港史文本 - HK In Texts: Sessional Papers

PAPERS LAID BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG 1901

Table of Contents

1. Accession of King Edward Vii

Despatch Respecting Proclamation of

2. Blue Book for 1900

Despatch on

3. Botanical and afforestation

Report for 1900

4. Buildings Which Collapsed

Particulars of

5. Building Works

Professional Supervision of

6. Census for 1901

Report on

7. Chair and Jinricksha Coolies

Report of Commission on

8. Collapse of Houses in Cochrane Street

Depositions and Finding

9. Criminal Statistics

For 1900

10. D'Aguilar Light

Removal of, to Green Island

11. Death of H. I. M. Empress Frederick

Telegram of Condolence on

12. Drainage Systems: Plague Mortality

Despatch on

13. Education

Report for 1900

14. Education - Queen's College

Report for 1900

15. Finance Committee

Report of Proceedings of the Finance Committee (1901)

16. Financial Returns

Assets and Liabilities for 1900

17. Financial Returns

For 1900

18. Fire Brigade

Report for 1900

19. Food Supply

Report of Commission on

20. Gaol

Report for 1900

21. Harbour Master

Report for 1900

22. Land Court

Report for 1900

23. Legislative Council

Proceedings for 1901

24. Malaria

Clinical Report on

25. Medical

Report for 1900

26. Mosquitoes

Report on Examinations of

27. New Territory

Statement of Revenue and Expenditure

28. New Territory

Return of Fishermen Taking Coral and Shell from Sea adjoining

29. New Territory

Report on Survey of

30. New Territory

Report for 1900

31. Observatory

Report for 1900

32. Plague (Bubonic Fever)

Report on Epidemic of

33. Po Leung Kuk

Report for 1900

34. Police

Report for 1900

35. Post office

Report for 1900

36. Post offices in China, British

Revenue and Expenditure of

37. Public Works

Report for 1900

38. Public Works Committee

Discussion on Refuse Destructor

39. Public Works Committee

Report of Proceedings of the Public Works Committee (1901)

40. Registrar General

Report for 1900

41. Registration of Chinese Partners

Report of Committee on

42. Salaries of Subordinate officers

Correspondence Respecting increase of

43. Sanitary

Reports for 1900

44. Sanitary Condition of Hongkong

Correspondence, &C. on

45. Sanitary Experts

Telegrams Regarding appointment of

46. Sanitary Experts

Continuation of Correspondence Regarding appointment of

47. Standing Law Committee

Report of Proceedings of the Standing Law Committee (1901)

48. Volunteer Corps, Hongkong

Report for 1900

49. Water account

Statement of, for 1900

50. Water Supply, Hongkong

Correspondence Regarding intermittent System of

51. Water Supply, Kowloon

Report on

52. Waterworks (Kowloon) Gravitation Scheme

Correspondence Regarding

53. Widows and Orphans' Pension Fund

Report for 1900

.....

.. HONGKONG.

No. 39.

Governor,

155

No. 6

1901

HONGKONG.

DESPATCH RESPECTING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE

ACCESSION OF KING EDWARD VII.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

31st January, 1901.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 29th instant reporting that the Accession of King EDWARD VII had been proclaimed on that day in the presence of a large and enthusiastic concourse.

2. His Majesty the King highly appreciates the loyalty of the Colony of Hongkong.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&C.,

&c.,

&c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN,

募

HONGKONG.

155

No. 6

1901

DESPATCH RESPECTING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE

ACCESSION OF KING EDWARD VII.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

HONGKONG.

No. 39.

SIR,

Governor,

DOWNING STREET,

31st January, 1901.

2. His Majesty the King highly appreciates the loyalty of the Colony of Hongkong.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&c.,

fc.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

HONGKONG.

743

No.

DESPATCH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR ON THE BLUE BOOK FOR 1900.

No. 382.

}

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

SIR,

1901

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 25th September, 1901.

I have the honour to forward the Blue Book for 1900. The statistics quoted in the Report of the Colonial Secretary show that the Colony is in a sound finan- cial position, and that its business, which is mainly that of a great transhipping port, continues to increase with the expanding trade of the East. The shipping returns show that during the year 1900, 82,456 ships of the aggregate registered tonnage of 18,445,133 tons, carrying 9,862,868 tons of cargo and 2,031,079 pas- sengers arrived and cleared.

2. But this considerable increase of shipping over the previous year by no means represents the enormous increase in the number of ships that entered the harbour during this year of abnormal activity. The Boxer troubles in the North broke out in June, and in July the first contingents of the China Expeditionary Forces began to arrive. Hongkong was practically the British base, and for months. the man-of-war anchorage was filled with British and Foreign warships and trans- ports. At first it was feared that there was no available space in which to accom- modate the Indian Brigades landed here to await the settlement of details as to future operations. I gave the Major-General Commanding Troops carte blanche to occupy every spot of ground on which a tent could be pitched, and sufficient accommodation was found in the immediate neighbourhood. I may add that the conduct of the Indian Troops landed here left nothing to be desired.

3. With the new road now being completed to Taipo, opening up the plains and hillsides of the New Territory, there is now ample accommodation for any number of troops likely to be required in the East.

4. It will be easily understood that with the paralysis of trade in the North on the outbreak of active hostilities the entire trade of China was affected, and the godowns in Hongkong and Shanghai were filled to overflowing with imported merchandise of which the Chinese merchants were slow to take delivery. In the month of September a rebellious movement was started in the district of Weichou north of the New Territory and Mirs Bay. The movement was not anti-foreign, and the insurgents refrained from interference with the villages in Tung Kun Dis- trict in which the Basel Missions were established, nor, so far as I could learn, were any atrocities committed by them. It was a movement of a section of re- formers that was not joined by the followers of KANG-YU-WEI. The disturbance lasted for about a fortnight and collapsed after several engagements with the Viceroy's troops under Admiral Ho, in one or two of which the rebels had some success. About four thousand lives were lost in the fighting, and the movement died out from the want of arms and ammunition, to prevent the smuggling of which the Police of Hongkong left nothing undone. The movement created con- siderable uneasiness in the district around Canton, one result of which was the transfer of a large amount of Chinese money to Hongkong for investment under the protection of the British flag. This may to some extent account for the increased sale of Crown land at enhanced prices during the year.

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

&c.,

&c.

་

744

5. This small rebellion was, no doubt, attempted in consequence of the pre- occupation of the Imperial Government in the North, possibly with a view of inducing the allied Powers to secure peace in the South by a promise to consider the question of internal reform when the time arrived for the imposition of terms of peace upon the Imperial Government. I have heard from fairly well-informed sources this explanation of the rising. Had the Canton district responded or had the Viceroy acted with less promptitude, the situation might have become very critical. The movement was distinctly anti-dynastic as there was in the South among the Cantonese a strong feeling against, not alone the reigning dynasty, but against the people of the Northern provinces-a feeling of hostility apparently reciprocated by the Northern Chinese, who were quite as ready to murder a Cantonese as an Amer- ican or European, and who look upon them as foreigners, if not foreign devils. I had an illustration of this when the Boxer movement developed in Tientsin. A number of Cantonese young men were engaged in business in Tientsin, and some had gone there to attend the Chinese Medical School. These young men were regarded as foreigners and found themselves in a position of great danger, and with no apparent means of escape. Some Chinese gentlemen here waited upon me, and, explaining the position, requested my good offices in assisting their return to Canton and Hongkong, saying that they were prepared to pay ten thousand dollars for the necessary expenses, as the lives of Cantonese would be in grave peril if the Boxers had any success. I telegraphed to His Majesty's Consul at Tien- tsin asking his assistance in repatriating the Cantonese, for which I undertook to be responsible to the extent of the sum named, and he very kindly made the neces- sary arrangements, forwarding bills for over nine thousand dollars which were at once paid by the Chinese gentlemen who had approached me. A deputation of the young men whose escape had been secured waited upon me to express their gratitude, and one and all were assured that had they fallen into the hands of the insurgents their lives would have been taken. The incident was mentioned in the Chinese newspapers in Canton and has, I hope, had some effect in strengthening the cordial relations that exist at present between the Government of the two Kwangs and this Colony.

6. Among the land sales effected during the year was a large area sold to Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE who propose to build docks there, one of which will be capable of taking in the largest ship now afloat. The Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company have applied for an additional area upon which the Company proposes to add another dry dock of equally large proportions, and as the Naval Yard extension now progressing includes at least one more dry dock of suitable capacity, the docking facilities of this port will in the near future equal, if not exceed, those of any port in the East.

7. The building of steam-launches proceeds apace, nearly one hundred having been constructed during the year. I question if, in any part in the world, better or cheaper steam-launches are built than those turned out in Hongkong. The extension of the boiler-making trade, due to this expansion of steamboat building, is now forcing itself upon our attention by complaints of the nuisance created by boiler-makers who have set up their noisy business in quiet quarters of the town and proceed to prosecute it day and night. It may be necessary to confine this trade to a particular quarter.

8. I regret to have to report the recrudescence of plague at the usual season,. the end of February. The epidemic began at the end of February, and lasted 27 weeks, ceasing in the first week in July. During that time there were 1,080 cases with a case mortality of 95.5 per cent. In 1899 the epidemic lasted for thirty-eight weeks with 1,428 cases and a case mortality of 96.1 per cent. In considering this annual recurrence of plague, the situation of Hongkong renders it peculiarly difficult to deal with the introduction of disease from without, for the relief gra- dually obtained in other places by the death of the susceptible can hardly be looked for here with a perennial influx of susceptible coolies from the surrounding

745

plague infected provinces. A few hours bring these people to Hongkong and nothing short of a ten days' detention of from two to three thousand persons who daily enter Hongkong would insure freedom from the introduction of plague by these visitors, while even if all are healthy there must be among them a propor- tion of susceptibles to feed the fuel on the appearance of plague.

9. One of the most important questions of the immediate future is the problem of reducing the surface population, the density of which in one health district of Victoria is, in round numbers, six hundred and forty thousand to the square mile, and this in a city crowded under the precipitous northern slope of the Peak range of hills that effectually shut off the south-easterly breezes of the summer months. The abatement of surface crowding by the resumption of houses and opening of streets and lanes will probably cost some millions of dollars, as the value of house property in Victoria is very great, houses being sold at from six dollars to thirty- five dollars a square foot; but the taxation of Hongkong is light compared with that of other Colonies, and sooner or later the question of the abatement of surface overcrowding must be vigorously dealt with.

10. The state of the New Territory taken over in 1899 has been fully dealt with in my despatch No. 304 of the 12th of last August. The Financial Accounts of this lately occupied concession afford no reliable basis for an estimate of its ulti- mate value. Up to the present we have been engaged upon making a good main road that will give ready access to the interior of the Territory, in building Police Stations and in preparing a cadastral survey, without which, arrangements cannot be made for the payment of Crown Rent and the settlement of land claims, after which I expect to see a rapid development of that portion of the district surround- ing the harbour of Hongkong where the taking over of the Territory has increased the value of land, in some instances literally a thousand-fold, but over every acre of which disputed claims await adjustment by the Land Court. The police ex- pense of the New Territory is also a heavy item, as armed robbery on land and sea is a very common offence, and our preventive patrol system is costly as compared with the somewhat drastic Chinese system of disregarding those local irre- gularities until they become intolerable, when a force is sent to punish the district by eating it out, or, if necessary, destroying a village or villages. Beyond affording protection and bringing home to the people the fairness and justice of the British system of government nothing can be done in the New Territory until the land claims have seen settled. When that has been done, nothing will remain to pre- vent its development on a sound and stable basis. The people are intelligent and industrious and, I am informed, that there is ample capital only awaiting the secu- rity of a valid title to be devoted to various agricultural and manufacturing ven-

tures.

11. At present the staple crops are rice, sugar, sweet potatoes and vegetables. Possibly the rice cultivation is as good as we can make it, but the sugar cultiva- tion is capable of great improvement, and I have reason to believe that seri- culture will be tried on a large scale, while I see no reason why, with the further propagation of succulent grasses already growing in the Colony, the hills north of the Kowloon range and the island of Lautao should not support a sufficient number of cattle to render Hongkong independent of the supplies now procured from the West and North Rivers.

12. Unfortunately during the year the large river steamers that traded between Hongkong and the West River treaty ports were withdrawn in consequence of the difficulties that beset them on account of the strained interpretation by the Imperial Maritime Customs of the inland navigation agreement. The Companies interested asked no more than that they should have the liberty to carry passengers to and from any place on the river, undertaking to confine the carriage of cargo and par- cels to the ports and stages already agreed upon, and being prepared, if necessary, to carry a Customs Official on board and to conform to every local regulation as to

746

inspection, &c. This proposal, which I made personally to the Viceroy LI HUNG CHANG when on his way to the North, to the Tsung-li Yamen, and to Sir ROBERT HART, was accepted by all three. It was referred to a Committee in Canton ap- pointed by the Acting Viceroy, and, for some reason that I have not discovered, it was recommended by them that the proposal should be rejected. I hope that the proposal may yet be accepted, as its adoption would be effective in checking the piracy so difficult to cope with on the West River, by affording to Chinese travel- ling to Canton with valuable property or returning with large sums of money a safe means of transit to their own towns in a British steamer carrying a regular guard.

13. On the 9th of November the Colony was visited by a very severe typhoon, the centre of which passed over the town and harbour. Although due notice had been given of its approach, there was but little precaution taken, as it was assumed that at this season no typhoon would be more violent than an ordinary gale at most. There had been besides several typhoons signalled during the sum- mer, the tracks of which went north or south of Hongkong, so people had become careless. The wind reached typhoon force about 10 o'clock at night, the smaller vessels having taken shelter from the north-easterly gale. At 4 a.m. the centre passed over the harbour and the wind suddenly veered to South-west when the boats, junks and steam-launches found themselves on a lee shore. At 7 o'clock, 10 launches and over 110 junks were sunk, and the harbour was a mass of wreckage. H.M.S. Sandpiper sank at her moorings, and a large dredger just out from England foundered. Over 200 lives were lost in those fatal three hours. As soon as a launch could live, I went along the shores of Kowloon ; the whole sea face of which was a mass of wreckage among which the Chinese were already hard at work to effect what salvage they could, and I found that the directors of the Tung Wah Hospital-a charitable Chinese Institution-had at once sent out two steam launches with all the appliances for affording immediate assistance. I men- tion the fact as I find a widespread idea that the Chinese among themselves are callous and uncharitable, an impression that is entirely opposed to my experience. After the hurricane a public meeting was held and a Committee formed to collect subscriptions. In a few days twenty-eight thousand four hundred and thirty-four dollars were subscribed, of which the Chinese subscribed twenty-one thousand three hundred and sixty-three dollars.

14. In the early part of the year the Colony had subscribed $153,555 to the South-African War fund so that within twelve months the European and Chinese people of the Colony voluntarily contributed to patriotic and charitable purposes the sum of $181,990 over and above the ordinary charities of the Colony, a sum equal to over 5 per cent. of the amount of the public revenue.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

303

No. 13

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT FOR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

No. 11.

BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 28th February, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor the Annual Report on this Department for the year 1900.

STAFF.

The Superintendent, Mr. C. FORD, F.L.S., left for home on the 31st March, on six months' leave, on account of sickness, and his leave was extended for another period of six months from the end of September.

The Assistant Superintendent, Mr. W. J. TUTCHER, was acting as Superintendent from the 1st April to the end of the year.

The Head Clerk, Mr. WoNG KwONG-MING, resigned ou the 31st March, and the Second Clerk, Mr. WONG LUNG-I, was promoted to the vacant post.

Mr. YAM KWAI-UN was appointed to fill the post of Second Clerk, and he commenced his duties on the 6th April.

The Head Foreman of the Gardens, HUI SAN-YAU, was removed from his office in February, under circumstances already reported in C.S.O. No. 346 of 1900, and LI KAU, who had been pre- viously employed in the Gardens for a great number of years, but who resigned on 31st December, 1899, was re-engaged and appointed as Head Foreman.

His

The Foreman of the Propagating Department, and one of our best men, LI SHING, resigned on the 15th July, having obtained a much better situation at Macao, at a salary of $15 per mensem. salary here was $9 per month. The man appointed to succeed him, HUI YUK-CHA, was a very capable man, and began his career in the Gardens as an apprentice. He left, however, after having been in the post about six weeks, for a more lucrative appointment at Matupi, at a salary of $25 per month, under an agreement for 3 years.

In addition to the above, the changes in the staff were very numerous, no less than 41 others, making a total of 45, leaving the service during the year, compared with a total of 18 in 1899. Of these, 30 left, 9 were dismissed, and 2 were sent to Gaol.

This rendered the carrying on of the work of the Department extremely difficult, as the men who were brought in to fill vacancies were just ordinary coolies without any technical training whatever, no others being obtainable at the wages offered.

It was thought that when the system of apprentices was instituted between 20 and 30 years ago, that in time the Department would be possessed of a staff of trained men, but unfortunately this has not been the case.

Of the many boys who have passed through their course of apprenticeship only five remain on the staff, the reason being that as soon as they have got a knowledge of their work they are able to obtain more remunerative posts elsewhere. The only way to remedy this is to give deserving men better wages.

Sickness amongst the Chinese Staff was very great as usual, there being a total of 559 days. Although this compares favourably with the previous year, with 858 days, it is still anything but satisfactory. Fifty-nine different men were sick, against 62 in 1899.

The apprentices have continued to attend the Police School during the year, by the kind permis- sion of the Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Captain Superintendent of Police.

BOTANIC GARDENS.

PLANT SALES.

Plant sales continue to increase, as during the year 3,451 plants were disposed of, being an increase of 641 over the previous year's sales.

Of these, nearly 3,000 were sold for decorative purposes, no less than 2,042 Maindenhair Ferns being included in this number, of which 1,370 were the ordinary Adiantum cuneatum.

304

The sale of plants was instituted in 1884 to supply the public with rare and newly introduced plants, (C.S.O. 1), but very few of the plants sold now, come under this category.

The introduction, propagation, and growing of plants for distribution for economic purposes is undoubtedly one of the first duties of a Botanical Department, but the cultivation and sale of plants for decorative purposes should be undertaken by private individuals.

The revenue from plant sales was $761.80, an increase of $135.20 over that for 1899.

LOAN OF PLANTS.

The number of plants on loan for decorative purposes was 3,651, being 584 less than in 1899. The revenue obtained from this source was $168.32, being $55.39 less than in the previous year. I should state that the Government does not make any profit out of the sale of plants and plant loans, the public getting them at a price which only covers the actual cost of production.

It would be a good thing if some enterprising Chinaman would take up both the sale and loan of plants, as no doubt he would be able to make a very satisfactory living out of the business.

PLANT HOUses.

The new plant house, No. 1, mentioned in last year's report, was completed during the year, and the Ferns from No. 3 transferred to it. It has proved an admirable structure as the Ferns have done exceedingly well in it. The Orchids have now been placed in No. 3. The centre house, No. 2, next requires to be taken in hand and reconstructed, and this will be done as soon as time and funds per-

mit.

WALKS.

The re-surfacing of walks with disintegrated granite and cement was continued so far as funds would allow, but much still requires to be done.

TYPHOON.

On the 9th and 10th of November, a severe typhoon passed over the Colony, doing much damage to vegetation generally. A special report on the damage done in the Gardens, as well as in the Plan- tations, was forwarded in Botanical and Afforestation Department Letter No. 35. Large trees in the Gardens suffered less than was to be expected, but shrubs and annuals came off badly.

The frequency of these storms (there was one in 1894 and another in 1896) retards the work of the Department considerably, as a fresh start has to be made in many directions after every severe

blow.

The chief donors were:-

INTERCHANGE OF PLANTS AND SEEDS.

Acclimatizing Association, South California.

Acclimatization Society, Queensland. Belilios, C.M.G., Hon. E. R.

Blake, G.C.M.G., H.E. Sir Henry.

H.E. Lady.

Botanic Gardens, Aburi, Gold Coast.

•

British Guiana.

Durban.

Jamaica.

Nagpur.

Government, Ootacumund.

Penang.

Royal, Calcutta.

Saharanpur. Sydney.

The following were the principal recipients:-

Acclimatizing Association, South California.

Acclimatization Society, Queensland.

Agricultural Department, Saigon.

Botanic Gardens, Aburi.

British Guiana.

Ceylon.

Durban.

Jamaica. Penang. Royal, Kew. Sydney. Trinidad. Tokyo.

Brown, Edmund A., Province Wellesley. Conservator of Forests, Bengal.

Cooke, Mrs. R.

Draper, W., Egypt.

Edwards, C. C., Amoy.

Hahn, A.

Hodgins, Captain A. E.

Jardine, Matheson & Co., Messrs. Logan, J. C.

Public Museum, Milwaukee, U.S.A. Roebelin, C.

Ricketts, C. B., Foochow.

State Gardens, Baroda.

Veitch, Messrs. J. & Sons.

Cooke, Mrs. R.

Cundall, C. H.

French Convent.

Gascoigne, C.M.G., H.E. Major General.

Keswick, Hon. J. J.

Koebele, A., Honolulu.

May, C.M.G., Hon. F. H.

Mount Gough Police Station.

Public Museum, Milwaukee.

Roebelin. C.

The Magistracy,

Veitch, Messrs. J. & Sons, Chelsea. Victoria Gaol.

305

RAINFALL.

The rainfall as registered in the Gardens amounted to 80.61 inches, as compared with 83.91 inches in 1899. The daily statistics are given in Appendix A.

VISITORS.

During the year, amongst others, the following gentlemen interested in Botany, Horticulture, &c., have visited the Gardens:

Mr. PETER BARR of the well-known firm of Messrs. BARR & SON, Bulb and Seed Merchants, London.

Mr. D. F. FAIRCHILD of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, who was here making investiga- tions in regard to economic plants, natives of China, likely to succeed in different parts of the United States.

Mr. B. HAYATA, a student of the Imperial University, Tokyo, who came for the purpose of study in the Gardens.

Mons. SAUVALE, an official of the new French Colony of Kwong Chau-wan, who came up to make enquiries as to the most suitable trees for planting at that place, and also as to what economic plants would be likely to succeed there.

Mr. E. M. WILCOX, Travelling Fellow in Economic Botany of Harvard University.

Mr. E. H. WILSON of Messrs. J. VEITCH & SONS, the eminent firm of Nurserymen, London.

MOUNTAIN LODGE GARDEN.

The old summer residence of H. E. the Governor, "Mountain Lodge," having been demolished, and another site chosen for the new structure, considerable alterations in the gardens there have be- come necessary. Beyond turfing the new banks, very little could be done during 1900, but it is hoped that the new building will be sufficiently advanced before the end of 1901 to allow of the gar- dens being completed.

PUBLIC RECREATION GROUND, KOWLOON.

120

A piece of land immediately to the north of Austin Road, and east of Garden Lots 21 and 48, comprising about 11 acres, was placed under this Department by C.S.O. 1, for converting into a public recreation ground, and a vote of $2,000 has been placed in the Estimates to commence the work in 1901. After the land had been placed under this Department, the Kowloon Bowling Club made an application for a piece of ground (30,000 square feet) on the site of the proposed recreation ground, and obtained a lease from the Government for the same. The original plans, therefore, of Mr. FORD, for draining and laying out the ground will have to be abandoned, and others substituted.

HERBARIUM AND LIBRARY.

Owing to the absence on leave of the Superintendent, no time could be devoted to herbarium work. My time was fully occupied in carrying on the practical work of the Department.

Annual Reports, Bulletins, &c. have been received from the following establishments, to the chiefs of whom our thanks are due:-

British Guiana, Calcutta, Ceylon, Durban, Haarlem, Jamaica, Kolonial Museum Haarlem, Milwaukee, Mysore, Lagos, New South Wales, Saharanpur, Straits Settle- ments, Sydney, Trinidad, Agricultural Departments of Cape of Good Hope, England, United States of America, Western Australia, University of California, Tokyo, Zanzibar, Forest Administration in Ajmer Merwara, Assam, Baluchistan, Bengal, Bombay, Burma, Central Province, Coorg, Hyderabad, Madras, North-West Provinces and Oudh, Pun- jab, and Imperial Department of Agriculture, West Indies.

The following works have been added to the library :--

Purchased:-

Flora Capensis, Vol. VII., Part III.

Gardeners' Chronicle.

Journal of Botany.

Botanical Magazine.

Presented :-

Forestry in British India, by Inspector General of Forests to the Government of India. Hand-list of Tender Dicotyledons cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew, 1899. Hooker's Icones Plantarum, by Royal Gardens, Kew.

Kew Bulletin,

do.,

do.

Icones Flora Japonica, Vol. I., Part I., from the Imperial University, Tokyo. Tentamen Flora Lutchuensis, from the Botanical Institute, Tokyo.

Natal Plants, Vol. 2, Part 2, and Vol. 3, Part 1.

306

FORESTRY.

Planting has been carried on in Hongkong, Kowloon and the New Territory. The planting in the New Territory has been confined to the new Road leading from Yaumati past Cheung Sha Wan to Shatin, and around the Police Stations at Taipo, Ping Shan and Au Tau. Statistics are given in Appendix B.

THINNING OF PLANTATIONS.

This branch of work has been carried on in various localities, a total of 34,706 trees having been removed, and sold for $824.45. The net revenue for forest products was $888.98. In Appendix C, particulars of the work are given.

PROTECTIVE SERVICE.

During the year, 623 trees were reported as having been illicitly cut down and removed. This is slightly less than the number (640) for the previous year. The Forest Guards brought forward 54 cases, and obtained 49 convictions, against 25 cases and 24 convictions in 1899.

FIRES.

The year has been fortunate as regards fires, only 25 being reported with a destruction of 2,067 trees, compared with 52 fires and 13,299 trees in the previous year. Eight of the fires did no damage to trees, only grass being burnt. A fire which destroyed 600 trees occurred near Tytam Reservoir, and was caused by a party of Europeans picnicking on 26th December. Many of the fires are undoubt- edly caused by the careless use of matches by pedestrians, and this is probably how the fire near Pok- fulum occurred, which destroyed nearly 800 trees. Statistics are given in Appendix D.

FIRE BARRIERS.

Old barriers were cleared to the extent of 21 miles, and new ones made to the extent of 14 miles.

CATERPILLAR PLAGUE.

In the beginning of the year, caterpillars (Metanastria punctata, Walker) were discovered on pine trees in various parts of the island, and the Superintendent at once made plans for coping with the pest by inviting Chinese coolies to collect, at a certain price per catty. The caterpillars were more prevalent on the Shun Wan peninsula, near Aberdeen, and on Aplichau Island than elsewhere, and at these places 7,030 catties, or nearly 44 tons, were collected, at a cost of $447, during March. In May they again became troublesome, and during that month and the following, 409 catties were collected at Aberdeen and Aplichau, and 500 catties at Kowloon. Towards the end of July, the second crop appeared at Kowloon, and during that month and August a further quantity of 226 cat- ties was collected.

BANIAN TREES IN QUEEN'S ROAD.

The widening of Queen's Road made it imperative that the large Banian trees (Ficus retusa) growing in front of Wellington Barracks and in front of the Naval Yard should be either cut down or transplanted. On account of the great age of the trees (they were probably growing there when Hongkong was a fishing village), it was a serious problem as to whether they would survive trans- planting, but I decided to make the experiment. Several of these were nearly a hundred feet high, with trunks 2 feet in diameter at 4 feet from the ground. I had them all lopped to within 15 or 20 feet from the ground, and then bound round with straw, before attempting to remove them. When their respective sites had been prepared, they were moved with balls of soil and roots, 8 to 12 feet in diameter, by means of wire ropes and derricks. After they were in position the soil was filled in around the roots; they were then watered and the trunks and branches kept constantly wet. Syring- ing was also carried on during removal. There were altogether 35 trees treated in this way, and I am glad to say that they are all starting to push forth new growths.

BRUSHWOOD CLEARING.

It having been proved conclusively that certain species of Anopheles were intermediate hosts of the malaria parasite, certain experiments were made, towards the end of the summer, with the object of lessening the numbers of these mosquitoes in well known fever districts. In connection with these experiments, the brushwood around the Military Sanatorium, Mount Gough, was cleared, for a space of three or four hundred yards, by the Military Authorities, so as to give the mosquitoes as little cover as possible. Similar work was likewise undertaken by this Department, by order of the Government, at Kennedy Town. It is hoped that this, in conjunction with the filling up of the breeding pools of the mosquitoes, will effect the desired result.

NEW TERRITORY.

TREE PLANTING.

Tree planting was commenced in the New Territory around the Police Stations at Ping Shan, Au Tau and Taipo, and on both sides of the Sham shui-po-Shatin Road, as previously mentioned. In all 81,154 trees were planted, particulars of which are given in Appendix B.

***

307

SUGAR CANE.

In February, 145 cuttings of seedling canes were received from the Assistant Superintendent of Forests, Penang, Mr. C. CURTIS, F.L.S., and about one half of these were planted in the Sookunpo Nursery, and the others at Ha Tsun; Mr. TANG HING-TONG having promised to make a trial of them. I regret to say, however, that only 15 plants were obtained from the whole lot of cuttings, as those put in at Ha Tsun all failed.

Another lot of 318 cuttings was received in July, from Mr. E. A. B. BROWN, Province Wellesley, through the instrumentality of Mr. CURTIS, and these were divided between Sookunpo and Ha Tsun as before. Those planted at Sookunpo have done very well so far, and as regards size are a great improvement on the ordinary Chinese cane. Only a few, however, of the cuttings put in at Ha Tsun succeeded.

As it was the middle of July before the cuttings were planted, the summer was too far advanced to permit of the full development of the canes.

Cuttings will be taken from them in the spring so that by next winter there should be a sufficient quantity of mature canes to test their sugar-producing qualities.

In September, a consignment of 2,200 cuttings, in five varieties, was received from Java, through the kindness of Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co. The cuttings arrived in excellent condition, great care having been taken in the packing.

They were planted at Ha Tsun, but owing to the lateness of the season they have not done well, only some two or three hundred plants surviving.

Mr. FORD thought it would be well to know the quantity of land under sugar cultivation in the New Territory, and the Foreman Forester who was sent over to make enquiries on the subject esti- mated it at over 7,000 acres.

EXPERIMENTal Garden.

As there is a considerable quantity of agricultural land in the New Territory, I would strongly recommend the establishment of an Experimental Garden for testing economic plants likely to succeed in the district. The Chinese themselves are not likely to take the initiative in introducing new indus- tries, but if this Department were to show them that certain plants could be grown with success, no doubt the natives would then take to cultivating such plants.

The Japanese in Formosa have already established experimental Stations, and the French at Kwong Chau-wan, and the Germans at Kiaut-chau have also under censideration similar schemes.

There are many kinds of fruits which could be grown, and if this were done we should not only have better varieties than those already in the market, but new kinds as well.

Agave sisalana is a plant likely to succeed here, and although Sisal Hemp is not such a good fibre as Manila Hemp, it is one which will well repay cultivation.

TREE CUTTING.

A great deal of tree cutting has gone on in the past year, and at present there are no means of stopping it. Nearly all the people who have been brought before the Magistrates in connection with this subject have produced papers, purporting to be leases from the Chinese Government, giving them power to cut down trees growing on the land mentioned in the leases. This not only applies to the common Pine tree, but to every other kind of tree growing within the areas mentioned. Before any- thing can be done to stop the practice the Land Court will have to decide the validity of the various leases.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

W. J. TUTCHER,

Acting Superintendent,

Botanical and Afforestation Department.

Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

fc.,

&c.

308

Appendix A.

RAINFALL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, DURING 1900.

RAIN GAUGE, ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

Date.

Jan.

Feb. March. April. May. June. July. Ang. Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

.01

.08

.07

.19

.48

.01

.14

.01

.08

10,

11,

12.

.98

.56

2.12

1.31

.08

.02

1.28

.02

.80

.24

.29

.66

.97

.32

.16

1.51

.02

.05

.01

.20

.01

.56

.13

.10

.12

.79

.54

.26

.74

:ལྔ

.18

.02

.26

.40

.73

13,

14,

15,

16,

17,

18,

19,

20,

21.

22,

.05

.02

.31

.91

.01

.53

5.89

3.14

.03

2.99

1.29

.04

1.03

1.02

.16

1.67

.02

.89

.03

.21

.20

.06

4.55

2.42

.27

.10

1.93 5.06

.01

2.45

.02

.06

.01

.71

.16

1.04

.11

.15

.16

.01

.03

.19

.11

.09

.02

:ཁཆུ

.21

.02

.08

.15

.37

.25

.29

.01

.02

.01

.03

1.73

.01

.68

.01

1.10

23,

24,

.01

.06

.01

.17

.20

.02

.18

1.28

.16

.02

25,

26,

27,

.05

.06

.01

.06

.76

.03

.02

.29

29,

30,

28,

.02

.05

.04

.02

.26

.75

.04

1.36

.67

.08

1.33

.30

.01

5.76

.31

.82

.35

1.14

.01 1.20

.01

27.77 12.20 5.37 6.17 2.30

Total inches for the year=80.61. Observations made at 10 a.m.

6.92

.16

W. J. TUTCHER,

Acting Superintendent,

Botanical and Afforestation Department.

31,

Total,......

.96 2.10

3.57

3.20

9.89

Aberdeen,

Bridges Strect, Cricket Ground,

Appendix B,

STATISTICS OF PLANTING OPERATIONS.

HONGKONG.

Locality.

Pinus

Massoni-

Cam- Eucalyp phor. tus.

ana.

Trista-

nia

conferta.

Pines Camphor

Arca

Mela- Alour- Ptero- Albizzia leuca. rites. carpus. Lebbek.

Grand

Bamboo. Celtis.

sown

Sown

Total.

in situ.

Acres.

Glenealy, South,..

Macdonnell Road,

Mountain Lodge,

Parade Ground,

Roman Catholic Cathedral,

882

NEW TERRITORY.

426

501

426

5,010

5,580

46,265

2,255

662

81,154

3,857

273

120

244

4,625

9,844 890

124

269

46,265

2,255

59,147

5,721

353

159

1.2

6,433

5,350

488

2,063

143

...

8,121

2,795

...

2,828

5,010

Total,.

5,010

Superintendent's Tennis Ground,

Tytam,

Queen's Road,

Au Tau,...

Cheung Sha Wan,

Ping Shan,

Taipo,

Un Long,

Total,..

27,567

757

812

2,660

349

302

114

W. J. TUTCHER,

Acting Superintendent,

Botanical and Afforestation Department.

309

310

Aberdeen, Aplichau,

Mount Kellet,

Pokfulam,

Protestant Cemetery,

Sanatorium, Mt. Gough,

Tree Prunings, Brushwood,

Date.

Appendix C.

SALE OF FORESTRY PRODUCTS.

Locality.

Pine Trees.

Quantity.

Amount realized.

10,810

292.46

7,166

49.79

5,531

39.79

6,839

301.05

1,637

56.78

2,723

84.58

34,706

824.45

168,357 catties.

44,689

49.96

14.57

Total Revenue for Forestry Products...

Appendix D.

888.98

W. J. TCTCher,

Acting Superintendent,

Botanical and Afforestation Department.

STATISTICS OF GRASS FIRES.

Localities.

Number of Fires.

Number of Trees Destroyed.

1900.

January

Stanley,

March

Mount Kellet,

August October

Aberdeen,

Tytam,

Mount Davis,

Parker,

22 Tung Tai Chau,

Association Rifle Ranges,

24 Mount Kellet,

Davis,

Kellet,

Davis,

November

Pokfulam,

دو

Magazine Gap,..

Pokfulam Conduit,

Wanchai Gap,

December 28

Tytam,

Stanley,.

20 6

250

284

784

600

Total........

2,067

W. J. Tutcher,

Acting Superintendent,

Botanical and Afforestation Department.

HONGKONG.

PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION OF BUILDING WORKS.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

· His Excellency the Governor.

683

No. 1901

To the Honourable

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

HONGKONG, 6th September, 1901.

Colonial Secretary.

SIR, In accordance with your letter No. 2171 dated 29th August, 1901, to Messrs. LEIGH & ORANGE, a meeting was held yesterday of the undersigned Civil Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, who represent the Firms who have been in practice for the longest periol in the Colony.

It was resolved to thank you for the opportunity given to express our ideas on the subjects mentioned in Messrs. LEIGH & ORANGE's letter to you of 19th August.

It was felt that the question of design and supervision of buildings was by far the most urgent and that we could defer the deliberation on plans for new houses until we had received copy of the Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works' Plan of Improved Chinese Dwellings, dated August 1st, 1901, which we would be glad to receive at your early convenience.

We trust you will not think we are going beyond our province in discussing questions which you had not expressly referred to us, but the seriousness and urgency of the matter is our excuse.

We beg to suggest that this question of professional practice and supervision of works might be dealt with speedily by the making of a special short Ordinance, and we trust the following (our unanimous opinion) may be of some assistance.

Suggestions.

1. Only qualified Civil Engineers, Architects and Surveyors to be allowed to practise in the Colony, and plans from only such persons to be accepted by the Government under the Building and Public Health Ordinances.

2. All building operations must be carried out under the supervision of a qualified Civil Engineer, Architect or Surveyor.

3. The Civil Engineer, Architect or Surveyor to have the power to employ, at the expense of the owner, such supervision as he may consider necessary.

4. The following persons to be admitted as qualified to practise, viz. :-

(a.) Members or Associate Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers, England.

(b.) Fellows or Associates of the Royal Institution of British Architects.

(c.) Any person who has carried on the profession of Civil Engineer, Architect or Surveyor

for 10 years continuously in the Colouy.

(d.) Any other persons who shall satisfy a Board (such as the Public Works Committee)

that they are properly qualified to practise.

For suggestion 1-

Reasons.

The numerous accidents and collapses of buildings that have taken place in recent years. Plans are now prepared by a number of so-called Architects, etc., and who, in our opinion, have not the qualifications nor the knowledge necessary to design and carry out work.

It is not unusual to see buildings being constructed with an utter disregard of stability and strength of materials.

We beg to draw attention to the Enquiry on the Cochrane Street disaster, where plans for an additional storey were admittedly prepared without the necessary precautions.

684

For suggestion 2-

It is not possible nor usual anywhere for the Authorities (ie., the Building Inspectors) to go thoroughly into every design, calculate all the strains on piers, walls, columns, beams, &c., and thus take the responsibility of checking plans, nor is it possible for the Building Inspectors to thoroughly supervise all buildings in course of construction: this can only be done by the Architect and the Overseer who is constantly on the works and under the orders only of the Engineer or Architect of the job.

The Government Inspection should be quite general, to see that the laws of the Colony are observed, and we think that with all buildings under the supervision of qualified men and absolutely no constructive work carried out without such supervision, the task of Government Inspection will be comparatively light and will not necessitate a large staff.

Considerable building operations are now being carried out without any Architect and conscquently without proper supervision, the owners not caring to pay for more than the plans and being satisfied

with inferior work,

It is probable that most of recent failures will be found to have occurred on buildings not under the supervision of properly qualified persons.

We again draw attention to the evidence given at the Enquiry into the Cochrane Street disaster which showed that there was no skilled supervision, and to the evidence of Mr. TOOKER when he is reported to have said that he believed if the building had been under the supervision of a European Architect, when the roof had been removed the Architect would have scen at once the bad state of the walls and the disaster would have been averted.

The large amount of building now being done by Chinese Contractors without the supervision of qualified persons is having a deplorable effect on quality of work and workmen and in consequence it is getting more difficult every year to get good work done.

For suggestion 3-

Owners often decline or are unwilling to pay for the services of an Overseer, and it is not the duty of an Architect to be constantly on the work and thus ensure continuous good work and material.

For suggestion 4-

We beg to assure the Government that there is no desire on our part to restrict any qualified person from practising in the Colony, but we know to our certain knowledge of plans being made and work carried out by men who, we honestly do not think, should be permitted to do so.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servants,

WM. DANBY,

M. Inst. C.E.

PALMER & TURNER.

DENISON & RAM.

LEIGH & ORANGE,

M. M. Inst. C.E.

707

No. 3s

HONGKONG.

PARTICULARS OF BUILDINGS IN THE COLONY WHICH COLLAPSED BETWEEN THE

30TH MAY, 1895, AND THE 14TH AUGUST, 1901.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

1901

708

PARTICULARS OF BUILDINGS IN THE COLONY WHICH COLLAPSED

Description of Build- ing collapsed.

Owner's Name.

Situation.

Date of Collapse.

Old Victoria Hotel,

57, Queen's Road East,

236 and 237, Praya West,.

30th May, 1895,

1st June, 1895,

6th June, 1895,

Li Sam Lam,

Part of the roof,.

Party wall.

Yu King Chung,

Executors

199. Hollywood Road,

24th July, 1895,

2nd Floor,.

122, Aberdeen,

15th Aug., 1895,

Mosque Shelly Street.

16th Jan., 1896,

22nd Jan., 1896,

22nd Feb., 1896,

281, Queen's Road Central,

Market Street, West End...............

Queen's Road Central, Nos. 152, 154 12th April, 1896, Cook-house,

and 156.

Market Street (3 houses),

18. Tai Tam,

11. Aberdeen,

105, Aberdeen,

13. Queen's Road Central,..........

Caine Road,................

4. Wai San Lane,

15th June, 1896,

27th July, 1896,

30th July, 1896,

8th Aug., 1896,

Roof,

30th Aug., 1896, Servants' quarters,

22nd Oct., 1896,

Yu Pui Wan and Yu Ip Chung,

of Yu Luk.

deceased, and Yu

King

Chung, Executor of Yu King, deceased.

Chan Yau Luk,....

Wan Choi,......

A. K. Moosdeen,.......

Li Chau, Li Yuen Wa and Li

Yuen Cheuk.

Ip Chuk Kai, Ip Fai Shek, Ip Shun Kam and Ip Pak Lung,

Chan Fan.....

Loy Sun,

Loy Sun.

Chou Dart Tong,

Norner.

35. East Street,

31st Dec.. 1896,

23rd March, 1897,

248 and 250 Queen's Road West,...... 28th July, 1897, Party wall,

22nd Nov. 1897, Cook-house,....

114. Third Street,

44. Queen's Road West,

10th Dec., 1897,

Second Floor,

92 and 94, Hollywood Road..............

15th Dec., 1897,

22, High Street,

11. D'aguilar Street,

14th Sep., 1898,

3rd Nov., 1898,

Cook house on 1st

floor, 1st Floor.

6. Tai Tam,

5th Dec., 1898.

311 and 313, Queen's Road Central,... 31st May, 1899,

73. Praya East,

16th June, 1899,

18th June, 1899,

23rd Aug., 1899,

25th Aug., 1899,

Part of the roof,

1st Floor Cook house,

46, Graham Street,...

55. Graham Street,...

71. Hollywood Road,

13. Wellington Street,

26th Sep., 1899, First Floor,

C. P. Chater, J. S. Moses and H. E. Bottoniley and A. T. Manger, Executors of C'. W. Bottoniley.

Chiu Ping & Chiu Kwok Shi....

Chan Yut Chiu & Tse Kit Man

(250), Foong Fai Kwong. E. Sharp,..

Tsang Yu Sham,

Chan Jun Chong,

Emanuel Raphael Belilios,

J. D. Lapraik, T. S. Lapraik, H. T. Thompson and T. (. Davis. Executors of J. S. Lapraik,

Lo Man Fung,

(1) Ho Tun Ming. (2) Chan

Yuen Koon.

H. W. Davis,

Ng Mui,

Wong Chuk Yau............

Mak Hook, Poon Kon Shau. Poon Yun Chun and Chan Ut Chiu, Chang Hong Wu, Cheung A Loi, Poon Soo. Lo Sing Luen & Cheung Mun Wong Shi.

709

BETWEEN THE 30TH MAY, 1895, AND THE 14TH AUGUST, 1901.

Deaths caused by Collapse.

Attributed Cause of Collapse.

Coroner's Enquiry.

Proscention instituted.

3 deaths.

State of decay.

Enquiry-3 per-

sons killed.

Nil.

Defective buildings after heavy rain..........

No record...........

Soaked with heavy rains & wall gave

way.

Typhoon.

No record.......

1 death.

Shoring having given way

2 deaths and a

number injured.

Enquiry-1 man

killed. Enquiry-2 men

killed.

Nil.

No record......

1 death.

Nil.

Party wall dividing houses gave way.... Enquiry-one girl

No record......

killed.

2 deaths.

3 injured.

Enquiry---2 men

killed.

Defective buildings after heavy rain...

Nil.

No record......

4 deaths.

Nil.

710

PARTICULARS OF BUILDINGS IN THE COLONY WHICH COLLAPSED

Situation.

Date of Collapse.

Description of Build- ing collapsed.

Owner's Name.

13. Praya East,

Corner of Wilmer Street & Connaught

Road.

64. Second Street,

13th Nov.. 1899, Part of the roof,

The Hongkong Land Invest-

ment and Agency Co., Ld.

4th Jan.. 1900,

Portion of the veran-

dah. 22nd Feb., 1900, Kitchen,

41. Queen's Road Central,........

5th April, 1900, Roof,

50. Second Street,

2nd May, 1900,

Whole house,.....

Shed attached to Mahomedan Mosque,

Shelly Street,

14th May, 1900,

Roof,

408 to 426, Des Voeux Road,

20th May, 1900,

Portion,

215, 216, 217 & 218 Des Voeux Road,... 2nd June, 1900,

Party wall,

Mahomedan Mosque,

1st July, 1900,

Back part,

4. 6. 8 and 10 New Street,

2nd July, 1900,

Back portions,.

468, Des Voeux Road,

3rd July, 1900,

House, old,

Young A Pak.

Su Hing Long,

Katie David,.

Mahomedan Community..............

Un Lai Chuen. Sang Won Man, Tso Cheong and Ip Tak. Hongkong Land Investment &

Agency Co., Ld.

Mahomedan Community.............

Reuben Meyer Nissim,

Yu King Sui,

China Navigation Co., Praya West.... 21st Aug., 1900,

21st Aug., 1900,

Verandah,

72, Third Street,....

26th Aug., 1900, | Cook-house,.

24. Third Street,...

9th Sep., 1990,

Old site of 13, Praya East,

10th Sep., 1900,

42. Hollywood Road,

25th Sep., 1900,

2. Wilmer Street,

11th Oct.. 1900,

Stanley Village Nos. 84 and 89,

23rd Oct., 1900,

19. Tai Tam Village,

4. 5 and 6, Stewart Terrace,

9th Nov.. 1900.

A house in course of erection on Hillside above Magazine Gap Road

61. Stanley,...

170, Queen's Road Central,

New Building near Harbour Office.

Praya Central

Block of Buildings, Praya East,

137 to 165, Third Street,

34. Station Street. Yaumati, .

Station Street, Mongkok,

Kramer Street, Tai-kok-tsui,.

Farm Lot Nɔ. 72.

Ma Tau Kok,

19. Tai Tam,

S4, Stanley,...

89. Stanley,....

10th Nov.. 1900. | House, old,

House, new,

Portion of,...

15 houses,

House,

Walls of house,

Walls of house in

course of erection, Two houses,....

Matshed,

Li Sing Sz, To Shing & Wong Yik (Tenants in Common.) Bruce Shepherd (Admin.)

The Hongkong Land Invest-

ment and Agency Co., Ld. Jacob Elias Sassoon,

Choi Chan (Executor),

Lam Chai and others,

Chan Fung,

The Hongkong Land Invest-

ment and Agency Co., Ld. H. W. Slade..........

Hu Shun Ko,

Ching Kwai.

Emanuel Raphael Belilios,

Leung He, 34. Station Street

North.

Li Kwong, 34 Station Street

South.

Dairy Farm Co.,

Chan Fan....

Chan Sze,

Wong Loong,

Kitchen......

Portion of

upper

storeys, Kitchen,

Cockloft,

2 houses,

Honse,

Servants' quarters,

Front wall,

BETWEEN THE 30TH MAY, 1895, AND THE 14TH AUGUST, 1901,—--Continued.

Deaths caused by Collapse,

711

Attributed Cause of Collapse.

Coroner's Enquiry.

Prosecution instituted.

Nil.

Defective buildings after heavy rain.

No record.

1 man.

No enquiry and no record of cause.

I man.

Carelessness in work of re-construction.

Nil.

No record.

Land slip at the rear.

7 men.

1 death and 1 injured. | Collapse caused a fire. Disintegration

Nil.

of mortar by filtration of rain water into wall, also heavy loads on floors. No record.

Enquiry-7 persons killed.

Typhoon.

Bad condition of cross wall and recent openings having been made therein.

2 deaths.

Nil.

No record,................

Enquiry-two persons killed. Enquiry-two persons killed.

1 death.

Heavy rain accompanied by Typhoon.

Nil.

7 deaths, 6 injured.

1 deaths, 1 injured,

Nil.

1 child.

1 man.

$ men.

3 head of cattle.

2 deaths.

Nil.

Typhoon.

Typhoon. Houses undergoing re-cons-

truction.

Typhoon.

་་

House much shaken by Typhoon.

No record.

}

712

Situation.

PARTICULARS OF BUILDINGS IN THE COLONY WHICH COLLAPSED

Date of Collapse. Description of Build-

ing collapsed.

Owner's Name.

158, Hollywood Road,

4th March, 1900, House, old,

Yik Chow Ming and Yip Chow

Lum.

Shop Nullah Lane,....

36. Ship Street,

7th April, 1901,

15th April, 1901.

Portion of.................

45 and 47. High Street,

15th June. 1901,

Part of back wall, old Cheung Sum Toy..........

building being pul-

led down. Houses

Lim Woo.

52, Shaukiwan,

53A. Queen's Road East,

25th June, 1901, Back wall

12th Aug., 1901, Part of the roof,

30, 32, 34 and 36, Cochrane Street.... 14th Aug., 1901,

Reuben Meyer Nissim.

Chan Tsun Cheung, Chan A Yee, Leung Sin Shi (Execu- tor) and Chan Jun Chong,

←

713

BETWEEN THE 30TH MAY, 1895, AND THE 14TH AUGUST. 1901,--Continued.

Deaths caused by Collapse.

Attributed Cause of Collapse.

Coroner's Enquiry.

Prosecution instituted.

2 deaths, 4 injured.

Decayed roof timbers.

Nil.

No record.

2 deaths, 1 injured. Carelessness in work of demolition.

3 deaths.

Nil.

43 deaths.

Bad foundation and weak state of base of western wall of No. 49, High Street helped by a portion of this wall having been pulled down and re-built, and also 2 additional win- dows having been opened therein. No record.

Old defective buildings after heavy rain.

Old building, defective brickwork... ..................

Enquiry-2 per-

sons killed & 4 injured.

Prosecution against Contract- or who is also part owner. Penalty of $100 imposed.

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE CENSUS OF THE COLONY FOR 1901.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

715

No.

1901

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 15th August, 1901.

SIR,--I have the honour to forward herewith, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, Mr. WODEHOUSE's Report on the Census of the Colony which was taken on the night of the 20th January last.

Mr. WODEHOUSE, who had been placed in charge of the Census, left the Colony before the tabulation was completed. This has taken somewhat longer than was anticipated, owing in part to the necessity of having to make a change in the clerical staff in the middle of the work and to the laboriousness of the task of compiling and tabulating the List of Occupations. The latter task involved a great deal of work, and I am afraid that the result is not satisfactory.

The Census of the New Territory was taken by the Police, and shews a population of 102,254 persons, of whom 17,243 live south of the Kowloon Range. No attempt was made to ascertain the occupations of the people or their exact ages.

The following Tables in addition to those specified in Mr. WODEHOUSE'S report have been com- piled:---

No. XXIII. Occupations of the Non-Chinese portion of the Community.

No. XXIV. Occupations of the Chinese.

No. XXV. Population of the New Territory.

The Honourable

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G..

Colonial Secretary.

I have the honour to be,

Sir.

Your most obedient Servant.

A. W. BREWIN,

Registrar General.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 18th April, 1901.

The decennial Census of the Colony was taken on the night of Sunday, the 20th January.

2. It was considered advisable to hold it on the same day as in 1897 in order to facilitate the com- pilation of comparative statistics. In other respects, also, the date was a most suitable one, owing to the fact that China New Year fell on the 19th instead of the 2nd February, as in 1897, and did not there- fore, I consider, affect the numbers of the normal Chinese population. In 1891 the Census was taken on the 20th May, which date does not present the same advantages.

3. Certain preliminary returns were published on the 18th February. The greater part of the totals had already been checked, and the figures were, therefore, fairly accurate. The principal error was one of 4,900 in the Chinese floating population, which had been calculated from the totals furnished by the Water Police. Through some misunderstanding, the Gaol returns were not sent in until too late for insertion.

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4. The Census of the City of Victoria was, as on previous occasions, taken by a staff of specially engaged Chinese enumerators under the direction of the Census Officer.

The Police were in charge of the Census of the Non-Chinese quarters of the City, the Chinese float- ing population, the out-lying villages and the Kowloon Peninsula.

5. In view of the experience gained in 1897, I decided to adopt the "double block" system, under which each Census block is worked by two enumerators, instead of one, the size of the blocks being correspondingly increased. The two enumerators work together, and not singly. This enables a great deal of time to be saved, as one man can interrogate the inmates of a house, while his companion takes down in writing the information thus obtained. It is also more acceptable to the enumerators, who, in the course of their work, have frequently to intrude on private families, and saves them a certain amount of embarrassment.

6. Those portions of the City of Victoria, which were told off to the Registrar General, were divided into 53 double sections, which were designed to contain as nearly as possible about 3,000 persons each. It was a matter of some difficulty mapping out these blocks, as the 1897 ones were more or less useless for the purposes of comparison, but on the whole they turned out very fairly correct.

I personally accompanied the Head District Watchman round each block, and ascertained the boun- daries, which practically precluded the enumerators from making the mistake of overlapping a neigh- bouring section, when distributing the schedules.

7. Out of 107 Chinese enumerators, 5 were members of the District Watchmen Force, the remain- der being engaged by the Census Officer. A good many of them had had previous experience of the

work in the Census of 1897.

Each pair of enumerators was accompanied by a District Watchman in uniform, whose duty it was to see that no houses were overlooked. Nearly the whole of the Force was thus employed. The distri- bution of schedules commenced on the 17th January, and, with a few exceptions, they were nearly all collected again before the 28th. Considering the very large number which the enumerators had to fill up themselves, this cannot but be considered a most creditable performance. The first section to be completed was one in Chungwan, numbered by YUNG KWONG-IP (who distinguished himself in the same manner in 1897) and NG PING-PO, who handed in their returns at 10 a.m. on the 23rd January. It is only fair to add that this section happened to be an usually small one, and that several other enumera- tors also completed their task later on on the same day.

The two Kennedy Town sections, which included over 10,000 persons, were enumerated by Head District Watchman LEUNG CHAU and 4 Watchmen, who performed this difficult task most satisfactorily. Their work compared most favourably with that of the rest of the District Watchmen Force, which somewhat disappointed me. I had considerably under-estimated the number of inhabitants in this locality, and it will probably be necessary to divide it into four double sections next Census.

8. Two European Police Sergeants, five Lance-Sergeants, four European Police Constables, eleven Chinese Constables and one Sergeant Interpreter were employed in taking the Census of those portions of the city, which were not done by the Registrar General's Department.

The work was done best in the Western district of Victoria, which was in charge of Sergeant SIM and Lance-Sergeant RITCHIE.

The work. however, of all the Police was admirable, and it is difficult for me to distinguish between individuals. They made their own arrangements as to dividing the portions of the city allotted to them inte. Census blocks, each of the latter being worked by one European accompanied by a Chinese Police Constable. They commenced distributing the schedules on the 16th January, and most of them had been returned to the Census Office before the 28th, or within a week from the date of taking the Census.

9. The number of persons in Victoria enumerated by the Police was 6,523 Non-Chinese and 19,668 Chinese. The average number of persons dealt with by each pair of Police Officers was 593 Non-Chinese and 1,788 Chinese. The work was done more quickly than in 1897, but in the next Census, 3 additional Europeaus and 3 Chinese will probably have to be employed.

10. The Census of the outlying villages was taken by the respective Police Officers in Charge. 11. Special preparations were made in the Kowloon Peninsula, in view of the rapid growth of that part of the Colony, and of the inadequacy of the enumerating staff in 1897.

Six European Police, three Indians, and ten Chinese were employed, in addition to whom thirteen civilian enumerators were engaged. The Peninsula was divided into 15 sections, with two enumerators to each. The hired enumerators were in every case accompanied either by an Indian or a Chinese Police Constable.

The work of distributing the schedules was commenced on the 17th January at 7 a.m., and by dint of working eight hours a day, the enumerators succeeded in finishing that task and re-visiting all parts of their districts before the night of the 20th January. The schedules were all collected again by 9 a.m.

3 ).

on the 25th January, which result is most creditable to all concerned. A large number of the schedules left in the outlying villages had to be filled up by the enumerators, and considerable inconvenience and delay was caused by people taking away the papers left at their houses to be filled up elsewhere, and finally not bringing them back to their own homes. In very few instances did the enumerators get back the same schedule which they had originally left at a house, and in one case a schedule delivered at Yaumati was collected at Hok Ün.

12. The Census of the Chinese floating population was taken by the Water Police. It was decided that this should be done in the day time and not at night (as in 1897). The principal objections to the latter course are that it is difficult to distinguish in the darkness which boats have been enumerated and which have not, and that the crews of the various craft have to be roused from their sleep, which causes considerable delay. On the other hand, the fact of the boats being continually on the move presents a serious objection to enumeration in the day time. Steps were taken to overcome this difficulty by stationing launches at each end of the Harbour to prevent boats entering and leaving while the Census was being taken. Several extra launches were engaged, in addition to those of the Water Police, and the work was practically finished in one day. Unless this is so, as pointed out by Mr. BREWIN in his Report on the 1897 Census, it is not easy to obtain accurate figures. Owing to the number of extra launches which had to be engaged, the regular Water Police could not provide enough men for the work. It had been suggested that Petty Officers of the Royal Navy might be employed, but on consideration I decided that it would be preferable to obtain the extra men from among the European Land Police Force, as a good many of them had had some experience of Water Police work, and would be better able to distinguish the various classes of boats.

The Harbour was divided into seven sections, a steamn launch and two gigs being told off to each, with the exception of No. 5 section (Western boundary of Harbour) which only had a launch. Each launch and boat carried a European Policeman and a Chinese Constable or Interpreter.

The bulk of the work was finished on the 20th January, but two launches were employed on the 21st until about 6 p.m. when no boats could be found, which had not been enumerated.

The principal difficulties encountered, besides that of the boats being continually on the move were (1) the ignorance of the boat people regarding their own ages; (2) the fact that members of the crew often did not happen to be on board when their boat was hailed by the Police, those remaining being unable to state the ages of the absentees; (3) mistakes in classifying boats by men who had not suffi- cient experience in Water Police work. The results, however, were most satisfactory, and it is probably the most accurate Census of the floating population that has been taken.

13. The Hill District was enumerated without assistance by Sergeant CLARK. It is too much work for one man, and two Europeans and two Chinese should be employed on the occasion of the next Census.

14. The arrangements made by the Police Officers in Charge at Stanley, Aberdeen, and Shaukiwan were good. Their task was by no means an easy one, as they had to enumerate the floating as well as the land population.

At Aberdeen, the boats employed in guarding the outlets of the harbour while the Census was being taken were on duty all night, and at the other villages, the Police were similarly hard worked.

At Shankiwan Inspector ROBERTSON managed to get the harbour boats to anchor in rows, so that there was no trouble in enumerating them. In this connection I might mention that the Water Police in Victoria Harbour had great difficulty in enumerating the boats west of Blake Pier and in Yaumati Bay, as they were so closely packed together that it was extremely hard to get in amongst them. It would be impossible, however, to adopt such an arrangement as was found suitable at Shaukiwan in the Harbour owing to the number of boats which ply for hire, and which could not be treated in this way.

15. The Census of Pokfulam was taken by Indian P.C. 613 BнOLA SINGH, who was assisted by a Chinese Police Constable. They performed the work most creditably, and their Census book, showing the rough totals and the number of schedules left at each house, was quite as well filled up as that sent in by any other Police Officer.

16. The Census of the British and Foreign shipping was taken by the Acting Boarding Officer, Mr. MACIVER, and the Inspector of Junks, Mr. COLLAÇO.

17. Officers appointed for that purpose by the General Officer Commanding the Troops and the Commodore in Charge enumerated the Naval and Military establishments.

18. The European and American resident civil population numbers 5,808 as compared with 5,532 in 1897, and 4,555 in 1891. These figures include Portuguese. The numbers of the latter community tend to decrease, and it is now composed of 1,948 persons as compared with 2,263 in 1897 and 2,089 * 1891.

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The rest of the European and American population has increased by 591 since 1897 and by 1,394 since 1891. An accurate comparison cannot, however, be made with 1891 as the figures for that year do not include the European Police, some "temporary residents," or the inmates of the Gaol.

The British resident civil population numbers 2,708 as compared with 2,213 in 1897 and 1,448 in 1891. The larger number of military families, due to the strengthening of the British troops in garri- son, the Naval Yard Extension works and those of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire at Quarry Bay, and other large undertakings are factors in this increase.

The Americans have increased from 93 in 1891 to 198, the Germans from 208 to 337, and the French from 89 to 103. The Spanish number 126 as compared with 88 in 1891. The cosmopolitan nature of the community can be realised from the fact that there is hardly a nationality on the face of the globe which is not represented.

19. The Portuguese population has again, for the reasons stated by Mr. BREWIN in his Census Report for 1897, been separated in most of the Tables from the rest of the Europeans and Americans. It is inainly recruited from Macao, and only ten members of the community were born in Portugal. 1,095 or more than one-half were born in Hongkong, 746 in Macao and 60 in various ports in China. Several members of this community described themselves as being of Asiatic race. The great majority of the Portuguese have returned themselves as Portuguese subjects. British nationality is claimed by a very few.

20. Of the British population of 3,007 (inclusive of those on board the shipping in the harbour) 1,777 claim to be English, 655 are Scotch, and 251 Irish. 2,053 were born in the British Isles, 574 in Hongkong, 140 in Australia, and 74 in India. The percentage of adult females to males is 55, taking all those over 15 years of age as adults. The percentage in 1891 was 38 and in 1897, 48.

21. The Non-Chinese races, other than European and American, number 2,607 as compared with 2,502 in 1897 and 1,439 in 1891. No separate return was made of the various races in 1891, so the present figures can only be compared with those of 1897. The Indians number 1,453, the increase over 1897 being 60. 345 or 24 per cent. of this number are females. There are 484 Japanese as compared with 335 in 1897, and 266 Philippine Islanders as compared with 216 in the last Census. Of the remainder the Malays number only 66, there being 141 fewer than in 1897.

There are 2,139 Indian camp followers whom I have considered it advisable to include with the garrison. They are attached to that portion of the China Field Force, which is at present in garrison in this Colony.

22. The number of Eurasians was ascertained to be 267. This is 5 less than in 1897. It is a very difficult matter to obtain the true figures for this portion of the population. The large majority of Eurasians in this Colony dress in Chinese clothes, have been brought up and live in Chinese fashion, and would certainly return themselves as Chinese. Those who have called themselves Eurasians in this Census probably only represent the small minority who have been brought up as Europeans. Of the 3,589 Eurasians in the Singapore Census of 1891, the large majority were probably the children of Tamil, Malay or Indian mothers, and not of Chinese ones. They would most likely not have any objection to declaring themselves Eurasians. The Chinese consider the term one of reproach. If enumerators were instructed to find out the numbers of Eurasians themselves, it is obvious that this would inevitably lead to abuses, and would present great opportunities for the exercise of private spite.

23. The total Chinese land population of the Colony is 234,443, including 1,180 on board the foreign shipping in harbour, as compared with 201,528 in 1897 and with 178,960 in 1891. This repre- sents an increase over the latter year of 55,483, or nearly 31 per cent. The increase over 1897 is 32,915. The number of male adults (those over 15 years of age) is 158,930 and of females 42,737, the percentage of the latter to the former being 26.89. In 1891, the figures were 113,241 and 33,523 respectively, the percentage of females to males being 29.92. The number of Chinese families in Vic- toria has been ascertained to be 25,123, the figures in 1897 and 1891 being 21,740 and 14,120 respec- tively. This shows an increase over 1897 of 3,383, aud over 1891 of 11,003. As the increase in the Chinese population of the city since 1897 is only 14,765, the increase in the number of families cannot be considered entirely a real one. It is not probable that there has been any considerable increase in family life among the Chinese since 1897.

24. Of the Chinese land population 227,615 returned themselves as natives of the province of Kwong Tung, 179,296 of this number belonging to the Kwong Chau Prefecture. Of the various dis- tricts in the latter Tung Kun comes first with 28,844 persons.. The natives of Pun Ü number 28,587, of Na Hoi 27,221, of San On 22,412, and of San Ui 21,542. There were 1,088 natives of the pro- vince of Fokien, 151 of Kong So, and 125 of Chekiang. 2,354 persons, of whom more than half were women, claimed Hongkong as their home. The native place of 120 persons was not stated.

25. Of the 181,918 inhabitants of the Non-Chinese, while 175,056 are Chinese. Health Districts into which t

City of Victoria, 6,862 are Europeans, Americans, and other Table XV gives the Chinese population of each of the ten

end Table XIV shows that of the eight registration districts."

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There is a remarkable increase in the population of Kennedy Town and Shektongtsui, which now numbers 11,032 as compared with 4,282 in 1897 and 3,581 in 1891. If this increase is a real one, which there is apparently no reason to doubt, it is difficult to account for, although there are reasons which would account for a considerable portion of it.

There is a slight decrease in the Saiyingpun District, the numbers in 1901, 1897, and 1891, being 44,722, 45,570, and 34,559 respectively.

In 1891 there was a popu-

The Taipingshan District shows a small increase of 1,892 over 1897. lation in this quarter of 31,302, the decrease since that year being due to the destruction of the Chinese houses on the Taipingshan Resumption Area.

No. V District does not show any material change, the increase since 1891 being only 1,230.

The Chungwan District continues to grow, and the population has increased from 36,196 in 1891 to 51,243 in the present year. This represents an increase of 411⁄2 per cent.

The number of inhabitants of the Wantsai and Hawan Districts is 23,487. The number in 1891 was 16,944.

The total increase in the number of Chinese inhabitants of the city is thus 14,783 over 1897, and 36,287 over 1891. Out of the increase of 14,783 over 1897, 14,242 were males and only 541 females.

26. The European and American residents at the Peak number 412 as compared with 381 in 1897 and 213 in 1891. These figures do not include the European Police, of whom, however, there was only one living there on this occasion. The number of Chinese was 1,786, of whom some were work- men employed on new buildings. The increase over 1897 is 195.

The European and American children below the age of 15 numbered 47.

27. The number of Europeans and Americans residing in the Hongkong villages was 167. In this total are included the crews of a steamer at Aberdeen and of one at Shaukiwan. In 1897 the number was 125; in 1891 it was not stated.

28. The Chinese population of Shaukiwan numbered 9,159, which shows an increase of 1,721 over 1897, and of 1,867 over 1891.

29. 805 Chinese reside in the village of Stanley, and 2,787 in Aberdeen. The population of the latter village remains, therefore, practically the same as in 1897, while that of the former one has decreased by 239 since 1897, and by 77 since 1891.

30. The village of Pokfulam now contains 610 Chinese inhabitants as compared with 384 in 1897 and 269 in 1891.

31. The European and American population (including Portuguese) in British Kowloon numbers 668 as compared with 377 in 1897 and 183 in 1891. This remarkable increase is not confined to the Non-Chinese community, as the Chinese population now amounts to 42,976, having thus more than quadrupled itself in 20 years. The figures for the last four Censuses are as follows:-

1901,

1897.

1891,

1881.

Male.

Female.

Total.

32,860

10,116

42,976

.19,202

......14,499

7,240

26,442

5,498

19,9

9,02

The above figures are for British Kowloon proper, and do not include any portion of the New Territory.

The extraordinary growth of this portion of the Colony may be ascribed to several causes, among which may be mentioned the activity of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, and the estab- lishment of Cement works at Hunghom.

The great demand for steam launches at Manila, which has arisen since the American occupation, has also given a very considerable impetus to this trade during the last three years, nearly all the estab- lishments for building these vessels being situated on the Kowloon side of the Harbour.

The number of Chinese families in Kowloon is 6,718. The proportion of females to males is well maintained.

The number of European and American children below the age of 15 is 58. The Chinese below that age number 5,126.

32. The Europeans, Americans and other Non-Chinese on board the shipping in the Harbour numbered 1,001 as compared with 1,016 in 1891. Of the Europeans, 299 were British, 108 Germans, ́nd 35 Norwegians. There were 153 Americans. The large number of the latter is accounted for

F-

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by the fact that an American mail steamer happened to be in port on the night of the Census. The Non-Chinese Asiatics numbered 355, and included 218 Japanese, 95 Indians, and 42 members of other Asiatic races.

In the 1897 Census the number of Japanese was 63. The increase is significant of the rapid growth of the Japanese Mercantile Marine during the last few years, although it is to a certain extent a matter of chance how many vessels of each flag happen to be in harbour on the day fixed for taking a Census. The British returns are less by the number of the crew of a steamer which left the harbour without returning the Census schedules which had been served on her.

33. The Chinese floating population amounted to 40,100 composed of 25,402 males and 14,698 females. This represents an increase of 8,348 over 1897, and 8,065 over 1891. 63 per cent. of the pupolation consists of males.

The remarkable increase is partly to be attributed, no doubt, to the increased efficiency of the steps taken to enumerate this portion of the population, which is never an easy task. Some description of the methods adopted on this occasion by the Water Police appears elsewhere.

The boats were divided into six classes:-Passenger Boats, Cargo Boats, Trading and Passenger Junks, Harbour Boats, Fishing Boats, and Steam-launches. The total number of vessels was 5,836, composed of 1,442 passenger boats, 1,424 cargo boats and lighters, 495 harbour boats, 236 trading and passenger junks, 2,309 fishing boats and junks, and 200 launches. The latter figure is a remark- able one, and is probably equalled in very few other harbours. In 1891 the various classes of vessels amounted in all to 5,220, the increase in 1901 being, therefore, 616.

The population of the Harbour was 28,329, of whom 11,558 were found in boats near the northern (Kowloon) shore, 13,022 along the southern (or Hongkong) shore, and 3,949 in the middle of the har- bour and at its eastern and western entrances. In 1891 the respective figures were 17,215 along the south shore and in the centre of the harbour, and 6,447 along the southern shore.

The floating population of the villages is as follows:-Shaukiwan, 5,439 persons on 624 vessels; Aberdeen, 5,251 persons on 947 vessels; Stanley, 881 persons on 119 vessels.

The number of boats at Shaukiwan is 19 fewer than in 1891, but the population appears to be 1,611 Aberdeen shows an increase of 230 boats and 1,274 persons, and Stanley one of 29 vessels and 313 persons.

more.

34. The number of Chinese families in the Kowloon Peninsula and in the villages of Stanley, Shaukiwan, and Aberdeen, was ascertained, as well as in the city of Victoria. The number of families in Kowloon was 6,718, and 2,804 in the above mentioned villages. There are 25,123 families in Vic- toria, so the grand total amounts to 34,645. The figures for Kowloon and the villages were not obtained in 1897 and 1891 and no comparison can therefore be made.

35. The number of European, American and other Non-Chinese children between the ages of 6 and 15 (inclusive) was 1,178. Of this number 889 were described as being students. 132 children below the age of 6 were returned as attending school, as were 56 who were above the age of 15. Iu the case of the European and Portuguese especially it is probable that nearly all the children between the age limits above mentioned are in the habit of attending school whether they were returned as doing so or not.

Of the Chinese population, the number of children between 6 and 15 years of age was 15,139 boys and 12,132 girls, making a total of 27,271.

As in the case of the Non-Chinese community, the number (6,576) of boys reported as being students is very much below the actual one. Nearly all Chinese boys, except of the lowest class, habit- ually attend school or have private teachers.

In the case of the girls it is different and the number of students among them would be very small.

36. The total number of Police Officers employed on the Census was 92, including 7 Sergeant Interpreters. There were 40 Europeans, 4 Indians, and the rest Chinese. In addition to the above, 13 civilian enumerators were engaged to assist in taking the Census of the Kowloon Peninsula. There were also 28 coolies and launch hands, who received a gratuity of from $1 to $2 each.

37. The Police were paid at the same rates as in 1897, with the exception that the Sergeant In- terpreters were given $8 instead of $5.50.

38. The Chinese enumerators engaged by the Census Officer were paid at the rate of $8 each, as compared with $4 in 1897. There was no difficulty whatever in obtaining suitable men, and I believe that 200 could have been found with ease, if necessary. They were all intelligent and of a good class and discharged their duties to my entire satisfaction. With regard to the compilation of statistics, all the copying and sorting was done by piece work, owing to the necessity of getting the work completed with the least possible delay. 44 men were employed at various times, the amounts earned ranging between about $70 and $6.

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The Census staff proper was composed of 1 clerk at $40 a month, and 2 at $20. Two more clerks at $20 a month were added later on.

A few Grant-in-Aid school-masters volunteered to act as enumerators. A certain number of them. as well as many professional petition writers, filled up schedules for a small consideration. It is a question whether this practice should be encouraged or not. It results in the schedules being filled up properly without trouble to the enumerators, but, on the other hand, in the greater number of cases, the schedules are not brought back to the houses at which they were originally left, and considerable con- fusion and inconvenience results.

40. The eastern verandah on the ground floor of the Registrar General's Office was used as a Census Office. This arrangement was a great convenience to all concerned, the only drawback being that the space was a little confined.

41. A satisfactory and somewhat unusual feature of the Census was that no obstruction or opposi- tion was met with by any of the enumerators. As a rule the taking of a Census gives rise to the wildest speculation among the lower class Chinese as to its object. They are inclined to associate it in their minds with the idea of increased taxation, or some objectionable sanitary measure. The absence

of any trouble on the present occasion is probably attributable to the fact that the last Census was taken only four years ago, and the memory of it would still be fresh in the minds of the greater number of the Chinese population.

43. The total cost of the Census was $5,440.91.

44. In conclusion I wish to express my indebtedness to Mr. BREWIN for his assistance and advice. 45. The following Tables are appended to this Report:—

I.-The total Civil Population.

AI.—A Comparison between the Population in the years 1891 and 1901.

III.—The European and American Population according to race.

IV.-Birth Places of the Population of British origin.

V.-British Places of the Portuguese.

VI.-The Non-Chinese population other than Europeans and Americans.

VII.-The Ages of the European, American and other Non-Chinese Resident Civil

Population.

VIII.-The Ages of the Europeans, Americans and other Non-Chinese on board the Shipping.

IX.-The Ages of the Chinese.

X.-Native Places of the Chinese Land Population.

XI.-Natives of the Kwong Tung Province according to their districts.

XII.-Chinese Population of the Villages of Hongkong.

XIII.-Chinese Population of British Kowloon.

XIV.-Chinese Population of the Registration Districts of Victoria in 1891 and 1901.

XV.-Population of Victoria according to Health Districts.

XVI.-The number of Chinese Families in Victoria in the year 1891 and in 1901. XVII.-Number and description of Boats and Junks in the waters of the Colony, and the

number of persons on each class of boats.

XVIII.-The number of European, American and Non-Chinese Children between the ages of

6 and 15 years (inclusive).

XIX.--The number of Europeans, Americans, nd Non-Chinese who are described as being

Students.

XX. The number of Chinese Children between the ages of 6 and 15 years (inclusive). XXI.-The number of Chinese who are described as being Students.

XXII.-Military and Naval Establishments.

P. P. J. WODEHOUSE, Census Officer.

Floating Popu- lation.

The Harbour, Aberdeen,

Shaukiwan,

Stanley,

Total,.....

Grand Total,....... 2,981

LOCALITY.

Males.

Europeaus and Americans other than

Portuguese.

Females.

Total.

Males.

*S){BIG F

Total.

NON-CHINESE.

TABLE I.

TOTAL CIVIL POPULATION OF THE COLONY.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

CHINESE.

TOTAL.

Races other than

Portuguese.

Indians.

the

Total.

Eurasians.

before mentioned.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Land Population.

Victoria,

The Peak,

1,646

231

1,092 2,738 |7941,007 | 1,801

8473281,175 | 474417 891

182 413

4 13 2

Hongkong Villages, .. British Kowloon,

134

339

33 167 6 203 542 62 64 126 198 13 211

423

3,7612,844 | 6,605

247

191 438

91 166|257| 129,396

45,660

175,056| 133,248

48,670| 181,918

1,672

114

1,786

1,919

305

2,224

197

39 236 602 283 885 6 4 10

9,805

3,628

13,433

10,002

3,667

13,669

32,860

10,116

42,976

33,468

10,403

43,871

Stonecutters' Island,

...

་

Total,.. 2,350 1,510 3,860 | 867|1,081 |1,948 1,108 345|1,453 | 482|421

903

Mercantile Marine,]

631

638 8

95 |257 2

259

992

4,807 3,357 | 8,164 | 97 | 170 267|| 173,745 9 1,001 1 1,180

59,518 | 233,263| 178,649

63,045 241,694

1,180 2,172

9 2,181

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

18,932 9,597

28,529 18,932

9,597 28,529

2,940 2,311 3,010 2,429 5,439

5,251 2,940

2,311

5,251

3,010

2,129

5,439

520

361

881

520

361

881

...

25,402

14,698

40,100

25,402

14,698

40,100

1,517 | 4,498

8751,081

1,956|1,203 345 1,548 739 423 1,162 5,799 |3,366|9,165 98 170|268 | 200,327 74,216 274,543 | 206,223

77,752 | 283,975

Females.

Total.

LOCALITY.

TABLE II.

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CIVIL POPULATION IN THE YEARS 1891 AND 1901.

1901.

1891.

MALES.

FEMALES.

MALES.

FEMALES.

TOTAL.

Under

Over

Under Over

Total.

15.

Under Over

15. 15.

Under

Over

Total.

15.

Victoria,

571

1,561

2,132

612

1,131

1,743

3,875

612

1,821 2,433

662

1,435

2,097

4,530

The Peak,

111

131

213

189

236

128

186

422

European and American Civil Population

Hongkong Villages,.

124

139

177

British Kowloon,

Police,

117

183

308

394

187

262

656

117

157

Mercantile Marine, ....

740

764

639

646

...

[ Not included in the above,

127

Total,.....

635

2,602

3,237

743

1,339

2,082

5,319

760

3,081

3,841

809

1,781

2,590

6,431

Races other than Euro- ( Land Population,

124

850

974

150

315

465

1,439

285

1,356

1,641

288

647

935

2,576

251

252

353

355

pean, American and Chinese,.....

Mercantile Marine,

Not included in the above,

...

Total,.

...

124 1,101

1,225

150

316

466

1,691 |

285

1,709

1,994

288

649

937

2,931

Total Civil Population other than Chinese,...

759

3,703

4,462

893

1,655

2,548 7,010 1,045

4,790

5,835

1,097

2,430

3,527

9,362

Victoria,

Shaukiwan,

2,141

86,554 98,995

13,012 26,762

39,774 138,769

12,725

116,671|129,396 12,730

32,930 45,660 175,036

753 4,476

5,229

641

1,402

2,043 7,272

709

6,199

6,908

398

1,678

2,276

9,184

Chinese Land Population

Stanley,..

Aberdeen,

129

427

556

235

326

882

375

462

259

343

805

238

1,810

2,048

200

484

684

2,732

292

1,702

1,994

249

599

848

2,842

Pokfulam, ....

136

170

269

386

441

114

161

602

British Kowloon,

2,213

12,286

14,499

1,825

3,673

5,498

19,997

2,067

30,793

32,860

3,059

7,037

10,116

42,976

Mercantile Marine,

1,044

1,063

1,175

1,180

Not included in the above,

291

6,458 6,749

274

884

1,158

7,907

1,629

1,684

100

114

1,798

Harbour,

4,246

11,235 15,481

3,295

4,886

8,181

23,662

6,122

12,810

18,932

4,076

5,521

9,597

28,529

Floating Population

Shaukiwan,

802

1,457 2,259

641

928

1,569 3,828

1,241

1,769 3,010

915

1,514

2,429

5,439

Stanley,..

115

Aberdeen,

723

237

1,520 2.243

352

127

216

568

706 1,028

1,734

3,977

134 386 997 1,943

520

112

149

2,940

843

1,568

361

2,311

881

5,251

Total Chinese,

Grand Total,..

21,985127,640 | 149,625 22,744 131,343154,087

20,809

21,702

40,492

42,147 63,849 217,936

61,301 210,926 24,489 175,838 200,327

22,727

51,489

74,216 274,543

217,936 | 25,534 | 180,628 | 206,162 23,824 53,919 77,743 283,905

RACES,

TABLE III.

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN POPULATION ACCORDING TO RACE,

MERCANTILE MARINE.

TOTAL.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

RESIDENT POPULATION.

( 10 )

English,

Scots,...

971

678

1,649

134

135

1,103

679

1,784

379

177

556

478

177

655

Irish,

237

157

253

Welsh,

Other Natives of the British Isles not defined as above,

119

123

242

142

123

265

Total,

1,624

1,084

2,708

298

293

1,922

1,085

3,007

American,

101

198

147

153

218

103

351

Armenian,

Austrian,

Belgian,

Brazilian,

Chilian,

Danish,

Dutch,

1 -1 00 0

Finnish,

French,

103

German,..

232

105

337

Greek,

སྶ སྶ ཡ ཨྠ སྶ ཡ

:ཨེ

103

108

103

340

Hungarian,..

Italian,

Jewish,

Montenegrin,

165

Norwegian,

Peruvian,

Portuguese,

867

1,081

1,948

875

Koumanian,

Russian,

Spanish,

Swedish,

Swiss,

| ⊕ - རྞ ཤྩ ཕྱེ རྞ ཨྠ ཥ — —

105

445

333

165

1,081

1,956

126

ان

126

Total,

3,217

2,591

5,808

639

646

3,856

2,598

6,454

་

( 11 )

TABLE IV.

BIRTH-PLACES OF THE POPULATION OF BRITISH ORIGIN.

BRITISH POPULATION.

WHERE BORN.

WHERE BOrn.

Males. Females. Total.

England,

866

388

1,254

Brought forward,...

453

470

923

Wales,

Italy,

Scotland,

375

101

476

Japan,

Ireland,

110

155

Масао,

Channel Islands,

Malta,

Mauritius,

Total,...

1,395

553

1,948

Newfoundland,

New Zealand,

Norway,

Aden,...

Ascension Island,

Australia,

Austria,

Barbadoes,..

Batavia,.

Belgium,

Bermuda,

Borneo,

British Guiana,..

Burmalı,

Canada,..

Cape Colony,

Ceylon,

China,

Corsica,

Cuba,

Egypt,

2-*

Portugal,

Roumania,

140

Russia,.

Siam,

Sicily,

South America,

Spain,

Straits Settlements,

Sweden,

Switzerland,

Turkey,

} རུ? ཡཀ)

VO OH –

United States of America,..

West Indies,

At Sea,

Not stated,

:༤:༢༣༠M

Formosa,

France,

Gibraltar,

Hongkong,

282

292

574

India,..

Total,....

527

532 1,059

Carried forward,......

453

470

923

Grand Total,..... 1,922

1,085 3,007

Australia, China,

Goa,

Hongkong,

India,

Japan,..

Loanda,

Macao,

The Philippine Islands,

Portugal,

Siam,

Spain,

TABLE V.

BIRTH-PLACES OF THE PORTUGUESE POPULATION.

WHERE BORN.

Straits Settlements,

Timor,

United States of America,

Not stated,

Total,

MALES.

FEMALES.

TOTAL.

515

582

1,097

301

449

750

10:00 - - N

875

1,081

1,956

RACES.

RESIDENT POPULATION.

MERCANTILE MARINE.

TOTAL.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

TABLE VI.

NON-CHINESE RACES OTHER THAN EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS.

...

( 12 )

1,203

345

1,548

218

421

281

702

208

278

Africans,

Arabians,

Asiatics (not defined), ............

Creoles,

Egyptians,...

Indians,.

1,108

345

1,453

Japanese, ........

203

279

484

216

Malays,

Persians,

Philippine Islanders,

196

266

Siamese,........

South Sea Islanders,.....

Turkish,

West Indians,

--Not stated.

Total,......

1,580

760

2,340

352

354

1,932

762

2,694

ΥΓ

TABLE VII.

THE AGES OF THE EUROPEAN, AMERICAN AND THE OTHER NON-CHINESE RESIDENT CIVIL POPULATION.

BRITISH.

OTHER EUROPEANS

AMERICANS.

EXCEPT Portuguese.

PORTUGUESE.

INDIANS.

THE REST

EURASIANS.

OF THE

NON-CHINESE.

TOTAL.

AGE.

Male.

Fe-

male.

Total. Male.

Fe-

male.

Total. Male.

Fe-

male,

Total. Male.

Fe-

male.

Total. Male.

Fe-

male.

Total. | Male.]

Fe-

male.

Total. Male.

Fe-

male.

Total. Male.

Fe-

male.

Total.

Under 1 year,.......

1 and under 5 years,

42 39

147

149

296

107 124

231

55 89

144

21 610 1

118

164

260

308 139

447

.35

229

152

381

182

100

282

HIBERNOAN

18 25

10 26

99 99

198

57 91

193

104

361

356

717

180

324

345

669

174

259

294

553

59 114

108 222

132

332

370

702

107

112 208 228

269

27 75

132

207

658

455

131

1,113

109

184

228

272

168

813

443

135

1,256

166

151

177

625

356

981

107

105

150 41

191

439

226

665

329

145

474

45 29

81 30

186

112

298

109

165

297

104

ΤΟ

10 2

22~

183

240

119

101

95 and over,

Age not stated,

15 10

Total.

1,624 1,034 2,708 108 107

215 618 319

937

8671,081

1,081 1,948 1,108

345 1,453

99 169

268

470

416

( 13 )

886 4,894 3,521 8,415

TOTAL.

TABLE VIII.

THE AGES OF THE EUROPEANS, AMERICANS AND OTHER NON-CHINESE ON BOARD THE SHIPPING.

BRITISH.

AMERICAN.

PORTUGUESE.

OTHER EUROPEANS.

INDIANS.

THE REST OF THE CHINESE

POPULATION.

(14)

12223

คง

1222

204

205

249

251

LLin

183

185

223

183

8.1

F:.

95 258

2 260 992 9 1,001

AGE.

Males.

Fe-

males.

Total. Males.

Fe-

males.

Fc-

Total. Males..

Total. Males.

males.

Fe-

males

Total. Males.

Fe-

males.

Total. Males. |

Fc-

males.

Total. Males.

Fe-

males.

Total.

:..

Under 1 year,

1 year and under 5,

10,

15,

20,

201

25,

2 5

30,

3333

35,

1 59

40,

145

45,

22:33

50,

55,

วง

60,

65,

70,

Not stated,

ཀག

Total,...

298

299

150

6 156

ジ

AGES.

Males.

Females.

Total.

VICTORIA.

THE PEAK.

Males.

Females.

Total.

TABLE IX.

THE AGES OF THE CHINESE POPULATION.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Under 1 month,

I month and under 2 months,

179 127

306

192 153

845

192

153

315

}

year

and under 5 years,

3,094 3,064

6,158

275

291

569

947 1,014 1,961

4,319 4,378

8,697

1,646 1,682 | 3,328

5,965 6,060

12,025

years and under 10 years,

3,705 4,471

8,176

16 375 337

7121,113 1,062 | 2,175

5,205 5,874 11,079

2,036 1,800

3,836

7,241 7,674

14,915

5,737 5,057

10,794

32 493

347 840 1,473

967 2,440

7,781 6,375 | 14,106

5 1,997 | 1,623 | 3,620

9,733 7,998

17,781

8 19 20

16,544,038 20,579

252

259

9:4

3151,829 4,205

751 4,956

21,912, 5,111 27,023

83 2,776 1,490 4,266 24,771 6,601

31,872

20,978 4,943|| 25,921

328

355 1,505

825 1,830 6,1131,2 9 | 7,332

28,924 | 6,504 | 35,428

278

278 3,353 1,365 4,718 | 32,555 | 7,869

40,424

20,550 4,766| 25,3:6

326

888

138 139

14,757 4,841

19,598

12,234 3,276 15,5.0

לי

10,166 3,258

13,424

281 17

170

111

334 1,738

298 1,441

10 180 983

15 126

385 2,123 5,777 | 1,140 | 6,917

28,891 6,299

34,690 310

3103,316 1,365 | 4,711 | 32,047 | 7,664

39,711

3341,775 | 4,631

997 5,628

21,110 | 6,189

27,299

228

228 2,562 1,081 3,643|| 23,900 7,270

31,170

2811,264 2,976

770 3,746

16,363 | 4,337

20,700

132

132 1,745

787 2,532

18,240 : 5,124

23,364

235

746

981 2,261

614 2,875

13,284 | 4,122

17,406

6,423 2,271

8,69-1 GO

505

177

682 1,293

419 1,712

8,281 2,876 11,157

80 | 1,762

803 2,565

15,126 4,925

20,051

42! 1,030

502 1,532

9,353 3,878

12,781

5,396 2,419

7,815

369

209

578

876

302 1,178

6,692 2,940

9,632

891

5471,438

7,598 3,487

11,085

2,826| 1,173

3,999

157

230

387

577

305 882

3,654 1,640

5,294

ཝ

}}

งว

32 2 2 2

1,719

962 2,681

125

98 223

389

279

G68

2,241 | 1,340

8,081

430 293

723

4,089, 1,983

6,022

356

712

2,599 1,696

4,295

633

414

1,047

287

227

514

184

110 114

129

8888

213

811 562

1,373

138

143

281

949:

705

1,65-1

148

878

653

726

108

133

241

481 486

967

129

2223

152

281

119

191

મ

СТ

ོཚལ

173

195

568

ོ

154

250

95 and over,

Notated,

8,991

141

4,138 |

***

3333

1.1

:..

4,020

144 4,164

1,149

640 | 1,789 5,169

781

5,958

Total,..

129,396|45,660| 175,056 | 1,672

1141,786 9,805 3,628 13,433 |32,860 10,16 42,976 |

173.745 59,518 | 233,263 1,180

1,180 25,402|14,698 40,100 | 200,327 71.216–274,548

Males.

STONE CUTTERS'

HONGKONG

BRITISH

VILLAGES.

KOWLOON.

ISLAND, GREEN ISLAND,

TOTAL.

MERCANTILE MARINE.

FLOATING POPULATION.

TOTAL.

AND GAP ROCK.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

(16)

TABLE X.

NATIVE PLACES OF THE CHINESE LAND POPULATION.

PROVINCES AND COUNTRIES.

MALES.

FEMALES.

TOTAL.

PROVINCES OF CHINA,-

Chebkiang,

Chihli,

Fabkien,

Honam,

རུ་

.99

125

841

247

1,088

Hunan,

100

Hupeh,

Kiangnan,

Kiangsi,

112

Kiaugsu,

131

212

343

Kwangsi,

177

128

305

Kwangtung,

171,019

56,596

227,615

Nganhwui,

Shansi,

Shantung,

Shensi,

Szchuen,..

Yunnan,

Other CounTRIES,-

America, Annam,

......

British Subject,

Corea,

མང་

Formosa, Germany,

Hongkong,

India,

Japan.

Luzon,

Macao,

Mongolia,

Portuguese,

Siam,

Singapore,

Not state,

1,082

1.309

2,391

}

186

283

་

109

120

Total,......

173,873

58,992

232,865

( 17 )

TABLE XI.

NATIVES OF THE KWANG-TUNG PROVINCE RESIDENT IN THE COLONY ACCORDING TO THEIR DISTRICTS.

Name of Prefecture and District.

Males. Females.

Total.

Name of Prefecture and District.

Males. Females.

Total.

Chiu Chau Fu-

Lo Ting Chau

Hoi-yeung,

658

724

Tung-on,

682

122

804

Fung-shun,

Sai-ning,

Chiu-veung,

1,054

1,082

Not stated,

54.

Kit-yeung,

Ju-ping,.

Total,.....

768

150

918

Wai-loi,

Tái-pó,

Ching-hoi,

464

494

Lui Chau Fu-

www.comm

Póning,

Hoi-hong,

Not stated,

1,923

180

2,103

Sui-kai,

Tsui-man,

Total,...

4,209

332

4,631

Not stated,

Ka Ying Chau—

Total,

Cheung-lok,

1,382

332

1,714

Hing-ning,

328

363

Ping-uen,

Nam Hung Chau-

Chau-ping,

Not stated,

694

106

800

Po-chenug,

Tsz-hing, Not stated,

1029

10 19

Total,......

2,416

474

2,890

Total,......

-H

King Chau Fu-

King-shau,

Man-cheung,

Shiu Chau Fu-

Kuk-kong,....

Ui-tung,

Lok-ui,

Lam-kó,

Cheung-fa,

Lok-cheung, Yeung-yuen,

Ling-shui,.

Not stated,

Total,......

156

183

Ying-tak, Not stated,

ཋ ཋ} ཨཋོ |

皆児に

Total,......

194

Ko Chau Fu→

Shiu Hing Fu-

Mau-ming,

Tin-pák,

Sub-i,..

Ng Chiu,

Shek-shing,

Not stated,

Total,.

ANAHOO 13

Koiu,

3.687

443

4,130

Sz-ui,

1,926

338

2,264

San-hing,

537

529

Yeung-tsun,

Yeung-kong,

Yan-ping,

1,733

180

1,913

Kwong-ning,

154

Fung-chin,

Hoi-kin,

Kwang Chau Fu-

Hoi-ping,

5,358

829

6,187

Nám-hoi,

20,397

6,824

27,221

Hok-shán,.

3,058

531

3,589

Pun-ü,

18,271

10,316

28,587

Not stated,

1,063

232

1,295

Shun-tak,

8.825

2,814

11,439

Tung-kun..

20,235

8.609

28,844

Total,......

17,482

2,621

20,103

Heung-shán,

8,245

4,252

12,497

San-ui,

18,074

3,468

21,542

Tsang-shing,

1,450

462

1,912

Wai Chau Fu-

Tsing-uen,.

1,994

284

2,278

Kwai-shin,

9,329

3,068

12,397

San-ning,

6,734

1,049

7.783

Tsung-fa,

Pok-lo, Hoi-fung,

1,425

260

1,685

2,271

150

2,421

Sám-shui,

7,874

1,633

9,007

Luk-fung,

Lung-mun,

San-ou,

Ho-uen,

109

131

15,331

7,081

22,412

Lung-chin,

184

200

Fa-uen,

2,309

658

2,967

Wo-ping,

Not stated,

1,509

1,470

2,979

Cheung-ning,

Wing-on,

116

182

Total,...... 130,844

48,952

179,296

Not stated,

1,774

319

2,093

Lim Chau Fu-

Total,......

15,290

3,852 19,142

Hop-po,.

Ling-shan,

Not stated,

Total,......

112

Fa Chau,

Lin Chau Fu-

Lin-ping Chau, Tah-hing Chau,.

Yam Chau,

101050

Yeung-shán,

1:、

Lin-shan,

Total,......

Not stated,

Total,......

Grand Total,...... 171,019

56,596 227,615

( 18 )

TABLE XII.

CHINESE POPULATION OF THE VILLAGES OF HONGKONG.

Villages.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Aberdeen,

764

318

1.082

Tin Tsz Tong,

Tin Wan,

Aberdeen Garden,

Aplichau,

748

321

1,069

Fu Hiu,

Wong Chuk Hang,

Little Hongkong, Old Village,

Brick Works,

Tai Shu Wan,

112

209

New Village,

4:1

101

100

Total,......

1,948

851

2,799

Tsinshniwan,

Stanley,

{)

285

235

320

Wongmakok,

Taitam,

Taitamtuk,

Hok-tsuiwan.

Deep Water Bay,

Tong Po,

58998

Total,......

408

323

791

Shek-0,

Chai-wan,

A Kung Ngam,

Shaukiwan

Futau Wat.

Kan Kan Uk,

Ma Shau Ha,

Chun Lung Uk, Tsin Shui Matau, Sai Wan Ho, Wongkoktsui, Shuitsin gwan, Quarry Bay. Tsut Tsz Mui, Sam Ka Tsin,

Total,......

Grand Total,

Villages.

Kaupuishek,

Matauwai,

Matauchung,

Matankok,...

Hampuilung,

Sanshán,......

Tokwawan.

Shekshán,

Hek-nen,

Taiwan,

Hunghom....

T-opaichai,

Yaumiati, Uenchau, Fopang, Mati,

...

Mongkoktsni, Taishekku,

Houantin, Mongkok, ... Taikok sui, Fuk:sunheung,

140

116

256

15+

150

213

2,164

1,174

3,338

129

158

255

489

251

740

286

164

420

654

637

722

1,712

163

1,875

293

138

431

نارة

6,987

2,332

9,819

9,403

8,506

12,909

TABLE XIII.

CHINESE POPULATION OF BRITISH KOWLOON,

Total.......

Males.

Females.

Total.

171

162

338

203

128

331

614

691

105

168

226

878

1.265

B31

221

1.754

467

9.221

24 7,789

2,069

9,808

12,387

4,472

64 16,859

304

150

454

B31

483

178

661

1,037

110

1,147

196

242

120

362

2412

647

3.059

2,965

5-6

3,551

1,009

184

1,193

82,860

10,116

42,976

( 19 )

TABLE XIV.

POPULATION OF THE REGISTRATION DISTRICTS OF VICTORIA IN 1891 AND IN 1991.

Districts.

1891.

1901.

Increase.

Decrease.

Nos. 1 and 2

3,581

11,032

1,45]

No. 3

34,559

44,722

10,163

No. 4

31,302

20,676

10,626

No. 5

12,067

13,297

1,230

No. 6

36,196

51,243

15,047

Nos. 7 and 8

16,944

23,487

6,543

Nos. 9 and 10.

10,599

134,649

175,056

51,033

10,626

Deduct decrease,

Total increase,.

10,626

10,407

TABLE XV.

POPULATION OF VICTORIA ACCORDING TO HEALTH DISTRICTS.

Districts.

Europeans, Americans

and Races other than Chinese.

Eurasians.

Total.

Males. Females. Total.

Males. Females.

Total.

Males. Females. Total.

Eastern Police District,

1,003

986

1,989

1,019 1,022 2,041

Central Police District,.

2,331

1,666

3,997

106

152

2,377

Western Police District,

418

186

604

117

1,772 209

4,149

656

3,752

2,838 6,590

165

256

3,843

3,003

6,846

Health Districts.

Chinese.

Males.

Females.

Total.

No. 1, 2,

7,844

2,755

10,599

18,124

5,234

23,358

4,002

1,432

5,434

16,739

7,448

24,182

15,151

7,467

22,618

14,810

4,003

18,813

11,113

2,883

13,995

14,980

1,543

19,523

17,965

6,578

24,543

10:

7,940

3,092

11,032

128,668

45,430

174,098

Grand Total,

180,944

TABLE XVI.

NUMBER OF CHINESE FAMILIES IN THE TEN REGISTRATION DISTRICTS OF VICTORIA.

In 1991,....

In 1901,

14,120 families. .25,123

( 20 )

TABLE XVII.

CHINESE FLOATING POPULATION.

Number and Description of Boats and Junks in the Waters of the Colony and the Number of Persons

on each class of Boat.

DESCRIPTION

VESSELS.

STANLEY.

ABER-

DEEN.

HARBOUR.

NORTHERN

SHORE.

SOUTHERN

SHORE.

POPULATION.

REST.

TOTAL.

Males. Females. TOTAL,

Passenger Boats,

Cargo Boat and Lighters,

Steam Launches,

Harbour Boats...............

110

580

542

208

1,442

3,800 3,285 7,085

482

785

114

1,424

.111

200

2,263

7,856 4,068 11,924

119 2,382

252

127

495

1,531 1,176

2,707

Total,.............

155

298

1,240

1,498

369

3,561

15,450

8,648 24,098

Fishing Boats.

118

787

318

648

2,039

7,574

5,678 13,252

Trading Junks,........

100

236

2,378

372

2,750

Grand Total...................

119

947

624 1,987 1,679

480

5,836

25,402 14,698

40,100

TABLE XVIII.

THE NUMBER OF EUROPEAN, AMERICAN AND NON-CHINESE CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 15 YEARS (INCLUSIVE).

VICTORIA.

THE PEAK.

BRITISH KOWLOON.

TOTAL.

Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females.

Total.

6 Years,

2 13 13 16

123

111

ск

121

109

102

115

ง

146

131

103

136

122

107

12 2 +

106

119

121

Total,...... 520

545 1,065

568

610

1,178

( 21 )

TABLE XIX.

THE NUMBER OF EUROPEANS, AMERICANS AND NON-CHINESE WHO ARE

DESCRIBED AS BEING STUDENTS.

Boys, Girls,

Total,.

TABLE XX.

...560 ..329

..889

THE NUMBER OF CHINESE CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 15 YEARS (INCLUSIVE).

6 years,

Total,.

Males.

Females.

Total.

977

1,122

2,099

1,013

1,166

2,179

1,104

1,329

2,433

1,025

1,103

2,128

1,138

1,302

2,440

1,204

2,408

1,626

1,523

3,149

1,556

1,184

2,740

2,206

1,139

3,345

3,290

1,060

4,350

15,139

12,132

27,271

TABLE XXI.

THE NUMBER OF CHINESE WHO ARE DESCRIBED AS BEING STUDENTS.

Boys, Girls,

Army, Navy,

Total,

TABLE XXII.

MILITARY AND NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

Total,

TABLE XXIII.

...6,568

..1,260

..7,828

.7,640

...5,597

13,237

OCCUPATIONS OF THE NON-CHINESE PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY.

Accountant,

Actor,

Agent,

Architect,

Carpenter,

Cement Burner,

Chemist,

Circus,

Clerk,

Artificer,

Artist,

Auctioneer,

Clock and Watchmaker,

Commerce,

Banking,

Baker,

Barber,

Confectioner,

Consul,

Contractor, Coppersmith, Cotton,

Curio Dealer, Customs,

Blacksmith,

Boarding Master,

Boiler-maker,

Brakesman,

Dairy,

Book-seller and Stationer,

Docks,

Book-keeper,

Brewer,

Broker,

Draper,

Builder,

Domestic Servant. Draftsman,

Dressmaker,.....

3 27

.770

.109

(22)

OCCUPATION OF THE NON-CHINESE PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY,-

Eating-house Keeper,

Electricity,

Engine Driver,

------

Engineer,

Engineer, Civil,

Engineer, Mechanical,

Engraver,

Fakir,

Fireman,

Fisherman,

Fitter,

Foreman,

Gas,

Godowns,

Government Service, Gunsmith,

......

Hawker,

Optician,

Organist,

Overseer,

140

Painter,

Pensioner,

......

Photography, Pianist,

Piano Tuner, Plumber,

The Press,

Printer,

Publican,

Religion,

.558

Scientist,

Secretary,

Ship Builder,

Ship Chandler,

Shipwright,

Shop Employee,

Smith,

Shop Keeper,

Soda Water,.........

Stevedore,

Storeman,

Student,

Sugar Refineries,

Surveyor,

Hotels, Boarding Houses, &c.,

Insurance,

Interpreter,

Jeweller, Jockey,

Continued.

ན

...

....560

......

Joiner,

•

Tallyman,

Tattooer,

Teacher,

Landowner,

Telegraph,

Law,

Time Keeper,

Librarian,

Tinmau,

Lithographer,

Undertaker,.........

Underwriter,

Manager,

Manufacturer,

Marine Surveyor,

Mason,

Mechanic,

Medicine,

Mercantile Marine,

Merchant,

Violinist,

Visitor,

Vocalist,

.175

..809

Milliner,

Miner,

Moulder,

Musician,

Occupations undefined,

Occupations not stated,

Waiter,

Watchman,

Wharfinger,

1 .202 7

789

1.--ADMINISTRATION.

Policemen,

299

Watchmen,...

177

Excise Officers,

( 23 )

TABLE XXIV.

OCCUPATIONS OF THE CHINESE.

MALES.

11. ARTICLES OF SUPPLEMENTARY

Furniture,

REQUIREMENT.

Toys and Curios,

Government employés,

127

Paper,

651

Books,

2.-DEFENCE.

Pictures,

Army,

Tools and Machinery,

Navy,

Watches,

Arms,

3.-SERVICE OF OTHER STATES.

Carving,

Civil,

Music,

ུ ཌཥྭཱ འ ཡཿ ཿ ཡ ཤཱ རྞ

107

351

33.

Miscellaneous,

4.-PROVISION, &C. OF CATTLE, &C.

Cattle and pig breeding,

737

168

12-TEXTILE, FABRICS AND DRESS.

5.—AGRICULTURE.

Market gardeners,

Miscellaneous,

Dress,

3,152

123

Cotton,

232

......

Farmers,

6. PERSONAL, HOUSEHOLD

592

Hemp, Jute and Coir,

487

Silk,

1,202

Miscellaneous,

AND

3,527

SANITARY SERVICE.

Cooks,

3,562

Personal Servants,

43,410

13.-METALS AND PRECIOUS STONES.

Tin, Zinc and Lead,

254

Washermen,

552

Brass,

Barbers,

1.196

Precious Metals and Stones,

773

Gardeners,

285

Iron and Steel,

Non-Domestic entertainment,

175

Gold, Silver and Stones,

Restaurants,

Miscellaneous,

3,920

...

Sanitation, .....

5,041

Scavengers, &c.,

118

Miscellaneous,

330

49,806

7.-PROVISION OF FOOD, DRINK, &C.

Vegetables,......

136

Glass and Chinaware,

Miscellaneous,

Fruit,

127

Opium,

148

Fish,

599

Bakers,

133

Poultry,

Grain and Flour,

Rice,

Tobacco,

222

Pork,

109

14. GLASS AND EARTHENWARE.

Earthen and Stoneware,

15.--WOOD, CANE AND MATTING.

Wood,

Cane and Matting,

Miscellaneous,

16.-DRUGS, GUмs, &c.

Druggists, &c.,

Photographic Materials,

5,927

968

6,936

435

Eggs,

436

Wine,

17. LEATHER, HIDES, &C.

Sugar,

European Boot Makers,

131

Beef,

Chinese Leather Boot Makers,...

149

Oil,

Miscellaneous,

108

Tea,

388

Foreign goods dealers,

189

18.-COMMERCE.

Chandlers,

208

General Merchandise,

310

...

Rice pounders,

189

Brokerage and Agency,

562

Miscellaneous,

294

Money, &c.,

122

2,725

Compradores,

148

8.-LIGHT, FIRING AND FORAGE.

Dealing, Unspecified,

15,783

Firewood,

16,925

Coal,

284

Gas lighters,

19. TRANSPORT AND STORAGE.

Miscellaneous,

410

9.-BUILDINGS.

Carpenters,......

Storage,

Water,

Messages,

Land,

303

2,205

1,525

Matsheds,

4,102

Stone-cutters,

1,648

Builders,

247

Masons,

1,896

20.-LEARNED AND ARTISTIC

PROFESSIONS.

Earth Coolies,

2,293

Religion,

Painters,

Miscellaneous,

10. VEHICLES AND VESSELS.

Boat Builders,

Ships and Boats,

974

Education,

131

Literature,.....

7,287

Law,

Medicine,

......

Other Sciences,

Carts, &c.,

Miscellaneous,

Engineering and Survey,

Music, &c........

Pictorial Art, and Sculpture,

128 262

410

......

143

1,164

( 24 )

OCCUPATIONS OF THE CHINESE,-Continued.

EARTHWORK AND GENERAL

LABOUR.

General Labour,

3.- -INDEFINITE AND DISREPUTABLE

MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE.

Miscellaneous,

Indefinite,

MALES.

23,785

24.-INDEPENDENT OF LABOUR.

Pensioner, Miscellaneous,

•

23,785

25.-Not stated,

3,261 9,938

Total.

13,199

187

488

34,590

173,745

FEMALES.

226

15.—WOOD, CANE AND MATTING.

Basket Weavers,

226

Mat Bag Menders,

Mat Bag Stitchers,

Rattan Workers,

851

.....

860

18.-COMMERCE.

Dealing, Unspecified.

334

4.-PROVISION. &C. OF CATTLE.

Cattle and Pig Breeding,

5.-AGRICULTURE.

Market Gardeners, Farmers,

6.- PERSONAL, HOUSEHOLD A ND

SANITARY SERVICE.

Hair Dressers,

Washerwomen,

Servants,

Wet Nurses,

Cooks,

House-keepers,

Nurses,

......

Sanitation,

7.-PROVISION OF FOOD, DRINK, &C.

Tea Pickers,

Ginger Scrapers,

Oil Skimmers,

Ground Nut Sheller,

Vegetable Sellers,

Fisherwomen,

Sugar Employees

Rice Grinders,

Dairy Employees

Market Lessees,

Rice and Oil Dealer,......

