Page
July 11, 1908.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
95
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD. been adopted, would have prevented a great | was affected, and we lose the services of th
The newly constituted Sanitary Board met on July 7th for the first time. Mr. C. Mol. Messer, the new president, took the chair, and another new personality was Dr. A. Gibson, as secretary; Dr. Pearse being also included in the personnel. There was present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Hon. Mr. Irving, Dr. Pearse, Dr. Macfarlane, Lieut. Colonel Reid, Mr. Shelton Hooper, and Mr. Lau Chu-pak. The acting Secretary, Dr. Gibson, read the following letter addressed to the Secretary of the Sanitary Board:
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong.
7th July, 1908. SIR-I am directed to acquaint you for in- formation of the Board that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Mr. C. McI. Messer to be administrative Head of the Sanitary Department and Dr. A. Gibson, C.V.8., to act as Secretary to the Board during the absence on leave of Mr. G. A. Woodcock, with effect from 2nd inst. —I am Bir, your cbedient
servant.
F. H. MAY,
Colonial Secretary. Mr. SHELTON HOOPER-I think before we proceed with the ordinary business that I shall be expressing the views and feelings of all members of this Board in congratulating you on the appointment the Governor has conferred on your as head of the administrative sanitary department and ex-officio president of this Board. His Excellency, in introducing the new legislation, and in outlining the constitution that he proposed to adopt for the administration of sanitary affairs in this Colony, said that he proposed to substitute for the Principal Civil Medical Officer of Health as head of this Board a cadet with experience of Chinese and their language and of proved administrative ability, I am sure that the Board will agree that the Governor has fulfilled that promise in appointing yourself. In looking over your record since you have been in the Colony for a little over ten years, I find you have acted as assistant Colonial Secretary, as magistrate, and you have been a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils. You must have proved your efficiency very early in your career because I find that you became a member of the Execu- tive Council before you had ceased to be a cadet, and therefore we may look forward with pleasure to our association with you in presiding at this
deal of friction and 8 great deal of the corruption the past. This Board has been twitted in which has taken place in the Legislative Council with not exercising of the Public Health Ordinance, and I think powers that we had, contained in the proviso that that twitting was quite justifiable. It was intended when that law was passed sufficiently drastic to cover the worst oase of to be property in the Colony, but it was intended by the proviso to make it sufficiently elastic that in sticking to the letter of the law we should accept its spirit and be more free with exemp. tions, when applied for. I thick if that had been done there would have been less friction and less cause for altering the law on the part of the Government, With these words I would on behalf of the Board and of the unofficial mem. bers, congratulate you on your appointment I think before I sit down it would not be out of place to say a few words about late
our
080
within &
Captain Superintendent of Police, Captain heard he had to leave the Board, because he Lyons. It is with very much regret that we always brought to the consideration and mind and common sense, besides which he deliberation of matters before us an ́even had served on the Sanitary Board in the been Straits Settlements. His place, however, has Heilth, and although I was one of the most taken by the Medical Officer of
looked upon him virtually as a servant, and strenuous to opposé the appointment because I being a member I considered he would be stullified in giving a vote, his Excellency has stated that that offloar is not bound to record his vote in accordance with any recommenda- tion he may have advised, in his official capacity. As the Board he can view the question from the additional standpoints of finance and policy. I need not say any more except of the personal occupant at this time of this office. I am sure that this Colony has never had a man with a higher technical know- ledge of hygiene since a similar officer has been appointed by the Government.
With those fow
gentleman who is ever ready to hear both sides, and to give fair play and justice. A. regards yourself, Sir, I have known you since you acted as Registrar General some years ago. At that time in all my dealings with you and courteous, and with plenty of common sense found you always fair, reasonable, considerate which, I hope, will now pervade your adminis tration of the n›w Ordinance. words I join in wishing you a hearty wele me to this Board, a ndia doing so I would extend a hearty welcome to our friend Dr. Pearse whose sensibility and sound advice have guided many of as for many years. and good points are too well-known to need my Dr. Pearse's abilities
mentioning. referred to by our friend Mr. Hooper, he has As regards the other matters
said sufficient and expressed the opinions of the other members of the Bard so fully that I need scarcely refer to them again.
