon Mr. Irving, Mr. A Shelton Hooper, Mr. H Humphreys, Mr. H. A. W. Slade, Mr. Fang Wa-chun; and Dr. Macfarlane (Assistant Melical Offier of Health) and Mr. Messer (Secretary.)
AN ABORT.VE PROP BAL.
to
Mr. A. SHEL ON HOOPER, pursuant notice, moved :-"That the Bard recommends the Government to give legislative effect, in the propo ed new Ordinance amending the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, to the instructions of His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan, that all Government Buildings be! placed under the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board." lnd ing so he said he b.levad it would meet with no opposition from members of the Board. He point d out that the subject fist cime under their notice over a year ago when it was found that the new Post O ice was in a most insanitary condition, and when it was pointed out to ir Matthew Nathan he issued orders that departmental instructions be given that sanitary insp-ctors should make the same inspection of Government buildings as private buildings.
The PRES DENT-Not quite the same.
i
The FRESIDENT-Does any one second this it, I thongat you would.
Mr. HOOPER - I have asked no one to second
The PRESIDENT-I don't see my way to second this because I don't think it practicable. The matter was referred to the Crown Solicitors
and their opinion was that the Sanitary Board had control over all Government buildings Mr. Hooper suggests that the Colonial Secretary should be served with a notice whenever a nuisance is found to exist on, Government property.
Mr. HCOPER- Quite so.
The PRESIDENT-Do you think the Colonial Secretary could possibly undertake that work with all his other work?
Mr. HOOPER-48. much as I can for my company with my other work.
The PRESIDENT-Is it practical? What I meant when I said that Government property was not inspected in the same way as private property was that it was dealt with more thoroughly than other buildings.
Mr. HOOP E-No.
The PRESIDENT-I have inquired and I find that Government buildings are in-pected once a month and in addition coolie quarters are inspected at least once a week.
Mr. HUMPHREYS said he did not bear Mr. Hooper's motion which he understood was to bring all Government property under the Jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board. If it was only a question as to who was to be served with a notice, it was immaterial whether the Colonial
Secretary or the Building Authority was
sarved.
The PRESIDENT-Do I take it you second this' motion?
Mr.HUMPHREY8-I don't mind secouding it. I am not very clear about it.
Mr. HodPER in his reply said he understood
that his proposal would be acceptable to the Government
On a vote being taken, three voted for the motion and four against. The motion was declared lost,
The PRESIDENT remarked that if any member noticed anything like what Mr. Hooper had meationed as existing at the Supreme Court and elsewhere he might report it to department.
RINDERPEST.
the
The COLONIAL VETERINARY SURG CON had reported an outbreak of rinderpest at the Dairy Farm at Pokfulam. On the 9th inst he receive 1 information from the manager that he suspected disease among the cattle at No. 7 shed. He visited the p-mises where there were 12 cows. 1 bull, and 32 calves; five of the calves had high temperature and the cases being doubtful, ha took the usual precautions. Later visite showed the nature of the illness, and he found that disease had made its appearance in other parts. The animals were isolated and all the sheds affected bid 'been washed and sprayed with a solution of Jaye's faid. He infromel the
(May 8, 1908, Board that the steps taken had made the out- break a thing of the past.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT the pre mises were declared free.
THE AMENDING ORDINANCE.
On a reference being made to the report of the architects on the proposed Public Health and Buildings Amendment Ordinance,
Mr. HOOPER mentioned that a meeting had been held at which the Government had agreed to accept certain recommendations to the Bill- and he would like to know what was likely to be done as the second reading of the Bill was down for the meeting of the Legislative Council on Thursday.
The PRESIDENT thought the alterations suggested and accepted would be placed before the Board.
Mr. HOOPER added that the Government wanted their views before the Bill was pa ad. They had only had time to deal with a portion of it.
The PRESIDENT said he had no information to give. He thought the matter would be referred to the Board before the Bill became aw
Mr. HO PER said he wanted to know what their position wis because they did not want to sit discussing these amendments and he thought accepted by the Corerum n should be placed the amendments suggested by the architects and
before them. He moved that the Board ask the Colonial Secretary to inform them of the proposed alterations to the Bill.
Colouel MARTIN seconded, and the proposal was agreed to.
::
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MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statisties for the week ending April 4th showed that the death rate for the British and foreign community was 31.6 per 1,09) as against 20.5 in the corresponding week of last year and for the whole colony 21.6 as against 29.8 in the corresponding week of last
year.
CATTLE STUFFING.
Representations having been made some time ago by Messrs. Jardins Matheson and Co., Shewan Tomes and Co, Bad Butterfield and Swire as
to the injury done to the export trade in cattle by the practice of stafflag the cattle, a byelaw was framed to prevent the drenching of cattle. It appeared from the minute of the Veterinary Surgeon that this was not sufficient as salt was administered to cattle in order to make them drink water and swell themselves 80 that they be. came heavier and realised more when sold. It was proposed to frame another byelaw to prevent salt be ng administered to them in the pot except with the permission of the Veterinary Surgeon and this was approved.
ULANGSU (AMOY) MUNICÍPAL
COUNCIL.
Minutes of a meeting of the Council held at the Board Room on the 7th April 1908.
Present:-Messrs. W. H. Wallace (Chair. man), O. F. V. Bowra, Huang Ts'an-chew, N Kruse, the Health Officer and the Secretary.
1 The minutes of the last meeting are read and confirmed.
2 An application from the Committee of the Temple is read, for permission to hold a reli- gious procession from 11 a.m. to 5 pm on the 12th instant, which is granted, provided no fire arms are carried. Sanction is also given for a festival to be held at the Temple up to 12 midnight, the 11th inst.
3 The uperintendent of Police reports the following cases have been dealt with at the Mixed Court since the last meeting :-
SUMMONSES.
Debt 3, Breach of Municipal Regulations 1, Assault 1, Breach of Prison Regulations 1, Illegally removing property 3, Being abroad after 12 midnight without a light 1.
By order,
(Signed) W. H. WALLACH,
Chairman,
C. BERKELEY MITCHELL,
Secretary.
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