8.-LIGHT, FIRING AND FORAGE.

Firewood Sellers,

Match Box Makers,

Match Makers,

Lantern Makers,

11. ARTICLES OF SUPPLEMENTARY

REQUIREMENT.

Paper Rollers,

Artificial Flower-makers,

Embroiderer, ...

Pillow Makers,

12.-TEXTILE, FABRICS AND DRESS.

Seamstresses,

Tailors,

Spinners,

Weavers,

Foreign Hatmakers,

Grass Shoemakers,

Rope Spinners,

Bamboo Splitters,

Cotton Mill Employees,

6,066

261

254

19.-TRANSPORT AND STORAGE.

Water,

20.-LEARNED AND ARTISTIC

PROFESSIONS.

6,666

Midwife,

Teachers

C0100 ---

Doctors,

Nuns,

Priestess,

Preachers,

Temple Keeper,

Joss Stick Maker, Fortune Teller, Music.

98 C.

22.-EARTHWORK AND

GENERAL

LABOUR. General Labourers,

1,157

23.-INDEFINITE AND DISREPUTABLE

MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE.

Disreputable,...

Indefinite,

24.-INDEPENDENT OF LABOUR.

Beggars,

Property Owner,

9,220

Blind

Prisoners.

2,208 38,399

40,607

Grand Total.

59,518

9,827

( 25 )

TABLE XXV.

POPULATION OF THE NEW TERRITORY.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Kowloon South of the range,

Kowloon City,

Other Villages,

Kowloon North of the range,-

Luk Yeuk,

3,164

1,924

5,088

7,973

4,182

12,155

1,166

1,054

2,220

Kau Yeuk,

2,350

2.181

4,531

Tsün Wan,

1,716

1,556

3,272

Lamma Island,

655

479

1,184

Lantao Island,

4,463

3,477

7,940

Cheung Chau,

1,793

941

2,734

Other Islands to the West of Hongkong,

1,287

638

1,925

Uen Long,.

12,560

10,683

23,248

Sheung U,

9,271

8,366

17,637

Luk Yeuk,

870

923

1,793

Sha Tau Kok,

6,312

5,273

11,585

Tung Hoi, ....

3,038

2,790

5,828

Islands to the East of Hongkong and in Mirs Bay,

726

443

1,169

Total,.......

57,314

44,010

102,254

Under 16 years of age,

16 years

and over,

Total,....

Males.

Females.

Total.

17,540

14,427

31,967

39,804

30,483

70,287

57,344

41,910

102,254

Number of houses,

.....25,584

Number of empty houses,

3,463

Number of occupied houses,

..22,121

Average number of inmates to each house,

4.6

HONGKONG.

803

47 No. 1901

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

TO ENQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE QUESTION OF THE EXISTING DIFFICULTY OF PROCURING AND RETAINING RELIABLE

CHAIR AND JINRICKSHA COOLIES FOR PRIVATE

CHAIRS AND JINRICKSHAS.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION,

CONTENTS.

APPENDICES:

PAGE.

3-7

PAGE.

APPENDIX A.-Commission by His Excellency the Governor,

(1)

B.-Evidence,......

C.-List of Questions circulated,

.(1 a)–(127)

(128)

D.-Return of Answers to Questions in Appendix C,

.(128)

E.-Selection of Answers to Questions in Appendix C,

.(129)

F.-Draft Bill,

.(139)

G.-Minute by the Hon'ble the Captain Superintendent of Police,........

..(142)

H.-Letter from the Hon'ble the Captain Superintendent of Police,

.(143)

1. Memo. by Chief Detective Inspector Hanson,.................

..(144)

J.-Mr. A. W. Brewin's Letter to the Secretary to the Commission,

..(145)

K.-Letter from His Honour Mr. Justice Sercombe Smith to His Excellency the

Governor,

.(146)

L.-Reply by His Excellency the Governor to Mr. Justice Sercombe Smith, ...(147)

M. Mr. R. Chatterton Wilcox's Letter to Government,

....(147)

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APPOINTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO ENQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE QUESTION OF THE EXISTING DIFFICULTY OF PROCURING AND RETAIN ING RELIABLE

CHAIR AND JINRICKSHA COOLIES FOR PRIVATE CHAIRS AND JINRICKSHAS.

The undersigned, Members of a Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the question of the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable private chair and jinricksha coolies, have the honour to report as follows:-

1. We have held 14 Meetings between 3rd September and 4th November, 1901, and have examined 30 witnesses.

2. We have ascertained the views, on certain points, of over 120 residents by means of a printed paper of questions, which forms Appendix C.

3. The answers to those questions show conclusively that there has been difficulty in procuring and retaining reliable private chair and ricksha coolies.

4. As to the causes of the existing difficulty, we find that the main cause of the difficulty in procuring such coolies is a demand for increased wages, which many non- Chinese refuse to pay.

5. We observe that there has apparently been no difficulty in procuring six hundred coolies from China to man the three hundred new public rickshas which have recently been licensed. Further, we observe from the annual reports of the Captain Superintend- ent of Police that in the year 1897, 7,164 drivers and bearers were licensed; in the year 1898, 8,252; in the year 1899, 8,923; and in the year 1900, 9,984, or an increase of 2,820 drivers and bearers in a period of 4 years, that is, an increase of nearly 40 per cent. in the number of drivers and bearers. These figures seem to show that the demand for public chair and ricksha coolies has been amply met, and lead us to the conclusion that there is an adequate number of men procurable for private service, provided the wages offered approach in amount the takings of the licensees of public vehicles.

6. We are of opinion that the price of lodging is not as a rule a serious factor in the matter, because private coolies are usually lodged, rent free, by their masters; and we think that the increased cost of food has been approximately met by the advance in wages which has occurred in the last five years.

7. The demand for wages exceeding $8 a month seems, in the main, due to the fact that the calling of a public chair or ricksha coolie, especially the latter, is more lucra- tive, and induces private coolies to leave to join the ranks of public coolies.

3. The evidence tends to show that no regular guilds of chair and ricksha coolies exist, but each lodging house seems to be an effective centre for combination.

9. The causes of the difficulty in retaining such coolies when procured are :-

A. That such coolies, in many cases, object to perform odd jobs, such as chit carrying, punkah pulling, tennis fielding, housework, &c., which they once did without demur.

B. That there is some doubt whether the law makes it penal for such coolies to neglect their duty, or to absent themselves from duty, or to leave service. without notice, or to disobey lawful and reasonable orders, &c., &c., although such a law exists in respect of domestic servants. (Vide section 3 sub-section 3 of Ordinance 14 of 1845.)

C.--That a knowledge of the earnings of public coolies makes private coolies discontented and induces them to leave private employ at the earliest opportunity.

D. That they sometimes object to give their whole time to their masters'

service.

E-That if they leave a master, they can usually find employment with

another master or obtain other work.

10. As to whether it is advisable and practicable to introduce any, and (if any) what legislation on the subject, our answer is yes, and we append a draft Bill which we think would meet the case. (See Appendix F.)

11. We are aware that the provisions of the Victoria Registration Ordinance No. 7 of 1866 affecting the registration of servants and repealed by Ordinance 13 of 1888, were not worked with much success. The reasons for this failure, were, we believe, the absence of photography, laxity in enforcing those provisions, indifference on the part of masters, the preference of personal convenience to the general advantage, the doubtful applicability of sub-section 3 of section 3 of Ordinance 14 of 1845 to other than domestic servants, the fraudulent transfer of certificates of registration, and, probably, the payment of a registration fee.

12. The draft Bill referred to in para. 10 provides, inter alia, for compulsory regis- tration at the Central Police Station, for the photographing of every private coolie, for the regulation of the conduct of private coolies, and for making it penal for masters to engage unregistered coolies and for unregistered coolies to seek or obtain employment in the same capacities.

13. We are decidedly of the opinion, which the evidence supports, that to be effect- ive, registration must be compulsory, universal, and in the hands of the Police Depart-

ment..

We think that the scheme of registration embodied in the draft Bill, will give both the Police and masters desirable and, we trust, effective control over private coolies.

14. In answer to question 6 of Appendix C. "Whether persons who engage un- registered private chair and ricksha coolies should be liable to a fine in the l'olice Court", there were 78 ayes, 26 conditional ayes, and 24 nays. The evidence of Mr. POATE shows that there was misapprehension as to the meaning of this question. When it was explained to him that it was not proposed to punish the master, and leave the coolie alone, he adopted the view of this Commission, that no scheme of registration could be successfully enforced if masters were not made liable for en- gaging unregistered coolies. If this is borne in mind, it is evident that the majority of "ayes" in favour of making such masters liable would probably have been greater; as it is, the proportion of "ayes" to "nays" is that of more than 3 to 1.

15. We recommend that registration shall be free, because the payment of a fee in former times may have conduced to render the former Ordinance nugatory, and because the existence of a fee may be made the ground for demanding higher wages.

16. Apart from the reason that the omission of the penal clause affecting masters will defeat the whole purpose of registration, we consider that it would be unjust to punish the coolie who offers his services and not also the person who accepts those services.

17. Generally, we think that registration will tend to weed out of the ranks of private coolies the bad characters sometimes met with, because persons unfavourably known to the Police would not be registered.

18. Some persons fear that registration will tend to limit the number of coolies now available, and therefore wish to be at liberty to engage unregistered coolies who may offer themselves. The limitation of numbers; it is said, will arise (1) from the

Police Department refusing to register as private coolies men known to be bad cha- racters, but who, quâ coolies, are capable servants, (2) from unwillingness on the part of private coolies to register.

In our judgment, if the result (1) anticipated by the sceptics concerning registra- tion is attained, it will prove an unmixed advantage to the community, which will thus be relieved of the presence of rogues masquerading as private coolies who, we should not be surprised, would also prove on inquiry to be to some extent at the bottom of the present difficulty.

As regards result (2) we believe that no persons who wish to become private coolies, would be deterred by free registration from entering private service.

By the draft Bill, which we have submitted, it is provided that a master may have in his employ for 48 hours unregistered coolies. This period of 48 hours will enable the coolie to become registered, and will give the master reasonable time to insist on the coolie being registered.

We do not oppose an enlargement of this period of 48 hours, but would point out that if the period is much enlarged, it will merely induce an aggravated condition of the present difficulty in retaining coolies.

19. As regards what other (if any) remedial measures should be taken, we suggest that the scale of fares for public rickshas, in Victoria and Kowloon, should be revised and reduced, at any rate so far as short time fares are concerned; for we are convinced that if the earnings of private chair and ricksha coolies could be placed more nearly on an equality with those of public ricksha coolies, the inducement to throw up private service for public employ would lose much of its force, the demand for higher wages would almost cease, and the difficulty of procuring and retaining private chair and ricksha coolies would be largely diminished, if it did not altogether disappear.

20. Chief Detective Inspector HANSON stated in his evidence that he had calcu- lated that it is possible for two men between them to make from $60 to $80 a month. with a public ricksha; and one of the public ricksha coolies examined stated that his nett earnings, after paying for food and rent, amounted to $10 a month. The evidence also shows that a coolie will pay a considerable sum for the goodwill of a public ricksha.

21. At present, the minimum ricksha fare is 5 cents for a quarter of an hour. If a person takes a ricksha from the Clock Tower to the Hongkong Club or Hongkong. Bank he must pay 5 cents.

This seems to be an unnecessarily large fare. We therefore advocate ricksha rates of 2, 3, and 5 cents for 5, 10 and 15 minutes respectively. Distance fares, as in the case of gâris, might also be introduced. The difficulty of carrying the necessary money can be overcome by adopting a system of checks for these several amounts. These checks should be saleable at the Treasury and Police Stations in the Colony and could be redeemed by the coolies on presentation at the Treasury in office hours.

Great care would have to be taken to guard against the acceptance, for redemption, of forged checks, not issued by the Treasury or a Police Station.

As it is a practice for Chinese engaging public chairs and rickshas to bargain for rates below the tariff rates, it is clear that licensed coolies are willing to take

passengers at reduced fares.

22. We are not aware whether the public revenue of $55,000 which was the sum. derived in 1900 from the licensing of carriages, chairs, &c. would be materially affected by our proposal, but we submit that, even though the public revenue from this particular source were decreased, it would be but a small consideration to pay for the advantages resulting from a supply of private chair and ricksha coolies.

23. We have not entered into the question of the probable effect of the reduction in public fares for short times and distances upon the number of public vehicles which might continue to ply, but we see no reason to think that the approximate equalisation

}

of the earnings of public and private coolies would tend to drive public vehicles off the streets, because we think that the earnings still procurable in Hongkong as compared with the earnings procurable in China, would continue to attract Chinese from the main- land.

24. It appears to us that the community's independence of private coolies' services would be aided by the establishment of a larger number of chair or ricksha stands or ranks. Take the Peak as an example. If stands or ranks for chairs were placed at such points as Plantation Road Station, underneath Craigieburn and at the bifurcation of the roads round Mount Kellett, it is obvious that this convenience would render Peak residents more or less independent of private coolies.

It would also aid in the same direction if the chair stand at Victoria Gap were on the public telephone system. An English-speaking Chinese should be put in charge who should depute certain chairs to go where wanted. The number and destination of the chair should be entered in a book kept by the Chinese in charge, and complaints of non-compliance with telephone messages should be sent to and investigated by the Captain Superintendent of Police.

25. We surmise that private coolies occasionally elude the vigilance of the Police and succeed in acting as substitutes for public coolies, or themselves employ what look like private rickshas in soliciting fares.

26. We recommend that the Police, when on ordinary duty, should more fre- quently, and especially at night, require chair and ricksha coolies to show their licences, and should arrest and charge all who do not produce their licences, or who produce licences not bearing the photograph of the person producing it.

27. We strongly recommend that one or more members of the Police Force, who might be called Inspectors of Public Vehicles (as there already is an Inspector of Weights and Measures) should be appointed and detached to exercise special supervision over all licensed public vehicles and coolies whilst they are plying for hire in the streets. These Inspectors should have travelling allowances and should be here, there, and every- where, calling on all kinds of vehicle coolies to produce their licences. This proposal is not intended to be in substitution for the recommendation that the Police on ordinary duty should constantly call for and examine the licences. It would be an additional help, we think, in cases where an unlicensed person is found plying a licensed vehicle, to make the licensed drawer, driver or bearer also liable to be heavily punished.

28. It appears from the evidence that the Chinese generally do not wish that any steps should be taken to register or otherwise control coolies in their employ: therefore, we have no recommendation to make on this point, though we venture the opinion that they will be likely to share in any benefits which may result from the adoption of our proposals.

29. If on consideration it is thought desirable, we see no objection to placing in the hands of persons approved by the Government the business of supplying private chair and ricksha coolies at a given rate of wages, and in accordance with a scheme submitted to the Government on 2nd August, 1901, by the Captain Superintendent of Police and annexed as Appendix G to this report. The rate of wages set forth in that scheme, however, might, in our opinion, be reduced, if the legislation and the remedial measures which we have submitted, are carried into effect.

30. Nevertheless, we are of opinion that our proposals, if carried out, might render a resort to such a scheme unnecessary, and that the market could be supplied without it.

31. As the preamble of the Commission issued to us recognises the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable private chair and ricksha coolies, and we are of opinion that that difficulty, if firmly faced with a determination to remove it,

would largely if not entirely disappear, we beg respectfully but emphatically to urge that our proposals be given a trial during the coming winter months, that no threats of opposition or rumours of a strike be allowed to thwart an attempt to remedy the prevailing difficulties and inconvenience, and that it should be fully recognised that a difficulty of this nature, arising in connection with the employment of Orientals, will only become aggravated, if not grappled with sternly and speedily. The community may have to face a brief dislocation of the private coolie service, but will, we think, be amply repaid for any temporary discomfort by the benefits expected to accrue.

32. In advance, we would earnestly deprecate any opposition to a fresh attempt to enforce registration on new lines and to make it effective by means of the penal clause, because such registration and such penal clause may not in the opinion of some prove effective and may involve slight personal trouble, inconvenience and loss of time.

33. We trust that all ranks and divisions of the non-Chinese community will be prepared to co-operate in order to make the legislation and measures, which we have proposed, effective and workable. If this co-operation, either from purely selfish consi- derations or out of mere sentiment, be withheld by an influential minority, it is to be feared that no remedial measures devised to meet the emergency can be successful.

We therefore hope that the wealthier members of the non-Chinese community will sink all considerations of personal inconvenience, dignity, trouble and loss of time, and will combine with the less favoured members of that community in lending their support to provide a remedy for the admitted evils which have given rise to this Com- mission.

HONGKONG, 6th November, 1901.

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

(Chairman).

R. CHATTERTON WILCOX.

F. J. BADELEY.

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APPENDIX A.

COMMISSION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF HONKONG.

[L.S.] HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE,

Governor.

WHEREAS it is expedient that a Commission be appointed to enquire into and report on the question of the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable chair and jinricksha coolies for private chairs and jinrickshas with special reference to the follow- ing points, viz.:-

(a.) What are the causes of the existing difficulty?

(b.) Whether it is advisable and practicable to introduce any, and (if any)

what legislation on the subject ?

(c.) What other (if any) remedial measures should be taken?

(d.) Whether any proposed legislation or other measures should embrace

coolies in the employ of Chinese and non-Chinese alike?

Now, therefore, I, Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor of the Colony of Hong- kong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same, do hereby under the powers vested in me by Ordinance 27 of 1886, entitled the Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, appoint you:-

1. THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH,

2. ROBERT CHATTERTON WILCOX,

3. FRANCIS JOSEPH BADELEY,

to be a Commission for the purpose of instituting, making, and conducting such enquiry; And I do hereby appoint you the said THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH to be Chair- man of such Commission; And I do hereby appoint LEO. D'ALMADA E CASTRO to be Secretary to such Commission; And I do hereby order and direct that for all or any of the purposes of this Commission two Members thereof inclusive of the Chairman shall be and constitute a quorum.

And I do further hereby order and direct that the said Commission shall, for the purpose of making the said enquiry, have all such powers as are vested in the Supreme Court of this Colony or in any Judge thereof on the occasion of any suit or action in respect of the following matters, viz. :—

(a.) The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise, as the Commissioners or any of them may think fit.

(b.) The compelling the production of documents.

(c.) The punishing persons guilty of contempt.

(d.) The ordering an inspection of any property.

And also the power, for the purposes of this Commission, to enter and view any premises. And I do hereby further direct that every examination of witnesses shall be held in private; And I do further direct that any person examined as a witness in the enquiry aforesaid who in the opinion of the Commissioners makes a full and true disclosure touching all the matters in respect of which he is examined shall receive a certificate under the hand of the Chairman or presiding Member of the Commission, countersigned by the Secretary, stating that the witness has upon his examination made a full and true disclosure as aforesaid, as provided by section 4 of the before mentioned Ordinance; And I do further require you to report to me the evidence and your opinion thereon; And I hereby charge all persons in the Public Service to assist you herein.

Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Colony in Executive Council, this 28th day of August, A.D. 1901.

By Command,

Council Chamber, Hongkong, 28th August, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

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APPENDIX B.

EVIDENCE.

3rd September, 1901.

FRANCIS HENRY MAY sworn :-

The Chairman. You are head of the Police. Mr. May?

Witness.-Yes.

Q. And the licensing of public chairs, rickshas and gharries is in

A. Yes.

your hands?

Q.-Have you had any complaints from individuals about the difficulties of pro- curing reliable private chair and ricksha coolies?

A. Yes, I have had a great many.

Q. Can you give us an estimate of the number?

A.-I have had about a dozen complaints this year. That is, I have had a dozen applications for assistance in getting coolies. I have heard many complaints besides. Q.--How many years have you been receiving complaints and applications?

A.-I have had applications for assistance in getting coolics ever since I have been in the Police-for eight and-a-half years.

Q.-Have you found that they have increased in recent years?

A. Of course they have increased. There have been greater difficulties this year.

I have had these dozen applications I spoke of this year alone.

→

Q. Can you tell us any reason why the applications have been more frequent this year, or rather put it this way-can you give the Commission any reason why there has been more difficulty of late in obtaining these services?

A. Well, one reason is that the community is increased, the demand for coolies is greater, and the coolies are more or less limited in number. They are not under any control whatever, and they can do what they like. Another reason is that the cost of living has increased and wages are still going up. I would refer the Commission to my remarks on the subject in a Memorandum I wrote on this coolie question under date. of the 2nd of August.

Q. Do you know whether there is any Coolie Guild or Association of private chair and ricksha coolies?

A. There is no actual guild, but there are Clubs in these coolie houses that they go to.

Both licensed and private chair coolies all frequent coolie houses, and the men from different districts frequent the same house and form a sort of club, and there is no doubt that they determine among themselves whom they will serve and whom they won't serve, and what terms they will serve for, and they combine in these clubs to boycott people they don't like. But there is no regular chair coolie guild like other guilds at least, not that I am aware of. The Triad Society, however, plays a considerable part in this matter. There are two lodges of it in the Colony, and most of the chair and ricksha coolies belong to or at any rate will rally to one or the other to combine any purpose. I don't mean that they are actual premises occupied as lodges, but the Society exists though it is not active at present.

for

Q.-Can you give us the name of any prime mover in these clubs or any heads of these clubs ?

A.-No, I don't think there are any. The men who keep the coolie houses have a good deal of influence with the coolies. The licensees of the chairs and rickshas also have influence-some of them a great deal of influence.

Q. Are these coolie clubs registered lodging houses?

A. Yes, they would be.

Q. Where do the coolies who are usually employed as private chair and ricksha coolies mostly come from?

A.-There are a great many Chiu Chau men, some Hoi Fung men, and there are Puntis or Canton coolies.

Q. Do you think that these coolies from distinct and different localities combine together, or is it merely that coolies of given localities combine together?

A. Only the coolies from a certain district would combine.

Q.-But do the coolies of Chiu Chau combine with the Puntis to raise prices and boycott persons?

A. Yes they would make common cause.

Q.-Have you had any instance of that brought under your notice?

A. Yes. In 1894, for example, they boycotted all the Plague workers including myself because Plague measures were generally unpopular. Since then I have been again boycotted because I would not intercede with the Magistrate on behalf of two of my coolies who were charged by the Police with creating a disturbance in the street.

-Have you moved the Government on this matter of registration of Chinese servants in European employ before?

A. I have recommended it ever since 1894. I think I have recommended it five times.

Q.-The first time was in 1894?

A.-As well as I remember, in 1894.

Q-Have any steps been taken?

A.-No; not as yet.

Mr. Wilcox. That was for registration of Chinese servants generally, was it not? A.-Registration of domestic servants. It was, I may say, referred to the unof ficial members of Council on one occasion and they were not in favour of it.

The Chairman.-Do you know their reasons?

A.-I don't know their reasons.

Q.-Was not the question also referred to the Chamber of Commerce ?

A. The last time it was referred to the Chamber of Commerce, and they were not in favour of it.

Q.-Did they give reasons?

A.-I can't say.

Q.-

That was the last time but one; I have raised it since then.

-What is the reason for raising it?

A. The reason for raising it is the complaints of persons in the Colony. My argument is that it is not my business to engage coolies for private individuals.

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simply do it to help people out of the difficulty. It is not part of the business of the Police. At the same time, if I don't render the assistance people would simply be without coolies and could not get them at all.

Q.-Do you think any action should be taken on Police grounds to obtain more control over this class of coolies, that is private chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-Well, the licensing of men like that would be certainly a useful thing.

Q.-Supposing any legislation was introduced, would you approve of legislation which was directed towards the registration of this class of coolies?

A.--Yes, they ought all to be registered and licensed.

Q.-Would you make registration compulsory and would you make non-registra- tion penal?

A.--Yes.

Q.-Would you approve of photographing such coolies?

A.--Yes, we would have to photograph them.

--Do you consider that a very useful method of controlling Chinese ?

A.--Yes. You must do it to enable you to identify them. anybody here yet trained in the identification by finger marks. have to photograph.

We have not got Therefore we would

Q.- -Do you approve of the registration being without fees as an encouragement to register? Do you think it would be an advantage if registration were without fees?

A.-I don't think so. I think the Chinaman generally values what he pays far more than what he gets for nothing.

-Should employers be liable to a fine for employing unregistered coolies?

A. Yes, certainly..

Q.-You remember the old Ordinance No. 7 of 1866 called the Victoria Registra- tion Ordinance, and you remember that sections 22 to 29 of that dealt with the question of registration of servants?

A. Yes.

Q.-Now, would you approve of legislation on the lines of those repealed sections? Do you think that is the kind of legislation that is wanted with the additions we have suggested about photographing the coolies and making it penal for employers to employ unregistered coolies?

A. Yes, that was what I recommended, that these sections should be re-enacted with the addition of compulsory photographing.

Q.--Have you found compulsory photography in other branches useful ?

A.--Yes; all the licensed ricksha coolies and chair coolies are photographed, and there is a black book kept of men who are complained of as obnoxious, and men who persist in breaking the rules of the road and rushing for passengers. If fines have no effect on them, we cancel their licences, and then we have got them in the black book and they can't get licences again. It has a good effect.

Q.-From your experience, would you anticipate any temporary trouble if a registration order were introduced and strictly enforced on the lines just mentioned ?

A.--Well, it depends upon how it is done. If you start in and state that all Chinese coolies must be registered and licensed to-morrow, you would be bound to have a strike and trouble.

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Q.-Then, I take it you think it would be better to allow a certain time within which all servants and coolies should be registered?

way.

A.-No, I don't think it is a question of time. What you want is to prepare the

Q.--What do you mean by "prepare the way

A.-Well, I think, if these coolies were licensed and registered there ought to be a headman through whom you could work. Some man ought to be a headman of all these coolies and get coolies for you. No doubt, he would make something out of it, but if you got hold of such a man and got him to undertake to get you coolies, I think you might put the thing through without any strike. That is what I mean. If you went and tried to license them offhand without making any provision for a strike you would possibly have some trouble.

Mr. Wilcox.-Would it cause less trouble if you took them in detachments so to speak-a district at a time perhaps?

A. You would have to do the whole thing at once.

The Chairman.--Do you think it would be advisable to make any Ordinance that might be introduced come into effect in the winter time instead of the summer?

A.--I have always chosen that season in bringing the question up. My idea was to get the law passed and put into force in December when the weather is cool and people can do without chairs. You can smash any strike here inside of a month.

Q.--I quite agree with you that it is the best time of the year. Now, should there be a central registry office, separate from any Government Department, or do you think that the registration should be conducted in the Registrar General's Departinent or Police Office at the Central Police Station ?

A.--Well, I don't want to take any more work on the Police, but I think the Police Office is the proper place to have it done, because they would have the means of doing it better.

Q.-

-You think the Police is the proper department because they would do it better and have more power ?

A. They have more facilities for taking action when complaints reach them.

Mr. Wilcox. It might be a sub-department perhaps?

A. I would license them just like the licensed coolies. It simply means a Chinese Clerk and some more work for Mr. Badeley and myself.

Mr. Wilcox. In the Straits Settlements they have a sort of separate sub-depart- ment under the Municipality, and it works very well I believe.

Witness. Of course I only mean that, as things are at present, probably the most efficient department for this work would be the Police. I am not saying it is the best possible arrangement.

The Chairman.--What are your ideas as to how an Ordinance having such pro- visions could be enforced?

A.-Well, I think that, as we are situated here, the Police Department is the best. It is just like the licensing of dogs. The Police would have to run a coolie in for hiring himself without a licence and they might have to summons men also for hiring coolies who have no licence and so on. The Police Department is the proper one for that.

Q.-Sub-head (d.) under the Commission reads as follows-" whether any proposed legislation or other measures should embrace coolies in the employ of Chinese and non-Chinese alike." What is your opinion on that point?

A.-I see no necessity to extend it to Chinese.

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Q.---Have you had any complaints from Chinese about not being able to obtain

proper servants ?

A.-No, I have not.

Q. What is your opinion about fixing the rate of pay for these private servants in the same way as the rate is fixed for cargo boats, sampans and public conveyances?

Mr. Badeley.--It is not fixed at all. It is so much a job for them, not so much a

month.

The Chairman.What about regulating wages in the same way as fares are regu-

Have you thought of that?

lated?

A. Yes, the last proposal I made to the Government was to put the procuring of these coolies into the hands of a headman. I approached a man on the subject and one great difficulty in this question is the question of accommodation. The reason I mentioned earlier in my evidence that the coolies were practically limited in number is a fact and a reason for that is that there are not enough houses in the Colony to admit of this class coming here freely to live. Coolies won't come down from Hoi Fung to this place unless they can do so at very small cost. They have not got any money and unless they can find accommodation with some friends they won't come. That is one reason why the supply is limited. I approached this man and he said, "If you get the Government to put up some coolie houses and let them to me, on reasonable terms, I will undertake to supply you with any number of good, strong private ricksha and chair coolies at $9 a month each for hill and low-level work." That was on the assumption that he could rent the houses from Government at about 50 cents per head of coolie inhabitant. That is that with twenty coolies on a floor the rent would be $10 for the floor. Those are the rates of some time ago, before rents had gone so high. Then I said "Suppose Government are not disposed to go in for this capital expendi- ture and you have to find the houses?" He said "Well, I am prepared to build houses, but then I will have to charge $10." That is to say if you gave him a sort of direct offer for all these coolies, he would supply you with coolies for private service at $10 a head. He is a man whom I have had a good many dealings with.

Q. Do you mind giving us his name?

A.-I prefer not to give his name as he might get into trouble, but he is a man I have confidence in as to his ability to do what he says he will do.

Q-I suppose Mr. Badeley knows him?

A.—Yes, Mr. Badeley knows him.

Witness.-I think this scheme must have a headman in the saine way as I have got a headman at the Peak to run chairs there, and have got headmen for the rick- sha coolies and for the licensed chair coolies.

The Chairman.-Can you tell us what are the rates at present prevailing in regard to private chair and ricksha coolies-the rates of pay I mean?

A.--Well, they have risen considerably, and the coolies, I think, are trying, as far as I can see, to get them up still higher. I should say the rates now run from $8 to $11. I don't think there are many rates under $8.

Mr. Wilcox. There are very few at $11, I think.

Witness. I know a case at Queen's Gardens in which, unless I am misinformed, $11 are paid.

Mr. Badeley. Last summer, I think $9 was the highest at the Peak.

The Chairman.-Do you know of any special class of the community who are apt to give or who do give higher rates without there apparently being any unusual reason?

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A. Yes, I have not verified the statements that have been made to me, but I know there are people who don't care what they give to their chair coolies and run up rates by so doing. I may say that the other day, application was made to me for chair coolies at Seymour Terrace and I could not get them under $9. But some indoor work was required of them, and the applicant had already offered $9 before application was made to me.

Mr. Wilcox.-That is not so far up the hill. It is only a moderate distance. It is not like Queen's Gardens.

Mr. Wilcox. I would like to ask Mr. May if he knows and could give us any in- formation as to the number of cases in which coolies-chair coolies in private employ- have been convicted or charged with having committed burglary or run away with property belonging to their employers ?

A.-I could not give you the information offhand.

Mr. Wilcox.-No, I suppose not the exact number.

The Chairman.-Could you have a return made up in the Police Department and also by reference to the Magistrate's Department?

A. Such cases have come to my knowledge, but there have been more cases in the case of house servants. Of course, they have greater opportunities. i have had many cases in which house-boys and coolies have stolen from their employers and gone away and I have found them re-employed. I have even written to their employers and told them that they had got a thief for a boy and they say, "Well, so long as he does not trouble me, I don't mind."

The Chairman. This is beyond the scope of our inquiry.

Mr. Badeley.-I should like to ask Mr. May are private chair coolies and public ricksha and chair coolies drawn from the same source or are they separate?

A.-They belong to the same class.

Mr. Badeley.-Do they interchange? Does a man sometimes do private chair work and then take to running a ricksha, or do they stick to the one job?

A. They very often change. A private coolie will go and run a public ricksha three or four times a day and make some money.

Q. When men get their licences as public chair or ricksha coolies cancelled, do they sometimes go into private employ?

A. Yes, they sometimes do so.

Q.-Would the fact of largely increasing the number of public rickshas have a considerable effect in taking away the available men for private chair coolies?

A. Yes, it will.

-Do you think that has been largely instrumental in causing the scarcity?

A. Of course. We come back to the question of accommodation. If we had more accommodation, we would not have so much trouble. I feel sure of that.

Q. Can you tell us how much a public ricksha coolie can earn as compared with a private chair coolie? Is it a much more paying concern?

A.-It is a more paying thing to run a public ricksha. I can't enter into the figures for carrying a chair, but I don't imagine that is a very lucrative business, except at the Peak,

Q.-There is no restriction on the number of chairs?

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A.-No. But at the Peak, for the very same reason of want of accommodation for coolies there are not enough chairs. I wish to increase them but it means first adding a house, unless you flood the houses of residents with the public chair coolies.

Q. When you have had applications made to you to get chair coolies for people, have you always succeeded in getting them?

A. Yes. Whenever I have made a point of it I don't think I have ever failed.

Q. How do you set about getting them?

A.-I get

them through the headmen of the licensed coolies. people I have any control over.

These are the only

Q. Do you mean the men that have the ricksha licences, or the headman at the Peak?

A.-Generally, it is chair coolies that we have been asked for and I have brought pressure to bear on the licensees of public chairs. They are really the headmen.

Q. Do these men have a large number of chairs like they do rickshas?

A. Yes.

Q. Would it not be a good thing to extend that system? Perhaps there is not sufficient demand for chairs to make it a lucrative business to be a headman for chairs and give you a real hold of them as you have of the ricksha coolies?

A.-The number of public chairs is not limited and, except at the Peak, there has not been any great increase in the number of public licensed chairs for the last four or five years.

Q.-Is a chair coolie a different being from a ricksha coolie? Will a ricksha coolie take to carrying a chair?

A. Yes, sometimes they do that. Of course you get younger and stronger men

in the rickshas. The older men go to the chairs.

乖

Q.-How long do these coolies last, only a few years? It kills them doesn't it?

-I don't know that. I never enquired.

Q-When you set to work to get private coolies for anybody, do they want to know who they are for and haggle as to whether he is a well known bad master or good master?

A.-Well, I have never been able to find any cases of bad treatment where the coolies won't go to a man. I have had cases of being unwilling to carry exceptionally heavy people and so on, but it generally appears to be some petty thing. Very often outdoor coolies are asked to do household work, carry provisions up to the Peak and so on, and they object to these little additions to what they consider their sole duties of carrying.

you

The Chairman.-Do think the introduction of the tram and consequent leni- ency of masters towards their servants in providing them with tram tickets has had any influence in making the coolies more unwilling to work?

A. Yes, undoubtedly it has. They have become utterly spoiled. As regards my own servants, I make work for them. When they have nothing to do, I find something for them to do.

Mr. Wilcox. That is a general complaint, and it is commonly stated that the chair coolies are unwilling nowadays to do any work beyond carrying a chair.

Mr. Badeley. That is a part and parcel of the system of scarcity.

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The Chairman. In the old days at the Peak, when water had to be drawn from a well, they had to do it.

Mr. Badeley.-Suppose a large number of ricksha coolies were thrown out of em- ployment in consequence of the introduction of the tram would they take to the work of private chair coolies and help to relieve the scarcity, or would they leave the Colony?

A.--I think you would always get a large percentage of them to stop on.

Mr. Badeley.--And supposing you put on three or four hundred public rickshas on the market, would there be a rush of chair bearers?

A.-These 500 rickshas that are going on will aggravate the thing. It shows how few houses there are when the tenderers for these 500 rickshas bad considerable diffi- culty in satisfying me as to where they were going to put the men. In fact, there were no houses actually constructed in which these coolies could be put. The tenderers showed houses in course of construction for the bulk of the coolies, or said "Oh well, I will build houses, here or there or elsewhere." There isn't accommodation for the extra coolies.

Q.--Supposing there were coolies brought in from outside, would they come in in practically unlimited numbers, or would the present men try to keep them out by some method? Would there be anything to prevent a large influx if there was plenty of house room?

A. There would be an attempt to keep them out, therefore that is one of the reasons, apart from the question of management altogether, that you want a headman to work through. You want a man who will be interested in bringing them down. If you have no such man, these coolie clubs might combine together to keep the men

out.

Q.-Then your proposal comes to this, to grant a monopoly to one man to pro- vide private chair and ricksha coolies in the Colony?

A.—That would be the best way to do it. It is only on a small scale, the same system that all large merchants have followed for years. They all have their com- pradores, which simply means the medium who manages their Chinese staff and their Chinese business generally. In the same way you cannot get on with licensed rick- sha coolies and other coolies without having some responsible person to deal through. I tried one time granting ricksha licences at Kowloon to individual owners of vehicles. I thought that would be a good move, but it failed entirely. The men were always fighting together for the best vehicle stands and it was very difficult to control them.

Mr. Wilcox.-That system would do in England, but it is quite different with the Chinese.

Witness.They had some tremendous fights between some men who wanted always to be at the wharf and oust others-regular faction fights. I had to put them all away and have the licences under one man. The other system is all very nice on paper, but it won't work with Chinamen.

—

Mr. Wilcox. There is a tendency towards putting up prices in creating a mono- poly like that, is there not? Would the chair farmer, if we could call him so, not want to collect a dollar a month at least of the men's wages?

A.-I don't think he would want so much as that. He would of course make- something out of it?

Q. He would, I suppose, make something anyhow?

A.-You need not have one man. You could have two or three different men.

All the public chairs are not in the hands of one man.

if you like.

འ ན་

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The Chairman.-Do you want to add anything?

A.-I would only mention that I think the public chair and ricksha coolies here -of course they are abused a good deal-but I think on the whole, at any rate so far as the Police are concerned, they give satisfaction. I think, for instance, that you will find that property left in vehicles very rarely is not recovered. I have known as much as $450 brought out of a public ricksha and handed over to the Police. The sys- tem works well, and I don't see why the same system should not work with the private coolies. The fact is that the public coolies give us far less trouble than the private ones do.

Q.-Have you submitted any

scheme in all its details to the Government about the procuring of private chair and ricksha coolies? If so, would you give us the reference ? A.—I sketched a scheme. I had a telephone message to me from the Colonial Secretary's Office to bring down the papers. This is the last letter I wrote on the subject. It is in C.S.O. 2804 of 1900 and it is dated 2nd August this year.

Mr. Badeley.-Do you know of any private agencies for servants being started here?

A.--Yes, but they did not pay.

The Chairman.-For domestic servants?

A.--Yes.

Q-There has been no agency for private out-door servants?

A. Yes, all domestic servants. They did not succeed. Of course the thing must be made compulsory or it will never succeed.

This concluded Mr. May's evidence, and the Commission adjourned till Friday, 6th September, at 2 o'clock, when the evidence of Chief Detective Inspector Hanson will be taken.

6th September, 1901.

JOHN WILLIAM HANSON sworn:

The Chairman.-What is your office, Mr. Hanson ?

A.-Chief Detective Inspector, Sir.

Q.-As such Chief Detective Inspector, has the Captain Superintendent of Police requested you to procure private chair and ricksha coolies for individuals in the Colony?

A. Yes, Sir.

Q.-On how many occasions has he asked you?

A.-I think probably a dozen times.

Q.-Within what period?

A. Within the last eighteen months from the first occasion.

Q.-Were you asked to do it before you obtained the Office of Chief Detective Inspector?

A.-No, Sir.

Q.-It began then?

A. Yes, Sir.

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Q.-Have you had any difficulty in procuring such services when requested to

do so?

A.-I have had difficulty.

Q.- -What was the nature of your difficulty?

A.--First, I had some difficulty in obtaining them at all; second, I found that after procuring them they levanted after leaving the chit given them by me to report them- selves. Whether this was caused by influence brought to bear on them by the other servants of the house or by others outside, I am unable to say.

Q.-How do you proceed to get those coolies?

A.-In some cases I ask the Chinese staff at the Central Police Station to assist me, as they are more familiar with the men of the different districts. Then I apply to certain detectives to get them for me. In Hok-lo cases I apply to a headınan.

Q. What do you mean by headman ?

A. The man who has some little control over them. The men who are in the position of supervising coolies themselves.

Q.--Are these the men who bring the coolies to the Colony?

A.-No, but they may in some cases influence men to come when they require them themselves.

-Do you know any men in the Colony who are engaged in bringing coolies for private rickshas and chairs into the Colony?

A.-Not coolies for private chairs and rickshas specially, but I know of one man who supplies the labour market with coolies. The Kowloon Godown is largely supplied with Chiu Chau men.

Q.-Do you know anybody who supplies coolies for the purpose of private em- ployment?

A. That individual does some, because he procures some of the licensed coolies. we have; others I don't know specially.

Q.-Have you personally received complaints from members of the European com- munity who have difficulty in obtaining or procuring ricksha coolies?

A.-I have.

-I mean complaints apart from any that have been made to the Captain Superin- tendent of Police?

A. Yes, there were several instances. I referred them to the Captain Superin- tendent of Police also.

Q. Have you referred them all?

A.-I did not tell Mr. May about everyone.

Q. What was the nature of the complaints made by Europeans as a rule?

A.-In one case, a European offered a dollar increase of wages a month to two coolies as he employed them to do a little extra work in the way of picking up tennis balls. Even with the extra wages, they did not turn up. He said it was very hard; could I not help him with a view to getting new men ?

-Any other complaints of another nature?

A.-There was another case in which a cook left his mistress to do the day's cooking herself absolutely without any cause.

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-Are these indoor servants?

A. Yes, indoor servants.

Q.--Over how many years were these complaints made to you?

A.-The first time I had anything to do with it was after I was made Detective Inspector late in 1897 or early in 1898.

Q. Do you know if there is any Guild or Association controlling private chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-As regards the Hok-los I am inclined to think there is, from the influence brought to bear on them by the Triad Society.

Q.--That may be So,

but is there any organisation, guild or association?

A.-I have made inquiries and I can't find that there is any guild.

Q.-You know there are guilds in respect of other trades and callings?

A. Yes, Sir.

Q.-But you have never been able to find if there is any guild in connection with the private chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-Coolie koons exist, but these are private boarding houses.

Q.-Does the head of the licensed boarding house have any control over the coolies? Does he have any control over the money which the coolies in his boarding house will receive, or does he dictate to them which Europeans they are to serve, or which they are not to serve? Do you know of anything of that kind?

A.-They would use their influence in the case of one of their countrymen being discharged. They would interdict other coolies from taking up employment there again.

Q-Do you say that from knowledge?

A.-Almost from knowledge because there was a case in which I tried to get coolies from the same koon as I had got others who had been discharged, and I did not succeed; so I always thought it was the headman.

Q.-At present the class of men is not so good as it used to be. Can you give us the cause why there is greater difficulty in securing men at all, and why there is greater difficulty in securing reliable men?

A.-The difficulty in getting men, and that, I would submit, Sir, accounts partly for not getting good men, is the fact that here in Hongkong, things of late years have come to be so different to what they used to be in regard to the cost of living and such like and the Legislature have restricted the accommodation as to houses. Whereas they used to have cocklofts for 25 cents a month, now Government won't allow them, and it costs a coolie over a dollar for sleeping accommodation, housing has gone up so much.

Q.-You mean that the cost of food and lodging has gone up so much that they want greater wages than before, and that there is not house accommodation even if you could get a larger supply of coolies? Can you think of any other causes for the existing difficulty?

A.-I believe the emigration would have something to do with it, Sir, there being a greater field abroad for labour. If a man can do better down south he doesn't want to come to Hongkong. Manila would be a better field for labour.

Q.-You believe the acquisition of Manila has had a great effect?

A. Yes, certainly.

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to?

Q.-But there are as good fish still in China as there were before?

A. That is so, Sir.

-As regards the increased cost of living, what percentage do you put it down

A.—I think it is over 100° in the case of firewood.

It is now 16 bundles for a

dollar, a few years ago it was something like 33 bundles, so far as I can remember.

Q. What about rice, and pork and dried fish?

A.-Rice, I think, is 80% increase. Formerly one used to get a jar of lamp oil for $1.50 while one is now charged $2.50. If all these little items are jotted down, you will find there is a great difference now.

Q.-If you have thought about this matter, can you tell the Commission what remedies for this state of things have occurred to you as likely to be effective?

A.--If the Government were to provide housing accommodation for the coolies and charge them a fair rental, not allowing the rents to fluctuate but always having the same rental, they would know what they had to pay and could hear and be aware of the conditions on arriving in the Colony. I think that would help greatly.

that

Q.-Are there any other remedies that you have in mind-any local enactments you think could be beneficially passed?

A.--I think registration, Sir. If they were fairly treated on the lines I have in- dicated as to housing, it would be quite fair to ask them to give a guarantee for their good behaviour by being registered.

Q.-Could you give us some details of your scheme of registration if thought about it?

you have

A.-It could be ascertained how many coolies would meet the wants of the Colony to some extent.

Q.-Yes, but what would you embody in your scheme of registration ?

A.—I would offer certain wages for certain work and have a classification of ser- vauts of different kinds.

Q.-You would have a classification of servants and have different classes of work, and do

you indicate that the wages should be fixed for the different classes?'

A. Yes, Sir.

Q.—What about making registration compulsory?

A. In that case, Sir, if wages were fixed and were just, and attention paid to their other wants, registered servants only should be allowed to be employed.

Q.-You mean, I suppose, that maximum rates should be fixed?

A. Yes.

Q.-What method do you propose for keeping check over these coolies? For instance, how do you propose to identify them?

A. They must be photographed, otherwise one would not know them.

Q. In your experience, is photography a satisfactory and the best means of iden- tifying Chinese that you know of?

A. Yes, Sir.

Q.-Amongst the class of people with whom you associate, Mr. Hanson, do you think there would be any objection to its being made penal for a master to employ an unregistered servant? Have

you heard

any expression of opinion on that subject?

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A.-I have heard the remark that some people have no difficulty with their I do not know whether these people would like to become subject to legis- lative enactments.

servants.

Q.-Have you heard any expression of opinion amongst your friends and acquaint- ances of the nature I have indicated?

A.-No, I have not heard any direct expression against such a course.

Q.-Have you heard any expression of opinion in favour of it?

A. Yes, in a general way I have heard it remarked over and over again that it is time something were done that way and not to be left entirely to the mercy of these

servants.

Q-But the point we are on now is as to whether the master should be subject to a fine if he engages an unregistered servant. Have you heard any remarks as to that, or could

you give us the result of your conclusions on that point?

A. I can't recollect any occasion in which I have engaged in conversation on that particular point.

Q.-Suppose a Registration Ordinance were brought in on the lines I have been suggesting to you, what do you think would be the result?

A.-There would be a strike-there would be an attempt to strike, I think.

Q.--On what do you base that opinion?

A-Photographing has been the cause of a strike in almost every instance. It occurred with the lodging-houses and with the guilds and in nearly every case.

-But these strikes were of short duration?

A. Yes, they must strike for the sake of saving face.

Q.-Yes, but they get a face; they don't lose one. You have a very good know- ledge of Chinese character, Mr. Hanson. At present there is no difficulty in procuring cargo-boatmen and lodging-house keepers to be photographed. I suppose the idea of striking has all passed over with them?

A.-It passed over after the thing was first introduced.

Q. What time of the year do you think would be the most convenient for the European population in which to start a system of registration?

A. It would be better to be left till the cold weather. I would not advise the hot weather.

Mr. Wilcox.-Less discomfort.

The Chairman.—Have you anything to do with the licensing of public chairs, etc.? A. No, Sir.

Q. Do you know if there is any objection on the part of chair-bearers and pullers of public rickshas and drivers of public gharries to be photographed ?

A.-Oh, no, Sir.

Q.-Have you any opinion as to which depart nent would be the best suited to work out the provisions of any Registration Ordinance?

A.-The Police Department, Sir.

Q.--Why is it the best?

A. Because if anything did go wrong they would know that the police would have to take them in hand. If any strike occurs the police will be called in and I think that the coolies, knowing that the police have it in hand, will think better.

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Q.-It means that you think that the Police Department is the best known executive department?

A. We have so much to do with them now. Our criminal staff is in touch with A.-We them and the licensing of public chair and ricksha coolies is already in the hands of the Police.

Mr. Wilcox. You say that you have no evidence of the existence of a guild in connection with chair and jinricksha coolies but think they were controlled at the club or koon. Do you think there is any organisation existing for the purpose of pre- venting the introduction into the Colony of a greater number of coolies than would suffice for the wants of the Colony and thus keep up the rate of wages?

A.—No, I have tried to get to the bottom of that, and I have not been able to elicit any information on that point.

Q.-You have not been able to elicit any information on the subject, but you don't say there is no such thing. It is possible?

A.-I fancy if there had been such a thing I would have known. I have tried hard to find out. Figures were given me and they can't come down to Hongkong as they used to before and lodge as many as they like in the houses at a time.

Mr. Wilcox.-That is so far as outside coolies are concerned, but there is something else to be said in regard to that. You say you would recommend that house ac- commodation should be increased or, at least, should be provided for coolies. Now I suppose you do not mean with reference to coolies in employment who have accom- modation, but you mean coolies seeking employment. Well, that would surely be a very limited number. I can't see for the life of me that the house accommodation

comes in.

Mr. Badeley. It seems to tend the other way. It seems to me that this want of house accommodation should drive men into employ where they get accommodation.

Mr. Wilcox. They get house accommodation in all private employ with but a few exceptions. Well, I don't see therefore that house accommodation is any strong argu- ment in the matter. I should like to know if you have any idea about private house accommodation to induce coolies to come down here in search of employment?

Witness.-Well, I was told of a certain coolie coming down here in search of em- ployment, and, being found in a common lodging house by a Sanitary Inspector in excess of the number allowed, he was charged at the Magistracy and went to gaol. After being liberated from gao! he went back and made it known at his native place that Hongkong was anything but a desirable place to go to in search of employment, that he did so and found himself in gaol in consequence.

Q.-1 bat is an interesting case bearing on the question of providing accommo- dation for coolies in search of employment. Is that what your recommendation amounts to ?

A.—Yes, so that they would be available when required.

Q.-I see you say there is a Hok-lo man who seems to be the head of a sort of organisation. You don't give his name though, and I don't suppose you wish to?

A-I don't wish to make any secret. He is a licensed man.

Mr. Badeley. You mean the Godown man ?

A. Yes, Ngan Wing Chi.

Mr. Wilcox. With regard to the food question, you say that the fact that food being so much dearer is one reason for coolies being scarcer and requiring higher wages?

A-Yes, they would rather stay in the country and almost starve than come down here and have to pay so much for living and be subject to so many restrictions.

( 15 )

Q. Have you noticed that in later years robberies by servants have been much more frequent?

A.-Of late years we have been much better off than we were at one time. Gam- bling was responsible for much of the robbery by servants.

Q. Do you think that the public chair and ricksha employment has been the means of diverting many coolies from private employment?

A. Yes, I think so.

Q.-Do they make better pay ?

A. Yes, I have totted it up and find that two men can make from $60 to $80 a month with a public ricksha.

Mr. Wilcox.-It seems incredible.

Witness (continuing).—They have offered one hundred dollars for a ricksha.

-Then it would seem that the attractions of public vehicles are working aganst the supply for private purposes ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Have you thought of regulating the wages for chair and ricksha coolies ? A. Yes, I would have a tabulated list of wages.

Q.-Do you think that, under the registration scheme, it would be practicable?

A.-There is this difficulty of course that some employers work their coolies so much harder than others and consequently pay them much higher. There are other employers that can't afford to give them the rate of wages that others do and a hard and fast rate might deter some people from obtaining coolies.

Q.-There is another thing I have thought of. The coolies at the present time, especially chair coolies, refuse very frequently to do any work not connected with the carrying of a chair. In many cases coolies are asked to do light duties such as water- ing flowers, picking up tennis balls, going errands, and perhaps sweeping up the veran- dah and doing little jobs about the house. In many instances they have nothing to do but take their master to the tram or down below and then take their mistress down in the afternoon. In such cases it seems particularly hard that coolies should refuse to do light work. Would you suggest, if the registration of coolies were recommended, that their labours be defined or the work that they are liable to be called upon to per- form be defined ?

A.-I hardly think that is necessary, because the rule has obtained in Hongkong for many years that the chair coolies bring in water for the bath in the morning and sweep the verandahs and carry letters. It is an understood thing.

Q.-I know they absolutely refuse to do it sometimes; you know the old phrase "No b'long my pidgin"?

A. Yes; it has been more in vogue of late years than before.

-Don't you think it would be better that with registration they should under-

take to do a fair day's work for a fair day's wage?

A.-- You don't want to go into details with the coolies, but let them understand clearly that, in addition to carrying a chair, they shall do such duties as they may be

rform when requested to.

able to p

Mr. Wilcox.-Then there comes the question of establishing a coolie farmer. Would you suggest such a thing as that in order to bring coolies into the Colony to be available for employment? It might be an easy way of getting over the difficulty on the whole. The coolie would have to pay so much premium only.

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A.-There is no doubt that if these people are put into the hands of one person the community will have to pay largely for that man's monopoly.

-There is always a danger in any monopoly, but if you can't get coolies it be- comes necessary sometimes to resort to such a medium. Are you in favour of it, Mr.

Hanson?

A.-I can't say that I am.

Q. Do you think that this question of the scarcity of chair coolies and ricksha coolies affects the Chinese in any way?

The Chairman.-Chinese residents. I mean do they feel the pressure at all?

A.-I have never heard, Sir. I bave had no complaints from Chinese.

Q.-So far as you know, the Chinese seem well able to take care of their servants?

A. Yes.

You know

Mr. Badeley. What do Chinese employers pay their ricksha coolies? pretty well what we have to pay, what then does one of these wealthy Chinese ricksha coolies?

pay his

A.-I can't tell you offhand. I think one man told me that he pay's- The Chairman.-If you can't answer the question you might enquire and answer in a memorandum and we will annex it.

Witness.-Yes.

Mr. Badeley. Are ricksha and public chair coolies interchangeable? I mean does a ricksha coolie go back to a chair or a chair coolie to a ricksha, or are they different classes?

A.-When the ricksha coolie gets broken up he goes and carries a chair for a time. The ricksha is the more lucrative.

Q. How many years can a man last at ricksha work; have you any idoa?

A.-I fancy a man ought to last about three years, but I can't be quite sure.

Q.-What would he do after? Would he take to a chair or go to some other cm-

ployment?

A.-I think they rather like the chair. There is some money in it.

Q.-Supposing there was a large number of additional public rickshas licensed, where would the new coolies come from? Would they come down from the country, or would all the private chair coolies leave their employment and rush to get them?

A. That would depend on the licensee of the rickshas, Sir.

Mr. Wilcox.

The licensee of the rickshas is the man who gets them?

A. Yes. He would want a certain sum from each coolie.

Q. Where do you think he would get them from?

A. If he had friends in private employ, he would get them.

Q.-Do you think it would take a good many private coolies away from their em- ploy if the number of public rickshas were increased?

A.-It might to some extent. It depends on how many of them might be friendly with the licensee of the public rickshas.

-If the profits of public rickshas were suddenly reduced, would public ricksha- inen take on work as private chair coolies or would they go back to their own country- supposing something happened to cause this decrease, such as this tram scheme?

•

( 17 )

A. Some would go back to their own country and others would take on private employment.

The Chairman.-It has just occurred to me to ask you this. Supposing the diffi- culty of procuring reliable ricksha and chair coolies increased and we found no means by legislation of remedying the difficulty, don't you think that it would be very conve- nient for the public if we had more chair stations and more ricksha stations especially down below and at the Peak? Take the Peak, there is only one chair station. If you had another chair station near Mount Gough Police Station and if you had another where the road bifurcates round Mount Kellet, under such circumstances residents might well be prepared to do without private chair coolies. What do you think of that suggestion?

Witness.-In which case does it appear that there are not enough stations-not referring to the Peak?

The Chairman.--I have often wished that there was a chair station close by my house. I have sometimes been left without chair coolies.

of it.

Witness.--In the case of the Peak, certainly. I have had some experience myself

The Chairman.--I am not competent to speak of down below myself.

Witness.-There are so many down here already that your remarks do not apply.

Mr. Wilcox.--What about Kowloon ?

A.--Kowloon has been re-arranged. They used to stand by one another and have a fight after all the passengers had gone. This had to be stopped. One man got laid up and one or two rickshas got into the harbour.

The Chairman.--It seems to be your opinion that the occupation of public chair or ricksha coolie is more lucrative than that of private chair or ricksha coolie?

A.-That is so.

-Do you think it practicable to reduce the fares to such an extent as to make the difference between the earnings of public and private chair and ricksha coolies very slight indeed?

A.-It might touch some rather hard, Sir. Some during a month might make $60 between them but there are others who would not always be in a position to make so much.

The Chairman.-Would the other members of the Commission like Mr. Hanson to draw up a schedule of rates which he thinks might meet the suggestion in one of my latest questions?

Mr. Wilcox.-I think it is a useful suggestion. There is no doubt about it that Hongkong overpays its ricksha and chair men. Both in Shanghai and Singapore,-I won't say they are more orderly, but I believe they are--they are much lower paid and there are far more vehicles. In Singapore especially there are far more vehicles and they have run the tramways off the line. Now, I should be sorry to see that hap- pen here, but I certainly think our Shanghai experience should be utilised in Hongkong. They undoubtedly regulate the ricksha traffic better than we do because they get better served there through greater control over the Chinese or by making the com- petition keener.

Mr. Badeley. It is a question of Police more, I think.

The Chairman.-If a constable has to run after a coolie every time and take his name and number and then summons him at the Police Court, I think that is a very roundabout way of keeping order. It would be better if he had a switch.

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Mr. Badeley. There is just one more question I would like you to answer.

You said that if they were to be registered, the l'olice would be the best department to do it in. Supposing it were done by the Registrar General, don't you think it would create a little less opposition? Would they not fall into line more readily if it were done at the Registrar General's Office?

A.-They would prefer to be registered through the Registrar General's Office because it would not leave us in such close touch with them.

Q.-Would it make the difference if it were done by the Registrar General's Office that it would save a strike, and, if it were done by the Police, it would make a strike?

A.--There would probably be a strike in either event.

Q.--Do you think they would be less likely to strike if the Police undertook it?

A.-That is my idea.

[Mr. Hanson agreed to make the memoranda suggested.]

The Commission then adjourned till Monday, 9th September, and it was agreed to summon Mr. Dyer Ball for that day.

9th September, 1901.

JAMES DYER BALL sworn:-

The Chairman.-How long have you been in the Colony?

Withess.I have lived permanently in Hongkong since February, 1875.

Q. Do you remember the Victoria Registration Ordinance No. 7 of 1866?

A.--I remember there was such an Ordinance.

Q.--Do you remember if that Ordinance was repealed by Ordinance 13 of 1888? A.-I can't tell you the number of the Ordinance. I suppose it was repealed because it ceased to be in existence.

Q.-During the period that it was in existence and you were in the Colony, did you engage servants under that Ordinance ?

A.-I did.

Q.-Regularly?

A. Yes, regularly.

Q-What class of servants did you manage to get?

A. Do you mean as to character and ability ?

Q.--As to ability?

A. They served me fairly well. I was satisfied with them as a rule. Of

I got a bad one sometimes.

Q.-Would you tell us how you proceeded under that Ordinance ?

Of course,

A.--After engaging a servant, I generally gave him 25 cents and sent him down with a chit to the Registrar General's Office to be registered. Then he returned with the ticket, which I took and kept as long as he was in my service.

•

( 19 )

When he left your service, what did you do?

A. I returned it to him, but if a servant misbehaved himself I sent it direct back to the Registrar General's Department, making any statement I liked as to how the servant had behaved.

Q.--Section 27 of the Ordinance No. 7 of 1866 says it shall not be lawful for any person other than Chinese to engage or employ any servants who are not provided with a certificate of registration, and by section 32 penalties are stated for breaches of this Ordinance. Do you remember any case in which persons who had engaged servants not provided with the certificate of registration were proceeded against under section 32 ?

A.--I know there were a few cases, but the Ordinance before it was repealed was allowed to be almost a dead letter.

-Do you know how that was?

A.-I fancy it did not work as satisfactorily as it was thought it might.

.—But why did it not work so satisfactorily as it was hoped to do?

A.--Well, if a servant behaved badly and left his employer, he would pass on his ticket to another man and the new man would come in and swear positively that he had been in the place marked on the ticket and that he was accustomed to do the work and so on, and the tickets were passed on regularly I believe. I could not swear to any particular case, but there was no doubt that they were passed on. Consequently, they formed no guarantee of the number of places the man had been in or of his character or ability.

Q.--And how do you think that the prevention of the transfer of register certifi- cates might have been effected?

A.-Well, I think there was a great want on the ticket and that was the want of a photograph so as to identify the men. There was no means of identifying a man who produced a ticket to you.

Q.-I understand that at present you are not employing chair coolies?

A.-I am not at present.

-Can you tell us your latest experience in regard to chair coolies?

A.--When I came back from England, a few years ago, I wanted to get four men and I found I could not do so. The men knew that I walked a great deal and knowing that I walked down town from the Peak, they were afraid of having to follow me and perhaps carry me a few hundred feet up and down, and I could not get men at all. I told them simply that I wanted four coolies and they asked me whether I was to walk down or go down in the Tram.

Mr. Badeley. They want people to go down in the Tram?

A. Yes. I then tried to get three men and then came down to two.

The Chairman.And kept them for the Tram only?

A.--Kept them for the Peak.

Mr. Wilcox. They absolutely refused to enter your service unless you went down by the Tram ?

A.-Well, the Chinaman does not put it in that way.

The Chairman.-Although you walked most of the way, yet they feared you might want to ride some of the way, both down and up. Do you think that was the reason why you had difficulty in engaging four coolies?

A.-No doubt it was.

( 20 )

Q.-Do you think, if you paid them exorbitant wages that they would have come to your service?

A.-Well, I paid the rate in vogue three years ago, namely eight and-a-half dollars.

Mr. Wilcox.--That was a good rate at that time.

The Chairman.--Were they satisfied with that?

A. They were quite satisfied. I don't remember them asking for more--the two of them at all events.

Q. Can you draw any comparison between the present chair and ricksha coolie and chair and ricksha coolies of former days as to their willingness and as to their strength and skill?

A.—I never heard anything in the way of objections in former days, that is, from 15 to 25 years ago. I never heard any objection made to carry a man up and down, to or from the Peak, once down and once up a day. The coolies objected, if any master or mistress had not consideration enough and asked them to carry them down a second time. They were only too glad to go up to the Peak and carry their master down to the office and up again at night for an extra dollar a month and the wages in those days were six dollars a month. By giving them an extra dollar, they were quite pleased.

Q.--Can you give us any suggestion arising out of the long experience you have bad as to how the present difficulties can be overcome?

A.-Well, the present difficulties have arisen from a number of causes. Of course the coolies can do just as well if not much better outside of private employment. I just jotted down a few figures this morning that might be interesting to the Coinmis- sion. I understand that there are no guilds for rick sha or chair coolies. That is what I am told positively.

Q.-Have you made direct inquiries on that point?

A.-I have made inquiries on that point.

Mr. Wilcox.-But there are clubs, are there not?

A.-Coolies club together. I cannot find out any more than that.

Q. Are there no clubs of certain districts?

are over nine in There have been

A.-I have not learned of anything of that sort. I suppose I should have been told when I was making these inquiries as I was very particular in the making of them. Coolies combine themselves together in these licensed coolie lodging houses for separate purposes. These lodging houses have been licensed of late years. Here is one of the licences for these lodging houses. [Produces licence.] When there the houses or floor of the house they must get one of these licences. known cases of 150 under one licence but that is not a common number. I find several tens are about the common number. Of course, before these licences came into vogue, coolies were quite free to do what they liked. We charge no fee for these licences in the Registrar General's Office nor is any fee charged in the Sanitary Department. We send Inspectors down to inspect the houses before the licence is granted, but of course, these licences have been one factor, I presume, in the present difficulties. Coolies were free to go where they liked, but now they are brought under restrictions. That has been necessary, and I don't see how it can be avoided. The rent difficulty is a very serious difficulty. These coolies have to pay a dollar a month, and there are cases where they have to pay two dollars. They share the rent when a number of them club together for a house.

The Chairman.-These are public chair coolies though.

་

( 21 )

Witness.--Yes, but nearly all private chair and ricksha coolies belong to a coolie

house.

The Chairman.-Yes, but they don't live in the house and they don't contribute to the rent?

Witness.-About twenty years ago, rent was only half what it is now. Besides rent, food is dear. It is hard now, I believe, to get private chair coolies in town at nine dollars and at the Peak you have to pay ten dollars or perhaps twelve. The servants are very independent because they can get work so easily outside of private employ. That is a very important item that should, I think, be taken into consideration because a coolie, if he is not perfectly satisfied with his place in a private house can take a pole over his shoulder and go over to one of the godowns and earn fifteen or sixteen dollars a month.

Mr. Wilcox.-As much as that?

A.So I am told on good authority-sometimes a dollar a day.

The Chairman.-The mystery then is why they ever became private chair and ricksha coolies. If that was the state of things that existed when they became private chair and ricksha coolies, it seems to me strange that they should ever become private chair and ricksha coolies if there is this inducement-this chance of better pay.

Mr. Wilcox.-Perhaps one explanation for that would be the continuity of work.

Witness. They can be perfectly independent now in a way they didn't use to be a number of years ago.

A man can go out as a private chair and ricksha coolie and he will pay for his food and rent and have an average of 40 cents a day.

Mr. Badeley. --More than that.

Witness.--That is a low average very likely. More than ten dollars a month. The rickshas are beginning to have three relays of men for each ricksha now, so that a man has only eight hours to work at a stretch. When the eight hours are done, he is his own master, free to do what he likes, whereas, in private employ, he is liable to be called upon at any time from early morning till midnight. Street chair coolies are very much better off than private chair coolies because, after paying for food and rent, they have eight or ten dollars or thereabout. The private coolie with eight or ten dollars is not so well off as the street coolie. These all seem difficult points and it is hard to know what one could do to meet all these difficult things.

The Chairman. Have you any suggestions for dealing with these points to lay before the Commission?

A.-You spoke about a licence or ticket or whatever it is. I would suggest that every man should have a ticket and that he should have his photograph put on it. I don't know what we can do about the rent and the food. As regards the rent, of course we need more houses for the labouring coolies, cheap transit out of the centre of the town, houses built in the suburbs or on the other side of the harbour and cheap fares across. This might affect the question and do a deal of good.

Q.-Yes, but all that would only have the effect of putting more money into the pockets of the public ricksha coolies and chair bearers and would make the occupation of the public ricksha coolie and chair bearer still more lucrative as compared with that of the private chair and ricksha coolie. All the projects you have mentioned would only tend to decrease the house rent. They would not tend either to decrease the price of food, or to reduce earnings.

A.-No.

Mr. Wilcox.-All that would be beneficial to the public coolies.

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The Chairman. And it would only emphasise the superiority of their position as compared with the position of a private chair and ricksha coolie. What do you think about the present rates for public chair and rickshas?

―

A. Well, if you bring down the rents, I think you ought to bring down their fares proportionately.

Q.-If these people are making ten to fifteen dollars a month per head, don't you think there is room for diminishing the rate of public fares?

ago?

A.-I think they are paid too highly.

Q. Can you tell us how the scale compares with what it did ten or twenty years

A.-Well, you will get it all in the Ordinance.

Q. What can you tell us from inemory?

A.-I am not sure as to the whole scale of fares, but it is just recently that the scale has been raised at the Peak; I could ride from my house to the Tram for fifteen cents; now it is twenty cents, and down town the scale has been raised too. This is not the first raising of the rates. There was a raising three or four years ago, and they have been raised three times during the last 25 years.

Mr. Wilcox.-Have you ever heard complaints made of chair coolies refusing pri- vate service unless they were guaranteed that they would only have to carry the wife or husband respectively?

A.-I know that chair coolies demand that they shall only carry the husband or the wife. Years ago a chair coolie in a merchant's family would not carry the amah when taking the baby out.

Q.-That was years ago, but latterly?

A. Yes, I have heard that such is the case.

Q.-You say that as much as two dollars is paid for rent sometimes by coolies. That, of course, applies chiefly to chair coolies and ricksha men on the streets but pri- vate chair and ricksha coolies are provided with quarters?

A. They are provided with quarters, but they all belong to these coolie houses and if they are out of employ they go there to sleep, and when they go down town for a night or two they sleep in these houses.

Q.-Don't you think the fact of their being provided with quarters should induce them to retain their employment?

A. Yes, but they have such high remuneration otherwise that deducting rent and so on they are better off than the man in private employ.

Q.-Yes, I see their interests overlap in many ways. I don't see that the ques- tion of rent has such an important bearing on the question. Is it not more likely that the higher rate of wages made by an outside chair or ricksha coolie influences the pri- vate chair coolies to leave their employment?

A.-Oh, I think it must.

The Chairman.-Doesn't the knowledge that their public confrères get so much stimulate them to demand higher wages in private employ ?

A.—It must work in that way. That is one of the chief factors in it. I think the food is another important element in it. The coolies have to provide their own food.

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Mr. Wilcox.-Have you heard of any cases where coolies have been intimidated from entering employ or driven to leave their employment through intimidation?

A.-I have heard people say that, when they dismissed their coolies, they could not get any others and they supposed it was those who had been dismissed that pre- vented others from coming.

Q.-There are a good many cases in which there have been grounds for strong suspicion that coolies have been prevented from entering employment for some reason or other, probably because the old coolies had given the house a bad character. Is that so?

A. Yes, that is what is often done. The character of the house is given.

Q.-But you don't think there is any guild?

A.-This is not the only time I have made inquiries. I made inquiries a year and got the same answer. Most distinctly and emphatically I have been told that there are no guilds.

ago

Q.--In the event of registration being recommended and adopted would you think it desirable to do anything towards regulating the wages for ricksha and chair coolies?

A.--It seems a very difficult question for Government to fix any definite scale of remuneration for labour.

Q.-I suggested that because the difficulty has arisen from a sort of competition in the market for the services of those men. In some cases they get their ten and-a-half to twelve dollars and many families can't afford to give more than eight and-a-half or nine dollars. Do you think it is a matter of supply and demand?

A.-I rather pin my faith to supply and demand. Suppose you did fix a certain rate of wages, how would you enforce what you fix? The Government rate used to be six dollars a month. It is so still, I think.

Mr. Badeley.--No, it is seven-fifty now.

Witness.-Well, for many years it was six dollars.

Mr. Wilcox. You can't get them at that now, and it will be necessary to revise the rate again, I think. Do you think that anything could be done towards increasing the supply of coolies by means of or through a farmer or monopolist?

A.-I don't know. Monopolies don't seem to succeed very well as a rule. There seem to be plenty of men in the Colony. It is not exactly a want of men at present.

Q.-You are not inclined to believe there is a want of men?

A.-I don't think there is.

Q.-Only an unwillingness to work in that direction ?

A.-An unwillingness to do work they were willing to do before, and an unwil- lingness unless they get these enhanced rewards for their labour.

Q.--You are aware that there have been complaints that coolies have refused to do little jobs they have been asked to do?

A.-I don't know whether that is worse now. I know that all along there have been complaints. In some houses there were coolies who would not do anything but carry the chair.

the chair. Other families would get their coolies to do house work as well. I cy that has always more or less been a source of trouble.

The Chairman.-Do you think it is due to difference in the places where the me from? Do you think the dispositi Cantonese is so different from

( 24 )

that of the Hok-lo that the Cantonese are willing to work and do certain things that a Hok-lo would not do, or vice versâ?

A.-I fancy that the Cantonese are more inclined that way, although it does not always happen. The Hok-lo has more stamina than the Cantonese. Take the average Swatow man and the average Cantonese, and you find there is quite a difference in them. Then some of the Hakkas are very good. I remember once, years ago, riding nearly the whole way to Mountain Lodge with Hak-ka coolies and, so far as I remem- ber, they only stopped once the whole way. You can't get coolies to do that now. They seem to have lost the power to carry as they used to.

Mr. Wilcox.-Yes, I have noticed it myself.

Mr. Badeley. You have told us that private chair coolies can, at any time, leave their employ and get very big wages at the godowns and such places.

Witness.-Say about fifteen dollars, or a dollar a day in some cases.

Q.-What, in your opinion, determines that rate of wages for a godown coolie? Is it a matter of guild combination to keep it up or is it a matter of minimum living wage?

A.-I suppose wages have gone up in the Colony in every line of business.

Q.-Do these coolies employed in godown work combine to keep up the wages? A.-I am not aware that they do. I have not gone into that subject. There are strikes occasionally in Hongkong.

Q-What would be the lowest wage that a coolie can manage to live on if he has got to pay his own rent and food? What is the lowest wages paid in the Colony for an able-bodied coolie ?

A.-I think a coolie to live respectably and send home money to his family in the country would need about seven or eight dollars a month.

Q.-As a matter of fact they get a great deal more?

A. That is so. Supposing he gets lodging at a dollar--he wants to send some- thing home to his family-anything from seven to nine dollars one would think a coolie could get on splendidly with and have ample to send home.

The Chairman.-What is the average wage in China do you know? ordinary occupations not in European employ but in a Chinese village or town?

I mean

A.-I don't know what it is in Swatow, but in the country the wage is very little. A man is supported by his master and gets lodging and food and so on and he gets only a few dollars in addition.

Q.-Take the case of a man who is not supported by his master and has to pro- vide his own food and so on; what is his wage?

A.-Take Canton City-chair coolies are paid better than any other class of workmen. You have to pay more for chair coolies there.

Q.-How much does he get a month?

A.--I can't tell you exactly now. I could tell you what they thought ample wage twenty or thirty years ago.

Q.-What could he live on then?

A.--You could get a house coolie who knew nothing for three and-a-half-dollars, the same sort of man you would get here for chair coolies.

Q.--That represented the living wage?

A.-That represented the li· ·

ige.

( 25 )

Then he lived in the house?

A.--Yes, he lived in the house.

Q. What could a coolie live on in Hongkong now?

A.-I don't know what a coolie could live on, but it is absurd to suppose that

a Chinaman can live on two dollars now. A coolie would need three or four dollars

at the very least.

Mr. Badeley.-What would be the effect of reducing the fares of public rickshas and chairs? Of course they could be reduced by Government, but Government could not reduce the wages of privately employed men.

What would be the general effect

of a reduction in the fares ?

A.--I fancy you would have a good deal of trouble over it and possibly a strike.

Q.-Putting aside that, I mean the ultimate result. What would they do if their business was made much less lucrative? Would they go back to their country or would they become private chair coolies or would they swell the general labour market and reduce rates there?

A.--They might swell the market and reduce. wages as godown coolies. Some might go abroad to Singapore. Some might be contented to stay with private families.

Q.-Do you think the

of public vehicles is a determining factor at all for the general wages of the Colony? Is it a large enough business to have any appreciable effect?

pay

A. I think so. You see it is a betterment of a man's position, who is with a private family, whenever he choses to take it up.

Q.--Is the public vehicle business such a big concern, as compared with the gen- eral unskilled labour in the Colony that any difference in its conditions would have a widespread effect on labour conditions generally?

A. It would have some effect. How far I can't say.

Q. Do you think, if we reduced the fares, it would have a general effect on the general wages of the coolies in the Colony?

A. If you reduced them considerably, I should think it would.

Q.--The godown coolie, would he be able to keep up his present rate of pay if the fares of public vehicles were reduced considerably?

A.-I think it would have a tendency to bring his pay down a little, but how much I can't say. It would affect the house coolies first, I should think.

Q.--Did the articles about registration apply to chair coolies as well?

A.-Oh, yes. It applied to all domestic servants.

Q. What did the Registrar General's Office do ? Did they simply give a ticket or did they act as an agency bureau ?

A.--When you wanted a servant you did not send to the Registrar General's Office and say 'I want a servant'.

[The Chairman here quoted from the Ordinance the passage defining the word servant'.]

Mr. Badeley.-The Government never undertook the business of providing the public with servants?

A.-No; simply registration of servants, and complaints were sent down, if ser- vants had not been behaving properly, to the Registrar General.

( 26 )

Q.-Do you think it would do any good if a number of places for public chairs were placed all up the hillsides?

A. I think it would be a great convenience to the public. I think it would be a great benefit to the community if there were some ricksha stands for the Caine Road, the rickshas to keep on the upper levels, and go round to Pokfulam and Aberdeen.

The Chairman.-You want one from Government House to the Civil Hospital.

Mr. Badeley. It is not a very great hardship to come down to Queen's Road and do that journey.

Witness. I think they would find employment.

Mr. Badeley.—I was thinking more of chairs, because the people who are really at the mercy of these chair coolies are the people who live up on the hillsides.

Witness.I think it would be a very great convenience to the Peak residents to have one or two stands there. It is very awkward to send from Mount Kellett for a chair and get one back in time for a tram. It would undoubtedly be a convenience to

have one there.

The Chairman.-That question bears on the point as to how we can combat the private chair coolies.

Witness. I don't know whether, if there were a few more of those vehicles licensed, it might not have an effect upon the prices. For example, take a Saturday afternoon, and you come down to the Queen's Road at the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, you have the greatest difficulty in finding a chair or ricksha.

Mr. Badeley. There is no limit to the number of public chairs. The Chairman-I don't quite follow you, Mr. Bail.

Witness.-If you had a greater number of vehicles plying for hire you reduce the profits, as the work would be distributed over a greater number of men.

Q.-But would not that diminish the number of coolies in private employ? A.-It might do so. It might also have the other effect of bringing down more men from the country.

Q. Is there anything you wish to add, Mr. Ball, anything you have not touched apon or would like to speak to us about?

A.-It seems to me that if this Ordinance were brought into effect it would have to be carried out strictly. For many years there was a very lax system of enforce- ment, and finally, after a few years, people gradually dropped off registering their ser- There was no police control for many years and the consequence was that bit by bit the Ordinance became a dead letter. I believe I kept it up as long as, or longer than, any one in the Colony. If we have an Ordinance again, it would be well that we have some sort of security for the servants.

yants.

The Chairman. But if they are bound to get security from some one, they will be charged a commission and that will be sure to add to the wages.

Witness.-Then if you have a security as in the case of a merchant's firm where the Compradore secures all the servants, the Compradore is responsible for them.

The Chairman.-We will have some of these Compradores before us and ask them a few questions. Have you any thing further?

A.-Any complaints about servants?

ought to be taken notice of.

That is a point in the Ordinance that

(27)

Q-Should there be a space on the registration ticket allowing room for com- plaints to be noted?

A. Something like a Seaman's Discharge. "Good" or "Indifferent" or some- thing of that sort. I think it would be advisable.

Mr. Badeley.--In

In whose hands was the inquisition? Did anyone go round spy- ing? Was there any sort of inquiry at all, or how did it come out that a man employ- ed an unregistered servant?

A. If any man went to the Court and complained of larceny or anything else committed by his servant, the Magistrate would ask him if his servant was registered. It came out in that way.

The Chairman.--There won't be any difficulty as regards that, it seems to me, because if it is known that one or two persons scattered about have been had up for employing unregistered servants, there will be no need to go and warn everybody. especially if the newspapers help.

Mr. Badeley.-Would it be feasible for any Government Departinent to run an agency as it were--keep a list of servants and supply them to people on application ?

A.—I suppose it could be done, but it almost seems beyond the functions of a Government Department. It has been tried once or twice privately but it has not succeeded.

Mr. Wilcos.--It might succeed if brought in touch with the police.

The Commission then adjourned till Thursday, 12th September, at 2.30 p.m., it being agreed to then take the evidence of Messrs. H. L. Dennys and C. C. Cohen.

12th September, 1901.

HENRY LARDNER DENNYS sworn:-

The Chairman. Mr. Dennys, how long have you been resident in this Colony?

A.-Well, I arrived in December, 1868.

Q.-You have lived here continuously off and on?

A.-Continuously, except when I have been Hoine.

Q. And you have had experience of the Victoria Registration Ordinance No. 7 of 1866 ?

A.I have.

Q. Can you give us your experience of the working of that Ordinance ?

A. The Ordinance was in full working order, I might say, when I arrived in the Colony, but after a few years it fell into absolute disuse.

Q. Do you know why that was so?

A.-There were several reasons. I should say one was that the Europeans could not or would not give up the time necessary to inquire into the validity of the ticket or certificate that was brought to them by servants, and another was that they considered the certificate a very useless article as it showed nothing as to the character of the persou. The servant might have been employed twelve or six months before and he had pro- bably been forgotten altogether by his former master if he was only a coolie or some- thing of that sort, and there was nothing on the certificate to show whether he was a good coolie or a bad coolie or anything else. I think these were the two leading reasons why the registration fell into disuse. The tickets were apparently interchange-

( 28 )

able. They could be handed from one man to another, and provided the man belonged to the same district and gave the name that was on the ticket, there was no means of identifying him unless you personally went to the Registrar General's Office, and even there you could get no further information. So far as I remember, there was no pho- tograph to any of these certificates. The Ordinance did not provide for it and I think I may say Mr. Cecil Smith, Mr. Tonnochy and Mr. Lister all took up the position that the master had no right to endorse on the registration certificate anything whatever except the day on which the servant left his employment. The Registrar General was supposed to put on the date when the coolie or servant was employed and the master was supposed to enter in the last column the date when the servant was dismissed or left and he was not allowed to put any remarks on the ticket.

Q.-

-Had he been allowed to put any remarks-good or bad-it would have been a more useful certificate ?

A. Yes, I think so.

Q.-What do you think would be the best way of preventing transfers ? A.-Photographing the coolies would help to prevent transfers.

-Do you know whether it was a common practice to take servants without cer-

tificates?

A. Very shortly after my arrival here, nobody bothered their heads about certi- ficates but took servants as they were whether they had certificates or no.

Q. Do you remember of anybody being prosecuted for a breach of the Ordinance? A.-I don't remember any European being prosecuted.

Q.-To what do you attribute the lack of prosecutions?

A.-To A. To the fact that it was found not to work satisfactorily. I mean that people would have availed themselves of the Ordinance if they thought it was of any use.

Q.--I understand from one of your last remarks that you think photography would be a means of checking transfers ?

A.-That would be one means of checking them.

Q. Can you suggest any other means?

A. Of course the matter may be looked at differently if you are considering the question of boys, but if you are simply considering the question of coolies, photography, to my mind, is of very little assistance.

Q.-Why?

A.-In my own experience in the Courts here I have seen two people swear dia- metrically opposite as to whether a photograph represented a person standing before the Judge. While the photograph remains the same, a man changes his looks after a few For instance, supposing a man goes into mourning for his father, he would have to grow his hair. Of course that entirely changes his aspect. There is also the change of clothes and change of get up.

years.

Q.-Would you

advocate the affixing of a finger mark?

A. The difficulty is to identify by finger mark.

Mr. Badeley. Would you say a new photograph for each change of employer?

A. The employers change so much here. There are very few Europeans that remain resident in the Colony for ten years at a stretch, and, when they go away for a year or eighteen months, after three or four years' residence, unless it is a superior ser- vant like a house boy, I don't think they would remember the face. I can't remember my own coolies.

( 29 )

Mr. Wilcos.--I think a great point is that the photograph on the registration ticket shall be a likeness of the person producing it.

them.

Witness. Of course that is the great object. It is to enable people to identify

Mr. Badeley.-Yes, but Mr. Dennys' point is that a man changes so much in ten years that nobody could identify him.

The Chairman.---Would a man's signature identify him?

Witness.-The Chinese handwriting is as clearly a mark of the writer as English handwriting is, but with reference to the coolie, he generally makes his mark, and if he does sign his name, may do it one way one time and another way the next time. Chinese often ask you how to sign their name. They don't generally have a signature in the sense that we have.

Q.--Within recent years, have you had any difficulty in obtaining reliable ricksha and chair coolies?

A.--In March last when I returned from England my coolics considered them- selves ill-treated and gave me notice that they were going to leave, saying that the work was too hard for them.

Q.-The work was not so hard as coolies had done before?

A.-Nothing like so hard as coolies used to do before the Tramway was invented. Q.-Have you thought of the causes of the difficulties experienced during the past few years?

A.—I think it is chiefly, as far as the chair coolies are concerned, the introduction of jinrickshas and the Tramway, and, of course, the increased cost of living. There is not the least doubt about the increased cost of living. I believe 1881 is the year that the Chinamen fix as the date when the prices went up. When the Princes were entertained here, the fishmongers put up the price of fish in order to pay for the Dragon, which was a most expensive affair, and the pork butchers put up the price of pork so as to pay for their Dragon. Their Dragon was a very costly one, covered with king-fisher's feathers and cost several thousands of dollars. Since then, the prices have always been going up and have never gone back.

Mr. Wilcox. They never do go back in China.

The Chairman.-Are you in favour, Mr. Dennys, of the passing of a law making it punishable for an employer to employ an unregistered servant such as a ricksha or a chair coolie?

A.-I am not really in favour of such a law.

Q.-You think it would involve personal trouble?

A.-It would involve personal trouble and it would create a feeling that we were interfering with the free right of contract. It is not law so far as I know in any other country. It is not the law in England of course. I think a large number of people would just do as they did in the old days. After a short time they would try to get their servants without any registration.

Q.-Supposing the Police were active?

A.-I personally do not think you can cure the evil by legislation. The only way to enforce it is by making it a penal offence to employ servants that are not registered. To make it effective you must have a penal clause.

Q.-You, yourself, are not in favour of compulsory registration?

A-I don't think it will assist much.

Q.-Can you give us your reason for that opinion?

( 30 )

A. At the present time it is impossible or almost impossible to get any European to sacrifice the time and trouble necessary in order to get a conviction against his coolies, and, if he does such a thing, he knows that that coolie will be tried according to English law and he will have very great difficulty in proving the offence. A long time would be wasted and he gets nothing in return for it at all. Even supposing he succeeds in prosecuting a coolie and getting a conviction, he is boycotted by other coolies or by the guild. It may be that he may get the coolies that have misconducted themselves fined, but he has probably, in consequence, to be without coolies for two or three months. If we had legislation, it would necessitate the employer himself going to the Registrar General's Office and that would entail a certain amount of trouble with the Registrar General. He would not take the trouble, of course, unless it were

made penal not to do so.

The Chairman.—I take it that the people who are agitating must foresee that if any remedies are to be introduced, they can't be remedies involving no trouble. have to be taken.

Mr. Wilcox.-Would it be better to put registration in the hands of the Police as an administrative department? Would that not make matters casier?

A. You would have every mau numbered? Did you say nobody was to have anybody but a licensed coolie?

Mr. Wilcox.--That is so.

Mr. Badeley.-But you would then just have the same amount of trouble. You would have to go to the Police Office and that would be as much trouble as going to the Registrar General's Office.

vants.

Witness.--The Commission knows, with reference to a large number of people in this Colony, that the engagement of coolies is practically in the hands of Chinese ser- Each of us may think that we are the master in our own house and that it is not the boy and we may go and engage coolies that have been with some friend of ours who would come up to our requirements personally, but within a week, if these coolies fail to give satisfaction to the boy, we shall have no peace in the house, and I think that is a thing very often forgotten. It is not as a rule the action of the master that the coolies complain of or are discontented with. Very often it is the action of the boy.

The Chairman.-If there was no difficulty in obtaining coolies, the boy would surely be able to pick up coolies who would work with him?

A. The boy may get coolies but they may not be coolies the master would approve of

any.

Mr. Wilcox.-Many boys refuse to appoint coolies and even refuse to recommend

Of late years, that has frequently been my experience.

Witness.-The coolies I have now have struck twice. They gave me notice a week ago, and notice the night before last, once because they said I was too heavy to be carried from Plantation Road Station to my own house, an eight minutes' walk. The second time was because they were kept out till half past ten at night. They had no other reason as far as I know.

Mr. Wilcox.--Have you ever heard of any coolie guilds?

A.-I have heard of them, but I do not know anything of them from my personal knowledge.

Q.-As far as experience goes and your information goes, you have no means of ascertaining if there are any coolie guilds-merely coolie houses?

( 31 )

A. As I understand it, coolie houses are really in some cases coolie guilds. The coolies from each different district, have their own coolie houses and in many ways these houses answer to what might be called guilds. They act as collectors for religious purposes connected with the province or district or whatever it may be and a coolie is out of employment, he will go to one of these coolie houses and get credit.

Q.--Oh, he can get credit?

A. He gets credit but it is not a guild in the sense of taking up their quarrels about anything or acting like a mutual benefit society at Home. They do not actually provide for coolies out of employ, so far as I can ascertain.

Q.-But this might happen, if a coolie or coolies have left an employer and con- sider they have a grievance against him they could go to their lodging house and get the employer boycotted in that particular house, but not in another, I suppose ?

A.--No, a Hok-lo coolie would not get the coolies of another district to boycott you. Mr. Wilcox.-I have had several cases brought to my notice lately with regard to amahs, boys and coolies where people have apparently been boycotted, but it is very hard to trace it. Probably the same agency is at work all round among the servants.

Mr. Badeley.--Suppose a new man offered to come into your employ who had not had employment before and had no registration ticket, I suppose you would have to take him to the Registrar General's Office and get him registered yourself?

A.--Send him down with a chit.

Q.-Did the Registrar General make any inquiries about him?

A.-None whatever.

Q.-So

-So you had no guarantee against him being a rascal?

A.--None whatever.

The Chairman. If an Ordinance was introduced, do you think it would facilitate matters if no fees were charged? By the old Ordinance, a fee of 25 cents was charged.

A.-I think that that would probably facilitate matters to a certain extent, because to a Chinaman 25 cents is a considerable sum. My own impression at the pre- sent moment is that it is more a question of supply and demand than anything else. A coolie can go-I am assured and I believe it is true-a coolie can go and earn more as an outside coolie than he can being employed in a European house. He can act as a street or cargo coolie and he will earn ten dollars a month. In a private house, he may be said to earn eight and-a-half dollars or so.

Q.-If it is as you say, why do they go into private employ at all?

A.-Because they are more comfortable in one way. They get comfortable quar- ters and are certain of their earnings.

Q. What do you think of a proposal to fix rates of pay for private chair and ricksha coolies in the same way as rates of pay for cargo-boatmen per day are fixed by Ordinance?

A. Honestly, I don't think it would work.

Q.-Why not?

Mr. Badeley.-There is a maximum fee of so much a day for cargo-boatmen but you can also pay them by the job.

A.-Do I believe it would be a good plan to have every bound to work at a rate not above a certain maximum wage? absolutely contrary to the modern idea of freedom of contract.

servant registered and It seems to me to be It would be simply

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slavery—well, not slavery, but somewhat like my own profession where a solicitor is bound to do work at a certain rate. But then a solicitor has got to pass an examination and other people are not allowed to come into the profession. Any Chinaman can volunteer to be a servant and registration would be the only qualification. I don't think that you would find it answer very well.

[This concluded Mr. Dennys' evidence.]

CHARLES COLEMAN COHEN sworn:

The Chairman. Mr. Cohen, you have resided in this Colony for many years; since when ?

did

A.-I have resided here since 1857.

Q.-When you came to the Colony, there was no Registration Ordinance ?

A.-Not when I first came.

Q.-During the time before the Registration Ordinance was brought into effect you have any difficulty in obtaining good servants?

A.-None whatever.

-At moderate wages?

A.-At very moderate wages.

Q. Do you know what gave rise to the Victoria Registration Ordinance No. 7 of 1866 ?

A.-I don't know what gave rise to it.

-Do you remember how it worked?

A.-As far as I know, it worked very well.

Q.-So far as you remember, did the majority of residents here comply with the law and have their servants registered?

A.—Yes, certainly, and I think all respectable servants were only too glad to be registered.

Q.-A certificate of registration was in effect a certificate of respectability?

A. Yes. No respectable people ever took in servants without a registration ticket.

Q.-Section 27 of the Ordinance says [quoting it.]—Do you remember any person who was prosecuted for employing unregistered servants?

A.-There have been cases, but I don't remember who they were at present.

-Can you remember who instituted the proceedings, was it the Registrar Gen- eral or was it the Police ?

A.-I can't tell you.

Q.-Have you experienced any difficulty in recent years in getting private servants, ricksha and chair coolies?

A. Yes, we have had lots of trouble in getting coolies. They are continually going away and all kinds of riff-raff come in their places--not respectable ones.

Q. How do you account for the difficulty?

A. The demand is so great, I fancy. New men who have never carried a chair before come and offer for service.

Q.-Are there any other reasons?

A.—I don't know of any myself. They are getting much better wages now and, I don't suppose they pay any more for their living except house rent. They may pay a little more for food.

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Q. Are you in favour of a law making registration of servants compulsory-pri- vate chair and ricksha coolies?

A. Yes, certainly. I should commence with the house-boy first.

The Chairman.-But that is not within the scope of our inquiry.

Witness. I should certainly be in favour.

Q. Why did the old law apparently drop into disuse?

A.--I don't think it was looked after very much and people came and took servants without registration tickets, and so it crept on till it really got into abeyance altogether.

Q.--Apparently it was mainly the fault of the European masters?

A.--I should say it was the fault of the Government a good deal in not looking after it more than they used to do. I don't think anybody cared very much about the Ordinance.

Q. -The Government did not take care to see that the section 27 which I quoted to you was carried into effect? Had that something to do with letting it drop into disuse?

A.-Yes.

Q. Do you remember how these certificates of registration were dealt with, whether they were passed on from man to man ?

A.-I expect there must have been something of that sort going on.

Q.-Had

given?

you any means of identifying your men? Was there any character

A.--You were not allowed, I believe, to endorse anything on the certificate; only through the Registrar General, so far as I remember.

Q.-Then there was nothing to show, when a man came to you with a "character" whether it was given him by his previous master or lent to him by another servant?

A.-That is so. I think I remember a man getting into trouble for endorsing a bad character on a certificate.

Q.--Suppose Government were to introduce a Registration Ordinance, can you suggest to us any means by which it could be made effective?

A.-It would be a difficult thing I should say to know how to make it effective. They seem to object to photographing.

Q.-Do you think photography would be a good means?

A.-It would be a good means; the only means I should say.

---And you would make it penal for a servant to transfer a certificate ?

A.--Yes, of course; I think the community would fall in with it.

Q.-Do you think the community would fall in with a suggestion of this kind, viz. :—that if any master engaged an unregistered servant he (the master) should be liable to a penalty not exceeding, say, $25?

A. Yes, that would be the best thing to do.

Q.-It would be a good thing if we could get it. You move about a good deal, and do you think the people would agree to it?

A.--Well, you will always find someone against it, but I mean if the community would agree to it and put up with a little inconvenience at first, they would, I think, fall in with it.

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--Have you talked with anyone about this?

A. No, I have not heard it mentioned.

Q.--Apart from compulsory photography and making it penal for a master to en- gage an unregistered or uncertificated servant, do you think we could do anything else to make registration effective?

A.-No. I have thought it over. and, to tell you honest truth, I don't see what else you can do. The Chinaman will always pass on his certificate of character. You engage a boy with a character, and very likely it is not the same boy the character

represents.

Q. Can you tell us how you engage your chair and ricksha coolies at present?

A. They hear that I have got no coolies and they come up. Sometimes the head boy goes down and gets them for me, but there are generally lots of coolies apply- ing, all sorts and conditions.

Q. Do they stay long in your employ? A.--Very seldom.

-Can you give us a reason for that?

A. I can't make out. After some months, they seem to have got so much money by them that they can afford to go away. We pay our coolies eight and-a-half dollars.

That is a good wage-no expenses except his chow-chow.

Q. What do you put down as the reason why they don't stay long?

A.—That is a thing I could never make out.

Q. Are there competing labour markets here?

A.-No, I don't know if that class of men go in for any other kind of labour. is difficult to tell with Chinamen. You pay a man high wages, and, without giving you any notice, he is gone next morning. I have kept their wages back for a week and they have gone off the same way leaving their week's wages behind.

Q.--Have they given any reasons at any time?

A.-No.

Q.-Have they complained in advance, and, giving their reasons, threatened to

leave?

A.-No.

Mr. Wilcox.-Referring to the question of the registration tickets that were form- erly issued, you said, which was very true, that nothing but the date was endorsed upon them. The date of the engagement and the date of the coolie leaving. On many tickets presented by some servants, ti ere would be a whole series of dates.

Is it not a fact that coolies and serv uts generally were expected by employers about to engage them to produce testimonials showing why they left their different masters?

A. Some probably did.

Q.-A careful employer would say: "I notice you were at so-and-so, why did you leave without a testimonial ?" or "Have you got a character?" and they would pro- duce it, would they not?

A. Some of them. It might be done and might not.

Q.-In many cases, you could identify it by the handwriting. The registration tickets, I take it, were exceedingly useful?

( 35 )

A.-I suppose they would be. It would have been a dangerous thing for the coolie because he could easily be found out by parties who knew the people. People were very lax then, but we did not have the trouble we have now. My cook brought three good characters the other day, but each of the names given him was totally differ- ent. He said each of the names were bis.

Q.-Did you take him on ?

A. Yes, we have him. We were obliged to have him as we had no cook, and he is a very good one, it turns out.

Q.-In those days, the registration tickets were in the hands of the Registrar General. He issued them and endorsed the dates ?

A.-I am not so sure about the endorsing. Parties endorsed themselves the date of leaving service.

Q.-Don't you

think it would be better in the event of registration being re-intro- duced that it should be conducted by the P'olice?

A.—Yes, I should certainly think so.

Q.-The Police being an administrative department and the Police having a know- ledge of a great many bad characters, and the fact being that a great many domestic servants now in employ are known to have been bad characters?

A. And they would not get certificates and that would do away with half of the servants in the place practically.

The Chairman.-In your opinion, it would be much more effective if the register was kept at the Central Police Station than in the old days when it was kept at the Registrar General's Office?

A. Yes, I would say so certainly. The Police are more likely to know bad characters. It is more a department for them to deal with.

Mr. Badeley.-Would they not fear it might stamp them all as rogues having to do with the Police?

A.-It might cause greater difficulty in getting men to be registered.

The Chairman.-It might have that effect at the start.

Mr. Wilcox.--Yes, our difficulty would be at the start, but then it would run smoothly after.

The Chairman.-But that would be got over if the Government and inhabitants were to stand firm. Do you think it would help if registration were without any fee? In the old days, the fee was 25 cents.

A. Yes; with a Chinaman that always tells.

Q.—I suppose that, as a rule, the master always paid it before?

A.-There was no trouble. I have known masters give coolies the registration feer and they have gone away and never been seen again.

The Chairinan.- That is another reason why there should be no fee.

Mr. Badeley. I suppose that in those days, Mr. Cohen, the foreign community was very small and everybody knew everybody else?

A. Yes.

Q.-And if a coolie brought you a character purporting to be from some last employer, the employer would be somebody you knew quite well and you could ask him ? You would have no difficulty in making inquiries, but now it is quite different?

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A.-Very different from the old days when you could recognise the coolies and say: "That is Mrs. So-and-so's coolie."

Q.-In the days of registration, did the Registrar General help you to get servants when you were out of them?

A.--Yes, I think he used to do that occasionally.

-When you were hard-up for a servant, you used to go to the Registrar ?

A.-I think we did.

The Chairman.-I know I used to help when I was Assistant Registrar General. It was not part of my business though.

Witness. In the same way as I have written to Mr. Stewart Lockhart and asked for his help when he was Registrar General.

Mr. Badeley. What was done if a man left his employment and did not take up other employment? Was there anything in the Ordinance about that? Did he take his ticket with him, or did his employer keep it?

A. They would not run away without their certificates. They were very particular about them. Of course, it was their pass if they wanted further service.

[This concluded Mr. Cohen's evidence and the Commission adjourned to meet again on Tuesday, 17th September, 1901, it being agreed to take the evidence of Messrs. Byramjee and Osmund.]

CHARLES OSMUND sworn:-

17th September, 1901.

The Chairman-How long have you lived in the Colony, Mr. Osmund ?

Witness.-I was born here.

Q.-You were in the Government employ till a few years ago?

A. Yes.

Q.-You were in the Registrar General's Office?

A. Yes, I was in the Registrar General's Office as First Clerk.

Q.- Did you have anything to do with the Victoria Registration Ordinance. No. 7 of 1866, so far as Chinese servants were concerned?

A. Yes.

Q.-Just tell the Commission how it worked?

A.-It began on 1st January, 1867, and went on till it was repealed. I was in the Registrar General's Office the whole time.

Q.-Was that Ordinance a failure?

A.-It was a total failure.

Q. Why was it a failure so far as servants were concerned ?

A.-There was no security whatever in the retention of servants. They could

just come and go as fast as they liked and get registered.

Q.-There was no check?

A.-There was no check whatever.

Q.-No means of identification ?

}

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A. None at all.

-Do you know whether Portuguese have any difficulty in obtaining and keeping private chair and ricksha coolies ?

A.-I don't think they have. There are very few of them that have chairs.

Q.-With those of them that employ chair and ricksha coolies, is the difficulty one. of obtaining chair and ricksha coolies or is it merely the difficulty of retaining them and keeping them long in their service?

A. It depends upon the kind of work they have to do, whether it is light or hard work, and whether masters treat them well. If servants are treated properly they will remain long in your service; if not, they will simply go away.

Q.-It appears that things are somewhat different now from what they used to be, that these servants are well treated yet they won't stay in your employ. Have you observed that difficulty with the Portuguese ?

A have thought of that; not much among the Portuguese community.

Q. What is your own experience?

A. I have had servants for a long time and they are still with me.

Q.-Chair coolies?

A.-No, not chair coolies.

-We are only speaking of chair and ricksha coolies, not of any others. I assume that there is no difficulty in obtaining servants of this class, but the difficulty is in retaining thein ?

A. I believe there is a scarcity.

Q.-If there is no difficulty in obtaining coolies, there is no scarcity, but the diffi- culty, I believe, is in retaining them?

A.-The difficulty is in retaining them. They would go into employ, but they

won't remain.

Q.-Can you explain to us the reason?

A.-I can't explain that.

Q.-That is a different state of affairs from what, once prevailed here, is it not ? A.-Such a thing was never heard of before as a difficulty in retaining coolies.

Q. -You don't offer any opinion as to the cause of this difficulty?

A.-I believe that they go away on purpose on account of the plague.

Q.-But now when there is no plague here?

A. Now that the plague has gone, I believe they are gradually returning to the Colony and the difficulty won't be felt for so very long.

Q -But in the winter time, the difficulty, so far as we know, is just as great as in the summer time?

A.-I am not aware of that.

Q.--But if the difficulty is as great in the winter as in the summer, can you give us any cause?

A.-No, I can't.

Q. Can you tell us how wages compare to-day with the wages paid by Portuguese ten years ago in regard to coolies?

( 38 )

Yes. You could get good ricksha and chair coolies ten years ago ter six dollars a month and now you have to pay seven and eight dollars.

Q-Do the Portuguese lodge their coolies?

A.-In some cases.

Q.-In those cases where they are not lodged do they pay more?

A.-No, they don't pay more, so far as I know.

Q.-You can't account for coolies not serving so long as they used to?

A.-No, I can't.

Q.-In your experience, have you learned if there is any guild of private chair and ricksha coolies ?

A.-No, I don't think so.

Q.-- Did you ever hear of such a guild ?

A.- No.

Q.--Through the district watchmen ?

A.--No.

Q. Did you ever hear of the existence of such a guild through any other source ? A.-No.

Q.-You don't know from your own knowledge, and you never heard of it? A.-No, I never heard of it.

Q.-In the Magistracy, coolies are often convicted under sub-section 3 of Ordinance 14 of 1845? [Quotes.]

A. Yes.

Q. And I have known cases in which they have been fined as much as ten dol- lars and these fines have been paid. Now, I think it stands to reason that the coolies themselves don't pay that fine. Who pays it?

A. Their own people. Their own countrymen combine and pay it. The men of their own district, either Hak-kas or Chin-chus or of the other districts subscribe and pay the fine.

Q.-Is that a voluntary combination arising out of each case, or is it an organised combination?

A. I can't be sure about it, but I don't think it is an organised combination. Mr. Wilcox. You think it is more likely to be a sort of clan business?

A.-It is more clan, yes.

The Chairman. Has photography been useful, in your opinion, to facilitate the identification of coolics?

A. Yes, it has been useful.

Q.-Do you know any other means of identifying them?

A.-I could not suggest anything better. The house servants did not get photo- graphed.

Mr. Wilcox. But would it assist to make registration more valuable if the photo- graphs were attached to the registration tickets?

•

( 39 )

A.--It would, but the photographs would have to be renewed from year to year. The coolies change in features and in expression. They get very much altered, and young boys after a little service grow up and look quite different.

Q.--I don't think they change sufficiently much year by year, but it would be necessary to have new photographs from time to time. Do you know anything about coolie lodging-houses?

A. I know they lodge in one place.

Q. And do you know that the coolie lodging-house keeper stands in the light of a master of a club to them?

A.-Well, yes.

He is headman to them and he collects so much from each inan.

Q. Do private coolies go to these lodging-houses?

A.-There are lodging-houses where private coolies go as well.

The Chairman. Do they contract then for so much a month whether they live there or not?

A.-Well, that depends upon the arrangement they make, but I think those who do not live on the premises don't have to pay anything.

Q.-That is what we want to know whether they merely paid their proportion of rent whilst they were staying there?

A.-I do not know.

Q-You think the lodging-house keepers have considerable power with the coolies ?

A.-Undoubtedly they have. They look to the headman always for anything. They respect him.

Q.-Do you think the chair coolies are at any time intimidated or could be intimi- dated to the extent of being compelled to boycott an employer?

A.-I think they could.

Q.--Have you known any such cases?

A.--I have heard of cases but I can't refer you to them.

Q.-But you don't think there is any regular guild or even a regular club in the ordinary sense of the term?

A.- No.

.-Are you aware that there is a scarcity of coolies for private employ at present?

A. I have heard so.

Q.-And you don't think there is any particular cause for it except that they are going away on account of plague? You don't think the rate of wages earned in other occupations has an influence upon them?

A.—Well, there is this that they may be going away on account of high rent and the price of food going up and everything so dear. Some Chinese find it difficult to live here and they prefer, with the plague troubling them now and again, to leave the Colony and go back to their own country. What they are afraid of is that, if they get sick they will be taken to Hospital and they go away before they become sick.

-An explanation given to me for the exodus during the plague season is this, that they earn such high wages that they are able to go away and live on their savings of the six months without working during the months of the plague. I don't think that they go away on account of the plague altogether?

( 40 )

A.-Oh, they do go away on account of the plague.

Mr. Badeley.-Would private servants be more ready to run away on account of the plague than ordinary public chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-I don't think so. It is like this, a private chair coolie lives on the premises with his master. He is more likely to be found out when he is sick and runs more risk of being forced into Hospital.

The Chairman.-There would be a good deal of point in that if it were shown that there was a larger exodus of private coolies out of private employ in summer, during the plague months, than in winter.

Witness. It was during this year that I heard that the private chair coolies were going away in large numbers.

Q.-Does the plague here affect the number of public coolies for chairs and rickshas? Mr. Badeley.--For each ricksha there are plenty of applicants. Ricksbas are never

vacant.

Witness.--If a coolie get sick another man comes aud takes his place. It very often happens that he simply holds the number of the sick man.

Mr. Badeley.--Public coolies go away in large numbers and have substitutes for the time being. We issue a very large number of substitute ricksha drawers' licences,

Mr. Wilcox.--You were in the Registrar General's Office. Mr. Osmund?

A.-I was.

suppose you would know what number of guilds there were in the Colony?

A.-I don't remember.

Q.-Is it true that the guilds in Singapore are registered?

A.-I don't know that they are registered.

Q. Do you know if the Chinese who employ private chair and ricksha coolies have been affected in any way by the scarcity of coolies?

A.-I have never heard.

Q.-Do you know how they engage their servants?

A.--No, I never asked any of them.

Q.-Did they, during the time of the registration of servants by Ordinance, re- gister any of their servants?

A.-No, the Chinese did not.

Q. It did not apply to Chinese at all, I believe, but did they not voluntarily register? A.-Oh, no.

Q.--I believe the system they adopt is to get men down from Canton or from the country under guarantee?

A. They get their own country people.

www.

Mr. Badeley. You said servants would come and get registered over and over again. Do you mean to say that a man who had been registered and had reason to think that his employer did not think very well of him, sank his previous ticket and went and got registered again?

A. On two or three occasions they attempted it.

Q.-What would you do if you found them out attempting to do that? Was it any offence?

( 41 )

A.-No, there was nothing in the Ordinance against it. The excuse they gave was that they thought the old registration ticket was of no more use. When they were found out, that was the excuse. They said they thought they had to get a new ticket. because they had a new employer.

The Chairman.--They went and sold the other one probably?

A.—I have heard of a good many cases of passing on their tickets and selling them to other people.

Mr. Badeley. As regards the renewing of the photographs, would it be sufficient if they were renewed at each change of employment? It is suggested that they be changed every year.

