916
The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH_19- ported ----I see no way to secure that the water at the spring is kept free from contamination except by covering a sheltered trough into which the water rises and pro- viding a pump. At present the water is con- taminated by vegetable matter which falls in and by the dipping up of the water by backets which are not clean. "I don't however think that much danger is to be feared from the use of the water for the manufacture of soy. It would not, however, pass muster as drinking water.
Both Mr. HOOPEE and Mr. LAU CHU-PAK minated that the well should remain open. The PRESIDENT-No action required.
PLAGUE AT HOK UN KOK,
Dr. MACFARLANE reported that thirteen cases of plague had occurred at a small village named Hok Un Kok between the 7th April and the 20th May. This was a large number in proportion to the num. ber of the inhabitants and to the total for Kowloon so far. The following were the figures for the whole of Kowloon up to date: Hok Un Kok, 13; Hun hom, 31; Yau- mati and Mongkok, 5 (4 known to be imported); Sham Shui Po and Team Kok Tsui, 26; other villages, 3; total, 69. The villagers of Hok Un Kok were mostly employed in the Cement Works or in Bailey's shipbuilding yards and works. They had thus every opportunity of sprea. ding infection to other places and were probably responsible for some of the 21 oases in Hung- hom as Hunghom itself was clean and had never much plague. Most of the houses were quite unsuitable for occupation and did not lend themselves to proper cleansing and nearly all were illegal under the Ordinance. Last year it was Kowloon city which supplied the early focus of plague. This year it was Hok Un Kok and Sham Shui Po. He did not see how plague was ever to be controlled in Kowloon until something was done to these places. He recommended that certain portions shown on a plan should be closed for human habitation and that steps should be taken to close most of the remainder later on, The walls were only loose stones and the floors of mud and damp; windows practically did not exist and in consequence most of the houses were quite dark inside. Overcrowding probably existed in many of them from their appearance. Except for these villages plague had not started properly in Kowloon yet and there was some ground for thinking that it would not do so even in the regular tenement houses if it was not allowed to thoroughly establish itself in the villages first. Details of the houses were given in the plague report furnished by the officer.
Dr. ATKINSON in a mina'e to the Director of Public Works wrote- I have inspected these houses with Dr. Macfarlane and they are undoubtedly not fit for human habitation. The difficulty is to find some house to accommodate the people. Would it be possible to use the match factory at Hanghom for this purpose? If so, please let me have the key so that it can be measured up so as to ascertain how many can be accommodated.
The PRESIDENT said that from 200 to 300 people lived in those hovels, and it was advisable to have then rehoused as soon as possible. There would be plenty of accommodation in the match factory.
Mr. HOOPER-The people are little less than squatters.
The PRESIDENT-The great thing is to get the houses empty. We might leave the decision as to what is to be done with the houses until lster.
Mr HOOPER-How would you divide the families in the match factory ?
The PRESIDENT-It belongs to the Govern- ment and they would put up partitions, if required.
Mr. HOOFRE-You cannot turn out these people until the place is ready for them.
The PRESIDENT-We don't propose to do so. The match factory will accommodate 750 persons ou each of the two floors. A caretaker will doubtlesu be required. If the Board order the place to be closed I think we might leave the arrangements to the Committee.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by Mr. HOOPER, it was agreed to close the houses indicated.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics for the week ended May 9th gave the following figures: The death rate for the foreign community civil popula. tion, was 35.6 per 1000 as against 24.6 per 1000 in the corresponding week of last year. The death rate for the whole colony was 30.9 per 1000 a against 21.6 psr 1000 in the corresponding week of last year.
VICTORIA RECREATION CLUB.
The Victoria Recreation Club is no longer without a suitable habitation. The vicissitudes which the Club has undergone in recent years are too well known to call for recapitulation, but a new era dawns for this, the oldest sporting organisation in the Colony, by the formal open- ing of the bandsome new premises which have been erected for it on the site near Murray Piar. Rad brick is the material employed in the building, and the effect is not displeasing to the eye.
The design is certainly striking and the club may well be proud of its new quarters which few sporting organisa. tions in the East can excell. The foundations are built of stone. On entering the visitor passes through a long corridor which runs the whole length of the spacious gymnasium which is adequately equipped. Beyond is the boat house where a number of racing boats are stored, and at the end of this are the bath rooms and conveniences. Above the boat house are the bar room, dressing room, reading room, steward's office and large verandahs. The bar room is attractively fitted up, the dressing room has every convenience desired, and the reading room looks comfortable. The verandab, wide and airy, gives a pleasant seat with a fine out- look and a neat little balcony on Murray Road will appeal to those who wish for less company. A bicycle stand has been furnished between the two porches at the entrance. The gymnasium which has a gallery on two side, is 5 feet long by 33 ft 6 wide, the boat house is 57 feet 2 in by 42 feet, dressing room and club room each 32 feet by 28 ft. 3; the principal verandah 57 ft. 2 by 10 ft. 6; the length of the whole build ing is 123 ft, and the greatest width 60 ft. 2.