president, Dr. Atkinson. speak with regard to Dr. Atkinson better than I can with regard to yourself, for we have been intimately associated ever since he arrived in the Colony in November 1887. He arrived Mr. LAU CHU-PAK-I have great pleasure a stranger to this Colony and had one of the in endorsing the none too just and laudatory most arduous tasks any man ever had, and I remarks which have just come from the eloquent think that this is proved by some words which
tongue of our common colleague and friend, I shall quote from a speech made by Governor Mr. Hooper. During the eight years since I Des Voeux on the 30th November of that year. have had the honour to serve on this Board I Dr. Atkinson had been in the Colony then some- have noticed that on no few occasions there have thing less than a fortnight." The Governor said
been cases which would disturb the equanimity I may say we, as you are aware, have just got a of mind of the average man, and it is to the new surgeon, and two ward-masters who are re-seredit of our late president that he invariably sponsible for what has occurred are in gaol on conducted the case with great tact and in a msa- a very serious charge. We have, as I say, just ner which I should say was very generous, and got a new medical man who comes with a good he generally showed himself to be courteous and reputation, and I must say he has impressed me
patient. Such qualities from the chairman of s things in a better condition, and I think it very strongly with his extreme desire to place semi-official body like the Sanitary Board are would only be fair to wait a few weeks and see
to be appreciated, and in my opinion, can only be what he does before we enter on a commission abilities. Of Captain Lyons my knowledge is in the possession of an_official of no mesa cap- of enquiry which would give a deal of trouble not of so long standing, but what little have able to do himself. and very likely do no more good than he will be
seen of him is quite sufficient to enable me He has impressed me as to come likely to be an efficient man, at all events he
to the conclusion that he is a is a very zealous man." That was a prophesy concerning Dr. Atkinson's carcer fortnight of
his arrival, and on looking over Dr. Atkinson's first report six or seven months after, he stated that he was surprised and perplexed at the state of affairs very much then existing at the hospital. The two European ward-masters were on their trial for robbing patients under their care and the nursing Board. I think that the future should be a period of usefulness, usefulness to the Govero-
staff was in a state of disorganisation." ment and usefulness to the Colony in general. nothing to do, but with regard to the nursing With regard to the criminal charge we have If the administration is to be a success it cau
organisation most of us know the state of only be so with the co-operation of the unofficial efficiency in which it is now, and that is all due members of this Board, and speaking for myself,
to Dr. Akinson. I will now say a few words and the other unofficial members of this Board speaking rather as a member of the Commission you can be assured of that co-operation. You than as a member of this Board, because it was have a right to look to
for support in all deliberations and consideration of through the Commission making the report it various matters that come before us, and did, and recommending the Government that the that support will be obe rfully given. We, og
Principal Civil Medical Officer of Health should the other hand, have a right-and we shall look relinquish his duties as head of the Sanitary to you to see that we have it -we have a right Board, that the change has been made. The Department and therefore as president of this to be treated equally with the officials and with you yourself. When presiding here you will
Commission in making that recommendation not preside over a department of your own, bat
had nothing but praise for Dr. Atkinson as a over a body, every member of which has
man, as a doctor and as a conscientions Govern equal rights with yourself. You are
ment Officer. Bat we pointed out to the inter pares, with the exception that in addition
Government that as he was a member of the 10 your deliberative vote you have
Executive Council, Medical Adviser to the a cast- ing vete. I hope that in the era of usefulness Governor, head of the Medical Department, which I trust we are now entering, there will had supervision of the Medical Staff, etc., we felt be concerted action so that the sanitary condi- devote so much time to the administration of tion of the Colony will be improved and the this department as its importance merited. Colony raised once more to a clean and w ole. some country in which the world's trade may
On these grounds, and these alone, the change be carried on without fear of contracting that
was recommended. The Government, when it terrible scourge which for the past decade has acquiesced in that, and Dr. Atkinson himself read the critic sms in the Commission report, made a periodical appearance and hampered quite agreed with it, and said that he could not trade to a certain extent. In the past there has continue the labours in this department with been a great ontory against the Banitary laws justice to himself. Therefore we were all of this Colony but I can say from experience that I don't think the fault has been with agreed that some change should take place. the law but with its administration. By however, was not adopted by the Government, The change the Commission recommended, that I don't mean administration solely by but that' is a controversial matter which I am the head of the department but by the whole not going to allude to to-day. They pro- department. The subordinates have had too free a hand, not enough supervision to see
posed in the alternative one which I for one am that they carried ont their duties intelligently I can to the incumbent of the office which you willing to give a tria), and to give every support and with that commonsense which, had it
now hold. By this legislation another change
113
unum
that it would not be human to ask a man to
"
The PRESIDENT-I thank you for the kind remarks mad, gentlemen, and trust your
prophesies will come true.
The MEDICAL OFFICE OF HEALTH—I thank Mr. dooper and Mr. Lau Cha-pak very much.
BAT REIURNS.
The rat returns for the weeks ended June 27th and July 4 h showed that 200 ani 125 rats respectively had been caught. Of the former number nins were infected and of the latter
вде.
in the numbers caught calls for more vigorous Captain LYONS minated-The great falling action in the campaign against rats.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The death rate for the week ended June 27th community as compared with 164 in the was 31'6 per 1,000 in the British and foreign corresponding week of last year and 361 per 1,000 of the whole Colony as compared with 241 per 1,000 in the corresponding week of last year.
.*The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and George Hamilton, G.C.S.I., has joined the China announce that the Right Hon. Lord
Christian, who has resigned after holding amo board of directors in saccession to Mr. William for thirty-four years.
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