A.-One man might change his employer after one or two months only. The same photograph would do for a couple of years. It might be left to the discretion of the employer or the Registrar to order another photograph. They could look at the man and see if there was any change in him as compared with his last photo. and, if so, get a new photo.

QDid you, when in the Registrar's Office, ever engage coolies for people?

A.-At one time, people would come to the Office and ask me whether I could get coolies for them. In two or three cases, I did get coolies for them, but it was just a sort of friendly business.

[This concluded Mr. Osmund's evidence.]

17th September, 1901.

BOMANJEE BYRAMJEE declared:

The Chairman.-How long have you been in Hongkong?

Witness. I have been here since 1864, Sir.

Q. Did you make use of the Victoria Registration Ordinance No. 7 of 1866, register your servants ?

A.—Yes, I registered my servants all the time the Ordinance was in force.

Q. Did you find the Ordinance of any use?

A.-Oh yes, it was a great benefit.

-Did you think the Ordinance on the whole a failure or success?

A.-Well, some people did not care much for registering their servants. They were rather careless and did not like to bother themselves, but to me it was not a bother because when a coolie came without his registration ticket, I used to send in my chitbook with twenty-five or fifty cents and get him registered.

Q.-After a bit it fell into disuse. Why did the people not take trouble over it? Can you give us any reason for that?

A.-I think the coolies themselves did not like to have this registration, because the employers would set a mark on the ticket for his bad conduct—absent from duty or something of that kind. They did not like that.

Q.-Taking you, Mr. Byramjee, as representing the Parsee community, can you tell us whether the Parsee community to-day have any difficulty in obtaining servants, and when they have obtained them, in retaining them?

( 42 )

A. Yes, I have myself had difficulty and many others. I have been here for 37 years and I have had coolies for as long as seventeen years in my service before the last one of them died. He became sick and I was afraid he might get plague and he himself wanted to go away, and he, being my servant for seventeen years, asked me for $25 and I gave him it. He went off with his brother. At that time there was a typhoon. In three days, his brother came back and said that, on account of the ty- phoon the steam-launch could not reach his country and the master of the steam-launch had brought her back to Hongkong and would not go back again. He said I must lend him another $30 to charter a private launch-the brother too had been in my ser- vice for fifteen years nearly. In 1895 I had to go to Bombay and during my absence one of these coolies went to my representative saying he wished to go to his country, but, when I came back, I found he was engaged running a street ricksha. I said Why did

you leave?" He said he could not agree with my representative. I said he must come back, but he would not come back, though his other brother was with me till the last moment. The brother came and asked this second loan of thirty dollars. I gave it to him and he came back and said his brother was dead and the money had all been spent on funeral expenses. He brought me a few eggs and said his mother had sent him. I said "All right; I don't want the eggs, but you have taken a loan of $30 from me and

you must return it to me, and come back to my service. He never returned, and I see him still running a street ricksha. In the year 1898, I had a little robbery from my drawing room, some ornaments were stolen, and I prosecuted the coolies, and they were sent to gaol for three or four weeks. Since then, I could not get any coolies. I have now coolies but I don't know their languages, very few people could understand them. On the 1st of this month I had two more coolies for nine dollars each, that is for chair work. They took my wife to the Bowen Road. Next day, at noon, I asked them to come to the foot of Ice House Street. They took me up. I live at No. 2, Seymour Terrace.

At four o'clock, my wife wanted to visit. They said "We can't give you chair.

We have carried master and we are tired." I have seen coolies- several of our brokers' coolies--they go to the coolie kun and you will see them in the street working with the street chairs and next day you will see them half dead or dozing when you want them.

Mr. Badeley. Do they go and carry public chairs?

A. Yes they do.

The Chairman. They must be licensed for that purpose.

Var

Witness. I don't know whether they take out licences or not; but I can assure you that it is quite true.

Mr. Wilcox.-I have heard that they take the place of the public chair coolies for the time being.

Witness.For the last two or three years, I have been taking chairs from Jardine's Office to my house. They used to carry me for fifteen cents. There is a strong com- bination now and I have given their names to Inspector Mackie, who forced me to pay twenty cents. I pay them their legal fare. I can well afford to pay twenty cents but it would be a great hardship on others if the charge went up so high.

The Chairman.—I take it that the Parsees here are experiencing difficulties in obtaining reliable servants?

A. That is so. Now-a-days the coolies are most awful.

Q.- -That being so, Mr. Byramjee, can you give us a reason for this difficulty? Why won't men stop in their employment?

A. They want such light work as carrying you once or twice not three or four times a day, and, after leaving your service, and you prosecute them, they don't like your service again.

(43)

Q.They have been spoiled by too good treatment in the Colony. Is that so? A. If you don't treat them as Chinese they will be vagabonds.

--Can you tell us any difference in wages between ten years ago and the pre- sent time ?

A.--When I came to China, Dr. Murray, the Colonial Surgeon-Mr. Wilcox will also be able to tell you; he is an old resident-was content with two coolies. Four coolies then were very rare. I paid for years ten dollars for the two, five dollars each, and then it went up to six, then seven and up to eight and now nine. I was paying eight dollars for my old coolies and now I am willing to pay nine, but they ask me for ten dollars. It would spoil them to give them so much, and now they ask from what hour to what hour you will be likely to want their services. I don't go very often to the theatre or to dinner parties but I may require the chair coolies in the evening sometimes, may be it might be to send for the doctor or something pressing of that sort and the coolies are not to be found. They don't stop in the house.

Q. How do you think this general difficulty of unwillingness to serve and wanting to make special terms can be overcome?

now.

A.--That is a matter of legislation, Sir.

Q. .—What we want is your views on the subject.

What do you think?

A.---All kinds of domestic servants, cooks, boys, etc., all fight shy of hard work There are some coolies who came to my employ and they would not work on Sundays. They say "To-day Sunday, no can makee pidgin." My coolies used to wash floors and clean windows until the last two or three years when we have had great difficulty.

Q-Have you heard anything of a guild or association to which private chair and ricksha coolies belong?

A. They have a guild, Sir.

Q.-Do you know where it is situated ?

A.-There are a good many of them, chiefly in Aberdeen Street and about Queen's College and in Pottinger Street and Gage Street.

Q.--But we are talking about special guilds. Do you know anything of them? A.-Well, I don't know, but there are several guilds.

Q.-You suspect there are. Do the Parsee community lodge their coolies?

A. Some of them do. I lodge my coolies and know other Parsees who do the same -Mr. Mody, for instance.

Q.-Do you know any

who do not lodge them?

A. Yes, there are several.

Q.-Do they pay them less wages because they do not lodge them?

A.-No.

Q.-Does the fact of a private coolie having lodgings provided for him by his master lessen the wages he will receive?

A.--No, it makes no difference at all because they can get a bunk outside for the matter of thirty cents.

The Chairman. They used to be able to do that.

Witness.-I should think about half-a-dollar or sixty cents now per bunk. It depends upon the locality. In East Point or West Point they would probably only pay from thirty cents to forty cents.

( 44 )

Mr. Wilcox.-When you speak of guilds, you speak of coolie lodging-houses?

Yes, lodging-houses where they meet and conspire together.

Q.-The Ordinance terms guilds as bodies of persons banded together, with rules and so on?

A.-They are regulated, and they will make a combination. Suppose you prose- cute one of their number, they will sen d runners round to the coolies to tell them to keep away from you.

Q.-You firmly believe that there are combinations among them to boycott em- ployers?

A. Yes.

Q.-With coolies as well as with boys and other servants?

A.--With coolies there is a strong combination.

Q. Of course we are not referring to coolies only, but there are some other occu- pations ?

A.--Oh, they are all alike.

The Chairman.-Have you any experience of Bombay?

A. Yes.

Q.-Are there rickshas there?

A.-No, but they have them in Colombo.

Q.-Take the case of rickshas there―?

A.—I have only been a short time there with the steamer. In Singapore, there are several thousands of rickshas.

Q.-Do you think that the rates of public vehicles here are too high? There is no ricksha fare under five cents and no chair fare under ten cents.

A. The public ricksha fare is not any way too much according to the tariff. Q.-You can get a quarter of an hour for five cents, but there is no five minutes' fare, no ten minutes' fare.

say

A.-I know Chinese women with children and some baskets get into a ricksha and "I will give you so much to take me to so and so", and they take it.

Mr. Badeley. They go very slow though.

The Chairman.Do you think that, if we had tickets like they have in Shanghai, that they would do good?

A. I have no experience of Shanghai.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you think the attraction of a public licensed chair and ricksha has a tendency to draw coolies away from private employ?

A.-I quite agree with you there.

-Do you think the licensed coolies make higher money?

A.-Well, they earn higher pay. I can assure you that there are certain chair and ricksha coolies, say, with a position like that at Jardine's Office or the Hotel Bar, make a good thing of it. Supposing you or I wanted a chair they would say "Have got master." If there was a chance of a gentleman in the bar, or a captain in Jardine's, they would not take you. If a drunken sailor came up they would take him up. So at the Grill Rooms and the same with Butterfield and Swire's Office, and they have a chance of robbing these people.

( 45 )

Mr. Badeley.—I don't think they rob much.

Mr. Wilcox. In connection with the registration, you are aware that it fell into disuse partly because it could not be rendered effective owing to coolies and other ser- vants personating one another?

------

Witness. Yes, I remember that. It was because the registration ticket was not retained by the employer; but latterly the employer used to retain it.

The Chairman.-Under the law it was the duty of masters to retain it, was it not?

A. Yes, but some people were careless. I had the experience myself. Suppos- ing the coolie is not a good character man, he brings a ticket from a good character man and then after a week or a fortnight the good character man wants the ticket back. It is most essential that the employer should retain the ticket.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you think it would be advisable to attach photographs to the registration tickets?

A. Yes, I was going to say that that would be a very good means of identifying the right men.

Q.-Would you make it penal that employers should register their servants-that is, compel them to register their servants?

A. That is the only remedy.

The Chairman.--Do you think, Mr. Byramjee, that the Parsee community as a community would raise any objection to their being punishable if any of them employ- ed servants who were unregistered?

A.-Most of them are commercial people who employ compradores, and the com- pradore employs his own reliable assistants and the master has not much control over the servants.

The Chairman.—These are not coolies. What I am referring to is private chair and ricksha coolies.

Witness.-That will not affect the Parsee community in any way.

Q.-Would the Parsee community object to a law that if any non-Chinese engaged an unregistered servant he would be punishable?

A.-No; they would co-operate.

Mr. Wilcox.-I think they would.

Parsees have always been law-abiding citizens.

The Chairman. Don't you think that matters might be improved a good deal with respect to coolies ?

A. It is the fault of some of our citizens. Some are too good-hearted. The laws are too good and our gaols are like paradises to them.

Mr. Wilcox.—Have you heard any complaints as to the conduct of chair coolies in

their behaviour on the streets and their rudeness to ladies?

A.--Yes. I know of good many instances. There is great difficulty in obtaining coolies for private chairs. Mrs. Seth and Mrs. Hance and many others could tell. They have not had coolies for two or three months.

The Chairman. Do you know instances of private chair or ricksha coolies using foul language?

A. They do everything. When you employ them they give you a certain name. As for me, they used to call me tiger because they say I was ferocious. They give you every kind of name. If you ask them to sweep your rooms, you usually have to force them to do it; they abuse you at the same time and make use of most obscene language. Some coulies refuse to work on Sundays such as to wash floors and clean glass windows.

( 46 )

Mr. Wilcox.--I have heard complaints, during the last few years especially, of private coolies going along the street interchanging abusive language with reference to the ladies they are carrying or the masters who employ them, and making great noises. While the lady would perhaps say "coolie, be quiet," the coolie instead of being quiet goes on making more noise, is in fact rebellious and disorderly. Have you heard of cases of that kind?

A. It is now rather too common such conduct with coolies.

The Chairman.-What do you think of banishment as a means of punishment? A-Banishment is no punishment to then.

The Chairman. We would get rid of the bad ones at any rate then.

Witness. A great thing would be a good photograph and registration ticket to be retained by the employer.

Q. Do you think registration would be better in the hands of the Police?

A. Any way the Government thinks proper, either the Police or the Registrar General.

Q.--But which would be the better?

A. The Police I should say because they can easily detect them. When I want a chair to take me to tiffin they bolt from me. Inspector Mackie told me to take their numbers and I do so now.

[This concluded the sitting, and the Commission adjourned till Friday, the 20th, at noon, it being agreed to summon Messrs. Goosmann and Fuchs for that day.]

20th September, 1901.

JOHANN NICOLAS GOOSMANN sworn:-

The Chairman.-How long have you been in the Colony?

A.—I have been here now more than 28 years.

Q.-Where do you now live?

A. I live at the Hongkong Club.

Q.-Where did you live before that?

A. On the Praya.

Q. And before that? Have you lived on the upper levels-Seymour Terrace or any of those places ?

A. No, so I am afraid I shan't be able to give you very much evidence.

Q.-You don't keep private chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-I keep a private chair and four coolies.

Q.-May I ask what wages you pay

A.-I pay eight dollars to each.

Q.-Is that gross or nett ?

A.They have to do their own washing and they have to find their own lodgings,

etc.

( 47 )

-How do you engage your coolies-personally or through a compra lore?

A.-Oh, through the compradore.

Q-Have you always done so ?

A. All the time.

Q.-You are a member of Melchers and Co.

A. Yes.

Q.-Do the taipans and other gentlemen in Melchers engage their coolies in that way?

A. As a rule, I think they will always refer first to the compradore.

Q.-Have you ever found any difficulty in obtaining coolies through the compra- dore ?

A.-No. I am so fortunately situated that I am pretty nigh independent of them by living on the Praya, and they have very easy work with me.

I don't want my chair before one o'clock or two o'clock, just at tiffin.

Q.-Have you had any difficulty in keeping your chair coolies?

A.—Oh no, and if I had I would tell them all that if they are not satisfied they can go. They sometimes grumble.

Q.-What do they grumble at ?

A.- Perhaps somewhat late hours and that wages are not sufficient.

-Are you paying more wages now than you were paying ten years ago?

A. Yes, I used to pay $7, but, let me see, they used to live on the premises then.

I am in a peculiar position by sleeping on the Praya and the Office being on the Praya -they probably do other work than my work.

Mr. Wilcox. They probably do other work, so little time being occupied in carrying Mr. Goosmann. They do no house work for you nor anything else?

A. Only carrying me.

The Chairman.-You are in touch with the German community?

A. Yes.

Q.-Have you heard from them any complaints about the difficulty of obtaining and retaining private chuir and ricksha coolies?

A. -As regards that, I have heard a good deal. Mr. Haupt, who is living in Mac- donnell Roal, used to keep a chair with four coolies and he got so annoyed about the continuous bother with them, I asked him "Have you no longer a chair ?" He said "No, I have given it up; it is so much trouble. I always keep so much money in iny pocket and the coolies round the Club knowing I pay them freely are willing to take me, and I just take outside chair coolies."

Q.-Have the German ladies, for instance, been complaining to you ?

A. Yes. Let me see: Mrs. Schoenemann said to me the other day that these ricksha coolies were troublesome just now.

Q. Can you give us the names of some German gentlemen who live up the Hill?

A. Yes, there is from our office Mr. Roese. He is living in Belilios Terrace. Then there are Mr. and Mrs. Schoenemann who live in Elliot Crescent.

( 48 )

Q.-Now, Mr. Goosmann, suppose a law were introduced for either the licensing or registering of private chair and ricksha coolies, would you have any objection to its being made penal? That is, that a person should be liable to a fine at the Police Court if he engaged an unregistered or unlicensed private chair or ricksha coolie ?

At first there might be some trouble.

A.-I have no objection whatever. Q.-But the question is are Europeans to be made punishable if they engage coolies who are not registered?

A.-One would need to be always on the look out to see that they always had chair coolies. Suppose the Chinese were to strike work! But as regards my own person, I have no objection at all. Of course, I don't speak for others.

Mr. Wilcox.-But do you think that the German community would have any objection to the chair coolies being licensed or registered? They would not think it too much trouble, for instance, to do it, in order to secure better servants, would they?

A. I think they would be quite glad about it because things have come to such a pass.

The Chairman.--Suppose Mr. A. B. is found out to have servants in his employ who are not registered or licensed, Mr. A. B. is liable to be taken up to the Police Court and fined $25. That is the point I wish to make plain. Is there any objection to that?

A.—I don't see any. People say they can't get on with their servants, and so this must be tried.

Mr. Wilcox.-Registration, unless it is compulsory, would be of very little use? A.-You are quite right.

The Chairman.-Strict observance of registration on both sides-on the side of the master and on the side of the employee?

A. Yes, I perfectly understand. I don't know if it is true, but I was told that as regards the licensing of public rickshas the Government was not very liberal. Of course all of this crowd of private coolies has to be drawn from the public ricksha

men.

Mr. Wilcox. I don't know about that. We are trying to find out whether they are drawn entirely from the same class and we think that they are, but it is not quite clear.

A.-I see the coolies change of their own accord. I don't always have the same men; they arrange to a great extent among themselves. Originally, I engage them through the compradore but if one slips away another comes and takes his place.

Q.--In your opinion, the coolies whilst nominally being paid for their whole time- by you are practically working at other times, when they are not carrying you, for other people?

A. Yes, perhaps ordinary private chairs or rickshas.

Mr. Wilcox. Yes, that is the suspicion entertained by a good many people. Witness.-I know for certain that, once or twice after a coolie had left me, I saw him employed just as an or linary street coolie. Of course, I have one whom I always call the "olo" cool He has been with me for a long time and he does not change. The others change.

The Chairman.-The oftener they change the better for him because he gets his squeeze" every time.

you,

Mr. Wilcox. Their time is made up in various ways but, so long as they carry that is all you require?

་

( 49 )

Witness. I came here quite unprepared and had no idea what questions, you would ask me. You mentioned about gentlemen living up the Hill above Bowen Road. There is Mr. Grote. He also mentioned the other day about having trouble with his coolies.

The Chairman.-Do you remember the old Registration Ordinance being in force ?

A.--Yes.

Q. Did you engage coolies under it?

A.—Do you mean about twenty-five years ago? Oh, yes, there were, so far as I remember, little red slips and the coolies had to go to the Registrar and get these filled

up.

Mr. Wilcox. Their certificates were not red, but they may have had red slips to go with. But you had no more trouble in getting coolies then than now ?

A.--No. You see it was virtually in the infancy of the Colony and it was very easy to get servants.

The Chairman.-Do you know what they do in Kiauchau with regard to servants?

A.--No, I don't know. Mr. Schoenemann might be able to tell you. He has got rather important business there and he is sure to know.

Q.--Do you know the system in Shanghai ?

A.--No, I have never been in Shanghai but there are so many residents in the Colony who have been that you will have no trouble in finding out.

Mr. Badeley. You don't know what reason your coolies gave when they disap- peared?

Did they ever tell you why they left?

A.-They don't come and tell me. They are simply not there and another man is in their place. I have asked "What for new man ?" and the reply is "Other man got sick."

Q.-I think you said you had registered coolies?

A.-Not coolies. I was thinking then of boys.

The Chairman (reading definition of "Servant" in Ordinance 7 of 1866).--House boy, cook, cook's mate-sounds like Kipling doesn't it--amah, coolie, watchman, gardener, coachman, horse boy and boatman. The definition says nothing about chair- bearers. They were never registered.

Witness--That Ordinance was not enforced.

20th September, 1901.

ARNOLD FUCHS sworn:

The Chairman.Mr. Fuchs, how long have you been in the Colony?

A. Since June, 1886.

Q.-Of what firm are you now a member?

A.-Siemssen and Company.

Q. Where do you now live?

A.-Barker Road, at the Peak, fourth house on the right, next to Mr. Playfair's. Q.-Do you employ any chair and ricksha coolies ?

A. Yes, four coolies.

( 50 )

Q.-Chair coolies?

A.-They are chair and ricksha coolies together. I use more rickshas than chairs.

Q.--Do you keep them down the Hill?

A.-I keep them up the Hill.

Q-Then they don't come down with

you ?

A.-No, they sometimes go down to Hongkong and they always take the chair. Q.-May I ask you what you pay ?

A.-I pay eight and-a-half dollars a month.

Q. Anything outside of that for firewood or anything of that kind?

A.-They get their chow cooked with our firewood.

Mr. Wilcox.--That is a concession worth about half-a-dollar a month or more.

The Chairman.-How long have you been paying such wages to your coolies?

A.—I had to increase the wages to eight dollars and fifty cents when I removed up to the Peak.

When I lived at Queen's Gardens, I paid $7.50 and $8.

Q.--How do you engage your coolies?

A.-I get them through my Compradore.

Q.-Always?

A.--Yes, always.

Q.—And does every gentleman in the firm do the same thing?

A. As far as I know, yes.

Q.-Is that part of his contract with your firm?

A.-Our Compradore is employed under contract to get coolies for us.

Q.-Under that system, have you ever had any difficulties in getting coolies?

A. There is one difficulty; it is hard to get good coolies. The coolies are not so good as before.

Q. Has your Compradore ever said: "I am very sorry I can't get you coolies”?

A.--He has always been able to get them.

Q.-Do you know how he got them?

A.-I think he always gets them through the coolies in his office.

Q.-You say you have had no difficulty in getting coolies, but, having once got them, have you had any difficulty in retaining them?

me.

A.--I could not say I have had any difficulty in keeping them.

Q.-Have you any reason for that?

A.-I think the reason why my coolies stay is that they got a very easy job with

Of the coolies I have now with me I have had some for three or four years.

Q.--You are in touch, Mr. Fuchs, with the German community here?

A. Yes.

-Have any complaints reached your ears from the members of that community about private chair and ricksha coolies?

( 51 )

A. Yes, I know of one case of two doctors-Rohmann and Gerlach-at Kennedy Road, and they have now to pay ten dollars and yet the coolies don't care to stay very long because they have too much work. They get other coolies but, so soon as the new coolies learn that they have to go out at night, they won't stay.

Q. Why do they object to going out at night? Do they look upon the night time as their own to go out and make a little extra money by carrying public chairs?

A. Yes, that is probably the way.

Q. What is your idea as to the rate of fares here for public chairs and rickshas? Do

you think it is too high a rate?

A.-I think it is too high a rate and I think that is the reason why we have to pay so high wages now and have difficulty in getting coolies to carry us.

Q.-That is to say, that public employment is more lucrative than private employ- ment ?

A. Yes. I should think so.

Q-I think we probably agree with you on that point. Now, supposing the Government here introduced a law making the registration of ricksha and chair coolies compulsory on the part of the master as well as on the part of the coolies, would you personally have any objection? For instance, supposing you engaged coolies, and these coolies were not registered coolies, you would be liable to be punished for engaging coolies who were not registered.

Would you have any objection to that?

A.-I don't see that I would have any objection. about it.

There won't be much trouble

Q.-Would you not bave what I would call any sentimental objection ?

A. Certainly not.

Mr. Wilcox. You would not feel that you were being rendered liable to penal consequences? Of course, you would be liable to a fine for employing unregistered servants. but you would feel that it was your duty not to engage such and make yourself liable ?

A.-As soon as it becomes law in Hongkong, everyone will go in for it. There might, of course, be some objection, but it would be with the coolies.

The Chairman.-The point is whether the masters would object. It is no use bringing in an enactment of that kind if the community is against it. If you employ an unregistered servant, and if you are found out, you would render yourself liable to be brought up at the Police Court to show why you are keeping unregistered servants; in the same way as one might be charged with keeping an unlicensed dog.

Witness.-The coolies change sometimes. I have three or four coolies, and I find I have sometimes got a new coolie without my knowledge. It might be a bit risky for the master.

Mr. Wilcox. That would entail trouble on the Compradore.

Witness. What would you do in the event of a coolie going away and sending a substitute without your knowledge?

The Chairman.-The substitute would have to be a registered man.

Witness. In the case of a master being able to prove that the servant was there without his knowledge he should not be liable to any fine.

The Chairman.-Immediately you see a strange coolie, you say to him: "Show me your licence.'

( 52 )

Witness. I think we had better have it as a law for the coolies and not for the

masters.

The Chairman. That won't work because you could not depend upon the masters." They would employ whom they liked and there is no good registering coolies if people are at liberty to employ unregistered coolies.

Mr. Badeley.--Only the scallywags would be registered.

Mr. Wilcox.--There is a large section of the employers would not take the trouble unless registration were compulsory.

Witness. I would not mind the trouble.

The Chairman.-Suppose you gave a limit of three days to have a coolie in your employ registered?

A.-There is always a risk with coolies because they change so much.

Mr. Wilcox. They would not change. They would be bound down.

At present, a great deal of trouble arises from the fact that coolies interchange-they go from one employ to another, act as substitute, or go to a licensed vehicle and come back under some pretence or other, and in many cases, where employers employ four coolies, they don't notice the absence of one. That would not happen, I think, if they were registered. They would not care to risk it.

Mr. Badeley.--We must have registration compulsory on both sides. People who have good servants without registration would stick to them. Only the bad servants would be registered.

The Chairman.-I think you and other members of the community would be perfectly willing to undergo the trouble?

A.--I would not mind the trouble a bit.

Mr. Wilcox. So soon as it got into working order, I think you would find the registered coolies would become a body by themselves and would look down upon those who were not registered. They would have far better employment and would get the outsiders kept outside. They would make a coolies corporation of it, so to speak. Have

you heard

any complaints among the German community of insolence on the

part of coolies ?

A. Sometimes they are very insolent.

Q.-Have you noticed that they have been more insolent to their employers of late years than formerly?

A. I have not noticed it, but I have heard it. I know of lots of families who have had trouble, especially on the Peak and Magazine Gap.

Mr. Wilcox. In the neighbourhood of Queen's Gardens, I know changes have been very frequent.

Witness Mr. Lauts has had a lot of trouble. At present he has got no coolies. Our house is very comfortably situated. Of course, the coolies don't get much work to do and we don't have any trouble.

Q.-Have you heard of any cases of employers being temporarily boycotted?

A. Yes.

Q.-Lately?

A.-Mr. Lauts told me of a case in which a coolie was given in charge of the Po- lice and they could not get any coolies after.

( 53 )

Q. This boycott was removed?

A. They came back.

Do you think there is a guild?

A. Yes.

Q. Have you ever received any information leading you to suppose there is a guild of coolies ?

A.--I have no doubt there is a certain combination, otherwise they would not work as they do.

Q.-Yes, but you are not in possession of any special information on the subject of an organisation, club or guild existing among the coolies of the Colony?

A.--I do not know about private coolies, but outside coolies have a guild. Q.-But public and private chair and ricksha coolies are so much allied that if there is a guild for the one, there must be a guild for the other?

A. There must be.

Q-I suppose you are not in favour of any regulation for fixing the rate of wages? A.—Well, you see the wages are paid according to the work they have to do and according to the distance they have to go. People like Mr. Grote, who live far up the Hill, have to pay higher than the ordinary individual.

Q. Which is the more lucrative of the two-a public chair or private employ ?

A. I am quite sure that the public chair coolies make much more money than the private chair coolies. The scale has been increased, too, within the last few years.

The Chairman. I must say that I think that was mistaken policy. They make too much money and that tends to make them more independent.

Mr. Wilcox. I know they rush to carry these men-of-warsmen and soldiers.

Witness. Yes, and from them they get big fares.

The Chairman. Are you or are you not in favour of a fixed rate of pay for coolies in private employ-say a maximum rate?

A.-A maximum rate might be fixed, but you see, if this maximum rate is fixed, the coolies won't serve everybody.

Mr. Wilcox. It does not follow that all coolies would be entitled to receive the maximum rate. Doctors, who employ coolies at all seasons, might pay it, and, in the case of a broker who is rushing about all day it might be paid, but in the case of such as yourself who use them only to carry you to the tram or to the office a minimum scale might come in and more especially in the case of an employer who does not ask them to do any other work such as watering the garden or assisting to look after the flowers and various other things-looking after dogs, which they are frequently asked to do. Some coolies do actually nothing but simply carry their employers to and from business.

The Chairman.-I think, if we remember how hard a Chinese works in his own country, that there ought to be no difficulty in inducing him to do whatever he is told to do besides bearing a chair.

Witness. By coming to a proper arrangement with them, they have to do what- ever work they are asked to do. They have to pull the punkah, go to market and all these things. That is the reason we always arrange with the Compradore, who makes them understand that they have to do whatever they are called upon to do.

( 54 )

Mr. Badeley.--How are you to enforce a maximum rate of pay? make it penal on anyone who is found to be paying more?

Witness. I do not think that would work very well.

Are you to

[The Commission then adjourned till Monday, 23rd September, at 11 a.m., it being agreed to summon Mr. A. W. Brewin, Registrar General, for that hour, and Mr. J. T. Lauts for 11.45.]

23rd September, 1901.

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN sworn :---

The Chairman.Mr. Brewin, you are Registrar General

A.--Yes.

Q.--And you have been Assistant Registrar General ?

A. Yes.

Q.-You got my note on Friday saying that the chief points on which we wished to examine you were the question of guilds and the question of which Department registration should be done in, if registration of private ricksha and chair coolies were introduced?

A. Yes.

Q.-Now, are hawkers and cargo-boatmen licensed at the Registrar General's

Office?

A. Yes, sampans as well.

-Is any other class of persons licensed by the Registrar General ?

A. No, these are all.

Q. Is photography employed as a means of identification?

A.-Yes.

Q.--Is this the best means of identification that

you

know of?

A.--It is the simplest.

Q.-

-Is it effective?

A.--Yes, quite effective.

Q-Is this method resented by the hawkers, cargo-boat people or sampan people?

A. Certainly not, as long as I have been connected with the office.

Q. -If compulsory registration of private chair and ricksha coolies were introduced, in which Government Department do you think it would be likely to be most effective?

A.-Either in the Police or in the Registrar General's Department

Q.-Have you a preference for either ?

A. Well, it has been the policy, you know, to remove registration to a certain extent from the Registrar General's Office. Chairs and jinrickshas used to be registered there.

Mr. Badeley.And arms dealers at one time?

A.--Arins dealers were once.

•

་

( 55 )

The Chairman.-Do you think the Police Department would be a better department for registering private chair and ricksha coolies?

A. I don't think there is much to choose, but I think it would be as well to have the control of all those coolies under one department, because private chair coolies are constantly leaving private employment and turning street chair coolies.

Q. Do you think that the Chinese themselves would prefer oue office to the other or do you think that is more a thing of the past ?

A.-Well, this will be a new thing, and of course we flatter ourselves that they prefer our office, the Registrar General's Office.

Q. Do you think it would make a difference of a strike or no strike according to the office in which they were required to be registered?

A.-I daresay any influence the Registrar General has could be brought to bear quite as well although the licences were issued by the Police Department.

Q.--I quite agree with you, and you think that, as licences of public chair and ricksha coolies are in the hands of the Police at this moment, the best thing would be to put the licences of these private coolies in the same hands?

A. Yes, I think that is the best course.

Q.-Is one of your reasons for that the fact that the people who supply public chair and ricksha coolies are the same persons who supply private chair and ricksha coolies?

Witness. You mean head coolies ?

The Chairman.-No.

licensees of rickshas.

There are certain persons supplied and employed by

Mr. Badeley.-Yes, it is like cabs are at home.

A man takes out licences for a

certain number of chairs and the coolies hire them from him.

The Chairman. Those persons who hire them are themselves licensed ?

Mr. Badeley.

Some of the chair coolies may have their own chairs.

Mr. Wilcox. I have known cases of chairs being cumshawed by private persons to their old coolies or former servants, so that is proof that the chairs are occasionally owned by the coolies themselves.

The Chairman.-Do you think that the fact that the Police deal directly with licensed persons who hold the right to sublet to other people, is argument in favour of putting registration or licensing of private ricksha and chair coolies into the hands of the Police? They seem to have the machinery ready there. Do you see what I mean?

Witness.-I see what you mean, but I do not know that the licence holders have much control over the coolies they engage. I thought that, with them, it was simply a matter of business. I should prefer to say that in reality no difference can be drawn between private and street coolies because street coolies are constantly going into private employ and going out of it again. The licensing of all these coolies (public and private) should be under one department.

Q.-Do you know of any guild, association, trade union or organization controlling the actions of private chair and ricksha coolies ?

A.-No; I have never heard of such.

-Have you recently investigated the matter?

A. Yes, I have made further inquiries.

( 56 )

-What are the results of these inquiries?

A.--I don't think there is any foundation for the suggestion that there is a union. Q.-Have you inquired of the District Watchmen ?

A. Yes, and of some Chinese gentlemen. There are only these clubs.

Q.-You have heard of cases of boycotting?

A. Yes.

Q.-Now, how is it possible to boycott unless an organization of some sort exists?

A. Well, these Hok-los are very clanny, and I have no doubt that great numbers of them come from the same district and they stick together very closely. I don't think there is any need to require an organization to account for the boycotting.

Q.-Do you think it is due to living in the same coolie house?

A.-Living in the same coolie house and being strangers in Hongkong, speaking a different language, associating together very much and being in the habit of joining associations for various purposes. I don't think, therefore, that there is any need for a special organization among them for dealing with wages and boycotting.

Q.-You think it is only the tendency of the Chinese to combine, and that is sufficient to account for it without any organization?

A. Yes.

Mr. Wilcox. They simply pass the word along?

Quite so.

The Chairman.-I take it that you would be in favour of photographing these people ?

A.-Oh they must be photographed if you are going to license them.

Q.-You had not any experience, had you, of the working of the old Registration Ordinance which apparently ceased to operate in 1888---the Victoria Registration Ordinance, No. 7 of 1866 ?

A.--I had no experience of it.

Q-Personally, have you had any difficulty in procuring and keeping your coolies?

A.-I have had no experience.

Q-Don't you keep coolies?

A.--No.

Q.-llaven't you kept any at all within the last five years?

A-I have only kept some for a month. I found it much simpler and less troublesome just to engage them as I wanted them.

Q.--If you kept regular coolies, how would you engage them?

A. One of the servants would go out and get them.

Q.--One of your own domestic servants?

A. Yes.

Q.-You did not call in the aid of the District Watchman?

A.-No.

Q-Nor the shroff ?

A.--No; I engaged them in the ordinary way.

•

( 57 )

Q.--Have you formed any opinion as to the reason of the existing difficulty? It seems to be one not so much of procuring servants as getting them to stay with you when you have got them.

them. Have

Have you any idea as to the cause of that difficulty-why it is that servants won't stay?

A. One reason may be that outside coolies are making a very good thing out of it and I believe they have been these last few years, and, of course, when a coolie. resigns or loses his place, he can always go and stay in his house for a month or so without any great expenditure as he pays a regular subscription.

Mr. Wilcox.-Oh, is that so?

A. They pay a small subscription.

The Chairman.-Even although in private employ?

A. Yes.

-What sort of a house is it?

A.--It may be a lodging house or a small society.

The Chairman.-They pay a sort of absentee fee I suppose ?

A. Yes, it gives them a lodging and it is their subscription to religious ceremonies and that sort of thing.

Q. Are you personally and officially-put it both ways-in favour of compulsory registration of private chair and ricksha coolies, Mr. Brewin?

A.--Yes, I think it would be a good thing if they were registered.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you think it would be desirable in addition to registering and photographing coolies to make any regulation as to wages, there being many complaints as to the forcing up of wages of late to a very high point-as much as ten, and eleven and even twelve dollars a month?

A.-No, I can hardly go as far as that.

Q.- -You don't think it would be well to interfere with the law of supply and demand?

A.-Not in that way,

I should think.

Q. Do you think that private chair coolies drift very much into the ranks of the outside licensed chair coolies?

A. While I lived in Caine Road, there was a chair coolie stand outside my door and I was always noticing these fellows turning up as private chair coolies. There may have been sixteen men there, and I am sure I have recognised five or six of them in uniform at different times and then they would come back to the public chairs in a

few months.

Mr. Wilcox. I have seen my own coolies plying for hire in the street.

The Chairman.Whilst they have been in your employment?

Mr. Wilcox.-No, after leaving. Then I have noticed them in some other person's uniform. You (witness) say that, when in private employ, they still continue a subscription to the lodging-house from which they originally came. That would seem to prove to me that it is an organised club.

A.--It is what you would call an association. I think it would be best described as a friendly society.

sary

Q-That gives the basis of an organization for the promotion of strikes if neces-

A. Undoubtedly.

——

( 58 )

Q. And it enables the coolies most effectively to establish a system of boycotting if they have a wish to do so?

Witness. Do you mean by having funds at their disposal?

Mr. Wilcox. Yes, having funds at their disposal and being able to communicate with other coolies. They can boycott if they wish to.

Witness.--I don't know if these funds could be used in that way. The funds are, I fancy, devoted to special purposes, and the only advantage the men have from being connected with these societies is that they can get lodging free when they are out of employment-for how long I don't know--and in case they died no doubt some money would be paid out towards burial expenses. For Triad and other purposes I think they would raise special subscriptions.

Mr. Wilcox.-Yes, that is very likely.

The Chairman.--Do you think that that absentee fee which would entitle them. to go to these lodging houses when they are out of employ, has been increased within recent years ?

A.-I have not heard of that, but it might well be the case. It is supposed to

cover rent.

Mr. Wilcox. And rent has gone up all round?

A. And rent has undoubtedly gone up.

Mr. Badeley. You issue cargo-boat and sampan licences and have power to can- cel them?

A. Yes.

Q.--Do you ever cancel them?

A. Yes, I cancelled some sampan licences a few months ago on complaints made by the Police.

Q.—Well, if a sampan man whose licence had been cancelled came to you later on applying for a fresh licence and said nothing about his having been previously licensed would

you spot him?

A.-I don't think I could.

Q.-You have no machinery for that?

A.-Oh yes, the photographs are there but there is such a very large number of them that nobody ever thinks of looking them up to see. I mean to say that, if a licence was cancelled in June and the man came for a new licence in September, the clerk, I don't imagine, would look through the photographs to find out whether he had been licensed before or not.

Q.-Would there be any difficulty about him doing that?

A.--No, there would be no difficulty but then there would be no difficulty either about the man sending another member of his family for the licence. A very large number of licences are given to women.

Q.--Supposing a coolie misbehaved himself and got dismissed, but afterwards sank all reference to his previous registration and started afresh, do you think you would have difficulty?

A.--I think you would. I think you would want something more than photo- graphs.

The Chairman.--What else would you suggest?

( 59 )

}

Witness.-You would need to have measurements.

Q.--But that would involve a reference to the books too?

A.-Yes, but you can classify measurements. You can't classify photographs. Mr. Badeley. They might object to that.

Witness. Yes, they might object.

The Chairman. They objected to photography at first because it was a novelty. When they once got used to it, they were like reasonable beings. They won't object to being measured.

tion ?

Witness.--We measured ricksha coolies once did we not and had a medical inspec-

Mr. Badeley.--We had a medical inspection, but it was no use. you issue are renewed at short intervals are they not?

A.--Every year.

Q.-That is the longest interval ?

A. Yes.

Q.-They have a fresh photograph for each new licence don't they?

The licences

A.—We take an old photograph sometimes. The hawkers I notice keep a pho- tograph on for more than one year.

Q.-In how many years do you think a Chinaman would become unrecognisable by his photograph--grow out of his photograph so to speak? How often would they require to be renewed say in the case of chair coolies ?

A.--I think, as far as photographs go, they would be serviceable for five years. The Chairman.-Supposing one of the coolie's parents died and he grew his hair, that would alter his appearance entirely?

A. That would make a little difference certainly. It is not so very easy either to identify a Chinaman by his photograph.

Mr. Badeley. They have a system in Singapore of using a looking glass and by this means they get a full face photograph and profile as well.

The Chairman.-They hold up their hands, too, don't they?

Mr. Badeley. Yes, the criminals do.

Witness. As far as the appearance of the men is concerned, I don't think there would be much difference in five years, but I don't know about the photograph.

Mr. Badeley. I presume the photograph would be kept by the employer.

Witness. Photographs won't fade if they are properly done, but I have had to refuse some because I saw they would not last.

Mr. Wilcox. There should be an understanding with the photographer.

Mr. Badeley. That is a matter of arrangement.

The Chairman. In regard to the prevailing rates for public chairs and rickshas, it seems pretty apparent by this time that one reason why private chair and ricksha coolies leave their employers is that the business of the public chair and ricksha coolie is more lucrative. Now, I don't know whether you have thought about it, but it has appeared to some of us that the fares of public chairs and rickshas are probably too high. Are you in favour of modifying these fares? For instance, it seems to me absurd that I, or anybody else, should have to pay five cents by ricksha and ten cents by chair

( 60 )

to go from the Clock Tower to the Club. There is no fare under a quarter of an hour and it is in these short distances that the coolies make the money. Do you consider that the reduction of public chair and ricksha fares would tend to alleviate the present difficulty?

Witness. Do you think that would make people pay less? I think these ricksha men make a great deal of money out of people who don't think of anything less than twenty cents or fifty cents.

The Chairman.-These are mostly visitors during the winter time, but do you think the difficulty would be met by tickets or checks such as they issue in Shanghai, or might they not have the fare laid down between certain points? In the case of gharries, I think there is one scale of fares for distance and one for time.

A.-It would be easy to lay down fares for distance in Hongkong for rickshas.

Q.-But do you think that would help to make it less lucrative for public chair and ricksha coolies and thereby probably help the private chair and ricksha coolie difficulty?

A. Yes, I suppose it would,

Q.-On the other hand, there might be this effect of reducing the fares, that there might be a scarcity of public chairs and rickshas?

A. That is true.

The Chairman.-The thing would be to reduce the fares to such an extent as just to make it profitable to continue on the street, and at the same time not leave them so. high as to leave an inducement to private coolies to desert their employers.

Mr. Wilcox. I think that a good many of these excessive earnings are made in just one or two districts and matters might be adjusted by a little regulation as to certain coolies not being allowed to monopolise certain stands, as I believe they do at the present time.

Is that so? Do you know if certain coolies

The Chairman (to Mr. Badeley).—Is that so ? always frequent the same stands ?

Mr. Badeley.--I expect that they do. It stands to reason that they do so. They are not told off to certain ranks. I don't know what they do at home with cabs. Do they tell them off to certain ranks? I know London cabs are not allowed to crawl about for hire nor are the rickshas here. When they are not employed, they have to go to one or other of the stands laid down.

The Chairman.-Is there anything more you would like to tell us?

Witness.-I don't think I have anything else to say.

Mr. Badeley.--Do you know much about the wages earned by street coolies- godown and cargo coolies and so on?

A.---I am told that they make a lot of money in handling cargo. I understand cargo coɔlies are the best paid.

Q.-That is a more lucrative business than private chair employ?

A.-Oh yes.

Q.-Is it harder work?

A.--Yes, but not continuous work. I am told the men live better too.

Q.—Then it is very doubtful whether reducing public ricksha fares would have much effect in driving the men into private employ if cargo coolies are so well paid?

(61)

The Chairman.-If they come from the same class of people, that might be so. But have we any proof of the ricksha coolie becoming a cargo coolic?

Mr. Badeley.--Yes, Mr. Hanson gave us some evidence to that effect.

Witness.-These Hok-los are a close corporation. However they were affected, they would not go into any other business.

Mr. Badeley--You don't think private chair coolies go from that business to be cargo or godown coolies?

A.-I don't think they do, so far as Hok-los are concerned, and the majority of private chair coolies are Hok-los.

The Chairman.--They look upon it as a different trade? Chair bearing is one trade and cargo carrying another trade and they won't pass from the one to the other?

A.—What I was thinking of was that the trades are in the hands of different dis- tricts and outsiders can't get in.

Mr. Badeley.--In whose hands is the cargo carrying business?

A.-I could not tell you. Either the Tung-kun, or Sz Yap.

[This concluded the sitting, and it was agreed to meet again on the 24th Septem- ber, and take the evidence of a number of Chinese Compradores.]

24th September, 1901.

WEI YUK declared:-

The Chairman.-Where are you Compradore?

A.--I am Compradore at the Mercantile Bank.

-Where is your house?

A.-Macdonnell Road, near the end.

-Do you employ chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-I employ chair coolies and they pull the ricksha as well.

Q. What wages do you pay them?

A.-I pay eight dollars.

Q.-What does that include ?

A.-I give them oil, firewood and hot water for them to bathe themselves if they want it.

Q. -Do you give them free lodging?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you pay for their food?

A.—No.

Q.--Five years ago, how much did you pay?

A.-Five-and-a-half dollars or thereabouts, but I gave them board and lodging. Mr. Wilcox. What do you think the difference would be-about a dollar per

month?

rate ?

( 62 )

The Chairman.--How much do you consider the present rate greater than the old

A.-A dollar or a dollar fifty I think would be fair.

Q.--Have you had any difficulty in getting coolies?

A. No.

Q. Any difficulty in keeping them?

A. Not in my case.

Q-Now, you say you are Compradore to the Mercantile Bank. Do you engage coolies for the Bank?

A. Yes I do.

Q.-Is that in your agreement?

A.--No, Sir.

Q. Do you engage coolies for Mr. Yates?

A. If he requests me to do so.

Q. When was the last time you engaged coolies for your hong?

A-I believe five years ago.

Q.—It is not part of your agreement, but I hear it is part of some Compradores' agreements to do so. Is that so?

A.--You are not obliged to do so, but if you are asked you just do it as a favour.

Q.- -How do you set about doing it?

A.-I simply go to my chair coolies and tell them to ask their friends if there is any one who would like to come.

-Do you, as a Chinese gentleman, wish to have registration of private coolies in Chinese employ?

A.-I have given that question great consideration and I have also asked the opinions of many of my Chinese friends, and they come to almost the same opinion, and that is that registration of private coolies would not be a good thing. It would cost the coolies money and they would charge more than the present rate at which we engage coolies. If a chair coolie was ill-a licensed chair coolie—and he wanted someone to take his place for the time being he would have to get a licensed coolie who would

say, I want more because I am licensed.

Q. What is your opinion?

A.-I say no. It is a good thing in one sense but a bad thing in another. You can't tie the chair coolie to you, and when you want a substitute you will find great difficulty. I have considered the thing and I give the answer 'no'.

Mr. Wilcox.-Don't you think that difficulty could be got over, Mr. Wei A Yuk- that difficulty of substitutes-by the giving of temporary registration tickets? There being no fee whatever, the registration would be a simple matter. The man would only have to find a substitute, take him to the Registration Department, get him registered and come back.

A.--That is one point I would like to know particularly about. the fee, if there is any?

The Chairman.-There would be no fee.

Who is to pay

งา

( 63 )

Witness. I think that is better still and then if they come to register would they have to take someone with them to vouch for their behaviour?

Mr. Badeley. That is a very large question.

The Chairman.-That is another difficulty, but then I am of opinion that we shall not require security.

Mr. Wilcox.-There would be no security demanded as the servant who is in your regular employ and who brings the substitute would be his guarantee. He would not bring a bad man knowing that he was going to be registered. He would not ven- ture to offer a bad character like they do now.

Mr. Badeley. They get the biggest rascals for substitutes in case they should be taken on in their place.

Witness. If you ask your own servant to get you chair coolies and he does so and these coolies misbehave themselves would you attach blame to the servant who recom- mended them?

then

The Chairman.-No.

Witness.Well, if you don't, there is no occasion to license them, and if you do you lose the services of your good coolie. I need to get someone to recommend them to me. I don't know who they are, and chair coolies have no characters.

The Chairman. The fact of getting them to register will probably be a guarantee

of their character.

Witness.--That is a difficulty unless you get someone to recommend them, but then if you don't, registration is not much worth at all.

Mr. Wilcox.--We think it would be a check and it would deter bad characters from coming in because the l'olice would know them. At present, a great many men who have actually done time in the gaol are to be found serving in the households of respectable people.

The Chairman.-The Government has power to banish all these men.

Mr. Wilcox.-But a private individual has no means of knowing the characters of these people. They bring forged testimonials or rather testimonials that they have bought from other people. Do you see the difficulty?

Witness. But then, if we are to have registration, coolies will have to produce their photo.

Mr. Wilcox.---Are you aware whether there is a servants' or coolie guild in the Colony ?

A.—I don't know except as regards those people who work on board ship-hang shun kun--that is sailors or stokers, and they have their own house that they go to in Hongkong to stay when they have been discharged from their ships,

Mr. Badeley.These are licensed boarding houses.

Witness. Yes, they are clubs. They have all kinds of houses in Hongkong, and if there is no business to do, they go to their own particular house for lodging or if they are sick they can go there and be attended to. I believe that every month they sub- scribe something towards the upkeep of that house.

Mr. Wilcox. It is a kind of organization. It may be a friendly society?

A. Perhaps that is so. I have no experience of them.

Mr. Badeley. You don't know whether they are bound by any rules?

A.-In Gough Street and, I believe, in Peel Street you can get some Chu-chau men, but what rules they are bound by, I don't know.

( 64 )

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you think they are able to boycott an employer if they have a wish to do so.

A. If such a thing is done, it is not openly. I have not heard of any such thing. A.—If

FUNG WA CHUN declared:-

The Chairman.--You are Compradore to Shewan, Tomes & Co. and also to the National Bank of China ?

A. Yes.

Q.-What part of the city do you live in?

A.-Upper Richmond Road.

Q. And do you employ chair and ricksha coolies ?

A.-Chair coolies.

Q. How many?

A.--I employ four chair coolies.

Q.-What wages have you to pay them now?

A.-Eight-and-a-half dollars.

Q.--What does that include or exclude ?

A.-I have got to give them firewood and lodging.

Q. --You don't pay for their food?

A.-No.

Q. What did you pay about five years ago?

A.-Five years ago-I don't remember. Perhaps from $7.75 to $8.

Q.-Under exactly the same conditions?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you engage coolies for the members of your hongs?

A. For the National Bank; not for Shewan, Tomes.

Q.-Do you engage coolies for Mr. Playfair?

A. Yes, four chair coolies.

Q.-Is

-Is that part of

your agreement ?

A.-No, I only do it as a friendly act.

Q. How do you get hold of them?

A.--I send my head coolie out to get coolies. That is all.

Q.--Have you had any difficulty in getting coolies?

A.-No.

Q. Do you find they change about a good deal?

A.-Oh, yes they do.

Mr. Wilcox.-More than they used to do?

A. Yes, much more.

( 65 )

The Chairman. And do you, as a leading Chinese gentleman, want to have rick- sha and chair coolies in the employ of Chinese registered?

A.-I don't think so.

Q. Why not?

A.—If you register them they will charge more.

Q. Why? Suppose there was no fee for registration ?

A. Because there is so much work about in the Colony nowadays that they will go somewhere else if they are placed under restriction.

Q.-But if they can go elsewhere and get better work, why do they become chair coolies in the first place?

the

A.-It is very easy work for them.

Q.-But I asked you why you objected to registration and you said it would raise wages and that the coolies would be placed under restrictions. There would be no restriction in registration. Any other reason ?

A.-Because the other labourers are not registered.

Q. But public chair and ricksha coolies are registered or licensed?

A.-I am talking of those labourers engaged by contractors. An ordinary coolie if he works diligently can earn 40 cents a day. Most of them get 40 cents.

Q.-Is that an earth coolie ?

A.-An earth coolie gets 30 cents a day.

Q.-But these are unskilled labourers, are they not?

A.-Good ordinary labourers.

Mr. Badeley. Is an earth coolie about the lowest ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Then thirty cents will be the lowest wage ?

A. That is squeeze price.

The Chairman. That is not the wage the coolie gets, you can depend upon that. Witness. If the contractor engages permanent coolies, he does not have to pay so much. But, if he wants outside coolies he has to pay more.

These coolies you see on the street with a pole, every one of them makes forty cents a day. Other coolies make fifteen dollars a month and some even make more.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you think there is any organization in the Colony for keeping up the rates of labour-an organization of headmen or guilds?

A.--No.

ፊ

Q.-There is a very strong belief in certain circles that more coolies could be easily obtained if they were allowed to come into the Colony. Have you any reason

to think so?

A.-No, I have not heard that.

The Chairman. It would be a thorough Chinese practice, Mr. Fung Wa Chun, if they combined to keep up the price. You would not be surprised if you were told it was the truth, would you ?

A.-I think different parties of coolics combine to a certain extent. Those who get only eight dollars would refuse to work unless they got eight and-a-half, but I don't think they are led by any headmen.

Mr. Wilcox.

( 66 )

You are not aware of the existence of any headmen who make it

their business to bring in coolies to supply the market?

A.-I have not heard that.

Q-Or keep the supply below the demand?

A.-No, I have not heard.

The Chairman.-How do you account for it, supposing there is a less supply than a demand? There are lots of, millions of coolies in China who would be only too glad to come here and earn as much as seven and eight dollars per month?

A. That is a thing I don't see myself, Sir.

Q.-Mr. Wilcox suggests as a reason that there is an organised scheme for keep- ing the number of available coolies down?

A.-I don't think that is a reason. I have not heard anything about it.

Q.-What is the reason, do you know?

A.-Well, take my own chair coolies at eight and-a-half dollars. Nowadays food and everything else is much dearer than before so they have to pay at least three and- a-half or four dollars a month for their chow whereas before two and-a-half dollars was sufficient. When I first engaged coolies, their pay used to be seven dollars a mouth. From seven it rose up to eight and-a-half. Last year, for one month, I had to pay $9.25. This was in the plague time and I could not get any coolies. Mr. Tomlin, of the China Fire, is paying $9.50 now, if I am not mistaken. For Mr. Playfair's coolies, the Bank allows $8.50 each. It is not my business to engage coolies for him but I always like to do it for him and the Bank, as I tell you, does not pay more than than $8.50. Sometimes, I have had to pay half-a-dollar each man out of my own pocket for his coolies because he is a heavy man and lives up the Peak Road.

Mr. Badeley.-Doesn't he pay it out of his own pocket ?

A.-The Bank pays only $8.50 and as I don't want any trouble over the matter, I just tell the shroff to pay it out of my own pocket. Of course it is not business.

Mr. Wilcox.-I understand what the difference in the price of food means. I admit that, but allowing for that, don't you think there ought still to be sufficient at- traction in Hongkong to bring in plenty of coolies?

A. Yes.

Q.-You see the wages they get are much higher than formerly and they have the attraction of a busy place. There must be some reason for the difficulty?

A-I can't say there is any difficulty in getting chair coolies. When I want coolies, I can always get them but I have to pay more than formerly.

Q.-The very fact of your having to pay more points to two things-either the supply is smaller or there is a combination to keep up wages. Is that not so?

A.--I don't think there is any combination among chair coolies.

Q.-I don't say there is, but I am alluding to coolies and wages in general, you know?

A. Of course, if there is a combination, every employer would have to pay his coolies about the same rate; but some pay $9.50, some $9.25, others pay $8.50. I know some Chinamen pay only eight dollars a month.

Q. And do you think some pay less still?

Yes, some pay $7.50. Before I never heard of such a thing as a coolic coming to his master and asking how inany trips he makes and does he dine out often or not.

(67)

Chair coolies nowadays say

"You

go back to house for tiffin ?"_ "Yes." "You go out very much dinner?"-" Yes."

Well," they say "No, I want nine dollars." Then if you say "No tiffin, but I may want you," they say "All right $8.50 can do."

The Chairman.-How does the pay of these coolies compare with the pay they get in China? And how does the work compare with the work they do in their own villages in China? Would not wages be lower and would not the work they would do be far more laborious than the work they would do here? Are they not at work in China "from early morn till dewy eve"?

A. Yes, the farmers are.

-But what are these coolies but the farming class?

A.—Yes, the farmers at home, some of them get three taels a month, that is $4.30 or $4.50 and in addition they get their chow. The master pays for it. Their home is near to them and they can go home in the evening, whereas in Hongkong their home is far away from them. If they want to see their families they leave the Colony twice a year and they get no wages during the time they are away. In their own country they see their own family every day and they don't like to leave them. I think it is only when a man can't make enough to live on in his own country that he leaves it.

Mr. Wilcox.-That is so.

Mr. Badeley. Do you know whether coolies here remit their earnings or part of them to their families?

A.-Oh yes.

Q.-Much of them ?

A.--Yes.

Mr. Wilcox.-Some of them squander most of their earnings in gambling, I suppose?

A.-Oh yes. I am talking generally, of course.

WONG PAK KUI declared:-

The Chairman.-What are you

A.-I am Assistant Compradore at Melchers.

Q. Where is your private house?

A.-I live at No. 59, Queen's Road Central.

Q. Do you employ chair or ricksha coolies?

A.-No.

Q.-Neither?

A.-No.

Q. How do you go about then?

A.-I engage a street ricksha.

Q.- You

or six months

A.-No.

say you do not keep coolies. Have you recently kept them-a year ago

ago ?

・

( 68 )

Q. Have you never engaged any ?

A.-No.

Q. Do you engage any for your masters in the firm ?

A. Yes.

-And when you engage coolies for them, how do you set to work and where do you go to find them?

A.-I tell the porter or gate keeper to look for coolies.

Q. And does he invariably get them for ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Have you ever had

any difficulty?

you

A. Yes, I have had some difficulty. When they thought that the master was bad tempered or the wages too low then they would not come.

Q.-Have you had difficulty on these two accounts?

We want facts.

Mr. Badeley. Have any coolies ever refused to come because the master was bad tempered ?

the

A.-On account of the wages being too low, they have refused to come..

The Chairman.-What wages do the gentlemen in your firm pay?

A.-A chair coolie gets eight or eight and-a-half dollars a month.

Q.-What are they paid now?

A.-Formerly they used to pay seven and seven and-a-half but now they get money I mentioned.

Q.-What about ricksha coolies?

A.-We don't engage ricksha coolies.

Q.-You are under a bond to your firm are you not ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Is it in your agreement or bond that it is part of your duty to engage coolies for your masters?

A. You see I am simply an Assistant Compradore and there is no stipulation in my agreement as to its being part of my duty to engage coolies.

Q. When did the Chief Compradore fall sick?

A.-Last evening.

Q.-Is he very seriously ill ?

A. No, not very

ill.

Q. When will he be well again?

A.-It is difficult to say.

-Do you think he will be well to-morrow?

A. Yes, I think so.

-Do you, as a Chinese gentleman, think that private chair and ricksha coolies

in Chinese employ should be registered or licensed?

A.—Well, I think if their wages are increased a little bit you would be entitled to register them. I think they would have to pay a certain fee for registering them- selves.

✔

( 69 )

-Suppose there was no registration fee, are you in favour of registering them? A.—I don't see any harm in having them registered if the Government thinks so. Q.--Suppose they were registered, do you think anyone who engaged an unregis- tered coolie should be liable to be punished?

A.--There is a difficulty in the way. If you fine the coolie, then the master, if the coolie has no money, will have to pay his fine. If you fine the master, then the master will have something to say about registration.

Mr. Badeley. When you have had to engage coolies for the gentlemen in your hong, do you make inquiries

make inquiries as to the work they have done before, what master they have been with before, what character they have and so on?

A.-I make no such inquiries at all.

LAU CHU PAK declared:--

The Chairman.-You are Compradore at A. S. Watson & Co. ?

A. Yes.

Q. Where is your residence ?

A.-My present residence is No. 353, Queen's Road West.

Q.--And do you employ ricksha or chair coolies?

A.-Ricksha coolies.

Q.-No chair coolies ?

A.-No.

Q. How many ricksha coolies do you employ?

A.-Two.

Q. What wages do you pay them?

A.-Nine dollars..

Q. What does that include?

Do you give them oil and fire?

A. Nothing at all.

Q. Do you lodge them ?

A. They live outside and buy their own food.

Q.-Five years ago what did you pay ?

A. Seven dollars.

-What accounts for the difference?

A.--I am not sure myself, but they say the high cost of living. Q.-Nothing else?

A. That is the only reason they have.

Q. Do you engage coolies for the gentlemen in Watson & Co.'s?

A. Yes.

Q.-Have you had any difficulty in getting coolies?

A. Recently, I have.

( 70 )

Q.-How many months ago ?

A. About six months ago.

Q.-What is the difficulty?

A.-They want high wages. They want more than ten dollars a month.

Q-Is it in your agreement that you shall supply them with coolies?

A.-No, that is only a friendly matter.

Q. How do you proceed to get them? You have succeeded sometimes and other times you have not?

A.—I simply ask the office coolie to go outside and get them.

Q. How does he set to work?

A. He goes amongst his friends.

Q.--You don't engage them directly yourself?

A.-No.

Q.--You ask another man and he works through another man?

A.--Yes.

Q. Do you, as a Chinese gentleman, wish to have your coolies registered or licensed ?

A. Yes, I am in favour of that.

Q.-Why are you in favour of it? Give us your reason.

A.--I think it will keep them in better order.

Q.-You say you are in favour of Chinese employed coolies being registered—are you in favour of a Chinese who employs unregistered coolies being liable to be punished at the Magistracy? For instance, suppose that you or your friend engage a coolie and the Police find out that he is an unregistered coolie, do you think you or your friend should be made liable to a fine of $5 or more because you have engaged an unregistered coolie? Do you understand what I mean?

A. Yes, I understand what you mean. I don't think you should make it compulsory for a man to engage a registered coolie.

Q.-What is the good of registration then if some people engage unregistered coolies ?

A.-Look at the matter in this light. Sometimes a friend recommends you a coolie who is unregistered.

Q.-Well then, but why does he not go and get registered, especially as there are no fees ?

A.-Oh, you are not to charge the coolies any fee for the licence! I think it is better then for them all to be registered. I am in favour of masters being punished if they engage unregistered coolies.

Mr. Wilcox. Do you think there is any coolie guild in the Colony-any organi- zation or combination?

A.-I am not aware of that.

Q.-Have you heard anything about a coolic headman being in such power as to be able to limit the supply of coolies in the Colony?

A.-No, I don't think they have that power.

(71)

The Chairman.-Is there any attempt to prevent coolies coming into the Colony?

A.-I have not heard of any.

Mr. Wilcox.-There is a difficulty in obtaining labour in the Colony-different sorts of labour. This is remarkable because on the mainland and in the province opposite there are millions of coolies who, one would suppose, would be ready and willing to come and work for higher wages. Why don't they come if there is no one to keep them back?

A. According to my experience coolies when they first came to the Colony were willing to accept lower wages than other coolies. Naturally in the course of time they were influenced by the other coolies who had been longer in the Colony.

The Chairman.-Wages have not risen in China?

A. Yes, in some cases.

Q.--In Canton ?

A.--Yes, in Canton and in the villages.

Q.-In Swatow?

A. I don't know as regards Swatow.

Q. In Fatshan?

A.-Yes, wages have risen there.

Q-Ten per cent. or how much?

A.-More than that.

Q. How much?

A.-About thirty per cent. in the villages.

Mr. Wilcox. That is a great deal.

The Chairman. What is your means of knowledge?

A.-In the country we get men to work the farms. for them. We can't get men under $3 to $4 now.

Q.-Have you got a farm in the country?

A.--Yes.

Q.-And do you know by actual experience?

A.-That is actual experience.

We used to pay from $2 to $3

Mr. Badeley. What is the cause of that rise, in your opinion?

A.-Food has risen in price in the country too.

Q.-Has emigration got anything to do with it?

A.-No, not enough labourers emigrate from the country to make any appreci- able difference. Well, I think it must have something to do with the rise too in the country. The coolies are given to understand that they can win a little more money by emigrating abroad. That makes the coolies scarcer and they earn higher wages.

The Chairman.-What class are the coolies in Hongkong? Are they drawn from the low class in China?

A.-Yes; but do you mean the agricultural or labouring class?

Q.-The labouring and agricultural classes.

A.-Oh, particularly the agricultural classes.

( 72 )

Mr. Badeley. Fishermen?

A.-Very few of them are fishermen ; you see these ricksha and chair coolies go through special training before they can engage in that work.

Q. Do you think the sanitary regulations here have a tendency to drive up the wages?

A.-Indirectly.

Q.-If there were no restrictions as to the number of coolies sleeping in any house, would coolies not come into Hongkong in unlimited numbers?

A. That has got something to do with it. Three or four years ago each man only paid 30 cents a month for his sleeping accommodation, now he has to pay a dollar.

Q.-The accommodation is absolutely limited. There is a certain number of coolie houses and each coolie must have a certain amount of cubic feet and beyond that there is no room for

any more. Is that not so?

•

A. Yes. Before, they used to have as many as they liked on a floor. Now, they only allow ten or twelve to one floor.

WONG LAI FU declared:-

The Chairman.-Where are you Compradore?

A.-Messrs. Siemssen & Co.

Q. Where is your residence?

A.-At No. 8, Lan Kwai Fong.

Q. Where is that?

A. D'Aguilar Street.

Q. Do you employ private chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-Ricksha coolies.

Q.-How many do you employ?

A.-One.

Q.-You don't keep a private chair?

A.-No.

Q. How much per month do you pay your ricksha coolie?

A.-Seven dollars per month.

Q. What else do you give him?

A.-Fire and lodging.

Q.-About five years ago, how much did you pay?

A. The same-seven dollars.

A.-The

Q.-Have you

had the same man all these years?'

A.- No.

Q. According to what you say then, there has been no change in the rate of

A.-Well, first of all, I got a coolie for six dollars, but he remained in my

for some time, and I increased his pay to seven dollars.

pay?

service

( 73 )

-How long had this man been in your service?

A.-He was engaged by the former Compradore. He had been ten or twenty years, but he has been promoted to be office coolie.

Do you engage coolies for your masters?

A. Yes; it is part of my duty under the agreement.

Q.—Can you tell us whether, in German firms, it is usually part of the duty of the Compradore to provide coolies? Is it in his agreement to do so?

A.-I am not able to speak as to other agreements.

Q. How do you manage to get coolies for your masters?

A-Well, I just send some of the old hands to go and engage new coolies.

Q.-The old coolies that left, you mean?

A.—No, there are two or three teams-one for the taipans and others for the clerks and so on. Supposing

Supposing the taipan discharges his men then I send the coolies who are employed by the clerks out to get fresh men.

Q.-And do you get them?

A. Sometimes I get them and sometimes I can't get them.

Q.-Sometimes you take longer to get them, but you always get them. That is

what he means?

The Interpreter.-Yes.

Witness. For the last few years I have always been successful in getting them. Q.-Supposing the coolies you sent out to get new coolies did not get them, would you dismiss them ?

A.-No; we don't dismiss the old coolies if they don't succeed in getting new coolies. There is always some difficulty in getting coolies during the plague time but the masters or taipans always give me time to get private coolies.

Q. And do you, as a Chinese gentleman, think it good to have private coolies in Chinese employ registered or licensed?

A. We leave it entirely to the Government to decide that.

Q-But we want to know what your opinion is ?

A.-I don't think it is right to force them to do so. Suppose you had a licensed ricksha coolie and he went out of your service, you might not be able to get another one. Mr. Wilcox.-You say you send the remaining coolies out to look for new coolies. Do they go to their coolie kuns or lodging-houses for them?

would

A.—I think they go to the coolie houses to get them. If I send them out, they

go and get their own countrymena Chow-chau man-to come. Q.-Is there a coolie guild?

A.-No.

Q.-Nothing like a Pork Guild?

A.-I don't think so. You engage a coolie and have a spare room in the hong he sleeps in the hong: otherwise he has to go outside and sometimes pay a dollar a month. If you engage a coolie, the first thing you ask is: "Have you a place to live in?" If he says "No" then you have to pay him extra to enable him to pay his rent or lodging. If you give him lodging, then you get him a dollar cheaper.

[This concluded the sitting. It was agreed to meet again on Thursday, 26th September, at 5 p.m., when the evidence of the headman of the Peak chair coolies and of the headman of the Kowloon Godown Company's coolies would be taken.]

(74)

26th September, 1901.

الله

NG A TONG declared :-

The Chairman.-You are headman controlling the Peak public chairs aren't

A. Yes.

Q.-How many

A.-Forty.

chairs are you licensed to maintain at the Peak?

Q. How much does each chair pay to you per moon?

A.—In winter each chair pays less than in summer.

Q.-Tell us how much they pay you in summer and in winter.

you

A.—For two coolies each moon in summer $1.20 each, including rent and water

service.

Q.-In winter?

A.-Eighty cents each-two men $1.60.

Q.-Is that for the whole winter?

A.-I take seven winter months each year and five summer months.

Q.-If there is an intercalary month that will be generally a summer month, is it not ?

Mr. Badeley.-Does he reckon by moons or by English months?

A.-By moons. In summer the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth moons.

The Chairman.-Now, how much does a chair bearer make every moon? Take the summer moons and then the winter moons.

A.-I can't tell you.

Q.-You don't know how much they make after paying you?

A. After paying me, they can make eight or nine dollars.

--All the year round?

A.-No, in summer.

Q.-Well, how much do they make in winter?

A.-Between five and six dollars.

Q. Do you keep the same number of chairs there in the winter as you do in the summer?

A.-In winter I keep fewer chairs-only thirty.

Q. For the money each of the coolies pays you, do you provide him with house accommodation ?

A.--Yes.

Q.-Do you feed them also, or do they feed themselves?

A.-They feed themselves.

Q. How much does it cost them per head per inoon for food?

A. They are great eaters. I think it will cost them five or six dollars each.

( 75 )

Mr. Wilcox.--What! five or six dollars each for chow!

A. Yes.

The Chairinan.--They all eat their food together don't they?

A.-No; two or three men mess together.

Q.--And you say it costs them five or six dollars each ?

A. Yes, six dollars sometimes.

Q. How much does it cost them for clothes? Do you supply them, or do they supply their clothing themselves?

A.-They supply themselves.

Q. How much does it cost them a year?

A.--Four dollars a year for clothing.

Q.--And what do you make out then that they can make a month nett after everything is paid--their profits?

A. At the most five dollars.

Q.-That is with good luck they can clear five dollars a moon ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do you think the ever lose during the moon?

A. No, they never lose.

Q.--From what district do you get your coolies?

A.Haiphong.

Q-Is that your district?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do

you get men from your own village or your own district?

A.-I get them from my district not necessarily from the same village.

-How do you get them? Do you go yourself to fetch them or do

persons to fetch them, or how do you get hold of them?

you send

A. When a man of my district comes to Hongkong, I know that he can carry a chair, so I engage him.

Q.-Yes, but don't you go yourself into the country to get bearers?

A.-No.

Q.-Do you send men into the country to get bearers?

A.-No.

Q. Do you depend entirely on picking the men up as they come into the Colony? A. Yes. If a man comes to Hongkong and I know that he can carry a chair, I engage him on the spot.

Q. How then do you know whether he can carry a chair or not?

or bad.

The men live not far froin me in my district so I know whether he is good

Q.--How do you know whether he can carry a chair or not?

A.-The bearers in my employ inform me.

(76)

Q. Do the men ever come to you directly without your being told by your own men about them? Do they ever come to you

"We want to be chair bearers," and say: or do you always meet them through the men who are already with you?

A. The men never come direct to me, they are always recominended by the bear- ers already in my employ.

Q. When they come to Hongkong, where do they go to live?

A.-There is a Haiphong man who keeps a lodging-house in Hongkong.

Q.--Do they go to that lodging-house?

A.-There are many, not only one.

Q.-And do they go to these houses?

A. They go to the house which is nearest to them.

Q.-And do they wait there till they get employment ?

A. When they have been there for two or three days, the men in my employ in- form me that so-and-so wants leave to go home and so-and-so has just come in from the country and is staying in the lodging-house, would I mind taking him?

Q.-Have you any difficulty in getting men for forty chairs in summer and thirty in winter?

A.--It is very difficult to get men sometimes.

Q.-Have you had difficulty this summer in engaging men ?

A.-It was very hard.

Q.--Have you ever been short of men for your forty chairs?

A.--Yes, sometimes I am six or seven chairs short.

Q.--And you have not been able to keep up the full supply all summer of forty

chairs?

A.--When they have worked one month or two months they come to me and say I have been summoned by my mother, or some other relative who is ill, and I want to go home now.

Q.--Don't they go home when they themselves are ill?

A. There is very little illness with them.

Q. Do the majority of them go home because their mother is ill?

A.-Sent for by their wives too.

Q.-What wages do your district men get in their own district? come to Hongkong what money can they make a month?

Before they

A.—I don't know. I left my country when I was 21 years of age. I don't know much about it now.

Q.--How old are you now?

A.-Forty-six.

Q.-Do your countrymen become private chair coolies ?

A.-It is very hard to be a private chair coolie until they have got their feet well trained.

Q.-But do they ever become private chair coolies?

A. Yes, there are several who are private chair coolies.

( 77 )

Q.-Do they prefer to be private coolies or public coolies?

A. When they know how to carry a private chair they prefer to carry a private chair.

-What is the difference between learning to carry a private chair and learning to carry a public chair?

A. Suppose two men carry a private chair, one of them must know the way, the roads and streets of Hongkong and the residents. He can't become a private chair coolie unless he understands what his master tells him to do. He must understand to take chits for his master, how to work for his master and he must know the times when he is wanted.

Q.-You think that is the reason then why they don't become private chair coolies ?

them.

A. They don't know how to carry a private chair, therefore the master dislikes

-That I can't understand because, if a man can carry a public chair, it seems to me that he can carry a private chair so far as carrying goes.

—

A. It is very hard to be a private chair coolie because the table boy comes and tells the chair coolie that master wants the chair at such and such time, and often it happens to be when they are taking their chow. They have to leave their chow then to attend to master.

you

Q.-You say you get your coolies from your native district, do

you think could supply chair and ricksha coolies to the non-Chinese community of Hongkong?

A.-I could not supply all.

Q.-How many could you supply, do you think?

A.--I can't supply all, but, if some high official of this Colony wants to engage a private coolie he can instruct the Captain Superintendent of Police, and I think I could supply six, or seven, or eight to him.

Q.-Do you think you could supply as many as 500 ? Don't you think that if you went back into your own country and told your people there that there was good employment in Hongkong for 500 chair and ricksha coolies at wages of $8 a month and lodging thrown in as well and private coolie clothes from their masters, don't you think they would soon come if they knew about the chance?

A. There is very little population in my district.

Q.-But 500 men would come away, would they not, if they got better wages than they were getting at home?

A.-In other villages which are more populous they might.

Q-I am talking about your district, not your village.

A.-It is a very small district.

Q.-There are 350,000,000 Chinese ?

A. When they are willing to come to Hongkong, their parents try to stop them, and when they are not willing their parents stop them.

Q. Do you say parents and relatives stop coolies from coming to Hongkong?

A. When they are willing and anxious to come, their parents can't stop them. I was informed by a coolie that so-and-so wanted to come to Hongkong with him but was stopped by his wife.

( 78 )

wages?

-But why does the wife stop him, when the man can come here and get better

A. Unless he is very economical he would spend all the money he earns in Hongkong.

Q.-Amongst the coolies at the Peak under your control, are there any who have been private chair coolies? Do private chair coolies come to you ?

A.-Very few come, about a dozen.

Q.-A dozen a year?

A.-Every season. My season is six months.

Q.--Why do they come to you? Why do they give up being private chair coolies? A. They come to me and say: "My legs are not strong enough to carry my master's chair."

Q.-Have any of your coolies left you to become cargo or godown coolies?

A.-No.

Q.--Have any of your chair coolies left you to become coal coolies?

A.-No.

Q. Are men who are coal and cargo coolies quite distinct froin men who are chair coolies ?

A.--Quite distinct.

Q. In what way do you mean? Do you mean to tell me that a cargo or coal coolie does not become a chair coolie or a chair coolie does not become a cargo coolie? Is it your general knowledge that the chair bearer when he is not fit to be a bearer longer, goes straight home?

A. They don't go into another business.

Mr. Wilcox. You say that in summer the coolies make seven or eight dollars. Do they never make more than that?

...

A. Yes, they can make more than six or seven dollars sometimes.

Q.-But you said seven or eight. In winter you say-

A.---In winter, after deducting their expenses, they make four dollars nett profit.

Q. Do you know anything about coolie guilds ?

A.-I don't know much about them.

The Chairman.-How much do you

know?

A.-The only men I know are my own bearers at the Peak.

Mr. Wilcox.--What do you know about associations or guilds? are there

A.-My coolies at the Peak do not belong to any guild or association.

Q.- -What subscription do they pay to the lodging-house headman then?

A.-Seventy cents every man.

any?

The Chairman.-Supposing they lived with you the whole moon and didn't go to live in the down town coolie house?

A.-Twenty cents then each man.

Mr. Wilcox. That then is their subscription? Now what does this money go for? When they are not living there what is the twenty cents used for?

(79)

When they are ill up at the Peak, if they want to come down, they can come down and live at the boarding house. There is a place there for them to boil medicines.

The Chairman. It is a contribution towards a sort of benevolent society.

Mr. Badeley. How long have you been running this business?

A. Since there was a tramway from the Peak.

Q.-That is about twelve years is it not?

A,-I don't know how long it is.

Q.-Were you an ordinary chair coolie at that time, or have you always been a head chair coolie man?

A. When I was 21 years old I came to Yaumati and worked there as a boatman, then I left the boat and worked at Samsuipo for six years as a lime burner. After I left the lime kiln, I worked a few years at Wing Sing street selling eggs. A man by name Lum Kam, came to me one day and said: "You have a little money, I know. You can come up to the Peak with me.' General Gordon said to Lum Kam: "Make

a start at the Peak with eight chairs."

Q.-There were no chairs there at the time?

A.-No, there were no chairs at that time.

Q.-You have never been a chair coolie at the Peak yourself?

A.-No.

Q.-Nor a ricksha coolie at any time?

A.-No.

Q.-You have sometimes got coolies for Captain May and his friends-private coolies-have you not?

A. If Captain May asked me to get some coolies for him I engaged them for him.

Q. Where did you get them for him?

A. If he is my fellow villager and he is a good man and has never been a thief and can do things properly, then I engage him.

Q.-Have you ever engaged them from among the men you are employing at the Peak, or do you get them from outside?

A. From outside.

Q. Which is the hardest day's work-the private chair coolie or the public chair coolie ?

A.-I think the public chair coolie because they want to earn more money, so they do more work.

Q.-A private coolie has an easier job, but you seemed to suggest to us before that a private chair coolie had the hardest job. What do you mean by that? You told us before that men left private employ and became public chair coolies because they could not carry their masters.

A.-A private coolie is bound to carry so many times a day whether he is weak or strong, but a street coolie can do as he likes.

Q. When they don't feel up to it they can lie off ?

A. Yes.

( 80 )

The Chairman.-Does a public ricksha coolie make more money than a public chair coolie ?

A. The public ricksha coolie makes more.

Q. Do your men pay you at the end of the moon or at the beginning of the moon? A. They pay me once a month.

Mr. Badeley. Do all the chairs belong to you?

A. All belong to me; some partners too.

Have you any system of fining if they damage a chair?

A.-No, I repair it myself.

Q.-Sometimes when Captain May asked you to get a private coolie for him had you any difficulty?

A. It was very hard.

hard. I had to get very good men for him.

NGAN WING CHI declared:-

The Chairman.-What do you do ?

A. Formerly, I was head coolie to the Kowloon Godown Company.

Q.And what do you do now?

A. I am head coolie to Jardine's Sugar Refinery, head coolie to the Tsimshatsui Godowns and headman of the Kowloon licensed ricksha coolies.

Mr. Badeley. Do you mean that you hold the licences?

A. Yes.

The Chairman. You are licensee of the Kowloon rickshas?

A.-Kwai Fuk and I are the joint licensees of the Kowloon rickshas.

Q.--And in addition to that you are head coolie at Jardine's Sugar Refinery?

A. Yes.

Q.-And you are also head coolie to the Hongkong an! Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company?

A. Yes.

Q-What do you mean by being head coolie; what are your duties?

A. My master asks me to go to Chu-chau to engage men to come to the Colony

to work.

That is for Jardine's and the Godowns ?

A. The manager of Messrs. Jardine & Matheson, and Mr. Osborne, of the Go- downs, ask me to do this.

Q.-I take it that your principal business is to engage coolies for the Godown Company and for the Sugar Refinery?

A. Yes.

Q. How many coolies are employed at Jardine's Sugar Refinery? A.-There are many coolies employed there-Chu-chau men 1,000.

( 81 )

Q.-Do

you engage

all these Chu-chau men?

A.-No, they are engaged by different men.

Q.-How many have you engaged?

A. A hundred.

Q.-Is that all ?

A. Yes, that is all.

-There are other headmen then who engage the other coolies at Jardine's?

A. Yes.

Q. Can you give us the names of those men who engage the other coolies ? A.--An Englishman from Jardine's.

Q-You say you are one head coolie and that there are others. We want to know the names of the other head coolies..

A. One is Woo Ying Fo, another is Cheng Tai Yau. There are three head coolies only. All the rest are job labourers by the day.

Q. Coming to the Kowloon Godowns, are you the only man who engages coolies for the Kowloon Godowns, or are there others besides you?

men.

A. There are four coolie-houses. Formerly, I was the man who engaged all the

-Now there are how many on the job?

A. Now I sublet to four of my subordinates to look after.

Q.-You are responsible to the Godown Company?

A. Yes, I am responsible.

Q.-And how many coolies are engaged there regularly?

A. About 500.

----

-And these have been engaged by you ?

A.-My subordinates engaged them.

-You and your subordinates?

A. Yes.

Q.--Where do you get these coolies from for the Godowns and Jardine's ?

A.-I get them from Swatow and Chu-chau, not far from Swatow.

--That is up the river-Chu-chau-fu?

A.-That is one of the districts.

Q.-How do you get them? Do you go there to fetch them, or do you send emissaries to get them or do you wait till they come here?

A. Each band of coolies consists of 25.

Q. Do you go and get the coolies yourself, or do you send up to Chu-chau and Swatow to get them ?

A.-My brother went.

--Do you go yourself?

A.-Formerly, I used to go once a year. Now, I don't go at all.

Q-Well, who does go now?

A.-My subordinates.

( 82 )

Q.--And how many of them do you send up on that job?

A. Three or four.

Q. Do you send them at fixed times of the year?

A.-No.

Q. Whenever you want coolies, you send for them, do

you

A. Yes.

Q. And you get them therefore direct from the country? You don't wait till they come to Hongkong?

A.-No, I get them direct from the country.

Q.-Have you any difficulty in getting them?

A.-1 get some of the elders together, and guarantee that when they (the coolies) come to Hongkong I will not allow them to gamble or to go to bad houses.

Q.-Is that the only difficulty in the way? Having satisfied the elders on these points, have you any difficulty in getting the men?

A.-Besides that, I deduct half of his wages to send home to his relatives or his

parents.

Q. When you have guaranteed that they shall neither gamble nor whore and that they shall remit half of their wages home, have you any more difficulties in the way?

A. No other difficulties.

Q.-Having given that guarantee, the elders are satisfied and the men are allowed to go?

A. Yes.

---

Q.-Do

you provide the coolies you get with lodging?

A-Yes. I rent houses for them and I pay the rent.

Q.-Is that for Jardine's coolies as well as for the Godown coolies ?

A.-The Godown coolies are supplied with quarters.

Q.-But Jardine's coolies have to be provided with quarters outside, is that so?

A. Yes.

-Who feeds these coolies ?

A. -They mess together, and, at the end of the month, the expense is equally divided.

Q.-Who pays the expenses ?

A.-I, as being the head, pay them.

Q.-How much do the Godown coolies pay you a month for their rent and food?

A.-Formerly $8, now $10.

Q.-For food and rent each man pays you ten dollars?

A.-No, ten dollars is wages from the manager.

Q.-I am asking you how much the coolies pay you for house and food.

A. Sometimes $5, sometimes a little more.

( 83 )

Q. -What wages do the coolies receive from the Godown Company and from Jardine's gross wages?

A.-Jardine's wages vary.

Q.--Is it monthly pay or daily?

A.-Monthly pay,

Q.-It varies, you say. Give us the range from what to what?

A.-Eight, nine, ten, and twelve dollars.

Q.-At the Godown then, do they all get the same rate of pay or do they get different rates?

A.--Eight, nine and ten dollars.

Q. Any higher than ten dollars ?

A.--Forty men are now being paid by the manager to pile up goods in the Go- down. They each get twelve dollars a month.

it ?

Q.-That is a special job?

A.--Yes.

Q.-Do you find that public ricksha coolies become Godown coolies?

A. Yes, when they have got the strength.

Q.-If he has got the strength he will leave the ricksha and go to you, is that

A.-I am head coolie of different establishments, so I examine them once every three months. There are first class, second class and third class.

Mr. Badeley.

That is for the eight, nine and ten dollars, is it?

A. Yes. First class gets eight dollars, second class nine dollars, and third class ten dollars.

The Chairman.-Your answer to my question was that public ricksha coolies did leave the ricksha employ and go to the Godowns. Do they come to you asking for employment or do you go to them and tell them you have got employment for them?

A. They come to me.

Q. And do other coolies do the same thing?

A. Yes.

Q-Why do they do it? Is the pay in Jardine's and in the Godowns better than the earnings of the chair and ricksha coolie?

A. In whichever line of business they can make most money, they go.

Q.-They have a try. Do they frequently leave?

A. When they have not fulfilled the contract, they are not allowed to go. When they fulfil their contract, they go.

Q.-Having once gone to the Godown and Sugar work, do the ricksha and chair coolies tire of it and go back to their original occupation?

A. Yes.

Q. Is that frequently done?

A. It is frequently done.

(84)

Q.-Dọ you think you could supply private chair and ricksha coolies to the non- Chinese population of Hongkong?

A. If your Honour can protect me, I think I can.

Q. What do you mean by being protected?

A.-In Hongkong, I have been helping Captain May and Inspector Hanson for over ten years. The members of the Triad Society are very numerous. My plan is that when you want to engage a private ricksha coolie or private chair coolie, you have his photo. taken. If he refuses to have it taken, then banish him from the Colony.

Q.-Before he goes into private employ ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do you think you could supply private chair and ricksha coolies to the Euro- pean community?

A. If your Honour wants me to do it then I will engage between ten and twenty subordinates to help me.

Q.-And you think you could do it?

A.--If your Honour is so kind to me I think I could do it properly.

Q.-And do you think you

could do it all right?

A. Yes. I would do it to the best of my energy.

Q.-And do you think you could do it successfully?

A. Yes, a man of my experience could do it successfully.

Q.-Could you give us an outline of your scheme?

A. There are 23 rickshamakers' shops in Hongkong and they can make 500 rickshas a year.

When the new rickshas are issued, the old rickshas are condemned and sold by auction. A coolie can buy one of these old rickshas for three dollars, and when he leaves his master's employ, he asks him for a recommendation or certificate and then goes on the street and plies for hire. When he is arrested, he says: "No, I am a private coolie. I am not plying for hire." When this kind of business can be stopped, the coolie has got no other business to look for and he is bound to go

into private employ.

Q. What you mean is that a private coolie can buy up a disused public ricksha and can paint it up to look like a private ricksha and then goes on the street with it ?

A. Yes.

Q.-You said just now that you thought you could provide private chair and ricksha coolics. How do you think you can get them? How many could you provide? Do

you think you could supply the non-Chinese community of Hongkong with 1,000 ricksha and chair coolies?

A. Yes.

-You could do it?

A. Yes. I can do at least 1,000.

you think you could

could get? Suppos-

The Chairman.-What is the largest number ing we were to put the whole thing into one man's hands and you were that man, how many coolies do you think could get ? Do

you

you think you

A. One thousand I think I can get easily.

could supply the Colony?

( 85 )

Q.-Could you

you supply the whole of the non-Chinese community with private chair and ricksha coolies ?

A. I would want some one to help me. I have counted them. There are 2,700. Q. Could you provide that number?

A. I don't think I can. Some of them are Puntis, some of them Haifong and other districts.

Q. Could you not get some of your own men-Swatow and Chu-chau men?

I have always 1,000 men with me.

Q. What do you mean by that?

Of fresh men, I think I can only get 1,000.

Supposing the whole job of providing private chair and ricksha coolies were placed in your hands, and nobody else allowed to do it, do you think you could provide the whole of them? Would not the present coolies come to you?

A. If you allow me to do certain things, I think I could do it.

-What would be your terms, and what would you want to do before making any promise?

home.

A-The first thing is that plague patients are to be treated in ny house or at

If any of your coolies contracted plague, you say they would have to be treat- ed in your quarters?

A. Yes. Ask the Government to provide a piece of ground and build a mat-

shed there.

Q.-I see.

They might be put into a place like that which they had at the Kow- loon Godown. What is the second thing?

A. The second thing is that when they come to be employed by me they shall have their photos. taken and when they are found to be of bad character, deport them. A third thing I would ask your Honour to abolish is the private chair coolie guild.

The Chairman (to Interpreter).—He doesn't say that. The third point is that he wants the monopoly taken from the man who is running the public chair coolies at the Peak. Give us the third thing again.

A. At the Peak, the public chair coolies have formed a private society or guild.

Q.-What do you want done with that?

A. Some time ago I was asked to engage twenty men to go to the Peak but the man at the Peak said to me: "You are not a member of the Guild, if you come here you will be beaten."

Q. Is that a private chair man or a public chair man?

A. The headman of the coolies. I told Inspector Hanson about it.

Q. What would you do next?

A. When their photos. are once taken, they are not to be allowed to run an unre- gistered ricksha should they leave their master.

Q.-What next?

A. According to the Hongkong regulations, there should only be two men for each ricksba, but now five or six men are on the same ricksha, by day running from 8

( 86 )

a.m. to 4 p.m., and by night running from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. According to the Hong- kong regulations, the times for each coolie should be fixed in this way.

-That is the regulation, but what happens?

A. Two persons run one ricksha, but supposing I don't want to run to-day, I sell the day to another man.

Q. By mentioning that, do you mean that that system of more than two men running one ricksha stops them from going to private employ?

A. Yes.

Q. What is the next point?

A. When once employed by one gentleman, the coolie is not to be allowed to be taken on by another gentleman. Another point, I would ask your Honour to raise the wages a little bit.

Q.--What wages would you charge if

you supplied these men ?

A. First class eleven dollars, second class ten, third class nine.

-You divide them into three classes ?

A. The difference in money encourages them.

The Chairman (to Interpreter).—He said something about according to the amount of work they did.

www.w

The Interpreter. When they first go into service they should be allowed nine dollars and, when they work better, promote them to second class, and raise their wages to ten dollars.

Q.--We think that is a bit high. We think it would be much better if they did not get so much. It is higher than the present rate and, if you had control of all of the coolies, you could make a good thing of it and not charge so much, couldn't you? Although the price of food has risen, nevertheless we think that the prices that you mention are too high.

Witness. Five dollars for food and they perhaps have a wife and children to keep in the country.

rent to pay. Private employers give

Leave the rent out of the matter.

strong enough for the kind of work.

Q.-Yes, we know that, but they have no them quarters. Why don't you take a bit off?

A.-I can get cheaper men but they are not

Q.-If

If they are strong enough for godown work, they are strong enough for the work of a private chair or ricksha coolie.

A.—A private ricksha coolie must be a very young and strong man before he can do the work, because he can make five or six dollars a month up in Chu-chau.

Q. What at ?

A. As a farm hand.

Q.-Nine, ten and eleven dollars are a bit stiff, I think.

A. For my own part I can take a little less, but I don't think I can get better men unless the wages are better.

Q-But ten dollars is about the highest that is being paid now?

A.-No, twelve and thirteen dollars.

The Chairman. We have not heard of any at that figure.

(87)

Mr. Wilcox. We have only heard of one person, a doctor, paying eleven dollars. That is the highest.

ning.

The Chairman. The average is about eight-and-a-half.

Witness. That is a reason why they come out to take the rest of the ricksha run-

Q.-What is the reason?

A. If they can get an unregistered ricksha to take a man down to Jardine's Bazaar, they take it.

$11?

Q.-Yes, but the average wages is $8.50 just now, and why do you want it up to

Does

Mr. Badeley. What he says is that the wages just now are inadequate. he mean to say that the wages they are paid as private chair coolies are not enough to live on ?

A. Yes.

The Chairman. That is absurd. I pay my coolies a good deal less than you want, and they live perfectly happy.

rent.

Mr. Wilcox.-Private coolies get their quarters and they don't have to pay any

Witness.-I know that.

The Chairman.--Tell him that we think nine, ten and eleven dollars is too high.

Witness. If I promise to take it on any cheaper, I can't get better men from Chu- chau. Good men would not come.

Q.-If the whole thing were in your hands, there should be no difficulty at all?

A. I want to get good men.

Q.-Exactly; we all want good men, but surely we can get good men without paying all that for them?

A. Formerly food cost two and three dollars a month, now it is five dollars. Q.-But the rise in wages has covered that?

A.-If I can't get such wages as I ask, and I go home to get men, the elders will say to them: "Better stay at home. There is no use going to Hongkong to work so hard for so little."

The Chairman. Ask him if he will give us a memorandum in Chinese showing us the whole of his scheme. We will have it translated, and tell him that his scale of wages should come down to at least eight, nine, and ten dollars a month.

Witness.-I ask your Honour to let Ngan Sung help me to draw up this scheme.

Mr. Badeley. You can come up to my office if you like.

The Chairman.-We will give him all the help we can.

Mr. Wilcox.-What steps are taken to keep up wages in Hongkong of coolies generally?

wages

A.—Which kind of coolie do you mean?

Mr. Wilcox. Any coolie-cargo coolies or chair coolies.

The Chairman.-Put it this way.. Is there anything to prevent them raising the

? Is there any society or combination for raising the wages?

A.-Last year they had, but not this year.

( 88 )

Mr. Wilcox.-Well, what did they do?

A.-I think it still exists, but I am not quite sure.

Some time ago I was to rent

a piece of ground centrally in Queen's Road East to build coolie quarters on-

The Chairman.-He is not answering the question.

Witness.Many head coolies combined because they are under guarantee. They are members of the Triad Society.

Mr. Wilcox.--And do they keep coolies from coming into the Colony?

A. Yes, but not in this way.

Q-Well, how do they manage?

A.--If I come from Chu-chau and I am not a member of the Triad Society, I am not allowed to be admitted. I can't live in Hongkong. If they once get into the Triad Society and are found out by the Police, they are arrested. If they can't get into the Society in Hongkong, they can't live here peacefully. The members will strike them, so they choose not to come.

Mr. Badeley. How is it that people who are members of the Triad Society dare to come here if the Police are so formidable ?

A.-Formerly not many were deported, so they dared to come.

Mr. Wilcox.-Very few have been banished lately, so they are not afraid to come?

A.-No.

Mr. Badeley. That is not what he says. He means something about a raid having been made upon Triad people lately.

Mr. Wilcox.He says that if a man doesn't belong to the Triad Society he can't get employment as a coolie. Are there not plenty of coolies who would come to Hongkong if they could come and take up employment here?

A.-That is right. If they could come, they would.

Q.-There are a great number of coolies who would come from the country to get employment here, but they are afraid to come on account of the Triad Society?

A. Yes.

Q.-Is there any other combination or society?

A.-No other combination.

Q.- -Do not the lodging-house keepers and these kuns also prevent them from coming?

A.- No.

Mr. Badeley. Why should the Triad Society want to keep other coolies out of the Colony? What do they gain by that move?

A. Because they look upon them as not being members of the guild.

Q.-What is the object of the Triad Society? Never mind their nominal or political objects. What are their real objects in Hongkong?

A.-In China, they wish to raise a rebellion.

Q.-Yes, I know that, but what do they want to do here?

A.-I don't know their object-to get more members, I suppose.

Q. And what are they going to do? Supposing every coolie in Hongkong was a member of the Triad Society what would they do then? What are their objects in

(89)

Hongkong? Are their objects economical or political? Is it an organization to keep up wages? Is that one of its objects?

A.-I don't understand you.

Q.-Do they try to keep men out of the Colony? Providing newcomers were willing to enter the Society, would they welcome as many as ever liked to come, or do they try to keep the coolies away, to keep the numbers down and keep the prices up ?

A.-I don't know. They say, when a newcomer arrives in Hongkong, that he must enter the Society or he will be beaten.

Q.-And do the coolies who come to Hongkong enter, as a rule?

A. Yes, as a rule.

Q.-Have you known of any cases of Chinese being beaten ?

A.-Some of my fokis have been beaten over ten times.

Q. What do you mean by your fokis?

A.-Coolies engaged by me from Chu-chau.

Q.-They have been beaten by other coolies because they are not Triads?

A. Yes, because they are not Triads.

Q.-You pay your men in the Kowloon Godowns eight, nine and ten dollars according to class?

A.--Yes.

Q. How do you classify them? Do they begin at eight dollars and then get promoted to nine dollars and then to ten, or is it according as they work?

A. According to the amount of work they are capable of. If he is lazy, he only gets eight dollars. If he works hard, he will get nine and ten.

Q.-You send half their wages home to their parents?

A. Yes.

Q. Well, if a man was getting eight dollars and you send four of this to his family in the country, you only pay him four dollars?

A. Yes.

Q-But then he has only four dollars to live on, whereas you told us it cost him five or six dollars for food. How does he live ? Is it on minus a dollar a month?

extra.

A.-They work in the night time.

Q.-They do extra work?

A. Yes.

Q.-Then they can earn extra wages ?

A. If they work from seven to twelve o'clock of a night, they get twenty cents

Q.-Do most of them work this overtime ?

A. Yes, twenty days out of the thirty each month.

-You say you get them under contract. Are they bound to serve you a certain number of years?

A. Yes. The elders in the village agree to let them come down to me for so many years.

Q.-For how many years?

( 90 )

A. Some six months; some one year.

The Chairman.-Any of them longer than a year?

A. After one year they can do what they like.

Mr. Badeley. And do they ever go away to do other work before they have served their full year or six months?

A. If they leave my service within the contract time, I will go home and ask the elders to return the passage money I paid for him.

Q.-

-And has such a thing ever occurred?

A. Yes.

Q. And have the elders paid ?

A. Yes.

Q.-And the coolies that you employ for the rickshas, where do you get them

from?

A.-From Chu-chau and Swatow.

-Do you send to Chu-chau and Swatow to engage them, or do you engage them as they come into the Colony?

A.-I

A. I send my men up there to engage them.

Q. Are they under contract to you ?

A. Six months' contract.

Q.-And after the six months are up, what do they do? Do they go home to their country, or keep on working for you ?

A.-Most of them continue with me.

Q-Because they like to?

A. Formerly they liked to continue, but not now.

to leave.

Q.-Why?

After six months they want

A. Because over ten men have died because they had a long journey to run from Kowloon to Shatin. The journey over the new road kills them, and when they get home, they spit blood.

-So they don't like the new road?

Q.-

A.-No.

-And have you any difficulty in getting coolies for that job?

A. Yes. I have difficulty now in getting them. I have more than ten rickshas still that I could not get men for. Formerly the ricksha went as far as the five mile- post. Now it is going as far as the number eleven mile-post.

Mr. Wilcox. And they can't run such distances?

A.-No.

Mr. Badeley. Not even with three coolies?

A.—No, because they have to run for three hours, and they get no breath.

Q.-You are going to have all or some of the extra 300 rickshas that are to be put on, are you not?

A. Yes, all are to be given to me.

•

the

( 91 )

Q-How are you going to get coolies for them?

A.-I have got 600 men already.

Q.-Where from?

A.-Swatow and Chu-chau.

Q.-Under contract?

A.-Not under contract as yet.

Q-But will there be any contract?

A.-When the rickshas have been issued, then they will sign a contract before the

elders.

Q.-For how long?

A.-Most of them will be for six months.

Q. How are you going to treat them? Will they pay you so much a day for the use of the ricksha, or will you pay them wages?

A.-They pay me so much a day for the use of the ricksha, and I let them have free quarters.

Q.-You are to provide the quarters ? A.-Ten rickshas require twenty men. men and they will all live on one floor or flat.

There will be a headman to each twenty

Was it very easy

Q-Had you any difficulty in getting these 600 men? A.—I had much difficulty this time. I had to give many dinner parties to the elders before I could get many of them to come.

Q. But surely the ricksha coolies make a lot of money. I should have thought it would have been very easy to get them to come?

A. The rickshas are too many now.

Q. Do you think they will make less or more?

A. They will make less.

Mr. Wilcox. The traffic is increasing all the time.

The Chairman.-There are more passengers. The Colony is growing every day. Witness. The rickshas have increased by more than half. The passengers have not increased by the same proportion.

Mr. Badeley.-How much does a public ricksha coolie make?

A.-Over ten dollars. If he is a diligent man, he can make fifteen. If he is a lazy man he can only make seven or eight dollars.

Q. -Do they make more money in some parts of the town than others? Are there certain men who have acquired a right to certain stands? Do certain men monopolise certain stands ?

A.-Not now. After I draw up this scheme they are only to run-

Q. I am not talking about your scheme at present, but what you know of the general conditions prevailing.

A. Those who stand at the Central Market belong to the Fook Yi Hing Com- pany, those who stand by No. 5 Police Station belong to the Man On Company. Now they can make more money in West Point than they can in Wanchai. Some nights they can't get passengers in Wanchai, but in West Point you can get many.

[This concluded the sitting, and the Commission adjourned sine die.]

( 92 )

4th October, 1901.

WILLIAM JOSHUA SAUNDERS sworn:

The Chairman. You are Secretary of the Union Insurance Society of Canton, are you not?

A.-I am.

Q.—And have you been in the Colony since 1885 or 1886 ?

A. Since 1886.

Q.-We asked you to come here to-day because we wanted to know your views on two points; first, as to the advisability of registering or licensing private chair and ricksha coolies, and, secondly, on a somewhat debated point as to whether, in the event of registration being enforced, it should be made penal for a master to engage unlicensed or unregistered private chair or ricksha coolies. Now, in answer to the Circular of questions which we sent out, I think you stated that you had no difficulty in procuring private coolies?

A. I have never had any difficulty.

Q.-And have you had any difficulty in retaining them?

A. Whenever a coolie wanted to go I let him. I never tried to retain a coolie against his will.

Q.-Have

A.--None.

you had

any difficulty, when they went away, in replacing them?

Q.--How did you effect the replacing?

A.--I told my boy to get another coolie.

Q. -And he invariably succeeded?

A.--I think on certain occasions it has been one or two days before he got one.

Q. How do you procure your coolies as a rule?

A.-I generally procure them through the boy. Occasionally I have had to get

a new set because they all went away.

-Have you a Compradore?

A. We have an office Compradore.

Q. Do you ever apply to him for coolies?

A.-I have never had to go to him for coolies.

Q. Are you in favour of the registering or licensing of private chair and ricksha coolies?

A.-As far as I am concerned, at present, I am quite against it.

Q.-Will you give us your reasons for that?

A.--I know nothing about what the result of previous registration of servants has been here, but it is objectionable as being an interference with the liberty of contract. If it had been a paying thing it would have been done in England. Everybody wants to get their servants under their control. You may have evidence to show that it has paid in other places.

The Chairman. We have before us an Ordinance in force in Ceylon, dated from the '70s, for the registration of domestic servants only. Of course we all know there

( 93 )

was an Ordinance for the the registration of domestic servants in this Colony from 1866 to 1888. It was repealed in 1888, having fallen through for various reasons.

Witness.-It was not carried out.

The Chairman.-One main reason probably was the fact that the servants were not photographed.

Witness. I am not against registration if there is any particular reason shown me that it will pay.

The Chairman.-With regard to public chair and ricksha coolies, these are licensed, and only licensed men may ply for hire. It has been a success with them.

•

Witness. It is almost necessary with them is it not?

The Chairman.—Why should it not be successful in regard to private chair and ricksha coolies ?

A. Has it been successful as far as public chair and ricksha coolies go ? We are not very well served.

Q.-We are not absolutely well served, but it seems to me that, with a system of photography, registration is the best thing to be done.

A. A great many of them are absolutely unfit and have often to put you down lest they should die in the shafts.

Q-Cargo boat people are licensed, are they not?

A.-Cargo boat people are not registered themselves. Their boats are registered,

I hear.

Q.-The boat is registered and the owner of the boat is licensed.

A. The coolies working on board are not registered. There is nothing to prevent them having unregistered coolies.

well.

Mr. Wilcox. The registration of coxswains and engineers has acted extremely

Witness.-I don't know anything against registration. It is an experiment that, I should think, is bound to fail.

The Chairman.-In other matters it has not. I am pointing out that there has been licensing of owners of cargo boats, owners of sampans, of hawkers, and also of launch engineers and various other people, and, so far as we know, it is a system that suits the Chinese and has not proved a failure. So, from that, it is quite possible, we think, to have a system of registration of private chair and ricksha coolies. It may be of some use at any rate, even if it does not attain all the objects we would like. You said just now that probably it would be an interference with the liberty of contract. Take the case of the cargo boat and sampan people, doesn't the same objec- tion apply there? I am talking of the registration of the people simply.

A.-It seems to me that outside coolies would be better not to be registered and therefore unlimited in supply.

Q. Do you think that a system of registration worked by the Police would give the Police some control over the men ?

A.-I never felt that I wanted a policeman to have any control over my coolies.

Q.-There is a general feeling in the Colony, and I have no doubt about it, that some sort of control should be exercised. Certain individuals may not think that, but throughout the Colony, there is a feeling that greater control should be exercised.

A.-As far as I am personally concerned, I don't want any control.

don't

( 94 )

Q.-Assuming that other people are desirous that there should be better control, you think a system of registration worked by the Police would give more control?

A.-I have no doubt it would.

Q.-And if such control is wanted, don't you think it is desirable that it should be obtained?

A. As far as I am concerned, no; certainly not.

Q. What I mean is this: if there is a general feeling in the Colony that some such control ought to be had, don't you think it would be desirable that some means should be instituted to effect such control?

A.--I think it would be a very dangerous experiment indeed. It has often been tried to keep labour under control and it has failed, as I know. It is an interference with liberty and, if you fail in your experiment, you are in a weaker position ever afterwards.

Mr. Wilcox. As far as my experience of the old Ordinance is concerned, there was no difficulty with the coolies, but registration was allowed to become voluntary instead of being made compulsory, and unless such an Ordinance is made compulsory, it cannot have any effect.

The Chairman. But admitting that everything that has taken place in the past has been more or less a failure, we think we can see our way by different means to prevent a repetition of such failure.

A. I think, if you succeed, that control will be desirable, but I also think that all experiments interfering with fundamental principles are dangerous.

-You say it is dangerous because, in the event of failure, the position may be worse afterwards than before?

A.--I think so. There is a limited amount of these people and, if you weed them out, there will be an insufficient supply.

Q.-Don't you think that, if a certificate of registration were issued and kept by the master who could endorse a coolie's character on it, this would give masters better control over their coolies?

A.—I don't wish masters to have any more control over their coolies than they have already got.

Q.-Your opinion is a personal one?

A. And I object to certain people that I know being able to endorse bad charac- ters on certificates of registration.

Q. Any person who endorses a false character on a certificate would be liable to a libel action by the coolie, wouldn't he?

A. I don't know that the coolie would know that.

The Chairman.—I think the coolies in Hongkong know pretty well what their rights are in the Colony. I don't think there is a doubt that they would bring an action.

Witness. I don't think the average employer is fit to endorse a coolie's certificate. A lot of people I know do not treat their coolies in a proper way, and if they hit their coolie over the head and he goes away, they would endorse his certificate.

The Chairman. The coolie under such circumstances has always redress against such a man and is pretty quick to take the opportunity. In fact the feeling here is that no one must touch a coolie, for he knows his rights.

Witness.--I should like to have an opportunity of sacking my coolie if necessary without giving him a month's warning, and he could leave me without giving me a

•

( 95 )

month's warning. My usual reason for sacking him would be if he was not strong enough to carry me.

The Chairman.-Don't you see that you could make an arrangement with your coolie whereby he could take a day's notice, and, moreover, if he absented himself with- out leave or disobeyed a lawful order, you could dismiss him on the spot?

Witness.-Probably with a month's wages.

The Chairman.—I think you could arrange with him when you engaged him to give him a fixed notice. Take him on trial, say, for a week. You could always get over the difficulty that way.

Witness. When the coolie says his mother is dead and country, how are you to make him give a month's notice?

he wants to go to the You can't insist upon

a month's notice. If the coolie really does go back to the country that would be

a reasonable ground for giving up the month's notice.

The Chairman. If he is not able to prove it, you could keep his registration ticket till his return. In the meantime he would be on leave of absence.

Witness.--I think you want to be clearly certain that you will effect the objects and not experiment. I am against experimenting.

The Chairman.-If everybody were as satisfied as you are, this Commission would never have been appointed, but the ground of the appointment of the Commission is that there have been many and frequent complaints that there is something lacking in our methods of controlling private chair and ricksha coolies, to remedy which an attempt must be made, and that is the object of this Commission.

Witness.Is not the same thing lacking everywhere? Even at Home, servants are not what employers want them to be.