welcome
occasion
The opening ceremony took place on May 25th in presence of a very large attendance of members. His Excellency the Governor, who was accompanied by Captain Mitchell Taylor, A.D.C., Was mét by Mr. A. Rodger, the president, who extended a cordial
in these words :-" Your Excellency, I have the honour and pleasure to welcome you here to-day, the being the formal opening of the new olub premises of the old Victoria Recreation Club- a club that has done useful work in the way of training young men in athletic sports on land and water for over half a century. The com- mittee and members are very proud of their new club house and have asked me to thank you, Sir, for coming here to-day. We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you here on many other occasions. I think it is unnecessary for me to say any more at present. May I ask Your Excellency to be good enough to turn the key in the lock and formally declare the Club house open."
HIS EXCELLENCY in reply said:-Mr. Rodger, gentlemen, I think you have chosen a most auspicious day for the opening of the new premises. May 24th, commonly called Empire Day, is, as you know, in this Colony by Ordinance called Queen Victoria Day, in memory of our late beloved sovereign, the Queen, whose birth. day it was, and it is particularly fitting that you should have chosen this day as the name of the club is the Victoria Recreation Club. It is, as Mr. Rodger has told us, fifty years old-the oldest olub in the Colony. You have suffered great losses in the typhoon and you have made wouderful effort to recover and to refit your boating house and by building these charming premises here, which, I think, both as a water pavilion, and as a Club house and gymnasium combine every faci lity which a clab of this sort can give to its members. I hope that these premises will long continue to serve the purpose for which they were erected and 1 wish the heartiest success to all the members in inter port and inter-club competitions in the Colony (applause). I'
ย
[May 30, 1908.
hope the honour you have done me in asking_ me to open the building to-day may bring you some extra luck in the competitions of the coming year. I have great pleasure (and his Excellency here turned the key in the look) in declaring the Club honse open (applause),
Afterwards His Excellency made an in- spection of the premises under the guidance of Mr. Rodger, at the close of which the company assembled in the gymnasium where the Governor proposed Success to the Victoria Recreation Club," the toast being enthusiasti- cally received. Mr. Rodger then proposed the health of His Excellency, which was followed with three cheers for the Governor who there- upon called for three cheers for the Victoris Recreation Club. These were heartily given, and then Mr. Rodger presented His Excellency with the silver key used for the opening ceremony as a souvenir of the occasion, and with Sir Frederick's reply the proceedings terminated.
THE ANTI-DYNASTIC DISTURBANCES IN YUNNAN.
The Chinese newspaper reports from Yunnan indicate that the disorders in that province are still far from being subdued, though the lat est intelligence is that the rebel leader has been killed in an engagement with the Imperial troops.
Recently the commander in chief of the rebels sent a notification to the French Resident at Lao-kay, notifying him that be, as general in chief of the New China Society, was oocu- Pying the Chinese territory of Yunnan on the borders of Tonkin, and, as there was great danger in moving about the country, he was ready to give permits to Europeans. The General added: "We know that the Consul for France wishes to go to Mongtze and we would like to give him a passport. He need have no fear. If the Consul goes without' papers we free ourselves of responsibility. We offer the same explanations for all travellers who pass through the territories we have taken."
Following is a translation of a proclamation by the General-in-Chief commanding "the New Chinese Society :”-
"We, Huong-Yen-Phu, commandant of the
forces of the New Chinese Society, mike pro-
clamation as follows :-
"Henceforth the faithful troops are rallied to our just cause.
"Strict instructions have been given and will be observed.
"We will annihilate villains, liars and traitors. "We will severely condemn the guilty who- ever they are; but we will love and protect the honest and peaceable population.
"We will recov r the ancient realm of our ancestors.
"We will drive away the Manchu dynasty which has enslaved us for some centuries.
"We will ameliorate present conditions,
44
From the mirch of the troops merchants have nothing to fear and can continue their avocations.
"The cultivators, the workers, the merchants, the students should peaceably pursue their occupations. We will protect them.
No robbery will be committed. "All that is needed will be bought at an agreed price.
Robbers will be immediately punished by
death.
LE
Nobody naed be afraid.
"All the commands of this proclamation will
be executed with the utmost severity regardless of the status of the person, whatever be their
fitles.
"Respect this!"
Empire Day was celebrated in Hongkong on May 25th. The day was observed as a holiday and business was suspended. Fortunately the weather was suitable for excursions and not a few were enabled to have a good time. The pupils of the Victoria and Kowloon British Schools were entertained to a launch picnic by H.E. the Governor in the afternoon. British vessels in the harbour were dressed in honour of the occasion.
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