The Chairman.--We quite agree that the servant question is an acute question at Home, but we think that we might introduce legislation out here to deal with the ques- tion. The Chinese require to be dealt with in a peculiar way, and we might suggest certain effective means of removing or minimising the present trouble. Leaving the question of registration and whether it is desirable or not, I understand that you are strongly opposed to masters who employ unregistered coolies being liable to a fine. The question is whether they are willing to take a little trouble in the matter and to look at it from this point of view: "Well, it is a bit of trouble to us, but having regard to the general advantage of the community, is it not as well that we should put ourselves to a little personal inconvenience to help the majority?" On that point you ask whether everybody was not opposed to being fined? We sent out to the public a series of questions and in answer to question No. 6, we had a return of 76 persons who were in favour of a penalty being inflicted, 24 persons who were opposed to this, and 26 who agreed conditionally. The condition generally was to the effect that they agreed if we could guarantee a constant supply of coolies. So, from these answers, it seems that the large majority of 76 state that they are in favour of the idea, and would be willing to be liable to punishment if they engaged unregistered coolies.

Witness. Because they thought that otherwise they would not have registration. They don't want to be fined.

The Chairman.-They think that the system would not be complete without this. Witness.-If you want registration, I think it is necessary to fine people for employing unregistered servants.

The Chairman.-I take it that your answer is that, if registration is introduced, then you think, in order to give perfect effect to that registration, it must be made penal for the master to employ unregistered or unlicensed coolies? That is your view?

( 96 )

Witness. No. I have no means of judging.

The Chairman.-I say, assume that registration came to pass ?

Witness. I don't think it is necessary to assume.

Q.-Suppose that registration is introduced, I suppose that you will admit that it must be universally carried out or not at all, in order to be of any use?

A. All coolies must be registered of course.

Q.-If registration is introduced, does it not seem necessary that all coolies should be registered?

it.

A.—I would rather not express an opinion on that. I don't know anything about

Q.-Then if a person offers to engage unregistered servants and is allowed to do

so, don't you think that would impair registration and make it of no effect?

A. Not as regards employers that insist upon registered coolies only.

Q.-But if the object is to register all coolies?

A. Of course, if the object is to register all coolies, then register all coolies.

Q.--If universal registration is to be introduced, then masters who employ unregistered coolies should be punished by a fine, and unregistered coolies who enter employ should be liable to a fine?

A.--That is a question I would rather not have anything to do with. I don't think I am competent to give an expression of opinion on it. It seems logically to follow, but I have not studied it.

Q.-Suppose then that an unregistered coolie applies for and actually obtains employ- ment and renders himself liable to a fine, why should not the master who engages him not be liable also?

A.—As a master, I would object to it as being an interference with my liberty. I don't believe in registration for the reason that it leads to absurd results.

--Assume then that you agree that an unregistered coolie who enters into service or offers his services should be punished, don't you think the master who employs the servant should also be punished?

A.--No, I don't.

Q. Where does the justice come in? I am only putting an imaginary case to you. A.-I would rather not answer that question because it leads to absurd results.

Q. What am I to take as your main objection to making it penal for masters to employ unregistered coolies?

A.-Because I don't want to pay a fine. I don't want to be troubled going to the Police Court.

Q. What is your objection to being made liable to pay a fine? That can't be put forward as an argument.

A. I should like to employ unregistered coolies if there were any going about, and I don't want to be fined for it.

Q. What is your objection apart from the fact that you don't want to be fined? A.-None whatever, except that it is against liberty.

Q. What liberty?

A. Against my employing any one I like.

זי

( 97 )

Q. Do I take it that you consider such a penal clause as against the liberty of the subject or contract?

A. It is against the liberty of contract.

Q.-If the Police had better control over these men

A. But the Police don't do the work they already have so well as we would wish. No Government Department does do its work so properly or as well as it might be done.

Q.-I suppose that remark would apply to most commercial firms too?

A. Yes. A private individual is better able to get his own way than through the medium of a Government Department.

-There seems to be a feeling abroad that the private individual can't control his coolies, and now we are making efforts by means of this Commission to devise a means of controlling these coolies.

A. The same state of affairs has existed in every portion of the world and no country ever will be able to control its servants. It is not likely that we will be able to control them here.

Q-My own view is that one should not be stopped from experimenting because there is a possibility of failure. We think, on the other hand, that there is a probability of success, and I don't think one can say there is no chance of success in such a matter as this. Referring to your main objection with regard to the penal clause, liberty of contract, you know, don't you, that liberty of contract is already restrained in many cases ?

A.-It is.

Q.-So that at any rate we have prece lent on our side. I will give you as instances, the following:-No man can enter into a contract to commit a crime, no man can enter into an agreement to commit a civil wrong, or an agreement which is contrary to public policy. Now then, I put it to you that, in such cases, the basis of them is a desire to promote the public advantage, is it not? In such a case as the present, where the proposal to introduce a penal clause and to enforce registration is based on securing the advantage of the public at large, don't you think precedent has a good deal of force in the matter and that, after all, this interference with the liberty of contract must be looked at in the light of whether such interference is for the benefit of the public or not?

A.--I don't think you will find a precedent in the case of servants.

It is a very old question and must have come up several times, both here and elsewhere, and no country, so far as I know, has succeeded in effecting a remedy. It has been tried over and over again, I fear.

Q.-At any rate we have tried it with cargo boat people, public chair and ricksha coolies who may be viewed as public servants. The experiment with them has not failed, and I can't see why it should not succeed with private servants.

A.-As far as public coolies go, I don't think it is at all proved that it has been a

We should be better off if we had an unlimited number of them.

success.

Q.-You are going on another point now. It is the question of the restriction of the numbers, as the effect of licensing, which is quite a different thing. There is no proof that anything of the kind has happened.

A. The licensees have imported to the Colony a number of very unfit coolies. Q.-Do you mean to say that if there had been no licensing, we would have had more fit and able men brought into the Colony?

A.-I think so.

Q.-I cannot follow that. and such registration can't be and coolies alike-

(98)

Assuming that the registration is for the public benefit made thorough unless by making it penal for masters

A. I think I must leave it to somebody else to assume. right to assume.

I don't think I have any

Q.-Under section 26 of the Licensing Ordinance (No. 24 of 1898) you will find that a person who drinks in unlicensed premises is a person who renders himself liable to a fine. Well, evidently the object of that is that that person should be punished because he is encouraging an unlicensed person. Why should not a master who encourages an unlicensed or unregistered coolie to enter his service be equally liable to a penalty?

A. There is no particular reason.

Q.-I argue it this way that a person drinking in unlicensed premises is encouraging a man to sell drinks in an unlicensed house to the disadvantage of the community.

A. If the law is made, the man should be subject to a penalty, but the question is whether such a law should be made.

The Chairman.-What I mean is a law for the benefit of the majority.

Witness. But is it for the benefit of the majority?

The Chairman.—We think it is. It is competent for the State to make any law it likes.

Witness. I would obey the law under protest of course. If you are going to have a law, you must carry it out.

The Chairman.-In the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, No. 21 of 1896, there is a "Table U" in the Schedule containing regulations for the licens- ing and controlling of boats, etc. The term "boats includes cargo boats, lighters, cinder boats, lighters, fishing boats, trading hulks, and rowing boats plying for hire of passengers only. The first of these regulations says that all the boats referred to in the regulations must be duly licensed, and then it goes on to say that no person shall engage or let out for hire any boat unless it has been licensed. Then comes section nine which reads that any breach of these regulations shall be punishable by a penalty not exceeding $100 or, in default, an offender shall be liable to three months' imprisonment. Now, there we have a distinct instance of a person who engages the services of an unlicensed boat being liable to a penalty. Doesn't that seem to be a precedent? That, according to what you said, is a direct abrogation of the right of unfettered contract.

A.-It doesn't prove that that Ordinance is a good Ordinance, nor does it prove that the proposed Ordinance is to be a good Ordinance.

The Chairman.-It proves that the persons who passed that Ordinance thought it

necessary.

Witness.No.

The Chairman.--Yes, it does. That Ordinance has been in force for a period of ten years and as it at present stands, it looks as though these regulations had worked with some degree of success, doesn't it?

Witness.--I suppose so.

The Chairman.-What I say then is that, in an analogous case, success would also be a likely result.

Witness.-I don't think success has attended these regulations. If you want a sampan to go to a ship, you can't get one.

(( 99 )

The Chairman. That is not the regulation. You see it says no person shall engage an unregistered boat.

Witness.—If there are no registered boats there, you can't get them.

The Chairman.-If it is a licensed boat, it will willingly take a passenger.

Witness.-There is great difficulty in getting a sampan if you want to go to a ship. It is not proved to me that that Ordinance is necessary.

The Chairman. There is the presumption that the Ordinance, having been in force so long, has been a success in its working.

Witness.-No, it is not proved by that at all. Most of the Ordinances in force now had better be repealed, and every Ordinance that is repealed ought to have been repealed long ago.

The Chairman.-There is not the least doubt that for persons with good tendencies, the law is unnecessary, but we have to pass laws, not for the control of the well-disposed, but for the control of the evil-disposed. I suppose many of us have the same feeling as you have that laws are unnecessary so far as we are personally concerned.

Witness. I believe it is a fact that 75 per cent. of the laws that are passed are repealed.

The Chairman. That number may be partly repealed perhaps but re-enacted in most part.

Would not the effect of registration of coolies be that registered coolies would tend to keep away unregistered coolies?

A. Yes, I suppose it would, to a certain extent.

Q.-Then, in that case, don't you think it would be very likely that the penal clause against masters would have to be enforced?

A. There are times when you can't get a registered coolie perhaps, and you have to engage an unregistered coolie. Perhaps there will be a strike, and you will have to be fined. You don't want to force the coolies to work for you.

The Chairman.-We don't want to force them, but if they don't work under certain conditions, then they can go out of the Colony. When the lo lging-houses were registered we had threatened trouble, but that soon passed over.

Witness.I feel very much for the people who can't get coolies, but I think it is their own fault. There are very few houses at the Peak that have proper quarters for coolies, and coolies, I may say, like a comfortable place to live in as well as anybody else..

Mr. Wilcox.-I think you will find that if all the coolies had liberty to go down town to sleep, there would be less difficulty in getting coolies.

Witness. My coolies have perfect liberty to go down town if they choose.

The Chairman.-But they go down and may sleep in plague infected places.

WALTER POATE sworn:-

The Chairman.--You are senior partner in Hongkong of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire ?

A. Yes.

Q.-And how long have you been in this Colony altogether?

A.-Twenty-seven years.

( 100 )

Q.-In the answers which you were good enough to give us the other day, you say you have had difficulty in procuring private coolies ?

A.-Yes.

Q.-And you also told us you had difficulty in retaining your chair coolies ?

A. Yes.

Q-May we ask you how you procure your private coolies-through your Compradore, or boy, or how?

A.-Well, I generally had one old coolie come back and he would get other men ; sometimes the same men as I had before would come back. They change off and on.

Q.-But you don't get them through your Compradore?

A.—No, I have on occasions told the boy when we got to a dead-lock, to find out coolies from among his friends.

Q.-Have you often been at a dead-lock?

A.—Never more than a day or so.

Q.-Have your coolies often left you without giving notice or resigning?

A. Yes.

Q.-They gave no reason?

A.--No reason.

Q. Do you find your gang of coolies changing much?

A. Yes, continually changing.

Q.- -What we want you here this evening for is to get your opinion on two points. The first point is this: Are you in favour, or are you not in favour, of compulsory registration of private coolies? and the second point is: Are you in favour, or are you not in favour, of making it penal for masters to employ unregistered private chair and ricksha coolies? Now then, dealing with the first point-registration or no registration- will you tell us whether you are in favour of compulsory registration or whether you are not in favour of it?

A.--Well, I should be in favour of it under certain conditions. It is a very broad question to ask. There is registration and registration.

Q.--Supposing I give you an outline-all private chair and ricksha coolies must be registered; they must all be photographed; they must all have a certificate of registration—take these three broad points. Under these conditions, are you in favour of registration?

A.--If the registration costs a nominal fee.

Q.--It would be gratis. That is our idea; what then?

A.-I should certainly say that I should be in favour then.

Q.-Your answer on that point being favourable, it will save us putting a lot of questions to you. In your answer to the question: "Are you in favour of making persons who engage unregistered coolies liable to a fine at the Police Court?" you say: "No, I am not in favour of employers being fined. The coolies are the persons to be punished if registration is introduced. It is impossible for employers to keep the run of their servants as substitutes are often there without the employer's knowledge or consent.' We agree on the point that coolies should be punished but, at the same time, is the coolie who offers his services to be punished and not the master who accepts the services?

( 101 )

A.-Well, you might look at it in this way that the coolie might come to you with a fraudulent registration certificate and you might think he was all right and so

on.

Q.-But if he has got his photograph on it?

A.-There is not much likeness sometimes in a photograph.

Mr. Wilcox.-But they would be changed every year.

A.-They would! Would you mind letting me see what I wrote before? [Reads.]

The Chairman. You say there that you are in favour of the unregistered coolie seeking or obtaining employment being fined but not of the master, and I say to you, is it quite the right thing that the master who accepts the services of the coolie should not be fined? Is there any justice in that?

A.-There is nothing indicated in this printed question to bar a coolie from coming and offering his services, and it should not be possible for a coolie to do that. It is all put down here on the master and there is no reference to any penalty being attached to the coolie.

Q.- --What you mean is this, that if the coolie is to be punished, then the master should also be liable?

A. Yes, but only on that condition. It is not fair that the master should be the only person.

The Chairman. We never intended that at all. That being so, I don't think I have any more questions to ask.

Mr. Wilcox.-If it were not penal on the master, I am afraid it would become a dead letter because there are some very careless people.

Witness.-If, on the other hand, masters were the only people to get into trouble, it would not be fair on the master.

The Chairman.-Can you tell us the opinions of Mr. Law and Mr. Robertson on this point? Do they coincide with yours?

A.-I think they would be similar, but I could not say definitely.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you remember the operation of the old law that fell into disuse

chiefly because there was no means of identifying the coolies?

A. Yes, that was so. Governor Pope Hennessy was here at the time, and I think that the Light and Pass Regulations were also abandoned at the same time.

Mr. Wilcox. I know when I came here it was in effectual operation, and so far as it went, it was a decided check on servants.

A.—It was a check, but then you had not the photograph.

The Chairman.-You have no objection such as undue interference with the liberty of contract?

A. This only refers to private coolies. It is not a case of public works or anything of that sort.

Q.-You don't see any objection on that ground at present?

A.-I confess I don't. You ask the question straight out, but some point might arise afterwards to qualify my opinion.

[The Commission then adjourned till Tuesday, 8th October, it being agreed to summons Messrs. G. W. F. Playfair for 2.30 p.m. and Mr. J. T. Lauts for 3 p.m.

( 102 )

8th October, 1901.

JOHANN THEODOR LAUTS sworn:

The Chairman.-You are a member of the firm of Lauts, Wegener & Co. ?

A. Yes.

Q-How long have you been in Hongkong?

A. For about twenty-three years.

Q-Where do you live now?

A.-Queen's Gardens, No. 3.

Q.-Have you got any chair coolies?

A.-Oh, yes.

Q.-Ricksha coolies?

A.-No.

Q. How many chair coolies?

A.-Four at present.

Q.-Have you any difficulty in getting them?

A.-Not with these four men.

Q.-Have you previously had any difficulty?

A.-I had difficulty when I kept chair coolies for myself. I keep the four now

only for

my wife and children.

Q. How do you manage now yourself?

A. I take outside chairs.

Q.-Up and down?

A.-Up and down every day.

Q. -Why have you given up keeping them?

A. Because I had too much trouble with them.

Q. What was the nature of the trouble?

A.-I had them leaving me without giving me notice.

Q. What did you do?

A.-I had them twice before the Police Court.

Q. When was that?

A.-About two years ago.

Q.-Any other reason?

A.-Increase of wages.

Q. What was the increase they asked for?

A. They asked me for $9.50. I paid them at the rate of $8.50 each. Q.-Are you paying $8.50 now?

A.-I pay $8.50 to my present coolies.

Q.-Are you in favour of a system of registration of private coolies ? A.-If it can be done.

( 103 )

Q.-If we got registration, are you in favour of making it penal for a master to employ unregistered coolies? Of course, we would make it penal for the coolies them- selves to go into employ without first being registered. Supposing you want to engage a coolie, and you engage an unregistered coolie, the coolie would be liable to punishment for having engaged himself to you and you would also be liable to punish- ment for taking him on.

A.--No; I would not be in favour of that.

Q.-Why not?

A.—I don't think it can be properly done.

Q.--Why can't it be done?

A.-I think the Chinese would object to it first of all. You would not be able to get any coolies at all.

Q.-They would object to what?

A.-To being registered.

Q.--Assuming that we can induce them to be registered, in that case don't you think that the master should be punished if he engages an unregistered coolie?

A.-I would not be in favour of it.

Q. Why not?

A. Because, why should a man be compelled to take a registered coolie?

Q-If we are to have registration, it would be for the public benefit, and every man should be compelled to help in the public interest. That is the reason why we want to prevent a man from engaging unregistered coolies except under a penalty. Do you understand now ?

A. Yes, but then there should be a sufficient number of suitable coolies. Cer- tainly the Chinese would resist registration. People would be obliged to take registered men and there would perhaps be no suitable coolies offering of the registered coolies.

Q.-But supposing there were coolies offering, why should they not go and re-

gister?

alty?

A.-Of course they would all register if you make a law.

Q.-Assume they are registered ?

A.-Then, of course, make it penal.

Q.--Then, in that case, you think that the master should be made liable to a pen-

A. Yes.

Mr Wilcox.--Unless the masters are rendered liable to penalty as well as the registered coolies, it would be impossible to make registration general. That is the

reason.

Mr. Badeley. What work do your coolies have to perform?

A. They carry my wife, they carry the children, they carry the governess, they clean the house and do all sorts of jobs.

Q. And do they find that easier work than carrying you up and down to the office?

A. They are quite a different set. Formerly I used to have eight coolies; now I have only four. I have always kept separate chair coolies for my wife and family.

( 104 )

Q.-But, from the fact that you have no difficulty with the ones that you keep for the wife and family, do you gather that they find the work lighter, or does it happen that you have a very good lot of men ?

A.-I had a good lot of chair coolies who left me suddenly without giving me any warning. I never found out why they left. After that, I had trouble with another set of coolies.

The Chairman.--Can you get coolies for yourself now ?

A.-If I pay $9.50 a month. I have had two of the coolies I have now for a couple of years in my service and I have never had any difficulty in getting two others.

Q.-And you are paying thirty-four dollars a month now for the four ?

A. Yes.

Q.-And what do you pay every day to go up and down?

I have heard of several The coolies don't like it and

A.-I use four coolies and I pay them 40 cents a trip.

Mr. Wilcox.-It is a steep ascent up to Queen's Gardens. cases of employers having difficulty owing to the climb. that is one reason given to us why they ask more money. I don't think it is a good reason, because there are other places nearly as steep, but it is notorious that the coolies in Queen's Gardens have nearly all struck for higher wages. that?

A.-It all depends upon where you get your coolies from. from Swatow, or half way from Swatow, they are very decent. Canton or Macao, or local coolies give a deal of trouble.

Q.- -Are your men from that district?

A. Our men are Swatow men.

suppose you know

If you have them Those coolies from

The Chairman.-Do you engage your coolies through the Compradore?

A. He has to guarantee them.

Q.-Does he get them for

you?

A.-I get them myself, or he gets them for me.

Q. Which is it? Supposing your coolies struck work to-morrow——

A.-I would ask my Compradore.

Q. And is your Compradore under engagement to provide you with coolies ?

A. No. He has to guarantee them. He is responsible for them.

-What does that mean?

A. In case they steal, he has to make it good.

Q.-Does he undertake to guarantee people he does not engage ?

A.-I was left with two coolies. These two coolies found me two others. I sent the two new men down to the Compradore and asked "Will you guarantee them ?" He said "Yes." That is all he has to do with them.

Mr. Badeley. He guarantees against theft?

A. Yes.

Q.-Does he guarantee against leaving without giving notice?

A.-No.

( 105 )

Mr. Wilcox.-Does he guarantee the boy and other domestic servants?

A. Every one."

Mr. Badeley. Do you know what wages are paid by other people in Queen's Gardens ?

A.--Some are paying nine and-a-half dollars, I think Messrs. Siebs and Harling are living next door to each other and the one pays higher wages than the other.

Mr. Wilcox.-Why?

A. Nobody knows why. They don't know themselves.

The Chairman.-You mean one house raises its prices and the other house has to go one better? It is like a game of poker.

A.--In Queen's Gardens the coolies once asked for higher wages and Mr. Hancock came and said "Don't pay higher wages because the whole terrace will have to pay higher wages.

The above mentioned two houses under the same roof have to pay different wages and they don't know why.

Q. Are they aware of the fact?

A. Yes.

LO SZ declared :-

The Chairman.-What are you ?

A. I am a sort of coolie. I go to Yaumati daily and get some earth work to do, and besides that I do some private trading business of my own.

Q. Where do you live?

-My family house is in Gough Street.

Q.-Do you live in a lodging-house?

A.-I keep a lodging or coolie house at No. 20, Gough Street.

Q.-But you don't live there?

A.-No, I don't live there. I live in my family house.

-How many storeys is the house No. 20, Gough Street?

A.-Four, including the cock loft.

Q.-There is a basement?

A.-No, there is no basement floor, but there is a ground floor.

Q.-Ground floor, first, second and third floors. The third floor is the cockloft.

Do you rent the whole house?

A. Only the ground floor.

Q.-And you use it as a coolie lodging-house?

A. Yes.

Q. How long have you rented at as a coolie house?

A.-About twenty years.

Q.-Five years ago how many coolies used to live in that basement?

A. The most was 24 coolies.

( 106 )

Q. What is the largest number now?

A. It is nominally fourteen, but I have not got that number.

--How much a month did these 24 coolies pay you for rent each?

A. From thirty to forty cents five years ago.

Q.-Now, how much?

A. About a dollar or a little more than a dollar.

Q.-I want the exact sum please?

A. Say $1.20 to $1.30 each.

Q.-I want the exact amount every coolie pays you a month for rent. given us 30 to 40 cents five years ago, what is it now?

You have

A.-If I have the limited number coolies living there, then each pays about 80 cents and, if there are less than fourteen, each has to pay a dollar.

Q. You have no fixed price per month?

A.—There is an arrangement between the coolies, that they have to pay more in the event of my not getting a sufficient number to live there.

Q -What class of coolies inhabit your ground floor?

A.-Private ricksha and street coolies.

Q. Are there private chair and ricksha coolies who sleep on your ground floor?

A.-The majority of thein are street coolies, but a few of them are private ricksha

coolies.

-How much do these private ricksha coolies pay you a month?

A. They have to pay a uniforın rate.

Q. How much does a private chair or ricksha coolie, whose master provides him. with house accommodation, pay you?

A. Some of their masters have no accommodation for them and so it is that they live outside.

Q-Then those private coolies who are with you, are coolies whose masters don't lodge them?

A. Yes.

Q. Have you ever had private coolies on your ground floor whose masters did lodge them?

A. They don't live in my place, but simply visit it.

Q.-Yes, but if they have the privilege of visiting your place, do you charge them so much a month?

A.-No, if they have got lodging at their master's place, then they do not pay any rent for visiting my place.

Q.-Supposing a private coolie, who has lodging furnished him by his master, comes to your place to sleep, do you allow him?

A.-Well, I allow him to stop half a night or one night.

Q.-Does he pay for that?

A.-No, I don't charge anything, but sometimes they like to pay me something for passing a night there.

( 107 )

Q.-Do you know of any lodging-house which is frequented by private coolies who pay to the proprietor or the landlord a fixed sum a month for the privilege of going there whenever they like ?

A.-Well, I know nothing about other people's business.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do they pay a subscription every month for religious ceremonies?

That is in the seventh moon. They do

A. They only subscribe once a year.

not subscribe monthly.

Q.-That is only to his kun?

A.-Oh, it is only the coolies who live in my house. They subscribe to no out-

siders.

Q.-Well, chair coolies who have been with you for some time and then get pid- gin to do and then come back again, pay all the time, don't they, a small sum every month?

If he

A.-There is no compulsion on my part or the head coolie of the house. likes, after he has got a billet, he may pay something towards the rent of the house..

Mr. Wilcox. You mean to say that, if they do pay, it is voluntary? A.—Well, I think his conscience prompts him to do so, but it is a voluntary sub- scription.

-Do you know any lodging kun where the coolies who frequent it do pay regular subscriptions?

A. Of course I have no personal knowledge about it, but, from what I heard, a man once got employment and continued to subscribe towards the rent for fear that he would be kicked out by his master and would have no place to live in.

now.

Q.-Do the coolies living on your floor belong to a coolie guild?

A.-No.

Q.-Quite sure of that?

A.-No.

Q.--Do any of them belong to the Triad Society?

A.-No.

Q.-Quite sure of that?

A.-No.

-Where do your coolies come from?

A. From Chu-chau and Swatow.

-Is there a Chu-chau coolie guild in the Colony?

A.-I don't know.

The Interpreter.-He wishes to tell the Commission why they pay so much rent

The Chairman.-All right.

Witness-In former days we paid only eight or nine dollars a month and now the rents are increasing month after month to twenty dollars and so on. A great number of people were allowed to live in that house before, but now it is a limited number.

Q. What rent do you pay for that ground floor?

A.-I used to pay $9.50 a month, but I have got notice that I would have to pay $20 a month beginning next month.

( 108 )

The Chairman.--How much did you pay five years ago ?

A.--About six dollars a month, from six to eight, then from eight to nine and-a- half and now the landlord wants to increase it to twenty dollars.

Q.-Who is your landlord?

A. He is a clerk in the Customs. His name is Kwok Mui.

Q.--Is he in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs in Queen's Road?

A.-Well, formerly he was here, but now he is in Canton.

CHAN A KUN declared:-

The Chairman.--What do

you

do?

A.-I am a chair coolie.

Q.-A private chair coolie or a public chair coolie ?

A.-A private chair coolie.

Q.--Who is your master?

A.--A Chinaman named A Kai in Peel Street.

Q.-What wages does he pay you?

A.--Ten dollars a moon.

Q.-Does he provide you with lodging?

A.-No. I live in a coolie house.

Q.-Where?

A.-No. 16, Gage Street.

-Who is head of that house?

A.--He is a Chinaman who lives on the top floor of the house. I don't know his name.

-And how many people are living on that floor?

A.-The Government only allows nineteen to live there.

Q.-What do you pay a month for rent?

A.-Thirty dollars a month and divide that amongst nineteen.

Q.-And how much a month do you pay ?

A.-I ask your Lordship to work that out--thirty by nineteen.

Q.-I don't want to work it out. A.-We pay $1.70 each.

-Does that include your food?

A.—I have to find my own food.

What do you pay a month as rent?

-Do you have it in the coolie house, and mess there?

A.-I cook myself, and whatever food I buy I get it from the market.

Q.-What does it cost you for food each month?

A.-Rice itself costs me $2.

( 109 )

Q.-Altogether what does it cost? You know how much it comes to.

A. From five to six dollars at the most. There is very little saving over.

Q.-Are there any private chair or ricksha coolies in the place where you are living, whose masters give them a lodging or who can lodge at their master's house?

A. Yes, there are some. Some of the coolies who are employed at the Peak stay there, and, when their master sends them down town to buy food and so on, they pass a night in the coolie house and return to the Peak in the morning.

cents.

Q.-Now, how much a month do these men pay for rent?

A.-He pays half of the amount I pay.

That is to say if I

pay $1.80, he pays 90

Q.-Suppose he only sleeps three nights there in the course of the month, how much does he pay then?

A. He pays the same. Even though he passes only three nights in the house, he has to pay half the amount that we have to pay.

Q. Where do the coolies in your place come from?

A. The whole of them come from Chu-chau.

Q-Are there any coolie guilds to which they belong?

A.-No.

Q.-Anything like a Pork Guild ?

A.-No. I am a newcomer and I don't know anything about guilds.

Q.-Don't people ever ask you for subscriptions?

A.--No.

Q.-Have

you not contributed to anything?

A.--No.

Q. How long have you been here?

A.-A little more than a year.

Q.-And you have not subscribed to anything during that time ?

A.-No.

Q.-Not on festival days?

A. Only once a year, that is in the seventh moon.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you belong to any guild?

A.-I am not a member of any guild.

Q. Are you a member of the Triad Society?

A.-No.

The Chairman.-During the time you have been here, have any of the private chair coolies in your house reported their master as not being a good master ?

A.-No. They attend to their work daily and there is no talk against their

master.

Q.-Have any orders gone out from your house that certain non-Chinese masters are not to be served?

A.--No.

( 110 )

-Why are coolies not willing to serve non-Chinese masters ?

A. Because they are working for other masters and they get their living. Why should they go and accept another master?

The Chairman.-Why should they?

Why should they?

But they do it.

Witness.-Well, I don't think so. If one is out of employment and offer is made to him that there is a billet for him he will go at once but, unless it is regular employ- ment, he won't go.

Mr. Badeley. You say the floor you live on holds nineteen men?

A. Yes. We used to have more men but the Central Police Station would not allow it.

rent ?

Q-He means the Sanitary Board. Are there always as many?

A. We have been fined by the Magistrate.

Q. Are there always as many as nineteen there?

A. Well, only nineteen. That is the most.

Q. Are there always as many as nineteen?

Sometimes there are less than nineteen. Some go home.

Q.-You say there are nineteen of you and between you you have to pay $30 as

A. Yes.

Q.-If there were only fifteen of you, would you still have to pay the landlord $30 or would you pay less?

A. We would have to pay $30 even if there were only fifteen of us.

Q.- -No matter how many there are in the house, you still have to pay $30 between you. Is that the rule ?

A. He doesn't care whether there are enough men or not, we have to pay the $30 always.

Q-Have you always lived in this place since you came to Hongkong?

A.-I have lived there ever since I arrived here.

Q. And have you always had to pay a dollar and something-the same amount of rent?

A. If we had nineteen in the house $1.70, but if a less number we had to pay more-perhaps $2 each so as to make up the $30.

The Chairman.Give us the name of the man to whom you pay rent.

A.-The landlord is a very wicked landlord. He lives on the top floor and he won't take small coins. He says: "Take them away and get me bank notes for them." I don't know his name.

Q. And does he leave it to one of you to collect the rent?

A.-No. We have to meet on a certain day and each pays so much and one man takes it up-stairs. There is no headman there. I would ask your Lordship to write to the Sanitary Board not to limit the number to live there. If they allowed us to have a greater number of men there, we would not have to pay so much then.

Q. How many would

you like?

A.-The place is quite big enough to accommodate thirty men, but the Police will not allow it. We had a cockloft and they ordered it to be pulled down.

CHENG A FU declared:-

The Chairman.-What do you do?

A.-I am a ricksha coolie.

Q.-Private?

A. No, a street coolie.

( 111 )

yet.

Q.-Where do

you live?

A.-Lyndhurst Terrace.

Q.-Are you a licensed ricksha coolie ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Have you got your licence?

A.-I left my purse with the licence in it at home.

Q.--What number Lyndhurst Terrace?

A.-No. 42.

Q.-Ground floor?

A.-No, first floor.

Q.--Are you the lessee of that floor?

A.-I am not.

Q.-Who is?

A.--My elder brother.

Q.-Where is he?

A.--He has gone home to the country.

Q. Is he a registered lodging-house keeper?

A. We only rented the place a month ago. We have not taken out a licence

Q.--And how many coolies live on your floor?

A.-Sixteen.

Q.-And do you all pay the same amount of rent?

A.-We all pay an equal share.

--How much do you pay yourself?

A.—I pay $1.30.

you pay that to your brother?

Q.-Do you pay

A.-Yes.

Q.--To whom does he

pay

it ?

A.-To the landlord, an Indian.

Q. What is the rent?

A.-Twenty dollars a month.

Q.-Divided amongst sixteen ?

A. Yes.

}

( 112 )

Q. What class of coolies live on your floor?

A.-They are street coolies.

Q.-They are not private coolies?

A.-No.

Q.--And how long have you been here ?

A. I have been in this Colony between two and three years.

Q. Where did you come from?

A.--From Chu-chau.

Q.--Are there plenty of your fellow-countrymen there who are willing to come to Hongkong to work?

A.-Well, I can't say whether they would like to or not.

Q.--You have been home and you know about your people at home.

A.-Well, I bave not asked their opinion.

Q. What made you come?

A. My elder brother asked me to come.

Q. What made him come?

A..

He came with his relative.

Q. Why didn't you stay at home?

A. If I could make a living, I would go back.

Q.-Is it much better living in Hongkong?

A.—It is much easier to make a living in Hongkong and earn some money to support my parents.

Q.-You say you are a public ricksha coolie. How much money

month?

do you make a

A. After deducting my board and lodging and other things, I think I save about ten dollars a month.

Q.-You, yourself?

A. Yes.

Badeley.-How

Mr. Badeley. How much does your food cost you?

A.-It costs me $5.50.

Q.--Your foki makes the same, does he?

A. Yes.

The Chairman.--Do you know many other ricksha coolies who make as much as

you do?

A.--I think some make about the same, some less and some more.

Q. Do you know any public chair coolies? Are any of them among your friends?

A.-I don't know any of the street chair coolies.

Mr. Wilcox. You are only a ricksla coolie ?

A. Yes.

•

( 113 )

Q.-And all the men in your house are ricksha coolies ?

A.-I am the only ricksha coolie living there.

-Are there no chair coolies in the house?

A.--No.

Q. What are they then?

A.-Market and street coolies.

-Do you know what chair coolies make?

A.-I know nothing about them.

Q.-Is there any ricksha coolie guild?

A.-No.

The Chairman.-Is there any Swatow coolie or Chu-chau coolie guild?

A.-No.

Q.-Don't you subscribe to any guild?

A. No. I am alone. I don't care for others' business.

Mr. Badeley. How long do you say you have been here?

A.-A little more than two years.

Q.-Have you been a ricksha coolie all the time?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you pay anything to anybody to get your licence?

A.-No.

Mr. Wilcox.-How did you come to be a ricksha coolie then?

A.-My brother bought a ricksha for me.

Mr. Baleley.-Is your ricksha your own then?

A. Yes.

Q.-How many more have you got ?

A.-Only the one.

Q. What is the number of it?

A.-No. 502.

The Chairman.-When did you buy it?

A. Some time in the tenth moon of last year.

Q. What did you pay for it?

A.-It cost me altogether seventy dollars.*

Mr. Wilcox. Had your brother got money before he came to Hongkong?

A.-No.

Q.-Did he borrow the money to buy you a ricksha?

A. Yes, he borrowed it.

[*Mr. Badeley made inquiries through the Police as to the statement of the above witness, Cheng A Fu, that he purchased his ricksha and paid seventy dollars for it. He learned that the seventy dollars was paid for the good vill of the run- ning alone and that the ricksha does not belong to him.]

( 114 )

Q. -How does he borrow the money?

A.-He borrowed it and paid interest at the rate of five cents

-From whom did he borrow it?

per dollar

per moon.

A. He borrowed from people at home-pig-keepers in the country.

Q.—He brought the money with him then?

A.—Well, the money was sent down here through a headman in the country. It is a sort of loan association, a dollar a share-and he collects the money from all the subscribers and he lends it out, and whatever interest there is at the end of the year, he distributes it among the subscribers.

Mr. Badeley.-Whom did you buy your ricksha from ?

A. From a man who has gone home.

Q. What is his name?

A. O Sui Kong.

The Chairman.-Was he a ricksha puller before you then?

A. Yes. He gave it up and sold the ricksha to me.

TO A CHEUNG declared:-

The Chairman.-You are a private chair coolie are you not?

A. Yes.

Q.-And to what coolie house down town do you belong? A.-Saiyingpun-Third Street.

-Do you contribute anything to that every month?

A.-Formerly, but not now.

Q.-Whilst you have been in my employ as a private coolie, have you been sub- scribing anything to this coolie kun in Third Street?

A.-Not after I joined your service, but before I joined your service I had to pay something.

Q. How much did you pay then?

A.-Eighty cents a month.

Q. What were you doing then ?

A.-I was then a licensed chair coolie.

Q.—And you paid 80 cents a month rent?

A. Yes.

Q. Can you go back to that coolie house and sleep any night now that you are in my employ?

A.-I think they would allow me to sleep there, because I had been in the house before and paid rent.

Q.-But are you not paying something like twenty or twenty-five cents now as a retainer ?

A.-Nɔ. I am not paying anything at all.

( 115 )

Q.- -Your foki-my other chair coolie-does he pay anything?

A.-I know nothing about his affairs. He doesn't live in the same place with me.

Q.-He does, he lives in the same quarters with you ?

A. Yes, in the same quarters.

Q. Do you know of any coolies in private employ at the Peak who contribute anything each month to the coolie houses down below, either at Saiyingpun or Wanchai, or elsewhere?

A.-Well, I know nothing about the coolies employed at the Peak, but coolies employed down below have to pay rent.

[This concluded the sitting for the day. Mr. Badeley was requested to procure as witnesses a number of public chair and ricksha coolies for next sitting, which it was

agreed should take place on Thursday, 10th October, at 4.15 p.m.]

10th October, 1901.

KU KIU declared:-

The Chairman.-Are you a licensed chair coolie?

A. Yes.

Q. -How long have you been one?

A.-Over twenty years.

Q. Where do you lodge?

A. Near the Man Mo temple.

Do you rent a floor yourself?

A. I live there as a lodger.

Q. How much do you pay a month as rent?

A.-Seventy cents.

Q.-Have you lived in that same place for a number of years?

A.-I have only been a few months in that place.

Q. In other places where you have lived, how much rent did you pay, say five years ago?

A.-About 30 cents in Saiyingpun.

Q. What do you pay for your food per month?

A.-Six dollars.

Q. Do you pay six dollars now?

A. I mean now.

Q. How much did you pay five

years ago?

A.-Say four dollars a month.

Q.--How much do you make a month?

A.-About twelve dollars.

( 116 )

and

Q-Is that nett?

A.-My gross income is twelve dollars a month. Say $6 for house rent and chow my nett profit would be $6 a month.

Q.--Are you making more earnings now than you used to five years ago?

A.--I make more money than I did five years ago.

Q-Does your foki make the same amount as you do?

A. Yes.

Q.-Have you to contribute anything to any society every month?

A.-No.

Q-Not in the seventh moon? Don't you contribute to the festival? A.—We Hak-kas don't subscribe anything.

Q. Have you ever been anything except a chair coolie?

A. Before I became a chair coolie I was employed elsewhere.

Q. How many years have you been a chair coolie then? Q.-How

A.-Over twenty years.

Q. During that time you have not been a cargo coolie, nor a street coolie, nor a ricksha coolie?

A. I was with Captain Deane for a number of years.

Q.-Was that before you became a public chair coolie?

A. Yes. I was a private chair coolie to Captain Deane and several of the Ins- pectors, and after that I became a licensed chair coolie.

all?

Q.-Since you became a licensed chair coolie have you been in private employ at

A. No.

Q. Do you know any of your friends who have been in private employ as chair coolies? I mean those of your friends who are public chair coolies now?

A. No. I don't know of any.

Mr. Badeley.-What is the number of

A. No. 53.

your chair?

Q.-Does it belong to you or do you hire it?

A.-My foki and I bought it. It is our own chair.

LAU TSZ declared:-

The Chairman.—What are you?

A public chair coolie.

Q. -What number?

A. No. 16.

Q. How long have you been a public chair coolie ?

A.-Seven or eight years.

༈

Q.-Have you been anything else?

( 117 )

A. Yes, I have been a private chair coolie to His Excellency the Governor before.

Q-Before you became a public chair coolie, you were a chair coolie to His Ex- cellency the Governor. Which Governor ?

A.--I was employed as a chair coolie to the present Governor for one year and also as chair coolie to the previous Governor.

Q. How do you make out that? You have been a public chair coolie for seven years?

A.-Saving two or three years.

Q.-Have you been going back and forward from public to private and from pri- vate to public employ?

A.--I was in private employ but after that I took out a licence.

Q.-When you left the Governor what did you do?

A.-I was a chair coolie.

Q. What kind of a chair coolie?

A.-A public chair coolie.

Q. What did you do when you first came here?

A.-I was a private chair coolie to a taipan.

.—What made you leave private employ and go into public employ ?

A. I left private employ because I preferred to be a street coolie. Sometimes I wanted to get home and I could not get home.

Q. Are you making more money as a public coolie than as a private chair coolie ?

A.—I am making a little more money than I was making in private employ.

Q. What were your wages in private employ?

A.-Eight dollars a month.

Q.-And what do you make now nett?

A. I clear six to eight dollars a month nett.

Q.-What do you pay for food ?

A. Sometimes if I want more food I have to pay more.

Q. What do you pay a month as a rule?

A.-Six to seven dollars.

Q. How much do you pay for rent?

A. From eighty cents to a dollar. It all depends upon the number of coolies lodging in the house.

Q. How much did you pay for rent when you first became a public chair coolie ?: A.-Thirty to forty cents a month.

Q.-And what did you pay a month for food when you first became a public chair coolie ?

A. From four to five dollars.

-Do you pay a subscription to any society?

A.-No.

( 118 )

Q. Do you own the chair which you bear?

A. Yes, I bought it.

Q. What did you pay for it?

A.-Nine dollars and-a-half.

Q. Did you pay anything as goodwill to the man whom you succeeded ?

A.-Well, I only paid for the old chair $4.50, but I did not pay anything for the goodwill. I got my licence.

Q.-Do you always occupy the same rank ?

A. Yes. I am always at the same stand.

Q-Is there an arrangement amongst the coolies that certain coolies stand at cer- tain ranks ?

A. Well, I always stop at the same stand.

Q-Does anybody ever try to turn you away from it?

A.--No.

Q. When do you begin to work each day?

A. After five o'clock in the morning.

Q. When do you stop work? ....

A. From three to four o'clock.

Q. Do you go on again after that?

A.-No.

Q-Who takes your chair then? Do yot take it right off the street or does any body else use it?

A.-Nobody.

-Why did you come to Hongkong? Why did you not stay in the country?

A.-There was very little land for me to cultivate and I could not make my living, so I came here to make my living.

Mr. Wilcox.-Does another chair go on to your stand in the evening when your chair comes off?

A. Yes. There are a great number of chairs there, and directly one leaves another takes its place.

Q.-What did you leave Sir William Robinson's employ for?

A.-I was not strong enough.

The Chairman. He had eight coolies?

A. The Stewards at Government House were most troublesome men and me a lot of work to do.

gave

Mr. Wilcox. You say you were a chair coolie to Sir William Robinson and to the present Governor for a year. Did you enter Sir Henry Blake's employment after leaving Sir William Robinson's ?

A. No. I continued in service.

Q.-You left because you had too much work to do?

A. Yes.

( 119 )

The Chairman. Which is the harder work, carrying a public or carrying a private chair?

A.-Carrying a street chair is harder work, no doubt, but I get more money.

Q. Have you been anything else except a public and private chair coolie since you came to the Colony?

A.-No.

Mr. Badeley. Are some stands better than others?

A. Yes.

Q.-Which are the best stands ?

A.-Lyndhurst Terrace and the Clock Tower.

Q. Are you at one of these?

A.-I am at the end of Peel Street, near Staunton Street.

Q. -How is it determined among the coolies which stand a man shall frequent?

A. Because the coolies who have been frequenting the Clock Tower stand say they would not allow outsiders to come in.

Q. And I suppose you would not allow outsiders to come to yours?

A.-I don't mean to say I would not allow them. While I was there, they would not come in, but directly I retire they come in.

Q. If you wanted to get a better place in some of the stands, could you do it by paying some money to the men established there?

A.-Well, I don't think they would accept it. I can only afford to pay one, I can't

pay the whole lot. There are a great number of chair coolies there and I would have to pay the whole lot.

LI KWAI declared:-

The Chairman.-What are you ?

A.-I am a ricksha coolie.

Q.-What number?

A. No. 287.

Mr. Badeley. Do you mean that that is the number of your ricksha or your own number?

A.--The number of the ricksha.

Q. How long have you been a ricksha puller ?

A.-A little over a year.

Q. When did you come to Hongkong first?

A.-Two years ago.

Q. What did you do when you first came here ?

A.-I was a street coolie over at Kowloon side.

Q.-At the Godowns?

A. Yes.

( 120 )

Why did

you leave the Godowns ?

A.-I was not strong enough to carry the goods, so I became a ricksha coolie.

Q. How much do you make per month nett ?

A.-I make from five to six dollars nett.

-What do you pay for rent?

A. A dollar a month.

Q. What do you pay for food?

A. Three to four dollars-a little more than four dollars a month for food.

Q.-Have you ever been a private chair or ricksha coolie ?

A.-No.

Q. Do you belong to any particular ricksha rank? A.—Well, I can go from one stand to another.

Q.-You are not on any fixed stand?

A.-I don't belong to any particular stand, but I go about here and there.

Q.-May ricksha coolies frequent any stand they like?

doing that.

Yes, I can stop at one stand and then go to another. I find no trouble in

Q.-You are not excluded from any given stand by other coolies?

A.-They don't object.

Q. Why did you come to Hongkong?

-I had nothing to do at home. We are poor and that is the reason why I came to Hongkong.

Q.-You make more money in Hongkong than you did in the country?

A. Well, I earn something but not enough.

Q.-You earn more here than you do in the country, don't you ?

A.-Well, there was no work at all to do in the country and seeing that my parents were getting old I came over to this place to get a living and support them.

Q.--How much of the money that you clear every month do you send home?

Sometimes three, four and five dollars.

Q. When you send five dollars, how much does that mean that you have cleared in a month ?

A.-Well, say six dollars or a little more.

Q. Do you subscribe to any association at any time of the year?

A. No.

Q.-Had you to pay a

goodwill for that ricksha you are running?

A.-No. I did not pay anything at all for the goodwill, but I have to deposit some money with the owner.

Q.-Does your foki make the same amount as you do?

A-I have no foki.

( 121

Are there two pullers to your ricksha?

A. Yes.

Q.-Well, don't know the other man ?

you

A.-Well, he is my foki, a new foki.

Q.-Does he make as much a month as you do?

A. I know nothing about his income.

Q. When do you go to work?

A.-Seven o'clock or a little past seven in the morning and then I cease to pull between three and four in the afternoon.

Q.-And then does the other man come on?

A. Yes.

Q.-Till when?

A.-I don't know at what time he stops.

Q. Do you ever go on night duty yourself?

A. Only daytime-no night work.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do you know whether many other ricksha coolies send money home? A.-Well, I know nothing about them.

Mr. Badeley. Where did you come from?

A.-Swatow.

Q. Did you come by yourself of your own accord, or did you come under contract? A.—I came down here of my own accord to make a living.

Q.- -Did any others come at the same time?

A.-A good many.

Q.-What made you come down? Who persuaded you? Who arranged it for you?

A. It is quite natural that, without any arrangement, one can come down here seeing their people are starving to death and in need of support. I came down here to make my living.

Q. Did you not come through the agency of the Godown head coolie ?

A.-No. I came down here and went over to Kowloon where my uncle was. He was No. 2 at the Godown and he found a job for me and then he went home.

Q.-Did he afterwards get you a job as a public ricksha coolie ?

A.-No. I got the licence myself without any help from him.

Q.-You did not have to pay anybody for it?

A.-Nothing except a sum of money as a deposit for the ricksha.

Mr. Wilcox.-Was your passage paid from Swatow?

A. Yes.

Q.-By whom was your passage paid?

A. My parents provided me with a passage to come down.

( 122 )

YAN PING HUP declared:-

The Chairman.-What are you?

A.-I am a ricksha coolie.

Q.-Your number?

A. No. 252.

Q. Is that your ricksha number?

A. Yes.

Q. How long have you been in Hongkong?

A.—I only arrived in the seventh moon of this year. I had been in Hongkong some time in the first moon, but the water and climate did not suit me, so I had to go home. I came back again in the seventh moon.

Q. What were you when you first came ?

A.-Well, I came down here with a view to getting employment as a ricksha coolie, but my health would not permit me to remain, so had to go back.

Q. Did you get employment?

A.-I got no employment.

-What do

you pay for your food per month?

A.-Why do you want to know that?

-How much do you pay for your food each month?

A.-Five or six dollars.

Q. And how much rent do you pay each month?

A. A dollar a month.

Q. What are your gross takings a month?

A.-Well, not very much-twelve or thirteen dollars a month.

Q.-Is that gross or nett?

Mr. Badeley.-Does that include what you pay for the hire of your ricksha, because you pay 32 cents a day for that I suppose ?

A.-I pay 200 cash a day for the use of the ricksha.

The Chairman.-What do you find yourself left with at the end of the month when

you have paid everything?

A. Seven or eight dollars after paying the house rent, chow, and hire of the ricksha.

Do you pay anything in the way of subscription to any society?

A. No. I am a newcomer. I am not a member of any society.

Q. Do you make more money out of your short distance runs than you do out of your long distance runs ?

A.—I do.

That is to say, if I come across a generous master he pays me more.

Q.-When you take Chinese, do they bargain with you ?

A. Yes, some of them do make a bargain, but some don't.

Q.-Suppose the ordinary fare is five cents, what will a Chinese bargain with you to carry him for ?

( 123 )

A. I will give you an instance. A Chinaman engaged my ricksha from Wanchai to Taihang. When I got there he gave me five cents.

gave me five cents. I said "Give me a little more " and he gave me a little more.

-What is the proper fare?

A. Ten cents.

Mr. Badeley. How did you manage to get your licence, did you have to pay any- thing to anybody for it?

A. I paid a man thirty dollars as tea money to get the licence for me. He has gone home to the country.

Mr. Wilcox.-Do all ricksha coolies have to pay this tea money when they take up a ricksha?

A. Yes.

Q.-As much as that, or sometimes more?

A.-Perhaps some more, and perhaps some less.

Q.-Do you send money home to your relatives?

A. Yes. I send every now and then some money to support my family, but I save very little.

Q.-You have a family at home?

A. Yes.

Q. Why don't you bring your family here?

A.-I can't afford it because house rent is very dear and I just make enough to support myself.

Q-And your family on the mainland ?

A. Yes. House rent is very dear. You have to pay from twenty to thirty dollars a floor.

The Chairman.-Why did you come to Hongkong?

A.-On account of poverty. There was nothing for me to do at home, so I came down here to pull a ricksha and earn my living.

Q. Are there lots of people in your parts who have nothing to do?

A. Yes, there are some very poor people.

LI KWAI re-called:-

The Chairman.-Do short distance journeys pay you better than long distance runs ? A.--It depends upon the ricksha hirer. If he thinks I am a hardworking man,

then he pays more usually. As a fact short runs make more money.

runs.

for?

Q.- -Do the major portion of your earnings come out of your short runs?

A. Yes. Sometimes we have to go a long distance, but the majority are short

Q.-Do Chinese bargain with you to carry them?

A.-Some of them do.

-If it would ordinarily be a five-cent fare, what would they bargain with you

A.-Some of them say, for instance, when the fare is five cents, they bargain with you for three or four cents, but when you demand the full fare, they pay.

( 124 )

Q. Do they bargain with you

beforehand?

A. Yes, they bargain with me beforehand, but I always keep myself to the proper fare.

Q.-Suppose you pulled a Chinese from the Fire Brigade Station as far as Arsenal Street, how much would he pay you for that?

A.-Well, say sixty cash, but I generally demand seventy. Of course, I must have a little margin, and if they offer me sixty cash I take it.

Q.-But that is more than the legal fare?

A. Sometimes I accept fifty cash.

Q.-That is five cents. That is the legal fare, isn't it?

A.-I can't force a man to pay. I say I want so much, he offers so much, and I accept it.

Q.—But the question is, don't you get Chinese who offer you less than fifty cash for the journey and you take it?

A. Yes, I sometimes accept less than five cents.

Q.-Don't non-Chinese very often pay you more than the legal fare?

A. Sometimes they pay more than the proper fare.

-Can you tell us which class of non-Chinese pay you more than the proper fare? Is it soldiers, sailors and visitors?

A.-Well, sometimes. On one occasion, I happened to take a sailor down to Arsenal Street to what is called "Blue Buildings." I thought he was to give me a good fare, but it turned out that he had not a cent in his pockets and I had to let him go for nothing. Sometimes soldiers pay me more and sometimes less, but I accept it.

You mean to say that you accept less than the legal fare?

Q.-You

A. Yes.

Mr. Badeley. Do you know whether there are many coolies plying unlicensed rickshas for public hire?

A.-I don't know.

Q.-You have never seen such rickshas?

A.-I have never seen any.

LAU TSIN declared:-

The Chairman.-What are you ?

A. I am a newcomer and a chair coolie.

Q. When did you arrive?

A. I have only been here about a month.

Q.-Had you been here before ?

A. I had not been here before.

Q. During the month you have been here, how much money have you made? A.-I have only made about three or four dollars nett.

[The examination of this witness was not proceeded with as he had not been long enough in the Colony.]

( 125 )

YAU A TIN declared:-

kong.

The Chairman.-What are you?

A.-I am a chair coolie.

-How long have you been in Hongkong?

A.-Over ten years.

Q. -What is the number of your chair?

A. It is No. 53.

Q.-Have you been a chair coolie all the time you have been in Hongkong?

A.--Yes.

Q. Do you mean a public chair coolie ?

A. Yes.

your rent?

Q.-Have you never been anything else? A. I have only been a street chair coolie.

Q. How much do you pay a month for

A.-Six hundred cash (about sixty cents) a month. Q.-Five years ago how much did you pay? A.-Thirty cents.

Q.--What

What do you pay now per month for your food ?

A.-A little over six dollars.

Q.-Five years ago how much did you pay?

A.—It was cheap then. It cost me a little over four dollars.

Q. What do you earn nett per month?

A.-Five dollars.

Q. —Do you now earn nett more per month than you did five years ago?

A. I made more money five years ago.

Q. How do you explain that?

A.--Well, I had more business five years ago, but now business has diminished. Q. Why is business dull?

A.-Because people are getting poor and they can't afford to take a chair.

Q.-Have you been on the same stand the whole time you have been in Hong-

A. Yes.

-Have you not changed your stand all these years?

A.-Only from one side of the street to the other.

Q.-Where is your street?

A. At the Central Police Station, top of Pottinger Street.

Q. Did you pay anything for your chair ?

A. Yes.

Q.-How much?

A.--My fuki and I paid eight dollars for it when it was new.

( 126 )

--Did you pay anything for the goodwill?

A. I only have to pay fees half-yearly and I pay nothing for the goodwill.

Q. Do you carry Chinese at all?

A. Both Chinese and Europeans?

Q.-Do Chinese bargain with you?

A. Yes.

Q.-Is the bargain money less than the legal fare as'a rule?

A.-Those who don't bargain pay more than the proper fare, but those who do bargain usually pay the proper fare.

Q.-In your experience, do non-Chinese pay you less than ten cents, if ten cents is the proper fare?

A.-Good gentlemen always pay me the proper fare.

-Do non-Chinese always pay the proper fare?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do Chinese pay you less than ten cents?

A. They always bargain first. Suppose they offer me five cents, I say "Go away, I won't carry you."

Q.-But supposing the fare is ten cents, do they always bargain with you for less?

A. The majority of them do, but I reject them.

Q.-But they do so all the same? They will offer you five or six cents, when you. could require ten cents?

A. Yes. Sometimes I accept less than the proper fare, but I generally call at- tention to the fact that the Government scale is so much.

Q. Why did you come to Hongkong?

A. I had nothing to do at home so I came to Hongkong.

Q-Do you pay any subscription to any society or association ?

A.-No.

Q.-Do you know of any public chair bearers that have become private chair bearers?

A.-Yes, some of my friends have done that.

Q.-Do you know of any private chair coolies who have become public chair coolies?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do you know of any chair coolies who have become cargo coolies?

A. Yes.

Q. Why have they left the chair business?

A.-Feeble, old men when they are not able to carry a chair, become cargo coolies. Mr. Wilcox.-Have you a family in China?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do you send money home?

A. Yes.

( 127 )

Q-How much?

A. A dollar or so.

Q. Do you live in a coolie house?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do any private coolies live there?

A. Yes.

Q.--Do the private coolies pay so much a month to the lodging-house keeper?

A. Yes. They pay less.

Q.-How much do they pay?

A. If a public chair coolie pays sixty cents a month, the private coolie pays that is to say, he pays thirty cents.

half;

Q.-That is in the case of chair coolies who do not live there always. They are there only on certain nights. Is that it?

A. Yes, they only sleep there now and then.

Q.-That is a monthly subscription then to the lodging-house?

A-Yes.

Mr. Badeley. Do you know whether private chair coolies sometimes borrow public chairs and ply them for hire?

A. No. Private chair coolies are not allowed to do that.

Q.-But do you know whether they do it as a matter of fact?

A.-No.

The Chairman. Do you know whether any private coolies, whilst they still are private coolies, are in possession of licences as public coolies and leave their master's ser- vice at a given hour of the day to make up their earnings by bearing a public chair or pulling a public ricksha?

A.-I don't know of any.

[This concluded the sitting and the Commission adjourned sine die.]

LEO. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Secretary.

( 128 )

APPENDIX C.

PRIVATE CHAIR AND RICKSHA COOLIES COMMISSION.

As the Commission investigating the question of private chair and ricksha coolies cannot examine vivâ voce more than a limited number of witnesses, the Commissioners will be glad to receive, within three days, signed communications addressed: "Secretary, Commission, Supreme Court" containing answers to the following questions :-

Questions.

Answers.

1.-Have you had difficulty in procuring

1.-

private chair and/or ricksha coolies?

2. Have you had difficulty in retaining

2.-

private chair and/or ricksha coolies?

3. What are the causes of the difficulty

in 1 and 2 ?

3.-

4.-

years

5.-

4.-What wages are you paying now?

5.-What wages did you pay five ago?

6.-Are you in favour of making persons who engage unlicensed or unre- gistered private chair and ricksha coolies liable to a fine in the Police Court, if any system of licensing or registration is introduced?

6.-

Signature

Residence

APPENDIX D.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Nos. 1, 2 AND 6 IN APPENDIX C.

CHAIR COOLIES.

Yes.

No.

89.

Yes.

CHAIR COOLies.

Question 1.

RICKSHA Coolies.

Yes.

No.

29.

778.

22.

Question 2.

RICKSHA COOLIES.

No.

Yes.

No.

95.

21.

78.

19.

Yes.

78.

( 129 )

Question 6.

No.

24.

Yes: Conditionally.

26.

N.B.-The replies to Questions 4 and 5 shew that monthly wages paid five years ago ranged from $6 to $8.50 according to circumstances, and that present wages range from $8 to $12 according to circumstances.

APPENDIX E.

Selection of Answers to Questions in Appendix C.

G. C. ANDERSON, "Eilandonan," Mount Kellet.

1. No difficulty in procuring chair coolies for the Peak. Great difficulty in procuring ricksha coolies in Town.

2. Yes, with ricksha coolies, not with chair coolies.

3. The ricksha coolies were frequently absent when wanted, and, when spoken' to, they always demanded more pay; in consequence of this I discarded my private ricksha and now use the public ricksha.

4. For chair coolies at the Peak I pay $9.00 per month.

5.-$7.50 for chair coolies. $7.00 for ricksha coolies.

6.-Yes, anything to remedy the existing state of affairs. I would favour recog- nizing and regulating the Guilds, like Trades Unions in England.

THOS. ARNOLD, 4, Albany.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3.--(1.) Coolies said that they could make more money as street chair coolies.

(2.) Obiected to do any work in addition to that of carrying the chair which only occupied th..n about an hour each day.

Found them more bother than they were worth, so gave up employing them a year ago.

4.—At that time was paying $8.50 to $9.00 per month per man.

5.-$7.00 per month per man.

6.--Certainly not.

( 130 )

FRANK COLLINS, "Dunford," The Peak.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3.-In June last, the coolies wanted an increase of $2.00 per month each. I refused, they left. Other coolies applied for the job, but all wanted $10.00 or $11.00 per month each, which I would not give.

each.

I engaged at beginning of this month (September) 2 coolies at $9.00 per month

4.-$9.00 per month.

5.-$7.00 per month.

6.-Yes. All servants should be registered.

WM. A. CRUICKSHANK, "Redhill," The Peak.

1.-Chair coolies-Yes.

2.-Chair coolies—Yes.

3.-Refusal of coolies to do anything but carry a chair. Last summer two chair coolies left because they were asked to carry up a box of claret to the Peak for our Mess, and for over a month I was "tabooed."

Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s Compradore was powerless to get two new coolies, not- withstanding his influential position.

The Compradore of Sugar Refinery obtained two when asked to do so, and the men came, agreed on wages, &c., and within two hours were intimidated and driven away.

4.-$8.00 per coolie. (Very easy situation, to and from tram.)

5.-$7.00.

6.--Certainly not, for the reason I do not believe the Government will succeed in making private servants register.

WM. DANBY, 5, Queen's Gardens.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3. Combination among chair coolies, especially among those in the neighbourhood of Queen's Gardens. On several occasious the whole district has been boycotted owing presume to the refusal of a resident to pay the increased wages demanded by the coolies.

4.-$9.50 and $8.50.

5.-$7.00.

6.-Yes.

W. CLEMENT DREW, 1 Canton Villas, Kowloon.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3. The coolies obtainable at Kowloon are practically no use whatever; in addition to this they are very insolent, especially to ladies, and the least complaint brings the

;

ير

*( 131 )

reply that if you do not like it you had better get another man. Unless very stringent measures are taken, it will soon be impossible to obtain a private chair or ricksha coolie.

4.-Cannot get one under $9 a month.

5.-Seven dollars.

6. Certainly, unless this is done there might just as well be no registration at all, as the majority will not take the trouble unless they are compelled.

JAMES M. FORBES, China Sugar Refinery Co., East Point.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3. Outside ricksha labour more remunerative ever since the occupation of the Philippines by America.

4.-$9 per month.

5.-$7.50.

6. Most certainly.

A. FUCKEERA, Army and Navy Contractor, 20, Yee Wo Street.

1.-Yes.

2.-Not very much.

3.-(1.) Owing to house rent being very high, and the prevalence of plague, very few disengaged coolies remain in the Colony to look for employment. (2.) A strong, able-bodied coolie considers he can make more money by running a private ricksha on his own account, and hire himself and ricksha out to visitors, or Captains of merchant ships.

4.-Ten dollars.

5.-Eight dollars.

6.—No, necessities compel employers to engage the first coolie he can get, whether the man is licensed or otherwise.

R. MACLEAN GIBSON, London Mission House.

1.--Yes, chair coolies.

2. Yes, chair coolies.

3.-(1.) They demand more wages than I can give. (2.). I find that they are be- coming very insolent and even very reasonable demands are demurred at, with the result that I have often to dismiss them.

4.-Eight dollars per month.

5. Two years ago paid seven dollars per month. (Only came to Colony three and a half years ago.)

6.--Yes. (If registration is to be of any use there must be uniform action on part of employers of chair coolies or ricksha coolies.)

( 132 )

C. L. GORHAM, Barker Road.

1. Yes, sometimes.

2.--Occasionally.

3. Have had no difficulty with the office coolies, but at my house: 1st--they want to dictate terms; 2nd-they are very cheeky and lazy. D'ont want to do any- thing but carry the chair and pull the ricksha, and very little of that. When they are told to go to the East they send to the West.

4.--$9 per month.

5.--$7 per month.

6.---I am in favour of registering all servants-boys and cooks especially. If a comprehensive scheme of registration is adopted, I would be in favour of enforcing a fine against those who employ unregistered servants; but I am decidedly opposed to it, if it is only a question of chair and ricksha coolies.

W. D. GRAHAM, "Burrington," The Peak.

1.-No.

2.-No.

3.-Not having experienced it I cannot say.

4.--$8.50 per coolie.

5.-$7.

6.-No.

As long as my work is done, I don't care what my coolies do with their spare time, and when I employ outside coolies, I do not ask where they come from.

CHARLOTTE P. HANCE, 7, Seymour Terrace.

1.-Great difficulty.

2. Yes, they leave without any notice, or excuse.

3.-(1.) If a coolie makes a complaint against his employer, the Guild prevents others from coming to seek employment. (2.) They seem to have made a stand for higher wages. (3.) Coolies seem scarce; also those carrying outside or licensed chairs make so much money, that they will not enter private service.

4-$9 each coolie.

5.-$6.50 each coolie.

6.-Yes.

J. W. HARRIS, Kowloon Wharf & Godown Co.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3. In No. 1 is that they ask too high a price for wages. In No. 2 is that as soon as they get their first month's pay they want to leave without giving a month's notice as agreed when I engage them. They are cheeky and lazy and if you check them for not doing their work properly, they want to leave at once. I have been to Police Station on several occasions, and once a Sergeant of Police at No. 2 Station told my

( 133 )

wife that she could not charge our ricksha coolie because he was not reckoned as a

servant.

4.-Nine dollars per month.

5.Seven dollars per month.

6.-Yes.

G. MONTAGU HARSTON, Queen's Gardens.

1.-Yes, the utmost difficulty in procuring both chair and ricksha coolies.

2. Yes, especially at the beginning of the summer.

3.—(1.) A demand for higher wages. (2.) Higher wages and lighter work being obtainable elsewhere in the Colony.

4.-$9 per month.

5.-Three and a half years ago I paid $7.

6. Yes, strongly in favour of such a measure.

WILLIAM HARTIGAN, "Scarteen," MacDonnell Road.

1.-Yes, frequently during the last two years.

2. Yes, much difficulty lately.

3.-Wages, objections to doing house work, such as washing verandahs, &c., and complaints of hard work and various other petty reasons.

rudeness.

4.—$8.50 per month.

5.-$7.00 per month.

6.-Yes.

T. F. HOUGH, C/o. HUGHES & HOUGH.

1.-No.

}

In some cases dismissed for

2. No.

་

3. Some time ago I used to keep private chair coolies, but had trouble with them; since then I have always employed an outside licensed chair. I employ two private coolies for my jinricksha, which I have generally finished with by about 5 p.m., after which hour have seen my private coolies carrying outside licensed chairs; whether the coolies have licences or not I do not know.

4.-$8.00 per month.

5.-$7.00 per month.

6.-Yes.

F. HOWELL, 20, Morrison Hill Road.

1. Yes, ricksha coolies.

2.-Yes.

3.-Cannot say; ón receiving their pay, they state that they are going home, although I have seen several coolies that were formerly in my employ, running public rickshas. At times they have provided a substitute just from the country; when used

•

( 134 )

to running the ricksha, he would leave; these have been Chin Chew men. My present coolie is a Hakka man, and understands very little Cantonese.

4.-Nine Dollars per month.

5.-Seven Dollars per

month.

6.—Yes, not only coolies, but boys, cooks and other servants.

JOHN A. Jupp, "Ian Mor," Peak Road.

1.-Yes.

2.-Not lately.

3.- The question of wages was the principal difficulty: until I paid $9.00 a month to each coolie I was unable to procure any. A number of coolies left my employ com- plaining of too much work; they seemed to think that if they carried me to my office in the morning and brought me back at night it was all they ought to be expected to do.

4.-$9.00 a month.

5.-$7.00 to $7.50 a month.

6.-Yes.

H. KUSAKABE & Co., "Edenhall," Lower Richmond Road.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3.- (1.) There is no place to apply for coolies. (2.) We don't know, but generally our coolies will not stay long.

4-$8.00 for one chair coolie when chair is carried by two coolies. $8.00 for ricksha coolie when we employ two coolies for one ricksha, but if one coolie only for a ricksha we have to pay $10.00 for one coolie.

5.-We don't know.

6. We hope a system of licensing or registration is introduced, but we are not in favour of making persons liable to a fine, as we are not sure whether all the good coolies will register or not, and probably we can get honest coolies among those who have no licence.

D. R. Law, "Formosa," The Peak.

1.It is not an easy matter to secure reliable coolies.

2. Yes, they come and go as it pleases them.

3. The great demand and the restless spirit engendered thereby. When employ-- ment is easily procured and there is no incentive to behave and retain their situations, the coolies take offence at the smallest provocation (?) and leave first favourable opportunity, very often at much inconvenience to their employers. Were situations difficult to obtain this would disappear. The fact is demand is greater than the supply.

4.-$8.50

5.-$7.50.

( 135 ) .

6.—No, punish the coolie for not having a licence. If it is made obligatory for the coolies to obtain licences (at a small cost) before they can secure employment, they will very quickly fall into line if the Government keep a stiff front and refuse to listen to the many protests that are sure to follow legislation.

B. LAYTON, 1, Gough Hill, The Peak.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3.-Request for higher wages, or unjustifiable complaints of overwork-work done by chair coolies at l'eak in former times without demur. At Peak, coolies remained in same employ for years. Carry water from various wells for the supply of household; carry one down from Peak to Victoria in morning; up again in afternoon; carry me out to dinner and back from time to time; assist in house work when requested. To-day, carry to Tram, perhaps back; object to night work, refuse to assist in house

work and want Tram tickets!

4.- Chair coolies $8.50 per man. 5.-Chair coolies $7.50 per man.

6.-Yes.

R. K. LEIGH, 1, Hillside, The Peak.

1.-No.

2.-Yes.

Ricksha coolies $9.00 per man. Ricksha coolies $7.50 per man.

3.—In my opinion the difficulty is caused by the fact that during the Summer months the outside chair and ricksha coolies make more money than the private coolies, besides being their own masters. This causes them to be very independent and to leave on the slightest pretext. There is seldom any difficulty with coolies during the winter months.

4.-$8.00.

5.-$7.00.

6. Yes, if a proper system is enforced.

F. MAITLAND, "Nettlewood."

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3.-Increase of wages.

4.-$9 per month.

5.-$7 per month.

6.-Yes.

GODFREY C. C. MASTER, 12, Queen's Road Central and No. 4, Morrison Hill.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3. I think the Coolie Guild. I can in connection with my own coolies give an instance as to how I think the Guild interfered with my private chair coolies.

4.-$9 per month and 25 cents for firewood.

¡!

5.-$7.50, no firewood.

( 136 )

6. Certainly, so long as equally good servants at the same rate of wages can be engaged from amongst registered coolies. Unless there is some restriction imposed against engaging unregistered coolies, many will not take any trouble in the matter.

K. W. MOUNSEY, No. 2 "Goolistan," Conduit Road.

1.--Private chair and ricksha coolies-wages are so absurdly high in comparison with the work required of them that I prefer to employ the outside men.

2.---- When I did employ private chair and ricksha coolies, it was impossible to retain them for any length of time.

3. Want of combination on the part of employers to keep wages within a reason- able figure, and a disinclination on the part of the Magistrates to convict coolies when charged before them on the ground that they are not domestic servants.

4.--None to private coolies, their wages are too high. $10 a month for an outside chair whenever I want it.

5.-$7 per month per coolie.

6. Certainly. It was on account of a series of reports which I made to Mr. May that he brought forward the registration scheme again the other day. See my letter to him about a year ago.

F. POWELL, Commodore, Commodore's Bungalow, The Peak.

1.--Yes.

2.--Yes.

3.- They ask for higher wages than I consider sufficient. Those I get are weakly and lazy, it takes four of them to carry me to my house when two outside chair coolies do it. They leave either without notice at all or on the most frivolous excuses, and expect to do little or no work.

4.--$8.50 a month.

Each coolie has a waterproof and a blanket.

5.--$7.50 a month and as above.

6.-Yes.

A. G. ROMANO, "Duart," Arbuthnot Road, No. 15.

1. Very difficult to obtain private chair coolies.

2. Yes, they constantly change and have new substitutes in their places.

3. No. 1 because they prefer to ply for hire their chairs or they ask high wages.

No. 2 because they find excuses to go home to leave their places for substitutes.

4.-Nine dollars each coolie per month.

5.-Seven dollars each coolie per month.

6.-Yes.

لب

( 137 )`'

GEO. J. B. SAYER, 2, Kimberly Villas, Kowloon.

1.-Yes.

2.-Yes.

3. The coolies obtainable at Kowloon are of an inferior class and are practically no good for the work; they are independent and cheeky, more especially to ladies, which makes it impossible to retain their services. I have had over ten years' experience and submit that some stringent measures should be taken to ensure a proper service.

4.-Not obtainable under nine dollars.

5.-Six to seven dollars.

6. Most decidedly.

E. H. SHARP, "Homestead," The Peak.

1.-No.

2.-No.

3.-I gather that there is a considerable shortness of chair and ricksha coolies in the colony. Those therefore in private employment probably choose the easiest places, and the ambitious go to outside work where they can make more money.

4.-$8 a month with $1 extra to the No. 1.

5.-$7.50 a month with $1 extra to the No. 1.

6. This does not seem feasible unless enough licensed or registered coolies can be assured to go round.

A. H. SKELTON, "Tarawera," Upper Richmond Road.

1. No, simply because I've had a really good No. 1 man who has saved me all trouble.

2.-No, for the reason given above.

3.-

4.—$8.50 (chair) 4, and find them in firewood.

5.- Did not have them then.

6.-Certainly, by all means, as that in my opinion is the only way to make the system work satisfactorily.

J. J. SPOONER, Opium Farm.

1.--Yes, great difficulty.

2. In retaining the original ones I engaged-Yes. I find that after a short time I am put off with substitutes.

3.--The principal cause in No. 1 is wages and refusal to do any house work, such as chopping firewood and washing floors and windows. The difficulty I find in retain- ing coolies is about the hours of work: mine come at 9 a.m. and finish from 6.30 to 7

( 138 )

p.m.; I give them from an hour and a half to two hours in the middle of the day for tiffin. They contend that 7 p.m. is too late.

4.-$8.50 and the coolies do nothing but ricksha work.

5.-$8 and every Sunday the coolies scrubbed the floor, cleaned the windows, &c.; during the week they chopped firewood or did any odd jobs required about the house.

6.-Most certainly.

H. E. TOMKINS, "Treverbyn," The Peak.

1 and 2.-No.

4.-$8.50.

5.-$7.00.

6.-Unnecessary. Everyone would require their coolies to be registered if the system was introduced.

GEO. L. TOMLIN, "Cringleford," 45, Robinson Road.

1.-Yes.

2.-No.

3.-(1.) The extortionate rate of wages demanded by chair coolies. I keep four of them. (2.) No difficulty so far, for the simple reason that they have never been called upon to do anything extra since I have had them (7 weeks), but I feel they are masters of the situation and that they will strike the first time they are told to do something extra, for instance, take me out to dinner, &c.

4.-$9.50 but providing them with no quarters.

5.-$7.00 with quarters, $7.50 without quarters, and much stronger men too. 6. Certainly, provided a satisfactory system can be introduced.

T. H. WHITEHEAD, Manager, Chartered Bank of I. A. & China, "Charter House."

1.—Yes.

2.--Yes.

3.-The Manager's four chair coolies absconded on 31st May last without giving any notice and without any reason assigned. It was not possible to secure other coolies until end of July. They simply declined service, and public chair coolies were not always readily or easily obtainable.

4.—The head coolie $12 and three others $10 each per month.

5.-Head coolie $8.50 and three others $7.50 each per month.

6. Yes, if any thoroughly effective system of licensing or registration can be introduced.

( 139 )

APPENDIX F.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance to provide for the Registration of

Chair and Jinricksha Coolies in private employ.

WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the Registration of Chair and Jiuricksha Coolies in private employ :

Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. This Ordinance may be cited as "The Private Coolie Ordinance, 1901.”

2. In this Ordinance, the word "coolie " means a Chinese employed by a non-Chinese as the bearer of a chair or the puller of a jinricksha.

The word "master coolie.

means a non-Chinese employing a

3. A Register of Coolies shall be kept at the Central Police Station, and shall be under the control of the Captain Superintendent of Police.

4.-(1.) Every person, who, at the commencement of this Ordinance, is employed as a coolie, shall, within thirty days next thereafter, attend at the Central Police Station and furnish the Captain Superintendent of Police with the following partienlars, to be entered in such Re- gister:-

(a.) Names.

(b.) Age.

(c.) Whether chair bearer or jinricksha puller or both. (d.) Name and address of master.

(e.) Native place.

(f) Such other particulars as the Captain Superintend-

ent of Police may require.

(2.) He shall also furnish two copies of his photograph, one to be inserted in the Register, the other to be attached to the Certificate of Registration.

5. Every person, who, after the commencement of this Ordinance, shall wish to engage himself as a coolie, shall attend at the Central Police Station and supply the par- ticulars and photographs mentioned or referred to in section

6. Any person coming within the meaning of the pro- visions of sections 4 and 5, shall, after supplying the requisite particulars and photographs, receive from the Captain Superintendent of Police, a numbered Certificate of Registration in the form given in the Schedule hereto, or such other form as may, from time to time, be approved by the Governor-in-Council, provided always that it shall be competent for the Captain Superintendent of Police, in his discretion, to refuse such Certificate of Registration to any person.

7. The Certificate of Registration shall be issued gratis, and shall contain on the face thereof, the particulars, except (d.), required by section 4 to be entered in the Register. There shall be endorsed on such Certificate, the names and. addresses of all masters and the periods of service with each master, and there shall be a column for remarks by a Magistrate. Moreover, the face of the Certificate shall bear the Police Department seal of which a portion shall be impressed upon the photograph.

8. Every registered coolie shall, within thirty-six hours of every change of service, report the same at the Central Police Station, and produce his Certificate for the purpose of having the name and address of his new master endorsed thereon.

9. Every coolie, within three days of entering into service, shall deliver to his master his Certificate, which shall be kept by that master and shall be returned to the coolie upon his discharge from service.

(

140)

•

10. If the master shall lose, destroy, wilfully deface or refuse to deliver to the coolie upon discharge, the Certifi- cate delivered to him as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the Captain Superintendent of Police, upon complaint by a coolie and after due inquiries as to the facts, to issue to such coolie a duplicate of such Certificate, and to recover at the Magistracy from the master so acting, a sum not exceeding Five Dollars on the issue of the duplicate: pro- vided also, that if any coolie shall lose his Certificate and shall satisfy the Captain Superintendent of Police that he has not improperly parted with it, it shall be lawful for the Captain Superintendent of Police to issue a fresh Certifi- cate to such coolic, whereupon, the previous Certificate shall be deemed to be cancelled, and any person found to be making any use whatsoever of the cancelled Certificate shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Fifty Dollars.

11. On the expiration of Thirty days after the coming into operation of this Ordinance, it shall not be lawful for a master to engage or employ, for any period exceeding forty-eight hours, any coolie who has not been registered under the provisions of this Ordinance, and has not pro- duced his Certificate of Registration to such master, and it shall not be lawful for any coolie who is not registered under the provisions of this Ordinance and does not pro- duce a Certificate of Registration at the time of seeking employment, to offer his services to any master or to enter into the employ of any master. Any master or coolie acting in contravention of this section, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Twenty-five Dollars or, in default of payment, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month.

12. Where any agreement of service exists between a master and an unregistered coolie, such agreement, whether in writing or otherwise, shall not be enforceable in any Court of Law, either by the master or by the coolie.

13. In the absence of any contract to the contrary, every registered coolie shall, by his contract of service, be deemed to have contracted to perform such services as carrying notes, running errands, acting as tenuis coolie, and per- forming such other light duties inside and outside the house as he may be called upon by his master to perform.

14. In the absence of any contract to the contrary, the contract of service existing between master and coolic shall be deemed to be a contract of service for one calendar month at the least.

15. Every person employed as a registered coolie who shall neglect his duty, or absent himself from his duty without the leave of his master, or shall leave his master's service without giving one calendar month's notice to his master, or shall disobey any lawful or reasonable order of his master, or shall use any abusive or insulting language to his master, or shall behave abusively or insultingly to his master, or shall continue to speak in loud tones after having been once requested by his master to desist, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Fifty Dollars, or, in default of payment, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a period not exceeding three months.

16. Coolies, whilst accompanying their master, or carry- ing their master's chair, or pulling their master's jiuricksha, shall observe absolute silence, and no coolie shall at any time or under any circumstances shout or bawl to other persons. Any person infringing the provisious of this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Ten Dollars or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a period not exceeding fourteen days.

For the purposes of this section aud section 15 the word "master" shall include every non-Chinese adult relative or guest living or being on the premises of such master.

17. Every coolie is prohibited from taking out a licence to ply any public vehicle.

18. Every coolie, whether registered or unregistered, con- victed of an offence against this Ordinance for which no special penalty is provided, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Fifty Dollars or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a period not exceeding three months.

19. Every registered coolie more than once convicted of an offence against this Ordinance, shall forfeit his Cer- tificate of Registration, and shall not again be registered as a coolie, and no uuregistered coolie convicted of an offence against this Ordinance shall be registered under this Ordi-

nance.

( 141 )

SCHEDULE.

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION.

No.

This is to certify that

whose photograph is hereunto annexed, has been duly registered a a Coolie under the provisions of "The Private Coolie Ordinan ce 1901."

PHOTOGRAPII.

Seal of the

Police

Department.

A. B.,

Captain Superintendent of Police.

Date

Particulars required by Section 4 of the above named

Ordinance.

Names.

Age.

Whether Chair Bearer or Jinricksha Puller

Native Place.

or both.

(Back of Certificate.)

Masters.

Period of Service of Coolie.

Remarks by Magistrate.

Name. Address. From To

( 142 )

APPENDIX G.

Minute by the Honourable the Captain Superintendent of Police, in C.S.O. 2804/1900.

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

The difficulties that European residents are finding with their Chinese servants, especially chair and ricksha coolies, have become more accentuated than ever during the last five months.

I have had appeals for help in getting chair and ricksha coolies from a number of residents during that period including the following:-Mr. J. Hastings, Mr. J. F. Reece, Mr. J. S. Harston, Mr. Gumpert, Commodore Powell, His Excellency Major- General Gascoigne, the Colonial Secretary, Mrs. Hance and various others whose names I cannot call to mind. I have also assisted by engaging coolies for Government House.

I have been making some enquiries into the causes of the difficulty, and I find that they are as follows:-

(a.) Want of control.-I can get coolies for people, because I have means of getting at a headman of licensed coolies who has influence with, and knows where to look for, coolies. A private individual's house boy or No. 1 chair coolie, either will not or cannot find inen in a market where labour is undoubtedly scarce.

(b.) Want of house accommodation for coolies out of and waiting for employ.

-This limits the supply.

(c.) The dearness of rent and of living generally.-This also limits the supply, for coolies can't afford to come down from the country seeking employ- ment, unless they are assured beforehand that they have some house to go to live in and are possessed of what is, to them, not inconsi- derable sum of ready money.

Thus in 1898 it cost a chair coolie $3.75 a month to live in a coolie house for chair coolies. They all live in these houses while looking for and when out of work, and, even when employed, frequent these houses to see their countrymen, and in many cases to sleep at night.

This sum was made up as follows, and I have set against the items the cost for the same accommodation and food at the present time :-

· 1898.

1901.

Rent

Rice

.$0.25

$1.00

1.20

1.60

Provisions

1.50

Firewood and Oil Shaving

... 0.60

0.90

0.20

$3.75

$5.20

I find that the large local employers of labour have had to raise the rate of wages of their Chinese employees during the last few months, and that the rise is not altogether attributable to Plague.

I am not at liberty to state the figures, which were supplied to me confidentially. To remedy this unsatisfactory state of things I have to recommend as follows:-

(a.) that Government build a number of houses on Mr. Chathain's model-

dwellings model in Taipingshan or other convenient locality;

( 143 )

(b.) and rent them to a headman of coolies at a moderate rental which will, at

the same time, give Government a fair return for its money. Thẻ! headman mentions a rental of 50 cents per head of coolie accommodated; in the house, or $10 a floor capable of accommodating 20,coolies, as what he considers a reasonable rental

(c.) the rate of wages for the coolies supplied by the headman to be $9 a

month for Peak or Lower Levels;

(d.) licensing and registration of all the coolies supplied by the headman in

the same manner as coolies for public vehicles and chairs are licensed;

(e.) enactment making it penal to employ an unlicensed coolie.

If Government is not prepared to build the coolie houses, the headman will build them himself, if he can come to reasonable terms with Government as to cost of site, etc. But in the event of his building, he must charge $10 a month per coolie.

In my opinion it would, for many reasons, be better for Government to build.

I think something ought to be done. It is no part of the duties of the Captain Superintendent of Police to engage coolies for residents, and applications are now made so frequently that I shall soon have to decline my good offices. The service involves time and worry.

F. H. MAY, 2/8/01.

P.S.-I advise that if licensing is decided on, as I hope it will be, the coolies be tackled first. When they have been dealt with, in-door servants can, if desired, be wheeled into line.

APPENDIX H.

F. H. M.

Letter from the Honourable the Captain Superintendent of Police.

DAMPFER "PRINZESS IRENE,'

7th September, 1901.

SIR,

I would like to add to the evidence I gave before you on the 3rd instant, the following remarks in view of possible objections to putting a monopoly of supplying private chair and jinricksha coolies into the hands of one or more persons.

The licensing of these coolies would, in itself, give large and much needed control over them, and if it were adopted, it would probably be found that the coolies, like those for licensed public vehicles, would get licensed through headmen of their own.

Coolies of this class who come to the Colony to look for work are strangers to the place, and rarely have any money to keep them while looking for work. What would probably happen would be that they would ask the keeper of the lodging-house where their clansmen stop in the Colony and whither they would go on first arrival, probably under the guidance of some clansman who had been here before, or perhaps some head- man of licensed chair and jinricksha coolies, to put them in the way of getting licensed and to pay the necessary fee; and thus, in course of time, a set of headmen would spring up who would make a living cut of supplying the market with private licensed coolies, just as there are headmen who supply the Colony with its licensed coolies:

( 144 )

I would point to the example of the manner in which public chair coolies get licensed. Hardly any of them have even the small capital necessary to own and ply a chair of their own. They look to headmen to supply them with the chairs, their photographs and their licences. These headmen are the licensees of the chairs, and it is the same with the public jinrickshas.

The system which I sketched in my memorandum of the 2nd August would give a more complete control, but the next best thing to it is licensing without a monopoly of the supply of coolies.

To forestall a possible strike, some one or two of the present headmen of licensed coolies could be easily influenced by the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police to

· undertake to induce a number of the coolies who are in the Colony to submit to the licensing, or to bring into the Colony and get licensed number of coolies to take the place of the strikers.

Once the ice was broken, the licensing would go on smoothly, if a firm front were shown.

His Honour

Mr. Justice SERCOMBE SMITH,

Chairman of Commission to enquire

into licensing of private coolies.

APPENDIX I.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

F. H. MAY.

Chief Detective Inspector Hanson's Memo. to Mr. F. J. Badeley, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police.

CENTRAL STATION,

23rd September, 1901.

SIR,

I have the honour to submit the following details, the result of enquiries about the pay of chair and ricksha coolies in the private employ of Chinese residents :

(1.) The master of the "Hang Yuen" tailors' shop in Queen's Road Central pays for chair and/or ricksha coolies $10.00 each per month and lodges them.

(2.) Mr. Ho Fook, Compradore of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., pays four chair and/or ricksha coolies $9.00 each per month and lodges them. He supplies them with oil and firewood.

(3.) Mr. Fung Wa Chun has four coolies. Two old hands act as house- coolies in addition to being chair coolies and get free board and lodging and $9.00 each per month. The other two, newer hands, get $9.00 each per

month and free lodging but not board.

(4.) The Yan Wo Co. pays two coolies $6.50 each per month and free board

and lodging.

(5.) Mr. Li Tsz Ming, a rich man living at

a rich man living at "Greenmount," pays two coolies $6.00. each per month and provides free board and lodging.

( 145 )

(6.) The master of the "Nam Yai Lang" shop in Queen's Road Central pays

two coolies $6.00 each per month and gives free board and lodging. (7.) Dr. Lui Hin Tong, who has some practice amongst Portuguese also as well as Chinese, pays two chair coolies, who have to turn out on occa- sion at night also in addition to their day work, $14.00 each per month, but no board or lodging.

(8.) Dr. Lau Pun Shek, pays two coolies $7.50 each per month and board,

but no lodgings.

(9.) Dr. Chu Ng Cho pays two coolies $12.00 each per month but no board

or lodgings.

(10.) Hü Sun Chün, Compradore at the Government Civil Hospital, pays two

coolies $6.00 each per month and free board and lodgings.

With regard to the question of lowering the fares, I believe that, owing to the in- crease about to be made in the number of licensed rickshas, it is not advisable to deal with the matter in that way now. But I would suggest that the city from East to West be divided into sections and that a run over each section be charged for so much. They could be made one-cent rides.

As a matter of fact Chinese bargain with the coolie for a ride from one place to another for less than the legalized fare.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient. Servant,

F. J. BADELEY, Esq.,

Acting Captain Superintendent of Police,

&c., &c., &c.

APPENDIX J.

J. D. HANSON,

C.D.I.

SIR,

Mr. A. W. Brewin's Letter to the Secretary of the Commission.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 23rd Mny, 1901.

I shall be obliged if the Commissioners will permit me to add the following remarks as supplementary to the evidence which I gave this morning.

2. Practically there should be no difficulty in identifying coolies who have had their licences cancelled even without measurement. When everything is in working order the number of licences cancelled ought to be few and the men's photographs would be kept in a separate bor posted up in the licensing office.

3. One of the Commissioners mentioned chair coolies asking for ten or eleven dollars a month as wages. This is a little out of the way, but not much if for the Peak. A Chinese gentleman who has chair coolies told me two or three months ago that he paid eight and a half dollars a month, and that he did not think chair coolies could be obtained for less. This would make ten dollars a month for the Peak not so unreason-

able.

(146)

ག

4. The last time I thought of engaging private chair coolies was some months ago. I offered eight and a half dollars. Two sets of men came to see about the place, but they made so many conditions and required so many particulars about the work that I gave up the idea of engaging them.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

THE SECRETARY

to the Chair and Jinricksha Coolies Commission.

APPENDIX K.

A. W. BREWIN.

SIR,

His Honour Mr. Justice Sercombe Smith to His Excellency the Governor.

31st August, 1901.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's Letter No. 172/G. of the 29th instant, inviting me to serve as Chairman of a Commission to in- quire into the question of the registration of private chair and jinricksha coolies in this Colony.

2. Whilst I gladly comply with Your Excellency's request, I beg to suggest that the scope of the inquiry should be extended to include all classes of Chinese servants and labourers in European employ.

3. The reasons for this suggestion are:--

(a.) That the in-door servant question is as acute as the out-door servant,

question.

(b.) That, with but little additional labour, the Commission could include

the in-door servant question within its inquiries.

(c.) That any legislation resulting from the inquiry and Report of the Com- mission and affecting only out-door servants may be resented by the out-door servants as being invidious.

4. If I recollect aright, the question of the registration of Chinese domestic ser- vants was recently referred to the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, the Committee of which reported adversely to the proposal.

5. With all respect for the reply of the Chamber of Commerce and the decision of the Governuent thereon, I would point out that the opinion of the Committee of that Chamber upon the question of how to control native servants, is hardly authoritative, and that, in all probability, the Members of that Committee were mostly exempt from the inconveniences which ordinary householders experience in respect of all classes of Chinese servants.

6. Under the Compradore system, heads of the firms of which the aforesaid Com- mittee is mainly composed, have an easy method of engaging and controlling native servants, which is not available to the average householder.

7. The Committee of the Chamber, moreover, forms a very small portion of the Community and its opinion on a matter involving no technical skill and outside the purposes of the Chamber, should, I submit, be no bar to an extension of the inquiry so as to embrace the question of the registration of all classes of Chinese servants-a ques- tion which affects and interests a large najority of the European Community, and especially the poorer classes of that Community.

( 147 )

8. May I also point out that any objections advanced by the Chamber against the registration of Chinese domestic servants must equally apply to the registration of purely out-door Chinese servants, and that if the objections are fatal and valid in one case, they must be fatal and valid in the other case.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient Servant,

His Excellency

THE GOVERNOR.

APPENDIX L.

T. SERCOMBE SMITH.

His Excellency the Governor to His Honour Mr. Justice Sercombe Smith,

No. 174/c.

SIR,

GOVERMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 2nd September, 1901.

I have the honour to acknowledge with thanks your letter of the 31st ultimo sug- gesting that the scope of inquiry into the question of the registration of private chair and jinricksha coolies should be extended to include all classes of Chinese servants and labourers in European employ.

2. I have, however, to inform you in reply that I do not propose to extend the scope of the Commission as issued.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your Honour's most obedient Servant,

His Honour

Mr. JUSTICE SMITH.

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor, &c.

SIR,

APPENDIX M.

Letter from Mr. Wilcox to Government.

HONGKONG, 30th August, 1901.

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of yesterday's date inquiring whether I would be willing to serve on a Commission it is proposed by His Excellency the Governor to appoint for the purpose of inquiring into the question of private chair and jinricksha coolies in this Colony.

In reply, will you please inform His Excellency that I shall be happy to serve on such a Commission; but I beg respectfully to suggest that it is most desirable, in the interest of the general community, that the scope of the inquiry should be widened to embrace at any rate all domestic servants, if not outside coolies as well.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

R. CHATTERTON WILCOX.

Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

687

No. 36

1901

HONGKONG.

DEPOSITIONS TAKEN BY THE MAGISTRATE SITTING AS CORONER, AND FINDING IN THE ENQUIRY INTO THE DEATHS WHICH OCCURRED IN THE

天

COLLAPSED HOUSES IN COCHRANE STREET.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

HONGKONG TO WIT.

His Excellency the Governor.

Inquiry No. 20 of 1901.

In charge of the Case-Inspector David Douglas Cuthbert.

Information of witnesses severally taken and acknowledged on behalf of Our Sovereign King EDWARD the Seventh at the house known as the Police Court in Victoria, in the said Colony, on the 30th day of August in the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and one, before Francis Arthur Hazeland, Esq., Gentleman, Magistrate for the said Colony.

LIU Mur declared and examined:-

I am a married woman. I lived at No. 32, Cochrane Street, third floor. The house was a family house. The house had four storeys. There were different families occupying the different floors. On the 3rd floor there were 19 people. On the night of the 14th August, at 11 p.m., the house suddenly collapsed. My husband was in the same cubicle with me. My husband was killed. My mother and two daughters were also on the same floor. They were all killed. My husband's name was Leung Sang. He was head coolie at the Ordnance.

DAVID DOUGLAS CUTHBERT SWorn and examined :--

I am Inspector of Police. I was requested to make enquiries of those who were killed by the col- lapse of Nos. 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. Forty-three dead bodies were recovered from the ruins. I produce list of 41 persons who are missing from these two houses. There are also 3 whom I have not been able to ascertain the names of. Two of these three were visitors and the third was the husband of a woman living in the house. I am of opinion that all the 41 on this list were killed by the collapse.

GEORGE WATT sworn and examined:

I am Police Sergeant 11. On the night of the 14th instant at 11 p.m. I was in Queen's Road at the bottom of Cochrane Street. I heard noise of something falling. I ran up the street and found that No. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street had collapsed and also the verandah of No. 30 had also fallen. I went up to No. 30 to get the people out. While I was there, fire broke out in No. 32. A minute or two later the fire brigade arrived and extinguished the fire.

HO HEUNG CHI declared and examined :-

I am a draughtsman in Messrs. Palmer & Turner, Architects. On the night of the 14th August I was asleep at No. 32, Cochrane Street, second floor. In the second cubicle there was a friend of mine sleeping there. His name was Ho Sun. He was an apprentice. I was asleep and I heard a crash. Then the house collapsed.

PERCY THOMAS CRISP sworn and examined :--

I am Inspector of Buildings. On the 15th August at 9 a.m. I was called to the collapse of Nos 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. I examined the débris and found that all the floor joists were in a sound condi- tion. The brickwork of the top floor, which was added a year ago, seemed to be good work. I saw the red brick bonding and it was good. In my opinion the cause of the collapse was due to the faulty party wall of the old work. I found, from the part of the party wall remaining, it was quite hollow. I have no doubt this party wall was built hollow. The heavy rains soaking into the two layers of Shanghai tiles caused a very great weight to come on to the party wall, which split in two owing to its being hollow.

JOHN BELL Sworn and examined :—

I am Medical Officer in Charge of the Mortuary. I produce list of the bodies received at the mortuary on 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 22nd August, sent by the Police from the collapsed buildings at No. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street. I have also placed on the list the cause of death.

HUGH POLLOCK TOOKER Sworn and examined :—

I am Acting Assistant Director of Public Works. These two houses, Nos. 32 and 34, Cochrane Street, standing on Inland Lot No. 1 section A, were constructed, as far as we can ascertain, in the year 1878, and there appears to be no record in the office of any alteration or addition until the latter end of 1900, when plans were submitted under the Building Ordinance and notices given on prescribed form. One dated the 3rd November, 1900, is in respect of No. 32, Cochrane Street, and the other dated the 7th-

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December, 1900, is in respect of 34, Cochrane Street. Both plans were prepared by Mr. E. M. HAZELAND, and the notice dated the 3rd November, 1900, describes the work as follows:-" To make additions and re-build cross wall, add verandah." The notice dated the 7th December describes the work as follows:— "Additions and re-building cross wall, &c." Both notices are signed by CuAN TSUN CHEUNG, as owner, and the addition spoken of consisted principally of another storey. They were originally 3-storied houses. These plans were scrutinized by myself, and found to be in accordance with the Building Ordinance, and were then forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health and were returned by him saying that he was satisfied they were in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance. This Ordinance (15 of 1894) provides for the height of houses in relation to the width of the street. This additional storey complied with that Ordinance. I visited the collapse on the morning of the 15th August and found that Nos. 32 and 34 had completely collapsed, and in No. 30 the front wall had fallen out, and the sites of Nos. 32 and 34 were covered with débris and also the street in front, and also the balcony of No. 31, which was of iron, was considerably damaged and a quantity of débris was on the verandah. I made a careful exami- nation of the remaining walls and of the débris. I found that the portion of party wall between 32 and 34 was badly constructed although the bricks of which it was composed were good. I mean by badly constructed that the wall was badly bonded and the heart of the wall was composed of small pieces of blue brick. The heart of the wall was hollow and was filled in with small pieces of brick. This could not be perceived except by an interior inspection of the wall. The party wall between Nos. 30 and 32 and between 34 and 36 were standing at that time and exposed to view, and it could be perceived that these walls were more or less of the same construction as the party wall between 32 and 34. After careful examination, I formed the conclusion that it would be impossible for anybody to say definitely what part of the building first collapsed. I further concluded that the mischief had been going on for some time and that the showery weather we had before the accident-hot one hour, and then a heavy shower -- would have caused considerable contraction and expansion of the material, and acting on these old walls would have considerably tended to the collapse. All the timber in the floor that I examined was sound and good and the top floor appeared to be supported on hard-wood joists. I believe, from the way the floors were lying, that the party wall between Nos. 32 and 34 was the first part of the building to col- lapse. The failure of this wall would have caused the floors to tumble down and the shock would have been quite sufficient to throw the front wall out. I attribute the accident generally to the bad state of the old brickwork of the whole building. The old Building Ordinance No. 8 of 1856 placed no res- triction on the use of blue bricks but it required that all walls should be solidly built.

ERNEST MANNING HAZELAND sworn and examined :-

I am Civil Engineer and Architect. Some time in November and December, 1900, I was asked by Mr. Chan Tsun Cheung to prepare plans for an additional floor with verandahs to houses 30, 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. I sent one of my assistants to measure the premises up. He reported the walls were sound and plumb and thick enough to add an additional storey in compliance with the Building Or- dinance and Public Health Ordinance. Plans were prepared and submitted to the Public Works Department for approval. These plans were approved by the Public Works Department and I gave the plans to the owner. I had nothing to do with carrying out the alterations and additions to these premises. I was not engaged to superintend the work. I was formerly Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department. My principal duties while in the Public Works Department were to carry out the provisions of the Building Ordinance. If I had the least suspicion that these walls were unsound I would not have sent these plans to the Public Works Department.

HUGH POLLOCK TOOKER recalled:-

I would wish to bring to the notice of the Court that in all the cases coming before the Court of collapses, the plans were prepared by European Architects, but in each case, they said that they had no power to supervise the construction. I believe if the work had been under the supervision of a European Architect, as soon as the roof was pulled off, he would have seen the bad state of the walls and would have doubtless pointed out the necessity of re-building them. Section 76 sub-section 3 of the Building Ordinance gives the Director of Public Works or any officer deputed by him power to enter any house, building or tenement where he has reasonable grounds for believing that within any house, building or tenement there are works being completed or carried out in contravention of this Ordinance.

Adjourned to 2.15 p.m.

F. A. HAZELAND,

30th August, 1901, at 2.15 p.m.

Police Magistrate.

JOHN MITFORD ATKINSON sworn and examined :-

I am Principal Civil Medical Officer. I produce list of bodies received on the 14th and 15th August sent by the Police from the collapsed buildings at Nos. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street. I have also placed on the list the cause of death and the approximate age.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Police Magistrate.

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LIST OF DECEASED PERSONS PUT IN BY INSPECTOR CUTHBERT.

No.

Names.

Age.

Sex.

Occupation.

Former Address.

Fung Ki,

Chaii Kim,

Chai Chi,

Wong Tat,

Chai Fong,

Chai Sau,

Leung Cheung,..

Chau Tak,....

A-Kap Tsai,

Wong Iu,

Cheng Su,

Visitor,

.about

Ho Siu,

Wong Chong,

Wong Leung,

Ho Tang Hip,

ོལྤ ོ ོ ོ ེ ེའལལ ུ བྱཱ ལ

Blacksmith,

No. 32, Cochrane Street, ground and first

floors.

Fishmonger,

Farmer,

Father of No. 11.

Tailor,

Coolie,

No. 32, Cochrane Street, second floor.

Fishmonger,

Ho Sing Tai,

Ilo Ling,

Kong Tak,

Wong Su Man,...

Leung Sum,

Coolie,

Married woman,

Coolie,

Kwok Kam Chi,

Widow,

Leung Woon,

Leung Chap Ho,

Pang Kaü,

Coolie,

No. 32, Cochrane Street, third floor.

Pang Kan,

Pang Nai,

A-Kaü,

Coolie,

A-Shü,

A-Sze,

Name unknown,

..about

Chu Sham So,

25.

Kept woman,

Lau So,

45 M.

Stallholder,

A-Chun,

Married woman,

Visitor,

.about

Unknown,

A-Shap,

Widow,

A-Kum,

Spinster,

Cheung Nui,

Chan Kau,

Married woman,

Coolie,

Husband of No. 30.

Central Market.

No. 34, Cochrane Street. First floor.

Needle woman.

No. 34, Cochrane Street, 2nd floor.

Chan Yit,

Wong Chiu,

Ship's Cook,

No. 34, Cochrane Street, 3rd floor.

LIST OF BODIES RECEIVED AT MORTUARY FROM COCHRANE STREET

DISASTER AND SEEN BY DR. BELL.

Sex.

Age.

Date.

50,

40,

M..

17.8.01,

M..

32,

M..

18.8.01,

(M..

18,

30,

M..

50,

M..

15,

M..

15,

17,

30,

19.8.01,

40,

45,

M..

20.8.01.

M..

22.8.01,

Cause of Death.

Burns. Burns.

Suffocation.

....Injuries.

Multiple injuries.

99.

40,

Total,......... 23 bodies.

Injuries.

..Injuries-very decomposed.

J. BELL.

Medical Officer in Charge of Mortuary.

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LIST OF BODIES RECEIVED AT GOVERNMENT MORTUARY FROM COCHRANE STREET DISASTER AND SEEN BY DR. J. M. ATKINSON.

Dates received at Mortuary.

August, 14,.....

Sex.

Approximate Age.

Cause of Death.

Multiple injuries.

Suffocation.

14,.

14,

15,...

15,

15,.. 15,......

15,.

ད ི་

15,..

15,

Multiple injuries.

Suffocation. Multiple injuries. Suffocation. Multiple injuries.

15,..

15,

15,..

15,

15,. 15,.. 15,....

15,...

Total 20 bodies.

August 30th, 1901.

J. M. ATKINSON, Principal Civil Medical Officer.

THE CORONER'S ABOLITION ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTAL ORDINANCE, 1889.

I hereby certify that on the 30th day of August, 1901, I held, under the provisions of Ordinance 17 of 1888, an enquiry as to the cause of 43 deaths in the City of Victoria in the Colony of Hongkong and that the following particulars were then disclosed :---

1. Name of Drceased.

1. Fung Ki,.....

2. Chau Kim.

B. Chau Chi

4. Wong Tat,

5. Chau Fong 6. Chau San, 7. Leung Cheung, 8. Chau Tak,

9. A Kap Tsai,

10. Wong Iu,

11. Cheng Su,

12. Visitor,

13. Ho Sin,

14. Wong Chong,...

15. Wong Leung,.. 16. Ho Tang Hip,

17. Ho Sing Tai, 18. Ho Ling...

19. Kong Tak,

20. Wong Su Man,

21. Leung Sam,

2. Occupation and Residence.

.Blacksmith.

་

.Fishmonger.

Farmer, (Father of No. 11)

.Tailor.

.Coolie.

Fishmonger.

Nil.

.Nil.

...Coolie.

Married woman.

.Coolie.

.Widow, Nil.

32. Cochrane Street,

ground and 1st floors,

32, Cochrane Street, 2nd floor.

22. Kwok Kam Chi,

23. Leung Woon,

24. Leung Chap Ho,

25. Pang Kau,

26. Pang Kan,

27. Pang Nai,

28. A Kau,

29. A Shu,..

30. A Sze,

31. Unknown,

.Nil.

.Coolie.

.Nil.

Coolie.

Married woman.

..Coolie, (Husband of No. 30).

32, Cochrane Street. 3rd floor.

32. Chu Sham So. 33. Lau So,

34, A Chun. 35. Visitor, 66. A Shap. 37. A. Kum. 38. Cheung Nui. 39. Chan Kau. 40. Chan Yit,

41. Wong Chiu.

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Kept woman.

.Stall holder, Central Market.

Married woman. Unknown.

Widow, Needle woman. .Spinster,

.Nil.

Ship's cook.

No. 34. Cochrane Street, 1st floor.

No. 34. Cochrane Street, 2nd floor.

No. 34. Cochrane Street, 3rd floor.

(NOTE.-Only 41 persons have been traced by the Police as missing from Nos. 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. The extra 2 bodies sent to the mortuary were probably passers by or people sleeping on the pavement of the two houses.)

3. Where found and when and under what circumstances? Found under the débris of houses Nos. 32

and 34. Cochrane Street. which collapsed on the 14th August, 1901.

4. Date of death. 14th August, 1901.

5. Cause of death.-Burns, Suffocation, or Injuries.

NOTE.—The following are the names, residence and callings of the witnesses examined :---

(a.) Liu Mui, married woman, 32, Cochrane Street.

(6.) David Douglas Cuthbert, Inspector of Police.

(d.) Ho Heng Chi, draughtsman to Messrs. Palmer and Turner, Architects.

(e.) Percy Thomas Crisp, Inspector of Buildings.

(f.) John Bell, Medical Officer in charge of the Mortuary.

(g.) Hugh Pollock Tooker, Acting Assistant Director of Public Works. (h.) Ernest Manning Hazeland, Civil Engineer and Architect.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Police Magistrate.

ADDITIONAL DEPOSITIONS of witnesses taken by the above-named Magistrate in the re-opened enquiry into the above-mentioned deaths on the 20th, 21st and 23rd September, 1901, and adЛi- tional Finding of the said Magistrate.

20th September, 1901.

Present, Mr. F. BOWLEY, Crown Solicitor.

Mr. Bowley, Crown Solicitor, who appeared to conduct the examination of witnesses, said his Worship, on 30th August last, held an enquiry into the Cochrane Street disaster, and, as he understood from the certificate attached to the depositions, his Worship found that the causes of the deaths of the 43 people were burns, suffocation or injuries. It had been considered desirable that further evidence should be taken in connection with this inquiry, and he submitted that his Worship was there as Coroner and Coroner's Jury, and his Worship had all the powers and duties of the Coroner, and it was in his Worship's discretion to sit there with or without a jury. Consequently, he (Mr. Bowley) took it that his Worship was now sitting as Coroner and Coroner's Jury. The object was now to find out not the immediate cause of death, but what was the actual cause that led to the accident. The duties of a Coroner in England were laid down in Jervis' Office of Coroner as follows:-

"The coroner should therefore inquire as to the circumstances of the death; where and when the "deceased died or was found dead; by whom he was last seen alive; who was present, or who first "saw the body after death; whether any known illness existed; whether any negligence or blame is

alleged against anyone."

It was perfectly clear, Mr. Bowley continued, from the evidence that had already been taken that the cause of death was the falling of certain houses, and he submitted that the question now to be inquired into was what was the cause of the fall of these houses and whether it was caused by the negligence of any persons. He proposed to call certain witnesses, who had been heard before, in order to add to their evidence, and to call several new witnesses. He thought they might take the evidence already taken as part of the evidence of the inquiry.

CHAN CHUN CHEUNG declared and examined by Mr. BOWLEY :—

I am dealer in matches in Hung Hom. I manufacture matches. I live at 42 and 44, Stanley Street. I own 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. On the 25th or 26th October, 1900, I agreed to buy 32, Cochrane Street. I completed the purchase on the 22nd December, 1900. I agreed to buy 34,

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Cochrane Street, on the 6th or 7th November, 1900. The purchase was completed on the 8th Nov- ember, 1900. When I agreed to purchase these two houses they had only three storeys. The price of 32, Cochrane Street, was $9,900, and the price of 34, Cochrane Street, was $9,800. I looked at the houses and found that another storey could be added and then I agreed to buy. Before I agreed to buy 32. Cochrane Street, I did not consult any one as to the feasibility of adding another storey. I have built 20 or 30 houses myself. I got a man to act as contractor for the building of these 20 or 30 houses. I have never built a house without employing a contractor. I never consulted Mr. Rain about 32 or 34, Cochrane Street. Last year I got Mr. Ram to do some work for me. I frequently went to the office. I never spoke to Mr. Rain or Mr. Gibbs about 32 and 34. Cochrane Street. The first architect I consulted about 32, Cochrane Street, was Mr. Hazeland. One or two days after the agree- ment to buy I consulted Mr. Hazeland. I told Mr. Hazeland I had bought No. 32, Cochrane Street, and I asked him to look at the house to see if the walls were strong so that I might add another storey. I asked Mr. Hazeland at his office. I did not ask him anything else. I told him if the floor could be added to make a plan for me. Mr. Hazeland then said he would go and look at it. After a few days I again went and saw Mr. Hazeland. Mr. Hazeland said--It could be done, the walls were strong.

He said he would make a plan for me and get permission. The alterations I wanted were to the back-yard. The back-yard ran across the house, the kitchen was behind it. There were bridges on the upper floors to the kitchens. As the house stood originally there were two internal cross walls. I wanted these two cross walls to be pulled down and a single cross wall put up instead. The kitchen was to be put on one side of the house and the back-yard on the other side. The new cross wall was not on the same line as the old cross walls. The new wall was to be be- tween the lines of the two old walls. The room in consequence would be slightly deeper. I also wanted a new storey added. Mr. Hazeland prepared the plans for the alterations. The plans were shown to me before they were sent. I signed the notice to the Director of Public Works that I intended to commence the work. This is a notice I sent in.

This is a notice I sent in. [Notice put in and marked 4.] This is the plan which was sent in with Notice A. [Plan put in and marked B.] The addition of the new floor involved the addition of a new verandah. I have seen this plan before. Mr. Hazeland prepared it for me. [Plan put in and marked C.] Plan C is a plan of the verandah in detail. There was already a verandah to the 1st and 2nd floors. Some time after I received a permit from the Public Works De- partment. The permit was handed to me by Mr. Hazeland. He handed me also plan B. [Permit put in and marked D.] I had purchased No. 34, Cochrane Street, before I had received permit D. After I had completed the purchase of No. 34, Cochrane Street. I went and saw Mr. Hazeland. Mr. Hazeland said the alterations would be the same as No. 32, Cochrane Street. He prepared plans for me. This is the plan of No. 34, Cochrane Street. [Plan put in and marked E.] I signed this notice.

[Notice put in and marked ] Mr. Hazeland afterwards handed me a permit. [Permit put in and marked G.] Plan E was also handed to me with Exhibit F. I do not remember if there was an enlarged verandah plan to No. 34, Cochrane Street. I believe Mr. Hazeland handed me a copy of Exhibit C, but I am not sure. After Mr. Hazeland had handed me these plans he had nothing further to do with the matter. The fee for each house was $40. I employed Pun Wo of the Wo Ki to do the work. I started work on both houses at the same time.

He was

The 1st floor and ground floor of 32, Cochrane Street, were let to the Tong Yik blacksmith shop. They were the tenants before I purchased the house. They paid me $50 a month for the two floors. When I purchased the house the 2nd floor was unoccupied. The blacksmith shop did not remove during the alterations. The blacksmith had a forge on his premises. The blacksmith made verandah iron and made brackets like those on plan 6. He also did other work. When I bought No. 34, Cochrane Street, the tenant of the ground floor was Wui On, building contractor. still there at the time of the accident. He paid $34 rent a month. There was a cockloft on the ground floor to store beams and planks. I do not know where the fokis slept. On the 1st floor when I bought it, the tenant was Ng Yau. It was used as a family house. The monthly rent was $24. Ng Yau was the tenant at the time of the accident. The 2nd floor was let to Yi Hing. It was used as a seamen's boarding-house. During the repairs the Yi Hing moved away. After the alteration the Yi Hing came back and occupied the 3rd floor. They paid $28 a month. At the time of the accident the 2nd floor was occupied by Ip Chuk Sang. It was a family house. The tenant of the ground floor and 1st floor remained during the alterations. During the accident the family houses were divided in cubicles. At the time of the accident there were the following cubicles on each

floor:-

2nd floor, 3rd

32, Cochrane Street,

........4 cubicles, 1 sitting room.

34, Cochrane Street.

....5 cubicles.

1st floor, 2nd

3rd

No cubicles.

1 sitting room.

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The 2nd floor of No. 32, Cochrane Street, at the time of the accident, was let to a man whose name I do not remember. He was a new tenant. The floor was used as a family house. The rent was $22 a month. The tenant of the top floor of No. 32, Cochrane Street, at the time of the accident, was Leung Sam. It was used as a family house. The rent was $26 a month. The Wo Ki have

done work for me before. I made no written contract with the Wo Ki. I agreed with him as to the price. The price was $2,350. This was to be cost of the whole of the alterations. Before I agreed on the price I showed plans B and E to the contractor. I went to see how the work was getting on. Sometimes I went once a day to see the work, sometimes two or three times a day. and sometimes once in a few days. I gave orders to the contractor as to how he should do the work. I handed the plans to the contractor. The alterations were carried out in accordance with these plans. I followed these plans in every detail. I see a new cross wall on the ground floor in Plan E. I put

in an arch instead of the cross wall. I put in the arch to let in the air. The tenant afterwards put up a partition instead of the arch. I did not get permission from the Public Works Department to put in an arch instead of the cross wall. On the section in Plan EI see four brick arches dividing the kitchens from the yard. I did not put in these brick arches. I did not obtain from the Public Works Department permission to dispense with the four brick arches. I also see on Plan E a chimney to the four cook-houses and a chimney stack on the top of the house. I did not build the chimney nor the stack because they were useless. On the top of the roof of the cock-house on the top floor Ì put a small house a few feet high in order to go on to the roof. It is only a few feet high, so I did not get permission from the Public Works Department. I have never seen a small recess in the party wall in the ground floor of No. 34, Cochrane Street. In No. 32, Cochrane Street, I made similar deviations from the plans as were made in No. 34, Cochrane Street. In order to build this additional storey it was necessary to raise the party walls. There were three walls.

There were three walls. I had to take the coping off these three walls. I had to take off between 1 and 2 feet of the old walls. I saw the old walls before the additions were made to them. I found the bricks of the old wall to be blue bricks. I examined the old walls carefully. Most of the bricks were whole bricks. Small pieces of bricks were used to fill up. In my opinion the party walls were strong enough to bear the additional floor. After I uncovered the walls I did not call an architect to see if the walls were good or not. When the walls were uncovered I did not see any Government Inspector come and inspect the wall. The ridge of the old roof was across the house. The party wall-the centre was higher than it is at the two ends. I did not take down the top of the party wall until it was level. This applies to all three walls. The bricklayer took out some bricks from out of the wall and put in some new bricks to form the corbelling. The top of the roofs were covered with two layers of Canton tiles. I did not intend to sell these two houses. These alterations were completed in the last decade of the 12th moon (from 8th to 18th February, 1901). I collect my own rents. I go to each floor each month. On the day of the collapse I went to both houses and to each floor. This was at 4 p.m. The blacksmith was working at his shop. I did not see any brackets fastened into the wall of the blacksmith's shop. I saw some tables and stools on the verandah of the 1st floor of No. 32, Cochrane Street. I saw this from the street. I saw no cracks or any other sign that the building was in a dangerous condition when I went that afternoon. I took down the front wall sufficiently far in order that I could put in the brackets for the verandah, and built it up again. There were three brackets on the top verandah. The wall was cut down level. I don't remember how much I took down of the back wall.

PUN Wo declared and examined by Mr. BOWLEY :—

I was

I am contractor, carrying on business as the Wo Ki. My shop is at 3, Sing Wong Street. I have no partners. I am 36

I am 36 years of age. I have been carrying on the Wo Ki for 11 or 12 years. formerly an apprentice bricklayer. Chan Chün Cheung employed me last year to do some alterations to No. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street. I agreed with him as to the price. The price was $2,350. Before agreeing on the price I saw the plans. I understand an English plan. In Plan B the follow- ing is the new work:-A new cross wall including foundations; to take down the old roof and raise the party wall to put on the beans of the third floor; to build up the front wall: to build in the brackets with cement; to build two new door frames in the front wall; to put a new roof on the roof was to be covered with flat tiles to take down two cross walls in each house; to take down the old cook-houses and build 8 new cook-houses; to build a wall with arches in it between the cook-houses and the yard, the last mentioned walls would require foundations. The cross wall on the ground storey in the plan is 14 inches but I built it 18 inches. There is a difference between the plans of No. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street. In No. 32 the internal cross wall shows one arch on the ground floor and two windows on each of the upper floors. In No. 34 there is an arch on each floor. On each plan there is shown a new chimney and a stack. The work on these two houses was one joh. I did the whole work myself. I employed the bricklayers, carpenters and blacksmiths. I superin- tended the work myself. I only had these two plans to go by. I had no copy of plan C. I did the work according to the old verandah. The old party wall went up to a point in the centre. had to take off the coping. I did not take down the party wall until it became level. The junction between the new work and the old was on a slope. I made the new bricks fit into the old bricks. In laying bricks I do not make one brick cover the other-the different joints should be covered with

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another brick. Good bricks are sometimes of different sizes. If you buy 1,000 bricks, there are 700 whole bricks and 300 half bricks. The half bricks are good bricks. When I took off the coping I found there were whole bricks and half bricks in the walls. Every joint that I saw of the old wall was covered by a brick. The wall that I built was better than the old wall. When I built the new wall I used the old bricks. The Government (Naval Yard) does that. I have seen them doing it. I do not know why the wall collapsed. I thought it was safe to put the weight on. I would not dare to have done it if it was not safe. I do not know the weight which was being put on this wall. I saw that every part of the wall was safe. I made a careful examination of the lower part. scraped off the whitewash from the wall to see if it was safe. I scraped off some whitewash from the blacksmith shop. I cut a hole in the blacksmith shop. I removed 3 bricks in length and 4 bricks in height. I wanted to see if the wall was good. I removed the bricks on or about the 22nd or 23rd December. I did not show the hole to Chan Chün Cheung or anybody else. The hole was filled up at the completion of the work. The hole was made near the kitchen door of 32, Cochrane Street, outside the kitchen door, the street side of the kitchen door. It was 2 or 3 feet from the ground and was 7 or 8 feet from the kitchen door. I had to make the hole in order to make the new wall join the old one. The hole was 9 inches deep. When I was building there was no recess cut into the party wall of house No. 34 ground floor. I only made one hole to see if the wall was In order to insert the cor-

a good wall or not. I judged the three walls by the hole which I made. belling on the top floor I cut into it and inserted new bricks. Chan Chiin Cheung frequently came to see the work. He told me to do it according to the plan and to put in good material. The small house on top of the cook-house was built by me. This small house was 7 feet high. It was built of brick. There was one on each house. Chan Chin Cheung told me to build this house. Chan Chün Cheung told me not to put in the internal cross walls. also told me to build the arch instead of the cross wall. house. I built a chimney in No. 32 but not in No. 34. 34. I did not build a latrine on No. 34. The cost of the beams was the same as the brick wall. The cost of the arch would be about the same as building the wall. I did not see any Government Ins-. pector come and view the building during the alterations.

ERNEST MANNING HAZELAND sworn and examined :--

He said the cross walls were useless. He The arch was on the ground floor of each The stack was not built in No. 32 nor No.

I had nothing to do with No. 30, Cochrane Street. Chan Chün Cheung came and asked me to see if the walls of No. 32 were strong enough to take another storey. I told him I would let him know about it. I sent Mr. Pearson to look at the walls. I told him to see if they were sound. I did not tell him to cut into them and examine them thoroughly. I did not tell him to examine the foundations. Mr. Pearson said that the walls appeared sound and good. I believe I informed Chan Chin Cheung. I cannot remember. Chan Chun Cheung instructed me to prepare plans for an addi- tional storey and to alter the cook-houses. I had the house measured by Mr. Stuart, a draughtsman in my employ. The plans were made by Mr. Stuart under my supervision. Plan B is the original plan of the alterations in No. 32. I sent the plans to the Public Works Department. I subsequently obtained permit D and handed it to Chan Chin Cheung. Plan C was prepared in my office and was sent by me to the Public Works Department. I sent plan B with a tracing. After I had handed plan B and permit D to the owner I had nothing more to do with that house. As far as I remember, the same course was taken with regard to No. 34. I sent Pearson to examine the wall of No. 34. Stuart made plan and I got that passed in the same way. I did not go to these houses until after the collapse. You can tell from the outward appearance if the wall is really bad. It is possible for both the external faces to be perfectly good and yet the wall might be hollow in the middle. It is a prudent course to examine the foundations before putting on an extra weight. I did not calenlate the extra weight to be put on these walls. I cannot say offhand what would be the pressure on the lower part of the party wall. Pearson has been an overseer in the building trade for 25 years. He was overseer working under the Building Ordinance in the Public Works Department for 5 or 6 years. He has had no practical training as an engineer or architect. For 7 or 8 years I was carry- ing out the provisions of the Building Ordinance in the Public Works Departinent. Pearson was my overseer in the Public Works Department for 4 or 5 years. I was working under the supervi- sion of Mr. Tooker when he was in the Colony. All that Stuart had to do was to measure up the work. I believe there were two cross walls in each house with a yard between. It is not always the practice in submitting plans to show the old work as well as new. I would pass it when I was in the Public Works Department if the alterations were stnall but not if they were large. These plans do not show the old work. The pulling down of the cross wall would not weaken the party wall if the new cross wall was to be built in nearly the same position. The length of the party wall between the cross wall and front wall is 36 feet 4 inches. Unless the approval of the Director of Public Works is obtained no party wall is to exceed 35 feet. In this case it was approved. In the plan of No. 34 the depth is given at 34 feet 6 inches. There is an error in the dimension of one of them. This party wall is the extreme height allowed by the Ordinance. If it was half an inch higher it would have to be thicker. In the plan of No. 32 the length of the party wall is taken from the footing which is 6 inches below the floor. The proper way to ascertain the footing is to make a hole in the floor. In the Building Ordinance it is laid down that the old portion is to comply with the Ordinance as well

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as the new. It is not possible to ascertain if a wall complies with section 10 of the Ordinance as amended without opening the wall. There is a provision in the Building Ordinance that black bricks shall not be used in the lower storey without the approval of the Director of Public Works. When there has been an addition to an old house it has not been the practice to require other than blue bricks in the lowest floor. There was nothing in the plans to show what bricks the walls were built of. Without a personal inspection it is not possible to say whether the building complies with the Ordinance. When I was in the Public Works Department and plans were submitted it was taken for granted that the buildings complied with the Ordinance. I saw the honses after the accident. My opinion of the cause of collapse was that there was a quantity of iron stored on brackets fastened to the party wall between 32 and 34, Cochrane Street. At the present time there are some small brackets on the party wall still standing. Also the place being a blacksmith's shop, hamnering away at heavy ma- terial would tend to shake and weaken the wall. If there was a quantity of iron stored in the front verandah of the 1st floor it might have pulled out the front wall and pulled out the party wall. The roof rests on the party wall. If the front wall fell it would probably pall out the party wall as the two would be bonded together and tied together with tie rods. I think that it is more probable that the party wall collapsed first. The remains of the party wall have the appearance in places of two nine-inch walls built together. The ideal bricklaying is that if you put a knife into any joint you strike a brick. The vertical joints are several courses deep. In the remains of the party wall there were several broken bricks and pieces of bricks used. As a rule it is safe to build a new house with old bricks. I have no diploma as an architect or civil engineer. All my experience has been gained in the Public Works Department here.

Adjourned until to-morrow, 20th instant, at 10 a.m.

21st September, 1901.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Police Magistrate.

FREDERICK PEARSON SWorn and examined :-

I am employed by Mr. Hazeland, Architect, as Clerk of Works and General Assistant. I was formerly an overseer in the Public Works Department. I was there for 6 years. While in the Public Works Department, I was Inspector of Buildings. I left the Public Works Department in June, 1900. I joined Mr. Hazeland in July, 1900. When I was in the Public Works Department the officials in charge of the Building Ordinance were Mr. Tooker, Mr. Hazeland and myself. The first thing I did last year in connection with No. 32, Cochrane Street, was to examine the walls. I was told by Mr. Hazeland to do this. I keep no diary or record of the work I do. I made this examination some time in November last year. I do not remember the date. The instructions Mr. Hazeland gave me were that the owner wanted to put another storey and I was to ascertain if the walls were in accord- ance with the Building Ordinance. Mr. Hazeland did not tell me to cut into the wall nor examine into the foundations. He did not tell me the weight of the additional storey. I found the wall all right. I ascertained the wall was all right by looking at them. I also found the thickness of the wall was in accordance with the Building Ordinance. I measured the thickness of the walls. I examined all the walls and could not find any cracks whatever. The houses were occupied at that time. I did not get the tenants to remove any of their property. I could examine the walls without anything being removed. I could see the wall in the blacksmith's shop without anything being re- moved. Against the party wall of the blacksmith's shop there was some sheet iron. I went to the next house and examined the party wall at the same spot on the other side of the party wall.

I did not remove any of the dirt or whitewash from the wall. I did not use a plumb line. I could see with- out a plumb line that the walls were plumb. There was no indication of any crushing. I could not see the whole of the party wall from the ground floor to the coping because the floors were in the The inspection of No. 32 took me 20 minutes. I reported the state of the walls to Mr. Hazeland verbally. I afterwards made an inspection of No. 34, three or four weeks later. My inspection of No. 34 was similar to No. 32. I reported No. 34 in the same way. There are certain stipulations in the Building Ordinance with respect to foundations. I could not tell whether the foundations were in accordance with the Building Ordinance. When I was in the Public Works Department, when an architect sent a plan for additions or alterations, the foundations were never shewn. It was never re- quired by the Public Works Department to be shewn. I am familiar with section 10 of the Building Ordinance requiring walls to be solid, properly bonded and to be put together with good material. I could not tell without opening the wall whether it complied with the section. It has never been re- quired in the case of an old building when alterations or additions are to be made that the bricks of the ground floor are to be rel brick. This wall was blue bricks. In my opinion the collapse was probably caused by the outlet being blocked and the water, owing to the rain, could not get away. The same thing happened to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank at the Queen's Road entrance. I was Assistant Surveyor for years to the Cape Government Railway Line. I served no apprenticeship. I was

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taken on 18 years ago by the Government for the Tai Tam Works under Mr. Price. When the Tai Tam Works were over, I was employed by Danby, Leigh and Orange, Palmer and Turner and W. Danby before I joined the Public Works Department.

JOHN LORRAINE STUART sworn and examined:-

I am draughtsman to Mr. Hazeland. I have been with him since March or April last year. I had no previous experience before I joined this office. I measured No. 32, Cochrane Street, last year in November, I measured No. 34, Cochrane Street, later. I made plans B and E. I did not make the tracing or the original of it. The following were the measurements I made:-The depth and width of the goound floor, yard and also kitchen, also the height of the ground, 1st and 2nd floors. It took a quarter of an hour to measure each house. The dotted lines of the section of plan B represent the foundations of the internal cross walls. The foundations are new works. The new work is shown in red, pink and burnt sienna. New iron is shown in blue. New foundations are shown in blue and yellow. The old work is shown in neutral tint in plan B, indigo in plan E. The new work consists of new cross walls, new cook-houses, new internal cross wall and a new storey with a new verandah to it. The chimneys are new. In each plan the footing of the party wall is shown 6 inches below the party wall. This is what Mr. Hazeland told me to put down. I did not measure it. The measure- ment on the ground floor in plan E of 34 feet 6 inches is an internal measurement. The measure- ment on the ground floor in plan B of 36 feet 4 inches is intended for external measurement although marked as an internal measurement. This is a mistake. I think the two houses are of the same depth. In each of these two houses there were two cross walls formerly. I do not think it necessary to show the old cross wall. I forgot to show the foundation of the new internal cross wall in plan Ë. I did not think it necessary to show the old foundation of the old wall. I did not see the old founda- tion. Mr. Hazeland told me to make the new party wall 50 feet from the foundation. It is not necessary, in my opinion, to show any staircase. Mr. Hazeland saw the plan but did not take any notice of the plan properly. I measured the width of the street. The total time I spent in each

house was 15 minutes.

JOSÉ MIGUEL XAVIER SWOrn and examined :--

I am Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. I am Assistant Engineer of the Public Works Department. I have been in the Department for 14 years. I took charge of the Building Ordinance work under Mr. Tooker on the 1st May, 1900, on the resignation of Mr. Hazeland. 1 had Mr. Pearson as overseer under me and part of a Chinese Clerk's services. Mr. Pearson re- signed on the 15th June, last year. After Mr. Pearson resigned, I had the whole of the Chinese Clerk's time. The Chinese Clerk did the clerical work. I had no overseer after the 15th June, 1900. I gave up the Building Ordinance work on the 9th November last. Between the 15th June and the 9th November last year, I was single-handed. Besides the work under the Building Ordinance, 1 had three or four works-Public Works Extraordinary. For 5 months I had the supervision of all the private works in the Colony without any assistance. It was not possible to exercise an effective supervision over the works under the Building Ordinance. I reported this matter to Mr. Tooker, my superior officer, about the end of June. On the 9th November, I handed over the work to Mr. Crisp under instructions of Mr. Tooker. This notice A passed through my hands. The plan B was attached to notice A. It was simply passed through me to note and to be forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health. It was not my duty to examine the plan to see that it complied with the Building Ordinance except when I was particularly requested to do so. It is Mr. Tooker's duty to see that the plan complies with the Building Ordinance. I have never been to No. 32, Cochrane Street. It is not necessary to go and see the building. It is sometimes done. It is not necessary because the plan gives all the necessary information. We take it for granted that a plan submitted by a regular architect that the information in the plan is correct. There is nothing in plan B to show if the walls are red or blue bricks. There is nothing in the plan to show that the walls are properly bonded and solid throughout. There is nothing in the plan to show that there is a foundation to the old wall. I took Mr. Crisp round and showed him the various districts in the Colony. I did not show him the particular works.

PERCY THOMAS CRISP Sworn and examined :-

I am Inspector of Buildings. I arrived in the Colony on 8th November, and arrived at the Public Works Department the same day at 12 noon. I went out with Mr. Xavier on the 10th Novem-

ber and went out for a fortnight, part of the time with Mr. Xavier, and part of the time by myself. I see by notice A that I measured the width of the street. I think it was on the 13th November. I never went into No. 32, Cochrane Street, either before or during the alterations. I had too much to do. I was strange to the Colony and did not know the names of the streets and it took me a consider- able time to get through my work. In fact until up to Christmas, I did not do any inspection. On the 14th May this year I made a note of the fact that the verandah of No. 32 had been completed. did this at the request of Mr. Tooker. I saw from the street that the verandah was completed. With the exception of measuring the street and of noting that the verandah was completed, I made no inspection of 32, Cochrane Street. On the 14th December, I measured the width of the street in

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connection with No. 34, Cochrane Street. With the exception of measuring the street, I made no inspection whatever of No. 34, Cochrane Street. Since my arrival in the Colony, I have been the only inspector or overseer of private buildings for the whole Colony. I have nothing to add to my former evidence as to the cause of collapse. Since I last gave my evidence I have found among the débris, iron rods with a nut at one end which had evidently been used for a shelving or cockloft for storing iron pipes, &c. The iron rods are bolted through the floor joists throwing extra weight on the floor. This was in the blacksmith's shop. This is a common thing in the Colony in blacksmiths' shops. The floor joists have therefore to carry many hundredweights more than they were intended to carry. The wood work entering the wall from the wooden bearers causes cutting about of the party wall, and the extra vibration of the business of the smith might have contributed to the collapse. Sketch H is a sketch of a shelf which I suspect was in this blacksmith's shop. With defective walls it is not safe to have a blacksmith's shop on the ground floor of a tenement house. In my experience in England I have never seen a smith's shop under a tenement house.

Remanded until Monday, 23rd September, 1901, at 10 a.m.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Police Magistrate.

LEUNG TUNG declared and examined :-

24th September, 1901.

I am managing partner of the Tung Yik blacksmith shop. We now carry. on business at 41, Wing On Street. Up to the time of the collapse we carried it on 32, Cochrane Street. We were a year and a half at No. 32, Cochrane Street. We made verandah brackets, railings, and water pipes. The brackets were the heaviest things we made. I supplied building contractors with iron building materials. All the work was done on the ground floor. The forge was in front of the kitchen in the back part of the shop. The forge was nearer to No. 34, Cochrane Street. The bellows were between the wall and the forge. I could not pass between the forge and the wall. The staircase was on the 34, Cochrane Street side: Against the wall and between the staircase and the forge was a long working bench. The anvil was in the middle of the room. The anvil was 3 feet in front of the forge. The forge had a back and a hood. The forge was not moved at the time of the actual alter- ations-but the hood was. The alterations made my shop deeper. During the alterations the staircase was moved out two feet. I was away at the time of the accident. I went away on the 12th August and returned on the 18th August. Most of my material was stored on the ground floor in the middle of the shop. I stored a quantity of short pipes against the wall-the wall of No. 30. On No. 34, there was no room to store the pipes. I had no brackets against the wall of No. 34. I had brackets stored against the wall of No. 30 only. There were things against the wall of No. 34. They were sundry things. Most of the things were stored on the No. 30 side of the wall. The kitchen on the ground floor was used for storing sundry iron goods. The cooking was on the 1st floor. In the front part of the 1st floor my family lived in a cubicle and in the back part of my shop my fokis lived. In the verandah there were a few stools. There was no iron stored on the verandah." I had no spare anvil on the 1st floor. These verandah brackets are made of flat iron bars about 3 inches wide. I only bent the iron bars in the shop. The iron bars were made in England. I had to cut them, bend them in the proper shape and drill holes into them. The bars were half an inch in thickness. had 20 fokis, they all slept at No. 32. Nine of my fokis were killed,

HENRY GARROD sworn and examined by Mr. BOWLEY :-

I am Police Sergeant 33. At about 11 p.m., on the 14th August last, I first saw the fallen houses in Cochrane Street. When I got there, there was a fire in the north-east part of No. 32. It appeared to be on the ground floor. It took the best part of an hour to put the fire out completely. The front walls and the verandahs had fallen out on the road. There was about 10 feet in height at the back of the party wall left, and the rest had fallen into the house. The floors had also fallen at an angle. The higher portion of each floor being against the standing walls. I was on special duty for 10 days clearing up the débris. The supports of the verandahs I found on the side channel où the east side of the street. They had fallen right down. There were no signs of any material being stored on the verandah. The whole of the material on the ground floor was turned over in searching for corpses. I found a quantity of iron rods and iron pipes in the blacksmith's shop. It was on the north side of No. 32. There was no indication of iron stored on the south side. I noticed a work- ing bench on the south side. If there had been a quantity of iron on the south side I would have noticed it. There was no indication of a cockloft as sketched in Exhibit H on the ground floor of No. 32.

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LEUNG TUNG re-called:-

I had no cockloft as sketched in Exhibit A on the ground floor of No. 32.

CHAN CHUN CHEUNG re-called :-

The cockloft for storing beams and planks on the ground floor of No. 34 was from one party wall to the other. The cockloft was 10 odd feet deep. The small half of this cockloft was filled with timber. The cockloft was there when I bought the house. I did not notice a similar cockloft in the blacksmith's shop. I moved the staircase one or two feet out. The cubicles were put up by the tenants. After the alterations were completed, cubicles were erected on the 2nd and 3rd floors of No. 32, and on the 2nd floor of No. 34. The head of each staircase rests against a beam. The beam went right across the house from party wall to party wall. This beam is larger and stronger than the ordinary beam. The beams on the 1st and 2nd floors had to be moved.

HUGH POLLOCK TOOKER Sworn and examined by Mr. BOWLEY :

I carry out the duties of the Director of Public Works under the Building Ordinance. I have carried out those duties since April, 1890. The work has increased enormously, since that date. From the time I took over the duties up to June, 1900, the staff consisted of an assistant engineer and myself. For a number of years Mr. Hazeland was my assistant and on his resignation Mr. Xavier. Before Mr. Hazeland took over the duties I had Mr. Sample as an assistant. I had the whole of his time for Building Ordinance work. Mr. Hazeland followed Mr. Sample in January. 1892. Both Mr. Hazeland and Mr. Xavier were sometimes called off for other work. Until Mr. Pear- son resigned in June last year he gave the whole of his time to the work. After Pearson resigned there was no overseer. Mr. Xavier handed over the whole of his work to Mr. Crisp. The staff which assisted me was reduced from an assistant engineer and an overseer to an overseer only. The work had increased enormously, practically three times. I have made representation to the Head of my Department repeatedly about the insufficiency of my staff. I have been able to give less and less time to the Building Ordinance work because my other work has considerably increased and my staff has been reduced. I received notice A, plans B and C early in Novem- ber last. The first thing I do is to see if the plans comply with the Building Ordinance. I then pass them to the Medical Officer of Health to see if they comply with the Public Health Ordinance. This was done on the 6th November. He wanted the width verified. I sent Mr. Crisp to verify the width. This was found to be correct and I issued permit D. The permit is returned with the original plan to the architect, and I retained the tracing of the plan.◄ Plan C had to go up to the Governor for approval. The detail plan for the verandah is filed in the office. I also received on the 7th December notice F and plan E. I examined the plan myself and passed it to the Medical Officer of Health. Mr. Crisp was sent to measure the street on the 19th December. Permit G was issued by me. I did not inspect either of these houses before the accident. Except Mr. Xavier and Mr. Crisp there was no other officer who could inspect these buildings. No officer did inspect these buildings. There was no examination of any kind whatsoever of these buildings by any officer of the Department either before or after the approval of the plans. Except with the approval of the Director of Public Works the old part of the buildings in which alter- ations are to be made must comply with the new Building Ordinance. Except with the approval of the Director of Public Works the walls of the lower storey must be of red brick, and except with the approval of the Director of Public Works, no party wall can exceed 35 feet in length except with a "return or cross wall. On these three points the Director of Public Works has a discretion. With respect to the last point, I have a direction not to enforce that requirement in any case.

This order was made in consequence of representations made by certain architects in this Colony. With respect to the solidity of the wall, the bonding of the brick work, the thickness of the walls and the foundations, there is a discretion in the Director of Public Works as regards old buildings --but not as to new buildings. With respect to old buildings the Director of Public Works has a discretion whether he will allow alterations and additions or not. I am acquainted with section 75, but would rather not express an opinion on the section. Plan B only shows the line of the top of the foundations of the old walls. I would take from plans B and E that there were foundations. is the universal practice of architects not to show foundations of old walls, because it is unreasonable to expect the whole foundation to be opened up. It is the universal practice of the Public Works Department to approve of a plan submitted by an European architect without knowing whether the foundations are good or bad. This has been the practice for the last 12 years. The plans do not show whether the walls are of blue bricks or red bricks. The plans do not show if the bricks are properly bonded or solidly built. A plan could not show that except on a large scale which the Ordinance does not require. It is desirable before exercising any discretion of approving of alterations and additions to old work to make a personal inspection. It is not possible to inspect foundations without opening them up. It is not possible to see if a wall is pro- perly built without opening it up and cutting into the wall. It is possible for an 18-inch wall to consist of two 9-inch walls without any bonding between them. Plan B shows that the wall is to be raised 50 feet high from the footing to the top. This is the maximum height allowed for this thickness of wall. It is shown in plans B and E that the houses are built fronting a sloping street.

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The

In the

In the The removal of the stair-

Looking at plan B it is necessary that the lower party wall should be a greater length than the other unless its foundations are deeper. The elevation of the front of the house on plan B shows the upper party wall to be at least 50 feet by scale. Looking at that plan B it does not appear that in all probability the lower party wall is higher that 50 feet. Each wall in plan B is practically up to the same height. The floor level of No. 32 is a foot above the top of the footing of the foundations. plan is therefore inaccurate. If the wall was made the same height as shown on the plan it would be 50 feet 6 inches. If the wall had been drawn correctly it would have shown that the wall would have been over 50 feet high when completed and therefore would not have been in accordance with the Ordinance. In plan E the party wall is shown as 50 feet high from a line 6 inches high below the If the wall had been floor level. The footings are 3 feet 10 inches below the level of the floor. built in accordance with the plan it must have been 53 feet 4 inches and therefore not of the thick- ness required by the Ordinance. It is never the practice for the Public Works Department to open

the foundations. We always rely on the architect to find out the depth of the foundations. case of houses built on the slope, I would not expect foundations to be of an average depth of six inches below the floor. As a rule the least depth would be six inches. It depends upon the nature of the ground. It is usual in submitting alterations and additions to show all the existing works as well as the new.

There is nothing in These plans (B and E) do not show the existing work. the plans to show 2 cross walls. This is an important omission.

This is an important omission. There is nothing in the plans to show that the staircases are to be moved. In plan E no staircases are shown at all. plan E there are no foundations shown to the internal cross walls. case would probably weaken the party wall. No detail drawings of the verandah of No. 34, Cochrane Street, have been submitted. The owner of No. 32, Cochrane Street, did not sign an agree- ment with respect to the verandah. That was the only reason why I sent Mr. Crisp to look at the verandah in May. I did not send him there to inspect it. I read an article in the China Mail in August, 1899, on jerry buildings, which gave rise to considerable discussion. There have been collapsos before and since August, 1899. We had a discretion and could have told the architect that we would We were not have approved of the plans unless the buildings and foundations were opened up. bound to approve of these plans unless we knew that the plans were not in accordance with the Ordi- nance. I do not know if we had even the power to do that. There is nothing in the Ordinance to - say that we inust approve of the plan within a certain time. I noticed after the collapse the following deviation of the works from the plaus. In No. 34. Cochrane Street, there is a large archway instead of a wall with a door in it. There is no internal cross wall as shown in the plan. There are no chimneys according to the plan. There is a pipe flue to serve the ground floor only. The pipe flue is not shown on the plan. There is a recess in the party wall between No. 34 and No. 36 in the cook- house on the ground floor. It is 2 feet 6 inches square and 9 inches deep. It appeared to be fairly I believe it new. On the roof was a superstructure built of brick work-7 feet high 5 feet square. had been used as a cook-house. Alongside of this cook-house there was another superstructure which had been partly broken away. In No. 32, Cochrane Street, there was an arch instead of a cross wall. The internal cross wall is not there at all. There are no chimneys there as shown in the plan. There The side is a similar superstructure as in No. 34 only not quite so high. It looked like a cook-house. of the superstructure appeared to be built on the party wall between the two houses. Superstructures of this sort built on the party wall are not considered as part of the main wall for the purpose of increasing the thickness. I think these deviations might have contributed to the collapse

I do not

If think the want of chimneys had anything to do with the collapse nor the superstructure on the roof. the cross wall had been built it would live strengthened the buildings. I am still of the same opinion I do nor think the as to the cause of collapse as was given in my evidence on the 30th vibration of the Blacksmith's shop had very much effect on the house. In my opinion the party wall would have no down sooner or later without the additional storey. Each of these houses would, after the alteration, be allowed to house 55 persons under the Public Health Ordinance. During the year 1960 plans were deposited for raising 189 houses with an extra storey, Plans were approved for the whole of these 159 houses. I arrived in the Colony in April, 1830.

Larrived in the Colony in April, 1890. I was placed in charge of the Building Ordinance and also works carried out under Works Annually Recurrent Expenditure. That included Maintenance of Government Buildings. Maintenance of the Public Cemeteries, Mainte- nance of the Praya Wall and Piers, Maintenance of Light-houses, Maintenance of Rouds all over the Colony, Lighting the City with gas, Maintenance of the Public Recreation Ground, and orlar works of a miscellaneous kind which cropped up from time to time. Mr. Brown was then Surveyor General and my stuff consisted at that time of an assistant engineer, two overseers for roads, three overseers for buildings, one overseer in charge of the cemeteries and one overser for Building Onliance work, he-ides two or three native foremen. Mr. Cooper succeeded Mr. Brown in 1891, and he gave me then another assistant engineer and added Maintenance of Telegraphs to my work. This staff was main- tained until I went on leave in March, 1897. I returned to the Colony in March, 1898, and Mr. Ormsby was then Director of Public Works. He told me I would have to do with one assistant engineer. That was Mr. Hazeland, and nearly all his time was engaged in Building Ordinance work. Mr. Ormsby added to my work Maintenance of Buildings in the New Territory and Maintenance of Telegraph in the New Territory. I was invalided home in the Autumn of 1898 and returned to the Colony in December, 1899. My staff then consisted of one assistant engineer, two overseers of roads,

August

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4 overseers of buildings, an overseer of the cemeteries, an overseer for the Recreation Ground, and a few native foremen. The principal overseer of Government Buildings (Mr. Gowenlock) resigned. and his appointment was not filled up at the time. It was not until the 1st November, 1900, that an assistant overseer was appointed locally and he was put upon Government Building work. In the meantime the principal overseer on roads in October, 1900, went home on sick leave and died on the passage home. His place was not filled up until a few days ago. I was left with one overseer for roads and telegraphs in the Colony, one for telegraphs in the New Territory until the beginning of 1901. was then given the assistance of an assistant overseer. He was a sick man and could do very little. He was taken ill in February, 1901. I was again left with one overseer for roads and telegraphs until about the middle of the year when I got the assistance of Mr. Carroll who was formerly overseer on sewers. He worked with ine for about a month and got sick and had to go home ou leave. I then again was left with one overseer on roads and telegraphs. Just recently another overseer was appointed on roads and two more Portuguese foremen. When Mr. Crisp arrived, Mr. Xavier handed over his duties under the Building Ordinance to Mr. Crisp. Mr. Ormsby told me to do this.

WILLIAM CHATHAM sworn and examined by Mr. BOWLEY:--

I am Acting Director of Public Works. I was absent from the Colony from May, 1900, to March, 1901. I have never had anything to do with the Building Ordinance except as Acting Director of Public Works. I had nothing to do with these houses until after the collapse. I have inspected the remains of the honses since the collapse. I am of opinion that the cause of collapse was due to the bad construction of the party wall between the two houses. The addition of the new storey helped to contribute to the collapse. The foundations of this party wall have been opened. The foundations appeared to be good, strong enough to hear the weight of the wall. The ground under the founda- tions was good. If I was consulted as to the feasibility of adding another storey, I would have examined the walls carefully, knowing that the building was an old one. I would examine the walls externally first to see the nature of the material and the bonding of the walls as far as it was visible. It would be necessary to remove the whitewash. I would have considered it necessary to have examined the walls internally. I would then consider what weight would come on the walls if added to them. It would have been a prudent thing to do to open the foundations. Light smith's work would not have created any effect on the wall, if he had no machinery attached to the wall. The taking down of cross wall and altering the staircase would have a disturbing effect on the walls with which they were connected.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Police Magistrate discharging the duties of Coroner.

Exhibit A.

THE BUILDING ORDINANCE, 1891.

Notice of intention to commence works,

HONGKONG, 3rd November. 1900.

To the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

I hereby give you notice pursuant to The Building Ordinance. 1889, as amended by Ordinance No. 7 of 1895. of my intention to commence the following works, viz. :

To make additions and re-build cross wall; add verandah; in accordance with the accompanying plans.

No. of Lot, Inland Lot No. 1 Section A remaining portion.

Name of Street. Cochrane Street.

No. of House. 32.

Special or material particulars.-

Name and address of owner, or occupier, or agent. Co. E. M. Hazeland.

(Signed)

CHAN TSUN CHEUNG, Signature of owner.

(Statement of Capacity in which the party signs.)

A. (, H.

(Signed) H. P. T.

6.11.00.

( 15 )

Copy of minutes on Exhibit A.

Is the width of the street correctly given?

(Signed) F. W. C.

7.11.00.

Width of street 25 ft. 3 ins, and 25 ft. 6 ins.

(Signed) P. Crisp.

CRISP.

Noted.

(Signed) F. W. C.

14.11.00.

17.11.00.

Ackt. 1540.

Exhibit D.

No. 1540.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,

HONGKONG. 17th November, 1900.

Notice has been duly received from Chan Tsun Cheung of intention to make additions and to re-build cross wall in house No. 32, Cochrane Street, on Inland Lot 1 Section 4 Remaining Portion in accordance with plan deposited in this Department by Mr. E. M. Hazeland.

The work is to be carried out in accordance with the terms of the Building Ordinance No. 15 of 1889 as amended by Ordinances 25 of 1891 and 7 of 1895.

I approve of the above plan as being in conformity with the Building Ordinance No. 15 of 1889 as amended by Ordinances 25 of 1891 and 7 of 1895 and for no other purpose.

The person on whose behalf this plan is submitted to me must satisfy himself that the building or work delineated in the plan will not, if carried out, infringe any of the provisions of the various Ordinances and Bye-laws relating to Public Health and in Particular that it will not infringe any of the provisions of Ordinance 15 of 1894 or any Bye-law made thereunder.

(Signed) H. P. TOOKER,

pro. Director of Public Works.

Exhibit F.

THE BUILDING ORDINANCE, 1891.

Notice of intention to commence works.

To the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

HONGKONG, 7th December. 1900.

I hereby give you notice pursuant to The Building Ordinance, 1889, as amended by Ordinance No. 7 of 1895.

intention to commence the following works, viz :—

Additions and Re-building cross wall, &c. in accordance with the accompanying plans,

No. of Lot, Inland Lot No. 1 Sec. a Subs, 2.

Name of Street, Cochrane Street.

No. of House, 34.

Special or material particulars.—

Name and address of owner, or occupier, or agent.

(Sd.)

CHAN TSUN CHEONG. Signature of owner.

(Statement of Capacity in which the party signs.)

M.O.H.

Copy of minutes on. Exhibit F.

(Signed) H. P. T.

8.12.00. Is the width of the street correctly given?

(Signed) F. W. C.

11.12.00.

Mr. CRISP.

To measure width of street.

(Signed) H. P. T.

13.12.00.

Found street measures 25 feet 1 inches one end.

25 feet 24 inches the other.

ALOH.

(Signed) H. P. T.

14.12.00.

Noted.

(Signed) F. W. C.

17.12.00.

(Signed)

P. C.

14.12.00.

No. 164.

( 16 )

Exhibit G.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,

HONGKONG, 19th December, 1900,

Notice has been duly received from Chan Tsun Cheung of intention to re-build cross wall and to make additions to house No. 34, Cochrane Street, on Inland Lot 1 Section 1 Sub-section 2 in accordance with plan deposited in this Department by Mr. E. M. Hazeland.

The work is to be carried out in accordance with the terms of the Building Ordinance No. 15 of 1889 as amended by Ordinances 25 of 1891 and 7 of 1895.

approve

of the above plan as being in conformity with the Building Ordinance No. 15 of 1889 as amended by Ordinances 25 of 1891 and 7 of 1895 and for no other purpose.

The person on whose behalf this plan is submitted to me must satisfy himself that the building or work de- lineated in the plan will not, if carried out, infringe any of the provisions of the various Ordinances and Bye-laws relating to the Public Health and in Particular that it will not infringe any of the provisions of Ordinance 15 of 1894 or any Bye-law made thereunder.

(Signed)

H. P. TOOKER.

pro. Director of Public Works.

Mr. Bowley then proceeded to review the evidence. He said it was quite clear, as he mentioned in re-opening the enquiry, that the deaths of these unfortunate people were caused by the collapse of the houses, and he took it that the object of the enquiry was to find out why the houses collapsed. In his opinion they had had overwhelming evidence from several expert engineers that the real cause was the faulty construction of the party wall between the two houses. That being so, the enquiry really limited itself to the finding out of the cause of the falling of the party wall, and his Worship would doubtless be of the opinion that its fall was brought about to a very great extent, if not altogether. by the addition of an extra storey comprising heavy beams and brick work. There were, perhaps, minor canses, such as the soaking of rain into the building and the vibration caused by the work in the blacksmith's shop. but in spite of these, Mr. Bowley said he would submit that the main cause of the collapse was the addition of the new storey to this old building, which was erected in 1878, and was originally a three-storey house. Built, as houses were in those days, of blue brick, it had somehow or other stood the wear and tear of usage and climate for some twenty-two years. Recently it changed hands, and the purchaser, seeing what was going on everywhere in the Colony, thought he would do the same as other house-owners and add another storey. Before carrying out his idea, he took professional opinion as to its feasibility, and went to work to find out if the walls were strong enough. The architect, who must have known how old the building was, did not take warning by the many collapses that had previously taken place, and thought it sufficient to send an overseer to look after the matter, with no instructions to make a careful examination of the building, but simply to look at the walls. The overseer went there and spent twenty minutes in each house. He never thought of looking at the founda- tions, or even of scraping away the whitewash from any part of the walls, and did not even plumb them except with his eye. He did not cut into them to ascertain their solidity-he simply looked at them. Then along came the draughtsman to measure the houses. He spent fifteen minutes of his valuable time there, and took three measurements-breadth, depth, and height of each floor. From these three measurements he drew up the elaborate plans that had been produced in Court, each of them absolutely incorrect in several respects. Then the plans were made out, omitting some important information that should have been included. They did not show two old cross walls that had to come down, and no foundations whatever except to the new wall. The height of the wall itself was mere guess-work—in one plan no staircases were shown at all. These plans were thought to be sufficient to send up to the Public Works Department, where they were given a cursory glance to by that very much overworked official, the Executive Engineer under the Building Ordinance. They then went to the Medical Officer of Health, whose only doubts were as to the height of the walls in respect of the width of the street. Accordingly an overseer was sent to measure the width of the street to satisfy the Medical Officer of Health, and the Director of Public Works, or, rather, Mr. Tooker on his behalf, issued a permit for the alterations and additions proposed. It had been pointed out in the evidence that the Ordinance required amongst other things that all walls shall be built solid, of good bricks properly bonded together, and that the lower storey must be built of red brick and so on, and under the Ordinance the Director of Public Works had absolute discretion in the matter of granting or refusing permits for additions Or alterations to old buildings, unless the old building complied in every respect with the Building Ordinance. Yet no one in the Public Works Department ever took the trouble to find out whether the requirements of the Ordinance as to such alterations and additions were being fulfilled. From the beginning to the end no one ever thought of going and looking at the foundations, and it appeared as though the foundations had nothing whatever to do with the matter. Nobody even knew whether there were foundations or not until the opening up took place. The elaborate machinery of the Ordinance having been got through in this farcical way, the plans, after the formal approval of the Director of Public Works, were handed to the contractor or architect, and then the work of hacking and cutting this

poor old party wall was commenced, till by degrees this death-trap, warranted to hold 55 people, was erected. No one ever inspected the work, from the commencement to the finish. This was a

(17)

matter which not only concerned the tenants; it concerned the man in the street, who supposed that the Public Works Department in this Colony protected him against houses falling upon him. The Ordinance said that "the Director of Public Works shall inspect a building during alterations." It was the duty, Mr. Bowley submitted, of the official in charge to refuse to sign these permits until he had satisfied himself on all points. It was no excuse in law because a man had no time to do a certain duty, that that duty should remain undone. If he had no time to inspect the building, it was in his power to refuse to sign the permit, or he might have referred the matter to the Government and thrown the responsibility on it. Instead of that, these plans were signed without any inspection being made by anyone. It was not as if this was a new thing. Houses had been falling down in the Colony in recent years in a most extraordinary way, and notice had been taken of the fact in the public newspapers and elsewhere. That was enough to put anyone on their guard to be more careful. He submitted that the persons to blame in the matter of the collapse were: In the first place, the architect on whose professional knowledge the owner relied, who gave it as his opinion, without making any examination at all, that the houses were fit and good; secondly, the official responsible in the Public Works Department, who, without making any examination whatever, passed the plans; and thirdly, the head of the Department, who had allowed the staff in charge of the duties of the Building Ordinance to dwindle down gradually, although the work was increasing, until it consisted of Mr. Crisp. He had actually taken away the assistant engineer in charge of building work and appointed nobody save one overseer, who had just come out to the Colony and hardly knew the streets. In this way an Ordinance which had been very carefully framed had been allowed to dwindle down to a mere farce. Mr. Bowley, in conclusion, asked his Worship to bring in a verdict, in addition to his previous finding, that the deaths of these people were due to the adding of a new storey to the rotten party wall, and that the architect who recommended the addition and the Department which sanctioned it were guilty of gross negligence.

FINDING.

The evidence on this Inquiry does not disclose what was the immediate cause of the collapse of No. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street, on the night of the 14th of August, 1901.

The following conditions and circumstances, in my opinion, probably contributed to the said col- lapse:

(1.) The existence of a blacksmith shop on the ground floor of No. 32, Cochrane Street. It

was proved in evidence that vibration has a tendency to weaken the walls of a house. (2.) On the ground floor of No. 34, Cochrane Street, was a cockloft used by the tenant, who

was a contractor, for storing beams and planks.

(3.) The defective construction of the party wall between No. 32 and No. 34, Cochrane Street. It was proved in evidence that the said party wall was badly bonded and that the heart of the said wall was hollow and filled in with small pieces of bricks.

(4.) The existence of an extra storey which was put on each of the said houses six or seven

months prior to the said collapse.

(5.) That the showery weather prior to the collapse-hot one hour and then a heavy shower- would have caused considerable contraction and expansion of the material, and acting on the old walls would have considerably tended to the collapse.

(6.) That there was a deviation by the owners from the approved plans while altering the said two houses. The principal deviation being the building of an arch instead of a wall and the total absence of internal cross walls.

Putting myself in the position of a Coroner's jury, I make the following suggestions or riders :---

(a.) That the existence of blacksmith's shops under tenement buildings be prohibited. (b.) That all cocklofts used for storing heavy material be also prohibited.

(c.) That all buildings or work under the Building Ordinance be carried out under the

superintendence of a European Architect.

(d.) That the provisions of section 72 of the Building Ordinance, which casts upon the Director of Public Works the responsibility and duty of approving only of such alterations and additions to old work or buildings as will render the building with the said alterations and additions absolutely safe (except in cases where the whole of such work or buildings including the old portion of the structure when completed complies with the provisions of the Ordinance) be carried strictly into effect.

(c.) That the provisions of section 75 of the Building Ordinance, which casts upon the Director of Public Works or officers deputed by him the imperative duty of entering, inspecting and surveying every building work during its progress, for securing the due observance of the provisions of this Ordinance be carried strictly into effect.

(f.) That the staff of the Public Works Department at present employed to carry out the provisions of the Building Ordinance is insufficient and ought to be increased without delay.

F. A. HAZELAND,

Police Magistrate discharging the duties of Coroner.

25th September, 1901.

HONGKONG.

RETURNS OF THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

141

No. 1901

SUPREME COURT, HONGKONG, 7th January, 1901.

SIR,-1 have the honour to forward the following Annual Returns :---

1.-Return of all sums received as Revenue in the Registry of the Supreme Court during

the year 1900.

2.-Return of all sums collected in the Registry of the Supreme Court for 1900, and paid

into the Treasury.

3. Comparative table showing the number of offences, apprehensions, convictions and

acquittals for the last four years.

4.- Return of Criminal cases that have been brought under the cognizance of the Supreme

Court during the last ten years.

5.-Indictments and Informations in the Supreme Court for 1900.

6. Return of Criminal cases tried in the Supreine Court during 1900.

7.- List of changes in the holders of Offices.

8. Return of Estates of Intestates for the second half year ending 31st December, 1900.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable,

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

RETURN of all SUMS RECEIVED as REVENUE in the Registry of the Supreme Court during the Year 1900.

Original Jurisdiction,

Summary Jurisdiction,

Bankruptcy Jurisdiction,

$ 4,342.10

3,515.25

562.74

Probate Jurisdiction,

Official Administrator's Commission,

Official Trustee's Commission,

3,587.70

3,384.38

120.17

Sheriff's Fees,

Bailiff's Fees,

Fees on Distraints,

Registrar of Companies,

Fines and Forfeitures,..

Miscellaneous Receipts,

Official Receiver in Bankruptcy,

Admiralty Jurisdiction,

Land Office Fees (including $1,892 account New Territory),

Registry, Supreme Court. Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

100.50

684.00

1,110.25

4,581.00

510.00

0.95

883.62

153.00

$ 23,535.66 16,699.25

$ 40,234.91

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar:

142

RETURN of all SUMS COLLECTED in the Registry of the Supreme Court for the Year 1900, and paid into the Treasury.

REGISTRAR.-Court Fees paid by Stamps,

OFFICIAL ADMINISTRATOR, -5% on amounts encashed and paid into the

Treasury,

1899. $ 12,207.65

1900. $ 13,271.04

5,551.74

3,384.38

OFFICIAL TRUSTEE-2% on amount of Trust on taking over up to $10,000,

above $10,000 commission 1 %, 1% commission on income,

576.35

120.17

FINES AND FORFEITURES,

MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS,..

BAILIFF,......

SHERIFF,

REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES,

OFFICIAL RECEIVER IN BANKRUPTCY,

694.00

684.00

119.00

100.50

5,638.00

4,581.00

510.00

286.71

LAND OFFICE FEES (including $1,892 account New Territory for 1900), .

$ 25,073.45 11,988.50

$ 37,061.95

0.95 883.62

$ 23,535.66 16,699.25

$ 40,234.91

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

COMPARATIVE TABLE showing the NUMBER of Offences, APPREHENSIONS, CONVICTIONS, and ACQUITTALS for the last Four Years.

The Number of Convictions in the Superior Courts--

1. For Offences against the Person,

2. For Offences against Property,

3. For other Offences,.

The Number of Persons acquitted—

2. In the Superior Courts,

1897.

1898.

1899.

1900.

*4-2

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

RETURN of CRIMINAL CASES that have been brought under the COGNIZANCE of the Supreme Court, during the last Ten Years.

Postponed.

Charges Abandoned.

YEAR.

Number Number

of Cases. Persons.

Convicted. Acquitted.

No. of Cases.

No. of Persons.

No. of Cases.

No. of Persons.

1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

55585

-986N

...

Total,....

167

221

121

1896,

(a) 1897,

(b) 1898, 1899,

(e) 1900,

6119 H

Total,......

260

370

255

Average of 1st

Period,.... J

333/3

441

241

133

62/

}

Average of 2nd į

Period, ....

15素

a. In one case the recognizance estreated.

b. In two cases the recognizance estreated.

c. In two cases the recognizance estreated.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

143

INDICTMENTS and INFORMATIONS in the SUPREME COURT of HONGKONG for the Year 1900.

Including Attempts and Conspiracies to commit the several offences.

Showing how the cases tried in the Superior Courts ended.

(Each Prisoner tried counts as a separate case; where a large number of Prisoners have been convicted together, the fact is mentioned in a note.)

Total.

Manslaughter.

Attempt at Murder.

Concealment of Birth.

Murder.

Judgment for the Crown,

Judgment for the Prisoners,

Prisoner found Insane,

Cases which fell through for want of prosecution or ab- sence of accused, and cases thrown out by the Grand Jury (Attorney General), ...

Cases postponed,

Rape.

Unnatural Crimes.

Robbery with Violence.

Other Offences against the Person.

Offences against Property.

Miscellaneous Offences.

Abortion.

...

SENTENCE.

Charges

Cases

Abandoned. Postponed.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

RETURN of CRIMINAL CASES tried in the SUPREME COURT of HONGKONG during the Year 1900.

Number of Cases tried.

Number of Persons tried.

CRIME.

Assault with intent to rob,

Attempting to commit the abominable crime of

buggery,

Being a member of an unlawful society, Bribery of a public servant,.

Demanding money with menaces,

Forgery,

Housebreaking and receiving stolen goods,

Importing counterfeit coins,

Larceny,

Larceny as a clerk,

Manslaughter,

Murder,

Obtaining money by false pretences,

Perjury,

Rape,

Robbery,

Robbery with violence,.

Throwing corrosive fluid with intent to burn,

HAD WONW: wwi NNN

Ni uni wii-p

-i ~Hi NN:

Unnatural offence,..

Women and Girls'

Protection Ordinance, 1890,

Offences under.....

حت

Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm,

J. W. NORTON KYSHE, Registrar.

28 4

Of 91 Persons

.87 were indicted.

Four were not indicted, which are included under the heading of "Charges Abandoned,” 4

91 Persons.

a. & b. In two cases the recognizance estreated.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

144

LIST of CHANGES in the Holders of Offices, and Appointments, Creation of New Offices, Changes in Salaries and Allowances in the Department of Supreme Court, during the Quarter ending 31st December, 1900.

Name of the Officer who

Office.

formerly held the appointment, and annual Salary.

Name of the Officer who is now appointed and annual Salary.

Assistant Land Officer.

New Appointment.

George Herbert Wakeman, $3,600.

Date of appointment, authority, and annual Salary.

14th September, 1900. C.S.O. 640 of 1900. $3,600.

If it is a new office, state date of such

appt. and annual Salary.

New appointment. 14th September, 1900. $3,600.

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

RETURN of ESTATE of INTESTATES for the Second Half-year ending 31st December, 1900. (Ordinance 3 of 1897 Section 28.)

Amonnt received on

Deductions for Disburse-

Account of

ments.

Balance on closing Account.

Disposal of Balance.

Estate.

Charles Baines,

9.73

0.49

9.24

Paid into the Government

Treasury.

Mrs. M. L. M. Burke,

195.30

14.52

180.78

Do.

C. T. Dale,

40.99

4.05

36.94

Do.

F. D. Maclean,

179.42

12.72

166.70

Do.

...

Mrs. Emma Moore,

42,085.48

9,575.03

32,510.45

Do.

Malla Singh,

100.00

34.35

65.65

Do.

Jehangheer Hormusjee,

55.00

2.75

52.25

Do.

Jehangier Hormusjee,

55.00

2.75

52.25

Do.

B. M. Noorodin,

22.00

1.10

18.90

Do.

J. Umiashankar,

James Dodd,

F. Dittmann,

22.00

1:10

18.90

Do.

78.01

3.90

74.11

Do.

20.02

1.00

19.02

Do.

J. B. Plinston,

124.47

6.75

117.72

Do.

Veemin,

10.00

0.50

9.50

Do.

Kaiser Singh,

5.00

2.50

Do.

Niels Jargen Nielsen,

711.01

167.75

543.26

Do.

Wong Doch Shiu,.

374.50

18.73

355.77

Do.

Ruby Dwyer,..

375.62

74.25

301.37

Do.

Daniel Haywood,

298.77

73.75

225.02

Do.

Ebrahim Kahn,.....

4.02

Do.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 7th day of January, 1901.

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Official Administrator-

439

22 No. 1901

HONGKONG.

RETURNS OF THE SUPREME COURT FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

RETURN of CIVIL and APPEAL CASES brought under the cognizance of the Supreme Court of Hongkong.

during the Year 1900.

CASES TRIED.

Judgment.

Settled

In Depend-

No. of

Debt

with-

JURISDICTION.

ency in

Cases

Total.

and

drawn

Damages..

before

and Damages recovered.

1899. 1900.

Trial.

Original,

145

Summary,

1,071

1,121

*$427,081.85

169,896.86 440

1 50

$46,738.29

361 37

147 76

61,125.91

* Not including two cases wherein the amounts claimed were £5,425 and £9,687.10.0 respectively.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 21st March, 1901.

No. of Cases.

APPEALS COMMENCED.

1900.

APPEALS.

J. W. NORTON KYSHE,

Registrar.

APPEALS TRIED.

Judgment.

No. of Cases.

Appellant.

Res- pondent.

Pending. Withdrawn.

Appellant.

Res- pondent.

Pending. Withdrawn.

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 21st March, 1901.

فت

J. W. NORTOn Kyshe,

Registrar.

440

CALENDAR of PROBATE and ADMINISTRATION granted by the SUPREME COURT of HONGKONG during the Year 1900,

No.

Date of

Name of Testator or Intestate.

Time and Place of Death.

Grant.

Probate, Administration with the Will annexed, or Administration.

Value

Name and Description of the Executor or Administrator.

sword

under

1900.

1899

191 July 12 Chiu Mee Quan alías Chiu | 16th July, 1898, San Ui,

A Sien alias Chiu Tsz Kee

Probate,

China,

Chiu Kan alias Chiu Pat Kan alius Chin Shan Yan alias Chiu Kit U, one of the Executors,

17,000.00

123 Jan. 20 | Ku Kam Pan

1899

27th Aug., 1896, Heung

Shan, China,

Do..

Young Shi, lawful widow and relict and.

sole Executrix,

60,000.00

1899.

1859

12 Dec. 15

126 1899

Yeung Lai Shi.......

Granville Sharp

15th July, 1899, Hongkong. | Letters of Adm., Yeung Ming Shan, the lawful and natu-

16th Aug.. 1899, Norwich,

England,

Probate,

ral son, Edmund Hamilton Sharp, one of the

Executors,

200.00

1,080,000.00

Do.

Do..

Double Probate, | Sotheby Godfrey Bird, one of the Exe-

cutors,

Do.

Probate,

1900.

July 12

Feb. 27 Ling Tow alias Ling A Tow. 16th Aug., 1899, Pun U,

China,

1900 Jan. 13 Edward Ford Duncanson... 17th Apr., 1899. Kent,

2 Feb. 28 Wong Kwan Tong alias

Wong Quan Tong

3 Jan. 18 Alexander Morrison

11 Cheang U Tin

11 | Cheung Hoi

10 Bunt Singh

30 Leong Tak......

20 Lam Tsoi alias Lam Tak

Kwong

22 Hans Waldemar Schmidt ...

30 Chung Pong alias Chung

Put Chiu

30 Lo Sing Luen

13 Feb. 16

1818

Reginald Grey Turner

Yeung Yan Po....... John Ambrose Clarke..

14 Donald Fraser

Pow Shee

་

***

Fan Hok To......... Richard Daniel Jones...

21 Delfino de Noronha

21 Charles Holmes

21 Mar. 6 John Whitehead

22 Feb. 26 Claudia Compaguotti..........

England,

17th May, 1899. Shun Tak,

China,

20th May, 1899, Inverness,

Scotland,

26th Oct., 1887, Cantón,

3rd Jan., 1900, Hongkong, 20th Oct., 1899, Hongkong,

26th Sept., 1893, Shun Tak, 22nd Feb., 1900, Hongkong,

10th Oct., 1899, London,

14th Dec., 1899, Hongkong,

6th June, 1899, Heung

Shan,

17th Nov., 1889, Manila,

6th Sept., 1889, An Hui, 26th Dec., 1899, Hongkong,

9th June, 1897, Kobe, 30th Mar., 1898, Macao, 15th Mar., 1895, Nam Hoi, 29th Nov., 1899, at sea,

6th Feb., 1900, Hongkong,

6th Sept, 1899, Macao,

2nd June, 1899. Hainan, 30th Jan.. 1900, Hongkong.

26 Kwan Hoi Chuen

22nd Aug., 1899, Hongkong.

28 Jocelyn Antonio Gutierrez... 28th Jan.. 1900, Hongkong,

28 Francis Norman Firth

Ip Tsz Fong

27 Apr. 11 Pang Ling...

28 Mar.

9 Robert John Stainton......

Lai Chi San

Edward Burnie

11th Dec. 1899, Mounthill,

Kent, England,

12th Dec., 1899, Hongkong, 10th Feb., 1900, Ho Nam,

Canton.

Letters of Adm. with Exem- plification of Probate of the Will and Codicil

..unexed, Probate,

Ling Ying Cho alias Ling Cho and Ling Choi Cho alias Ling Tsoi, the Exe- cutors.

Alexander George Wood. Attorney of Thomas Jones Gibb Duncanson, Eli- zabeth Oliver, and Joseph Wingyett Hunt, the Executors.

Letters of Adm., Cheang Leung Shi, the lawful widow

Probate,

Letters of Adm., | James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

17,000.00

45,000.00

Wong Lut Wan, sole Executor,

3,700,00

Do..

Patrick Duncan Mactavish and Alex-

ander James Stewart, the Executors..

8,117.65

and relict,

900.00

Cheung Lin Tai, one of the Executors,

132,000.00

Administrator,

150.00

Do., Probate,

Leong Kit, natural and lawful brother,.. Lam Tak Wai, sole Exccutor,

10,000.00

400.00

Do.,

Willian Harwood, the surviving Exe.

cutor,

4,110.00

Do..

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed, Probate,

Chung Ip Cho, the Executor,

1,500.00

| Lo Kam Fung, Lo Pong and Lo Tim,

the sole next of kin and grandsons,

10,000.00

John Thomas Macleod, one of the Exe-

cutors...

5,000.00

Yeung Yau Kwai, the Executor,.

75,000.00

300.00

Probate, Do., Do..

600.00

Ng Cheung, sole Executor,

51,000.00

Fan Chan Shi, sole Executrix.....

300.00

Letters of Adm.,

James William Norton-Kyshe. Official

Administrator,

400.00

Probate,

Do.,

Letters of Adm., | James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

John Hall, the Executor.

Henrique Lourenço Noronha, Leonardo

Noronha, José Pedro Braga, and An- | tonio Joaquim Basto, Executors,

Letters of Adm. | George Alonzo Derby, Attorney of George

with the Will C. Blethen, the Executor,

annexed,

Do., Letters of Adm.,

Probate,

Letters of Adm.,

Letters of Adm.

with Exem- plification of Probate of the Will annexed, Probate, Do.,

Henry Whitehead, Administrator, Luigi Maria Piazzoli. Bishop of Clazo- mené, holding the Ecclesiastical Ap- pointment of "The Vicar Apostolic of the Roman Catholic Church in hongkong."

Kwan Luk Shi and Kwan Foug Kuk, the

Executrix and the Executor,.. Mathilde Maria Gutierrez, the lawful

widow and relict..

John Charles Peters, Attorney of Ella

Denoon Firth, sole Executrix,

Ip Sai On, one of the Executors.. Pang Ho shi the Executrix.... .

15th May, 1898, Yokohama, | Letters of Adm., | Herbert Johnson Gedge, Attorney of Fran-

Japan,

cis Charles Stamton, Sibbria Julia Grey, Adeline Matilda Osborne, Cle- mentina Stainton, Emily Stainton, Winifred Mary Robinson and Ethel Blanche Roberta Marshall, natural and lawful brother and sisters, James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

138,500.00

5,900,00

3,800.00

100.00

18,500.00

150.00

26,200.00

7,500.00 1,500.00

2,600.00

Do.,

Do.. Probate,

Lai Hok Po, natural and lawful son, Janet Burnie, William Joshua Saunders, and Francis Maitland, three of the Executors, ...

5,000.00 8.600.00

132,400.00

1,000.00

17,500.00

9 Thomas Charles Shepherd... 7th Nov.. 1899, Hongkong,

29 Annie Giffen Buyers

June 22 Tsang Tsun Fat alius Tsang

Shiu Ting

11th Feb., 1900, Tung Koon. 11th Feb., 1900, Hongkong,

26th Aug.. 1899, Chiefoo,

4th July, 1899, Hongkong,

Do.. Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed,

William Bowie Buyers, the Executor, Tsang Fai Pang alias Tsang Fo Kwai,

natural and lawful son.

Date No. of

Grant.

1900.

441

CALENDAR of PROBATE and ADMINISTRATION,- -Continued.

Name of Testator or Intestare.

Time and Place of Death.

Probate, Administration with the Will annexed, or Administration.

Name and Description of the Executor or Administrator.

Value

sworn

under

Probate, Do.,

Im Chu Shan, the Executor.

2,300.00

Leung Wong Shi and Lau A Ngan, the

Executrixes,

13,000.00

·Do.,

Fung Kong Un, the Executor.

27,700.00

Li Wong Shi, the lawful widow and

relict.

1,100.00

Harold Kennard Holmes, one of the na-

tural and lawful children,

18,600.00

Lo Kwan Tong

Leung Chung alias Leung

Lai Ching

Fung Tang alias Fung Pat

Hing

7th Sept, 1899, at sea,

18th Feb., 1900, Canton,

34 Apr. 11

35 Mar. 30

26th Feb., 1900, Kau Kong,

China,

37 Apr.

4 Henry James Homes

3rd Dec., 1899, Hongkong,

Li Yik Loong

10th Dec., 1899, Hengkong, | Letters of Adın.,

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed limited to the getting in and protection of the estate, the payment of debts and the delivery over of the estatej to the repre- sentative of Mrs. Jeanie Foster Holmes, Probate,

Cheung Tseung Kat alias 15th Sept., 1899, Hongkong,

Cheung Kwong

Li Shui Ping, the Executrix,

2,000.00

9 Angus Campbell

20th Oct., 1899, Sydney,

Letters of Adm. with the Will

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

1,400.00

and Codicil

annexed,

7 | Alexander Lawson Walker.

10 James John Clerihew......

31st Mar., 1900, Hongkong,

Letters of Adm., | James Walker, the lawful and natural

brother,

1,000.00

3rd Apr., 1900, Hongkong,

43 May 14

Tsang Yee Mui Cheong Yow Po and.

Chicong Chan Shi

45 Apr. 20 Bertie Waiter Morrell

July, 1891, Penang, 27th Feb., 1886, Hongkong,

6th Mar., 1900, Hongkong.

11th Mar., 1900. Hongkong, Presumably on or about

Do.,

Probate.

Ursulina Clerihew, the lawful widow and

relict,

100.00

Tsang Foo, the Executor,

2,600.00

Cheong A Kai, their lawful and natural

Letters of Adm.,

SOIL

4,000.00

Do..

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

4,000.00

John C. Smith.

5th May, 1900, at sea,

Do.,

Do..

500.00

Leung Shun Ting

14th Mar., 1900, Hongkong,

Do.,

Leung Lun Sui and Lenng Ming Sui, the

natural and lawful sons...

7,000.00

48 May 2 Vallancey Robinson

6th Oct., 1899, at sea,

Do.,

James William Norton-Kysle, Official

Administrator.

350.00

2 Ng Ching Yau

Wong Ka Sui alias Wong |

Sut alias Wong Chun Tong alias Wong Fuk Yu

3 Fook Sing alias Lau Sz 24th Mar., 1900, at sea.

Choi alias Lau Hon Sang

10th Apr., 1900, at sea, 27th Nov., 1899, Chiu Chow,

Kwong Tung, China,

Do.. Probate,

Do..

200.00

Wong Sui Ham, one of the Executors.

68,500.00

Letters of Adm., Lau Hon Chun, the lawful and natural

brother,

200.00

Henry Liston Dalrymple

2nd Apr., 1900, Hongkong,

8 Fernanda Trinidad........

17th Nov., 1899, Manila,

Do.,

Letters of Adm. with the Exem- plification of the

James William Norton-Kyshe. Official

Administrator,

17,000.00

José Maria Basa, Attorney of Don Esco- lastico Fernandez Simon, sole Exe- cutor,

23,400.00

Will annexed,

Siu Chi alias Sin Kwong | 23rd Apr., 1900, Hongkong,

Probate,

Sin Wing Han, the Executor,

13,000.00

Tong Ku Chun alias Tsun

Shiu Tong

12th Oct., 1898, Canton,

7,500.00

Studholm Brownrigg Terry.

6th Apr., 1900, Hongkong,

Fung Yuk Cho......

19th Oct., 1899, Hongkong,

ros

Probate,

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

800.00 15,000,00

58 June 9

Fan U Wei alias Fan Che 26th Nov.. 1877, Nam Hoi,

alias U Wei

Yuen Cheuk Hing alias

Yuen Pik Wan Chan On alias Chan Hi Tai alias Chan Yau Ting alias Chan Ngok Sheung

Hung Hau Poo

59 May 23

61 July 21

28 Chiu Shing Wai

63 June

1 Jean Le Borgne

1 U In

•

= 28 38

66 Nov.

8 Edward William Batt

Charles Smith Sherwood

67 June 4 Claude Edmund Romanet alias Edmund Romanet

15th Dec., 1897, Canton,

Letters of Adm., | Tong Chiu Ki alias Tong In Lui. one of

the lawful and natural sous..

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed

Fung Yik, the Executor.

Fan Chan Shi. the lawful widow and

relict,

Chan Ki alias Chan Chiu Fung, the Exe-

cutor.

Letters of Adm., Hung Chi Po, the cldet natural and

lawful son,

26th Feb., 1900, at sea,

(de bonis non), Letters of Adm.,

Yuen Lau Shi, the lawful widow and

relict.

300.00

11th Feb., 1900, Canton,

Probate,

145,100.00

5,700.00 500.00

10,000.00

250.00

4.700.00

7,500.00

20th Sept., 1896, San Ui, 15th May, 1900, Hongkong,

9th May, 1900, Hongkong, 28th Dec., 1899, Brighton,

England,

9th Aug., 1899, Broughty

Ferry, Scotlandl,

17th Jan., 1897, Sennecey Le Grand, France,

Probate.

Letters of Adm.. James William Norton-Kyshe. Official

Probate, Do.,

Do..

Chiu Yuk Kwong, the Executor..

Administrator,

U Sin, the Executor,

Ellis Elias and Thomas Smith. the Exc-

cutors,..

Robert Valentine Scroggie, David Brand and Robert Shepherd, the Executors,.

Letters of Adm., | Alfred Parker Stokes, Attorney of C'haries

Richard Wehrung and Paul Albert Schlumberger, the representatives of Lucie Romanet, sole and single in- heritor,

28 Lap Fun alias Lau Foon

Lam Ching Wan

4 Tsun Cho

9 Cheung Cheong Ming......

25th June, 1899, Heung

Shan, China,

5th Mar., 1899, Canton, 8th May, 1900, Pun U, 27th June, 1899, Fat Shan,

1,900.00

Probate,

Li Nang and Li Ki, the Executors..

46,800.00

Do., Do., Letters of Adm.,

Lam Chong Wan, the Excentor,

28.500.00

Tsun Cheuk Wing, the Executor,....... Cheung Chan Shi, the lawful widow and

400.00

relict,

500.00

442

Date

No.

of i Grant.

CALENDAR of PROBATE and ADMINISTRATION,— -Continued.

Name of Testator or Intestate.

Time and Place of Death.

Probate, Administration with the Will annexed, or Administration.

Name and Description of the Executor or Administrator.

Value

sworn under

1900.

72 June 9

Mary Tang Shi

14th Apr., 1900, Hongkong, |

-73

England,

30 Carl Dietrich Wilhelm Beur-

1st Dec, 1899, Hanover,

mann

22 Nicol Moncur

29 Albert Smith

30th May, 1899, at sea,

1st Apr., 1900, at sea.

28 Adolphe Endtner

10th Dec., 1899, Switzer-

land,

3 Chan Kwok Shi...

5th May, 1900, Kwai Sin.

25 Charles Frederick Harton... 10th Mar., 1900, Middlesex,

Letters of Adm., John Joseph Liu A-Yee, the lawful hus-

band,

Frobate,

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed, Letters of Adm.,

78 July 28 William Shephard Wetmore. 28th May, 1898, New York, Letters of Adm.

Henry Francis Robert Brayne, Attorney

of Anna Cryder Wetmore, the Exe- cutrix.....

Chau Yung and Chan Yeung, the Exe-

cutors,.

500.00

William Henry Harton, one of the Exe-

cutors.

28,800.00

Ernest Goetz, Attorney of Margarethe

Buermann ncé Grobrugge, the lawful widow and relict,

17,000.00

Charles Wedderburn Dickson, Attorney

of Nicol Moncur, the father, Herbert Johnson Gedge. Attorney of Mary Sutherland Smith, the Executrix,.

11,100.00

2,400.00

Herbert Johnson Gedge, Attorney of Marie Krauss Endtner, the lawful widow and relict.

58,400.00

with the Will

annexed,

2,800 00

Probate,

4,700.00

80 June 28

Anna Josefa Carneiro de 10th Mar., 1900, Macao,

Lecaroz

Do..

Juan Lecaroz, the universal heir,

200.00

81 July

Chui Tsz alias Chui Chung

Fan alias Chui Wing Fung alias Chui Chup Sam.

6th May, 1900, Heung.

Shan, China,

Do..

Chui Tsung Fat, one of the Executors.

20,600.00

Abdool Razak Madar

13 Thomas Shelford....

9th June, 1900, Hongkong,

Do..

Ismail Pillay Madar and Wei A-Yuk, the

Executors,

6,100.00

12th Jan, 1900, Guildford,

England,

Do..

Jessie Fullarton Shelford. i eonard Ed- mund Shelford, Allan Fullarton Baird and William Heard Shelford, the Executors,

8,300.00

12 Frederick Dallas Barnes

•

30th Nov., 1899, Kent.

England,

. Do..

Marion Barnes and James Philip Barnes,

998 Sama

Moses Papier

92 July 12

Thomas Hore

Ho Tai

11 Mary Louisa Moore-Burke...

91 Aug. 14

Thomas Brown.. Li Yuk

Kwok Yu

Ho Tak On alias Ho Cheuk Ting alias Ho Cheong Luk

12 Hon Chun Yue

19th June, 1900, Hongkong, 1st July, 1900, Hongkong, 30th June, 1898, Pun U,

3rd May, 1900, Hoi How,

22nd June, 1900, Hongkong,

7th Feb., 1900, San Ui. 11th June, 1885, Hongkong, 6th Nov., 1899, Nam Hoi,

China,

26th May, 1900, at sea,

Letters of Adm, | Ho Pui Tong, one of the lawful and na-

Hon Wong Shi. the lawful widow and

Do.,

Annetta Papier, sole Executrix,

Do..

Letters of Adm.,

the Executors.

Maria Antonia da Silva. sole Executrix,,

Ho Wong Shi, the Executrix,

James William Norton-Kyshe. Official

Administrator.

125,800.00

2,800.00

500.00

2,000.00

200.00

Do., Do..

Do..

300.00

Frobate,

Li Ng Shi, the lawful widow and relict.. Leong Tai, the natural and lawful son,

5,000.00

1,600.00

tural sons.

35,000.00

Do.,

relict,

800.00

Fung Ming Shan olias Fung | 15th Nov., 1898, Canton,

Do.,

Fung Tam Shee, the lawful widow and

Chew Tsung Sau...

relict,

21,500.00

16th June, 1894, Hongkong,

Do.,

Tsung Hung Shi, the lawful widow and

relict,

2,000.00

96 Sept. 7

Wong Chan Shi .....

97 July 23

7th Dec., 1899, Hongkong, Humphrey Walter Richards | 30th June, 1900, at sea,

Probate.

Wong A-Ting, sole Executrix.

18,000.00

Letters of Adm.

Chan Leong Shi, guardian of Chan

(durante minore

Ching,

9.500.00

æstate).

198

20 Emma Moore

6th Jan, 1900, Brixton,

England,

99 Sept. 24

100 July 23

Tsang Kon Shan

Leung Wai Pang...

2nd June, 1900, Hongkong,

23rd July, 1899, Nam Hoi,

China,

101 Aug. 10 Lau

Tseang alias Chong

Lau

102 July 27 Robert John King

103 Sept. 19 Martha Vicencia de Noro-

nha

26th May, 1900, San Ning,

China, 25th July, 1899, Sydney,

N.S.W.

2nd Feb., 1900, Macao,

Letters of Adm. | James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

with the Will annexed, Letters of Adm..!

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed (de bonis non), Probate.

Do..

Lucy Eliza King, George Chatfield King, Frank Edwin Dixon and Charles Stuart King, the Executrix and Exe-

cutors.

Letters of Adm., | Agostinho Guilberme Romano, Attorney of Theclo Francisco d'Azevedo, Lucio Galdino d'Azevedo, João Francisco d'Azevedo and Francisco Maria Xa- vier de Souza, the next of kin. James Duke Monro and George Gordon

Administrator.

28,500.00

Tsang Tang Shi, the lawful widow and

relict.

500.00

Leong Kwok Shi and Leong Ngan shi,

sole heneficiaries.

3,900.00

Lau Lam, the Executor.

113,600.00

1,400.00

3,000.00

Alfred Edward Wrottesley

104 Aug.

105

106

107 108

3 Harry Douglas Monro

7 Joseph Jaques ..........

Aurelius Holmes

10 Lum Pang Po

109 Sept. 5

110 Aug. 13

lil

Tong Fook Siew alias Tong

Fuk Shan

Stephen William Goggin Tsang Nam Shan alias Tsang Tse Sheung alias Tsang Shau

112 Sept. 14 Ong Ka Tiong

Died at sea,

23rd July, 1900, Hongkong, 21st July, 1900, Ho Nam,

Canton,

7th July, 1899, Cholon.

Cochin-China,

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed,

1st Sept., 1899, Standa-

lane, Peebles, Scotland, 23rd Jan., 1900, Leaming- ton Spa, England, 15th July, 1900, Macao, 21st July, 1900, Hongkong, 26th Oct., 1899, at sea,

Probate,

Monro, the Executors,

2,100.00

·Do..

Sarah Jaques, sole Executrix.

629.400.00

Do..

George Hoyes, sole Executor,

20,000.00

Do..

Lum Wong Shi, sole Executrix,

27,200.00

Do.,

Charles Rowland Haydock Hill and Ar-

thur James Taylor, the Executors,

3,300.00

Letters of Adm., | Tong Chin Chiu, the lawful and natural

son,

15,000.00

Probate, Do..

Margaret Goggin, sole Executrix,

6,300,00

Tsang Man Shi, sole Executrix,

9,800.00

Un Lai Chun, Attorney of Tan Ho Seng and Tan Yow Wee, the Executors,

156,100.00

CALENDAR of PROBATE and ADMINISTRATION,—Continued.

443

No.

Date of

Name of Testator or Intestate.

Time and Place of Death.

Grant.

Probate, Administration with the Will annexed, or Administration.

Name and Description of the Executor or Administrator.

Value

sworn under

13th May, 1900, Canton,

121

122 123

124 Nov. 6

125 Oct. 25

20 Li I

20 Li Tun Fuk

20 | Chu Sz

Wong Sam

Li Kwan Fong alias Li

Ying Foo George Herbert Townsend...

24th July, 1897, Hongkong, 26th Nov., 1890, Hongkong, 30th Nov., 1894, Hongkong,

17th June, 1900, Hongkong,

24th Oct., 1899, Hongkong,

8th Oct., 1883, Hongkong, 13th Aug., 1900, Hongkong, 29th May, 1899, Hongkong,

8th Feb., 1900, Bombay,

1900.

113 Aug. 30| Li Un alias Li Woon alias 17th June, 1900, Sun Ning,

Li Wun 114 Sept. 4 Lee Yuen

4 Lo Tsz Chung

115

Lee Yau

116

117

Lam Sz

118

Li Fuk

119

Lai Sz

120

Probate,

China, 18th May, 1900, Sun Chow, | Letters of Adm., 28th June, 1900, Canton,

Do.,

Li Sheung, the Executor,

Lam Fun, the lawful daughter-in-law, Lee Yeung Shi, the lawful widow and

relict.

Lo Man Leung and Lo Man Chong, the

Executors,

2,000,00

10,900.00

300.00

Probate,

39,000.00

Letters of Adm.,

Do., Do..

Lam Yau, the lawful and natural son. Li Lok Shi, the lawful widow and relict,.i Lai Cheung Shi, the lawful widow and

relict.

350.00

900,00

600,00

Do..

Li A-Fook, one of the lawful and natural

children,..

400.00

Do..

Li Chan Shi, the lawful widow and re-

lict,

1,300.00

Do.,

Do..

Chu Fat, the lawful and natural son,.. Wong Loy, the fawful and natural son.......... Li Loi, the lawful and natural son,

150.00

700.00

8,200.00

126 Sept. 20 Ng Ching Yow..

24 Kwan Sut Wai

127

128 Oct. 13 Arthur Anderson....

129

130

1 Francisco Antonio

meida

2 John Chalmers

Letters of Adm. with the Exem- plification of the Probate of the Will annexed. Letters of Adm.,

Probate,

John Charles Peter, Attorney of Alfred

Markham Townsend, the Executor,...

12th Apr., 1900, at sea.

3rd July, 1900, Canton,

16th Oct., 1900, Chefoo,

Ng Lam Shi, the lawful widow and re-

lict.

300.00

Kwan Fung Chiu and Kwan Fung Kam,

the Executors,

5,000.00

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed,

Edward Jenner Hogg, the Administrator,

1,710.00

Letters of Adm., | Simplicio Antonio d'Almeida, next of kin,

9,000.00

Probate.

Frederick Samuel Augustus Bourne, At-

1.500.00 14,400.00

d'Al- 28th Apr., 1900, Macao,

131

132

8 Charles William Baird 18 Henry Liston Dalrymple

22nd Nov., 1899, Chemulpo,

26th Dec., 1899, London,

2nd Apr., 1900, Hongkong,

Do.. Letters of Adm.,

133

22 José Maria de Outeiro

11th Aug., 1900, Macao,

Do..

134

135

6 Charles Pentney Skinner

24 Albert Croad

27th Sept., 1900, Hongkong.

29th Dec., 1899, Bedford,

Do.,

Letters of Adm. with the Will anncred.

136

24 Chung Ah Sam

137

31 Felismina Paschoa da Cu- 26th May, 1899, Macao,

nha das Neves e Souza

13th June, 1900, Hongkong, Letters of Adm.

(durante minore

138 Nov. 6 Prosper Giquel alias Prosper 19th Feb., 1886. Cannes,

Marie Giquel

139 Oct. 19 Chan Kun Shau

140

30 Chan Yuk Tong alias Chan

Cho

141 Nov. 1 João Antonio da Costa

142 Oct. 29 Catharino Manuel do Rozario

France,

29th Oct., 1899, Tsai Pin,

China.

Sth Sept., 1900, Sai Chiu,

China,

14th Feb., 1900, Macao,

æstate),

torney of John Alexander Chalmers, sole Executor,

Allen Fullarton Baird, Executor, William Liston Dalrymple, Administra- tor,-Letters of Administration grant- ed to the Official Administrator on the 3rd May, 1900, having been re- voked,.. José da Silva, Attorney of Antonio José d'Arriaga Brum da Silveira, Barbara Maria d'Arriaga Fonseca, Maria Del- fina de Outeiro e Silva, and Sophia Ricardina de Outeiro e Silva, the law- ful next of kin....

Elizabeth Anne Skinner, the lawful widow

and relict. William Henry Poate, Attorney of Frc- derick Edgar Wilkinson, the Exe- cutor, Liu Kun Mui, the lawful mother and guardian of Chan Chun Fat, Chan Ying Fat and Chan King Fat, grand- sons of the deceased,

Letters of Adm., | Agostinho Guilherme Romano, Attorney of José Ribeiro and Leonél Cardoso, guardians of Emilia Adelaida das Neves e Souza,

2,600.00

200.00

25,100.00

1,300.00

4,000.00

Letters of Adm. with the Will annexed,

Marie Anne Elizabeth de Rougé, the lawful daughter and Residuary Le- gatee,

8,610.00

Letters of Adm.,

Chan Un Man, the lawful and natural

son,

Do.,

Chan Un To, the lawful and natural son..

6,850.00 250.00

Do..

5th June, 1896, Hongkong,

Do..

143

29 John Braithwaite Plinston

144 Nov. 13 Chiu Tsoi Wan 145

2 Chan Heung Chow.... 5 Li Sing alius Yuk Hang 2 Francis David Maclean.

...

146

147

148

2 Malla Singh

149

10 U Ting Kwan

150

151

7 Leong Loi Kam 29 Li Wong Kiu

152 Dec. 6 Margaret Nolan

20th Oct., 1900, Hongkong,

22nd Nov., 1899. San Ui,

1st Oct., 1900, Shun Tak, Sth May, 1900, Hongkong, 7th Aug., 1900, Hongkong,

12th Sept., 1900, Hongkong, 15th Oct., 1900, Hongkong,

13th Apr., 1900, Hongkong, 1st July, 1900, Hongkong,

Do.,

Probate, Letters of Adm.. Probate, Letters of Adm.,

Chiu Nang Kin, sole Executor, Chan Au Shi, the lawful widow and relict, Li Ling Shi, the Executrix,

4th July, 1900, Hongkong, Letters of Adm., Nicholas George Nolan and Thomas Alex-

Ernesto Francisco do Rozario, attorney of Maria Anna da Costa Siqueira and Constança Leocadia da Rocha, the natural and lawful sister, William Frederick Gardner, guardian of José Libanio Emanuel do Rozario and Maria Vicencia do Rozario, the lawful and natural children. James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

1,700.00

1,500.00

250.00

900.00

9.200.00

220,000.00

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

180.00

Do., Probate,

Do.,

100.00

Do.,

Ho Shi, U Ting Kam and Ho Kwan Nam,

the Executrix and Executors, Wong A-Mi, sole Executrix,...... Cheung Li Shi and Li Chan Shi, the

Executrixes,

2.500.00

500,00

3,700.00

ander Nolan, the lawful and natural sons,

4,000.00

444

CALENDAR of PROBATE and ADMINISTRATION, -Continued.

No.

Date of

Name of Testator or Intestate.

Time and Place of Death.

Grant.

Probate, Administration with the Will annexed, or Administration.

Value

Name and Description of the Executor or Administrator.

sworn

under

1900.

153 Nov. 20| Li Kam alias Li A Kum

4th Oct., 1900, Hongkong,

Probate,

Leung Lok Shang, sole Executor, -

182,000.00

alias Li Mni alias Lec A Moey alias Leung Kwai

154

20 | Cheng Sum Tsung

13th Ang., 1900, Canton,

Letters of Adm., Cheng Hing Hin, the lawful and natural

son,

500.00

155

29 | William Harry Jackson................[

156

29 | Woo Man Po

157 Dec.

Ng Kwai Shang

158

15 Lo King U

139

160

161

22 Ling Ku Ting

10 Daniel Haywood.........................

1st Oct., 1900, Hongkong,

15th Apr., 1881, Saigon,

20th Nov., 1900, Hongkong,

1st Nov., 1900, Canton,

26th Jan., 1899, Pun U, 19th Nov., 1900, Hongkong,

Do..

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

250.00

Do.,

Wong Woo Shi, the lawful and natural

daughter

1,000.00

Do..

Probate,

Ho Yow Tsol, the lawful widow and re-

lict,

1,500.00

Leung Yau Po and Lui Kwan Po, the

Executors.

50,300.00

Letters of Adm., Do.,

Ling Chap Hin, the next of kin, James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

550.00

1,600.00

Niels Jargen Nielsen alias | 31st Oct., 1900, Hongkong,

Nil Nielsen

Do.,

Do..

800.00

162

Aileen Cameron alias Laura | 12th Nov., 1900, Hongkong,

Do..

Do.,

1,000.00

Montfort

163

Ruby Dwyer

15th Nov., 1900, Hongkong,

164

Wong Yiu Yik.....

14th Sept., 1900, Hongkong,

Do.. Probate,

Do..

500.00

165

Arthur William Upton

166

18 Samuel Brown...

29th Jan., 1899, Reno County, U.S.A.

15th May, 1900, Hongkong, | Letters of Adm.,

Do.,

Wong Hi Kwai, sole Executor,

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

Victor Herbert Deacon, Attorney of Alfred Brown, the natural and lawful bro- ther,

6,000.00

100.00

167

20 Jose Maria Sebastino Ma- | 31st Oct., 1900, Manila,

chado alias Jose Maria Sebastian Machado

Do..

Felippe José Machado, father.

1,400.00 1,000.00

168

28 Wong Doch Shui alias Wong 9th June, 1896, at sea,

Do..

Tak Shan

James William Norton-Kyshe, Official

Administrator,

400.00

Registry, Supreme Court, Hongkong, 14th February, 1901.

J. W. NORTON-KYSHE, Registrar.

HONGKONG.

445

No. 23

1901

RETURNS OF THE SUBORDINATE COURT FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

446

TOTAL

NUMBER

NUMB R

CASES.

PRISON-

ERS.

14,081

Convicted

pue

Punished.

ABSTRACT of CASES under COGNIZANCE of the POLICE MAGISTRATES' COURT during the Year 1900.

CASES, HOW DISPOSED of, and the Number of Male AND FEMALE PRISONERS UNDER EACH HEAD,

Discharged.

Committed

for Trial at

the

Supreme

Court.

Committed

M. F.

16,696 13 149

501 2,416 235 131

to Prison, or

De ained

Orders

pending

of H E. the

Governor.

M. F.

Ordered to find Security.*

To keep the

Peace.

To be

of good

Reha-

viour.

answer

conded.

Abs-

Witnesses

punished for preferring False Charge or giving

Testimony.

wilful False

Undecided.

Total Number

of Prisoners.

WRITS ISSUED BY THE POLICE MAGISTRATES DURING THE YEAR 1900.

Arrest.

Distress.

Warrants.

ΤΟΤΑΙ

TOTAL

NUMBER

OF IRE ENQUIRIES

HELD

DURING THE YEAR 1900.

any

M. F.

Charge

M. M.

152

20❘ 49

3 77

815,932 764

5,174

111 30 1,522

210

7,117

...

16,696

TOTAL MALES AND FEMALES,

Consisting of Offenders not sentenced to Imprisonment.

THE CASES CONSISTED OF:

447

OFFENCES.

Arms and Ammunition Ordinance, 9 of 1900,—

Ammunition-Being in possession of,

Arms-Carrying or having possession of, without a li.

cence.

-Selling to unauthorised persons,

- Dealing in, without a licence,

and Ammuniti n for removal-\ot labelling, ...

chasers,.

و,

Sale Book-Failing to enter the names of pur-

-Removing without permit,

Bribery and Certain other Misdemeanors Punishment

Ordinance, 3 of 1898,-

Offering or accepting a bribe by a public servant, Banishment and Conditional Pardons Ordinance, 8 of

1882,-

Banishment-Returning after,

Board of Ship Liquor Sale Ordinance, 18 of 1886,– Spirituous Liquors. Selling on board Ships.

Building Ordinances, 15 of 1889, 25 of 1891, 7 of 1895, and

11 of 1898,-

No. of CASES.

NO. OF

PRI SONERS.

OFFENCES.

NO. OF CASES.

XO. OF PRI-

SONERS.

Brought forward,

1,503

1,527

110

120

Defences Sketching Prevention Ordin nce, 1 of 1895.-

Battery or Fort - Entering, or found in the imme. diate vicinity thereof, with sketching instru- ment,

2122

Dogs Ordinance. 9 of 1893 and 4 of 1899,

Dogs Unlicensed keeping of,

Extradition Acts of 1870 and 1873,

Offences under,

Forgery Ordinance, 6 of 1865

Forged instruments-Obtaining goods or money by,...! Forged documents - Uttering, with intent to defraud: Forging,

Forts Prot ction Ordin nce. 10 of 1891,-

Batter, Fieldwork, or Fortification-Entering with-

out a written permit.

Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881,—

Offences under,

Gambling Ordinance, 7 of 1891

Breach of Regulations made under-By allowing

matsbed latrine in a dirty condition,

Common Gaming House-Keeping, or playing in, Lotteries - Dealing in,

115

1,272

Street Gambling,

252

Blasting stones to the danger of Persons and Pro-

perty,

Watchmen to Street Gamblers-Acting as,

Lotteries announcing the result of.

Cutting earth, or turf. and extracting stones from

Crown Land,...

Good Order and

leanliness Ordinance. 14 of 1845,

Animals-Cruelty to,

Drain-Connecting, with the Government Main

Bonfire-Making

Sewer without obtaining a permit,

Breach of the Peace,

Ground Surface-Failing to concrete,

Cattle turned loose on public ways,

Hoardings and Scaffoldings-Neglecting to erect

during repair of Buildings,

Disorderly behaviour,

671

1,201

Inflammable Structures-Erecting, without permis-

Dogs-Allowing unmuzzled ferocious, to be at large,. Domestic Servants- Misconduct as,...

sion of the Director of Public Works,

Plans of Building-Neglecting to submit, to the

Director of Public Works,

Firearms-Discharging, to the danger of the Public, Furious driving,

༢ 1}

Privy-Not having proper ventilation of,

Indecent exposure of person by bathing, or other-

wise,

་་

Encroachment on Crown Land, .

Ruinous, and Dangerous Condition,

Cattle Diseases Ordinance, 17 of 1×87,—

Cattle-Landing at prohibited wharf, &c......

Carcase of animals,- Digging after burial,

Pigs-Keeping, for the purpose of being slaughtered

in a place other than a properly const.ucted Government Depôt,

-Keeping, in a way which caused needless or avoidable suffering to them.

Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 25 of 1889,- Decoying Men or Boys into or away from the Colony,. Chinese Extradition Ordinance 26 of 1889 and 23 of

1897,-

Chinese Territory-Crimes and Offences committed

in.

Closed Houses and Insanitary Dwellings Ordinance, 15 of

1894,-

Breach of Bye-laws made under (Window Obstruc-]

tion).

Backyards-Neglecting to keep, clear of obstruction,. Basement flors-Inhabiting.

Cubicles-Breach of Regulations for,

Domestic buildings -Not having impermeable floors

provided.

Ground Surface, &c.-Domestic buildings-Offence

as to,

Houses-Neglecting to cleanse and limewash,

Premises-Neglecting to keep in clean and whole.

some condition.

Bye-laws-Breach of,

Coinage Offences Ordinance. 10 of 1865.-

Counterfeit Coins-Uttering, or being in possession

of.

Bringing such counterfeit into the Colony,..

Common Law,—

Bribery.

Indecent and obscene prints- Exposing for Sale, Piracy, with violence.

Suicide-Attempting to commit,

....

Dangerous Goods Ordinances, 8 of 1873 and 8 of 1892 and

39 of 1899,--

Dangerous Goods-Boat conveying, without proper

precaution,.........

-Carrying, uncovered in boat.

Nais nces-Allowing dirt and filth, &c., to remain

expossd,

Nuisances-Hanging wet clothes, &c., over Public

ways,

Nuisances-Throwing rubbish, &c., into the Streets.. Obstruction of Roads and Streets by Hawkers, and

354

>hopkeepers,.

1.353

1,353

Offensive weapons, &c. Being in possession of-for

unlawful purpose..

Stones-Throwing to danger of the public,. Unlawful possession of property,

398

482

of trees. shrubs. &c.,

Wantonly or unnecessarily making noises calculated

to annoy, or alarm persons in or near or adjoin- ing any public road or thoroughfare,

Guupowder Ordi anc». 1 of 1848, —

Breach of, Manufacture and Storage of.

Insanitary Properties Ordinance 34 of 1899,-

Cocklofts, Mezzanine floors—Allowing to remain,..

149

* 32 2 8284

2 82 8234

Neglecting to provide an open space in the rear of

building.......

293

Kellet Island Ordinance. 12 of 1898

Ve sels not to anchor or loiter within 50 vards of, Larceny and Other Similar Offences Ordinance, 7 of

1865 and 3 of 1886,-

392

Burglary.

Burglary with violence, Embezzlement,

False preten cs- Obtaining, or attempting to obtain,

goods or money by.

Felony-Attempting to commit,

-Foud in Dwelling house, &c., by night,

with intent to commit,

Housebreaking,..............

Larceny-Accessory before the fact,

-as a builee.

-by servants.

Common.

1,012

1,219

-from a dwelling house,....

from the person.

- from the person with violence,

--on high seas.

—of cattle or other animals.

- W 25 co co to

1 2 ཀ ཀ

සප

Garden.

-Conveying or exposing for Sale,

without attaching labels to

-of fruit or vegetable productions in

Larceny and embezzlement by members of Partner-

ship. Ordinance 3 of 1886,

cases or vessels containing the

same,

-Ships, &c., neglecting to hoist a

Red Flag when laden with,

Menaces-Demanding money by,.

Robbery from the person,

with violence.

Stolen goods-Receiving.

107

-Storing without a licence,

-Storing of, contrary to licence,

་

-Lighting fires on board junk

while laden with Kerosene,

Licensing Consolidation Ordinance, 21 of 1887.-

Hawking within the prescribed limits of Market

-Ulicens d.

138

482

Public Vehicles-Breach of Regulations.

- 49

-Soldering contrary to licence,..........

-Demanding more than legal fare,

Carried forward............................

1,503 | 1,527

Carried forward,

7,510

9,702

448

CASES,-Continued.

No. of

OFFENCES.

Brought forward.....

Licensing Consolidation Ordinance, 21 of 1887,—Cont.

Public Vehicles-Carrying no lights between sunset

and sunrise,

not keeping Rule of the Road,

--Obstruction of Streets by,

CASES.

No. of

PRI- SONERS.

NO. OF

7,510 9,702

OFFENCES.

Brought forward,.......

Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 26 of 1891,

9 of 1892 and 21 of 1895,—Continued.

No. of PRI-

CASES.

SONER &.

9,533 | 11,835

Fishing Boat-Unlicensed,

Boat-Anchoring in prohibited place........

318

382

-Negligence or Misbehaviour of

drivers,

Master of vessel, having upwards of 200 lbs. of Ex- plosive on board, neglecting to furnish Harbour Master with particulars immediately,

-Refusing to accept hire when un-

Nuisances in Harbour,

employed.

18 260

167

1617

心

172

12 3x-

Quarantine Regulations-Breach of,

Seamen-Absenting from duty, from British or

Foreign Ships,

-Desertion of, from British or Foreign Ships,.

- Remaining behind Ships after having signed

the Articles,

-Boarding House, Chinese-Keeping, un-

licensed,

Ships, &c.—Anchorage or Harbour-Leaving without Clearance or during prohibited hours, -Cargo, &c.-Furnishing untrue particu-

lars of,

# R

-Firearms-Discharging,

.....

-Gunpowder-Possession of more than

15 lbs. on......

-Lights-Neglecting to exhibit at night,... -Not having certificated Master or En-

gineer,

--Passengers-Carrying, in excess,..

-Anchoring, without an Anchorage pass....

Steam Launch-Exhibiting side lights not fitted with

inboard screens between sunset and sunrise,

&c.-Refusing to pay fare of, -Unlicensed,

Steam Whistles-Unnecessarily blowing,

Telegraph Cables-Anchoring within the limits of

Wharves Obstruction of, by boat people,

22 223

60 10

፡፡

-Refusing to complete journey,

- Refusing to pay fare of,

-Unlicensed, plying with,..

-Using, for conveyance of merchan-

dise, or dead bodies or persons suffering from infectious diseases,. -Drivers of-Unlicensed, -Plying for hire without being pro- perly equipped with protection to passengers against sun and rain,

-Taking up stand unauthorized by

Capt. Superintendent of Police, -Plying for hire within a prohibited

district,

Billiard Table,-Keeping without a licence,

Liquor Licences Ordinance, 24 of 1898,-

Eating Houses-Offences against,

Chinese Restaurant-Licensee keeping a public bar

on the premises,

Intoxicating Liquors-Selling without licence...

Public House-Intoxicating Liquor, Selling during

prohibited hours in......

-Permitting disorder in,

-Supplying intoxicating liquor to

drunken persons,

Magistrate's Ordinance, 10 of 1890, 12 of 1895, 22 of 1898

172

area of.

and 16 of 1900,—

-41

-18

Disorderly behaviour while drunk,

227

Naval Stores Ordinance, 9 of 1875,-

Drunkenness,

158

False Charge-Preferring-or wilfully giving false

Anchorage of Ships-of-War-Dredging or searching

stores,

evidence,

Recognizances-Breach of,

Malicious injuries to property Ordinance, 8 of 1865,-

Arson,

Injuries to property,

Injuries to trees or vegetable productions in Garden.. Injuries to trees,

8-9- 25

Marine and Naval Stores-Dealers in, not keeping

books according to Schedule,..

Marine and Naval Stores- Dealers, being in posees.

sion of H.M. Property.

Naval Yard Police Deserting Ordinance, 1 of 1875,-

Absenting or Deserting,

Nuisances Ordinance, 10 of 1872 and 11 of 1900,-

Markets Ordinances, 17 of 1887 and 23 of 1890,-

Articles of food for man-Exposing for Sale, in a

place other than a Public Market,

Chai Mui-Night noises by playing at the Game

known as,

167

Fish, &c.-Selling in Markets, not being holders of

stalls,

Rough dressing, &c., of granite in or near a Public

place,

Street Cries by Hawkers,

105

Market Stalls unlet, making use of,

-Bye-laws, Breach of―(Neglecting to clean

stalls. &c., in),.

- Obstructing the avenue of,

-Selling flesh meat in-Other than slaught-

ered in Slaughter House, and not inspected by an Inspector of Markets and marked by him as being fit for human food,..

Sign-board-Faiġing to have-in front of lan, Unwholesome provisions-Exposing for Sale, or bring-

ing, into the Colony,

Seamen-Disobeying lawful orders of Masters in

British Ships,

Offences against the person Ordinance, 4 of 1865,-

Assault-Causing grievous bodily harm,..

2155

221883

-Common,

689

911

-Destructive

Substance-Throwing

with

intent to do grievous bodily harm,... -Indecent,

-Unnatural Offence-Committing or at-

tempting,..

-Upon a person with intent to resist or pre-

vent lawful apprehension,

Child Stealing,

Merchant Shipping Act, 1894,—

Cutting and wounding with intent to do grievous

bodily harm,

Cutting and wounding with intent to commit mur-

Seamen-Neglect or refusal of duty by, in British

der,

Ships,

Manslaughter,

Surreptitious Passage-Obtaining,

Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 26 of 1891,

9 of 1892 and 21 of 1895,--

Murder,

Rape,--Attempting to commit,.

Shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm,

Workman, &c.-Intimidating,

4 Opium Ordinance (Prepared), 21 of 1891 and 4 of

1894,-

Excise Officer-Assault on,

Prepared Opium-Being in possession of, without

having valid certificates,

34 Opium Ordinances, 22 of 1887 and 22 of 1891 and 27 of

Boarding Ships without permission,

Boats-Concealing the number of,

-Demanding more than legal fare,.

ܕ:

Establishing on fereshore above low-water-

mark for a longer period than was abso- lutely necessary during stress of weather,.

916

-Making fast to ship under way, -Mooring inshore between the hours of 9 o'clock at night and gun-fire in the morn- ing,

1900,-

Breach of Raw,

-Passengers, landing after hours at probibited

Opium Divan Ordinances, 15 of 1897 and 1 of 1898,-

Breach of,

wharf,

Refusing to accept hire, when disengaged,

-Refusing to show Licences to Police,.....

-Refusing to stop or go alongside Wharf when

called upon by Police,........

Boats, &c.—Unlicensed,

Boat Licences- Breach of conditions of,

Cargo-boat Licence-Breach of conditions of, Fairways-Obstructing, .

Fishing Boat Licence-Breach of conditions of,

THE DEPOSI

THE TOO°*=

T 7 Passenger Ship Ordinance, 22 of 1890,—

Persons found on board-with intent to obtain a passage without the consent of owners, &c., Pawnbrokers Ordinances, 3 of 1860 and 20 of 196,—

Breach of, for not giving true accounts by applicant.. Pawnbrokers-Acting as, without a licence,

-Failing to give up articles when producing the ticket described therein,

$101

Carried forward,.

9,533 11,835

Carried forward..........

|11,840 | 14,390

W LONG W

CASES, Continued.

No... OF CASES.

No. of PRI-

SONERS.

11,840 14,390

OFFENCES.

Brought forward,.

Peace and Quiet Ordinance, 17 of 1844,-

Breach of.

Piers and Wharves Ordinance. 18 of 1894,-

Private Wha ves - Trespass o'..............

Police Force Consolidation Ordinances, 14 of 1887 and

22 of 1895,-

Police Constables-Wisconduct as,

Police Force Regulation Ordinance, 9 of 1862,—

Police Constables -Assault on, in execution of duty,.

-Obstructing, or resisting, in the

discharge of their duties,

-Designation, etc., of, .

-Harbouring.

Post Office Ordinances. 1 of 1887. 22 of 1889, 1 of 1894,

19 of 1896. 5 of 1900 and 24 of 1900,— Regulations of transmission of Chinese correspon-

dence.-Breach of,.......

Forging, altering or imitating Po tage stamps....

Post Office-Neglecting to deliver to- etter bags

and correspondence, on arrival,.........................

Infringing of the exclusive privilage of the l'ost

Master General,

Private Vehicle Ordinance. 13 of 1895,-

Private Vehicles- Freach of Regulations for,

-Not keeping Rule of the Road, -Unlicensed.

•

Private Vehicle Ordinance, 6 of 1899,-

Breach of,

114

25-

Cusing damage by negligence or misbehaviour.

Public Buildings, Gardens. &c.—Regulations for main- tenance of good order and preservation of pro- perty in. Ordinance 8 of 1870.—

OFFENCES.

449

No. of

No. of ~PRI

CASES. SOMERS.

Brought forward..........

Regulation of Chinese Buria's, and Prvention of certain Nuisance Ordinance. 12 of 1855,-Continued. Trespass on Crown Land,

Regulation of Chinese People. Ordinance 8 of 1858.—

Building-Occupying or erecting, on land not being

under lease from the Crown,

Mendicancy,

Regulation of Chinese Ordinance. 13 of 1888, (amended

by 6 of 1897) and 12 of 1900 -

Bills--Posting, without permission from Registrar

General,....

Drums and Gongs-Night noises by beating, Fireworks-Discharging, without permits..

Householders neglecting to report change of te-

nants,

|12,868 | 15,456

2225

སམྦྷཝཱ

201 204

ོཌ

w2 Bus

1000 21

41 3

Procession, organising in the public street without a

permit.

River Steamers Ordinance, 18 of 1895.—

Passage - Obtaining, or attempting to obtain, without

payment. in River Steamer.

Rogues and Vagabonds, 5th of Geo. IV. Chapter 83, s.

Rogues and Vagabonds-As suspicious characters.

་་

-Being in possession of house-

breaking implements, -Found in dwelling house, &c. for an unlawful purpose,. -Indecent exposure of person.. -Wandering abro id and lodg-

ing in the open air,

Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance, 18 of 1896,—

Breach of,

Slaughter-Houses Ordinances, 17 of 1887 and 25 of

207

00 m

Public Gardens-Breach of Regulations for.

Wong Nei hung Recreation Ground Regula

tious-Breach of,

1895,-

Prison Ordinance, 7 of 1899,-

Removing meat from S1 urhter-House to a market

other than in a covered vehicle.

Breach of,

Public Health Ordinances, 24 of 1887, 12 of 1891 and 4 of

1895,--

Slaughter ouse Rye-laws-Breach of,

Stone Cutiers' Island Ordinance, 11 of 1889.-

888

.50

Fort-Ente ing,

Bakehouse Bye-law

aws-Breach of,

Stowaways Ordinance 7 of 1897,

Common Kitchen Using, as sleeping room, Common Lodging Houses Regulations-Breach of, Common Lodging Houses-Unlicensed keeping of, Drain, &c.-Leaving open and unprotected, Domestic buildings-Occu ying, without a certifi-

cate from Sanitary Board,

Breach of,

The Small Tenements Recovery () dinɩnce, 27 of 1897.... The Triad and Unlawful Societies Ordinance, 8 of 1887,-

Breach of,

The Uniform Ordinance. 1 of 1895.-

Military Uniform-Wearing..

Excretal matters-Irrigating land with, near Public

Road.

Vagrancy Ordinance. 25 of 1897,-

Vagrants.

Latrine Regulations-Breach of,

.....

Verandahs erected over Crown Lands Ordinance, 4 of

Laundries-Using, as sleeping rooms,

1888,-

Laundries-Unregistered,

Enclosure of,......

Laundries-Overcrowding,

Waterworks Ordinence, 15 of 1897, (amended by 5 of

Night Soil or noxious waters-Carrying, during pro-

hibited hours, or depositing in the Streets....... Night Soil or noxious waters-Carrying in an un-

covered bucket,

1892, 6 of 1895. 19 of 1897 and 30 of 1898),- Breach of.

Wasting Water,

10 10

Weights an 1 Measures Ordinance, 8 of 1885, -

Offensive Trade Establishment-Breach of Bye-Laws

made under.

Breach of,

10 10 1

Overcrowding--In tenement house,..

Overcrowding-In Opium Divan.

Pigs, &c.--Keeping, without licence,

+420

Duty of Examiners of Weights and Measures-Ob-

structing,

ප

→

Women and Girls Protection Ordinances, 9 of 1897 and

14 of 1900,-

Plague and other infectious diseases-Neglecting to

report cases of,

Decoying women or girls into or away from the

Colony,

Person-Not approved of by Sanitary Board to carry

out house drainage works.

Detaining, harbouring. or receiving women or girls

for the purpose of prostitution,..

Factories, &c.,-Not providing proper privy accom-

modation for persons employed therein... Cattleshed Bye-laws-Erecting or connecting with

dwelling house-Breach of,

Disorderly House-Keeping a,

Indecent assault upon any female,

Procuration of Girls under 16 to have carnal con-

nexion.

Sanitary Board Notice-Not complying with.

371

Officer-bstructing or resisting.....

Purchasing. pledving, or selling women or girls for

the purpose of prostitution,

Cowshed-Using for human habitation,

Failing to comply with an order of the Magis-

trate,

Permitting women suffering from contagious disease

to remain in brothels,

Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance, 16 of 1896,

(amended by 20 of 1898), -

7 Women and Girls Protection Ordinance-(amended by

31 of 1899),

Dead Bodies-Unlawful removal of,

Brothels lodging-houses for prostitutes-Order made

for closing of,

126

Regulation of Chinese Burials, and Prevention of certain

Nuisances Ordinance, 12 of 1856. ·

Obeying calls of nature in the streets or in improper

places,........

Brothels lodging-houses for prostitutes-Not comply. ing with Magistrate's order to discontinue the use of. Person trading in prostitution,

10 2

Carried forward,...

|12,868 15,456

TOTAL,..

14,081 | 16,696

450

ABSTRACT of CASES brought under COGNIZANCE of the POLICE MAGISTRATES' Court during a period of

Ten Years, from 1st January, 1891 to 31st December, 1900, inclusive.

CASES, HOW DISPOSED OF, AND THE NUMBER OF MALE AND FEMALE PRISONERS UNDER EACH DEAD.

YEARS.

TOTAL NCM FR

IASES.

Convicted and Punished.

Discharged.

Commit- ted for Trial at

the Governor.

Committed

to Prison or detained pending Or- der of His

Supreme Excellency

Court.

Ordered to find Security

To keep the Peace, to be of Good Beha- viour, and to answer any Charge.

1** tt་R }་་་ }}}{

and absconded

Escaped itore

being brought

for Dialat the Ma-

{gistracy 13 14

Escaped.

Punished for l'eterring

Total

False Charge Undecided.

Nurber

or giving

False

of Defendants.

Testimony,

བ

M. F.

M. M

F M. M.

Mf.

1891,

13,576 13,438

534

1,906

134

153

1892,

11.920

11,771

327

1,927

151

40 4

191

28 28

143

15.693

639

13.969

502

1893.

10,727

10,049

306

75102 1,532

242

11972

420

1894,.

10.447

9,465

1895,

17,016

302

15,058 725

95 1,716

2,345

255

11 530

423

198 51

232

199

17,897 1,001

***

Total 63 786

59 781 2,194

9,426

651 296 11

11.073175

***

409

71 06

Average per }

Year,

12,757.211,956.2438.81,885.2

130.2 59.22.2 58 0.2214.6 35.0

9.4

0.2 81.8

14.2122

1896,

17,767

16.659

797

1,371

1897.

15,185

10,237

548

203

1,481 151 73 12

1898,

13.311 12,663

834

1,196

2 2 8

62 21

232

183

209

He 00 an

曲

115

18 468 | 1,100

142

12.079 807

14,304

985

1899,

10,158

9,007

511

1,527

114 128

1900,.

14.081

13,149

501

2,416

235131

211

223

10 800

646

15,932

764

Total,...... 66 532

61,715 3,191

7,991

796 459 44

925 235

108

441

71,584 302

Average per

Yes,

13.306 4 12.343 0 638.2 1,598 2

159.2 91.8 8.8

3.4 0.4 185.0 47.0 0.4 0.2

...

0221.6 4.4 88.2 4.0

4,3.6 65 | 860 4

Grand Total

for the 10 Yers,

130,318 | 121,496 5,885 | 17,417 |1,447|755 | 55

31,098 4th

ལ

1 175 23

850

142,644 4.362

Average per

Year,

13,031.8 12,149.6538.51,741.7 144.7 75.5 5.5

4.6 0.3 199.8 41.0 0.2 0.1

01 15.5

2.3 85.0

2.2

14,264 4 | 430.2

HONGKONG.

REMOVAL OF CAPE D'AGUILAR LIGHT TO GREEN ISLAND.

275

No. 2

1901

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His

Excellency the Governor.

No. 390.

SIR,

to.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 25th August, 1900.

I have the honour to forward copy of an extract from the Harbour Master's report for the year 1892 in which he originally suggested the improvement in lighting the approaches to this harbour by the interchange of the lights referred The estimated cost of removing Cape d'Aguilar Light to Green Island and the latter light to Cape Collinson having been ascertained to be $5,600 and $7,000 respectively, owing to the necessity of reconstructing the towers at both places to make them suitable for the lights which were designed for different elevations as is shewn in the attached paper of descriptive particulars, I took the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce as to whether the expenditure involved would be justified by the advantage gained.

2. In their reply of the 10th instant, a copy of which I append, they stated that after having obtained the opinion of experts they believed the advantages would greatly outweigh the cost, and further suggested the substitution of revolv- ing or flash lights for fixed ones (which the lights it is intended to use are) provided the cost involved were not excessive.

3. I attach a copy of a report on this suggestion by the Acting Harbour Master, who is in favour of the proposal, but before taking further steps in the matter I think it would be well to consult Captain RUMSEY, who is now in England. If he is in favour of the substitution of the lights suggested by Mr. BASIL TAYLOR I have to ask that you will obtain the opinion of Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS of Birmingham, the makers of the lights, as to the feasibility and cost of converting the lights.

4. In the meantime I shall submit with the Estimates a sum to cover the cost of the construction of a new tower, 200 feet above sea level, on Green Island, to take the D'Aguilar Light.

5. I do not propose to recommend that the work of shifting the Green Island Light to Cape Collinson should be proceeded with next year; and the placing of the Collinson Light at Kowloon Point is probably not now necessary.

If it is not found to be necessary the light could be sold, and it might be well to ascertain from Messrs. CHANCE whether it would be worth sending the apparatus to England for sale or whether they would allow this Government anything for it.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&c.,

SC.,

&c.

Governor.

276

HONGKONG.

No 42.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

1st February, 1901.

With reference to your despatch No. 390 of the 25th August last, relating to the proposed improvement in lighting the approaches to the harbour of Hongkong, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of correspondence on the subject, as noted in the margin.

2. Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS anticipate no difficulty in converting the Cape D'Aguilar and Green Island Lights from fixed to occulting lights. They have pointed out that the apparatus which they supplied for Green Island in 1874 was supplied with a set of condensing prisms, which they presume will not be used when it is transferred to Cape Collinson.

3. Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS have in preparation a drawing, which will be transmitted direct to you by the Crown Agents for the Colonies when it is re-. ceived, with the purpose of ensuring that the dimensions are furnished correctly.

4. The firm are unable to make any offer for the gun-metal portion of the Cape Collinson light, except at scrap price; and they presume as good a price could be obtained in Hongkong as in England. The apparatus has been in use for 25 years, and the optical portion is therefore probably slightly discoloured, and for this reason unsaleable.

5. It does not appear that any vote for the construction of a new tower on Green Island has been placed on the 1901 Estimates; and it will, therefore, be necessary to take a vote in Council, if it is decided to accept Messrs. CHANCE BROTHERS' offer and proceed with the transfer and conversion of the lights.

I have the honour to be,

Sir.

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

Copy.

SIR H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

THORNEHILL, KIDBROOKE Grove,

BLACKHEATH, October 12th, 1900.

SIR,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter with enclosures dated 9th instant on the subject of the Hongkong Lights, desiring my views upon a suggestion by the Acting Harbour Master thereon.

I am of opinion that if the Lights in question can be fitted with a flashing or occulting arrangement at no very great cost it would be an advantage and I con- sider that the intervals proposed by Mr TAYLOR are suitable.

I would like to suggest that an opinion be obtained from Trinity House as to any practical disadvantage which might result from placing the Lights in question at a somewhat higher or lower elevation than they were designed for.

Green Island Light is now 95 feet above high water, it will hardly be practic- able to keep it at that height when it is moved to Collinson where the point on which the buildings stand is higher than 100 feet.

Again D'Aguilar Light though designed for 200 feet might perhaps be for all practical purposes as efficient if placed on Green Island at a lesser height and thereby a saving of expense in the construction of the tower. In neither case is it necessary that after the change these Lights should show to their designed limit of 23 and 14 miles respectively.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

R. MURRAY RUMSEY,

Harbour Master, &c., Hongkong.

P.S.-The enclosures to your letter under reply are returned herewith as

directed.

The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies.

R. M. R.

277

Copy. 334900/900.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

23rd October, 1900.

I am directed by Mr. Secretary CHAMBERLAIN to transmit to you, to be laid before the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, a copy of correspondence, noted in the margin, respecting a proposal to improve the lighting of the approaches to the harbour of Hongkong by transferring the light on Cape D'Aguilar to Green Island, and the Light at the latter place to Cape Collinson.

2. In this connexion I am to refer to your letter of the Board of Trade of the 13th October, 1899, and to ask that the Elder Brethren may be so good as to advise Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, having regard to paragraph 3 of Commander RUMSEY'S letter, whether they anticipate any practical disadvantage from placing the lights in question at different elevations to those for which they were designed.

3. I am to ask that the despatches from the Colony, which are sent in original, may be returned with your reply.

The Secretary to the

CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOUSE.

am, &c.,

(Signed)

R. L. ANTROBUS.

Copy. Ex. 4301.

SIR,

TRINITY HOUSE, LONDON, E.C., 10th November, 1900.

I am directed by the Elder Brethren to acknowledge the receipt of

your letter dated 23rd ultimo (33490/1900), forwarding copy of correspondence relative to the lighting of the approaches to the Harbour of Hongkong.

In reply I am to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary CHAMBER- LAIN, that the Elder Brethren have given the matter their careful consideration, and are of opinion that it would be a decided improvement to the lighting of the approaches to Hongkong if Commander RUMSEY's proposals as to Green Island and Cape Collinson were carried out. They would therefore recommend that a new tower be erected on Green Island adjacent to the present one, and the disused lan- tern and apparatus from Cape D'Aguilar fitted therein, the focal plane of the light to be 110 feet above high water, so that it may have a range of visibility of 16 miles, and they are further of opinion that the light should be occulting, giving one occultation of three seconds' duration every 20 seconds.

They also recommend that the fourth Order Lantern and Apparatus now in use at Green Island be transferred to Cape Collinson, and a new structure erected there for the purpose, adjacent to the present building, the focal plane of the light to be the same as at present, viz.:-about 200 feet, and the Elder Brethren are of opinion that this light also should be occulting, giving one occultation of three seconds' duration every ten seconds.

In reply to your enquiry as regard the elevation of the lights, I am to state that for practical purposes their effect will not be impaired if exhibited at the heights named above.

If it is decided to adopt the suggestion as to the lights being occulting, I am to request that this may be stated when the requisition for the supply of the neces- sary machinery is made.

The original documents accompanying your letter are returned herewith as requested.

The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

I am, &c.,

(Signed) CHAS. A. KENT.

278

(Copy.)

4th December, 1900.

CAPE D'AGUILAR FIRST ORDER LIGHT.

Occulting gear for changing the present Fixed Light into an Occulting Light, to produce occultations at intervals to be decided upon, comprising :-Clockwork com- plete, with driving chain, and spare chain, lead driving weights, snatch block and back balance chain, sheet-iron dropping cylinder, over-gead gear springs, chains, brackets, adjustable clip brackets, bushed brackets for overhead gear, pawl for crank disc spare chains, two spare spiral springs, two spare chain pulleys, one spare double ended lever, one spare trigger, spare screws, &c.

To be set up and tested in our Works.

Packed and delivered f.o.b. in London for the sum of £130 (One hundred and thirty pounds).

GREEN ISLAND FOURTH ORDER LIGHT.

Occulting Gear, &c., exactly as above.

Packed and delivered f.o.b. in London for the sum of £125 (One hundred and twenty-five pounds).

We should require to know the period desired for the occultation, how many seconds dark and how many seconds light. Also the diameter of the burner to ensure correct size of the dropping cylinder.

A weight tube for conducting the driving weights should be provided in the

tower.

CHANCE BROTHERS AND COMPANY, LIMITED.

F. No. 3162.

747

No. 42

1901

HONGKONG.

TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE ON THE DEATH OF HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPRESS FREDERICK OF GERMANY, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Telegram from the Governor to the Secretary of State.

RESOLUTION PASSED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

[13th August, 1901.]

That the Members of Legislative Council of Hongkong desire humbly to express to His Majesty the King and His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor the sorrow with which they have received the intelligence of the death of the Dowager Empress Frederick of Germany, Princess Royal of England, and their deep sympathy with their Majesties in their bereavement.

BLAKE.

SIR,

German Consul to Governor, Hongkong.

KAISERLICH DEUTSCHES KONSULAT,

HONGKONG, the 8th of October, 1901.

On the recent death of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress FREDERICK of Germany Your Excellency has had the kindness, in the name of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, to express to His Majesty the EMPEROR of Germany the sorrow with which the intelligence of the death of the Empress FREDERICK was received here and the sympathy of the Legislative Council with His Majesty in his bereavement. My Government directs me to inform Your Excellency that your telegram came to the hands of His Majesty the Emperor and that the latter sends his Imperial thanks to the Hongkong Legislative Council for its sympathetic expression of condolence.

Asking Your Excellency kindly to inform the Legislative Council accordingly.

I have the honour to remain,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant.

OTTO GUMPRECHT, Imperial German Consul.

Το

His Excellency the Governor,

Sir HENRY BLAKE,

Hongkong.

ها

No. 438.

Enclosure 1.

Enclosure 2.

Enclosure 3.

SIR,

HONGKONG.

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: PLAGUE MORTALITY,

783

44 No. 1901

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

The Governor to the Secretary of State.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 25th October, 1901.

With reference to my Despatch (No. 254 of the 13th of last July,) forward- ing petition on the question of Hongkong Sanitation and especially calling attention to the system of drainage that has been adopted, it may be interesting to attach Extracts from the Reports made by Mr. MANSERGH in 1898, upon the surface drainage system of Colombo, and in 1890 on the surface system in Melbourne, by which it will be seen that surface drainage has its dangers and disadvantages. I also enclose an Extract from the Times of India showing that heavy as was, un- happily, the mortality of Hongkong in 1900, from the results of the plague epide- mic, the total death rate, including plague mortality, of 24.12 per mille contrasts very favourably with the 97.02 per mille shown by the Bombay returns.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

The Right Honourable

J. CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor.

(Enclosure 1.)

Extract from Report on the Drainage of Colombo by James Mansergh, 1898.

After I had left Colombo some discussion appears to have arisen with regard to underground sewers, and the water carriage system generally, which culminated in the passing by the Municipal Council of the following resolution some time in the beginning of April, 1897-

"This Committee is opposed to the introduction into Colombo of closets or latrines on the water carriage system.

"Further the Committee considers that all drainage should- wherever possible-be carried in open surface drains, and that no sewers or drains underground should-except where absolutely necessary-be pro- vided."

I think I may say that if such a resolution had been put into my hands when it was first intimated to me that the Ceylon Government desired my advice, I should probably have declined the commission.

Things have, however, now gone too far and I must prepare my report in accordance with the instructions contained in your letter of the 10th July, 1896, and this being so, I had better deal at once with the Council's resolution.

(2)

This resolution refers to two separate and distinct matters, and it will be more convenient to discuss first that which comes last in order, viz., the objection to underground sewers and the desire "that all drainage should wherever possible be carried in open surface drains."

1st. My first remark is that the system of open surface sewers is one that cannot be carried out in Colombo so as efficiently to get rid of the evils and nui- sances which now exist, for

2nd. The primary object of all sewers is to remove as speedily as possible from the vicinity of human habitations the fouled water supply and other liquid refuse; and if a proper system is constructed in Colombo it will, I doubt not, ultimately be utilised to carry away a great part of the solid and fluid dejecta of the population.

3rd. This speedy removal-so essential to the maintenance of safe sanitary conditions cannot be effected by any channels or conduits whether open or closed which are not laid with sufficient falls to ensure their having self-cleansing veloci-

ties.

4th. It is impossible owing to the configuration of its site to construct in Colombo drains on the surface that will conform to this requirement.

The only way to secure self-cleansing sewers in many of the roads is to cut down into them and so create falls steeper than those of the surface, and this must be done in places to the extent of many feet, so that it would be absolutely im- possible to have such sewers open, for the inconvenience would be intolerable, and the cost prohibitive.

5th. Underground sewers are therefore indispensable and if these are designed on proper pinciples and constructed of suitable materials and in a workmanlike manner there is no reason in my opinion why private closets and public latrines should not be adapted to the water carriage system.

6th. This opinion is, I regret, in direct opposition to that of the Council as expressed in their Resolution, but it appears to me that I should not be adequately performing my duty if on that account I failed to advise on this matter to the best of my judgment.

7th. In England there are still a few towns which have the old fashioned cesspits and others where the excreta is dealt with by some form or other of the pail system, but these methods are steadily giving way before the introduction of the ordinary water closet or the slop-closet by means of which the water supply, fouled in every possible way, is carried off by the sewers.

8th. I am free to admit that it may not be possible in Colombo to adopt the water carriage system to so great an extent as is being done at home, but I am quite clear that it would be a mistake to condemn the whole town for all time to any method which involves the retention of human excrement in or adjoining the houses a moment longer than is absolutely necessary.

The foregoing unexaggerated description of the existing arrangements shows that the present system (if system it can be called) is one under which the personal and household filth of the people is retained in, under, and around their dwellings for a time, and to an extent, which can have only one result, viz., a death-rate probably twice as high as it need be and a corresponding amount of sickness and domestic misery.

Further it is a system in which the method of disposal of so much of the filth as is removed, is crude, unscientific and disgustingly objectionable.

So far as my experience qualifies me to give an opinion I have no hesitation in saying that the remedy for these evils is to be found in the provision of a com- plete scheme of underground sewers by means of which all this filth can be speedily removed from the dwellings of the people and discharged into the sea where it can- not do

any harm nor give rise to any nuisance.

(3)

(Enclosure 2.)

Extract from Report on the Sewerage and Sewage Disposal of Melbourne by James Manseryh, 1890.

PRESENT SANITARY CONDITION.

Having now described in general terms the boundaries, area, physiography, and present population of the district to be dealt with I will say a few words about its sanitary condition.

In doing so I will make no excuse for quoting freely from the very admirable and exhaustive Reports of the "Royal Commission appointed in March, 1888, to enquire into and report upon the sanitary condition of Melbourne." My appointment is one of the outcomes of the Commissioners' investigations and recommendations, and therefore my report may be considered in a sense a sequel to their reports, and to be read after them.

I have deemed it advisable, however, to incorporate herein so much of the evidence they have collected, and the opinions they have formed, as will serve as part of the basis for my advice, and will render my story logically complete in

itself.

I can confirm the statements contained in the Commissioners' Reports from the personal inspection of public roads, rights of way and private property both inside and out all over the Metropolis.

I sailed down the Yarra from near Dight's Falls to Hobson Bay and walked along every tributary on the district, and I carefully inspected several of the localities where typhoid and diptheria had specially prevailed.

Everyone is conversant with the arrangement under which practically all the fouled liquids of Melbourne flow in open gutters on the surface of the public

streets.

The Commission's detailed description is as follows:-

"The liquid refuse is conducted in the first instance into the street channels. It consists of urine, a small quantity of night-soil, kitchen water, bath water, soap suds from the wa-hing of clothes, the drainage from stables and cow-sheds, the waste liquids and washings of trades and manufactories, mixed to a varying degree with the surface water from the streets and house roofs. The amount of the refuse is also constantly varying. At one time the street channels are full to overflowing, at another many of them are dry."

"The channels are open, and constructed of stone pitchers. As a rule the pitchers have sand, or sand and tur, between the joints; in a few instances only is lime mixed with the sand, or is cement used, so as to render the channels impermeable. In a very few cases tar (miscalled asphalte) channels have been made."

"In many of the suburbs a large proportion of the channels are still unmade; the liquid sewage from the houses passes sluggishly along natural channels in the ground, here and there accumulating and stagnat- ing, and everywhere soaking into and polluting the soil. In sandy dis- tricts the liquid house refuse is largely allowed to lose itself in the sand around the houses. The channels which have been made are not at all accurately levelled with a sufficient fall, and not infrequently the flow is

•

(4)

checked by solid refuse which collects in them. Under such circum- stances the sewage lingers in the channels and undergoes decomposi- tion. The permeable joints of the pitchers allow great contamination of the soil beneath. This evil is greatest where blocks of houses are intersected by branching lanes and passages in which channels, having often only a slight fall, may be traced for long distances, uniting together and bending at various angles before they reach the main channel in the street. In some instances these complicated channels in the blocks can- not reach the streets directly; a length of underground piping is neces- sary, which commences at a catch-pit, covered by a grating. During heavy rains, solid refuse of all kinds is swept down the channels and accumulates over the gratings, and the drainage then overflows the lanes and yards. Thus the soil is constantly being polluted in greater or less degree; and in the crowded portions of the Metropolis, where the evil is greatest, the floors of the houses are often close to the ground so that the mischief is intensified. In certain places crude forms of under- ground drainage have been introduced to remedy the ill conditions of groups or terraces of houses; but it is questionable whether the remedy so applied does not involve greater dangers to health than the open nuisance originally existing."

Owing to the careless manner in which the pan-closets are con- structed, without impermeable floors, and owing to the use of old and worn-out receptacles, the soil under them is frequently polluted. In some parts, also, the soil has not yet completely recovered from the contamination that was produced during the existence of cesspits. In the low-lying parts of the Metropolis the subsoil is exceedingly damp, so that the walls of tenements suffer."

"The stagnant decomposing drainage also gives off offensive emana- tions which pollute the air. The underground sewers are not sufficiently ventilated, offensive gases escape through the various openings, and accumulations of a black and very offensive silt frequently occur, which is removed through manholes. During this process of removal the smell from the sewers is very offensive, and the air is necessarily polluted."

In the course of their enquiries the Commission put the following question in writing to the Clerks of the various Municipal Councils in the Metropolitan area :

"Are there separate drains for the slops and liquid refuse of the houses ?"

To this question the reply, in 17 cases out of 18, was in the negative.

With regard to the 18th I am a little dubious, but practically it may be assumed that this arrangement of open gutters conveying chamber slops and other foul liquids in the open is universal.

Over a great part of the Metropolitan area the fall in the channels is fairly good, but in some parts of South Melbourne, and notably in Port Melbourne, they are of necessity laid with terribly flat gradients, and as a consequence the fluids stagnate and become a source of great offence.

Under Mr. THWAITES' supervision this state of things is now being materially improved.

It is to be hoped that in laying out—in the future—any such low-lying districts as parts of South Melbourne, and Port Melbourne, arrangements will be made to prevent houses being erected with their ground floors at so slight an elevation. above sea level in Hobson's Bay as they are in those towns.

( 5 )

The besodden condition of the subsoil can now be remedied only by pumping the water out of it by artificial means; it would have been infinitely better to have raised the sites high enough to provide natural drainage by gravitation.

I believe there is no necessity whatever for me to labour the open-gutter part of the question.

During the whole time I was in Melbourne I hear many expressions of disapproval of this system, and not a word in its justification, and I take it for granted that public opinion is quite ripe in favour of a radical change.

In some of the more densely populated districts, such as Melbourne City, Collingwood, Fitaroy, Prahran, and Richmond, underground sewers have been constructed to collect the contents of the open channels and convey them to the river.

The principal of these are in Swanston, Elizabeth and King Streets, in Melbourne City, discharging into the Yarra; in Arden Street, North Melbourne, discharging into Moonee Ponds Creek; the Reilly Street, partly open, drain through Fitzroy and Collingwood into the Yarra; and the Palmer Street main in Richmond also into the Yarra.

In Collingwood there are about five miles of underground sewers; and in Richmond considerable works were in course of construction at the time of my visit, and I went over them with Mr. ALFRED CLAYTON, the City Surveyor.

I examined the outfalls of all these sewers, and found that the liquid being discharged was to all appearance quite as offensive and polluted a compound as the sewage of a fully water closeted town.

(Enclosure 3.)

Extract from the "Times of India" of the 21st September, 1901.

HONGKONG AND THE PLAGUE.

It is now seven years since the island of Hongkong underwent its first visita- tion of plague. It does not augur well for the future immunity of the colony that after enduring several severe outbreaks, it has just passed through another epidemic more virulent than any of the earlier ones. The disease began to assume an epidemic form towards the end of April, reached its height in June, and rapidly declined in July. The worst statistics were recorded during the first week in June, when the number of cases reached 212, with 206 deaths. These figures will appear exceptionally light to stricken Bombay. Even allowing for the far smaller population-the new census report puts the total number of the inhabitants of the colony at 283,000-it is obvious that, by comparison, Hongkong has escaped al- most mildly. Since 1894, the island has only had nine thousand reported cases of bubonic plague, with a mortality averaging from 89 to 96 per cent. The citizens of Hongkong appear to regard these returns as constituting sufficient reason for making agonizing appeals to the Secretary of State for the Colonies concerning the local Administration. If Hongkong had been compelled to endure the far worse experience of Bombay and other Indian cities, its public men would probably have learned to accept its unisfortunes more calmly. The rate of mortality in Hongkong was appreciably higher than in Bombay, but the incidence of the disease was far less. During the single year ending in May, 1900, the city of Bombay.

( 6 )

out of an average population of 740,000, recorded 18,310 plague attacks, out of which there were 13,928 deaths. These mortality figures represent correctly diagnosed cases. If suspicious cases are added, the plague mortality is brought up to 25,645. But this is not all; for in that same disastrous year there were 46,000 deaths set down as due to ordinary causes; and as these "ordinary" deaths were 22,000 in excess of the normal annual death-rate, it may be assumed that some of them were also due to plague. The total number of deaths from all causes in Bombay during 1899-1900 was 71,801, representing a death-rate of 97.02 per

mille.

If the Hongkong community realised the terrible significance of these figures, it would congratulate itself that the colony had been so fortunate. Proportion- ately, far more money was spent in Bombay, the preventive arrangements were far more elaborate, and the population was probably more amenable to precautionary measures, and in particular to inoculation. Moreover, we are inclined to think that there was, and still is, not much essential difference between the sanitary con- dition of Bombay and Hongkong. Yet Hongkong has not, in seven years, had to face a total plague mortality of 10,000. Under the circumstances, the sudden agitation in Hongkong about the inefficiency of the Government preventive mea- sures strikes the observer at a distance as rather amusing, and to some extent ungrateful. If the far wider experience of plague now available in India may be taken as a criterion, the Hongkong Government is entitled to a large amount of credit for having kept its plague epidemics within such narrow limits. The Hong- kong public may be recommended to study the history of plague in Western India. They will then discover that public bodies in India realised in less than seven that petitions and "representations" had no effect on the plague mortality, years and that business men ultimately came to the conclusion that the measures for fighting a disease of which so little is known, were best left in the hands of Government and their skilled advisers.

In one respect the last Hongkong epidemic presented a feature for which no parallel can be found in India. In six weeks, in the not very large European community, twenty-five persons were attacked and nine died. Possibly it was the unexpected revelation that Europeans were less immune than was supposed, which caused the residents in Hongkong hurriedly to draft a formidable petition to the Secretary of State. The majority of their grievances are of purely local interest, and need not be specified here. They complain that nineteen years ago a sanitary expert was brought out from England to enquire into the sanitation of Hongkong, and that "with a few exceptions the whole of his recommendations have been ignored." A memorandum signed by Mr. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, and two other members of the Administration, makes short work of this rather reckless allegation. By no stretch of imagination can Hongkong be des- cribed as sanitary; but Mr. LOCKHART and his colleagues clearly demonstrate that at any rate Mr. CHADWICK'S recommendations have been carried out, save only those which would have imposed an impossible strain upon the limited resources of the colony. The petitioners have artlessly placed before Mr. CHAMBERLAIN an assertion made by Dr. J. A. Lowson in 1895 about the ease with which a plague epidemic could be. "got under rapidly if men in sufficient number could be got to do the work." Upon such windy observations as this their case seems to be based. We in India know something about the armour-plated self-confidence of the Hong- kong plague experts; but apparently these prophets are still enjoying unusual honour in their own country.

The one strong point in the petition is the appeal for the appointment of a Commission to investigate and report upon the sanitary condition of the colony. The implication of lack of confidence in the Hongkong Government contained in this request has, however, been largely discounted; for a similar suggestion has been forwarded to the Colonial Office by Sir HENRY BLAKE, the Governor. The

(7)

scheme for an elaborate enquiry into Hongkong sanitation is, indeed, one in which all parties may join; but the criticism on the plague administration is another matter. Doubtless the Government made many mistakes; blunders have been perpetrated by all executive authorities called upon to face an outbreak of plague. But careful examination of the reports conveys the impression that the measures taken were reasonably adequate; and the Government are at least entitled to be judged by results, which, to those who know what plague has meant to India, will appear remarkably successful. Before the Hongkong public devoted themselves to their favourite pastime of attacking the local administrators, they might have looked farther afield. At present they seem unconscious of the littleness of their fancied woes.

It may be added that Sir HENRY BLAKE, unlike the community over which he rules, appears to have studied carefully the lessons of the Bombay epidemics. In an interesting despatch to the Secretary of State, he mentions that he recommended the tentative adoption of the Bombay system of permitting patients to remain in their houses to be nursed by their friends under proper res- trictions. The Sanitary Board, from some inscrutable reason, declined to accept his suggestion. Sir HENRY BLAKE adds his personal belief that removal two or three miles to a hospital lessened the chances of a patient's recovery. In this respect, of course, his view is entirely borne out by the experience gained in Bom- bay. Another lesson derived from Bombay by the Governor was utilised without demur. Instead of disinfecting only the floor on which a case occurred, the whole house was ordered to be disinfected, as is done here. It seems surprising that such an obvious precaution was not locally originated. But they are sometimes curiously conservative in Hongkong. We gather from the local papers that there are still prominent personages in that eccentric island who decline to believe in the malignancy of the anopheles mosquito.

481

No. 26

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS. FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

EDUCATION Department,

HONGKONG, 24th April, 1901.

SIR-I have the honour to submit the following report on the schools under my supervision during the year 1900.

2. GENERAL STATISTICS.-Table No. V shews the changes which have taken place in the number and class of schools and in the number of scholars during the last ten years, and enables a comparison to be made with the years 1870 and 1880. Compared with the year 1899 there is, except in the Government English Schools and in the Grant-in-Aid Portuguese Schools, a decrease in the enrol- ment in each class of school. In the case of the English Grant-in-Aid Schools this may be accounted for by some schools, hitherto free, charging fees. In the case of the Chinese Schools it is partly due to an actual decrease in the number of schools at work during the year as although there is a nominal increase of one on the roll of Grant-in-Aid Schools there is an increase of nine in the number of schools temporarily closed. The following Tables enable a more detailed comparison to be drawn between the year 1890, the year 1893-the last normal year, as the statistics for every year since have been affected by the Plague--and 1900.

1890.

Government and Grant-in-Aid Schools.

CHINESE.

ENGLISH.

PORTUGUESE.

TOTAL.

Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars.

Schools. Scholars.

Victoria,

3,140

2,489

280

5,909

Villages of Hongkong, ... 19

484

189

673

Kowloon,

487

525

Tota!,......

4,111

2,716

280

109

7,107

CHINESE.

1893.

Government and Grant-in-Aid Schools.

ENGLISH.

PORTUGUESE.

TOTAL.

Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars.

Victoria,

4,034

3,014

186

Villages of Hongkong, ...

273

114

7,234

387

Kowloon,

932

985

Total,........

5,239

3,181

186

126

8,606

482

CHINESE.

1900.

Government and Grant-in-Aid Schools.

ENGLISH.

PORTUGUESE.

TOTAL.

Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars. Schools. Scholars.

Victoria,

2,959

3,005

161

6,125

Villages of Hongkong, .

728

800

Kowloon,

486

556

Total,.......

4,173

3,147

161

110

7,481

A comparison between the two years 1890 and 1900 shews a decease of 5 in the number of Chinese Schools and an increase of 62 in the number of scholars in attendance at them. There is an actual decrease under every head except that of the number of scholars in the Hongkong Village Schools. The increase under the latter head is due to the closing of Government Schools in small isolated villages and the opening of Grant-in-Aid Schools in the larger villages. Thus in 1890 there were three schools in Shaukiwan with an enrolment of 147 scholars, in 1900 five schools with an enrolment of 244. The decrease in the number of English Schools in the Hongkong villages is caused by the closing of the Government English Schools at Stanley and Shaukiwan. The decrease in the number of scholars attending Portuguese Schools deserves notice. With 1893 of course 1900 com- pares still worse.

There is a decrease under every head except in the number of English Schools and in the number of schools in the villages of Hongkong. In 1892 a number of Government village schools were closed and in the following year the Grant-in-Aid Schools which ultimately took their place had not been opened. The free Chinese Schools in Victoria have been very adversely affected by the general rise in rents. There is a demand for more Chinese Schools in the Kowloon Peninsula and unless it is met by the Managers of Grant-in-Aid Schools it will be the duty of the Government

to undertake the work.

The subjoined Table shews the present position of the unaided schools for Chinese (Kai-fong Schools) compared with their position in 1893.

Victoria,

Villages of Hongkong,...

Kowloon,

Total,.....

Unaided Schools for Chinese.

Schools.

1893.

Scholars.

Schools,

1900.

Scholars.

110

2,039

104

1,934

252

131

305

379

144

2,596

126

2,444

The schools in Victoria have maintained their position very well and the only way I can account for the loss under "Villages of Hongkong" is by the increase in Grant-in-Aid Schools there during the last seven years. In future care should be taken that the Grant-in-Aid Schools do not interfere unduly with these Unaided Schools, and the masters of the latter schools should be encouraged to report cases where their pupils have been attracted from them by the opening of Free Grant-in-Aid Schools.

3. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.-The average Daily Attendance in 1900 was 4,630. That in Grant- in-Aid Schools alone was 3,871. The corresponding figures for 1899 are 4,418 and 3,683, and for 1890, 5,105 and 3,373.

I cannot find any very clear evidence of attendance having been affected by the report which was current towards the end of May that a child was to be sacrificed to strengthen the foundations of a railway bridge. The scare was only partial and very soon passed away, but not before it culminated

483

in a serious commotion at Aberdeen on the night of the 31st May, when the boats in harbour fired off their guns under the impression that an attempt was to be made to carry off their children. It is satisfactory to learn that the influence of the Sisters on the children attending their school at Aberdeen was so great that the children instead of absenting themselves from school went there for protection. I visited Aplichau and Stanley one or two days after the disturbance. At Aplichau the attendance was a little below normal. One girl who returned to afternoon school when I was there did not dare to come further than the top of the staircase and when some allusion was made by the mistress in conversation with me to the rumour she ran off again. At Stanley the boys attended school, but most of the girls were absent.

4. RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION.-I reported fully on the results of the examinations of Government District Schools in my letter No. 27 of the 5th March. The results of the examina- tions of the Grant-in-Aid Schools will be found in Tables VI, VII and VIII, in which the actual number of passes and failures in each standard and the percentage for each school will be found.

In 1900 there were 136 scholars examined in the three highest standards of the Grant-in-Aid Schools in class III compared with 155 in 1899. But as the total number examined was only 988 as against 1,166 in 1899, there is relatively no falling off.

5. BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL.-The Headmistress, Mrs. BATEMAN, returned from 19 months' leave in October. The annual examination of the school was held on the 18th, 19th and 20th July, and my report on it will be found in Letter No. 61 of the 7th August. There were 155 scholars present in the English Division as against 99 in the previous year. Of these, 53 were in the Upper School and 102 in the Infant School. The corresponding figures for 1899 were 50 and 49. Out of 194 scholars on the register 33 were British or Americans and 65 were Chinese. There were 39 Eurasians. Miss LONG, the senior pupil teacher, resigned her post at the end of November, and the Headmistress reports that after asking several of the former pupils of the school to undertake the duties she could meet with no success, until Miss CHUN YUT as a personal favour consented to take charge of the classes until such time as a teacher could be found to take the position permanently. So far no one has been found and the prospect of finding anyone seems as far off as ever. The examination of the Chinese Division was held in October, a more suitable time for judging the work done during the year than July. The number examined was 128 compared with 87 in the previous year.

6. GOVERNMENT DISTRICT SCHOOLS.-The number of schools remains the same.

The average daily attendance at the Chinese Schools was 274 and at the English 484 compared with 249 and 484 respectively in 1899. The work in the English Schools was interfered with by changes in the teaching staff. The attendance at the Yaumati Government School has doubled, and will no doubt continue to increase. The erection of a school building, the need for which was referred to in my last report, has been sanctioned. The system of partial payment by results has worked most satisfactorily, and there is a very marked improvement in those schools in which it is in force.

7. GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS.-The number of schools on the roll is 97 compared with 96 in 1899. The following schools were closed during the year: —

1. The Roman Catholic Mission Nova Escola Portugueza, a School for Portuguese children.

2. The London Missionary Society Kau-ü-fong, girls' school for Chinese (Class I).

3. The Victoria English School for girls (Class III).

The following new schools have been opened

1. The Church Missionary Kau-ü-fong, girls' school for Chinese (Class I).

2. The London Missionary Training Home for girls, a school in Class II for giving a Euro-

pean education in Chinese.

3. The French Convent School, a school of very old standing for European girls.

4. The Diocesan Girls School, a Church of England School, principally for Eurasian girls. The schools formerly maintained by the Female Education Society have now passed under the management of the Church Missionary Society. Out of the 97 schools on the roll only 80 were examined. Of the remaining 17, 2 were dispersed before the date of examination; the premises occu- pied by them became unsafe for habitation and they were unable to find new quarters. Eight of the others are closed owing to difficulty in procuring teachers; another is closed pending the erection of a permanent school building, and the others are unable to find suitable quarters. A special grant equal to 30 per cent. of the rent is now made to schools occupying leased premises and will, I hope, afford the free Chinese Schools in Victoria some relief, but rents are rising with such extraordinary rapidity that I question whether this extra grant will induce teachers to re-open the schools which have been.

484

closed. Landlords are averse to leasing their premises for longer periods than a month, and teachers are chary of incurring an expenditure from which no return can be expected till the end of the year. It is only the other day that the reply of a landlord to an application from the Manager of a Grant-in- Aid School for a year's lease was one month's notice to quit, and the result is that a useful little girls' school has disappeared. All landlords are not like that and I am pleased to be able to report an instance of a landlord foregoing a large increase in rent in order to enable a school to continue its work till the end of the year and thus earn the Government Grant.

Mr. J. G. DA ROCHA again acted as assistant examiner in Portuguese, and Mr. G. A. WOODCOCK as assistant examiner in drawing.

8. STAFF. From the 8th August to the 19th September, I was absent from the Colony on vaca- tion leave, and Mr. J. DYER BALL acted as Inspector of Schools. Mrs. BATEMAN, the Headmistress of the Belilios Public School, returned from leave on the 14th October. The Senior Pupil Teacher, Miss LONG, resigned on the 30th November, and Miss EILEEN CHUN YUT was appointed temporarily. Miss ELLA KING, the temporary assistant teacher, resigned on the 31st January, and Miss OLSON held the post until the 15th October when she was succeeded by Miss SIMONS.

9. Mr. CHAU KING-NAM was appointed master of the Shek-6 School vice Mr. CHAU KONG-SHEUNG deceased. Mr. Ho YUI-TS'ÜN resigned the post of master of the Wongnaichung School on the 31st May and was succeeded by Mr. YEUNG KÜN. Mr. SOONDERAM, Headmaster of the Wantsai Govern- ment School, resigned on the 25th October after twenty years' service and was succeeded by Mr. CHʻAN CHIU-LAI, assistant master at Saiyingpun. Mr. TSUI FU-wÊN was appointed to the post of assistant master of the Saiyingpun School, vice Mr. CHAN promoted.

10. The Tables of Statistics attached to the Report are drawn up in the same form as last year.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

A. W. BREWIN,

Inspector of Schools.

TABLE I.—Summary of Statistics relating to all Schools under the Inspectorate of Schools in the Year 1900.

485

Number of Schools.

NUMBER OF SCHOLARS ATTENDING SCHOOLS.

Amount Average

Expenses. of

Grant.

Maximum Minimum Daily Monthly Monthly Attendance. Enrolment. Enrolment.

Boys. Girls. Total.

Government Schools,

English,

591

308

899

5,641.01

484.8

698

433

Chinese,

236

291

527

2,149.18

274.8

412

225

Total,...... 12

827

599

1,426

7.790.19

759.6

1,110

658

Grant-in-Aid Schools,

English,

1,759

489 2,248

Portuguese,

140

161

Chinese,

1,782 1,864 3,646

68,312.25 10,701.81

1,045.54

11,535.43 12,143.84

1,314.3

1,755

1,149

916.06

104.0

137

100

2,452.3

3,200

1,795

Total,

3,562

2.493

6,055

80,893.22 | 23,761.71 3,870.6

5,092

3,044

Grand Total,...] 110 4,389

3,092

7,481

88,683.41 23,761.71

4,630.2

6,202

3,702

TABLE II.—Statistics regarding Attendance at Government Schools during the Year 1900,

and the Cost of each School.

NUMBER OF SCHOLARS ATTENDING SCHOOLS.

Maxi-

Amount

Name of School.

Expenses. of

Grant.

Boys.

Girls.

Total.

Number Average

of Daily School Attend- Days. ance.

Minimum

mum

Monthly Enrol-

ment.

Monthly

Eurol-

ment.

Aplichau School (Chinese),.......

Belilios Public School (English),

(Chinese),

Pokfulam (Chinese),..

Saiyingpún (English),

(Chinese),

Shek-ó (Chinese), .

Tanglungchau (Chinese),...

Wantsai (English),

(Chinese),

167

Wongnaichung (English),.............

Yaumati (English),

192.00

308

308 2,592.54

291

291 1,068.00

282

129.00

167

1,126.01

192.00

104.18

144.00

282 1,087.92

240.00

1242

399.59

514.95

Total,......

827

599 1,426

7,790.19

256

20.1

240

142.7

195

150

232

¡ 135.1

219

109

249

13.0

240 112.9

140

106

241

35.7

253

21.8

242

20.8

241

145.3

236

116

242

28.3

241

38.4

239

45.5

759.6

1,110

658

486

TABLE III-STATISTICS regarding Attendance at GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS during 1900, and the Cost of each School.

Number of Scholars attending Schools.

Name of Schools.

Ex-

penses.

Boys. Girls. Total.

Amount of Grant.

Number Average

of Daily School Attend- Monthly Monthly Days. ance.

Maxi- Mini-

mum

Enrol- Enrol- ment. ment.

American Board Mission, Bridges Street, (Boys),

106

$ 390.50

$ 298.11

230 75.22

104

Queen's Road West, (Boys), Hawan, (Girls).

Chungwan, (Girls),

322.00

255 39.43

Tsat-tszmui, (Boys),

233.46

255 39.43

Mongkoktsui, (Boys),

Basel Mission, Shamshuipo, (Boys),

C.M.S., St. Stephen's Chinese School, (Boys),

Pottinger Street, (Boys),

Saiyingpun, (Boys),

St. Stephen's Baxter Memorial, (Girls),

410.63

386.39 223

69.25

Shaukiwan, (Boys),

Tokwawan, (Boys),

No. 2 School, (Boys).

395.18

229.39

250

41.28

125

430.13

432.35

235

87.20

121

129

448.12

261.01

257

79.03

114

388.88

149.10

223

32.20

354.33

126.75

223

30.00

374.23

66.32

241

22.14

252.98

149.43

214

31.37

Lyndburst Terrace, (Girls),

Third Street. (Girls).

Yaumati, (Boys),

Hunghom, (Girls).

Quarry Bay. (Boys),

Aberdeen School, (Boys),

388.62

260.06

255 39.13

200.80

203.28 244 32.57

Aplichau, (Girls).

Bonham Road, Chinese Division, (Girls),

Queen's Road West. (Girls),

High Street, (Girls),

Saiyingpun, Praya, (Girls),

Pottinger Street, (Girls),

ཚེ ཁ ེ བ ོ

212.75

118.50

247 23.00

149.08

26.31

235

8.62

128.95

40.09

272

12.18

142.05

55.38

219

9.77

435.01

467.97

216

45.94

319.74

121.88

269

23.77

291.56

192.28

233

28.57

Yaumati, (Boys),

II.

(Boys),

Hunghom, (Boys).

Shektong-tsui, (Girls),

Third Street. (Boys),

Tanglungchau, (Girls),

Aberdeen Street, (Girls),

Wantsai Chapel, (Girls),

Staunton Street, (Girls),

Stanley School, (Girls),

Shaukiwan, (Girls),

Tokwawan. (Girls)..

Yaumati, (Girls),.

Kau-ü-fong, (Girls),

L.M.S., Square Street. (Boys),

Wantsai Chapel, (Boys),

Shektong-tsui, (Boys),

Saiyingpun, I. Division. (Boys),

Hospital Chapel, (Boys),

Saiyingpun, Second Street, I. Division, (Girls),

II.

Ui-hing Lane, I. Division, (Girls),

Tanglungchau No. 1, (Boys).

No. 2, (Boys),

Square Street, (Girls),

Taikoktsui, (Boys),

Matauwai, (Boys),

Shaukiwan, (Boys),

D'Aguilar Street, (Girls),

205.75

96.67

264

32.85

246.88

167.40

254

25.30

198.69

109.40

234

21.81

179.93

9.14

185.60

61.74

246

18.48

•*******g

(Boys),

II.

(Girls),

7༅:;:;:;:

330.80

311.82

241

52.65

323.46

196.77

211

38.05

260.00

241.87

202

37.24

350.28

218.34

240

49.18

265.63

135.34

252

33.18

17889

323.00

263.14

262

46.79

133.50

30.97

270

6.95

251.68

178.55

228

35.61

104

333.95

311.13

241

50.76

356.74

287.77

253 47.05

184.00

45.00

206 15.01

463.53

412.36

262 65.22

193.93

147.08

232 26.07

399.00

292.79

264 51.58

189.50

178.64

140.00

233 200

29.78

21.21

:..

:8888

215.71

350.87

182.14

267

25.78

470.01

191.82

248 39.15

277.47

110.72

262 21.44

R.C.M., Bridges Strect, Chinese Division, (Girls),

Aberdeen School, (Girls),.

129.66

173.65

257 30.31

136.00

128.88

263 27.76

Holy Infancy School, (Mixed),

337.71

303.85

246 55.21

Yaumati, (Girls),

276,50

150.28

274 25.07

Shaukiwan. (Girls),

216.50

148.00

268

33.00

Hunghòm, (Girls)......

330.00

188.48

258 40.47

Italian Convent, Chinese School, (Girls),

396.97

458.66

268 74.82

Sacred Heart School, Chinese Division, (Girls),

115.00

97.32

257

22.15

Wesleyan Mission, Spring Gardens, (Boys),

312.00

240.80

257 46.10

Wellington Street, (Boys),

316.00

282.28 231

61.57

་

(Girls),

319.00

160.64

241 43.28

Lower Lascar Row, (Boys),

273.50

187.16

253 33.83

Wantsai School, (Boys),

Graham Street, (Girls),..

315.00

243.32

249 37.65

ེ

Basel Mission, High Street. (Girls),

797.87

378.82

251 43.76

L.M.S., Training Home for Girls.

Berlin Foundling House School, (Girls),

C.M.S., Victoria Home and Orphanage, Chinese Division, (Girls),

C.M.S., St. Stephen's Anglo-Chinese, (Boys),

30 30

1.014.36

315.23

232 28.98

2,183.S!

332.37

234 35.83

230

Morrison English School, (Boys)..

230 2,184.47 80 1,785.42

261.58 245 32.11 1,029.25 224 159.25 242.80 219 44.80

230

117

Victoria Home and Orphanage, English Division, (Girls),

Wesleyan Mission, Lyndhurst Terrace, English, (Boys),

636.00

St. Paul's College School, (Boys),

240

240 3,226.17

Diocesan School, (Boys)...

265

C.M.S., Bonham Road. English Division, (Girls),

L.M.S., Taipingshan, English, (Boys),

East Point. (Boys),...

R.C.M.. Cathedral School, (Boys)...

St. Joseph's College School, (Boys),

21,873.48 540.60 837.06

156.86

22.86 1.042.25 235 136.25 1,683.13 243 156.13

101.46

222 367.21 220 57.21

181

193

136

11.46

224

2,211.60 652.00

360

360 17.623.17

1.788.00

221 110.00 218

217.00

172

253

210

Carried forward,

3,3231,8825,205 $62,453.40 $19,106.80

2357.2 4,425 2.534

TABLE III-STATISTICS regarding Attendance at GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS,—Continued.

487

Number of Scholars!

attending Schools.

Name of Schools.

Ex- penses.

Boys. Girls. Total.

Amount of Grant.

Number Average

of Daily School Attend- I' Monthly Monthly Days. ance.

Maxi- Mini-

mum

Enrol- Enrol-

ment. ment.

Brought forward,

R.C.M., Italian Convent, English Division, (Girls),

l'ortuguese Division, (Girls),

| 3,323 |1,882 |5,205 |$62,453.40 |$19,106.80

3357.2

1.425 2,534

287 287 2,803.24

1,909.72

219 188.72

321.05

396.43 219 42.93

French Convent, (Girls),

Bridges Street, English Division, (Girls).

Portuguese Division, (Girls),

239.11

215

33.11

180.63

149.50

265

16.00

296.81

181.16

265

22.16

Sacred Heart School, English Division, (Girls),

St. Francis, Portuguese Division, (Girls),

800.70

225.10

227

29.60

100.74

146.01

243

19.01

وو

English Division, (Girls),

237.51

161.91

243 29.41

Victoria Portuguese School, Portuguese Div., (Mixed),

192.46

231

19.96

326.94

English Div., (Mixed),

Victoria English School, (Boys),

208

(Girls),

5,578.68

113.03 228 11.53 655.66 271 77.66

120

Diocesan Girls School, (Girls),

32 8,093.52 284.82

216 23.32

ཤྲཱ སོ ཆེ རྨི ཀྲྀཧྨ:ལིཾ

232

192

}

Total,

3,562 | 2,493 6,055 ($80,893.22 |$23,761.71

3870.6 5,092

3,044

TABLE IV.-Average Expense of each Scholar at Government Schools under the Inspectorate of Schools and at the Grant-in-Aid Schools during the Year 1900.*

I-DIRECT EXPENDITURE ON GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.

(Cost of working the Schools irrespective of cost of erection or repairs of Buildings.)

1.-BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS,-

Expenditure,

Dednet School Fees,

2.-OTHER DEPARTMENTAL SCHOOLS,-

$3,514.54 922.00

$ 2,592.54

Cost to Government, in 1900,

.$ 5,197.65

II.—EXPENDITURE ON THE GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS.

Total Cost to Government, in 1900, ........

.$ 23,644.37

III.—AVERAGE COST OF EACH SCHOLAR.

(Calculated by Enrolment.)

Average Cost, to Government, of each Scholar,-

1. At Belilios Public School,..

2. At Other Departmental Schools, 3. At Grant-in-Aid Schools,

IV.-AVERAGE OF EACH SCHOLAR.

(Calculated by the Average Daily Attendance.)

Average Cost, to Government, of each Scholar,

8.41

4.64

3.90

1. At Belilios Public School,

2. At Other Departmental Schools,

3. At Grant-in-Aid Schools,

18.16

8.42

6.10

*The above expenditure does not include the cost of Direction, Inspection or Repairs to Buildings, nor, in the case of Grant-in-Aid Schools, Building Grants.

TABLE V.-Summary shewing the Number of Schools under the Inspectorate, and the Number of Scholars attending them during the last Eleven Years and in the Years 1870 and 1880.

Government.

YEARS.

Total.

1870........

1880.. 1890..

1891......

1892....

1893..

1894.

1895..

1896..

1897....

1898.

1899.

1900..

English.

2-rooowEBBEN Chinese.

Chinese.

SCHOOLS.

Grant-in-Aid.

Government.

English &

Portuguese.

Grand

Total.

English.

Chinese.

SCHOLARS.

Grant-in-Aid.

Total.

English.

Portuguese.

Total.

Chinese.

Grand Total.

Boys. Girls.

Percentage of Expen- diture on Education to Revenue.

111

577

116 623

1,302 | 1,302 2111,289 862 809 1.432 1,135

1,302 1,191 111

1.52

1,500 147 1,439 1,055

252 116

184

129 678

102

106

81 104

78 100

77 100

96 108

882

1,560 1,259 186 125 731 613 1,344 1,477 186 118 710 572 1,282❘ 1,529 201 121 696 412 1,108 1,527 209 119 755 380 1,135 1,553 214 115 798 467 1,265 1,532 193 115 891 554 1,445 1,869 190

886 558

153 1,444 2.353 109 899 527 1,426 2,248 161

1,409 1,808 3,308| 2,609 3.485 4,656| 6,095| 3,771 | 2,324 3,803 5,132| 6,564| 3,773 | 2,791 4.210 5,655 | 7,215 4,228 | 2,987 4,587| 6,250|7,599|4,332| 3.262 4,234| 5,964| 7,246| 4,131| 3.115 3,948 | 5,684 | 6,792| 3,819 2,973 3,381 | 5.178| 6,313 | 3,613] 2,700 3,797 5.522| 6,787| 3,752 | 3,035 3,823 5,882 | 7,327 | 4,219| 3,108 3,810 | 6,316| 7,760| 4,502| 3,258 3,646 | 6,055 | 7,481| 4,389| 3,092

699

2.96

2.80

3.26

3,29

3.22

2.07

2.37

2.52

2.18

1.66

1.24

1.90

488

TABLE VII.-Percentage of Passes in cach Standard in euch Class of School, at the Annual Examination of the Grant-in-Aid Schools in 1900.

ORDINARY SUBJECTS.

SPECIAL SUBJECTS.

NEEDLEWORK.

Standard.

II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. Total.

II. | III. IV. V. VI.

VII. Total. Failed. Fair.Good.

Very

Good.

Class I,....

91 94 96 90 93 90 94

87 95 88 100

100 83

13.5

40.0 36.0 10.3

Class II,

100 100 100 | 100 | 100, 100 100 100

60 100

100

13.1

51.7 34.2 1.00

Class III,

90 94 85

83 78 69

79 77

3.00

30.0 43.0

24.0

Class of

Schools.

TABLE VIII.--Percentage of Passes in the various subjects in which the Grani-in-Aid Schools were examined in 1900.

Name of Schools.

Total.

I. American Board Mission, Bridges Street (Boys),

98.48 100.00

98.48 50.81

100.00 100.00

་

,་

Queen's Rd. West (Boys), Háwan (Girls)..

وو

Chungwan (Girls),

•

>>>

那哆

Tsat-tsz-mui (Boys), Mongkok-tsui (Boys),

Basel Mission, Shamshuipo (Boys),

C.M.S., St. Stephen's Chinese School (Boys),

No. 2 (Boys),

Pottinger Street (Boys),

Saiyingpun (Boys),

St. Stephen's Baxter Memorial (Girls),

Lyndhurst Terrace (Girls),

97.61 100.00

Shaukiwán (Boys), Tokwawan (Boys),

97.22 98.61 88.09 | 100,00 96.59 98.86 95.91 100,00

97.61 | 100.00

95.83 90.16 90.47 74.28 97.72 92.10 95.91 92.10 100.00 100.00 100.00 96.55 96.42 100.00 100.00 66.66

100.00

100.00 100.00 80.00

100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 91.66 83.33

100.00 100.00 50.00

100.00 100.00

100.00 75.00

86.66 100.00

Third Street (Girls),

86.66 28.57 $6.20 100.00 82.75 76.19 97.35 100.00 97.29 96.15 100.00 100.00| 100.00 100.00

100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00 | Failed

100.00

100.00 100.00

100.00

Yaumati (Boys),

Hunghom (Girls),

100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

Quarry Bay (Boys),

75.00 100.00 75.00

Aberdeen School (Boys),

90.90 100.00

91.66

Aplichau (Girls),

100.00 100.00| 100.00| 100.00

Bonham Road, Chinese Division (Girls),

100.00 100.00 | 100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00 |

100.00 100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00 | 100.00

High Street (Girls),

་་

Queen's Road West (Girls),

Saiyingpun Praya, (Girls),

100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Stanley School (Girls),

爷爷

Yaumati (Boys),

Pottinger Street (Girls),

Shaukiwan (Girls).

Tokwawan (Girls),

Yaumati (Girls),

Kau-ü-fong (Girls),

L.M.S., Square Street (Boys),

Wantsai Chapel (Boys),

Shektongtsui (Boys),

Saiyingpun, 1. Division (Boys).

100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

54.83. 77.41 64.51 16.12

100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00 96.66

100.00

100.00 100.00

96.77 | 90.00 16.66 100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

92.30 100.00 92.30

100.00

94.73 100.00 94.73

84.78

100.00

100.00 96.88 | Failed

97.56 100.00 100.00 100.00

97.50 | 100.00

100.00 100.00

II.

་་

(Boys).

Hunghom (Boys).

97.56 92.30 97.72 97.72 97.72 60.97 83.87 100.00 83.87 92.30

100.00

100.00 100.00

50.00

100.00 100.00

Hospital Chapel (Boys),

Shektongtsui (Girls).

Saiyingpun, Second Street. I. Div. (Girls),.......

II. (Boys)... Ui-hing Lane, "I. Division (Girls),

•

II.

Tanglungchau No. 1 (Boys),

No. 2 (Boys),

Square Street (Girls),

Taikoktsui (Boys), Matauwai (Boys)...................

Shaukiwan (Boys), Third Street (Boys),

D'Aguilar Street (Girls),

Tanglungchau (Girls),.

98.18 98.18 98.18 87.50 85.71 100.00 85.00 88.23 100.00 91.17 76.66

$7.50

100.00 100.00 {

100.00 66.66| 100.00 Failed 100.00 92.85 100.00

91.07 100.00 91.07 77.08

100.00

100.00 100.00 |

26.66

(Girls),

93.87 100.00 93.87 100.00 81.81 81.81 81.81 100.00 100.00 100.00 98.07 97.05 100.00 97.05 93.93

100.00

100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100 00

83.35

100.00 100.00

98.27 100.00 98.27 97.67

100.00

100.00 100.00

96.96| 100,00 96.96 83.33

9.09 45.45 9.09

100.00

100.00 100.00

100.00 50.00

Aberdeen Street (Girls)...

Wantsai Chapel (Girls),

96.87 100.00 96.77 91.30 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

Staunton Street (Girls).....

100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00 100.00

R.C.M., Bridges Street, Chinese Division (Girls),

100.00 100.00 96.55 92.30

100.00

100.00 100.00

Aberdeen School (Girls),

89.28 100.00 89.28 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

Holy Infancy School (Mixed),

94.33 100.00

83.01 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

Yaumati (Girls).

100.00 10 1.00

96.00 96.00

100.00

100.00 100.00

Shaukiwan (Girls),

76.47 100.00 73.52

86.95

100.00

100.00 100.00

;;

タケ

Hunghom (Girls),

Sacred Heart Sch., Chinese Division (Girls)..

Wesleyan Mission, Spring Gardens (Boys),

Wellington Street (Boys).

90.24 100.00 90.24

88.88

100.00 100.00

Italian Convent, Chinese School (Girls),

91.80 96.72 95.08

83.60

76.29

100.00 97.14

88.88 100.00

88.88

80.00

100.00

100.00 | 100.00

68.00

90.00 | 98.33

90.00

45.45

100.00

92.59 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

28.57

(Girls),

100.00

100.00 | 100.00

Lower Lascar Row (Boys),

97.50 100.00

97.50 92.85

100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Wantsai School (Boys),

Graham Street (Girls),

97.22 100.00 93.54 72.22

100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00

NAME OF SCHOOLS.

TABLE VI-RESULTS of the EXAMINATION of the GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS in

1900, under

NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WHO PASSED.

Class of School.

No. of Scholars Presented.

No. of Scholars Examined.

Stand. I.

Stand, II,

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Ordinary Subjects.

Stand. I.

Special Subjects.

Stand. II.

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand. I.

1.- American Board Mission, Bridges Street, (Boys),

2.-

3.-

4.-

་་

5.-

Queen's Road West, (Boys) Háwan, (Girls),

Chungwan, (Girls),

Tsat-tszmui, (Boys),

6.-

8.- 9.-

Mongkoktsui, (Boys),

7.—Basel Mission, Shamshuipo, (Boys),

Shaukiwan, (Boys),.. Tokwawan, (Boys),.

10.-C. M. S., St. Stephen's Chinese School, (Boys),

11.-

No. 2, (Boys),

12.

Pottinger Street, (Boys),

13.

Saiyingpun, (Boys),

14.

St. Stephen's Baxter Memorial, (Girls),

15.

Lyndhurst Terrace, (Girls),.

16.

Third Street, (Girls),

17.-

་་

Yaumati, (Boys),

18.--

Hunghom, (Girls),

19.

Quarry Bay, (Boys),

20.-

Aberdeen School, (Boys),

21,

Aplichau, (Girls),..

High Street, (Girls),

22.-C. M. S., Bonham Road, Chinese Division, (Girls),

23.

24.-

25.-

26.

27.-

28.

29.-

20.- >

$1.-

Queen's Road West, (Girls),

Saiyingpun Praya, (Girls),.

Pottinger Street, (Girls),

Stanley School, (Girls),

Shaukiwán, (Girls),

Tokwawan, (Girls),

Yaumati, (Girls),

Kan-i-fong, (Girls),

32.-L. M. S., Square Street, (Boys),

Wantsai Chapel, (Boys),

Yaumati, (Boys),.

Shektongtsui, (Boys),

Saiyingpun I. Division, (Boys),

::: I8BSARSKM (N*29* :

8::10:20¤#RAKAHN INTER

66 33 23

:::

42 8

88 40 23

ไป

49 15 18

29 14

15 4

४

:: 2 ::

17 20 10 10 Ja

33.-

34.-

35.-

36.

37.

II.

(Boys),

38.-

Hunghom, (Boys),

39.- 40.-

Hospital Chapel, (Boys),

Shektongtsui, (Girls),.

41.-

42.

Saiyingpun, Second Street, I. Division, (Girls),.

II.

(Boys),

43.-

Ui-hing Lane, I. Division (Girls),”

44..

45.

46.- 47. 48.- 49. 50.-- 51.- $2.-- 53.- >> 54.

و«

55.-

56.-

•

II.

Tanglungchau, No. 1 (Boys),

No. 2 (Boys),

Square Street, (Girls),

Taikoktsui, (Boys),

Matauwai, (Boys),.. Shaukiwan, (Boys), Third Street, (Boys), D'Aguilar Street, (Girls), Tanglungchau, (Girls), Aberdeen Street, (Girls),

Wantsai Chapel, (Girls),

Staunton Street, (Girls),

57.-R. C. M., Bridges Street, Chinese Division, (Girls),

Aberdeen School, (Girls), -

(Girls),

INAMAN 12 :***** :**ARAICHA: MA : :8825*****8*98** :8

28 18

13 17

.00

•

15 5 15

4-4

44 18

13 12

32 14

29 11

28 13 7

53 19 12

25 11

88: 588 03 00 0 2 10:

: FS:: ***=58.8:

ધન

21 16

10 | 3

20 10 3

I wi

29 17 8

33 13

2,075 1,989 724 546 399 134

12 7 11

41 19 11

17 3

12 15 15

4 5

46 15 13 18

60 19 20

14 17

3 12

9 4

9 636 1330 190 66 22

:::::

58.-

即多

59.-

Holy Infancy School, (Mixed),

GO.

Yaumati, (Girls),

61.- 62.-

Shaukiwan, (Girls),

G3.- 64.-

66.-

67.-

68.-

69.-

70.-

Hanghòm, (Girls),

" Sacred Heart School Chinese Div., (Girls),.

65.-Wesleyan Mission, Spring Gardens, (Boys)...

Wellington Street, (Boys),

Lower Lascar Row (Boys),

Wantsai School, (Boys),.. Graham Street, (Girls),

Italian Convent, Chinese School, (Girls),.

(Girls)..

Total,.

38 15

∞

41 44

2233

71.- Basel Mission, High Street, (Girls),

II 44

72.--Berlin Foundling House School, (Girls), 73.-C. M. S., Victoria Home and Orphanage, Chi. Div., (Girls), II 74.-L. M. S., Training Home for (Girls),

30 10

རྒྱུུ ང་ ས་ =

7 4 2 3

540 10

3 6 Ꮳ

GADU KA

4562

2300

3522

::::

:00 ::

: : :

3 5

Total,

139 138 33 28 25 17 12 6 17

75.-C. M. S., St. Stephen's Anglo-Chinese, (Boys),

III

126 120 72 28 13

76.- 77.-

Morrison English School, (Boys),..

III

36 21 6

•

Victoria Home and Orphange, Eng. Div., (Girls), III 78.--Wesleyan Mission, Lyndhurst Terrace, Eng. Sch., (Boys),.

III

20 12 4 3

79.-St. Paul's College School (Boys),.

80.-Diocesan School, (Boys),

115 137

107 30 32 35 10

131 25

83.-

East Point, English School, (Boys),

85.-

86.-

87.

88.

89.-

Bridges Street, English Division, (Girls),

90.-

Portuguese Division, (Girls),.

91.-

92.

93.

94.

95.

81.-C. M. S., Bonham Road, English Division, (Girls),

82.-L. M. S., Taipingshan, English School, (Boys),

84.-R. C. M., Cathedral School, (Boys),

St. Joseph's College School, (Boys), Italian Convent, English Division, (Girls),.

Portuguese Division, (Girls), French Convent, (Girls),..

III

10 2 2 3

46 27

ANGUA

දුල

: : : : : :

: : en:

::::

30 38

::::::

56 14 12 14

را

III

156

153 24 36 26 26

111 157 156

33 34 31 26 15 10

17 20 14

III

Sacred Heart School English Division, (Girls), St. Francis, Portuguese Division, (Girls),

•

English

(Girls), Victoria Port. School, Port. Division, (Mixed),. Eng. Division, (Mixed),.

96.-Victoria English School, (Boys), 97.--

(Girls),. 98.-Diocesan School, (Girls),

མད:ཀྱི ཕ་ད

: હકક ગ

8 8 11

25 7 7

17 10 5

III 52 III

III 25

5 2 4 3

::::

Total,

Grand Total,..

1,147 1,093 330 246 223 123 71

3,361 3,220 1,087 820 647 274 121

33 15

75 65 56 47 10

41 636 330 190 141 93 66 58

51 53 27 19

་

: : : : : : :

ka: : : :

心

Stand. II.

NUMBER

rdinary Subjects

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

1188 & 8:

@ GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOLS in 1900, under the provisions of the Scheme of 19th August, 1893.

OLARS WHO PASSED.

Special Subjects.

NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WHO FAILED.

Ordinary Subjects.

Stand. I.

Stand. II.

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand. I.

Stand. II.

.....

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand. 1.

1 6

N. NI

::::::::::::

::::: mi

::::

:::::

TOTALS.

Special Subjects.

Needle Work.

Ordinary Special

Subjects. Subjects.

1 2 2

:::::::::

Stand. II.

Stand. III.

:::::

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

31 30

Passed.

Failed.

Passed.

Failed.

Fair.

Good.

Very Good.

Average Daily Attendance

during the year.

in 1900.

Examination Grant.

: $650 B: CSEREASON: : : : &

75.22

260.50

37.61

298.11

5 26

3 70

::::ARBANTER

:: Capitation Grant.

Total Grant carned.

39.43

213,75 19.71

233.46

69.25 351.75

41.28

34.64 208.75 20.64

3 6.39

229.39

87.20

388.75 43.60

432.35

79.03

: 21.50

39.51

261.01

32.20

133.00 16.10

149.10

30.00

111.75

15.00

126.75

22.1-4

53,25 11.07

66.32

31.37

133.75 15.68

149.43

39.13

240,50 19.56

260.06

* 10

32.57

187,00

16.28

203.28

4 5

23.00

107.00 11.50

118.50

8.62

22.00 431

26.31

12.12

34.00 6.09

40 09

5 3

9.77

50.50 4.88

55.38

17 13

45.94

445.00 22.97

467.07

23.77

110.00 11.88

121.88

28.57 178.000 14.28

199.2-

17 14 5

$2.85

25.30

80.25 16.42 154.76 12.65 167.40

96.67

21.81

98.50 10.90

109.40

18.48

52.50

9.24

61.74

54 3 39

$2.65

285.50 26.32

311.82

39 1 30

43 1 25

26 5 24

38.05

177.75

19.02

198.77

57.21

223 251

18.62

241.87

49.18

193.75

24.59

218.31

$3.18

118.75! 16.59

135.34

1 28

:ལ་

46,79

239.7: 23.39

263.14

6 1

6.95

30 4 23

35.61

27.50 160.75 17.80

3.47

30.97

178.55

51 5 37

50.76

285.75

25.38

311.13

47.05

264.25

23.52

287.71

15.01

37.50

7.50

15.00

65 22

379.75

32.61

412.36

26.07

134.00

13.08

147.08

51.58 267.00 25.79

292.79

29.78 21.2]

163.75 14.89

178.64

25.78

39.15

169.25 12.89 172.25 19.57

182.14

191.82

6 13

21.44 100.00

10.72

110.72

30.31

158.50

15.15

173.65

3 17

27 76

115.00

13.88

128. 8

3 31

55.21

270.25

27.60

03. 5

25.07

137.75

12 53

150.28

12 15 15

51 10

ow w

33.00

131.50

16.50

148.00

: : : ::

2 12

wi No: 0000

ہیں

49.47 74.82 421.25 37.41 22.15 86.25 11.07 46.10 21.75 23.05

168.25 20.23

188.48

458.66

97.32

240.80

20 21

61.57 251.50 30.78 43.28 139.00 21.64 160.64

282.28

33.83 170,25 16.91

187.16

1636 1330.:190 66

223

7 6 41 44

23 5

1 100 85

.00

37.65 224.50 18.82 243.32

1,876 113 1,248 220

94 278 250

72 2,052.979,737.00 1 015.84 10,752.84

::::

: : :

:: cri

::::

3 3 5

::::

:::

8 43.76 346.00 32.82 378.82 7 15 28.98

21.73 293.50

315.23 35.83 305.50 26.87 322.37 32.11 240.50 24.08 264.58

138

110.68

1,185.50 105.50 1,291.00

: : : : : : :

:::::::

30 38 27

: : : : : : : : :2*

::::::::

120

wi ::: w:::::

:::::::::

•

::::

:::::: : : :

+2: ::

::::::::127 :~

| 159.25 44.80

107

22.86 136.25

122-

11.46 57.21

870.00 159.25 1,029.25 198.00 44.80 242.80

184.00 22.86 156,86 906.00 136.25 1.042.25 156.13 1,529.00 156.13 *1,683.1

99.00 11.46 101.46 310.00 57.21 367.21

3141

2 153

·51352 + O 2

55 1 15

110.00

12 60 25

217.00

542 00 110 00 1.571.00

652.00

217.00

1,788.00

3 11

188.72

1,72 .00

188.72 1,909.72

4:'.93

3:3.50

42.98 396.43

#3 11

206.00

33.11

239.11

16.00

133 50

16.00

149,50

22.16

159.00 2.16

181.16

29.60

195.50 29.60

225.10

19.01

127.00 19.01 146.01

29.41

132.50 29.11

ai si

19.96 11.53 101.50, 11.33 113.03 77.66 578.00 77.66 655.66

161.91 172.50 19.96 192,46

68 56 47

636 330 190 141 93 66 58 51

14 4 6

14 19 25

12 1,039 54 248

53 27 19 8 7 8 100

27 19 24 25

70 9

12 3,053 167 1,507 292 104 381

23.32 261.50 23.32 284.82

88 11 73 1.428.37 10,289,50 1,428.37 11,717.87 .40 184 33,622.02 21,212.00 2,549.71 23.761.71

489

NAME OF SCHOOLS.

1.- American Board Mission, Bridges Street, (Boys),

2.-

}

3.-

4.-

•

5.- 6.-

8.--

9.-

Queen's Road West, (Boys) Háwan, (Girls),

Chungwan, (Girls),

Tsat-tszmui, (Boys),

Mongkoktsui, (Boys),

Class of School.

No. of Scholars Presented.

NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WHO Passed.

No. of Scholars Examined.

Stand. I.

Stand. II.

Stand. III.

Stand, IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand, 1.

Stand. II.

Ordinary Subjects.

Special Subjects.

Stand, III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand, VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand. I.

::::

NOM

Ordinary Subje

:::

Stand. III.

:::::::*:

Stand, IV.

Saiyingpun, (Boys),

15.-

Lyndhurst Terrace, (Girls).

16.

Third Street, (Girls),

17.

Yaumati, (Boys),

18.

Hunghòm, (Girls),

19.-

وو

Quarry Bay, (Boys),.

20,

Aberdeen School, (Boys),

Aplichau, (Girls),..

7.-Basel Mission, Shamshuipo, (Boys),

Shaukiwan, (Boys),.. Tokwawan, (Boys),..

10.-C. M. S., St. Stephen's Chinese School, (Boys),

11.-

12.-

13.

14.

No. 2, (Boys),

Pottinger Street, (Boys),

St. Stephen's Baxter Memorial, (Girls),

88: 40

49 15

1.4

R: RECH

ACCU

58.-

34.

35.

36.

37.

21.-

22.—C. M. S., Bonham Road, Chinese Division, (Girls),

23.

24.

•

25.-

26.

27.

28.

29.-- 20.

>>>

$1.-

High Street, (Girls),

Queen's Road West, (Girls),

Saiyingpun Praya, (Girls),.

Pottinger Street, (Girls),

Stanley School, (Girls),

Shaukiwán, (Girls),

Tokwawan, (Girls),

Yaumati, (Girls),

Kan-ii-fong, (Girls),

32.-L. M. S., Square Street, (Boys),

33.-

;

Wantsai Chapel, (Boys),

Yaumati, (Boys),.

Shektongtsui, (Boys),

Salyingpun 1. Division, (Boys),

IL.

(Boys),

38.

Hunghom, (Boys),

39.-

Hospital Chapel, (Boys),

40.—

Shektongtsui, (Girls),.

41.

42. 43.- 44.-

45.-

46.-

47.

48.

49.

50.-

51.-

52.- 53.- 54.

Salyingpun, Second Street, I. Division, (Girls),

Ui-hing Lane, I. Division (Girls),

II.

(Girls),

Tanglungchau, No. 1 (Boys),

>>>

No. 2 (Boys),

Square Street, (Girls),

Taikoktsui, (Boys),

Matauwai, (Boys),.. Shaukiwan, (Boys), . Third Street, (Boys), D'Aguilar Street, (Girls), Tanglungchau, (Girls), Aberdeen Street, (Girls),

(Boys),.

II.

55.-

Wantsai Chapel, (Girls),

56.-

Staunton Street. (Girls).

57.—R. C. M., Bridges Street, Chinese Division, (Girls),

وہ

Aberdeen School, (Girls),

10 13

59.--

Holy Infancy School, (Mixed),

60.--

Yaumati, (Girls), .

61.- 62.-

دو

Shaukiwan, (Girls),

Hunghòm, (Girls),

63.- 64.

Italian Convent, Chinese School, (Girls),.

66.-

Sacred Heart School Chinese Div., (Girls),.

65.-Wesleyan Mission, Spring Gardens, (Boys)..

Wellington Street, (Boys)..

67.

(Girls)..

68.

Lower Lascar Row (Boys),

69,

Wantsai School, (Boys),..

70.-

Graham Street, (Girls),

Total,

71,- Basel Mission, High Street, (Girls),

72.--Berlin Foundling House School, (Girls), 73.-C. M. S., Victoria Home and Orphanage, Chi. Div., (Girls), II 74.-L. M. S., Training Home for (Girls),

====

II 30

2746

**** :***PRIRHA : ¦aa ¦ ¦¤ãÃ?********8*4 8

1252 30 07

57 13

41 15

4-1

18 13

ગ

}}

70 21

16 21

: : : :FRODIT:8

34 17

14 9

Ᏺ

13 15

33 21 î

14 17

|2,075|1,989 724 546 399 134

385

• 00

:::

29)

26 16

5. to

F:: UNN: SEE: Z: ::: 5:

12 10 ::

23:

12 : : : :

9 (636 1330. 190

K-

41 44

223

1443

11 4

14 5

acco

305203

4562

Total,

139 138

6 17

::::

: : :

:: Gi

::::

LAD

::::

76. 77.-

Morrison English School, (Boys),..

80.-Diocesan School, (Boys),

83.-

East Point, English School, (Boys),

75.-C. M. S., St. Stephen's Anglo-Chinese, (Boys),

Victoria Home and Orphange, Eng. Div., (Girls), III 78.--Wesleyan Mission, Lyndhurst Terrace, Eng. Sch., (Boys),,

79.-St. Paul's College School (Boys),..

81.-C. M. S., Bonham Road, English Division, (Girls),

82.-L. M. S., Taipingshan, English School, (Boys),

84.-R. C. M., Cathedral School, (Boys),

III

126. 120 72 28 13

III

6 21

III

115

III 137

III

85.

86.

87.

88.

St. Joseph's College School, (Boys), Italian Convent, English Division, (Girls),.

Portuguese Division, (Girls), French Convent, (Girls),.

HI 157

III 35

III

89.

Bridges Strect, English Division, (Girls),

111

90.

Portuguese Division, (Girls),.

III

91.

92.

›

Sacred Heart School English Division, (Girls), St. Francis, Portuguese Division, (Girls),

93.

English

94.

95.

(Girls). Victoria Port. School, Port. Division, (Mixed),. Eng. Division, (Mixed),.

III

97.-

96.-Victoria English School, (Boys),

(Girls),.

III

98.-Diocesan School, (Girls),

III

•A SABAAAARARN22 .3

107 30 32 35 10

131

46 27

156 153

156 33 34

17 7

22 10

* TAONO :20HZZO 1-20 20 20 110 01 00 :

:::

23 19

14 6 9

36 26

26 19

: : : : : : : :?8

::::::::

::::::

心

3 5 2

Total,

1,1471,093 330 246 223 123

Grand Total,.

3,361

3,220 1,087 $20 647 274 121

33 15

:::::

9 14

41 636 330 190 141

6S 56 47 10 9

93 66

58 51 53

27 19

Education Department, Hongkong, 7th March, 1901.

* Less reduction $12.00 (See C.S.O. 1480 of 1900.)

SCHOLARS WHO PASSED.

Special Subjects.

NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WHO FAILED.

Ordinary Subjects.

Special Subjects.

TOTALS.

Needle Work.

Ordinary Special

Subjects. Subjects.

1958: CCC-09: ::: &

: .

Passed.

Failed.

Passed.

''{{1}Y

Failed.

Fair.

Good.

Very Good.

Average Daily Attendance

during the year.

Examination Grant.

Capitation

Grant.

Total Grant earned in 1900,

75.22

260.50

37.61

298.11

39.43

213,75!

19.71 !

233.46

69.25 351.75 34.64 3>6.39 41.28 208.75 20.64 87.20 388.75! 43.60 79.03 121.50 39.51 32.20 133.00 16.10

229.39

432.35

261.01

149.10

30.00 22.14

111,75 15.00 55.25 11.07

126.75

66.32

31.37 133.75 15.68

149.43

14 22

39.13

240.50 19.56

260.06

32.57

187.00! 16.28

203.28

23.00

107.00 11,70

118.50

8.62

22.00

131

26.31

12,12

34.00

6.09

40 09

9.77

50.50

4.88

55.38

45.04

445.00 22.97

467.97

::::

Stand. VII.

Stand. J.

Stand. II.

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand. I.

Stand. II.

Stand. III.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

Stand. I.

Stand. II.

Stand. 111.

Stand. IV.

Stand. V.

Stand. VI.

Stand. VII.

:::

26 16

ལ་

9 636 1330.:190

NGCLA | G

::::

222222

::::

අප

: : : : : : :*:::::

:: en:

::::

:::::::

: : : : : ::

:::::::::

17 20

::::

• M

•^y

3 39

39 1 30

1 25

23.77

110.00 11.88

121.88

28.57

178.00! 14.28

192.2×

$2.85

80.25! 16.42

96.67

25.30

154.75 12.65

167.40

21.81

98.50.

10.90

109.10

18.48

52.50

9.24

61.74

:2.65

285.50

26.32

311.82

38.05

177.75

19.02

196.77

37.21

993 25

18.62

241.87

49.18

193.75

21.59

218.31

€3.18

118.75

16.59

135.6.1

5-1 1 28

46.79

239.7:

23.39

263.14

6 1

6.95

27/0

3.47

30.07

35,61

160.75

17.80

178.55

5 37

50.76

285.75

25.38

311.13

47.05

264.25

23.52

287.77

15.01

37.50

7.50

15.00

1 42

21 30

:: :::

65 22

379.75

32.61

412.36

26.07

134.00 13.08

147.08

51.58

267.00 25.79

292.79

29.78 21.21

163.75 14.89

179.64

4 1

1 100

85 27

::::

25.78 169.25 12.89

182.14

39,15

172.25 19.57

191.82

21.44

100.00 10.72

110.72

30.31

158.50 15.15

173.65

27 76

115.00 13.88

128.8

55.21

276.25

27.60

::03.5

25.07 137.75

12 53

150.28

33.00 131.50

16.50

148.00

4 24

40.47 168.25 20.23 188.48 458.66

56 5 51 10

12 3

17 8

46.10

74.82 421.25 37.41 22.15 86.25 11.07 21.75 23.05

97.32

240.80

6 20 21

::::

: : : :

1,876 113 1,248 220

94 278 250

:::~

5 17

224.50 18.82 243.32

9,737.00 1 015.84 10,752.84

346.00 32.82 378.82 1 7 15 28.98 293.50 21.73 315.23 17 12 35.83 305.50 26.87 332.37 32.11 240.50 24.08 264.58

61.57

282.28 43.28 139.00 21.64 160.64 33.83 170.25 16.91 187.16

12 37.65

72 2,052.97

18 ! 8 43.76

251.50 30.78

138

1 15 59 39

110.68

1,185.50 105.50

1,291.00

120

107

:::::

159.25 870.00 159.25 1,029.25 44.80 128.00 44.80 242.80

22.86

136.25

134.00 22.86 906.00 136.25

156,86

117

شروع

019427834

2 122.

55 1 15

3141

12 60 25

2 153

3 11

19 5

1:6.13

1,529.00 156.13

1.042.25 1,683.13

11.46

90.00 11.46

101.46

57.21

310.00

57.21

367.21

110.00

542 00

110 00

217.00

1.571.00

217.00

652.00 1,788.00

3358:

188,72

1,72 .00

188.72

1,909.72

4:.93

343.50

42.93

396.43

#311

206.00

33.11

239.11

16.00

183 50

16.00

149.50

22.16

159.00

2.16

181.16

29.60

195.50

29 60

225.10

19.01

127.00

19.01

146.01

29.41

132.50 29.41

161.91

19.96 172.50 19.96 11.53 101.50 11.53 77.66 578.00 77.66 655.66

192.46

113.03

23.32

261.50 23.32 284.82

:::

::::

:::::

::::

12 1,039 54 218

70 9

88 121

73 1.428.37 10,289.50 ̊1.428.37 |11,717.87

167 1,507 292 104 381 40 184 3,622.02 21,212.00;

002,549.71 23,761.71

4 14

93 66

999

58 51

8 7

8 100 85 27

3,053

:::::

636 330 190 141

* Less reduction $12.00 (See C.S.O. 1480 of 1900.)

W. BREWIN,

f Unh

Class of

Schools.

Name of Schools.

TABLE VIII.—Percentage of Passes,—Continued.

Total.

II. Basel Mission, High Street (Girls).

Berlin Foundling House School (Girls).

C.M.S., Vict. Home & Orphanage Chi. Div. (Girls),. L.M.S., Training Home for (Girls),

III. C.M.S., St. Stephen's Anglo-Chinese (Boys),

Morrison English School (Boys),

Vict. Home & Orphanage Eng. Div. (Girls),. Wesleyan Mission, Lyndhurst Ter. Eng. Sch. (Boys),. St. Paul's College School (Boys),... Diocesan School (Boys), .

C.M.S., Bonham Road, English Division (Girls), L.M.S., Taipingshan, English School (Boys),

East Point

R.C.M., Cathedral School (Boys),

(Boys),

St. Joseph's College School (Boys), Italian Convent, English Division (Girls),... Portuguese Division (Girls), French Convent (Girls),...

Bridges Street, English Division (Girls),

Portuguese Division (Girls), Sacred Heart School, English Div. (Girls),.. St. Francis, Portuguese Division (Girls),

English Division (Girls),

Victoria Portuguese Sch., Port. Div. (Mixed), Eng. Div. (Mixed),

་་

Victoria English School (Boys), (Girls), Diocesan Girls School (Girls),

100.00

491

100.00 100.00 87.17 100.00 100.00 100.00 83.33 100.00 100.00 100.00 80.00 97.14 100.00 100.00 96.66 100.00 100.00 97.50 80.55 88.88

100.00

88.88

100.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 75.00

100.00

$7.50

$100.00 16.66

100.00

100.00 100.00

98.33 96.66 100.00 61.11 86.11 75.00

95.83

61.53

95.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 93.90 100.00

95.00 100.00

90.00 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00

90.00 100.00

97.95 97.70 88.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 80.00 100.00 90.00 | 100.00

87.87

93.47 97.82

91.30

95.65

81.81

98.21 100.00

87.23

96.42 100.00

95.23

77.77

92.15 92.81 86.08 98.76 99.36 93.54 100.00 | 100.00 88.00 100.00 88.00 100.00 100.00 88.23 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 90.90 93.33 86.66 93.33 94.11 100.00 70.58 100.00 95.45 100.00 100.00

92.81 98.47 96.15 97.75 97.56 97.14 100.00 100.00 64.00 88.88 88.23 100.00 100.00 | 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

91.30 100.00 | 100.00 93.33 100.00 100.00

96.87

14.28 | 41.17

78.94

33.33 | 50.00

93.75

100.00

94.11 100.00 | 100.00

100.00

95.45 100.00 | 100.00

100.00

100.00 100.00 100.00

100.00

86.00 100.00

$0.00

79.16 100.00

86.66

90.00 92.10 79.16 75.00 82.60 100.00

73.91 80.00 | 80.00

80.00

100.00

100.00 86.66

79.16

75.00 82.60) 100.00

311

No. 14

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE ACTING HEAD MASTER OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE AND OF THE EXAMINERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor,

1. The total number on Roll was 1,440 being nearly 100 more than last year; and this number could have been exceeded had the Roll been large enough to have admitted of more entries being made, and the class-rooms of a more expansive nature. This shews that an entrance into this Insti- tution is eagerly sought after, in spite of the fees being, in the higher part of the school, $36 per annum, and in addition to which each boy has to provide himself with all books used in the school, which in some classes means an extra expenditure of about $10 on the part of each scholar in the upper classes.

The average daily attendance was 990 as against 887 last year. The highest monthly attend- ance was reached in April, when there were 1,126 pupils in attendance. The highest average daily attendance was also in April, viz., 1,049. The largest number of boys present on one day was 1,079, on 25th July.

2. The revenue from fees was $29,037 being an increase of $1,792 on last year.

The gross expenditure has been increased owing to the increase of salaries, granted under C.Ö.D. 280 of Ï899, and also by an increase of compensation on the same, and the adjustment of exchange in England; yet owing to the great increase in the average daily attendance the expense of each scholar has been decreased by $1.28.

3. On my return to duty, from leave of absence, I took over charge on the 1st May from Dr. WRIGHT, the Head Master, who then went on leave. I found the staff weakened by Messrs. Joxes and WOODCOCK (seconded for duty at the Supreme Court and Sanitary Board respectively), and Messrs. BARLOW and MACHELL, away sick-the former detained in Singapore Hospital, and the latter in Colombo Hospital.

Fortunately the services of Messrs. JAMES CHEUNG and J. HATMER were still available, and they were very good substitutes for two of the absentees, and thus the College has not suffered as much as it otherwise would have done. Unfortunately, just at that time Mr. DEALY, the Acting Second Master, was away also on sick leave for about a week, so that with the great increase in the number of boys, it was no easy task to arrange for the work of the school, and I had personally to give all my attention for some time to one individual class, and the general supervision had, for the time, to be greatly relaxed.

Messrs. BARLOW and MACHELL returned to the Colony on 15th May, but neither was in a fit condition to resume duty in full, and the result was that Mr. BARLOW after a few days on half duty, was ordered to the Hospital where he practically remained till 13th July, when he was recommended to go home for a period on medical certificate.

Mr. MACHELL was far less fit for work than even Mr. BARLOW, and within a few days, he too had to be admitted into the Hospital where his disease became so acute that it was found necessary to retire him from the service, and he was sent home in August.

The continued absence of these two Masters was totally unlooked for, and thus the staff was further reduced. So great then were the difficulties I had to contend with, that I had it seriously under my consideration to apply for permission to temporarily decrease the number of pupils. How- ever, as Messrs. CHEUNG and HATMER gave me to understand that, under certain conditions, they would continue to act till the end of the year, and I had permission to employ some of the 1st class students as Acting Pupil-teachers, I was able to struggle on.

Relief from England in the shape of a successor to Mr. MACHELL has been anxiously looked for, but up to the present no one has been appointed; but I am expecting a new Master before long.

Thus throughout the year the school has been seriously understaffed, and had it not been that Messrs. CHEUNG and HATMER were able to remain, a reduction in the number of pupils would certainly have been necessary, and that would have meant a greater expense to the College. My thanks are also due to the whole staff for their assistance in these trying circumstances.

312

The school has suffered a great loss in the compulsory retirement of Mr. MACHELL, for he was not only a very energetic and efficient teacher, but was also always to the front in matters of recreation for the boys. He had been on the staff since 1892, so that his severance from the College will be all the keener felt.

4. The results of the Oxford Local Examinations are as follows:-Of the 8 juniors 5 passed, one of whom was a Chinese. Of the 9 Preliminary Candidates only 2 passed, one of these being a Chinese.

5. Of the four free scholars who were admitted this year, FUNG PAH-LIU (from Sai-ying-pun School) gained the Junior Morrison Scholarship, as the head boy of the Lower School.

6. During the year under review, great strides have been made in recreation and sports. I am happy to be able to state that a greater interest has been taken in sports generally by the Chinese, who have now got both Foot-ball and Cricket Clubs of their own, and I am further pleased to note from the "Yellow Dragon" that 2 or 3 Chinese boys are included in the College 1st Cricket Eleven.

Mr. TANNER is to be thanked for encouraging sea-bathing among the boys, and for starting a Club open to all who were willing to pay the fee, and of which many availed themselves.

The outcome of this was Aquatic Sports promoted by Mr. RALPHS, and held for the first time in the history of this school, and here again some of the Chinese shewed great proficiency.

In response to a general wish expressed by the Non-Chinese students, Mr. RALPHS (having first consulted Sir JOHN CARRINGTON, Colonel of the Hongkong Volunteers, on the matter) undertook to raise a Cadet corps which, with some of the former students, numbered close upon 30. Drills were carried on, and in November the corps was inspected by Sir JOHN CARRINGTON, who spoke very favourably of the appearance and drill of the boys, and stated that a scheme would be presented to the Government for sanction to attach the corps to the Volunteers. The decision is still awaited.

Another subject which I hope is under the consideration of the Government and which I trust ere long will be un fait accompli, is the building of a suitable Gymnasium.

An increased interest is shewn in the "Yellow Dragon," which is still in a flourishing condition.

7. I examined the Lower and Preparatory Schools according to the standing order of the Governing Body, and make the following Report :-

In the Lower School 397 were examined and 368 or 93 °。 passed.

In the Preparatory School 310 were examined and 294 or 95 ° passed, making a total of

707 examined, out of which 662 or 94 °。 passed.

Compared with last year 101 more boys were examined and 133 more passed.

As will be seen from the attached Table C., Classes IVc. and VIIID. were by far the weakest. This is explained in IVc. by the fact that that class was constituted for the most part of the lowest boys promoted from the lower classes and even some from the Preparatory School.

The VIIID. was constituted of new boys who have been but a comparatively short time in the school, and in Grant- in-aid Schools might be exempt from examination.

I was struck by the readiness with which questions were answered in the "Conversation" exa- mination even in the lowest classes, so long as I stuck to the exact matter of the book; and here the innate retentive powers of the Chinese came out strongly, for many of the boys had committed great portions of their reading lessons to memory. As soon, however, as I went off the straight path difficulties cropped up, and there was great stumbling.

8. Our warmest thanks are due to the donors of prizes whose names were published in the public papers when an account of the prize-giving was published,

9. The usual Tables A. and B. are attached.

ALFRED J. MAY, M.R.A.S., & F.E.I.S., Acting Head Master.

CLASS.

Total Number

1900.

QUEEN'S COLLEGE.

Month.

Number of Scholars.

Number of Attendances.

Number of School Days.

Average Daily Attendance.

Remarks.

January, February,

859

14,867

1,044

5,134

00 10

825.94

1,026.8

March,

1,088

27,791

1,029.0

April,

1,126

14,693

1,049.5

May,

1,108

27,161

1,044.65

June,

1,071

23,635

984.79

July,

1,008

20,802

945.56

August,

907

3,562

890.5

September,

1,109

19,600

1,031.5

October,

1,083

25,614

1,024.56

November,

1,063

24,954

998.16

December;

1,027

20,927

951.23

Total,...

228,740

Total Number of ATTENDANCES during 1900,

Number of SCHOOL DAYS during 1900,

Average DAILY ATTENDANCE during 1900,

Total Number of SCHOLARS at this School during 1900,

231

990.23

.228,740 231

990.23

1,440

AVERAGE EXPENSE OF EACH SCHOLAR AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE DURING 1900.

Expenditure,-

Cash Book,

Do.,

Exchange Compensation,

Crown Agents,

Do.,

Adjustment of Exchange,....

Deduct,-

School Fees,

Sale of Books,

Total Expense of College,..

Average Expense of each Scholar,-

Per Number on Roll, .......

examined.

Total Number

passed.

Percentage of

Passes.

Per Average Daily Attendance,..

$10.17 14.80

RESULTS OF EXAMINATION OF LOWER AND PREPARATORY SCHOOLS, WITH PERCENTAGE

OF PASSES IN EACH SUBJECT.

C. to E.

E. to C.

Reading.

Conversation.

Dictation.

Arithmetic.

IVA.,

100

B.,

858

100 100 100

100.

88 89

100

Сод

79 100

VAO

100 100

B.,

69 100

VIA.,

100

B.,

100 98

100

C.,

100

WIN****

29 73

98 82

89 58

72 100 98.

94 92

79 79

KURN**N2

VIIA.,

100 100

100

B.,

100 100

100

· C.

100 100

100

86 100

64 100

:::

85 85

100

70 45 88

VIIIA.,

100

100 100

100

B.,

100 100

100

100 100

...

C.,

100

D.,

Writing.

Grammar.

Preparatory School.

.$32,317.12

5,093.30

2,674.44

3,649.79

$43,734.65

.$29,037.00 44.85

$29,081.85

$14,652.80

Geography.

Composition.

Map.

Lower School.

313

314

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 9th February, 1901.

SIR, We have the honour to present, for the information of the Governing Body, our report on the Upper School of Queen's College.

2. We have examined 250 boys of whom only a few have shown any grasp of the subjects in which they were examined.

3. Reading.-On re-considering the mark-sheets, we are of opinion that the marks awarded were in general far too high. As, however, the examination in this subject was necessarily oral, we have not been able to modify the marks originally awarded. It was obvious that in many cases the boys, while reproducing the sounds correctly, had no comprehension of what they were reading, while in other cases the enunciation was so defective, that, though we were able to understand the boy, so long as we followed his reading with our eyes on the book, without this aid what he read conveyed no meaning to us.

4. Conversation.-In this subject as well as in reading we can only endorse the remarks made by the examiners appointed by the Governing Body for 1897. We would recommend that in future the oral examination should not be held till after the examiners have had the opportunity of seeing the written work of the candidates. This is the universal custom in examinations both in English schools and universities and is necessary as a guide to the examiners in forming a just estimate of a boy's ability. The mark sheets as they now stand do not represent our final judgment on the conversational powers of the candidates; but again it has been impossible to revise them. Such fragmentary conver- sation as we were able to elicit was stilted and stereotyped; little knowledge of English idiom was evinced.

5. Dictation. In this subject all the Chinese forms with the exception of III A., and III B., which obtained respectively 60% and 51 % of passes, were disgraceful. The top form I A.B. obtained 30% of passes; no boy in the class obtained full marks, while 13 out of 20 obtained no marks at all. The next form II A. obtained 38 % of passes. In this form 3 boys out of 56 obtained full marks, and 6 boys no marks. The third form II B. only obtained 20% of passes, 16 boys out of 26 obtaining no marks, whereas one boy was awarded full marks. The subject for dictation in this form was Fuller's definition of the true gentleman as personified in Admiral Sir FRANCIS DRAKE. One boy has rendered the opening words as follows :-"The quaint old bullock sums up in a few words the character of the true gentleman in the descripsing that of a great animal Sir FRANCIS DRAKE." This may be taken as typical of the performances of this form. Of the 2 forms whose percentage of passes just exceeded that of failure, III A. shows 19 zeros among 53 boys. It is worth mention that 5 boys out of 27 in III A. obtained full marks. The Non-Chinese were generally good.

Arithmetic.-Of the Chinese forms not one gains a percentage of passes; II A., with a percentage of 43, being the best, and III B., with a percentage of 11, the worst. This cannot be considered satis- factory, even in view of the fact that the paper which was set to the top form was distinctly difficult. The work of Ho SHAI WING in I A.B., and of TSANG KWAN WA in II B., was especially noticeable, while in II A., four boys obtained 90 marks or over. Many of the failures were due to carelessness on the part of the boys in taking down the questions wrongly.

Of the Non-Chinese forms all except N. 2, whose performance was far from good, produced cre- ditable work. In N. 1 ISMAIL's paper was excellent, and 2 boys in N. 3 were awarded full marks.

Translation (a) English to Chinese.-Three classes-I A.B., II A., and III.A.-show percentages of passes, but in general the work was slovenly and small attention was given to detail or shades of expression. The work, however, of 2 boys--HUNG HING KAM in I A.B., and LAU TSUI LAN in II B. was admirable not merely by contrast.

(b) Chinese to English.-Examination in this subject was made ridiculous by the fact that the boy's merely reproduced a crib-translation. Mistakes, and they were many, were due to failure of memory, or to unintelligent reading of the crib, and there was therefore no real test of the boy's ability to translate Chinese into English. Our opinion on this branch of study is rather contained in our report on the special translations, which formed a new feature in this examination.

Special Translation—(a) Chinese into English.-This subject is not in the ordinary curriculum, but at the suggestion of the Inspector of Schools a paper was set to all the Chinese boys in the Upper School with a view of testing their ability as interpreters. We, therefore, intentionally set stiff papers. The results were disappointing. In translating Chinese into English the percentage of passes was 29%, 4%, nil, 8 %, and nil in the fornis I A.B., HI A., II B., III A., and III B., respectively.

315

རྩྭ

It is a

Many of the boys seem ignorant of the nature of a petition, and very few can translate one. surprising fact that scarcely any boys knew the English equivalent for the Chinese title of the Regis- trar General. We append a few of the attempts at rendering it :-

Lord of Wa Mang.

Your Regisstresous General.

Your Honour Colonel General.

Office of the Pritty.

Dear Restoni General.

The Benefactor.

Colonel Registerer.

The Governman, &c.

While the Chinese character Hat () is constantly mistaken for a man's name and is variously rendered :-

Mr. Lord Hard.

Our Lord master Lord Hart.

Sir Lord Hut, &c.

The boys did not seem to understand the meaning of idiomatic sentences in their own language, and have little conception of the distinction between sense and nonsense.

(b) English into Chinese. The percentages of passes were 15 %, 6 %, nil, nil, and 2 %, in I A.B., II A., II B., III A., III B., respectively. Very few boys were able to write correctly the characters of their own language. In fact, Chinese appeared a foreign language to them and they left us with the impression that, while learning little English, they were rapidly forgetting Chinese.

In all, 5 boys-HUNG KWOK LEUNG, HUNG HING KAM and HO SHAI WENG (in I A.B.), WONG SHING SHEUNG and CHAN SUI ÜN (in II A.)-have passed in both papers, while 5 boys-FUNG MUN CHAK and CHUNG TAT MAN (in I A.B.), NG CHI KWAN (in II A.), Ho YAU SIK and Ü SHING (in III A.)-passed in translating Chinese into English, and 2 boys-U KWAN PO (in II A.) and Ho SHAI SUN (in III B.)-passed in translating English into Chinese. The performance of II B. obtaining no passes in either paper, was lamentable in the extreme.

History was very weak. The boys labour under the initial difficulty of expressing their thoughts. For example-" Acre was a town in Jerusalem it was taken by the French and made him king 88 years" (III A.); "Cromwell was a statement in England" (II A.); "Mayflower was denoted the Plantagenate Kings of the Crown" (II A.); "The Bank of England are many manufacture towns and a great number of sea port and also very rough" (III B.). Ignorance of history adds to the confusion-"The way how Lady Jane Grey came to the throne was that she married, the Dauphin (Philip II) (N. 2); "Ironsides is a brief and generous nobleman" (HII B.); “Magna Charta was a great charta was a famous outlaw man who lived in the Sherewood Forest. He robbed the rich but help the poor" (N. 3); "Act of Security was used to make some matter secure" (II A.); "Pil- grimage of Grace was a book written by John Bunyan during his confinement in Bedford jail (II A.). Ignorance of the elements of geography leads to such statements as "India on the continent of Europe has been subject to England" (II B.); "Bank of England has beautiful mountain ranges high peaks" (II B.). A boy asked to give the provisions of the Treaty of Union says--"Tea was brought to England by the Dutch from China; tobacco and pottatoes was brought to England by Drake." In conclusion we must point out that in 3 forms (N. 2, II A., and II B.) not a single boy has passed. However, 3 boys-SILAS in N. 1, HUNG HING KAM in I A.B., and CHAN SZ Yui in III A.-showed considerable historical knowledge.

Geography was worse. Out of 9 forms only 3 have obtained a percentage of passes. We hasten, however, to express our regret that the papers for I A.B., and N. 1 and 2 were not set strictly on- the syllabus, and we have, therefore, adopted the suggestion of the Headmaster that " for purposes of settling the order in these classes, and for prize winners, this subject be not counted." Of the remain- ing forms, in N. 3, N. 4, and III A, no boys have passed, while II A, II B, and III A, show 12 %; 12% and 35% of passes respectively. The only boy who showed a competent knowledge of the subject was TAM WING KWONG.

•

For example the following was given as an answer to the question "What are the boundaries of Bulgaria?" :---

Arctic Ocean.

Ural Mountain, Ural River and Caspian Sea.

Caucuses Mountains, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

W. Atlantic Ocean.

316

Of the 5 questions set to III B., a certain boy only attempts one to which he replies as follows:-

Trafalgar Kattegat Sevastopol

is a cape in Baltic Sea.

White Sea.

Arctic Ocean.

Marengo

Arctic Ocean.

Copenhagen

? 1

Hanover

Baltic Sea.

.་

Vittoria

Mediterranean Sea.

Luebeck

Arctic Ocean.

Bergen Metz Fontenoy

Arctic Ocean.

North Sea.

We cannot

This paper may be taken as a fair specimen of much rubbish which was submitted to us, explain the curious tendency of many boys to make the Arctic Ocean a lumber-room for unrecognized localities.

Shakespeare-The play offered was Henry V and the only 2 forms which took this subject were N. 1 and I A.B. They obtained respectively 66% and 24% of passes. The non-Chinese form was as a whole very much superior to the Chinese form, though the paper of HUNG HING KAM in the latter form was most excellent. In N. 1 the paper of GHULAMALI was equally good. Shakespeare, however, appears to be beyond the understanding of Chinese boys.

Grammar. --In N. 1 the percentage of passes was very high, and the boys showed a sound know- ledge of the subject. The papers of II A. and III A. were also good, but the other forms were mediocre, if not bad. In N. 4 the feminine of "deer" is variously given as swine, antelope, stag, deeress and heifer; of "marquis" as marquichess, marquiness, mergius, marquess, and marquii; of "peacock” as weathercock and henpeacock; of "fox" as foxess, bitch and victim. In II A.B. the masculine of "bitch" appears as wizard, tib, buck, fox, wretch, witzer, show, tom and tom-bitch; of "hen" as boak and cork; of "mare as maress, scullion, dota, filly, ewe, hare, staline, hiefer, ballien, ram, stallon; and of "sow" as sow-pig, bore-pig, sower, big, swine, bor, pock, sore, bull, belle, and horse. In III A.B. the plural of "formula" is given as formulix, formulea, formulii, formulous, formule, formuless, formulx, formuliis, formulee, formuli, formulars and formulaes; of "dictum" as dictumoes, dictumes, dictia, dictans, data, dictumess, dictaa, dictumaa, dictor, dictumies. "Concord" is defined to be "that which does not depend upon anything else." The comparative and superlative degrees of "ill" are given as "sick," "sickness."

Composition. In classes I A.B. and N. 1 the test was essay-writing, and the boys were given a choice between three subjects. The Chinese boys seem to have little idea of how an essay should be written, and the difference between them and the non-Chinese boys is strikingly shown in the per- centages which are respectively 10% and 75 %. In N. 1 GHULAMALI's style and appreciation of his subject was noticeable. The repeated use of the personal pronoun by many of the boys was very offensive, and such sentences as "There are many others proofs of the use of newspapers. Please excuse. I am ignorant -are in essay-writing to be deprecated.

In the other classes a short story was slowly read to the boys and they were required to repro- duce it from memory. N. 2, II A. and III A. show percentages of passes, and the work of SOLOMON, WONG PAK HING, and Ho YAN SIK was creditable, but in many cases evidently little was understood and even less was reproduced. N. 3 and II B. were particularly bad. On this subject we must again refer to the comments of the examiners of 1897.

Mensuration.This subject was only offered by I A.B. We have to thank Lt. BAGNALL-WILD, R.E., for both setting and correcting papers. The percentage of passes is 50. Two boys-Chung TAT MAN and HUNG HING KAM-obtained full marks, whereas 2 other boys obtained no marks at all.

Algebra. There was a great difference in the standard of the papers set to the different forms. The Chinese boys on the whole show greater capacity for mathemetics than the Non-Chinese. We were especially struck by the work of CHUNG TAT MAN (I A.B.), who seems to us very promising. In N. 1, ISMAIL was creditable, while in III A. and III B, 6 and 7 boys respectively obtain full marks. The discrepancy between boys, not necessarily at the top and bottom of a given form, is astonishing; for example in I A.B. where several boys do cerditably, 6 boys fail to reach double figures; while in III B. the variation is between full marks and no marks. This is apparent in almost every subject.

—

In a searching paper Much of the mathema- know the meaning of

Euclid. Again the Chinese boys proved superior to the Non-Chinese. HUNG HING KAM (I A.B.) gained full marks, answering 2 riders correctly. tical work is very neat. But boys who fail frequently show that they do not such elementary terms as base, triangle, angle, etc. For example one boy concludes by stating that "the base of the triangle is equal to 2 triangles. Q. E. D." We

We were far too often informed that

CLASS.

317

"the whole is greater than its part; which is absurd.' 2 given straight lines cut off a part equal to the less :-

Such proofs of I. 3 as "from the greater of

cut off from XY equal to AB"-should be energetically discouraged.

Shorthand. In this subject we are at the outset met by the absurdity of dictating to the boys a paragraph of 126 words at a rate which enabled a certain boy of N. 2, to take down the dictation in long hand. The time allowed for this effort was one and a half hours, and we recommend that in future this should be considerably reduced. We understand, however, that the paper set was quite beyond the capacity of N. 2.

Physiology and Science.--The same paper was set to N. 1 and N. 2, but, as the results show that N. 1 has a percentage of 37 in both subjects, whereas the percentages of N. 2 are 7 and 13 respec- tively, we recommend that the standard for the lower form should be reduced. The boys' knowledge of English does not warrant their answering physiological and scientific questions. It is a platitude and no description of the human dental system to say-" When you have tooth-ache, you must see a dentist"; "Sugar is bad for teeth"-a style of answer to which many boys confined themselves.

•

General Intelligence.-Three forms (N. 1, N. 2, I A.B.) offered this subject; but the intelli- gence displayed was not general. Samples of it are these:-"The Zebra is a wild animal it is some- thing like a sheep. It will devour men, women or cats, etc." "A kangaroo is a tame animal and is something like a boy. It is not a wild animal. It cannot walk or talk." "A kangaroo is a little animal like a cat. They like death. We often see them in topics." "King of birds means a kan- garoo." "A kangaroo is like a rat with a hole in its stomach." "Treaty ports mean Rugby, Swimming, Racing, Cricket, Rounders, Aiming." "England's colonies consist Duke, Earl, Baron, etc., and also Bishops." "Sir Joshua Reynolds was the leader of the Jews after Moses' death. "Professor Pasteur famous for training horses at a Circus." "Alexander the Great King of England in the 9th century.'

"Alexander the Great, Roman Emperor, famous for building ships."

"Jaines Watt is famous for translation of the Bible."

Book-keeping. The first 3 Chinese forms offered this subject: but only II A. obtained a per- centage of passes. The latter part of the paper was evidently beyond the powers of the boys in II B.

We append the usual table of percentages.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servants,

PERCENTAGES OF PASSES IN EACH SUBJECT IN EACH CLASS.

Chinese-English.

English-Chinese.

Chinese to English English to Chinese. Special Translation,

Reading.

Conversation.

Dictation.

I A.B.,

II A.,.......

II B.,.......

III A.,

II B.,

N. 1,

N. 2,

N. 3,

N. 4,

23 2 20

+ 2 8 8 8

...

Grammar.

Composition.

History.

Geography.

Shakespeare.

Arithmetic.

Algebra.

Euclid.

C. CLEMENTI.

S. B. C. Ross.

Mensuration.

Physiology.

Science.

Shorthand.

Book-keeping.

General Intelli-

gence.

50 29

100 100 30

100 100 38

39 0

97 93 20 54 12

67 8

0 100 100 60

93 90 51

100 100 91

100 100 57

100 100 91

91 100 73

9 0

2 10 12 9 5

75 73

3333

19 10

0 24 30

0 12

75 60

40 21

82 19

19 35

co co i 83

2 0

66 0

* 82 8

2 5 0 5 8 18

29 24 50

97 82

80 44

0 75 0

28 18

:..

888

9:3

67 81

13 7

No. 27.

SIR,

283

No. 11

1901

HONGKONG.

FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His

Excellency the Governor.

TREASURY, 30th March, 1901.

I have the honour to transmit the following returns :--

1. Revenue and Expenditure for the year 1900.

2. Comparative Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for 1899 and 1900.

3. Return of Deposits not Available.

4. Return of Advances Outstanding.

5. Statement of Expenditure from the Praya Reclamation Fund.

6. Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.

C. McI. MESSER, Acting Treasurer.

COLONY OF HONGKONG.

RETURN OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31ST

REVENUE.

Amount Total Estimated. Revenue.

More than Less than Estimated. Estimated.

LIGHT DUES,

LICENCES AND INTERNAL REVENUE NOT OTHERWISE SPE-

52,000

$ 55,379.38

$ (. 3,379.38

CIFIED:--

Arms Ordinance,.

20,350

20,186.50

136.50

Emigration Brokers' Licences,..

Assessed Taxes,

Auctioneers' Licences,

Billiard Tables and Bowling Alleys Licences,

Boarding-house Licences,

Boat Licences,

Cargo Boat Licences.

Carriage, Chair, &c., Licences,..

Chinese Passenger Ships Licences,

Chinese Undertakers' Licences,

Dog Licences,

Fines,

555,000

595,136.93

40,136,93

1,500

1,800.00

300.00

1,150

1.100.00

2,100

1,787.51

50.00 312.49

10,150

10,172.55

22.55

12,310

11,667.30

642.70

17,610

55,294.10

7,684,10

350

345.00

5.00

140

150.00

2,500

2,893.50

10.00 393.50

800

800.00

35,000

67,467.47

32,467.47

Forfeitures,

7,000

12,912.15

Hawkers' Licences,

9,400

10,129.50

5,912,15 729.50

Junk Licences,

30,000

44,459.80

14,459.80

Kerosene Oil Licences,

630

656.00

26.00

Marine Store Dealers' Licences,

5,625

6,255.00

630.00

Marriage Licences,.

700

1,050.00

350.00

Money Changers' Licences,

650

560.00

90,00

Opium Monopoly,

372,000

372,000.00

Opium Divan,

Pawnbrokers' Licences,.

1,645 40,000

1.775.00

130.00

47,150.00

7,150.00

Shooting Licences,

300

720.00

420.00

Special Fruit Licences,

452.00

Spirit Licences,

106,250

Stamps,..

370,000

107,254.50 1,004.50

471,331 47101,331.47

Steam-Launch Licences,

1,000

1,466.50

466.50

FEES OF COURT OR OFFICE, PAYMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PUR-

POSES, AND REIMBURSEMENTS IN AID :-

Bills of Health,

2,800

2,769.00

Births and Deaths, Registration of..

390

319.90

31.00 70.10

Cargo Boat Certificates,

2,200

2,193.00

7.00

Cemetery Burials,

1,110

1,328.28

218.28

Cemetery Fees from Public Cemeteries for Chinese,

1,200

1,587.75

387.75

Chinese Gazette, Sale of

52.00

17.00

---

Companies, Registration of

5,300

4,581.00

Convict Labour and other items,

5,270

2,971.28

719.00 2,298.72

Certificate to Chinese entering America,

11,000

11,100.00

100.00

Deeds, Registration of

8,500

14,554,25

6.05.25

Engagement and Discharge of Seamen,

22,500

22,297.00

203.00

Examination of Masters, &C.,

2,100

2.980.00

880.00

Fees of Court,

14,000

14,059.04

59.04

Fees on Grant of Leases,

1,200

1,305.00

105.00

Fees for testing Petroleum,

350

390.00

40.00

Gaol Expenses,-Recovery from Diplomatic, Naval and Mi-

litary Departments, Seamen and Debtors,....

1,900

2,129.95

229.95

Gunpowder, Storage of......

12,500

27.944.35

Householders, Registration of

1,800

2,262.25

15,414.35 462.25

Imperial Post Office, Contribution from

7,300

5,387.39

Lock Hospital, Grant-in-Aid from Admiralty,

1,040

1,000.06

1,912.61 39.94

Medical Certificate,

Medical Examination of Emigrants,

Medical Registration Fees,

20,000 10

180.00 25,460.50

180.00 5,460.50

Medical Treatment of Patients in the Civil Hospital,

28,000

80.00 31,837.96

70.00 3,837.96

Maintenance of Gap Rock Lighthouse, Contribution from

Chinese Imperial Government towards the

750

750.00

Official Administrator and Trustee,.

6,000

4,388.17

Official Signatures,

500

424.00

1,611.83 76.00

Printed Forms, Sale of

200

228.00

Private Moorings and Buoys, Rent for

3,000

3,030.00

28.00 30.00

Queen's College, Fees from Scholars,

28,000

29,037.00

1,037.00

Registry Fees,

400

521.00

121.00

Refund of Police Pay,

1,650

2,032.99

382.99

Refund Cost of Police and other Stores,.

500

812.58

312.58

Sick Stoppages from Police Force,

800

2,541.34

1,741.34

Steam-Launches, Surveyor's Certificate,

1,800

2,675.00

Survey of Steam-Ships,

11,000

12,361.59

875.00 1,361.59

School for Girls. Fees from Scholars,

Sunday Cargo-Working Permits,

Trade Marks, Registration of

825 16,000 5,100

922.00 43,550.00

97.00

27,550.00

3,342.48

1,757.52

POST OFFICE:--

Postage,...

335,000

325,603.33

9.396.67

RENT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, LAND AND HOUSES:-

Buildings,

Laundries,

560 1,200

747.00 1.210.00

187.00 10.00

EXPENDITURE.

Charge on Account of Public Deht, Pensions,

Governor and Legislature.

Colonial Secretary's Department, Audit Department,..........

Treasury,

Stamp Office,

Public Works Department,.

Post Office,

Registrar General's Department,

Harbour Master's Department,

Lighthouses,

Observatory,

Botanical and Afforestation Department,

Legal Departments,

Ecclesiastical,

Education,

Medical Departments,

Magistracy,

Police,

Sanitary Department, Charitable Allowances, Transport,

Miscellaneous Services, Military Expenditure, Public Works, Recurrent

COLONY OF HONGKONG.

AND EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

Total Revenue.

More than Less than

Estimated. Estimated.

EXPENDITURE.

Amount

Total More than Less than Estimated. Expenditure. Estimated. Estimated.

$ C.

55,379.38

3,379.38

20,486.50

136.50

595,136.93

40,136.93

1,800.00

300.00

1,100.00

50.00

1,787.51

312.49

Charge on Account of Public Debt, Pensions,

Governor and Legislature.

Colonial Secretary's Department,

Audit Department,.

Treasury,

Stamp Office,

160,808.00

$ C. 153,363.07

$ C.

$ C. 7,444.93

170,000.00

166,730.19

3,269.81

42,303.00

47,109.83 4,806.83

40,563.00

47,261.02 6,698.02

10,000.00

11,702.53 1,762.53

26,564.00

30,839.94 4,275.94

Public Works Department,.

91,402.00

$7,413.06 6,011.06

10,172.55

22.55

Post Office,

259,124.00

235,263.08

23,860.92

11,667.30

642.70

Registrar General's Departinent,

13,471.00

13,058.53

412.47

55,294.10

7,684.10

Harbour Master's Department,

345.00

5.00

Lighthouses,

76,248.00 82,929.00 13,670.00 13,472.59

6,681.00

197.41

150.00

10.00

Observatory,

13,676.00 16,963.79 3.287.79

2,893.50

393.50

Botanical and Afforestation Department,

18,914.40

21,519.95 2,605.55

800.00

Legal Departments,

71,182.00

81,475.24 10,293.24

67,467.47

32,467.47

Ecclesiastical,

2,200.00

1,805.00

395.00

12,912.15

5,912.15

Education,

74,807.00

79,993.76 5,186.76

10,129.50

44,459.80

729.50

14,459.80

Medical Departments,

114,137.00

125,256.34

11,119.34

Magistracy,

18,400.00

20.914.59 2,514.59

656.00

26.00

Police,

495,876.60

475,054.97

20.821.63

6,255.00

630.00

Sanitary Department,

124,746.00

130,816.01

6,070.01

1,050.00

350.00

Charitable Allowances,

5,260.00

4,140.00

1,120.00

560.00

90.00

Transport,

3,000.00

372,000.00

Miscellaneous Services,

201,999.00

5,080.51 2,080.51 426.591.28224,592.28

1,775.00

130.00

Military Expenditure,

633,208.00

655,686,11 22,478.11

47,150.00

7,150.00

Public Works, Recurrent

207,200.00

210,740.85 3,510.85

720.00

420.00

452.00

107,254.50 1,004.50

471,331 47 101,331.47

1,466.50

466,50

2,769.00

31.00

319.90

70.10

2,193.00

7.00

1,328.28

218.28

1,587.75

387.75

52.00

17.00

4,581.00

...

2,971.28

11,100.00

100.00

719.00 2,298.72

14,554.25

6,05.25

22,297.00

203.00

2.980.00

880.00

14,059.04

59.04

1,305.00

105.00

390.00

40.00

2,129.95

229.95

27,944.35

15,414.35

2,262,25

462.25

5,387.39

1,000.06

1,912.61 39.94

180.00

25,460.50

80.00 31,837.96

5,160.50

70.00 3,837.96

750.00

4,388.17

424.00 228.00

1,611.83 76.00

28.00

3,030.00

30.00

29,037.00

1,037.00

521.00

121.00

2,032.99

382.99

812.58

312.58

2,541.34

1,741.34

2,675.00

875.00

12,361.59

1,361.59

922.00

43,550.00

97.00 27,550.00

3,342.48

1,757.52

325,003.33

747.00 1 210.00

9.396.67

187.00 10.00

ল

Ionice,

Sanitary Department, Charitable Allowances, . Transport,

Miscellaneous Services,. Military Expenditure, Public Works, Recurrent

Marine Store Dealers' Licences,

5,625

6,255.00

630.00

Marriage Licences,

Money Changers' Licences,

Opium Menopoly,

700

1,050.00

350.00

650

560.00

90.00

Opium Divan,

Pawnbrokers' Licences,.

Shooting Licences,

372,000 1,645 40,000

372,000.00

1.775.00

130.00

47,150.00

7,150.00

300

720.00

420.00

Special Fruit Licences,

Spirit Licences,

106,250

452.00 107,254.50

452.00

1,004.50

Stamps,...

370,000

471,831 47 | 101,331.47

Steam-Launch Licences,

1,000

1,166.50

466.50

FEES OF COURT OR OFFICE, PAYMENTS FOR SPECIFIC PUR-

POSES, AND REIMBURSEMENTS IN AID:

Bills of Health,

2,800

2,769.00

31.00

Births and Deaths, Registration of..

390

319.90

70.10

Cargo Boat Certificates,

2,200

2,193.00

7.00

Cemetery Burials,

1,110

1,328.28

218.28

Cemetery Fees from Public Cemeteries for Chinese,

1,200

1,587.75

387.75

Chinese Gazette, Sale of

52.00

17.00

Companies, Registration of

5,300

4,581.00

Convict Labour and other items,

5,270

2,971.28

719.00 2,298.72

Certificate to Chinese entering America,

11,000

11,100.00

100.00

Deed, Registration of ..........

8,500-

→

14,554.25

6,954.25

Engagement and Discharge of Seamen,

22,500

22,297.00

203.00

Examination of Masters, &c.,

2,100

2.980.00

880.00

Fees of Court,

14,000

14,059.04

59.04

Fees on Grant of Leases,

1,200

1,305.00

105.00

Fecs for testing Petroleum,

350

390.00

40.00

Gaol Expenses,-Recovery from Diplomatic, Naval and Mi-

litary Departments, Seamen and Debtors,..

1,900

2,129.95

229.95

Gunpowder, Storage of......

12,500

27.944.35

15.444.35

Householders, Registration of

1,800

2,262.25

462.25

Imperial Post Office, Contribution from

7,300

5,387.39

...

Lock Hospital, Grant-in-Aid from Admiralty,

Medical Certificate,

1,040

1,000.06

1,912.61 39.94

180.00

Medical Examination of Emigrants,

Medical Registration Fees,

20,000 10

25,460.50

180.00

5,460.50

Medical Treatment of Patients in the Civil Hospital,

Maintenance of Gap Rock Lighthouse,—Contribution from

28,000

80.00 31,837.96

70.00

3,837.96

Chinese Imperial Government towards the

750

750.00

Official Administrator and Trustee,..

6,000

4,388.17

Official Signatures,

500

424.00

1,611.83 76.00

Printed Forms, Sale of

200

228.00

28.00

Private Moorings and Buoys, Rent for

3,000

3,030.00

30.00

Queen's College, Fees from Scholars,

28,000

29,037.00

1,037.00

Registry Fees,

400

521.00

121.00

Refund of Police Pay,

1,650

2,032.99

382.99

Refund Cost of Police and other Stores,..

500

812.58

312.58

Sick Stoppages from Police Force,

800

2,541.34

1,741.34

Steam-Launches, Surveyor's Certificate,

1,800

2,675.00

875.00

Survey of Steam-Ships,

11,000

12,361.59

1,361.59

School for Girls, Fees from Scholars,

825

922.00

97.00

Sunday Cargo-Working Permits,

Trade Marks, Registration of

16,000 5,100

43,550.00

27,550.00

3,342.48

1,757.52

POST OFFICE :-

Postage,....

-335,000

325,603.33

9.396.67

RENT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, LAND AND HOUSES :-

Buildings,

560

Laundries,

1,200

Leased Lands,.

250,000

Lands not Leased,

15,000

Land Revenue, New Territory,

100,000

747.00 1,210.00 280.102.69 6,276.05 289.80

187.00 10.00 30,402.69

8,723.95 99,710.20

Markets,

81,000

83,356.35

2,356.35

Piers.....

16,000

25,571.77 9,571.77

Stone Quarries,

21,000

24,130.00 3,130.00

Slaughter House,

46,000

48,960.00 2,960.00

Sheep, Pig and Cattle Depôts,..

12,000

11,833.61

166.39

MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS:-

Condemned Stores, &c.,

2,000

Interest for use of Furniture at Government House,

145

497.01 470.60

1,502.99

325.60

Night Soil Contracts,

30,381

30,384.00

Other Miscellaneous Receipts,

20,000

Profit on Subsidiary Coins,

100,000

16,025.73 191,533.40

3,974.27

91,533.40

TOTAL, exclusive of Land Sales and Water Account,...$2,943,4793,235,329.61 425,151,99 133,301.38

LAND SALES,

WATER ACCOUNT-Ord. 16 of 1890,

TOTAL,..

Treasury, Hongkong, 15th March, 1901.

250,000 816,222.92 566,222.92

132,000 151,034.87 19,034.87

3,325,479 4,202,587.40 1,010,109.78|133,301.38

Public Works, Extraordinary,.

TOTAL,......

.625

6,255.00

630.00

700 650

1,050,00

350.00

560.00

90.00

,000 372,000.00

,645

1.775.00

130.00

.000

47,150.00

7,150.00

300

720.00

£20.00

452.00

.250

107,251.50 1,004.50

.000

471,331 47

101,331,47

.000

1,466.50

466.50

.800

2,769.00

31.00

390

319.90

70.10

,200

2,193.00

7.00

.110

1,328.28

218.28

.200

1,587.75

387.75

52.00

17.00

.300

4,581.00

270

2,971.28

719.00 2,298.72

,000

11,100.00

100.00

500. 14,554,25

6,054.25

500

22,297.00

203.00

100

2.980.00

880.00

000

14,059.04

59.0+

200

1,305.00

105.00

350

390.00

40.00

900

2,129.95

229.95

500

27,944.35

15,414.35

800

2,262.25

462.25

300

5,387.39

1,912.61

040

1,000.06

39.91

180.00

000

25,460.50

5,460.50

80.00

70.00

J00

31,837.96

3,837.96

750

750.00

000

4,388.17

1,611.83

500

424.00

76.00

200

228.00

28.00

000

3,030.00

30.00

000

29,037.00

1,037.00

100

521.00

121.00

350

2,032.99

382.99

500

812.58

312.58

300

2,541.34

1,741.34

300

2,675.00

875.00

J00

12,361.59

1,361.59

$25

922.00

97.00

100

£3,550.00

27,550.00

100

8 3 9888888888

3,342.48

1,757.52

100

325,603.33

9.396.67

747.00

187.00

1,210.00

10,00

280,402.69 30,402.69

6,276.05

289.80

8,723.95 99,710.20

83,356.35

2,356.35

25,571.77 9,571.77

24,130.00 3,130.00

00 48,960.00 2,960.00

00 11,833.61

166.39

8988

197.01 470.60

1,502.99

325.60

30,384.00

16,025.73

3,974.27

191,533.40

91,533.40

793,235,329.61425,151.99 133,301.38

816,222.92 566,222.92

00 151,034.87 19,034.87

...

794,202,587.40 1,010,409.78 133,301.38

4444444

Sanitary Department, Charitable Allowances, Transport,

Miscellaneous Services, Military Expenditure, Public Works, Recurrent

124,746.00

5,260.00

3,000.00

140,001

130,816.01 4.140,00

6,070.01

1,120.00

5,080.51: 2,080.51

201,999.00 426.591.28224,592.28

655,686.11 22,478.11

633,208.00 207,200.00 210,740.85

8,510.85

Public Works, Extraordinary,

$ 2,888,759.00 | 3,155,241.24' 324,004.41 57,522.17

331,100.00

473,205.89 142,105.89

TOTAL,.......

..$ 3,219,859.00 3,628,447.13 166,110.30 57,522.17

C. McI. MESSEK,

Acting Treasurer.

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE COLON

REVENUE.

1900.

INCREASE.

DECREASE.

EXPENDITURE,

Charge on Account of Public Debt,... l'ensions,.

Governor and Legislature,

Colonial Secretary's Department,

Audit Department,

Treasury,

Stamp Office,

Public Works Department,

Post Office...

Registrar General's Department,

Harbour Master's Department,

Lighthouses..

Observatory,

Botanical and Afforestation Departu

Legal Departments,

Ecclesiastical Department,

Education,

Medical Departments, Magistracy,

l'olice, Gaols...

Fire Brigade,

Sanitary Department,

Charitable Allowances,

Transport,..

Miscellaneous Services, Military Expenditure, Public Works, Recurrent, Public Works, Extraordinary,

1899.

༣

LIGHT DUES,

LICENCES AND INTERNAL REVENUE NOT OTHERWISE

52,406.93

$ 55,379.38

$ 2,972.45

SPECIFIED :-

Arms Licences,

Assessed Taxes,

381.00

20,486.50

20,105.50

519,184.42

595,136.93

75,952.51

Boat Licences,

Auctioneers' Licences,

Billiard Tables and Bowling Alleys Licences,

Boarding House Licences,

Cargo Boat Licences,

Carriage, Chair, &c., Licences,

Chinese Passenger Ships Licences,.

1,500.00

1,800.00

300.00

1,100.00

2,143 75

1,787.51

356.24

10,053.30

10,172.55

119,25

11,471.20

11,667.30

196.10

46,225.40

55,294.10

9,068.70

275.00

345.00

70.00

Chinese Undertakers' Licences,.

140.00

150.00

10.00

Dog Licences,

2,709.00

2,893.50

184.50

Emigration Brokers' Licences,..

$00.00

Fines,.

Forfeitures,

35,030.67

67,467,47

32,436.80

14,045.60

12,912.15

1,133.45

Hawkers Licences,.......

9,537.50

10,129.50

Junk Licences.

36,924.00

44,459.80

592.00 7,535.80

Kerosene Oil Licences,

625.00

656.00

31.00

Marine Store Dealers' Licences,

5,805.00

6.255.00

450.00

Marriage Licences,

Money Changers' Licences,

670.00 485.00

1,050.00

380.00

560.00

75.00

Opium Monopoly,

372,000.00

3.2,000.00

Opium Divan Licences,

1,750.00

1,775.00

25.00

Pawnbrokers Licences,

Shooting Licences,

Special Fruit Licences,

41,100.00 520.00 315.00

17,150.00

6,050.00

720.00 152.00

200.00

137.00

Spirit Licences,

82,504.50

107,254.50

24,750.00

Stamps,...

360,999.15

471,831.47

110,332.32

Steam-Launch Licences,

1,093.50

1,466.50

373.00

FEES OF COURT OR OFFICE, PAYMENTS FOR SPECIFIC

PURPOSES, AND REIMBURSEMENTS IN AID :-

Bills of Health,..

2,640.00

2,769.00

129.00

Births and Deaths, Registration of..

330.50

319.90

10.60

Cargo Boat Certificates,..

2,046.00

2,193.00

147.00

Cemetery Burials,.

1.128.25

1,328.28

200.03

Cemetery Fees from Public Cemeteries for Chinese,

1,175.00

1,587.75

412.75

Chinese Gazette, Sale of..

34.00

52.00

18.00

Companies, Registration of

5.638.00

4,531.00

1,057.00

Convict Labour and other items,

4,567.41

2,971.28

1,596.13

Certificate to Chinese entering America,

17,175.00

11,100.00

6,075.00

Deeds, Registration of

.........

9,968.50

14,554.25

4,585.75

Engagement and Discharge of Seamen,

21,877.80

22.297.00

Examination of Masters, &C.,.

2,357.50

2,980.00

419.20 622.50

Fees of Court,

...

13,045.45

14,059.04

1,013.59

Fees on Grant of Leases.

920.00.1

Fee for testing l'etroleum,

455.00

1.305 20.

390.00

385.00

65.00

Gaol Expenses,-Recovery from Diplomatic, Naval, and

Military Departments, Seamen and Debtors,

2,385.70

2,129.95

255,75

Gunpowder, Storage of

14,276.41

27,944.35

Householders, Registration of

1,877.50

2,262.25

13,667.94 384.75

Imperial Post Office, Contribution from

9,113.55

5,387.39

Lock Hospital, Grant-in-Aid from Admiralty,

1,026.92

1,000.06

3,726.16 26.86

Medical Certificate,

180.00

Medical Examination of Emigrants,

19,245.75

25,460.50

180.00 6,214.75

Medical Registration Fees,

50.00

Medical Treatment of Patients in the Civil Hospital,...

25,253.39

80.00 31,837.96

30.00 6,584.57

Maintenance of Gap Rock Lighthouse,-Contribution

from Chinese Imperial Government towards the...

750.00

Official Administrator and Trustee,..

6.414.80

4,388.17

Official Signatures,

Printed Forms, Sale of

636.02 274.00

424.00

2,026.63 212.02 46.00

228.00

Private Moorings and Buoys, Rent for.

3,000.00

3.030.00

Queen's College, Fees from Scholars,

27,245.00

Registry Fees,

520.00

29,037.00 521.00

Refund of Police Pay,

1,744.15

2,032.99

30.00 1,792.00 1.00 288.81

Refund Cost of l'olice and other Stores,...

755.54

812.58

57.04

Sick Stoppages from Police Force,

1,241.98

2,541.34

1,299.36

Steam-launches, Surveyor's Certificate.

1,920.00

2,675.00

755.00

Survey of Steam-ships,

11,678.61

12,361.59

682.98

School for Girls, Fees from Scholars,

772.50

Sunday Cargo-Working Permits,

21.825.00

Trade Marks, Registration of

4,719.00

POST OFFICE;—!

:-Postage,

317,909.36

922.00 43,550.00 3,342.48 325,603.33

149.50

21,725.00

1,376,52

7,693.97

RENT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, LAND AND HOUSES :-

Buildings,

Laundries,

592.00 1,200.00

Leased Lands,

248,441.77

747.00 1,210.00 280,402.69

155.00 10.00 31,960.92

Lands not Leased,

9,022.13

15,298.18

Land Revenue, New Territory,

80.901.38

6,276.05 289.80 83.356.35

289.80 2.454.97

OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG IN 1899 & 1900.

1900.

INCREASE.

DECREASE.

EXPENDITURE,

1899.

1900.

INCREASE.

DECREASE.

$ 55,379.38

2,972.45

20,486.50

20,105.50

595,136.93

75,952.51

1,800,00

300.00

1,100.00

1,787.51

Charge on Account of Public Debt,.. Pensions,.

Governor and Legislature,

Colonial Secretary's Department,

Audit Department,

Treasury,

Stamp Office,

158,819.38

$ C. 153.363.07

170,646.26

166,730.19

5,456.31 3.916.07

48,889.22

47.109.83

1.770.39

32,187.34

47,261.02

15,073.68

9.518.72

11,762.53

2,243.81

22,381.83

27,069.58

4,687.75

3,689.97

3,770.36

$0.39

356.24

Public Works Department,

93,909.77

97,413.06

3,503.29

10.172.55

119.25

l'ost Office,.

237,902.76

235,263,08

2,639.68

11,667.30

196.10

Registrar General's Department,

14.148.22

13,058.53

1,889.69

55,294.10

9,068.70

Harbour Master's Department,

62,933.00

$2,929,00

19,996.00

345.00

70.00

Lighthouses..

11,864.44

13,472.59

1,698.15

150.00

10.00

Observatory,

13,068.32 16.963.79

3,895.47

2,893.50

184.50

Botanical and Afforestation Department,

18,293.87

21,519.95

3,226.08

$00.00

Legal Departments,

-83.711.52

81.475.24

2,236.28

67,467.47

32,436.80

Ecclesiastical Department,

1,810.00

1.805.00

5.00

12,912.15

1,133.45

Education,

75,152.57

79,993.76

4,841.19

10,129.50

592.00

Medical Departments,

113,663.19

125.256.34

11,593.15

14,459.80

7,535.80

656.00

81.00

6,255.00

450.00

Gaols,...

1,050.00

380.00

560.00

75.00

3.2,000.00

1,775.00

25.00

17,150.00

6,050.00

Magistracy,

l'olice,

Fire Brigade,.

Sanitary Department,

Charitable Allowances, Transport,.

Miscellaneous Services,

21,353.58

20,914.59

438.99

263,965.71

393,485.12

129,519.41

58.447.14

63,329.02

4,881.88

17,244.42

18,240.83

996.41

122,605.05

130,816.01

8,210.96

4,101.64

4,140.00

38.36

9,636.96

5,080.51

513,033.54

426,501.28

4,556.45 86,442.26

720.00

200.00

Military Expenditure,

649,388.53 655,686.11

6,297.58

452.00

137.00

Public Works, Recurrent,

198,464.65 210,740.85

12,276.20

107,254.50

24.750.00

Public Works, Extraordinary,

131,660.76 473,205.89

341,545,13

471,381.47

110,332.32

1,460.50

373.00

2,769.00

129.00

319.90

10.60

2,193.00

147.00

1,328.28

200.03

1,587.75

412.75

52.00

18.00

4,581.00

1,057.00

2,971.28

1,596.13

11,100.00

14,554.25

4,585.75

22.297.00

2,980.00

419.20 622.50

6,075.00

14,059.04

1,013.59

10.

1.305 10

385.00

390.00

65.00

OHORN

255.75

2,129.95

27,944.35

2,262.25 5,387.39 1,000.06

13,667.94 381.75

3,726.16

26.86

180.00

65 vi

5 25,460.50

180.00 6,214.75

80.00

'9 31,837.96

750.00

4,388.17

424.00

5=36×S ∞ AUS 8 8 8 8 8 8

812.58

2,541.34 2,675.00

57.04 1,299.36

755.00

682.98

149.50

21,725.00

1,376.52

I 12,361.59 922.00 43,550.00 3,342.48 325.603.33

747.00 1,210.00

7 280,402.69

९

ه برام

6,276.05 289.80

83,356.35

7,693.97

155.00 10.00 31,960.92

9,022.13

289.80

2,454.97 19.791 31

228.00

3.030.00

29,037.00 521.00

2,032.99

30.00 6,584.57

30.00 1,792.00

1.00 288.81

2,026.63 212.02 16.00

286

Opium Monopoly, Opium Divan Licences, Pawnbrokers' Licences, Shooting Licences,

Special Fruit Licences,

372,000,00

1,750.00

41,100.00

1.775,00 47,150.00

520.00

315.00

720.00 152.00

Spirit Licences,

Stamps,

Steam-Launch Licences,

82,501.50

107.254.50

360,999.15

171,881,47

137.00 24.750.00 110,332.32

25.00

6.050.00 200.00

Chaitame Anowances, Transport...

Miscellaneous Services, Military Expenditure, Public Works, Recurrent, Public Works, Extraordinary,

1,093.50

1,466,50

873.00

FEES OF COURT OR OFFICE, PAYMENTS FOR SPECIFIC

PURPOSES, AND REIMBURSEMENTS IN AID :—

Bills of Health,.

2,610.00

2,769.00

129.00

Births and Deaths, Registration of..

330.50

319.90

10.60

Cargo Boat Certificates,..

2,046.00

2,193.00

147.00

Cemetery Burials,.

1.128.25

1,328.28

200.03

Cemetery Fees from Public Cemeteries for Chinese,

1,175.00

1,587.75

412.75

Chinese Gazette, Sale of..

34.00

52.00

18.00

Companies, Registration of

5,638.00

4.531.00

1,057.00

Convict Labour and other items,

4,567.41

2,971.28

1,596.13

Certificate to Chinese cntering America,

17,175.00

11,100.00

6,075.00

Deeds, Registration of

9,968.50

14,554.25

4.585.75

Engagement and Discharge of Seamen,

►

21,877.80

22.297.00

419.20

Examination of Masters, &c.,

2,857.50

2,980.00

622.50

Fees of Court,

13,045.45

14,059.04.

1,013.59

Fees on Grant of Leases,.

920,00.

1.30500

$385.00

Fee for testing Petroleum,

455.00

390.00

65.00-

Gaol Expenses,-Recovery from Diplomatic, Naval, and

Military Departments, Seamen and Debtors,

2,885.70

2,129.95

255.75

Gunpowder, Storage of

14,276.41

27,914.35

Householders, Registration of

Imperial Post Office, Contribution from

Medical Certificate,

1,877.50

2,262.25

13,667.94 384.75

9,113.55

5,387.39

Lock Hospital, Grant-in-Aid from Admiralty,

1,026,92

1,000.06

3,726.16 26.86

180.00

Medical Examination of Emigrants,

19,245.75

25,460.50

6,214.75

Medical Registration Fees,

50.00

80.00

30.00

Medical Treatment of Patients in the Civil Hospital,...

25,253.39

31,837.96

6,584.57

Maintenance of Gap Rock Lighthouse,-Contribution

from Chinese Imperial Government towards the.... Official Administrator and Trustee,..

750,00

750.00

6,414.80

4,388.17

Official Signatures,

636.02

424.00

Printed Forms, Sale of

2,026.63 212.02 46.00

274.00

228.00

Private Moorings and Buoys, Rent for.

3,000.00

3,030.00

30.00

Queen's College, Fees from Scholars,

27,245,00

29,037.00

1,792.00

Registry Fees,

520,00

521.00

1.00

Refund of Police Pay,

1,744.15

2,032.99

288.81

Refund Cost of l'olice and other Storcs,.

755.51

812.58

57.01

Sick Stoppages from Police Force,

1,241.98

2,541.34

1,299.36

Steam-launches, Surveyor's Certificate.

1,920.00

2,675.00

755.00

Survey of Steam-ships,

11,678.61

12,361.59

682.98

School for Girls, Fees from Scholars,

772.50

922.00

149.50

Sunday Cargo-Working Permits,

21,825.00

43,550.00

21,725,00

Trade Marks, Registration of

4,719.00

3.342.48

1,376.52

POST OFFICE :-Postage,

317,909.36

325,603.33

7,693,97

RENT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, LAND AND HOUSES:

Buildings,

592.00

Laundries,

1,200.00

747.00 1,210.00

Leased Lands,

248,441.77

280,102.69

155.00 10.00 31,960.92

Lands not Leased,

15,298.18

6,276.05

9,022.13

...

Land Revenue, New Territory,

289.80

Markets,

80,901.38 83,356.35

2,454.97

Piers,

12,780.46

25,571.77

12,791.31

Stone Quarries,

18,600.00

24,130.00

5,530.00

Slaughter House,...

45,000.00 48,960.00

3,960.00

Sheep, Pig and Cattle Depôts,

11,673.21

11,833.61

160.40

MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS:-

Condemned Stores, &c.,

2,239.24

497.01

1,742.23

Interest for use of Furniture at Government House,.

170.60

Night Soil Contracts,

30,384.00

Other Miscellaneous Receipts,

60,307.76

16,025.73

44,282.03

Profit on Subsidiary Coins,..

168,553.25

191,533.40

22,980.15

TOTAL exclusive of Land Sales & Water Account,. 2,865,759.76 | 3,235,329.61

442,579.60

73,009.75

LAND SALES,

WATER ACCOUNT,

617,824.72

126,558.77

816,222.02

198,398.20

151,031.87 24,476.10

TOTAL,.....

.$ 3,610,143.25 | 4,202,587.40

665,453.90

73,009.75

Deduct Decrease,

Nett Increase,

Treasury, Hongkong, 15th March, 1901.

73,009.75

592,144,15

....

9,636.96 513,033.54

ča če se E

47,150.00

6,050,00

720.00

200.60

452.00 107,254.50

137.00 24.750.00

15 471,831.47 110,332,82

iransport,. Miscellaneous Services, Military Expenditure,

Public Works, Recurrent,

Public Works, Extraordinary,

1,466.50

373.00

2,769.00

129.00

319.90

10.60

2,193.00

147.00

1,328.28

200.03

1,587.75

412.75

52.00

18.00

4,531.00

1,057.00

2,971.28

1,596.13

11,100.00

6,075.00

14,554.25

4.585.75

22.297.00

419.20

2,980.00

622.50

14,059.04

1,013.59

≈õõŏ×88-5888888 883 BUSES 88

00.

1.305M0

$385.00

00.

390.00

65.00*

2,129.95

255.75

27,944.35

13,667.94

2,262.25

381.75

5,387.39

3,726.16

1,000.06

26.86

180.00

25,460.50

6,214.75

80.00 31,837.96

30.00

29,037.00

521.00

1,792.00

1.00

2,032.99

288.84

812.58

57.01

2,541.34

1,299.36

2,675.00

755.00

12,361.59

682.98

922.00

149.50

43,550.00

21,725.00

3,342.48 325,603.33

1,376.52

7,693.97

747.00

750.00 4,388.17

424.00

228.00

3,030.00

6,584,57

30.00

2,026.63 212.02 46.00

2972

6,276.05

289.80

1,210.00 280,402.69

155.00 10.00 31,960.92

289.80

...

9,022.13

2000ã

83,356.35

2,454.97

25,571.77

12,791.31

24,130.00

5,530.00

48,960.00

21 11,833.61

3,960.00 160.40

497.01 470.60

1,742.23

470.60

30,384.00

16,025.73

44,282.03

191,533.10

22,980.15

63,235,329.61 442,579.60 73,009.75

2 816,222.92 198,398.20

7 151,034.87 24,476.10

5,480.51

4,556.45

426,591.28

649,388.53 655,686.11 198,464.65 210,740.85

86,442.26

6,297.58

12,276.20

131,660.76

473,205.89

341,545.13

54,202,587.40

665,153.90

73,009.75

TOTAL,..

.$ 3,162,792.36 | 3,628,447.13

571,514.89 108,860.12

73,009.75

592,444.15

Deduct Decrease,

Nett Increase,

108,860.12

465,651.77

C. McI. MESSER,

Acting Treasurer.

287

By whom deposited.

1st January; 1900.

Statement of Deposits not Available received and paid in the Colony of Hongkong during the year 1900.

Outstanding

Deposits received during the

Total.

year.

Deposits repaid during the year.

31st Dec., 1900.

Intestate Estate,

987.99

224.65

1,212.64

7.40

Sikh Police Fund,

3,379.00

2,401.00

5,780.00

359.00

Police Fine Fund,

80.22

768.97

849.19

632.29

1,205.24 5,421.00 216.90

Chinese Recreation Ground,

2,859.43

1,161.22

4,020.65

701.36

Estate of Deceased Policemen,

170.89

Tender Deposit,

3,025.00

213,805.00

216,830.00

185,665.00

Post Office Fine Fund,

77.62

Suitors' Fund,

74,635.40

53.10 190,301.86

130.72 264,937.26

2.00

157,511.16

Widows and Orphans' Fund,

71,007.39

19,000.08

90,007.47

1,214.23

Custom Duties on Parcels,

Praya Reclamation Fund,'

117.67 271,321.26

406.96

524.63

271.94

211,651.77

482,973.03

268,797.91

3,319.29

170.89 31,165.00

128.72 107,426.10 88,793.24

252.69 214,175.12

Sale of Land,

2,300.00

2,100.00

200.00

Miscellaneous,

15,899.00

5,000.00

20,899.00

5,030.04

15,868.96

Board of Trade,

3,034.92

2,317.94

716.98

Gaol Library,

103.90

Licence Fee Deposit,

1,296.00

1,171.00

125.00

Deposit for Expenses of erecting 3 Lamp-posts Į

on Inland Lot 199,

290.00

Treasury, Hongkong, 8th March, 1901.

€0

443,664.77

651,695.531,095,360.30

625,781.27 469,579.03

A. M. THOMSON,

Treasurer.

288

Outstanding

To whom advanced.

1st January, 1900.

Statement of Advances made and repaid in Hongkong during the year ended 31st December, 1900.

Advances

repaid during the year ended 31st Dec., 1900.

Advances made during the year ended 31st Dec., 1900.

Total.

Outstanding Balance on 31st Dec., 1900.

Money Order,

32,768.08

336,562.05

369,330.13

Government of Singapore,

Supreme Court,

Captain Superintendent of Police,

210.00 100.00 25.00

2,412.00

2,622.00 100.00

ƒ 331,033.46 * 1,441.91 2,127.00

36,854.76

495.00 100.00

Praya Reclamation,.

88,476.50

Crown Solicitor,

Sanitary Department,

Postmaster General,..

274.76

80.00 10,818.50 200.00 27,500.00 788.51

105.00

99,295.00

80.00 $9,061.97

25.00 10,233.03

200.00 27,500.00

1,063.27

714.65

348.62

Captain Hasting's Contribution to Jamaica Wi-

33.69

34.19

dows and Orphans' Fund,

Treasury,

500.00

34.19

500.00

0.50

500.00

Director of Public Works Department,

1,500.00

H. B. Lethbridge, Widows and Orphans' Fund, .

16.06

159.96

176.02

159.90

16.12

Superintendent, Fire Brigade,

200.00

Belilios Donation,

1,000.00

3,000.00

4,000.00

J. H. Dandy,

165.71

Sugar-cane Mill,

284.37

0.64

285.01

Superintendent, Botanical Department,..

800.00

G. P. Tate,

H. P. Tooker,

New Territory,

Post Office, Money Order,

J. Peak,

Mrs. L. V. Musso,

W. Machell,

Mr. and Mrs. Cook—Passage,.

Mr. Griffiths,

Private Lanes,

P. T. Crisp,

Ed. Kelly,

H. M. S. "Protector.".

J. H. Gidley,

W. Curwen,

G. T. Taylor,

W. T. Hast, E. A. Johnson,.

900.00

2,750.00

629.51

470.00

629.51 470 00

800.00 3,650.00

...

800.00 3,650.00 629.51

470.00

10,000.00

10,000,00

10,000.00

51.34 29,453.88

51.34

29,453.88

360.00

1,020.00

360.00

は

1,035.73

15.73

69.10

21.00

2,595.67

48.10 2,595.67

69.10

20.00

3,755.50

94.12

} 3,849.62 3,849.62

Cr. 16.60

96.24

192.48

* Loss in Exchange,

†

Do.,

124,849.99

435,953.97

560,803.96 509,125.57

51,694.99

Less credit balance,.....

16.60

.$1,441.91 |

0.50

=$1,442.41

Treasury, Hongkong, 8th March, 1901.

++P

Profit in Exchange...

51,678.39

.$15.73 )

94.12

=$109.85

A. M. THOMSON, Treasurer.

PRAYA RECLAMATION FUND.

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

1890.

1891.

1892.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

1898.

1899.

1900.

Total Estimated Expenditure. Cost.

Balance

to be spent.

Balance

spent

in Excess

of the

Estimated

Cost.

Private Marine Lot Holders.

Section No. 1,*.

Do. No. 2,.. Do. No. 3,.. Do. No. 4,..

6,051.44

3,113.67

6,552.99 7,019.62

Do. No. 5,.-. Do. No. 6,.. Do. No. 7,..

9,187.60 14,215.46

7,128.44 42,019.54 43,791.64 24,984.84 46,758.18 63,318.02| 14,086.90| 24,596.23 29,091.12 32,355.42 29,025.13 55,887.63 34,580.26 49,612.81 35,455.12 36,245.99 6,202.29 5,754.83 11,705.77 10,903.57 6,548.41 65,661.55 | 112,573.89 33,075.47 31,593.99 36,697.68 48,599.71 43,961.02 25,030.76 14,247.88 1,822.21 7,063.88 55,691.67 39,144.85 11,964.17 31,946.66 28,704.10 7,998.26 201,022.08 227,392.11 26,370.03

5,004.19 3,428.36 14,169.36 8,670.52 63,670.23| 62,780.32 49,058.88 58,331.35 15,581.31 304,097.58 329,686.00 25,588.42 7,876.47 14,630.92 27,669.30 5,666.04 53,029,15 57,374.26 29,767.10.50,382.14 52,327.67 52,553.60 67,275.01 418,551.66 528,788.60 | 105,236.94 21,788.35 31,817.59 77,925.38 9,600.81 51,701.26 44,549.27 27,309.82 27,919.28|(1) 12,423.70 7,630.77 296,949.93 316,268.44 19,318.51

357,155.46

423,260.67 66,105.21

2,343.63

255,240,31

251,176.20

4,064.11

4,206.01

421,699.40

459,378.56

37,679.16

Less... 4,064.11

276,234.16

Total,...$106,850.19 204,450.45 332,808.10 114,032.85 240,561.81 | 272,503.71|228,333.44 233,308.93198,358.66 205,164.46 134,060.12 2,254,716.42 2,530,950.58 280,298.27: 4,064.11

Government.

Section No. 4,. 443.53

1,418.47

Do. No. 5,...| Do. No. 6,...] 755.45 Do. No. 7,...

814.38 1,260,26

303.87

2,520.24

1,400.02

32,304.19

4,213.30

2,119,82 48,472.28 111,086.04

1,003.11

233.81 9,727.49 5,464.26 774.39 16,858.62 1,697.95 544.73 637.44 1,036.00 1,541.61 12,473.23 10,156.55 5,709.57 12,954.74

3,393.29

3,290.36 5,661.37 4,678.83 1,406.59 33,284.75 18,515.52 (2) 3,337.25 1,094.88 3,005.03

38,734.40 5,449.65

11,741,06 3,430.13 5,888.25 8,925.85 2,178.44 2,827.40

60,799.84

67,194:90

6,395.06

27,281.30

46,818.00

19,536.70

244,560.76

259,218.77

14,658.01

Total,...$ 34,921.64 53,206.92 118,679.42 14,324.94 11,802.19| 18,171.01 36,819.23 28,536.42

9,761.28 | 24,486.58| 16,589.97 365,926.65 411,966.07 46,039.42

Grand Total,.$ 141,771.83 257,657.37 451,487.52 128,357.79 252,364.00 290,674.72 265,152.67 261,845.35 208,119.94 229,651.04|150,650,09 2,620,643.07 2,942,916.65 322,273.58

*This includes Marine Lots Nos. 188, 189 and 190 which belong to the Government.

(1) Expenditure, Transfers,

.$21,242.23

36,958.53

(2) Expenditure, Transfers,

..$ 8,486,01

9,858.96

Cr. Balance.

$15,716,30

Cr. Balance.

.$ 1372.95

C. McL. MESSER,

Acting Treasurer.

Treasury, Hongkong, 20th March, 1901,

289

290

Dr.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 1900.

LOAN ACCOUNT.

To Inscribed Stock Loan at 33% interest,

to be paid off on the 15th April, 1943,...| £341,799.15.1

Cr.

By Sinking Fund.

£16,485.13.2

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES,

ON THE 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

ASSETS.

LIABILITIES.

Subsidiary Coins,

958,000.00 Military Contribution,

54,405.78

Coins in transit,

970,000.00

Contribution towards Barrack Services

for 1900,...........

$5,000.00

Arrears of Taxes,

804.32

Deposits not available,..

469,579.03

Crown Rent,

36,332.14

Refund of Taxes,

2,300.00

Land Revenue, New Territory,

98,400.00

Officers' Remittances,

16.867.15

Miscellaneous,..

1,890.00

Money Order Remittances,

25,548.87

Advances,

51,678.39

Transit Charges, General Post Office.....

7.336.00

Suspense House Service,

103.00

Civil Pensions,

17,500.00

Profit, Money Order Office,...

8,000.00

Police Do.,

14,200.00

Water Account,..........

881.91

Private Drainage Works,

292.36

Suspense Account,

398.73

Public Works,......

34,779.46

Miscellaneous,.......

9,500.80

Balance Overdrawn,

328,393.35

TOTAL ASSETS,.......$ 2,126,488.49

TOTAL LIABILITIES,......$1,025,702.80

BALANCE,...$1,100,785.09

$2,126,488.49

* Not including $40,415.82, value of Silver at Mint.

Treasury, Hongkong, 29th March, 1901.

C. McI. MESser, Acting Treasurer.

HONGKONG.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES,

ON THE 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

No. 37

1901

ASSETS.

LIABILITIES.

Subsidiary Coins,

958,000.00 Military Contribution,

54,405.78

Coins in trausit,

970,000.00 Contribution towards Barrack Services

for 1900......

45,000.00

Arrears of Taxes,

804.32

Deposits not available,..

469,579.03

Crown Rent,

36,332.14

Refund of Taxes,

2.300.00

,, Land Revenue, New Territory,

98,400.00

Officers' Remittances,

16,867.15

Miscellaneous,................

1,890.00

Money Order Remittances,

25,548.87

Advances, ....

51,678.39

Transit Charges, General Post Office,...

7336.00

Suspense House Service,

103.00

Civil Pensions,

17,500.00

Profit, Money Order Office,...

8,000.00

Police Do..

14.200.00

Water Account,.

881.91

Private Drainage Works,

292.36

Suspense Account,

398.73

Public Works,.......................

34,779.46

Miscellaneous,...

9,500.80

Balance Overdrawn,

328,393.35

TOTAL ASSETS,.......$2,126,488.49

TOTAL LIABILITIES,......$1,025,702.80

BALANCE, *...$1,100,785.69

*Not including $40,415.82, value of Silver at Mint.

Treasury, Hongkong, 29th March, 1901.

$ 2,126,488.49

C. McI. MESSER. Acting Treasurer.

706

Dr.

ESTIMATED BALANCE OF THE ASSETS OF THE COLONY ON THE

31ST DECEMBER, 1901.

Estimated Revenue on Account of 1901,!.

$3,858,620.00

on Land Sales of 1901,.....

Total Estimated Revenue,

400,000.00

.$4,258,620.00

Estimated Expenditure, Ordinary,.

Extraordinary,

.$3,480,324.06

420,000.00

Total Estimated Expenditure, .$3,900,324.06

Estimated Revenue in Excess over Expenditure,....$ 358,295.94

Balance on 1st January, 1901,

Plus Revenue in Excess of 1901 Expenditure,

$1,141,201.51*

358,295.94

Estimated Balance of 1901 Assets,......$1,499,497,45

* Value of Silver at mint as per Assets of 1900,

Credit Balance of 1900 Assets,

40,415.82 1,100,785.69

$1,141,201.51

ESTIMATED LOAN ACCOUNT, 1901.

To Inscribed Stock Loan @ 34% interest to

be paid off on the 15th April, 1943, ...... £341,799.15.1 By Sinking Fund,.

Dr.

To Inscribed Stock Loan @ 34% interest to be paid off on the 15th April, 1943,

LOAN ACCOUNT, 1900.

£341,799.15.1 By Sinking Fund.......

Treasury, Hongkong, 23rd September, 1901.

Cr.

£20,376. 6.6

Cr.

£16,485.13.2

C. McI. MESSER,

Acting Treasurer.

HONGKONG.

No.

291

1901

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE BRIGADE FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

POLICE OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 14th February, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit the following report on the Government Fire Brigade for the year 1900.

2. There were 51 Fires and 74 Incipient Fires during the year. Details regarding each are attached. The Brigade turned out 61 times during the year.

The estimated damage caused by the fires was $130,599.73 and by the incipient fires $729.10. A prosecution for arson is at present proceeding in respect of the fire at No. 235 Queen's Road West on the 20th December.

3. A list is attached shewing the number of fires that have occurred during each of the last 10 years with the estimated value of property destroyed in each case.

4. The water in the mains was not turned off at any time during the

year.

5. I attach a list of places where Fire Despatch Boxes are kept, and copy of a report by the Engineer on the state of the Fire Engines, which are all in good order.

6. The quatricycle despatch box obtained from Messrs. MERRYWEATHER & SONS last

proved useful and given satisfaction.

7. Two fires occurred in the Harbour during the year.

8. The conduct of the Brigade during the year has been good.

year has

9. On the 1st January, 1900, the Nam Pak Hong Fire Brigade was re-organised and placed under the immediate supervision of the officers of the Government Fire Brigade.

The Nam Pak Hong now maintain, at their own cost, six trained firemen, while two firemen of the Government Brigade reside in the station house with them in order to be ready to turn out imme- diately on an alarm of fire.

10. The Assistant Superintendent acted as Superintendent from February the 9th to September the 28th, while I was acting as Colonial Secretary.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

F. H. MAY, Superintendent of Fire Brigade.

List of Places where Fire Brigade Despatch Boxes are kept.

Government House.

2 Boxes. No. 7 Police Station.

1 Box. No. 1 Police Station.

3 Boxes. Engine House at No. 2 Police Station. 1 Box. Naval Dock Yard.

Box.

Clock Tower.

Government Offices.

No. 7 Queen's Garden, Engineers' Mess. Central Police Station.

1 Box.

2 Boxes.

1 Box.

Staunton Street at Sing Wong Street. Water Lane at Queen's Road Central.

Wellington Street at Lyndhurst Terrace. Government Civil Hospital.

2 Boxes.

A A

Bonham Strand West, at West End. Gas House, West Point.

Fat Hing Street, at Queen's Road West. Ko Shing Theatre.

Government Lunatic Asylum. Nam Pak Hong Fire Station. Man Mo Temple.

No. 5 Police Station.

Kennedy Town Hospital.

Collinson Street.

No. 463 Queen's Road West.

292

List of Telephones to which the Police can have access to communicate with Central Station

Fire breaking out.

in the event of a

Hongkong and China Gas Company, East and

West Point, from 7 A.M. to 9 P.M. Tung Wá Hospital, Po Yan Street. Man On Insurance Office, Queen's Road West.

Hongkong Hotel, Praya Central.

Royal Naval Yard, Queen's Road East. Mr. J. KENNEDY's Causeway Bay.

Electric Light Company, Queen's Road East.

HONGKONG, 18th February, 1901.

SIR,--I have the honour to forward berewith a report on the state of the Government Fire Engines for the year ending 31st December, 1900.

STEAMER No. 1.

(Floating Engine by Shand & Mason.)

This Engine has been three years in service, it has done some good work at fires during the year, has been docked and overhauled and the hull, engine and pump are now in good order and condition.

STEAMER No. 2.

(Land Engine by Shand & Mason.)

This Engine has been twenty-two years in service (Boiler three years), it has been regularly tested at drill for drivers, and is now in good order and condition.

STEAMER NO. 3.

(Land Engine by Shand & Mason.)

This Engine has been twenty-one years in service, it has been regularly tested at drill for drivers, and has also done some good work at fires during the year. It is now in good order and condition.

STEAMER NO. 4.

(Land Engine by Shand & Mason.)

This Engine has been nineteen years in service, it has been regularly tested at drill for drivers and is now in good order and condition.

STEAMER NO. 5.

(Land Engine by Shand & Mason.)

This Engine has been fourteen years in service, it has been overhauled during the year, and is now in good order and condition.

All the Manual Engines and gear, hose reels, ladders and supply carts have been kept in good repair, and are now in good order.

The Honourable

F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

Superintendent,

I have the honour to be,

Government Fire Brigade.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN W. KINGHORN,

Chief Engineer, Government Fire Brigade.

No.

DATE.

FIRES, 1890.

SITUATION OF FIRE,

January

No. 7, Station Street,

No. 33, Tung Man Lane, No. 229, Praya West,.

No. 8, Lyndhurst Lerrace,

No. 23, Bonham Stand,..

February

No. 18, Gage Street,.

No. 8, St. Francis Street,

May

No. 68, Bonham Strand,

The Hongkong Dispensary,

July

No. 32, Square Street,

September

No. 12, Kwong Un Street, East,.

Blackhead & Co., Praya Central,.

No. 38, Gilman Bazaar,

November 11

December 15

No. 47, Bonham Strand,

No. 69, Upper Station Street, No. 112, Queen's Road Central,

TOTAL,.......

No.

DATE.

FIRES, 1891.

293

NO. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED

AMOUNT OF PROPERTY

DESTROYED.

1,000

500

8,000 10,000

400

300

]

550

41,000

100,000

3,000

500

30,000

100

2,000

250

6,000

203,600

No. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED AMOUNT

OF PROPERTY

DESTROYED.

123

January February 8 April

30.00 10 1

Nos. 170 and 172, Third Street,

No. 353, Queen's Road West,

No. 41, Hillier Street,

The Hongkong and China Bakery, Morrison Hill Road,

East Point,

10 30 1 00

May

No. 331, Queen's Road Central,

July

December 19 No. 57A, Wanchai Road,

No. 280, Queen's Road Central, No. 72, Station Street, Yaumati,

3,000

700

1,500

1,000

11,500

12,000

1,800

600

TOTAL,..

32,100

No.

DATE.

FIRES, 1892.

No. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED AMOUNT

OF PROPERTY

DESTROYED.

January 10

No. 9, Queen's Road Central,

Bonham Strand,

No. 528, Queen's Road West,

$ 40,000 8,000

6,000

No. 81, High Street,.

100

April

No. 26, Sai Wo Lane,.

1,000

No. 17, Queen's Road West,

400

No. 104, Queen's Road West,

1,500

May

No. 17, Tank Lane,

250

June

No. 29, Centre Street,

100

July August

September 15

December 8

2205

No. 49, Queen's Road West, No. 48, Queen's Road West, No. 80, Queen's Road West, No. 333, Queen's Road Central, No. 14, Jubilee Street,

No. 16, East Street,

No. 91, Wing Lok Street,

5,000

300

3,000

.000

5.900

TOTAL,.........

500

600

75,550

291

No.

DATE.

FIRES, 1893.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

No. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED AMOUNT

OF PROPERTY

DESTROYED.

January

No. 73, Hollywood Road,..

800

No. 79, Nullah Lane,

300

No. 2, Square Street,

February

No. 68, Jervois Street,

10,000

No. 101, Wing Lok Street,

6,000

March

No. 22, Holland Street,

40,000

No. 301, Queen's Road West,

8,000

April

No. 87, Jervois Street,

2,000

No. 15, West Street,.

800

No. 1, In On Lane,

19,000

May

No. 344, Queen's Road Central,

2,000

June

No. 406, Queen's Road West,

2,000

No. 28, Taz Mi Lane,

700

July

No. 191, Hollywood Road,

No. 19, Gough Street,

1,500

150

No. 280, Queen's Road West,

1,000

No. 12, Tung Loi Lane,

20,000

August

No. 337, Queen's Road West,

300

No. 32, Queen's Road West,..

2,800

No. 155, Second Street,

20,000

وو

October

September

November 11

No. 248, Hollywood Road, No. 127, Bonham Strand......... No. 14, Li Shing Street, No. 115, Praya West,

No. 7, Ezra Lane,

400

4,000

5,000

5,500

No. 58, Square Street,

10 00

20,000

3,000

No. 5, Pan Kwai Lane,..

1,000

No. 9, Tannery Lane,

No. 314A, Queen's Road Central,

8,000

No. 22, Tsz Mi Lane,

5,500

December 4

No. 31, Wing Fung Street,

No. 131, Bonham Strand,

2,000

No. 11, Bonham Straud,

5,000

No. 240, Queen's Road West,

9,000

No. 99, Praya West,.....

400

No. 100, Queen's Road West,

2,000

TOTAL,.

FIRES, 1894.

208,210

NO. OF BUILDINGS

No.

DATE.

TIME.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

DESTROYED.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE.

Wholly. Partly.

IN CO TO CO

January

12.30 p.m.

No. 56, First Street,

8.45 p.m.

No. 13, U Lok Lane,

1.25 a.m.

February

7.55 a.m

March

10. April

9 a.m.

May

June

3 a.m.

July

10.25 p..

August

10.30 a.m.

3.45 a.m.

October

2 a.m.

11.30 p.m.

6.20 p.m.

བལ ོ

25.

10 p.m.

November 30 December

7.40 p.m.

10 p.m.

5.30 p.m.

800

1.40 p.m.

4.50 p.m. 7 p.in. 7.30 a.m. 9.25 a.m.

9.20 p.m. 10.30 a.m.

2 a.m.

7 p.m.

3 a.m.

3.10 a.m.

12.10 a.m.

11.20 p.m.

No. 273, Queen's Road West,. No. 26, Market Street,

No. 57, Queen's Road West, No. 28, Upper Station Street, No. 86, Queen's Road West, No. 17, Salt Fish Street,. No. 17, Upper Lascar Row, No. 136, Boulam Strand, No. 211, Hollywood Road, No. 63, Wanchai Road,

No. 122, Queen's Road Central, No. 116, Queen's Road Central, No. 137, Queen's Road West,. No. 15, Jervois Street,

No. 228, Queen's Road Central, No. 123, Queen's Road Central, No. 59, Square Street, No. 68, Jervois Street, No. 9, Sai On Lane,

No. 21, West Street, No. 2, Ship Street,

No. 127, Queen's Road West, No. 115, Queen's Road Central, No. 32, Bonham Strand,

No. 207, Queen's Road Central,

No. 183, Hollywood Road, No. 22, Queen's Road West,

TOTAL,......

400

1,200

2,500

1,000

300

1,500

5,000

150,000

2,000

1,500

30 -

55,000

18,000

4,500

2,500

20,000

3,000

500

18,000

200

800

200

15,000

4,600

2,000

8,000

2,000

100

323,650

་

}

FIRES, 1895.

295

1 2 3 4 10 30 1-∞o ✪

January

7.45 p.m.

9.30 p.m.

5.45 p.m.

6.45 p.m.

9 p.m.

9.15 p.m.

1 a.m.

1.20 p.m.

March

6.40 p.m.

7 p.m.

8 p.m.

8.30 p.m.

2.50 a.m.

April

3.25 a.m.

12 Noon.

7 p.m.

10.15 p.m.

June

3.05 a.m.

July

1 a.m. 3.45 a.m.

8.30 a.m.

October

12.50 a.m.

No.

DATE.

TIME.

February

August 5 September 6

4.50 a.m. 12.30 a.m.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

House No. 230, Queen's Road Central,. House No. 4, Wellington Street, House No. 189, Queen's Road Central,. House No. 15, Mercer Street,

...

House No. 337, Queen's Road West, House No. 73, Bonham Strand, House No. 149, Queen's Road Central, House No. 3, Wai Tak Lane, House No. 228, Queen's Road West, House No. 7, Li Shing Street,.. House No. 96, Bouham Strand, House No. 212, Queen's Road West, House No. 352, Queen's Road Central, House No. 1, Queen's Street,

House No. 144, Queen's Road West,

House No. 34, Bonham Strand,

House No. 19, Jervois Street, House No. 76, Jervois Street, House No. 34, Winglok Street, House No. 3, Station Street, House No. 70, Jervois Street,

House No. 4, Praya Central, premises of

Messrs. Wieler & Co.,......

House No. 12, Nullah Terrace, Quarry Bay, House No. 169, Hollywood Road,

NO. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE.

$ 6,000

4,000

2,000

9,000

1,000

6,000

200

12,000

3,000

Unknown.

3,000

5,000

3,000

1,000

12,000

Not known.

5,000

800

22,000

100

700

3,000

8.20 a.m.

Matshed at Quarry Bay,

500

11.15 p.m.

House No. 149, Queen's Road Central,

100

12.45 a.m.

American ship Wandering Jew, Victoria

Harbour,

150,000

November 21

7.35 p.m.

House No. 111, Praya West,

6,000

29 December 13

11.15 p.m.

A matshed at Kun Chung,

4.30 p.m.

A squatter's hut on the Hillside at the

back of Shaukiwan Station,

200

es as co co c

1 a.m.

House No. 110, Praya West,

8,000

ì a.m.

6 p.m. 1.10 a.m.

1.35 a.m.

House No. 247, Queen's Road Central, House No. 285, Queen's Road Central, Houses Nos. 347 & 340, Queen's Road West, House No. 40, Queen's Road West,.....

15,000

4,000

5,325

5,000

297,980

TOTAL,

FIRES, 1896.

NO. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

No.

DATE.

TIME.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE.

Wholly. Partly.

I January

7.45 p.m.

8.20 p.m.

11.05 p.m.

February 1

10.30 p.m.

12.30 a.m.

I a.mi.

2.45 a.m.

House No. 30, Wing Lok Street,. House No. 63, Queen's Road Central,. House No. 205, Queen's Road West,

$ 9,000

1,000

House No. 302, Queen's Road West,

2,600

House No. 56, Jervois Street,

6,000

House No. 57, Queen's Road West,.

16,000

House No. 133, Praya West,

6,000

4.25 a.m.

House No. 309, Queen's Road Central,

5,000

March

4 a.m.

House No. 367, Queen's Road Central,

5,000

April

5.10 a.m.

House No. 3, Wing Lok Street,

8,000

4.45 a.m.

House No. 288, Queen's Road West,

4,000

4.20 a.m.

House No. 21, Salt Fish Street,

8,700

4.15 a.m.

House No. 13, Wing Woo Street,

2,000

1.15 a.m.

House No. 48, Praya West,

3,000

3.15 a.m.

House No. 13, Cochrane Street,

600

8.45 a.m.

House No. 31, Belcher's St., Kennedy Town,

3,500

10.15 a.m.

House No. 238, Hollywood Road,

2,000

9.50 p.m.

House No. 115, Praya West,

2,300

May

1.10 a.m.

House No. 12. Sutherland Street,

10.15 p.m.

House No. 73, Jervois Street,

6,000

June

9.20 p.m.

House No. 3, Tsz Mi Lane,

1,290

7.30 a.m.

Licensed Cargo Boat No. 69,

4,500

3.30 p.m.

August 14

3.10 p.m.

On Board the British barque Glen Caladh, House No. 10, Ship Street,

25 October

10 21

November 5 21

December 8

2.10 p.m.

12.40 a.m. House No. 109, Queen's Road West,

3.20 a.m. House No. 138, Queen's Road West,

8.30 p.m. 1 a.m.

House No. 18, New Street,

House No. 10, Queen's Road West,.

House No. 63, Bonham Strand,

House No. 137, Wing Lok Street,

Unknown.

600 7,000

TOTAL,

200

1,000

200

Trifling.

105,595

296

FIRES, 1897.

No.

DATE.

TIME.

123 41 CNSDOH~~

January

10.30 p.m.

10.15 p.m.

February 3

4.20 a.m.

1.20 p.m.

9.15 a.m.

1.35 a..

SITUATION OF FIRE.

On board the S.S. Fausang..... House No. 138, Jervois Street, House No. 213, Praya West, House No. 24, Cross Serect,.

Government Offices, Lower Albert Road,. House No. 124, Jervois Street,

No. OF BUILDINGS

DESTROYED.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE.

500

25,000

17,000

300

200

20.000

April

1.20 a.m.

House No. 14, Cross Street.............

4,000

12.30 a.m.

House No. 128, Queen's Road Central,

200

2.24 a.m.

5.25 a.m.

House No. 351, Queen's Road Central, House No. 90, Jervois Street,

24,000

3,000

10.15 p.m.

On board S.S. Belgic,

3,000

1.55 a.m.

House No. 95, Wing Lok Street,.

5,000

May

7.40 p.m.

House No. 8, Cross Street,

700

1.45 a.m.

House No. 71, Jervois Street,

13,050

June

2.30 a.m.

House No. 114, Jervois Street,

34,000

July

10 p.m.

11.55 p.m.

August

4.15 p.m.

2.05 a.m.

September

1.15 p.m.

Hongkong Hotel, Queen's Road Central, House No. 248, Queen's Road West, House No. 15, Praya Fuk Tsun Heung,... House No. 213, Queen's Road West, House No. 16, Tung Loi Street,

300

7,000

600

6,900

600

7.15 a.m.

House No. 49, Quarry Bay,

12.20 p.m.

November 24

11.35 p.m.

7 p.m.

7.10 a.m.

December

1.15 p.m.

House No. 5, "Wild Dell," House No. 64, Third Street, House No. 53, Stanley Village, House No. 122, Second Street, II. M. Naval Yard,

300

1,200

3,000

}

5,000

2,000

TOTAL,

177,150

FIRES, 1898.

No.

DATE.

TIME.

January

February

264

3.10 a.m.

3.55 p.m. 4.40 p.m.

No. OF BUILDINGS

SITUATION OF FIRE.

House No. 21, Lyndhurst Terrace, Government Asylum, Eastern Street, House No. 46, Praya Central,

DESTROYED.

Wholly. Partly.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE.

1 $ 500.00

150.00

200.00

9 p.m.

House No. 125, Wanchai Road,

4,000.00

3.35 p.m.

Matshed at British Kowloon,

Unknown.

March

12.40 a.m.

House No. 2, Graham Street,

1,000.00

April

3 a.m.

House No. 288, Queen's Road West,

600.00

May

11.10 p.m.

House No. 295, Queen's Road West,

700.00

June

7.05 p.m.

House No. 67, Praya Central,

100.00

August

3 p.m.

House No. 22, Belchers Street,

7,000.00

September 10

p.m.

October

436

14 December 9

6.15 p.m. 10 a.m.

November 18

5.30 p.m.

5.50 p.m.

Matshed at the Peak,

House No. 2, West Street,

7.30 a.m. House No. 76, Praya East,

House No. 56, Jardine's Bazaar, House No. 136, Queen's Road East, Hut at Shaukiwan,

TOTAL,......

200.00

11.628.74

200.00

2,500.00 800.00 5,423.00

35,001.74

र

་

;

FIRES, 1899.

297

No.

DATE.

TIME.

NO. OF BUILDINGS

SITUATION OF FIRE.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE.

House No. 33, Wing Wo Lane, House No. 35, Wongneichung, House No. 234, Hollywood Road,

House No. 28, Nullalı Terrace, Quarry

Bay,

House No. 143, Wanchai Road,

House No. 226, Queen's Road Central, Hunghom West,

House No. 61, Queen's Road West, On board German Steamer Sabine Rick-

mers, Tai-Kok Tsui Wharf,

House No. 118, Hollywood Road, House No. 100, Wellington Street,... On board the British Steamer Amara,

Wanchai Anchorage,

1234

161-00g

January 7

3.40 p.m. 10.30 p.m.

10.30 p.m.

2 p.m.

February

8.45 p.m.

March

2.30 a.m.

House No. 3, Wai Sun Lane,

7.30 p.m.

12.30 p.m.

April

1.25 a.m.

May

7.15 a.m.

123 45

11.05 p.m.

June

8.25 p.m. 11.50 a.m.

July

4.30 a.m. 7.35 p.m. Midnight.

August

3 a.m.

8 p.m.

1 a.m.

20.

September 10

6.15 a.m.

October

6.15 p.m.

9.50 p.m.

9.20 p.m.

House No. 28, Praya West,..........

November 8

8.30 p.m.

6 a.m.

December

6.35 p.m.

AAAA

2322

6:30 a.m.

6.20 a.m.

8.50 p.m.

8.30 p.m.

House No. 1, Ship Street,

12.15 a.m.

Nos. 24 and 25, Praya Kennedy Town,... House No. 205, Queen's Road Central, Praya Kennedy Town near Chater Street, House No. 65, Queen's Road West, No. 2 Store, Kowloon Dock,

House No. 83, Station Street, Yaumati,.. House No. 373, Queen's Road Central,... McDonald Road,

House No. 256, Des Voeux Road, House No. 235, Queen's Road Central,

House No. 1, Duddell Street,

On board S.S. Poseidon in Victoria

Harbour,

Lam Lo Mi Village, Kowloon City,

Nga Chin Loong Village, Kowloon City, House No. 76, Jervois Street,

Godowns next to Hing Lung Lane,

TOTAL,...

DESTROYED.

Wholly. Partly.

00001 10

1,000

100

1,500

3,000

30,000

mat- shed

160

200

3,000

300

27,500

150,000

2,500

I mat-

shed

200 2,880 1,500

600

301

19,000

1 mat-

shed

Unknown.

2,500

6,500

12,000

150

40,000 154

180 23,000

500,000

300

$29,814

: N

13 huts

FIRES DURING THE YEAR 1900.

No. of

298

No.

DATE.

TIME.

Jan. 1

12 Noon.

3 + 10 0

7.15 a.m.

House No. 25, West Street,

BUILDINGS

SITUATION OF FIRE.

DESTROYED.

ESTIMATED

DAMAGE.

Wholly Partly.

House No. 29, Praya, Kennedy Town,

$ 265.00

CAUSE.

REMARKS.

8.15 p.m.

House No. 22, Western Street,

5.30 a.m.

5.45 p.m.

2.15 p.m.

Fishing Boats at Kau Pai Kang Village, Matshed at East Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Matshed of Dairy Farm at Pokfulam,

6 boats

mat-

I shed

mat-

shed

2.30 p.m.

House No. 22, Ma Tao Kok,

40.00

a fire.

Accident.

7.00 p.m.

Shed at Sha Po Village, Kowloon City,

3.15 a.m.

2.10 a.m.

11.19 a.m.

House No. 18, Cochrane Street,

Caretaker's Matshed at Coffee Plantation Cemetery, House No. 335, Queen's Road Central,..

by mat-

1 mat-

sheds

Unknown

Accident.

shed

7,500.00

2,000.00

8.10 a.m.

House No. 10, High Street,

Do.

Unknown.

200.00 Caused by firing crackers.

B Feb.

7.10 p.m.

House No. 11, Shing Hing Lane, West Point,.

3,300.00 Upsetting of a kerosine lamp.

4367

10.30 p.m.

2.25 p.m.

House at Ma On Kong Village, Pat Heung, Matshed opposite Harbour Office,

15.00

Accident.

1 mat-

100.00

Unknown.

shed

5.15 p.m.

Carpenters' Matshed at Hung Hom Cement Works,

5 mat

sheds

2.00 a.m.

House No. 25, Queen's Road West,

1,100.00

1,700.00

وو

18 March 1

11.40 p.m.

House No. 11, Hollywood Read,

ེབོ བ་

1.00 a.m.

24 April

9.15 p.m.

2.30 p.m.

House No. 230, To Kwa Wan,

3.00 p.m.

Hung Hom Docks,

29 May 4

7.30 p.in.

An unoccupied House in IIn Mi Lane, Ping Shan, A Stack of breaming grass on the Aberdeen Road,

9.00 p.m.

A Stack of grass at Hung Hom West,

7.30 a.m.

House No. 36, Upper Lascar Row,

Carried forward,.

3.00 p.m.

7.50 p.m.

12.15 a m.

5.00 p.m.

House No. 77, Wellington Street,

House No. 128, Winglok Street, House No. 324, Queen's Rond Central,. House No. 287, Queen's Road West,

House No. 7, Wild Dell Buildings, "Bluff," Plantation Road, Peak.

50.00

Do.

800.00

Do.

1,000.00

Do.

Carelessness while worship- ping.

300.00 Overheating of flue.

100.00 Falling of a kerosiue lamp.

40.00

Incendiarism.

3,000.00 | Unknown.

3,000.00 | Upsetting of a pot of tar on

30.00 | Unknown.

Caused by burning joss-sticks. Unknown.

1,500.00 Overheating of a stove.

30.00

Unknown.

15.00 Overheating of a pipe. Unknown Unknown.

300.00

Do.

I mat-

Unknown

Do.

shed

80.00

Do.

220.00

Do.

30.00

Do.

400,00

Do.

No insurance effected.

Insured in the Chun On Insurance Co. for $1,000.

Insured with the Meiji Fire Insurance for $2,000.

Not covered by insurance.

18 cows burnt to death.

Not insured.

Do,

Do.

Insured in the Meiji Insurance Co. for $6,000. Insured in Butterfield & Swire for $1,000. No insurance.

Covered by insurance in the South British In- surance Office to the extent of $1,000.

Not insured.

Do.

Premises insured in Holliday, Wise & Co. for $2,000. A woman Leung Tai was burnt to death.

Insured in the Union Assurance Society for $1,000.

Insured in the Tung On Insurance Office for $1,300.

Covered by insurance in the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Insurance Co. for $11,600.

Insured in Meiji Fire Insurance Co. for $2,000.. Insured in Schellhass & Co. for $5,000,

Not insured.

Do.

No insurance,

Do.

Covered by insurance in the Atlas Assurance

Co.

27,115.00

FIRES DURING THE YEAR 1900,—Continued.

No. OF

BUILDINGS

No. DATE.

TIME.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

DESTROYED.

ESTIMATED

DAMAGE.

CAUSE.

REMARKS.

Wholly Partly.

cos ∞

June 21

32 July

12.40 a.m.

8 50 p.m.

Brought forward, House No. 237, Queen's Road West,. House No. 240, Des Vœux Road West,

7.30 p.m.

House No. 1A, Connaught Road,

2.35 a.m.

House No. 11, Tai Wong Lane, ·

3.45 a.m.

House No. 274, Queen's Road Central,

36 Aug. 29 37 Sept. 13

6.00 p.m.

Cargo Boat No. 374,

10.00 p.m.

Cargo Boat No. 61,

1 cargo

boat

cargo

boat

11.45 a.m.

9.45 p..

Matshed at Yau Ma Ti Village,.

Matshed at Sai Kung.

Squatters' Matshed at Tai Hang Village near Yau

Ma Ti,

17 mat-

sheds

mat-

sheds

43 Oct. 13

44 Nov. 13

10.15 p.m.

7.30 a.m.

2.00 a.m.

House No. 58, Jervois Street,

Boat-building Matshed, Mong Kok Tsni,

Matshed at Robinson Road, Tsim Sha Tsui,

132 mat

sheds

» mat-

sheds

I mat- shal

43.00

8,000.00

1,679.73 Unknown.

3,950.00 Do.

937.00

Do.

200.00

Do.

100.00

30,000.00

1,000.00

8,700.00

Do.

27,115.00

200.00 Overheating of some tobacco. . 150.00 | Capsizing of a lamp.

60.00 | Unknown.

Overheating of a stove.

Insured in Siemssen & Co.'s Office for $5,700. Covered by insurance in Butterfield & Swire's Office.

Not insured.

Do.

Insured for $9,000 in the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society, Agents, David Sassoon Sons & Co.

500 cases of Kerosine Oil were destroyed. 1,500 damaged cases of Kerosine Oil were des- troyed.

3.50 a.m.

House No. 122, Jervois Street,

8.40 p.m.

47 Dec. 2

8.30 a.m.

2.44 a.m.

6.50 p.m.

House No. 26, Sai Woo Lane,

House No. 93, Market Street, Hung Hom, House No. 275, Queen's Road Central,-

House No. 9, Beaconsfield Arcade,

Matshed at Valley Road,

9.20 p.m.

Matshed at Yau Ma Ti,

1.50 a.m.

House No. 235, Queen's Road West,

TOTAL,..

1 mat-

shed

mat-

sheds

Accident while worshipping.

Unknown,

Not insured.

Do.

1:34

Insured in the Union Insurance Society for $12,000.

19,000.00 | Exploding of a kerosine lamp. Insured in the South British Fire and Marine

1,500.00 Accident.

800.00 Caused by burning joss-sticks. 2,500.00 | Exploding of a kerosine lamp.

4,000.00 Supposed to have been cansed by a kerosine lamp.

400.00 | By a spark from cook-house fire.

265.00

Do.

20,000.00 | Exploding of a lamp.

Insurance Co. for $14,000; Chun On Fire Insurance Co. for $4,000; Tung On Fire Insurance Co. for $3,000.

Insured in the Tung On and Sun Insurance Co.'s for $4,000 each.

Not insured.

Insured for $10,000 with the North German Fire Insurance Co.

Insured for $3,000 with the Hongkong Fire Insurance Co., and $4,400 with the Com- mercial Union Insurance Co.

Not insured.

Do.

Covered by insurance.

130,599.73

F. H. MAY,

Superintendent of Fire Brigade,

299

INCIPIENT FIRES DURING THE YEAR 1900.

300

No.

DATE.

TIME.

6.10 p.m.

9.00 p.m.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

House No. 6, Ah Chung Lane,

DAMAGE.

Trifling

$20

...

1 Jan.

Cook House at Seymour Road,

6.30 p.m.

House No. 3, Stauntou Street,

8.00 p.m.

House No. 11, Kwong Un Street East,.

5.30 p.m.

House No. 30, Stanley Street,.

3.30 p.m.

House No. 36, West Street...

$0.50

4.30 p.m.

Roadside between Kun Chung and Yau-Ma-Ti,

6.00 p.in.

House No. 157, Hollywood Road,

5.43 a.m.

House No. 11, Upper Lascar Row,..

6.30 p.m.

House No. 42, Queen's Road West,

4.00 p.m.

6.30 p.m.

Feb.

12.20 p.m. 3.00 a.m.

Some wood on Praya Central,

House No. 14, Albany Road, ....

Small Matshed at Hung Hom Cement Works,

A Stack of Grass at Hung Hom West,

* * * *

وو

— 00 00 10

23 Mar. 4

30 June 2

6.00 p.m.

8.00 p.m.

4.30 p.m.

6.00 p.m.

8.45 p.m.

8.00 p.m.

6.23 p.m.

Hillside near the Tung Tau Chau Cemetery,

Hillside at the Junction of Valley and Leighton Roads, Cook-house of Messrs. D. Sassoon & Co.'s Office,

Cook-house at the Ko Shing Theatre,

House No. 52, Staunton Street, Hillside at Liu Pok near San Tin,

House No. 6, Ice House Street, House No. 48, Stanley Street,.... House No. 133, Praya Central, Hillside at Ku La Wan Mount Kellet,

Chimney on fire.

CAUSE.

Some firewood accidentally caught fire.......... Bed curtains accidentally caught fire. Chimney on fire.

Flue of cook-house caught fire. Venetians of a window caught fire. Grass on fire.

Accident with burning joss sticks. Chimney on fire.

Do.

Grass on fire.

Do.

Chimney on fire.

Trifling

Unknown.

Chimney on fire.

$100

$20

Trifling

4.30 p.m.

25 Apr.

7.30 p.m.

House No. 28, Upper Lascar Row,

8.00 p.m.

House No. 8, Jubilee Street,

10.00 a m.

House No. 153, Des Voeux Road,

28 May

12.15 am.

House No. 17, Eastern Street,

Trifling

2.15 a.m.

House No. 71, Second Street,

8.30 p.m.

House No. 343, Queen's Road Central,

32 July

10.30 p.m.

8.30 p.m.

House No. 145, Third Street,

House No. 481, Queen's Road West,

House No. 103, Queen's Road Central,

7.40 p.m.

House No. 349, Queen's Road West,

35 Aug.

10.05 p.m.

No. 9 Store Arsenal Yard,

3.00 p.m.

On Street, Wanchai,

37 Sept.

House No. 126, Praya East,

8.30 p.m.

House No. 287, Des Voeux Road,

House No. 150, Hollywood Road,

House No. 20, Bridges Street..........

House No. 30, Gage Street,......

Carried forward,..

$226.50

4.20 p.m.

3.18 a.m.

......

Small Matshed adjoining Yuk Hu Temple Loung

Some firewood caught fire. Accident.

Overheating of the cooking stove Chimney on fire.

Grass on fire.

Chimney on fire.

Do.

Accident.

Grass on fire.

Flue on fire.

Explosion of a kerosine tin.

do.

Carelessness with lighted joss sticks. Do. Falling of a kerosine lamp. Unknown.

Falling of a kerosine lamp. Do.

Chimucy on fire.

Falling of a kerosine lamp. Unknown.

Sparks from joss candles..

REMARKS.

Put out by inmates and Fire Brigade. Put out by Police.

Put out by Police and immates.

Do.

Put out by inmates and a Sanitary Inspector. Extinguished by Police.

Put out by the inmates.

Do.

Put out by inmates and Police.

Extinguished by the Police and hired Coolies. Extinguished by Police.

Extinguished by inmates.

Put out by Police and Coolies.

Extinguished by Firemen.

Extinguished by the employees.

Put out by the Coolies with a Manual Engine from the Match Factory.

Put out by Police assisted by Coolies.

Put out by occupants.

Put out by villagers.

Put out by Fire Brigade.

Put out by inmates.

Do.

Put out by Police. Twenty young trees were burnt.

Put out by inmates.

Do.

Put out by occupants.

Do.

Put out by Police and occupants. Put out by Police and inmates. Put out by inmates. Put out by Firemen. Put out by inmates.

Put out by Police and Firemen.

Put out by a Fireman on duty. Put out by inmates.

Do.

$20

Trifling

Upsetting of a kerosine.

$40

Overheating of an oven.

$10

Unknown.

Chimney on fire.

Trifling

Mosquito curtain accidentally caught fire.

Put out by inmates.

Put out by Police and inmates. Put out by Firemen.

INCIPIENT FIRES DURING THE YEAR 1900,-Continued.

No. DATE.

TIME.

SITUATION OF FIRE.

DAMAGE.

CAUSE.

REMARKS.

Brought forward,..

$226.50

42 | Sept. 19

1.55 a.m.

7.05 p.m.

6.20 p.m.

At the back of House No. 178, Third Street, House No. 2, Pan Kwai Lane,.

$30

Unknown.

Trifling

Exploding of a keresine lamp.

2.43 p.m.

1.30 a.m.

47 Oct. 3

10.00 a.m.

A House at Sai Kung Village, House No. 38, Wing On Street, House No. 16, Gage Street,...... A Matshed at Tai 0,

Accident.

$20

Do.

9.00 a.m.

1.00 a.m.

House No. 44, Jardine Bazaar, Cargo Boat No. 367,....

Trifling

$150

$200

4.00 p,m.

12 Noon.

U.S.S. Monterey, lying at Hung Hom Docks, Hillside at Tung Tao Chow, Stanley,

Unknown

11.11 p.m.

Kwong King Painter Shop, Staunton Street,...

Trifling

Unknown.

6.00 p.m.

House No. 129, Shaukiwan,....

Accident.

3.30 a.m.

Matsheds at Hung Hom Docks,

Trifling

Do.

1.30 p.m.

Hillside off Chamberlain Road,

Grass on fire.

11.00 a.m.

Foreshore, West of Stanley Village,

$10

Do.

12.30 p.m.

Hillside near Pokfulara Road,

228 28 ga!

58 Nov.

2.00 a.mi.

House No. 20, Belchers Street,

Noon.

Hillside between Ki Ling Ha and Yung Shu Au Vil-

Grass on fire.

lage at Sai Kung,

00 10

8.05 a.m.

Back part of House No. 148, Des Voeux Road,

$10

Unknown.

10.00 a.m.

Hillside between Tai Mong Tsai and Cham Chuk

Wan Village, Sai Kung,

6.20 p.m.

A small Grocery Store at Sau Tin,.

4.44 p.m.

House No. 68, Lower Lascar Row,..

12 Noon.

Hillside between Pokfulam and Mount Barracks,.

1.30 p.m.

Matshed at Wong Nai Au, Tai Po,

11.00 p.m.

Koshing Theatre,

6.00 a.m.

House No. 11, Gough Street,

$50

Hillside North of Wanchai Gap Road,

69 Dec.

4.12 p.m.

House No. 46, Hollywood Road,.

Trifling

Accident.

1.40 a.m.

House No. 127, First Street,

Do.

5.55 a.m.

House No. 137, Second Street,

$1.60

Do.

2.00 p.m.

4.00 p.m.

Hillside near Ki Shi Wan, Stanley,

Hillside half way between Tai Tam Tuk and Tai Tam Reservoir,

Grass on fire.

Do.

3.00 a.m.

House No. 206, Hollywood Road,

Unknown.

Exploding of a kerosine lamp. Accident.

Unknown.

Supposed to have been caused by sparks from the funnel of Steam Launch Kwong Ying which was towing her.. Unknown.

Grass on fire.

Do.

Upsetting of a kerosine lamp.

Grass on fire..

Accident with burning joss sticks. Chimney on fire.

Grass on fire.

Unknown,

Accident with a lighted cigarette. Accident.

Grass on fire.

Put out by Firemen,

Put out by inmates.

Put out by Police and villagers. Put out by Firemen. Put out by inmates.

Put out by Police and villagers. Put out by inmates.

Put out by the Crew of the Junk and Firemen,

Put out by European employees and Ship's Crew. Put out by Police and hired Coolies. Put out by Police and inmates.

Do.

Put out by Dock employees. Put out by Police.

Put out by Police and villagers.

Put out by Police and hired Coolies. Put out by Police and inmates.

Put out by villagers.

Put out by Firemen.

Put out by villagers. Put out by Police. Put out by inmates.

Put out by Police and Soldiers.

Burnt itself out.

Put out by Police.

Put out by inmates.

Put out by Police.

Put out by Firemen.

Put out by inmates and Police.

Do.

Put out by Police and hired Coolies.

Put out by men from Tai Tam Reservoir. number of fir trees were damaged.

Put out by inmates.

A large

♦

לי

TOTAL,..

$729.10

F. II. MAY, Superintendent of Fire Brigade.

301

FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION.

SIR,

HONGKONG, 18th December, 1900.

We have the honour to enclose herewith our Report as Members of the Food Commission together with a copy of a letter we have addressed to its Chairman Mr. J. J. FRANCIS, Q.C.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servants,

EDWARD OSBORNE.

A. M. MARSHALL.

F. MAITLAND.

FUNG WA CHÜN.

To the Honourable

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary,

HONGKONG.

WILLIAM HARTIGAN.

HONGKONG, 18th December, 1900.

DEAR SIR,

Understanding that you will not be able to prepare the Food Commission Report for some time yet, we have forwarded our Report to Government (as per enclosed copy) as we do not wish to be parties to any further delay in the matter and desire that, as far as we are concerned, the Commission should be considered at an end.

Yours truly,

EDWARD OSBORNE.

A. M. MARSHALL.

F. MAITLAND.

FUNG WA CHÜN.

WILLIAM HARTIGAN.

J. J. FRANCIS, Esq., Q.C.,

Chairman, Food Commission.

173

(2)

REPORT BY THE UNDERSIGNED, MEMBERS OF THE FOOD COMMISSION APPOINTED 19TH MAY, 1900.

(1.) A number of meetings were held, witnesses examined, and a mass of information obtained from Steamship Lines, Hotels, The Gaol, The Government Civil Hospital, Military Authorities, and other sources.

(2.) An advertisement asking information from householders was inserted in the local

Papers, to which 8 persons (ladies) replied.

(3.) The following table shows the percentage of rise in the wholesale and retail prices

in 5 years:

Articles.

Bread,

Wholesale.

Retail.

20 per cent.

Fish,

13 per cent.

Beef,

Mutton,

Eggs,

Fowls,

Ducks,

݂ܕ

Potatoes,

Firewood,

Ground Nut Oil,

...110

100

Rice

(4.) Beyond natural fluctuations of supply and demand, the main causes of this increase

have been :-

(a.) Depreciation of Silver.

(b.) Increased Cost of Rice.

(c.) West River Piracy.

(d.) Increased Rents.

(e.) Enforcement of Sanitary Laws.

(5.) The augmentation of the Military and Naval forces in Hongkong and Manila has contributed towards a rise in certain commodities, as the sources of supply are limited and take time to accommodate themselves to the increased demands.

(6.) Whilst it is difficult by means of direct evidence to prove that a combination exists with the object of keeping up the price of meat, the fact that practically the whole supply is in the hands of two men, who acknowledge being supported by a syndicate, and from whom other market butchers buy, must tend to crush other individual effort and enterprise, give them a monopoly, and enable them to regulate prices as they please. The fact also that the two individuals put forward as owners of this large business in a trade which has a world-wide reputation for being most lucrative, swore they have been losing money in it during three consecutive years, and that during the whole course of their examination they were manifestly prevaricating and concealing the truth, makes all evidence on this point most unreliable.

7.) We consider that Market rents are not excessive (except in particularly choice

situations) and have not contributed to the increase.

At the same time we regard rents as a tax on food, and think they should be kept as low as possible.

( 3 )

(8.) Our enquiries have failed to suggest any practical remedies of real value, and, bearing in mind the many objections there are to legislative interference in trade affairs,

we can only make the following recommendations:---

(a.) That increased Market accommodation be provided and meanwhile, in order to relieve pressure on existing Markets, that fruit and vegetables be sold outside in licensed shops.

(b.) That Markets be used for the sale of perishable food only, Biscuits, Hams, Tinned Meat, Jams and such like stores should not be sold

in Markets, as the letting of stalls for such purposes tends to crowd out the legitimate vendors of fresh produce.

(c.) That further endeavours be made to stamp out piracy.

(d.) The cheapening of rents by opening new building areas with means of

conveyance by tramways and ferries.

(e.) The reduction of Market rents to such level as will provide just sufficient

funds to cover interest on capital and working expenses.

Markets should not be a source of profit.

(f.) The encouragement of foreign ladies to make their own purchases by having the Markets kept clean and by clearing the passages of loafers.

(9.) We recommend that an attempt be made to encourage the villagers of the New Territory to breed cattle by providing them with funds for the purchase of stock (to be repaid when the animal is brought to market) or with heifers from a Government stockyard.

(10.) We also recommend that an attempt be made to induce them to grow vegetables and rear poultry, and suggest that attached to each Police Station should be a European gardener whose business, assisted by Chinese, it would be to cultivate vegetables as an object lesson to surrounding natives and to provide them with seed imported by Government.

(11.) We specially recommend that trials be made in the New Territory (Shatin Valley

for instance) in growing Potatoes.

The best Potatoes sold in Hongkong are those grown at Macao, and it does not appear unreasonable to suppose that what will grow near Macao will grow equally well in the New Territory.

(12.) We desire to state in conclusion that the delay in the publication of the Food Commission Report has been due to the Chairman of the Commission being unable to afford the time for the prosecution of the enquiry and the preparation of the Report.

Hongkong, 18th December, 1900.

EDWARD OSBORNE.

A. M. MARSHALL.

F. MAITLAND.

FUNG WA CHÜN.

WILLIAM HARTIGAN.

SIR,

( 4 )

HONGKONG, 20th December, 1900.

I have, within the last hour, received from Messrs. Osborne, Marshall, Maitland, Fung Wah Chün and Hartigan, Members of the Food Supply Commission of which I have the honour to be Chairman, a copy of a report signed by them and sent in to you with a covering letter dated the 18th instant, of which they also sent me a copy. I received from them at the same time a joint letter addressed to myself, of which it appears they have also sent you a copy.

I have no objection to make to the report they have sent in to you on the subject- matter of the inquiry. It embodies in brief the conclusions at which we unanimously arrived. I should have had very much pleasure in signing it if they had asked me to do so.

I only wish to correct one trifling mistake in the last paragraph which runs as follows:-

"(12) We desire to state, in conclusion, that the delay in the publication of "the Food Commission Report has been due to the Chairman of the "Commission being unable to afford time for the prosecution of the "enquiry and the preparation of the Report."

There was no delay in the prosecution of the inquiry. The members were unable to sit for more than two days in the week for a couple of hours each day and the taking of evidence was proceeded with with all due diligence and was completed in July last. The delay has been in the preparation of the draft report, and I regret to say, that my time was so fully occupied with my own business that I could not get it completed in time to satisfy the impatience of my colleagues. I am unable myself to see that there was any very great urgency. I was preparing a very full and detailed report, two- thirds of which had been completed and approved by Mr. Marshall, to whom I sent it a short time ago, with a request that he would, as I was so full of work, finish it for me, he being fully acquainted with my views and concurring in them.

Instead of doing so, a meeting of the other members of the Commission was held to which I was not summoned and the report prepared which has been sent you.

I probably ought not to have accepted the appointment as a Member or Chairman of the Commission knowing how fully occupied I am in my profession at all times.

If I have put the Government to any inconvenience by so doing I apologize to the Govern- ment and to the public.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

St.

&c.,

&c.

JNO. J. FRANCIS.

(4α)

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 27th December, 1900.

}

No. 2319.

SIR,

In reply to your letter of the 20th instant, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to send you the enclosed report of the Members of the Food Commission and to request that, in accordance with the terms of the Commission issued to you, all the evidence taken before the Commission may be forwarded to me by you as its Chairman. I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

J. J. FRANCIS, Esq., Q.c.

SIR,

HONGKONG, 2nd January, 1901.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 2319 of the 27th December last, forwarding me copy report of Members of the Food Commission and requesting me to forward all the evidence taken by the Commission.

I beg to hand you herewith all the papers and correspondence connected with the proceedings of the Food Supply Commission.

1. The Commission. 2. Correspondence. 3. Notes of Evidence.

4. Minutes of Meetings.

5. Draft Report as prepared by me, but not completed.

I have also to hand you Mr. Jabez Potts' memo. of fees due him for his services as short-hand writer to the Commission. Will you be so good as to let him have a cheque

for the amount $206.80.

The Honourable

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

Fc.,

Je..

3c.

JNO. J. FRANCIS.

"DAILY PRESS " OFFICE, HONGKONG, 27th December, 1900.

HONGKONG FOOD COMMISSION Dr. to JABEZ POTTS.

Tung Wing's evidence, July 3rd :-

Taking note

.....$ 10.00

Transcribing same, 82 folios at 40 cents per folio (72 words)

32.80

Lee Sing's evidence, July 9th :-

Taking note

10.00

18.00

Transcript, 45 folios

Mr. Ladds' evidence, July 10th :-

Taking note

Transcript, 121 folios

10.00

48.40

Forward,................

$129.20

(46)

Brought forward,....

.$129.20

10.00

35.20

10.00

22.40

Total............

$206.80

Mr. Dyer Ball's evidence, July 17th:-

Taking note

Transcript, 88 folios.........

Mr. Brewin's evidence, July 23rd:--

Taking note

Transcript, 56 folios ...

No. 50.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 9th January, 1901.

With referrence to your letter of the 2nd instant, forwarding papers and correspond- ence connected with the proceedings of the Food Supply Commission, I am directed to inform you that what His Excellency requires is a verbatim record of question and answer given in evidence, in accordance with the mandate of the Commission, without which the Report would be useless.

2. This was directed in the Commission and is what His Excellency asked for. I am to return the draft Report, which is incomplete, as several blanks are left for figures. I presume these figures are given in the evidence upon which the report is

assumed to be made.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. J. FRANCIS, Esq., Q.c.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

SIR,

HONGKONG, 17th January, 1901.

I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, in reply to your letter No. 50 of the 9th January, that it is impossible for me to supply a verbatim record of question and answer given in evidence before the Food Supply Commission as that method of taking evidence was not adopted by the Commission.

The evidence taken was recorded in the usual fashion in which it is taken by all Judges and Magistrates, and in legal proceedings generally, and no special instructions were given me, or are contained in the Commission requiring the evidence to be taken down by question and answer.

All the evidence taken has been forwarded to you.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

HONGKONG.

J. J. FRANCIS.

( 5 )

FOOD SUPPLY COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE OF J. T. COTTON, GIVEN BEFORE THE FOOD COMMISSION, JUNE 25TH AND 26TH, 1900.

Q.--How long have you held the post of Inspector?

A.--I have been an Inspector since 1st January, 1895, one year in the Slaughter- house, and three years and three months as Inspector of Nuisances, and the remainder of my time as Inspector of Markets.

Q. How many Slaughter-houses are there?

A.-Two-one at Kennedy Town and one at Hung Hom.

-What animals are killed in the Slaughter-houses?

A. Cattle, sheep and swine.

Q. What was the average number slaughtered daily during 1899? A.-From 60-70 cattle, 15-20 sheep, and from 300-400 swine.

-What is the average weight of the cattle imported?

A.~(1) From Huifung the cattle average about 600-700 catties, live weight.

(2) From Canton and Lin Chow from 400-500 catties.

(3) From New Territory about 200-300 catties.

-What is the mode of procedure on admission to the Slaughter-house?

A. The cattle are slaughtered and dressed by the employees of their respective owners, who pay a fee of 40 cents to the Government Contractor for slaughtering all cattle over a picul, and 20 cents for cattle weighing under a picul. The Contractor also gets the offal, blood and hair of all animals.

Q.-Does the Contractor get the skins of the sheep?

A.-No, the Contractor only gets the blood.

Q. What is paid for slaughtering sheep and pigs?

A. The same as for cattle, but in the case of pigs the Contractor kills and dresses them at his own expense.

Q. How many cattle butchers are there?

A.-Seven or eight.

Q. Who imports the cattle?

A.-Sing Kee and Tung Wing import the cattle through their agents in Canton. Q.-Does the Hongkong Butchery import cattle?

A. Yes, as Sing Kee trades under the name of the Hongkong Butchery.

Q.-Are these two men the only importers?

A. The other butchers buy from cattle dealers from Tung Kung who bring the cattle to Hongkong and sell them in the Depôts.

Q. How long does it take cattle to come overland?

A. From 10 to 12 days from Huifung.

Q.-Are any cattle brought by sea?

(6)

Yes, by junks in winter when the North-East Monsoon is blowing. Q.-From where are they brought?

A.-Huifung.

Q. How many in a junk?

A. From 50 to 60.

Q. How long does it take to bring the cattle by junk?

A.--Two to three days.

Q. What is done with the cattle on landing?

A.-

They are at once taken to the Depôts where they are charged at the rate of 2 cents per day.

Q.-Who feeds them?

A.-They are fed at the expense of their owners.

Q. Where are the Depôts situated?

A.-One at Kennedy Town, one at Hunghom.

Q..

-What is the average daily number of cattle in the Depôts?

A.--400 in Hongkong of which 100 belong to the Military, and 20 in Hunghom.

Q. How many cattle are imported from Canton by steamer?

A. From 100 to 150, three times a week.

Q. How are they disposed of?

A.-They are sold privately in the Depôt.

Q.-Are there many buyers?

A.-No, most of the animals are bought by two men.

Q.-Can meat be sold outside the Market?

A.-No, except in places specially licensed by the Governor-in-Council. Q.-How many animals are slaughtered daily for the Military?

A-Six to eight.

Q. What Markets are supplied with meat from the Central Market? A.--Six Markets in the City, 3 in Kowloon and 7 in Shaukiwan. Q.-From whom do the other butchers in the Market get their meat? A.-Sing Kee and Tung Wing.

Q. -Is it possible to import cattle from Haifong?

A. Yes, but very few cattle are imported from this place.

Q.-Are there sufficient butchers to supply the Colony with meat?

A. Yes.

Q.--What is the rent of the stalls?

A. The stalls are let by the Honourable the Registrar General and I am unable to say.

Q.-Is there any benefit in obtaining a licence to sell meat outside the Market?

A.-No.

-Are many animals killed outside the Depôt ?

A.-No, because it is illegal to do so, if the animal is for sale.

Q.-How is the meat brought into the Market?

A. Generally by quarters.

-Where does the meat go from the Slaughter-house?

A. All meat goes first in vans to the Central Market and is distributed from there.

Q.-Is there a watchman in charge of the Central Market?

A.--Yes, but the other Markets are without watchmen.

SHEEP.

Q.--Can you suggest any means to bring down prices to former level?

A.-No.

Q.-How are the stalls let?

A.-By tender.

Q.-Is the competition bonâ fide?

A.-Yes, to the best of my belief.

Q.-Do the existing holders combine to keep up the price of mutton?

A. Yes, I believe they do.

Q.-Can one man have more than one stall?

A. Yes, as many as he likes.

Q.-What is the number of men employed in these stalls?

A.-Seven or eight.

Q. What is the price of cattle, live weight?

A.-Cattle bought from dealers 64 cents per catty for good animals, bought for Manila 10 cents a lb.

Q.-What is the cost per head of cattle after landing and including delivery at the Market?

A.-$1 to $1.50.

Q.--What is the original cost of a head of cattle?

A.-$32.

Q. What is the weight of beef procurable from one animal?

A. About 500 lbs.

Q-From what place do the sheep come?

A.-Shanghai.

Q. What is the price of mutton?

A.-20 cents per ib.

Q.-How are the sheep obtained?

A.-Orders are sent to Shanghai.

Q.-What is the daily average of sheep in Depôt?

A.-1,500.

Q.-Do we supply other places with sheep?

A.--Yes, French Cochin-China and the coast ports.

Q.-Do we send any to Manila?

A.-No, but we do send a few to Borneo.

Q.--What is the average live weight of sheep?

A.--50 to 70 catties.

Q.-What is the cost price?

(8)

A. The present cost price is $11 a picul, formerly sheep could be bought for $8 a picul.

Q.-At whose risk are they brought to Hongkong?

A.--At the Shanghai dealer's risk.

Q. Can any one obtain sheep from Shanghai?

A. Yes, any one.

Q.-What is the gross profit of animals imported and slaughtered for food?

A.-14 per cent.

Q. Who is in charge of the scales and weights in the Market?

A.-The Police.

Q. How do you ascertain the prices of the articles in the Market ?

A. I get the prices from the butchers.

Q. How many pigs are slaughtered daily?

A.-350 to 400.

Q. How many pork-butchers are there in the Colony?

A.-200 to 300.

Q. Is there any guild in connection with the meat supply?

A. Yes, a butcher's guild.

Q.--How does the fact that meat can only be sold in the Market, affect the supply? A.-I do not think it has any effect upon the supply.

Q.-From what places are swine imported?

A.-Huifong, Canton, Hoihow, Pakhoi.

Q.-In case of a blockade, how long would the food supply of Hongkong last? A.-Four months.

Q.-From what place or places would this four months' supply come?

A.-The New Territory and Hongkong.

Q.-What is the price of pigs?

A.-Those from Huifong, Hongkong and the New Territory are sold at $16 per picul, while those which come from Hoihow are sold at $12 per picul.

Q. How is it that the Hongkong pigs fetch $16 a picul while those from Hoihow are only worth $12?

A. This is caused by the inferior folder given to the pigs which come from Hoihow.

-Are the Market charges for both kinds of pork the same?

A. Yes.

Q. Can pigs be bred in the New Territory?

A. Yes.

Q.-What kind of food would be given to them in the New Territory ?

A.-Slops, sweet potatoes and pea nut vine leaves.

Q. Which are the best places for breeding pigs in the New Territory?

A.—In the Saikung district to the East of Kowloon City.

Q.-Is there any inconvenience in taking the pigs to the Market from the New Territory?

A.-No.

ぶ

}

(9)

Q.-Is the Hongkong Butchery under European control ? A.-No.

Q.-Is there a beef or mutton butcher's guild?

A.-No, there is only a pork butcher's gu ild.

Q.--Which is the best district for pasturage in the New Territory? A.-The Chunwan district.

-What became of your Report on the New Territory?

A.-I think it was published in the Blue Book, but I am not sure. Q.--On what districts did you report ?

A.--On all the districts.

Q.--Where are the principal villages in the New Territory?

A.--Round the base of Tai Mo Shan except on the Eastern side.

Q. What means can you suggest to improve the breed of the cattle in the New

Territory?

A. -Introduce a better class of bull from Huifung and Haifong.

Q. Where are the best cattle found in the New Territory?

A.-Shap Shap Tung, Kau Tin Wo and Sham Chun.

Q.--What work do the cattle in the Territory do?

A.-Ploughing.

Q.-Is grass used for

any other

purpose besides feeding cattle?

A. It is burnt as fuel.

Q.-Is there a scarcity of grass in the New Territory at any time during the year?

A. Yes, during the months of November, December and January.

Q.--Do the dealers in Hongkong buy the best kind of cattle?

A.-No, they do not get the best.

Q.-How do the dealers buy the cattle, by the head or by weight?

A. By the head and not by weight.

Q.-Did the demand from Manila increase the price of meat?

A. Yes, and the price has not been reduced again.

-Do many Europeans visit the Market?

A.-Very few.

Q. --Do you not think it would be better if more Europeans visited the Market? A. Yes, as they buy through compradores who pay twelve cents a catty and charge 14 cents a b.

Q.-What is the present price of bran in Hongkong?

A.-$2.15 when bought from Shanghai.

Q.-What is the average weight of the pigs imported into the Colony? A.-75 catties.

Q. How are the pigs from the New Territory conveyed to Hongkong?

A. They are brought in baskets, in barrows or by hand.

Q. Can you suggest a better means of bringing them to Hongkong? A.-A light railway.

Q.- -How do you account for the recent increase in the price of pork? A. The quarrels in Hainam.

ཉི

( 10 )

Q. How long were you in Hainam?

A. Two years.

Q. What was the price of pigs in Hainain when you lived there?

A.-$8 to $10 per picul.

Q. What are the custom duties on pigs exported from Hainam?

A.-20 cents per head when I lived there, but it has now been increased to 40 cents. Q.-Do you

know whether any duties are paid on exported Chinese cattle?

A. -I know of no such duties.

Q. Do you speak Chinese ?

A. Yes.

Q.--Is there a duty on vegetables exported from Canton ?

A.--Yes, about 1 cent per picul.

Q.-From whom do the hawkers buy their vegetables?

A. From the wholesale dealers.

Q.--What is the amount of business done by the vegetable wholesale dealers per month ?

A.--About $6,000.

Q.-From what place does our largest supply of chickens and vegetables come? A.--Two-thirds from Cauton, and one-third from the New Territory.

Q.-Is it possible for the New Territory to entirely supply Hongkong with veget-

ables?

A.--Yes.

stalls.

Q.-Has the price of fish risen?

A.-No.

Q.-Is any fishing done in the harbour?

A. Very little now owing to the increase in the number of launches.

Which is the largest fishing village in the New Territory?

A.-Taiho.

Q.--How is the fish brought from Aberdeen, Stanley, and Shaukiwan? A.-By land.

Q.--Has the salt-fish increased in price?

A.--Yes, 1 cent per catty.

---Can you suggest any means to reduce the price of provisions?

A. By introducing Co-operative Stores.

Q. What is the price of cattle in French Cochin China?

A.--$23 a picul.

Q.--Do you think prices would be reduced if you had more stall space ?

A.-I think prices would be reduced if there were more beef, pork and vegetable

Q. How many fowl stalls are there in the Market?

A. I think there are too many fowl stalls.

Q.-Are there any other provisions besides fresh provisions sold in the Market? A. Yes, tinned provisions.

( 11 )

Q.- -How many compradores' shops are there in the Market?

A.-12-13.

Q.-Is there much competition for the vacant stalls in the Market?

A. Yes, there are hundreds of applicants.

Q.—If these applicants were granted outside licences, would it reduce the price of provisions?

A. Yes, I am of the opinion it would.

Q.-Who gets the pigs from Hoihow?

A.-One man gets the pigs and sells them to the eight men at the Government Depôt, and all butchers must buy from one of these eight men.

Q. What is the admission fee of pigs into the Depôt?

A.-Five cents per head.

-How long are the pigs generally kept at the Depôt?

A.-About three or four days.

Q. Are the pork dealers of Hung Hom the same men as those at Kennedy Town?

A.-No.

Q.-Is any fee paid for admission into the Hung Hom Depôt ? A.-No, as there is no proper provision for pigs there.

Q. What is the price of pigs in Macao?

A.-Pigs bought in Hoihow for $8 are sold in Macao for $12.

-What is the mortality in pigs brought from Hoihow? A. Three per cent.

(12)

EVIDENCE OF TUNG WING, GIVEN BEFORE THE FOOD COMMISSION,

JULY 3RD, 1900.

Interpreter, Mr. LI HONG MI.

The Chairman (Mr. Francis).-This is Tung Wing?

Answer.-Yes.

Q-He is keeper of No. 1 stall in the Central Market?

A. Yes.

Q.-Butcher's meat stall?

A. Yes.

Q-Does he sell anything else but butcher's meat on this stall? A.-No.

Q.-How long has he been a butcher engaged in this business?

A.-At first I commenced as a paid butcher. I have been in this line of business 20 or 30 years.

Q. How long has he been selling on his own account?

A.-For about ten years.

Q.-Always in the Central Market?

A. Yes.

Q.-Does he rent his stall in the Central Market from anyone ?

A.-No.

Q.-Does not he pay rent to anybody?

A. To the Government.

Q.-Only to the Government?

A.---Yes.

Q. How many years has he had a stall in this new present Central Market?

A.-For the last five or six years.

Q.-What rent does he pay for his stall?

A.-$35.75 per month.

Q.-Does he rent more stalls than one?

A.-Only one.

Q.-Does he rent any other stall for any other business?

A.-No.

Q.-Has he got any partners in his business as butcher in that stall?

A.-I am sole owner; I have no partners.

Q.-Has he any partners or fokis who have got other stalls in the Market? A.-No.

Q-Has he got any share in any other stall in the Market ?

A.-I have bad a paid servant who had a stall some two years ago, but not at present.

# L

( 13 )

Chai.

Q. -What is the name of that paid servant ?

A.-His name is A Kin, but I don't know exactly what his surname is—I think

Q.-

Where is Chai A Kin now ?

In this colony; he held that stall for about a year and then gave it up.

Q. Where is he now?

A.--His family house is in Taipingshan, but I don't know the name of the street. Q.--Where is his business shop?

A.-Since he gave up this stall he has had no business.

Q.-Have you a share in any other stall in the Central Market, little or big?

A. -No.

-Think again. Are you quite sure you have not got a share in any other stall? A.-Yes.

Q.-No interest at all?

A. None at all.

Q.-Has he got a stall himself in any other market or in any other name?

A.-No.

Q.-What rent did you pay the first year you went into the new Market ?

A.-The same rent.

-Had he a stall in the old Central Market?

A. Yes.

Q. How much rent did he pay for the stall in the old Market ?

A.-The same rent.

Q.-How long have you got the stall for ?--a month, or six months, or a year ?

A.-There was no time fixed; I was to pay the rent monthly.

Q.-But the new stall; did you take it for 12 months or three years ?

A. It is a monthly tenancy.

Q.-They can turn you out at the end of any month?

A. Yes, the Government has power to turn me out at the end of any month, but it would be very unfair for the Government to do so.

Q.-Did the Government put every stall up by auction or how did they fix the price?

A. Yes, it was put up by auction, and a man named Wat Yui Kut tendered for the stall. He offered $35.75. Then afterwards he removed into the Central Market, where he carried on business until he failed. Then I took it up.

-You took the stall over from Wat Yui Kut and not from the Government ?

Q.-

A. Yes.

Q.-What

What year?

A. That was six years ago.

Q-Had you a stall before you took one from Wat Yui Kut?

A. Yes, I had a stall in the new Market. It was No. 19, and I gave that up and took over this stall.

Q.-Whom did you give it up to?

A.--To the Government.

( 14 )

Q. Are you sure?

A. Yes.

Q.--You did not sell it to somebody else?

A.-No.

Q.-Well, now, the people who get these stalls from the Government rent them to other people at an increased price--get a stall for $35 and rent it to somebody else for $50 or $60 ?

A.—As far as I am concerned I do not sub-let to anybody else. I don't know any- thing about other people.

Q-You know perfectly well what the other people in the Market are doing, you know what rent they are paying?

A.—As far as I am concerned I do not sub-let my stall; but some other people may have done.

Q.-What does the Kai Fong say about it.

A.-They instituted an enquiry lately and said some people had rented stalls from the Government and sub-let to somebody else.

Q.-That was true, was it not?

A.-There was some truth in it.

Q.-What was the most rent paid for a stall you ever heard of; what was the name of the man who paid $65 for his stall?

A.-I never paid $65, and I don't know anybody else who has done so. I have paid $35.75, and I think my rent is the highest.

Q.-Is there a Butcher's Guild or Association?

A.-No.

Q.-No Association among the butchers ?

A.-There is no Butchers' Guild, but the butchers are constantly subscribing to- wards the Tung Wah Hospital and the Po Leung Kuk.

Q.-Who is the head man among the butchers?

A. They have no head man.

―

Q.-You are the head man are you not?

A.-No; I am not the head man of the guild.

Q.-Mr. Cotton said you were the head man.

A.-No; I am not the head man. The public comes to that conclusion because I pay the highest rent and because I subscribe most to the Po Leung Kuk and the Tung Wah Hospital.

Q.-You are the richest of the butchers, are you not?

A.—Well, I am not a rich man, but I have got credit; many people trust me.

Q.-How many oxen or bullocks do you sell in a week or a month?

A. On the average between 500 and 600.

Q. Has the number ever reached 1,000?

A.-No.

Q.-800 ?

A.-600 is the utmost.

Q. How about sheep?

A.-I am not a dealer in mutton.

( 15 )

-You only deal in beef?

A.--Only in beef.

Q.-Don't you belong to the Pork Guild?

A.-No.

-You don't sell pork at all?

A.-No.

Q.--Well, you have some fokies whom you supply with money and they deal in sheep and pork?

A.-No. I do not supply my fokies with capital.

Q.--Then you do nothing at all but in beef?

A.-No.

Q.-How many fokies do you supply with capital to deal in beef?

A. None of them.

Q.-You do not lend money to anyone to do it?

A.-No.

Q.-What shop do you deposit your spare money in?

A.-Really I have no money at all. I started in this way. I received $200 and

I at once paid it to my creditors.

Q.-You never have any money at all?

A.-No; I get my goods on credit.

Q.-Then whom do you borrow from?

A.--Tang Mow, hide dealer, supplies me with capital.

Q. Where does he live?

A.-In Hollywood Road.

Q. -Does he deal in hides there or is that his house?

A. He lives there and carries on his business there.

Q.-You buy all the hides in the Market from the other butchers and supply him? A.-I only sell my own hides to this man.

Q.-But you know the other butchers sell their hides to him just as well as I do? A.--Well, there are other hide shops.

Q.-This is not your business at all. This man Tang Mow supplies you with money?

A.-The business is mine, and Tang Mow supplied me with capital and I started on my own account.

Q.-But if he tells you to put up the price of meat you have got to do it? A.-No; there is no need for me to carry out his orders or instructions. I make a contract to supply at certain prices.

-How many head of cattle do you buy every month?

A. That depends upon the quantity I am required to supply.

Q. How many on the average?

A.-Well, I generally average between 500 and 600 a month. Q. Do you buy in Hongkong or outside?

A.-I buy at Pak Kon, Tien Chau, and Sai Kong.

Q.-Have you shops down there to buy these cattle for you?

( 16 )

A. No, I have no shops in these three places; I have friends there and I ask them to buy these cattle for me.

Q. Is it your money or theirs which buys the cattle? Do they buy them and send them down here and make a profit on them or do they buy them and you pay them a commission ?

A. He buys the cattle for and on my behalf and at my request and I believe he makes some profit on them.

Q.-But he is your agent to buy you cattle when you delegate him?

A.-Yes.

Q.--Where is Pak Hong?

A.-It is near Canton or near Nam Hung. It is beyond Canton.

Q. Where is Sai Kong and where is Tien Chau?

A. I think they are in the Town Prefecture, close to a newly opened port beyond Canton up the river.

Q.--Is it beyond Samshui?

A.—I have not been to Samshui myself.

Q.--You do not know where Tien Chau is?

A.-No.

Q. When did you get cattle last from Tien Chau?

A.-I received 57 head of cattle from Tien Chau to-day.

Q.--How much did you pay for them?

A.-I cannot speak from memory; I should have to refer to my letter.

Q.-But you read the letter to-day. The cattle came to-day. How much did you pay for them?

A.-I am not able to read.

Q.-But when the letter came your man read it over to you?

A.—Well, yes, my man read it, but I have not ascertained from him the price. Q.--Do you pay per picul or per head?

A.-Per head.

-What do Tien Chau cattle cost per head on the

average

A.-A grown-up one will average $46 or $47 and a small one $36 or $37. Q.-How many pounds of meat will you get out of a big Lien Chau bullock after it has been cleaned and the skin and entrails taken away?

A.--About three piculs.

Q.--That is the average; sometimes it will be a little more and sometimes a little less.?

A. -Yes; that is the average.

Q.-And a smaller one will give you how much?

A.-Say from 160 to 180 catties.

Q. -Does he or his friend pay for the feeding of these cattle coming down and the junk to carry them down?

A.-The seller bears the expense from Lien Chau to Canton, and from Canton to Hongkong I pay the expense.

Q. How much is the expense per head from Canton to Hongkong?

A.--From $1.25 per head. It is only a night, and I do not supply any food.

(17)

Q.--Does he pay for a boat or anything?

A. No boat is required because the junk comes alongside the Praya; but I have to engage coolies to take the cattle up to the Government Depôt.

Q.--How much do you pay at the Government Depôt ?

A.-Two cents a night. I engage three coolies to look after the cattle and I them $13 a month besides food. I pay $8 to one and two at $2.50 each.

pay

Q. How much do you get for the hides from your friend who lends you money A.-I sell them by weight at 7 taels 5 per picul.

Q.-How many piculs does a skin average-big cattle?

A.- Say 50 catties.

Q. When you first went into the New Market how much did you pay for Tien Chau cattle six or seven years ago ?

A.-$23 or $24 per head. That is the bigger size.

Q. Did you buy them the same way you do now?

A.--Yes.

Q.--And what about the smaller size?

A.--They did not sell small ones.

Q.-But they sell small ones now. They were $13 to $14, were they not? A.-Well, there were large cattle and small ones, and the average was $23 or $24 per head.

Q. When did the price go up to $46 or $47 per head?

A.-Last year.

Q.---And the year before last, what was the price?

A.--Say between $16 and $17 per picul.

Q. How much per head, big and little?

A.--Well, I cannot tell from memory what was the price of large cattle.

Q.--You were able to tell me what the price was six years ago; why cannot you tell me the price the year before last?

A. Sometimes the price was fair and reasonable and sometimes it was not. Q.--What was a fair and reasonable price the year before last?

A.--About the same; that is $23 or $24.

Q. What made the price go up last year to $46 to $47 ?

A.-Because the junks which were carrying the cattle were robbed.

-Well now, every month has he been getting cattle from Tieu Chau regularly for the last six years?

A. Yes.

Q.-And there has not been any stoppage ?

A.-There was a stoppage about six months last year, when all the cattle were lost on the way.

Q.-Where did you get cattle from then?

A.-From Nam Hung and from Kwangse, for which I had to pay a high price.

Q.- —Did they come down the river in the same way as the Tien Chau cattle?

A.-They came down by a different river.

Q.--What river?

A.-They came by the lower river.

{

( 18 )

Q. What did he pay for these Kwangse cattle?

A. On the average $36 to $37.

Q.-And what did they weigh about?

A. They averaged about 200 catties each.

Q-They are much smaller than the Tien Chau cattle?

A.--Yes.

Q-What price are you selling meat at now in the Market?

A-At different prices-the best beef say 15 cents a pound; medium quality 11. to 12 cents a pound; and the worst--soup meat--about 11 cents a pound.

ago?

Q.-But that is the price of the medium sort?

A.-But the medium sort has no bone in it.

-What was he selling the best beef at when he went into the Market six years

A.-The best beef was 11 to 12 cents; that was the highest price.

Q. What about soup beef?

A.That was eight to niue cents a pound.

Q.--Now he has been paying just the same rent all these years-$35.75-what does he charge the people more for?

A.—Because I have to pay between $10 and $20 more per head than I used to pay for cattle?

Q. Why do you pay more?

A.--Because there are fewer cattle.

Q-Fewer cattle?

A.-Well, a number of cattle came at one time and when the doctor examined them he only passed 60 per cent. The rest were found suffering from disease and they had their tails cut off. If he likes to say the whole of the cattle are good he can do so.

Q.-How? Do you pay the Inspector for passing them?

A. As far as I am concerned I have never made him any offer.

Q. Did you never offer him anything at all?

A.-Not as far as I am concerned. If he likes he can pass the whole of them. In one week I had 21 cattle and 8 were rejected by him.

Q.--What was the matter with them?

A. He said there was something wrong with them, and I did not argue with him. Q. What was wrong with them?

A.—He said he was paid by the Government to look after the cattle and he had either to pass or reject them.

Q.-Do a lot of cattle rejected by him ever get into the Slaughter-house, and get slaughtered if you just pay a little to the Slaughter-house man?

A-No; they are not able to walk about when they are suffering fom sickness. Q.-But you say the eight which were rejected were very good indeed. They were able to walk. They were slaughtered?

A.-No; they were sent back to Canton with their tails cut.

Q. Do you mean to say their tails are cut off when they are alive and before they leave the Colony, and you have to send them out of the Colony with their tails cut off?

A. Yes.

ོ ཟླ

( 19 ).

-The end of the tail or the whole tail?

A.--They cut the feathers off.

Q.- -You know very well that the small butchers do get their cattle slaughtered after they have been rejected by giving an acknowledgment to the Slaughter-house man. We shall not tell anyone what you say. We want to know how much it costs. We want to help the good butchers and stop the bad ones.

A.--Well, such practices do not exist in Hongkong. I cannot say whether they exist elsewhere or not.

Q.-That is all nonsense. We know very well that it does. There are lots of cattle slaughtered in the Slaughter-house which the Slaughter-house man makes a good profit out of. Tell him not to be frightened of answering. We all know that they are slaughtered.

A.--No, not in Hongkong; I know nothing about Kowloon or Hung Hom Slaughter-house.

Mr. Osborne.-I should like to ask him what his name is?

A.-Man Ho Tsung alias Man Mo Tsai.

Q.-And Tung Wing is his business name?

A. Yes.

Q. How many partners are there in the business? A.--I am the sole partner.

Q. What is the size of his shop or store?

A.-About two-thirds the size of this room.

}

Q.- -What is the largest number of cattle he kills in a day-he kills about 500 to 600 a month?

A.--Say from 32 to 33; it depends on the number of ships in the harbour.

Q.-Does he supply the military?

A. He supplies the men-of-war,

Q.--Does he supply the military?

A.--Yes; as well as all the troops here.

Q.-How many cattle go to the troops each day?

A.-About six head.

Q. And how many head go to the ships about in one day?

A.--It depends on the number of ships in the harbour.

Q.-Supposing there are ten ships in the harbour?

A.-Some take more and some take less.

Q.- Take two.

A.-Say at present there are two men-of-war in the harbour and they consume 250 lbs. a day each.

The Chairman.--One attle or two?

A.-Say two small size and a little more than one large size.

Mr. Osborne.-When there were a lot of ships here a month ago how many heads

did he supply?

A.-The average was about 11 head per day to the ships.

Q.-Does it all go from his stall to the Army and Navy or does it go direct? A.-Direct from the Slaughter-house.

( 20 )

Q. He has got some fokies living at his stall, has he not? How many has he there ?

A.-Only one.

Q. He has got a table which takes up a lot of room?

A. Yes; it is a considerable size.

Q.-There is not much room left for the meat, is there?

A. We hang them up.

Q.-Hang 16 cattle up?

A.-Five or six a day are hung up at the stall. The meat sent to the Army and Navy goes direct from the Slaughter-house.

Q. His stall will hold five or six ?

A. Yes.

Q. He said just now he kills 33 a day, including 17 for the Army and Navy. That makes 16 for his stall. How can he put 16 on his stall?

A.You see my stall will only hold six and if there is any surplus left over at the Slaughter-house I send for it if required.

Q.-That is not allowed I think, once an animal is killed it has to be cleared out of the Slaughter-house at once.

A. No, we can leave them there for the night.

Q. -Does not some of it go to some other stalls-some five or six head ?

A.-No.

The Chairman.-Does not he sell an animal or half an animal to any other but- chers?

age ?

A. Yes, it depends upon what quantity the butchers require.

Mr. Osborne.-How much profit does he make on one head of cattle on the aver-

The Chairman.-One of these Tien Chau cattle which cost him $46 or $47 ? A.-I have lost money on this business for the last two or three years, my losses have averaged $4 per head this year.

Q. And what profit has he made after paying expenses?

A.-After paying all the expenses of the Slaughter-house and so on I have sustained a loss of $4 per head commencing from the first day of the first moon this year-for the last five months.

Mr. Osborne.-If he has 500 head per month and has lost $4 per head he has lost $10,000 ?

A.-I lost $1,900 the first moon; I lost $1,900 the second moon, and about the same the third. I lost about $1,300 the fourth moon and about $600 the fifth.

Mr. Maitland. Who pays the losses; he says he has no money?

A. I have to make up the losses.

The Chairman.--But he has no money; he has to borrow.

A.--But still I have to go on with the business in order to make profits and pay these losses.

Mr. Osborne.-How does he get money for his rice and food when he is losing money every day?

A.-You see I have two capitalists behind me. They supplied me with between $20,000 and $30,000, and I support myself out of these funds. But I have to go on with the business to see if I cannot make a profit.

( 21 )

The Chairman.-What profit did he make out of his business the first year he was in the new Market?

A.-About $1,200.

Mr. Osborne.--Now he is losing $1,200 a month?

The Chairman.--How much profit did he make last year?

A.--I lost money last year.

Mr. Osborne. He said just now he paid $23 to $26 per head for small cattle and $46 to $47 for large cattle, and that one head of large cattle weighs about three piculs. That makes it about 10 cents a pound.

like.

A.--What about the small cattle, Sir?

Mr. Orborne.-Well, he pay less for them.

A.-If you mix them up together-big and little-you will find there is a loss. Mr. Osborne. If he buys at 10 cents a pound and sells at 15 that is a profit. A.--I can convince you by documentary evidence that I have made a loss, if you

The Chairman.-How many years' books has he got?

A.—I am not able to say. I have this year's and last year's, but as to the year

before last I shall have to ascertain.

The Chairman.-When the Market was burned the year before last were they not all burned?

A.--No; there was no fire.

Q.-Then his books were not burned?

A. You know the Chinese custom; sometimes they do not keep old account books.

Q. How many accountants has he?

A.-Three

Q.-In different shops?

A.--No; at this stall.

Q--There is no room for three accountants at the stall.

A.--They act as sellers of meat as well as accountants. place for an accountant.

Q.-You keep the books in a shop outside, don't you ? A.-There is a small table at the stall.

Where are they?

We have got a separate

Q You have a compradore and have a compradore's stall have you not? A.-No; I have no stall except this.

Q --No other shop or place of business outside the Market ?

A.-No; I have a family house.

Q.-Where is that?

A.-At 27, Graham Street.

Dr. Hartigan.-There is one thing I want to ask him. This man says he suc- ceeded Wat Yui Kut, does he know what year he began business in ?

A.-He had a stall in the old Market for two or three years and then he moved to the new Market.

Q. What year did Wat Yui Kut begin business? I have a reason for asking. A.-I cannot tell.

( 22 )

Q.--Does he know how many years he was in business before he took it over? A. Two or three years in the Central Market.

Q-In answer to the Chairman he said when asked about money that people trusted him and that he had good credit in the Market, who are the people who trust him?

A-The Tang Mow people.

Q.-Is this the hide shop he is drawing money from now to pay for the cattle? A. Yes.

Who are the people who belong to this shop and what are their names? A. A Pak, A Sz, and A Kut. The shop is near the Man Mo Temple. Q.-Does he give them any receipts for the money advanced him ?

A. Yes; I have given them receipts or notes.

Q.-Promissory notes, I suppose ?

A. Yes.

Q.--When asked by the Chairman why the cattle rejected by the doctor could not be slaughtered, witness said it was because they could not walk about.

he bought cattle which could not walk about?

Ask him why

A.-Well, you see, when the cattle were bought they were in good condition, but during the transit they might get ill. It is the same with a man and the same remark applies to cattle.

Q-Then he has to take these cattle whether they were good or not?

A. These cattle are shipped at Canton and on the way down they might become sick, but he has to take them whether bad or good.

The Chairman.-But they could not get sick coming down from Canton ? A.-Animals, just the same as human beings, get sick.

Dr. Hartigan. Where does he pay the money for the cattle-in Canton or in Hongkong?

A. It was arranged that if the buyer comes down for the money it is to be paid in Hongkong, but if he does not come down the money is to be sent to Canton.

Q.-But the bargain is made in Canton ?

A. In the place where the cattle is bought.

Mr. Maitland. When he sells whole cattle to other Chinamen does not he make a profit, then?

A.--Well, it depends upon the price I get for the cattle.

Mr. Maitland.But he does not sell a whole animal at a loss?

A. Sometimes I have to sell them at a loss.

The Chairman.-Because they were getting bad?

A. You see there is a uniform price and I cannot depart from it. I have to sell for about that price. Of course I do not know what price I have to pay for cattle on the

way down.

Q. Who fixes the uniform price?

A.-I agree to supply for so much.

Mr. Maitland. Has he got a written contract with other dealers to supply them? A.--No, I have no written contract with other butchers; simply a verbal contract. The Chairman.-How many smaller butchers does he supply who come regularly to him for meat?

•

( 23 )

A.-Four stall holders from the Central Market buy beef from me regularly and one from the Western Market. That is why I lose money, because I agree to sell to these stall-holders at a certain price.

Mr. Maitland.He says it is only a verbal agreement. Why does he not say, “I am not going to do this at a loss all the time?"

A.-Then they would say I was not a business man.

Mr. Osborne. But he does not keep his agreement with his European customers? A.-I keep to my verbal agreement with these people, because if I depart from it I am no business man.

Mr. Osborne. But with his European customers he changes the price every day. He does not keep his agreement with his European customers.

Mr. Maitland. Did he not make big profits in sending cattle down to Manila ?

A. I had none to send down.

Mr. Maitland. Did you not supply any cattle for Manila ?

A. At the close of the war 1 sold 15 only.

The Chairman. Who did supply the cattle which went over to Manila?

A.-Hing Lee and the other men outside.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-He told us he paid $35.75 per month for the old Market stall?

A. Yes.

Q.- And he pays the same now ?

A.--Yes.

Q-Has he more room now or less?

A.-My accommodation at present is rather larger than in the old stall.

Q. How many men does he keep for the whole business?

A.--Twenty-six.

Q-And he can only lodge one man in the stall?

A.—Yes; only one sleeps there at night.

Q.--Where do the other 25 sleep?

A.—I rent a place outside the Market near the Central District for them.

Q. How much do you pay for it?

A.-$23 a month.

Q.-And you give these men

A. Yes.

chow" as well as wages

How many head of cattle were

Q.-He told us certain junks were robbed. removed?

A.-Well, as far as I am concerned I lost 36 or 38 on two junks.

Mr. Osborne.-Can he tell us what is the best thing to do to get meat cheap again?

A.-If you could get cheap cattle then the price could be reduced.

The Chairman.But can he tell us how we can get cheap cattle? If he had plenty of money and he wanted to get cheap cattle for the market how would he go

about it?

A.-Well, there is only one course open, and that is this: if you advanced some $10,000 or $20,000 to your agents he would be able to supply you at a cheaper rate.

(24)

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.--He talks about his agents; does he mean the cattle dealers or his men ?

A. They are simply agents, and they get these cattle for me.

Q.--They make a profit?

A.—Yes; it is only natural they should make a profit.

Q.--But they are not his agents; these people are selling to him?

A.--I treat them as my agents because they purchase stuff for me.

The Chairman. But they sell cattle to all sorts of people and sell them to all sorts of people besides you?

A. Only to me in Hongkong.

Mr. Osborne.

A. Yes.

He pays $46 to $47 for big cattle?

Q. What does the agent up country pay for them?

A.-I think he pays a dollar or so profit on each head; certainly he would not sell at a loss.

Dr. Hartigan. He pays the agent $46 per head and the agent will pay the farmer $44?

A. Certainly, it depends upon the market, whether there was a ready sale or not. Mr. Osborne.--Does the feeder get anything like $44?

A.--Yes.

Q.-And why should the farmer raise the price?

A.-On account of the great demand in Hongkong. In former days the number of cattle consumed in Hongkong was about 30, but now it is at least double that figure.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.--What does he mean by former days? How long ago?

A.-About ten years ago.

Mr. Maitland. Has he got the monopoly in Tien Chau? who brings cattle down from Tien Chau?

A.--No.

Is he the only man

Mr. Osborne.-Does he mean to say that the man who first owns the cattle-the farmer or breeder-has raised his price from $20 per head to $44 per head?

A. Yes, because there are a lot more cattle wanted in Hongkong.

Q.-Then it is not the pirates who have raised the price? And there is another cause he says Mr. Ladds refuses a lot of cattle?

A.--Yes.

Q.-What becomes of the cattle which is refused?

A.-It goes back to the place it came from.

.--About how many in one hundred does Mr. Ladds refuse supposing he is in a good temper?

A. It is a matter of uncertainty. For instance if he was good-natured he would pass the whole 100.

Q.-And if he had got a liver he would only pass 69 would he?

The Chairman.-How many has he refused to pass during the last month? A.-Twenty or thirty.

Mr. Osborne.-Does he know what kind of beef Europeans like ?

A.--It is what they call sirloin.

( 25 )

Q.-Does he know the reason why Mr. Ladds refused these animals?

A.--Well, he is paid by the Government to look after this matter.

Q.--Does he not know it was because they were badly fed, old and tough animals?

A.-I am not in a position to say whether it is an old cow or a young cow, but I am in a position to say whether it is a strong or delicate cow.

Dr. Hartigan. Has he ever been up to the country himself to buy cattle?

A.-No.

Mr. Osborne.-How many days' journey is it to Tien Chau?

A.-Say a week from Canton.

Q.--That is by junk?

A. Yes.

The witness was then dismissed, and the Commission adjourned until Monday, July 9th.

(26)

EVIDENCE OF LEE SING, GIVEN BEFORE THE FOOD COMMISSION

ON JULY 9TH, 1900.

Interpreter, Mr. LI HONG MI.

The Chairman (Mr. Francis).-What is the number of his stall in the Market?

A.-No. 25.

Q. What is his business name?

A.-Sing Kee.

Q. How long has he been a butcher?

A. For the last 21 years.

-What rent does he pay for his stall in the Central Market?

A. $10 a month.

Q.-Is his stall larger or smaller than the No. 1 stall?

A.-The same size.

Q.-Tung Wing says he pays $35 a month; how is that?

A. He got his stall by auction.

Q. How did you get yours?

A. I got it from the Government, stalls were not put up by auction in former days.

Q.-Were not all the stalls in the new Central Market put up for sale by auction? A. Not all. The old lessees pay the same rent as in former days; but in case of new tenants the stalls are put up by auction.

Q.-Well, but had not the No. 1 man, Tung Wing, a stall in the old Market? A.-No; Tung Wing had no stall in the old Market. His business only started not long ago. Formerly the business style was Kwong Hing and then it changed to the Tung Wing.

Q. When was that?

A.--Only three years ago.

Q. It is a European who owns the business now, is it not, and Tung Wing only carries it on for the European?

A.-Well, I do not know.

-But you must know very well?

A. I see Man Mo there, he is always there.

Q.-Who is Man Mo?

A. The man who was here the other day.

-Who supplies him with money?

A.-Tung Mow, the hide dealer. He is the capitalist.

Q. Who were the owners of the Kwang Hing when it was the Kwang Hing? A.--Wat Yui Kut.

( 27 )

Q.-Is he a European?

A.-No, he was a Chinaman.

Q.-Does any European own a stall in the Market and sell meat?

A.- No.

Q.--Has any European ever had anything to do with a stall in the Market? A.-No.

Q-You never heard of such a thing?

A.-No.

Q. Who owns the Hongkong Butchery?

A.-A Chinaman is the owner of it.

Q.--Who is it?

A.-Wat A Chun.

-Do you import cattle yourself?

A.—Yes.

Q. Where do you get your cattle from ?

A.-From a place called Dosing.

Q. Where is Dosing?

A.-Near the Kwangsi province.

Q. How many days does it take to get cattle down from Dosing?

A. It takes four days to Canton by boat.

Q.-Have you a place of your own up there where you grow the cattle?

A.-No.

Q. How do you get them-do you send a man up there to buy them from the farmers ?

A.--I send a man up to Dosing and he goes round here and there and that is the way he collects them.

Q.--You send a man from Hongkong?

A. Yes.

Q.-What is the name of the man you send and how long has he been with you doing that work?.

A. His name is Li Sui Kwong, and he has been working for me for the last six

years.

Q. -Does he keep any books of account?

A.--I do not know. He comes down with the cattle and tells me so much for each and so on.

Q.-But does he bring you down receipts for the cattle? How do you know what he pays?

A. He sends me no receipts; he simply sends a letter accompanying the cattle. Q.-He may cheat you.

He may say he paid $15 for an animal and he might

only have paid $10. How do you know?

A.It is done in this way. says so much per head, and when

Sometimes he sends down cattle with a letter and I find it is too high, I answer saying that his price

is too high and to get me cattle at a cheaper rate.

Q. Do you pay for the cattle by weight or by head?

A. Yes; I pay so much per head, of course I pay a higher price for fat cattle

and a smaller price for small ones.

( 28 )

Q-Do

-Do you get cattle from anywhere else, you personally?

A.--I have bought cattle from Dosing only this year, but in previous years I bought from Lien Chau.

Q.-But you told me you had been sending this man up to Dosing for the last six years?

A. Yes; I have asked him to send me cattle for the last six years, and I have also bought cattle from other people as well.

Q.-What about Dosing? Did you get cattle from there before this year ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Well, tell him we shall have to punish him if he tells lies like that.

A.-Well, I mean to say that for the last six years I have had cattle from Dosing from this man, and in previous years I have done an extensive business, and I have also bought cattle from elsewhere-that is from Lien Chau.

Q.-That has nothing to do with the question. You said that before this year

you

used to get cattle from Lien Chau. Tell him that if he tells lies like this we shall have to punish him. Tell him he must tell the truth and think of what he is saying.

A.-I did not say that.

Q.-Well, what does he pay for cattle from Dosing?

A. From $32 to $37.

-What was he paying last year for cattle from Dosing?

A.-From $25 to $26 and from $27 to $28, and from $31 to $32. The highest price was from $35 to $36 last year.

-Six years ago what was the highest price?

A.-From $21 to $22.

Mr. Maitland.-For big or small?

A.They were different sizes.

The Chairman. Do you pay that same all round?

A. Yes. It depends upon the size. Some a little more and some less.

--And the Lien Chau cattle are less than the Dosing cattle?

A.-The Lien Chau cattle are better than the Dosing cattle.

Q.-Where is Lien Chau?

A.--I have never been to the place myself, but it takes three days from Lien Chau to Canton by boat.

Q.-Then it is further than Dosing?

A. Yes.

Q.--Is it on the same river or on another river ?

A.--A different river.

Q.-When did he get cattle last from Lien Chau-the very last lot?

A.-Last year.

Q.-You have had no cattle from Lien Chau this year?

A.-No.

Q. Why not?

A. Because the business was less than in former years.

Q. What business was less-the business in Hongkong? A.--Yes.

( 29 )

Q.-But there are a lot more people here now?

A. Yes, but I get less business from the compradore shops, and that is the rea- son why the business has diminished.

Q.--But there are more people to eat meat here ?

A. Well, there are different butchers; there are a great number of butchers.

Q.-There are not more butchers this year than last ?

A.-That is quite so, but the butchers go round and get my business.

Q.-Then your business is falling away?

A.—Yes; it is falling off and I am thinking of closing it.

Q.--You have been making big losses for the last three years, have A.-I have lost from $3,000 to $4,000 during the last three years. Mr. Osborne.-How many customers have you got in the Colony? A.-I have about 16 regular customers.

Q.-Does he supply the Military and the Navy?

A. No.

Q.-The Police ?

A.--No.

.---Does he know how many customers Tung Wing has ?

you not?

A.--He supplies meat to the Army and Navy, and I also know that he has five or six regular customers.

That is 22 customers between the two of them. Where do all the other

people get their meat from?

The Chairman.Are these compradores or private people?

A.--The 16 include compradores and boys or stewards at the Barracks.

Q.--How many compradores does he supply?

A.-Seven.

Mr. Osborne. Where do the other people in the Colony buy their meat from? There are more than 22 people in the Colony who buy meat?

A.-You see there are a great number of stalls in the Market.

Q.-How many butchers' stalls are there in the Market?

A.--Twenty-six which sell beef and mutton.

Q.-Does not he supply to these stalls?

A. Yes, every now and then; when they find that their meat is exhausted they

come round to me and buy some.

Q. What is the total average profit on the sale of one ox?

A.-I am not able to tell you.

Mr. Osborne. About how much, within a dollar?

A. It is impossible for me to state.

Q. What does he sell his beef at to a customer?

A.-I charge butchers as well as compradores 14 cents a pound.

Q.--And what would you charge a private boy customer?

A.-Fourteen cents.

The Chairman.-Do you not sell the meat to the compradore or butcher at whole- sale prices?

A.-Well, I sell at the same price-14 cents a pound.

( 30 )

Q. Do you mean to say you would charge any butcher in the Market who wanted half a bullock the same price as you woult charge a man who wanted to buy two or three pounds?

A. That would depend upon whether it included the bones or not.

Mr. Osborne.-How can the butchers and compradores afford to buy meat from you at the same rate as other people; where is their profit?

A.--The compradores sell at 15 cents.

Q.-So that his price is 14 and the price of the compradore 15 to a private indi vidual?

A.---Yes.

Mr. Maitland.-las he got any partners?

A.-Yes; I have a partner.

Q.-Does he work in the business with

A. We work together.

--How long has he had a partner?

you ?

A.-For the last 21 years. We started work together and started business together

the same time.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-Ask him why if he sells beef at 14 cents a pound and the compradore at 15 cents a pound to a private individual, the latter does not come to him for meat?

A.-Because the compradore supplies tinned meat as well. I cannot give an explanation.

The Chairman.-How much cumshaw do you give the boy or the coolie who comes to buy meat from you?

A.-I give them no cumshaw.

Q.- --Do the compradores?

- A.-I do not know; that is for the compradores to tell.

Mr. Osborne. Ask him now if he can

explain why it is that the price of beef has

gone up 50 per cent. in the last few years. What is his reason?

A.-Well, it is very extraordinary, because we get very little cattle imported into the Colony.

--What does he mean--that there is a scarcity of cattle?

A. Yes.

Q. How many does he send for as a rule?

A. About 120 a month.

Q.-Does he ever have any difficulty in getting supplied with the full number? A.-Yes; there is some difficulty in getting the number I require sometimes. Q. Why, what is the cause?

A.---The difficulty is this: you cannot get a large number at one time; you have to keep a man going from one place to another.

Dr. Hartigan.--But he sends for the 120 and he gets them.

A.-Well, in different instalments.

I could not get them.

Supposing I had to send for 120 at one time

Q. Has he ever tried to get more than 120 a month-has he ever got more than 120 a month?

A.-No.

( 31 )

Mr. Maitland.-What profit did he make in the business during the 18 years that he had good chance?

A. For the first 18 years I made a profit of between $200 and $300 or between $500 and $600. But in one year I made a profit $2,200.

Q. What did he do with the money--did he invest it ?

A. The profit $200 or $300 was just enough to pay my expenses; and the $2,000 and odd I had to cover my losses.

The Chairman.--He has been buying cattle at the rate of 120 a month, has he not? A.--Yes; from 120 to 130.

Q.--Last year how many ?

A.-About the same number.

Q.--And the year before?

A.--From 130 to 150 or 160.

Q.-But there are twice as many people buying meat in Hongkong now as there were three years ago. Where do they get their meat from? Your business is going

back.

A.--Well, they curtail their food.

Mr. Maitland.--They don't eat so much now?

A.-No. I don't mean that. I cannot say whether the population of this colony has increased during the last three years or not.

Dr. Hartigan. We do not want you to say; we tell you it is.

A.--The population may be increased, but that is the limit of my business. The merchants are increasing too.

The Chairman. Have you ever bought any cattle at the Depôt here?

A. Yes.

Q.-Every month?

A.-I used to slaughter 300 head per month. I only got 120 from the mainland, and therefore I had to buy the balance of 180 to make up the 300.

Q.-What do you pay per head for cattle bought at the Depôt from other people? A.-From 40 dollars odd to $514. Mostly $44.

Q. How many bullocks do you sell in a day on the average ?

A-On the average I sell about 290 a month, or nine or ten a day.

Q.-Out of that nine or ten how many do you sell to compradores or butchers?

A. Four or five; it depends upon the business, whether there is a steamer in the harbour or not.

Q.-Do you sell direct to steamers in the harbour or to compradores for steamers

in the harbour ?

A. Yes.

Q. How many steamers regularly do you supply in a month?

A.-About four.

Q. How much to each steamer?

A.-From 140 to 150 pounds.

Q.--How many private customers have you?

A.-Do you mean Chinese?

The Chairman.--No; Chinese do not eat beef.

เ

( 32 )

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-Oh yes, they do.

The Chairman.-Well, Chinese or Europeans, or anyone else to whom you sell small quantities?

A. To regular customers I supply four or five heads per day.

Q-I asked you how many private customers you had ?

A.-I supply 15 or 16 cooks a day.

Q.-How many joints of meat per day do they get on the average?

Sometimes more and sometimes less.

Q. How much is the highest?

A.-It would not run to more than six or seven pounds and sometimes between

10 and 20.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-Do the cooks from the Chinese shops buy meat from him?

A. Yes.

Q.-Generally how much does a Chinese cook from a Chinese shop buy?

A. A coolie house consumes from 16 to 20 pounds per day.

Q. How many of these 16 cooks belong to compradores?

A.-Seven.

Q.--And how many to eating-houses?

A.-One or two to restaurants.

Mr. Maitland.--Ask him if there are any other old butchers who have got a low rental of $10 a month?

A.-I am not able to tell.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-How much cash per day does he get by selling beef?

A.-Between $60 and $70.

-And how much more?

Q.-

A. The rest is all sold on credit.

Q.-How much does he sell per day taking cash sales and credit sales?

A.-Between $410 and $420.

Q-How much do his expenses amount to, including servants and everything?

A. The average is $18 a day.

The Chairman.--Is there any tax paid at Canton on cattle coming down?

A.-No.

Mr. Osborne.-There is a question I should like to ask: has there been an increased consumption of beef among Chinese of late years ?

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-Yes.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.--Are there not others besides these two engaged in this business of importing cattle?

A. Yes.

Mr. Osborne.--The main point we want to get at is whether there is any combi- nation between these men.

The Chairman.---We can only infer that, but as to getting any direct answer on that point we cannot do it.

Mr. Osborne.--These two men do not bear out what Inspector Cotton said. He said these men where the only two who imported cattle into the colony largely.

( 33 )

The Chairman.-You send a man up the river to buy cattle for you?

A. Yes.

--How do you pay for the cattle? Do you give the money to the man who goes up the river, or is the bill sent down to you and you pay the man who sells you the cattle direct?

A.-I remit the money to the man who sells me the cattle.

Q.--Do you remit it direct or to a bank?

A.-I remit to a bank in Canton and then the man who has sold the cattle goes to Canton and gets the money.

Mr. Maitland.-Do any other butchers import cattle besides himself and Tung Wing?

A.-Yes; there are others.

The Chairman,--Who are the others ?

A.--One is Chui Cheng.

Q. Where does he get his cattle from?

A. From Nam Hung and Lien Chau.

Mr. Maitland.-Is he a butcher ?

A. Yes.

The Chairman.-What is the number of Chui Cheng's stall?

A.-No. 25.

The witness was then allowed to leave, the Chairman, however, informing him that his evidence was very unsatisfactory.

す

( 34 )

EVIDENCE OF C. VIVIAN LADDS, COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON,

GIVEN BEFORE THE FOOD COMMISSION ON JULY 10TH, 1900.

The Chairman.-How long have you been in Hongkong, Mr. Ladds?

A. Since the 8th of September, 1887.

-In your same position as Colonial Veterinary Surgeon?

A. Yes.

Q-Now, Mr. Ladds, you know the object of the Enquiry is to ascertain the cause of the recent increase in the cost of provisions in the Colony. Can you give us any assistance in our Enquiry?

A.-Please ask me soine definite questions?

Q.-With reference to what particular class of food have you knowledge and ex- perience, Mr. Ladds?

A.--Of most of the food in the Colony.

-With reference to what particular class or description of provisions can you give us information? Do you feel competent from your experience to give us informa- tion?

A. Provisions in general.

Q.-Assume it is the fact that there has been a considerable increase in the cost of all provisions during the past half dozen years; to what extent, so far as your experience goes,

have these provisions increased? What percentage would represent the increase? A.-I should think in some cases 100 and in other cases as much as 200 per cent. Q.-Within six years?

A.--Within six years. Mostly 100 per cent. I should say. In some few cases as much as 200 per cent.

Q-Now, on what particular class or description of provisions has that increase been as much as 200 per cent.

A.-I don't know that I can answer that question offhand.

Q.-With reference to bread can you say anything?

A.-No, I am afraid I know nothing about bread.

Q.--Well, in reference to Chinese provisions.

A.-Rice, firewood, ground-nut oil and pork have gone up at least 100 per cent. Q. -Within six years?

A.--Yes.

-What in your opinion has been the main reason for the rise?

Have

A. Recently the piracies on the West River have had a deal to do with it. Q.-The increases you have just mentioned as covering the last six years. there been causes outside the Colony, or within-increased demand, diminished supply? Broadly what are the causes?

A.-I think the supply is always equal to the demand.

Q.-In your opinion is the demand for Chinese food-stuff considerably increased within the last six years?

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A.-Oh yes, it must have increased because the population has increased, but so far as I know the supply has always been fully equal to meet any increased demand without any rise in prices. Perhaps not in the case of firewood, but certainly in every other respect. There have been small supplies of firewood from time to time, but generally from local causes.

Q-To what would you attribute this doubling in price of all these articles ?

A. It is very hard to say.

Q.-Is there any local cause which has contributed to it?

A-The increase of house rents no doubt. I don't know of anything else. They make high market rents an excuse, but I don't think that is true.

Q.-But rice, pork, &c., are they sold in the Market?

A.-No.

Q.-There is no limitation as to the place of selling of any of these articles?

A.-No.

Mr. Marshall.--Pork can be sold anywhere can it?

A.-No, I forgot about it. It must be sold in the Market. This is uncooked pork. Roast pork is sold outside.

Mr. Francis.--Has there been any increase in the price for accommodation in the Markets during the past six years?

A. The rents have been gradually going up for years.

-But during the past six years has there been any increase?

A. Yes, I think there has been an increase of rents, but these are controlled by the Registrar General's Department.

Q-Will you just tell us what has been the increase of rents during your expe- rience since 1887 in the pork stalls?

A.—I am afraid I cannot tell you that. The increase for the last forty years I can give you here, with the same number of Markets.

Mr. Marshall. We shall be getting that information from the Registrar General. Mr. Francis. And also from Mr. Ladds' printed returns.

Mr. Francis. Has there been any considerable increase in the new Central Market as compared with the old?

A. I don't think so. They might have been put up a bit.

Q-Can you assign any cause for the increase? Have you any opinion about the cost of pigs landed here?

A.-No. I can tell you roughly what it costs to bring them here from Pakhoi and Hoihow. About a dollar a head.

Q.-Does that include coolie hire shipping them, and landing them?

A.--I think freight is something like 80 cents, and there are a few small fees after- wards-roughly a dollar.

Q.-Do pigs come to the Colony from anywhere else?

A. They would come from Canton, but there seems to be a higher customs duty so they can't compete with Pakhoi and Hoihow. They have not been brought from there in any quantity, but they might have been had it not been for the high duty.

Dr. Hartigan.-Is that a foreign customs or a local customs?

A.-Lekin, 5 per cent ad valorem.

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Q. Can you tell us if the pigs are imported to order, or are they brought in and sold in the regular market?

A. I think they are generally sold by agents, who charge so much commission for landing and selling them.

Q. And say six years ago, what was the price of an average sized pig delivered here before he went to the Market?

A.—I don't know just now. I know what it is at the present time.

Mr. Francis.What is it?

A. It is about $17 a picul. That is a good big increase on what was paid six

years ago.

Q.--How much?

A.--I think the live pig was worth about $13 six years ago.

Mr. Maitland. Is this the price for the pig weighed alive?

A. Yes.

Q. -What are the charges for leaving pigs in the Depôt before they are killed? A.-It is 5 cents.

Q.-Is it the same as on cattle?

A.-No, they pay two cents a day for cattle. For pigs it is 5 cents.

Mr. Osborne.-2 cents and stop as long as they like is it not?

A.--Yes.

a picul.

-And the expense of butchering them?

That is 40 cents for an animal over a picul and 20 cents for an animal under

How many pork butchers' stalls are there in the Market?

A. In the Central Market there are fifty.

Q.-Is there a sufficient supply of stalls in the Market there for this pork business? Can as many men as want stalls get them without pressure?

A.--Yes, there are any quantity.

Mr. Marshall.--Are there any vacant stalls?

A.-There are not any vacant at present. Until this year there were 10 or 11 vacant, but in January they were rented by some stall-holders who were afraid that a suggestiom of mine to convert their stalls into vegetable stalls would be acted upon.

Dr. Hartigan.--Who has got the management?

A.-The Registrar General.

Q-Does that enable those people who have rented these vacant stalls to prevent other people setting up as pork butchers if they want to?

A.-There is a Pork Guild you know.

Mr. Osborne.--Do you think that the existence of a Pork Guild has effect on buyers so far as price and supply is concerned?

A.-I don't know that it has.

any injurious

Mr. Osborne.--The Pork Guild has been in existence as long as the Colony almost.

Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-There has been a Pork Guild all the time.

Mr. Francis. In your experience you have no knowledge of the Guild working injuriously and preventing another man from setting up in the Pork business?

A.—No, I don't know of anything of that nature at all..

Mr. Maitland.

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You don't know the working of the Guild?

A.--No, you can't find that out.

Mr. Francis. With reference to this ground-nut oil do you know anything about the former price of it?

A.-No, I do not know much about it. It is not sold in the Markets.

-Do you know where the principal source of supply is ?

A.-I believe a great deal of it is made in Canton, but they bring the nuts down from Tientsin.

Mr. Osborne-Large quantities of oil come from Shanghai.-

Q. Has there been a considerable increase in the price of that ground-nut oil? A.I know it has increased very much, but I can't tell the rate just now. Q.-Have you any idea of the reason why this increase has taken place ?

A. The cost of labour is the usual answer to all these questions, and living and

house rent.

Q. Do you think the increase in cost of living and house rent bear in reasonable proportion to the increased price?

A.--No, I think the increased cost of the article has been greater.

Q.--Coming to the question of the beef supply, can you give us the figures of the actual present consumption of cattle in the Colony, say last year ?

A.-There were used last year 23,582 head of cattle, 17,353 head of sheep and goats, and 156,292 swine.

Q.-So far as your knowledge and experience goes is there any considerable number of animals killed in the Colony over and above what passes through the legiti- mate channels ?

A.-I don't think there are very many.

Q.-Five per cent. or one per cent.?

A.-I should think one per cent. would be an over-estimate.

Q.-That would mean 230 cattle in a year, about five a week ?

A. We have no knowledge of what takes place, it is simply conjecture. I know they kill a few on the hillside now and then.

Q.-Sheep?

A.-None at all.

Q.-Pigs ?

A. Yes. There are lots of pigs killed in the Colony that don't go through the Slaughter-house.

Q.-Of the total number of pigs what proportion comes from the immediate neighbourhood-Hongkong itself and old Kowloon ?

A.—Oh, a very small proportion indeed.

Q. What percentage would you say?

A.-I could not tell the exact figures without referring to my books.

trifling.

-Where do the bulk of the cattle come from?

It is very

A.-Most of the cattle come from the West and North River districts and Hoi- fung, which is just outside our New Territory.

Q.-And the larger supply comes from where?

A.--From the West River.

•

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Q.-What has been the increase within the last three years in the number of cattle ?

A.-There is very little. During the last three years there has been an inrcease of 3,000 head.

Q.-Take six years ago what has been the increase ?

A.-4,000.

Q.-During the last ten years has there been any big jump?

A.-There has never been any big jump. It has been a steady rise since 1890. It was 18,519 and last year it was 23,512.

Mr. Osborne. The biggest jump was in 1899 ?

A. Yes, that was due to the increased number of men-of-war in the harbour.

Q. In 1898 was there any great increase in the demand for sheep or cattle ?

A.-No.

A.-Did the demand for Manila and the American Fleet make any difference? A. Yes. In 1898, 1,000 cattle and 1,000 sheep difference.

Mr. Osborne. The demand was there, but the supply was not there ? A.-The supply was always ample.

Q.-Was there any marked increase in the price of cattle in 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899, especially in 1898-1899?

A. Yes, cattle went up 10 dollars a head the last two years. During the last ten years they more than doubled.

Q.-Well, has that increase in the last ten years been a steady increase in the price of cattle?

A.-No. There has been a small jump now and then.

Q.-In what year was the jump?

A.-It was in 1897-1898 as far as I can recollect.

Q.-Was it before the commencement of the Manila War or was it then?

A.-I think it was before.

Q.-Have you in your office any record of numbers and prices of cattle?

A.-No record of prices, but of numbers.

Q.-Sheep, have they increased in the same proportion?

A. Yes.

Q.-As much as 100 per cent. in the ten years?

A.-Not quite so much as that. They have increased considerably, but I forget what they were ten years ago.

Q.-Does it not look as if the steady increase in price during the past ten years was due to the increased demand and stationary supply?

A.-No, I think there is an unlimited supply.

Q. What is the reason, then, of such a monstrous increase ?

A.-Some fellows would tell you that it was due to the foreign exchange.

Q.-Is the Market accommodation on the whole sufficient in Hongkong? A.-No.

Q.-In what respect is it insufficient? You say there is plenty of accommodation for pork and you also said for butchers there was no demand for their stalls.

A.-I don't remember saying that, but still that is so.

}

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Q.-I think I asked you if there was sufficient accommodation for butchers in the Market without causing competition for stalls?

A. No, you did not ask me that, still that is so.

Q.-In what respect are the Markets insufficient?

A. In the number of vegetable stalls provided. Also fish, poultry and fruit stalls.

.. -Well, is there any reason why vegetables should not be sold in every shop all over the colony?

A.-I am of opinion that all articles of food should be under some sort of supervi- sion, and if vegetables are sold outside the Market you get no supervision.

Q.-I can quite understand that rule with reference to meat?

A.-I think it applies all round.

Q.-Is not the proper remedy to have hawkers? sion over them ?

Do the Police exercise supervi-

A.-The

A. The Police do not exercise any supervision over them. The hawkers do as they like.

Q.-Taking a Chinese way of putting it, suppose there are ten good reasons for having the meat in the Market inspected, how many tenths of a reason is there for the inspection of vegetables? The inspection of vegetables is by no means so important

as meat.

A.-If you let one thing out you may let all out by and bye.

Mr. Osborne.-I certainly don't approve of it. Of course I object to the hawkers. They should not be allowed at all.

Q.-

-Can you tell us what sort of supervision is exercised by anybody-by the Saninary Board or by your department?

A.-You don't hear everything that goes on.

Q.-What control is there?

A.-The Inspector of Markets is there to judge if the stuff is fit to be sold. He exercises his duty to that extent.

Mr. Marshall.--Does he supervise the hawkers?

A.-No, he has nothing to do with them.

Mr. Osborne.-Does he keep any record of vegetable hawkers selling bad stuff?

A. He reports them to me.

Q.-Have you any reports within the past two years?

A.-I have reports in his diary.

Q.-Anything about condemnations?

A. Yes. I condemn a great quantity of vegetables myself.

Q. What particular descriptions of vegetables?

A.-Potatoes, fruits, tomatoes and these things.

Mr. Maitland.-Could it not be got over by having two or three shops and have them licensed to sell vegetables? They might be small Markets in themselves.

A.--They would not be any better.

Mr. Osborne.-Not if they are interfered with by the Police, but the Police absolutely do not interfere with the hawkers and until there is proper and sufficient Market accommodation that is the rule that has been laid down by Mr. May, Captain Superintendent of Police.

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Mr. Ladds.-The hawker is not a hawker at all. He sets his stall down in the street and remains there.

Mr. Osborne. He belongs to the shop he squats in front of very often.

Mr. Francis.-What proportion of the present Market accommodation is given up to fruit and vegetable sellers?

A.--I suppose about 25 per cent.

Q.- -And how much additional accommodation would be required in the Markets if the sale of vegetables is to be confined there?

A.-I have a few notes about the Markets. My opinion is that there ought to be another Market in front of the present Central Market in addition to it--for poultry and fish. Then I think there ought to be another Market in front of the Harbour Office on the reclamation.

Q. What about the Western Market?

A.-The Western Market might be double its present size.

Q. And the East?

A.--You want to have another Market later on. The new ones should be on the sea shore as much as possible. There should also be another Market this side of the

Sailors' Home.

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Mr. Osborne. They have got a site exactly opposite there.

Mr. Ladds.--That was recommended in 1886, as a Market.

Mr. Francis.--Would it not be advisable to have Markets for Chinese chow exclusively.

A.-No, I don't think it would.

Q-Is it not the reason of the hawkers, the necessity of supplying the poorer Chinese practically at their own doors with vegetables?

A.-No.

Q.--What is the reason for the existence of so many hawkers?

A.-I don't know.

Dr. Hartigan. In other words the hawker has to look for the buyer? A.-Certainly. That is, he is supposed to do so, but he generally squats in one place. Mr. Francis remarked that Chinese servants could buy from hawkers up at the Peak.

Mr. Marshall.-And very much cheaper than at the Market too.

Mr. Ladds. These men buy all their stuff in the Market before they hawk it-or

the majority of them do.

Mr. Osborne.-It would be an excellent thing if we could devise some means of

encouraging bonâ fide hawking throughout the Colony.

Mr. Ladds.—All these hawkers buy their stuff in the Market.

Mr. Francis.--What about all these compradores selling hams and tinned provisions

in the Market? What business have they there?

A. They are a convenience to Europeans.

Q. Why should they not be in Queen's Road, outside the Market?

A. But there are only a few of them.

Mr. Osborne.--A man rents a stall in the Market for $10 while others have to pay heavy rents outside.

A.-They are practically the same amount outside.

•

shop.

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Mr. Francis.--Why, you pay $150 a month for a house and $60 or $70 for a

Mr. Osborne. It is quite that for a house.

Mr. Ladds.--But you only have one floor in the Market.

Mr. Osborne. Every man selling hams and tinned provisions in the Market is crowding out others who have nowhere else to go. Why should they do that? How many stalls in the Market are occupied by compradores?

A.--Ten. I don't think they take up much room and you should leave them. Q.--Why were they allowed there?

A.--As a convenience to the public. It is far handier to have one compradore to whom your boy goes and gets all he wants.

Mr. Francis.-The compradore buys goods for him--everything he wants, but you have got to pay extra for it to allow for the compradore's profit.

Q-Taking it roughly how many additional stalls ought to be provided? In Hongkong, taking it from East to West, what is the total accommodation that ought to be provided for vegetable and fruit stalls.

all.

A.—I could not tell you that off hand. I would not like to hazard an opinion at

Q. How many vegetable hawkers are there?

A.-I have nothing to do with vegetable hawkers. I think you should write down such questions as that and then it gives me a chance to get some figures to- gether.

Mr. Francis.--We were giving you credit for being full of the subject, with figures and everything at your finger ends.

Mr. Maitland.--As regards the question of fish, I believe they are all brought overland. Would it not be a good thing to have steam launches to bring them round? We would get them fresher.

A.-I don't suppose there are many fish brought overland.

Mr. Francis.—From Aberdeen and Stanley and all these places?

A. Some fish are brought overland, but I should not think all. Mr. Osborne.--How is most of it brought over?

A.--The junks sail right into the Harbour with it.

Mr. Francis.--Where are the fresh fish lauded?

A.-They are landed at the Central Market wharf and at the Western Market. They are landed at the wharf nearest to the Market in which they are to be sold.

Mr. Osborne. I should like to ask Mr. Ladds if he can make any suggestions as to how the price of beef, pork, fruit and vegetables could be cheapened?

↓

Then open

A.-Get at the Guilds. They are the people who put the prices up in my opinion. I don't say they are to blame altogether, but they must be to some extent. the New Territory.

Mr. Orborne. I don't think there is very much chance of groving vegetables, but there is lots of room to grow rice crops ?

A.-There are miles and miles of country now growing sweet potatoes and paddy. I understand they grow paddy because it makes more money than vegetables. I asked them that some time ago and they all told me the same. I was surprised.

Mr. Francis.-Is there a lot of uncultivated land that might be used for culti- vation ?

A.-Not very

much.

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Mr. Osborne. There is a great number of fields that once grew paddy in the hills and valleys. They are now out of cultivation are they not?

A. There are some. Sweet potatoes would grow anywhere.

Q. Do you know whether the foreign potato would grow in that sandy soil which is now cultivating sweet potatoes?

A.-A light soil like that is best for potatoes if rich.

Q.-Is there any reason why, if they grow them in Macao, they cannot grow them

here?

A.-I think in a great measure that you want to give the Chinese an object lesson. If the native finds that by doing a certain thing he can make profit at it he will soon do it.

Mr. Francis.I don't think John Chinaman wants much instruction in the art of gardening and growing things.

Mr. Ladds.—If he sees it is a paying thing all he wants is a start.

Mr. Osborne.—What do you think would be a practical method with reference to cattle ?

A.--Let the Government purchase a number of calves at so much a head, and distribute them over the various districts to every head man in each village and to deserving people in those villages, one to each, under a distinct understanding that they are to raise them for the Hongkong market and when they are full grown and sold that they are to repay to the Government the money which the animal cost.

Mr. Osborne.--Would you brand each animál?

A. You might.

Q. Where would you buy these calves?

A.--You would get them up country.

Q.-Could anything be done in the way of pig-breeding?

Mr. Francis.--Excuse me, Mr. Orborne, but would this pay John Chinaman? A.-It would pay him very well. He could buy the calf at $10 and if it is a good breed and it grows and fattens well in two and a half or say three years it ought to be worth $40 to him.

Mr. Osborne.--He only wants a trial and he could keep it on the hillsides?

Mr. Ladds. Having given them an object lesson like that they would see that it was good business and they would say, we had better try it, if the calf lives, we have only to pay $10 while we eventually get $40. Having done that people next door, and his friends say that is good business, we will try it too; whereas they would never dream of it unless you give them an object lesson and a start.

Mr. Osborne.-There is no other market they can take it to?

A. No, I don't think so.

Q.-Could the same thing not be done with pigs?

A.-I think that could be met better by private enterprise. Get people to start pig-farming.

Mr. Francis.-What inducement would you hold out to a Chinaman to start these farms?

A-Profits.

Q.--In what shape; how would you set about it?

A.-I should point out to them the large profits which they would make, or which they ought to make.

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( 43 )

Mr. Osborne. We might give them a tract of ground.

Mr. Ladds.—I never think of these things very much because it is so utterly useless bringing forward a scheme like that to Government.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-Don't you think Chinese would rather keep cattle in pure Chinese territory?

A.-I don't know. I think if I was a Chinaman I would rather try them in European territory because you know there is no such thing as squeeze here. You see in Chinese territory they never know what tax or duty is to be put upon them.

Q.-Do you know that there is any tax in China on a man keeping a cow?

A.-No, but they tax them when exported.

Mr. Fung Wah Chün.-The Chinese Government are very free with these people. They can

'do anything they like with their cattle, whereas with their cattle in British territory when a cow goes sick they have an Inspector constantly poking about.

When a cow goes sick in Chinese territory the owner sells it and no one says a word.

Mr. Osborne.-There is no harm in trying the experiment.

Mr. Ladds. They do raise cattle in Kwangsi specially for the Hongkong market. Mr. Maitland. Would it not be a good thing to get an experienced gardener to show them how to grow potatoes?

Mr. Francis.-John Chinaman does not want anybody to show him how to garden.

Mr. Osborne.-That is all very well. No one is a better gardener than a China- man, but he is so beastly conservative.

Mr. Francis. You only want to hold out some inducement to him to show him that he will make a profit out of it.

Mr. Osborne.-We want a certain amount of quality. If he has a carrot he will let it grow a foot long because it will weigh a little more, but then the thing is not fit to eat. If he had plucked it half the size it would have been a good carrot. They always grow for weight.

Mr. Ladds.--Then there is the seed. He always grows from the same seed.

Mr. Osborne.-I have for years past got a quantity of seed from Sutton's and distributed it among gardeners in the Colony with the hope of introducing them. We offer to buy up the produce. Out of $1.50 worth of seeds each year I think $1.25 worth is wasted. They simply won't take the trouble to grow something new.

Mr. Marshall. I should like to ask Mr. Ladds one or two questions if in order. He tells us that the price of rice, oil and one or two other things has increased by about 100 per cent. How does he arrive at that?

A.-I might be wrong. I have no figures. It is simply from memory.

Q.-I understand that your main suggestion for improving the supply of provi- sions and possibly decreasing the cost was that there should be more Markets?

A. Yes, I think there ought to be more Markets.

Q.--Have you thought of free Markets at all?

A.--I don't think it is any hardship to a man to have to pay a fair rent calculated on a certain percentage of the cost of the building.

Q.-There are certain people who bring produce over from the mainland to sell to these people who hold stalls in the Markets. Don't you think these people would get a better price for their products if they were established in a special Market without

( 44 )

paying any rent? Don't you think that would decrease the price of the different articles produced on the mainland-eggs and chickens and so on? If we had a regular market day, don't you think we should arrive at the actual value of the products?

A.-I don't think it would work, for the simple reason, the market people would go and secure the products before they reached here.

Mr. Francis. You stated distinctly, just now, when you were asked what was the reason of the increase in the price of pork, that you did not see that the Pork Guilds interfered in the slightest degree with pork?

A.-That is pork only. There are lots of other guilds. I said I had no knowledge- of their doing so. They might do it.

Mr. Marshall.-Don't you think that suggestion of mine would bring pressure to bear on the guilds so that they might reduce their prices?

A. It would if you could carry it out, but they would square the people before they get here. You can't beat the guilds. They run everything.

Q.-Then you think the price of food-stuffs is kept up by a combination ?

A.-Possibly.

Q.-Don't you think the system of letting out the stalls helps that combination ? A.-In what way?

Q. By concentrating them in one place where they could be watched and regu- lated by the guild?

A. The guild would control them just the same wherever they were.

Mr. Marshall.-Doesn't it look like as if there was a combination in the Market to- prevent people getting stalls?

A.-No. In that particular instance it was done because they did not want to be

These vacant stalls were in the middle of the block.

shifted.

Mr. Maitland.-What is the usual rent of stalls?

A.-It varies very much indeed. I recommended that this row should be moved. They said they did not want to be shifted.

Mr. Francis.-Do they use them?

A.-I suppose so.

Mr. Osborne.--Why do the Government not charge them the full price?

Mr. Marshall.--They arranged that they would not bid for them and thus got them. for $1.

Dr. Hartigan. Mr. Ladds, you can tell us about the Slaughter-house. It was farmed out.

Now do you think that leads to any squeezing of the owners of the

animals ?

A.-I don't think so.

-Q. -And the farmer has no means of interfering in any way with the routine? It is directly under the supervision of your office?

A. Yes, such as it is. I have not enough men.

vise it the whole of the 24 hours.

The man on duty has to super-

Q. -So it is quite possible that things could go on without the European supervisor knowing?

A.--It is not very probable that anything does go on without his knowledge. It is possible, of course, as the man must have some sleep. It really ought to be run by the Government.

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45)

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Mr. Maitland.--What does the farmer pay?

A.-It is let by tender. The tender this year is, I think, 45,000 dollars.

Dr. Hartigan. How does that pay him?

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A. He gets it back by fees. It pays him very well.

Mr. Francis.--How does he make out his $15,000 a year. 23,000 cattle at 40 cents each would bring him $9,200; his 17,000 sheep would bring him $5,000 odds.

Mr. Ladds. Then there are his 156,292 swine. Besides these fees which he charges he has other things. He gets the blood and hair.

Dr. Hartigan. You told us that all the stalls were put up for auction. Did not the man we had yesterday tell us he was only paying $10 a month? In your report you give us cases of where the stalls were as much as between $60 and $70 a month.

A. That is in the Western. It is said that Sing Kee rents the Hongkong But- chery in conjunction with some European. There was a European had something to do with it some years ago but not now to my knowledge.

Q. How is it possible that he should have got this stall for $10 and the other for $35 when you say there are 10 stalls vacant just now?

A.- He is not obliged to pay that. He offers that sum.

Q-If he didn't offer that, he wouldn't get the stall apparently?

A. They pick their positions. It is the first stall nearest the entrance that the Chinese like best.

Q. Is this stall of Sing Kee's at $10 inferior to the one at $35 ?

A.-Not much.

Q.-If there is so little competition for stalls as you say, how do you say that we want so many more Markets?

A.—I think there are enough stalls for neat, but not enough for vegetables, poultry, fish and the like.

Q. With regard to these vegetables you told us that there were ten vacant stalls in the Market. Did you recommend to the Government to give up these ten at $1 each and they refused?

A. Yes.

Q.-You told us just now about the Hongkong Butchery. Yesterday's witness, Li Sing, told us he had been 21 years in the Market and no European had ever had anything to do with it. Is that true?

A.-Yo.

Mr. Francis. I know of my own knowledge that Howell of the Supreme Court was connected with the Hongkong Butchery some years ago. I forget the name of the European who was working along with him.

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Dr. Hartigan. As far as your knowledge goes, do you know if there is any European having any interest in any stall in the Market at present?

A.-No.

Q.-Have you ever heard that Mr. Howell made any statement openly in the Hongkong Hotel ?

times.

A.-I never go to the Hongkong Hotel.

-Was it well known that he had something to do with this butchery business? A.—I have no personal knowledge except that I have seen him in there several

( 46 )

Mr. Osborne. Is that legitimate?

A. He is a Government servant.

Dr. Hartigan. With regard to vegetables supposing you spend money on the New Territory the guilds may square the people on the New Territory before they bring over the products. Do you think anything of that sort goes on with regard to beef coming from Canton district?.

A.—I have heard sundry rumours of people who put up prices and I have heard that several Europeans have been interested in the beef trade here, I have also seen something in the papers about it, but I have never had any actual evidence.

Q.-Have you of your own knowledge any idea of the price of a beast up in Lien Chau or any of these places? Can you give us any idea of the money that is put into the farmer's fists for his cattle on the fields?

A.-I could find out if the Government instructed me to do so.

Mr. Osborne.-Would you have to go up there to find out?

A.-I would send some one. I will tell you a reason why I think there is a great deal in what you say. Some time ago I was anxious to buy a few cattle on my own account with the idea of breeding and I wanted something from a particular district. The breeders said they would bring them down to me at very much less price than I could buy them here but they seemed very anxious that I should not send a man there to buy. It seemed to me that they were probably buying at a very much lower price and did not want me to find out.

Dr. Hartigan. The men who bring them down are the butchers' men?

A-Sing Kee is the biggest man and the other man is Tung Wing.

-Sing Kee told us yesterday, if I recollect aright, that the man who collected and brought these cattle to him was not his man or agent?

A.-Sing Kee would tell you anything. I am quite sure of that except in the case of the cattle from Hoifung. These are brought down by the owners themselves.

Mr. Francis. The impression given by Sing Kee was that the men who brought the cattle to Canton were middlemen. They sold them to middlemen in Canton who brought them up here.

Dr. Hartigan. Do you believe that Sing Kee is the real man at the head of that stall?

sales?

A.-I don't know.

Q-Is he able to value cattle?

A. Yes, he is a very good judge of cattle.

Q.-As far as you think he is not the man?

A. He may be a go-between.

Mr. Francis.-Which is supposed to be the Hongkong Butchery?

A.—A man named Campbell, I believe.

Q-Does this man Campbell work in the Market and look after the meat and

A.-I have not seen him lately.

Dr. Hartigan.--You said as far as you believed, there was an unlimited supply. Can you give us any reason for that?

A. They have always been very careful at the Depôt.

( 47 )

Q. If you had sent up to get more cattle than were in the Depôt you could have got them without difficulty I suppose?

A.-Oh yes, I think so.

Q. Are there any other districts besides these?

A.-The majority of the cattle come from the West River, the North River, from Hoifung and a few from Hoihow.

Q. -One of the witnesses told us that the Hoifung cattle were by far the best cattle. He told us also that these cattle could only be brought down here at a certain season. Is that correct?

A.—They are brought in all the time. day before yesterday and early this morning. land, in the N. E. Monsoon by junk.

There were very fine lots came down the In the S. W. Monsoon they come over-

Q.-Do you think there is any necessity to improve the means of communication so as to make it easy for these men to bring down the cattle?

A. Yes. In my opinion the pirates have a good deal to do with cattle being scarce from time to time.

-When the Chairman asked you about the general stalls you were evidently against them. It could be quite possible to supervise them, would it not?

A.-I don't think it could be possible. They are absolutely outside the Market.

Mr. Francis. Is there any necessity for a wholesale meat market?

A.-I don't think that would do in an Asiatic town.

Dr. Hartigan.--We have heard evidence about the difficulty of feeding cattle in the New Territory and one of the points was that the grass that would be required to feed them was all used up in smoking and burning bottoms of junks. Is that so?

A.-That is all rubbish.

Q.-And there is no reason why we should not have cattle on the New Territory?

A.--Not a bit. I say the New Territory ought to provide 10,000 cattle.

Q.-That would bring the consumer into much more direct contact with the grower?

A. Yes. At the present time the producer of cattle in many cases is 200 or 300 miles away.

Mr. Francis.-Would you not be inclined to say that that is an argument against it? That shows that the supply of cattle in the rich country round Canton is compa- ratively small when they have to go so far to get the cattle they want.

A. It certainly shows that the supply is very poor, but it does not prove that it need be. It is simply want of enterprise or more likely want of capital.

Mr. Osborne. In regard to the Slaughter-house who actually kills the beast-the man who owns the beast, or his agent, or the farmer?

A. The regulations provide that the farmer has to provide butchers.

Q. It is not likely that the farmer is in league with these butchers to make it difficult to get these cattle slaughtered. They could easily put it off for an hour or two ?

A.-No.

Q. Why?

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A.-Simply because they kill their own cattle. The farmer is bound by his contract to slaughter every beast that comes there, but if the owner says I want to kill it myself, he gets leave to do so.

Q-The owners do slaughter them themselves then?

A.-Mostly. The farmer doesn't interfere. He gets the same money and doesn't have to pay the butcher.

2.- Do you refuse many cattle as unfit for food?

Mr. Francis.-What percentage would you say?

A.-It depends a good deal. Would it not be better if you put down these im- portant points on paper and I could tell you correctly?

Mr. Osborne.-Do you know what becomes of the cattle that are rejected ?

A.-I am afraid that they take a good many of them over to Kowloon and slaughter them there amongst the hills and then bring them back as beef.

Dr. Hartigan. What is supposed to become of the beast when you turn him away from the Depôt ?

A. They are supposed to be taken out of the Colony.

Mr. Osborne.-Are they actually put on to a junk?

A.-Sometimes the Inspector sees them put on a junk.

Dr. Hartigan. Who knows nothing about the junk I suppose?

A. We know nothing of them after that.

Mr. Osborne.-Why are they rejected-diseased ?

A. Not necessarily. They may be too emaciated.

Q --These cattle could be fed up on the New Territory ?

A. Yes.

Dr. Hartigan. Has a doctor to go and say they are unfit for human food? A.-That is part of my duty.

Mr. Francis.-I think both these butchers in their evidence said that the rejection of cattle adds considerably to the price of meat. Do you think it has that effect?

A.-Not the slightest.

Q.--Suppose a man brings down 100 head of cattle at a certain expense and say 25 of them are rejected and have to be sent back or otherwise disposed of, that would certainly increase the cost?

A. He knows his chances before he starts just as you would buy a lottery ticket. Mr. Maitland. The fact of these two men having a monopoly, will have a good deal to do with the raising of the prices?

A.-There are some very funny things in regard to that. Last year I think the Military contract was 72 cents per pound, yet they charge us in the Market 14 or 15

cents.

Mr. Francis.—What difference would taking a quantity make between the whole- sale and retail ?

A.-Not all that difference. The Military get the whole carcase for 7 or 8 cents per b. and you have to pay 10 cents for your soup meat which is the cheapest meat of all..

th.

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Mr. Maitland. These two men having a monopoly will have a lot to do with keeping up the prices?

A. They may have.

Dr. Hartigan.-Can you suggest anything to encourage butchers to start this business and if there is any reason why they can't do it, tell us what it is?

A. It is the want of capital.

Q.--But these two men say they have no capital at all?

A.-Oh, they all say that. These two men have lots of capital. excellent meat from them, but you have to pay a big price for it.

Dr. Hartigan. They told us there was no Butchers' Guild.

Mr. Ladds.There is a combination if there is not a guild.

You get

Q.-So that it is really the want of capital that prevents other people from going into the business?

A.-I think so.

Mr. Francis.--But there is surely plenty of capital locked up in Hongkong. The Chinese are always ready and willing to put money into any project which promises profit. I should not think there is any difficulty in getting money to set up opposition to these two men if it is wanted?

A. It is very hard to tell the profits. Of course if they can afford to sell to one body meat at 7 and 8 cents a pound then there must be very large profits.

Mr. Francis. Perhaps they can afford to supply the Military with meat at cost price as the contract is for the entire rations.

Mr. Marshall.-The Garrison is paying 10.75 cents now.

Mr. Ladds. I thought they were paying more now. I was told they were paying 12 cents this year.

Dr. Hartigan. Are these men, who you say are making no profit, making a living?

A.-I think you misunderstood me, they all make a good profit.

Q. Are they paying higher or lower rents than Mr. Sing Kee? A.-They pay higher rents than Sing Kee most of them.

Mr. Osborne.-Sing Kee told us that he had been losing so steadily that he was going to give up the business.

Mr. Ladds.--You want to get the Market Rent books to find out what rents are paid.

Mr. Osborne. We can't find out why it is that only these two men can become large butchers. Can you tell us?

A.--There isn't very much scope for others. One man gets one contract and the other man gets the other. There is not much left for any one else.

Mr. Osborne.--Do you think any good could be done by having an intelligent European who speaks Chinese to go to the sources of supply, or a responsible Chinese to go to the sources of supply and find out the original prices of the cattle and where they come from?

A. In that case it would be necessary to send a European because if you send a Chinaman he would tell everybody what he had come for. I could find it out easily enough if the Government would give me the necessary authority.

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Mr. Francis. Assuming you were asked to do this what would be about the cost? A.-Probably about $100.

Mr. Osborne.-I mean a prominent man whose business it would be to go to the sources of supply once or twice a year.

Mr. Ladds. You could only send him once. You could not do it twice with the Chinese. The guild would be there next time.

Mr. Osborne. We might try it once. We might ask the Government to do this. Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-We want to know something. Better intimate to the Government to do it at once.

Mr. Francis. Do you know any man you could usefully send-a man who could get the information we want?

A.-Oh

I would appoint one of my own men. yes,

or three places.

here ?

Mr. Osborne.-Where would he have to go?

He would have to visit two

A.-Lien Chau, Hoifung, and perhaps a few other places.

Mr. Osborne.-What we really want is to find out the first cost.

Dr. Hartigan.--Have you any ideas as to the improvement of the breed of pigs

A. I should not suggest it. If you try to improve the native breed of any animals you would probably improve it for the worse. The existing breed is quite good enough if taken care of. You can get no better than the native animal for this locality.

Mr. Francis.-Would it be any advantage to get the English breed of pigs in sub- stitution for the Chinese round-bellied pig?

A.-I would not do much with that either. There are lots of good pigs in China if they were looked after and fed, and the cattle, though small, are good if properly fed and well looked after. One of the best English breeds of pig originally came from China in the Berkshire pig.

Dr. Hartigan.--Have these men on the mainland any good bulls at all?

A.-The ordinary native bull.

Q.-But would it not be advisable to try and get a couple of bulls, good ones?

A.-If you want to do anything in that way you should recommend the Govern-

ment to give me a grant of money to start an experimental farm with.

Mr. Francis. Could you give us any idea of what the first and annual cost of an experimental farm would be ?

A. Yes.

Mr. Osborne.--But where would you propose to have it?

A.-On the Island of Lantau. There is a very fine piece of land there.

Mr. Fraucis.Your model farm would include what?

A.--Cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and a garden. Experimental farms as a rule are

not paying concerns. They may be very expensive.

Q. And any profit out of them is very indirect?

A. Yes.

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Mr. Francis to the Members of the Commission.--Should we ask Mr. Ladds to furnish us with such a scheme?

All the Members.-Yes.

Mr. Ladds.--There could be much good done in the improvement of dairy cattle. I cannot afford to try the experiment else I would have gone into it years ago, myself.

Dr. Hartigan. As regards the rinderpest do you think that has much to do with the present prices?

A.-I do not think so, because it is endemic here.

Mr. Francis.-This disease has been a constant quantity. It has affected the supply this year not more than last year?

Mr. Ladds.-Yes.

Mr. Francis to the Members.-Is there anything else you would like to ask Mr. Ladds or is there anything else you would like him to provide us with in writing?

The members.-No.

Mr. Ladds was thanked for his attendance, and the inquiry adjourned.

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EVIDENCE GIVEN BY MR. J. DYER BALL, ACTING ASSISTANT

REGISTRAR GENERAL OF HONGKONG, BEFORE THE

FOOD COMMISSION, JULY 17TH, 1900.

The Chairman (Mr. Francis).-You are Acting Assistant Registrar General at present, Mr. Ball?

A. Yes.

Q.-May I ask how long you have been in the Registrar General's Department? A. Since the 1st of September, 1898--first as Acting Registrar General and then as Acting Assistant Registrar General.

Q.-The Registrar General's Department has the letting of the Markets in the Colony, we have been told?

A. Yes.

Q.-Does it exercise any other control over them or interfere in any other way with the management of the Markets except in so far as the letting of the stalls is concerned ?

A.-Market people approach us with petitions about anything they want attend- ing to and we make enquiries about anything which we understand requires seeing to, and in that way we do more than simply let the stalls.

Q.-So that if any one has any complaint to make in connection with the work- ing of the Markets he would not to go to the Sanitary Board or to the Market Inspector but would complain to the Registrar General's Department?

A. They might in the first instance go to the Market Inspector, but they would go to the Registrar General ultimately. In many cases they might go direct to the Registrar General.

-Are the Market Inspectors for any purpose under the Registrar General ? A.-I cannot say they are.

Q.-Will you tell us what is the system under which the stalls in the Market are let? First, is there any Ordinance regulating the matter?

A.--Yes, there is.

Q.--What is the Ordinance?

A.--Seventeen of 1887, Part three.

-What is the short title of the Ordinance? What is it called?

A.-The Cattle Diseases, Slaughter-houses, and Markets, 1887.

Q. What are the sections that regulate the jurisdiction of the Registrar General ? A.-Part three deals with the Markets, and certain sections in that give the Registrar General power and authority to act.

Q. Are there any rules and regulations made under that Part three of that Ordin- ance ?

A.--Yes.

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Are these in force now as they stand in the book.

A. Yes.

Q.-What is the date of these?

A.--The seventh of May, 1888; but there have been some alterations since.

Q.--Has the Ordinance itself been amended in respect of Part three, or does it stand unamended?

A. Yes, unamended.

Q.--Have the Bye-laws been amended ?

A.-The Bye-laws have had certain sections repealed and others substituted and so on, but not to any extent.

Q.--Were they repealed and amended by Ordinance or by subsequent Bye-laws? A.-By subsequent Bye-laws.

-Can you give us the dates of these amended Bye-laws?

A.-Some of the substituted Bye-laws do not appear here. There is a substitution for No. 5 for which see Government Gazette 1895, page 1057. Then section 14 is repealed; for the substitution see Government Gazette, 1895, page 1065.

Q.-Any other?

A.-There were 28 of these Bye-laws originally. Then a 29th was added and a 30th. See Government Gazette, 1899, page 21.

Q.--Anything else?

A.-There are certain Bye-laws here as to the conditions and manner of letting Market buildings.

1890.

Q. What is the date of the Bye-laws?

A.-Approved by the Governor in Council, 21st May, and gazetted 7th June,

Q. What are these Bye-laws-would you mind referring to the principal Bye- laws for me?

A.-They are as follows:-

"1. All Market buildings shall be let without fine or premium either from month to month or for a term of years for such rent as shall appear to the Registrar General just and reasonable. Appeals from the Registrar General's decision shall be decided by the Governor-in-Council.

"2. If the letting is from month to month, a month's notice of its discon- tinuance shall be given either by the Registrar General or the lessee, as the case may be.

"3. If the letting is for a year or more, no notice of the expiration of the

term shall be necessary.

4. No Market building shall be let for any term exceeding five years with-

out the approval of the Governor.

"3. All rents of Market buildings shall be paid to the Registrar General in

advance within the first seven days of each month.

"6. No lessee of any Market building shall, without the lessor's consent in writing, use such building for any purpose other than that for which it is let, nor shall he assign, underlet, or part with the possession of such building, nor in any way alter or add to it, or suffer it to fall into disrepair.

"7. Any breach of regulations five or six shall render the lessee liable to

the forfeiture of his lease."

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Q.-They have not been added to ?

A.-No.

Q. How many Markets are there in the Colony?

A. There are six in the city and four outside the city.

Q.-Dealing with the city ones, are any of them let as a whole ?

A.-No

Q.-They are let in stalls?

A. Yes.

-Are they as a rule let by the month or by the year ?

A.-I think principally by the month.

Q.-The fixing of the rent is entirely at the discretion of the Registrar-General's Department?

A. Yes.

Q.-So far as you know, has the Department been acting upon any definite prin- ciple in fixing the rent?

A.-Well, the rents are let by tender.

Q.-There is a competition between the applicants, and he who offers the highest rent, other things being equal, would get it?

A.—That has been the general rule; there are some exceptions up to now--up to recently.

Q.-Has it been altered recently?

A.-No; it has not been altered recently in the way of getting tenders, but there is a certain amount of discretion used by the Registrar-General as to what he thinks is best for the public and best for the Government in the letting of these stalls.

Q.-There is nothing to prevent his letting them by competition in the old fashion; but what you mean to say is that recently the Acting Registrar General, or Registrar General, in the exercise of his functions has not been following that out as before?

A. He has been letting by tender, but he has not necessarily taken the highest tender. That has only happened about two or three times.

Q.-The result of that is that one stall may be let for $10 a month and another stall for $35 a month?

A. Yes; it depends on the position of the stall. There is a great deal of differ- ence between them.

Q. It depends upon the number of applicants and that depends upon the position?

A. Yes.

Q.-How many

stalls are there in the Central Market?

A.-288 stalls and shops.

Q-That is on the two floors?

A. Yes, and there are two or three rooms in the side entrances, and two of these are let.

size ?

Q.-What is the difference between a stall and a shop-is there any difference in

A.-A stall ought to be rather different from a shop. A shop is a little larger.

}

Q.-Is it as a matter of fact?

A.It is, to a certain extent.

Central Market has both.

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Some of the Markets have no shops at all; the

Q.-The shops in the Central Market are larger ?

A. Yes.

Q.-Any other difference-in the method of arrangement as to dividing one stall from another?

A. Yes, there is. place. But from what I

Q. How is it they

Of course we had nothing to do with the architecture of the have seen that seems to be the way.

are not all stalls or not all shops?

A.I cannot say. They were divided up in that way originally. I suppose cer- tain men, like those who sell tinned provisions, prefer to have a shop, whilst others, such as those who sell meat or fish, prefer stalls.

Q.-What is the authority for allowing persons who sell tinned provisions in the Market at all?

A.-I am not aware of any authority on that point. I should have to look it up.

Q.-Is it not a fact, Mr. Ball, that really and truly shops of that description have no business in the Market at all considering the original purpose for which the Market was built?

Sokak

A. If you ask me my private opinion I should say they should be outside the Market, but I have never entered into the subject.

Q.-Can you tell us how many of these 288 are shops and how many are stalls? A. Pretty nearly half; I cannot remember the exact figures.

Q. Are there any shops on the lower floor?

A.-I cannot say ; but I think most of those on the lower floor are stalls.

Q.-Does the Registrar General's Department allocate the different stalls--say where the meat stalls and vegetable stalls shall be- or who does?

A. That seems to have been done by the Sanitary Board some years ago. As a general rule the Market has been divided up and different shops and stalls set apart for the sale of certain articles.

Dr. Hartigan. Why do you say the Sanitary Board?

When I was on the Board

we tried to get certain alterations made, but we were not successful.

The Chairman.--I do not remember the details, but I remember that the Sanitary Board did make some allocation of different stalls for different purposes.

Dr. Hartigan. But I remember we recommended things and they were not

accepted by the Public Works Department?

A. I do not say that this is so in every Market.

The Chairman.-So far as you know the Registrar General does not exercise that function ?

A.-It has been done in some of the Markets-in one at least that I know of-but I think our department prefers to have this done by the Sanitary Board. If there is any dispute we at once try to get the Sanitary Board to take the matter up.

-M

Q.-I suppose a number of stalls are told off as meat stalls, and a number as vegetable stalls, and a number as fish stalls; is there any special object or reason why

( 56 )

they should be told off in that way? Why should not a man choose and rent his stall and use it for any purpose he thinks fit?

A.--I should rather fancy the Chinese prefer to have the different commodities sold in different parts of the Market. And presumably it is more convenient for the purpose of inspection.

Mr. Marshall.-How many meat stalls are there?

A.-There are 26 beef and mutton shops in the Central Market.

Q. What are the extremes of rent paid?

A.-The rents of the first ten are $35.75-that is the highest--$20, $26, $15, $10, $15, $8, $8.50, $9, $8.

The Chairman.-Suppose we take the fruit stalls. How do they run?

A.-There are 20 fruit shops, and the rents of the first ten are $21, $21, $21, $21, $18, $20, $16, $16, $10, $20.

Q.-The meat and fruit stalls are on the upper floor?

A. Yes.

Q-What is the next classification?

A.-Tinned meats.

Q.-What do you mean?

A.-The compradore's places.

Q. How many shops have they-they are shops, I suppose?

A. Yes; there are 16.

Q.-What are the rents of the first ten?

A.—$14, $30, $21, $21, $16, $21, $20, $21, $15, $15.

Q.-What comes next?

A. The poultry shops.

-Are they all bespoken, do you know?

A.--I believe they are.

Q. How many of them are there?

A.-Thirty.

Q. How do the rents run?

A.-The rents of ten are $27.60, $27, $15, $20, $20, $25.20, $25.68, $27.60,

$27.60, $29.15.

Q. What comes next?

A.—The vegetable shops.

--Are they above or below?

They are below, I believe.

the

How many of them are there?

A.--Thirty-eight.

-How do the rents run?

A. The first six at $19 each and the others at $13.12, $26, $12.75, $19.

Q. What comes next?

A. The wholesale fish shops.

Q.-How many of them are there?

A.-Eight.

Q.-How do the rents run?

( 57 )

A.-$15, $20, $13, $20, $20, $20, $8, $20.

Q.-And what comes next?

A.-The pork stalls.

Q.--How many are there?

A.--Fifty.

Q. How do the rents run?

A.-The rents of the first ten are $15, $13.45, $17.21, $15, $10, $15.86, $1.50, $1.50, $1.50, $4.05.

Q. What comes next?

A.-Vegetables.

---Another lot of vegetable stalls; you have given us one lot.

A.-Those are shops. There are 50 vegetable stalls, and the rents of the first ten are $8, $5, $2.10, $3, $16.25, $15.28, $2.85, $1.50, $1.50, $8.80.

Q. What comes next in your category?

A.-Fish stalls.

Q. How many of these are there?

A.-Fifty-four.

Q. And how do the rents run?

A.-$11, $11, $6, $7, $14.50, $11, $6, $5.05, $12, $10.

Q-Does that exhaust the lot in the Central Market ?

A. Yes.

Q-As to the two separate rooms, are they let at a special rate for a special purpose?

A They are let at $32, and $30, for sundries, and two for vegetables at $20 each.

―.com

Q. What is the whole rental received from the Central Market?

A.—$3,445.14 was received in June of this year.

Q. When was the last general letting of these stalls ?

A.-

They are let whenever a stall is vacant. Notice is put up at the end of the month at the Market where it is vacant and tenders asked for.

Q.-Is there much competition for a meat stall ?

A.-It depends a good deal upon where the stall is. Sometimes stalls will go better than at other times. For instance at Chinese feasts pork stalls will go very well. Then it depends very much upon the situation of the stall in the Market.

Q. Is there much giving up ?

A.-Not a great deal considering the number of stalls. There are several stalls vacated each month perhaps in the Central Market.

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-How many

in a month would you say roughly?

A.--I should say two or three or four on the average.

Mr. Maitland.-Different kinds of stalls?

A. Yes.

Q. Are the Government in the habit of giving notice to people to quit their stalls?

A.--No.

Q.-As a general rule stalls are only vacant by the will of the tenant?

A. Yes. Unless it happens that it appears that a stall is not paying sufficiently. Then a certain percentage is put on, and the stall-holders almost invariably accept anything of the sort.

The Chairman.--When in the opinion of the Registrar General's Department a stall is not bringing in as much as it ought to do he will put something on to the rent and give notice to the stall-holder?

A. Yes.

www.doc.com

Q. On what principle or on whose advice does the Registrar General base his conclusion that a stall is not bringing in as much as it ought to do? Is he told by a competitor--by someone who wants the stall?

A.--He forms his conclusion very much by the way stalls are letting whether certain stalls are paying less than they would pay if put up for tender. Occasionally, stalls change hands without tendering.

-How does that happen?

A.--Well, of course the Registrar General has power to do what he likes about it, and if a man dies sometimes the Registrar General considers it his duty to let the family carry on or let the brother take it up.

Mr. Maitland.--Are there any stalls leased?

A. Yes.

Q.-For a term of years?

A. We can lease for a term of years and occasionally we do lease for a year.

Q. How many stalls in the Central Market are under lease?

A. I cannot say off hand how many are leased for more than a month's time.

Q.-About how many?

A.--I should say about 20.

Q.-Will you see what your book says about No. 1 beef stall?

A.--It is put down as leased.

Q-Does it not say for what period?

A.--It is not stated here.

Q. What is the rent?

A.-$35.75.

Q.--Look at No. 5.

A.-it is put down as monthly, and Lee Sing appears as the tenant, and he pays $10 a month.

( 59 )

-How is it there is such a difference between the rents of the two stalls?

A.--Probably the positon is the reason.

Q. Why is one man granted a lease and another man not?

A.-Well, sometimes if a man takes a stall in a Market as we do not want to be chopping and changing we ask him if he will enter into a lease for more than a month. The Chairman.--Though you do not care to let a stall by the month you would not refuse to do so?

A.-No, but if a man would take a year's lease we should prefer it.

Mr. Maitland.--It is the general idea of the Government to get as much out of the Markets as they can?

A.-I do not know that it is.

The Chairman.-Are there any stalls in the Central Market unlet?

A.-Very few; there is always a good demand for stalls in the Central Market. Q-Do you have the photographs of the stallholders?

A. Yes.

Mr. Maitland. Do you know that they are really the men who carry on the business?

A. That is what I do not know positively.

The Chairman.-Is the Inspector supplied with copies so that he can see whe- ther persons at the stall are the same?

A. We do not supply him with copies, but they are put up at the stalls.

Q.-Well it has been reported that it is a practice in the Market for a man to rent a stall from the Government for $20, or $10, or $8 a month and to sub-let it for a greater amount. Have you any reason for believing that such a practice exists?

A. Such a system does exist.

Are there no means of checking it ?

A. We try to check it as much as we can.

Q-To what extent does it exist? How many stalls in the Market are in that -condition ?

A.—I cannot say; it is only when there is perhaps a little dispute that we hear about such a case.

Q.-But have you no means of effectually checking it?

A. Well, we inspect the stalls and see if the men whose photographs we have are present there. Occasionally they are called up to the office.

Q. Of course notice has to be given for them to attend on a certain day, and the right man marches up, and you have no means of knowing whether he has been in the -stall for the last three months or not?

A. We do not give them notice; we send for them.

Q-But whether he is actually the person doing business at the stalls or not you

have no means of knowing?

A. If we have any suspicions we send and make enquiries.

Mr. Maitland. Have you been able to trace any particular case?

A.-Yes.

( 60 )

The Chairman.--What have you done in such a case?

A.-I believe it has been found that the most effective plan is to take the stall or shop from the man, and if the man who has informed is a good man and wishes for the place to let him have it. It acts as a sort of reward for giving us information and as a punishment to the man who has sub-let.

Mr. Maitland. Has that been done lately?

A.-Oh yes; there have been several cases lately.

The Chairman.---And is the man who has broken the rules by sub-letting debar- red from getting a stall in the Market again?

A.- No.

Q. When you re-let the stall to the informer what rent do you charge him—the higher rent at which the stall was sub-let to him or the rent paid to the Government?

A. We generally charge him what he was paying. These cases generally come out in this way.

A man comes up and says so and so, the man who rents the stall or shop, is raising his rent. He is unwilling to pay the higher amount and comes and informs us. The practice has been to let the man continue to pay the rent he has been paying.

Q.-The higher rent he has actually been willing to pay?

A. Yes.

Q.-

-The effect of that is steadily to raise the price of the stalls in the Market ?

A. Yes.

Q.-You take advantage of the man having been willing to pay this enhanced rent and charge him it?

A.-We look upon it in this way, that if a man has been paying this rent for a year or two he has no ground for complaint.

Mr. Maitland. What is the biggest profit a man has made by sub-letting?

A.—I cannot remember at present. Perhaps $3 or $4, and sometimes $5 or $6.

The Chairman.-I think there have been cases mentioned where a man has paid three or four times the rent charged by the Government?

A.-I should say two or three times as much has been charged occasionally. We try to discourage this as much as we can.

Q-Is there any guarantee when a man takes a stall for the payment of the rent or good conduct, or anything of that sort? Is he secured in any way?

A.-Occasionally we take two or three months' rent in advance.

Q.-But there is no guarantee or security?

it is open market.

A.-No; it is

Q. What is the sum realised by the ten Markets in the year?

A.—I cannot tell you. Our annual report for the year would show and find it in the Gazette.

you will

Mr. Maitland.--Can you tell us what the receipts were for June last year?

A. I have only this year's book here.

Q.-Then give us the amounts for this year.

A.-January $3,423.24; February $3,423.24; March $3,448.90; April $3,450.50;

May $3,450.50; June $3,445.14.

Q. How does that compare

A.-I cannot tell you that. Gazette. The Market Rent Roll Tai Kok Tsui.

( 61 )

with five years ago?

You will find all these You will find all these particulars published in the

has increased. For instance there is a new Market at

The Chairman.--Have you yourself ever had occasion to consider this question of Markets, on what principles they should be managed and what objects they have in view?

A.-I have not studied the question.

Q.-About how many stalls are vacant in the whole of the ten Markets ?

A.-Well, there are some stalls in one or two Markets which have never been let.

Q.That is in the Western Market?

A.--No; there is never a stall vacant there.

Q-Do you know any reason why these ship chandlers should be allowed in the Market? If they were cleared out and compelled to take shops outside as other trades- men in the same way do there would be far more room in the Market for other people.

A.-I do not know the reason they were allowed in, but I suppose it was because it was thought to be convenient for any one going to the Market to be able to get every- thing one wanted at the same place.

Mr. Maitland. Would it not be possible to impose some penalty if anyone were found sub-letting his stall?

A.-I think it is against the Ordinance, but you cannot get the Chinese to give evidence in Court unless there is some very strong feeling of enmity against the holder of the stall.

The Chairman.-You say there is not enough Market accommodation ?

A.-No.

Q-For what particular class of goods is there most need for extension-meat or poultry or fish?

A.-There are a great many vegetable hawkers in the streets, and if they are all to be put in the Markets you will want a great many more vegetable stalls.

Q.-Is there any advantage in having butchers in the Markets?

A.-The advantage of having them in the Markets is that they are under supervi- sion and cleanliness is enforced.

Q.-Take the case of the ordinary Chinese shop where rice, fire-wood, and other commodities are sold-there are hundreds of these in the city-why should not a vege- table shop be just as well looked after in the streets as these shops are?

A.—We have not a sufficient sanitary staff at present to look after them.

Q.-I suppose you have to pass regulations that these shops are to be built in a certain way-concreted and so on?

A. If they were kept clean it would relieve the congestion of the Markets to a great extent.

Q.-Who sees to the cleanliness of the Market?

A. The Inspector.

}

--And whom is he under ?

A. He is specially under Mr. Ladds.

( 62 )

Q-Has Mr. Ladds at his disposal any staff to see to the cleansing of the Market or are those who do this under the Public Works Department?

A.--The Inspector is under Mr. Ladds, but I do not know where his salary is paid. Q-Is there any reasonable reason why the Registrar-General's Department as such should have anything to do with the letting of the Markets at all ?

A.-I do not know of any special reason.

Q.-So far as you know the management and control of the Markets, including the letting of the stalls, might be put into the hands of any one of the departments?

A.-Yes; except for one reason, and that is the stall-holders are Chinese and the Registrar-General's Department has officers who can speak to the Chinese in their own language, and the Chinese can come to them about any trouble or anything of that sort. That is the only reason I know.

-But supposing the letting of the stalls was in the hands of the Public Works Department, the same as the letting of any other Government building, the Registrar- General's Department could exercise precisely the same function of Protector of Chinese that they exercise now?

A. Yes; but the Chinese have an idea that their interests are better looked after by the Registrar-General's Department. The mere letting of the stalls and so on could easily be done by some other department, I should think.

Mr. Maitland. Is there any other description of building which you rent?

A. We rent the laundries.

Mr. Marshall.-Is more than one stall in the Market rented by one individual ?

A. Yes, a few are.

Q. How many stalls are let to a guild ?

A. We have nothing of that sort. In the Central Market there are a number of stalls in a bad position, and the beef butchers said they would pay the rents to avoid. their being interfered with themselves by any re-arrangement.

The Chairman.-Do not you think it would be better, Mr. Ball, to have separate Markets for Chinese food supply as distinct from European supply?

A.-There might be separate Markets for pork, but most of the other things in the Market are bought by Europeans and Chinese alike. Pork is different. Of course Europeans, as a rule, do not touch Chinese pork.

Mr. Marshall.--Is there any record kept of the applications for the different stalls?

A. They are kept for a little while, but not for any length of time.

Q. Can you give us any rough idea of the number of applications for vegetable stalls in the Central Market in excess of the supply?

A. That depends very much on the position of the stall. There might be 20 applications for one stall, say in the Western Market. In the outlying Markets there might be no applications at all, or only one or two.

The Chairman.-Do not you think the system of Markets as at present in Hong- kong must considerably tend to stop fair and open competition, say among the butchers?

A. Do you mean have no Markets at all?

Q.-Supposing you had a wholesale Market for meat, and the retail butcher was allowed to have his shop anywhere in town, the same as in London, don't you think there would be greater competition?

( 63 )

A. There would be greater competition, but you would require a larger sanitary staff and constant inspection, and you would have people lying about the meat, and so

I think there are a great many more Markets required.

on.

Q.-The Markets are too far apart?

A.-Some of them are far apart, there is no doubt. The Central Market is a long way from Wanchai.

Q-Is there any other matter about which you could usefully give us information about the Markets or the working of the Markets?

A.-The general opinion seems to be that there is a crying want for more Markets in the city. That seems to be a very important matter.

Q.-To what extent would

you suggest?

A.-I think we need at least two or three more good Markets in the city.

Q.-Do we want twice as much Market accommodation in the city, as we have, or half as much again or four times as much?

A.-I should think we want two or three more Markets.

Q.--Don't you think it would be an advantage on the whole if the rents for the stalls were a fixed and definite amount, so that anyone who wanted a stall could get one without being turned out by having his rent raised ?

A.-If the Government got a sufficient revenue, I suppose it might do.

Q.-Leaving out of account the question of revenue, if the Government let the stalls at a fixed sum don't you think it would be better?

A.--No doubt it would be more convenient if the charge were a fixed one, but I cannot say that I quite see it in that way. I do not think the Market rents affect the price of food. It seems to me the operation of the law of supply and demand. Every- thing is rising. If

If you take up a Chinese newspaper you will see how workmen are striking because everything has increased in price in China.

Q. Has not the high rent paid and the fact that certain tradespeople are not allowed to sell their goods except in the Markets something to do with the high price of food?

A. You say high rents. Some of the rents charged for stalls and shops may appear high, but you must remember that there are others which are very low-some as low as $1.50 in some of the Markets.

Q.-But they are badly placed and no one will go to them.

A.-I was going to say that, and with regard to a fixed rental I question whether the Chinese would like to pay one.

Q.--I do not mean the same rental for every stall, but for every class of stall.

Mr. Maitland.--And then the trouble would be that the Chinese would sub-let?

A.—I do not think reducing the rents of the stalls would cause the price of food to come down.

Mr. Marshall. Have you formed any opinion in your own mind as to why the price of food has gone up?

A.-I think it is the general rise of everything.

The Chairman.-But in your opinion what is the prime cause?

A.--That is very hard to say. There seems to be a multiplicity of causes. Living is higher. The Chinese are taking up with more foreign goods, and if a nation is pro-

(64)

gressing, even though slightly, towards civilisation as we understand it in the West their expenses increase. Then the price of cash has gone up in China, and I suppose the rate of exchange has something to do with it. The overcrowding of Hongkong has raised the rentals of places of residence. Everything has gone up in China itself.

Mr. Maitland. In the case of beef, the increased price is not on account of a com- bination on the part of the dealers?

A.--I have not heard of any combination on the part of the dealers.

Q-Have you formed any opinion as to whether the New Territory could or could not be made to supply us with all the cattle and vegetables we require if proper steps were taken ?

A.-It would supply us with a very large quantity. I cannot say whether it would supply us with all we wanted.

Q.-From your knowledge of the Chinese character which do you think would be the best way of inducing the Chinese, of their own free will, to go in for the cultivation of vegetables, the breeding of cattle, the raising of poultry and all the things we want here?

A.--You might perhaps issue notices among the people over there.

You might perhaps get hold of some of the leading Chinese and imbue them with the importance of the matter and the advantage it would be to their countrymen.

Q.-Would you be in favour of stocking the young farmers with young cattle for breeding purposes ?

A.-It might be tried.

Q.-How do you think it would work? Do you think they would take advantage of the liberality of the Government and apply the cattle to their own use, or honestly endeavour to use them for the purpose of breeding?

A.-I think some security would be needed before anything of the sort was done.

Q.-You know what success the late Horticultural Society had in encouraging the raising of flowers and vegetables?

A.-I suppose you mean we have had more vegetables and flowers grown since

then?

Q.-Yes.

A.-The Chinaman will always do anything if you give him the dollars; there is no doubt about that. If you can only get him to see it; that is the point.

Mr. Maitland.-Have you ever heard of any European having shares in stalls in the Market?

A.-There is none now, but there was a European with a share in a stall in the Market two or three years ago.

Q-Have you ever heard of Mr. Howell, the Court bailiff, having a share in the Hongkong Butchery?

A.-No.

This concluded Mr. Ball's evidence.

( 65 )

EVIDENCE OF MR. A. W. BREWIN, GIVEN BEFORE THE FOOD

COMMISSION, 23rd JULY, 1900.

The Chairman (Mr. Francis).—You were at one period Assistant to the Registrar General?

A. Yes. From March, 1892, to March, 1894, and then from January, 1895, to April, 1897.

Q.--During a considerable portion of the time you were for all practical purposes in charge of the department?

A.-During the last period I had more authority.

Q.-There was a nominal Registrar General there, but you were carrying on the business of the department?

A.—I could not do anything on my own authority, but my recommendations were generally accepted.

Q. -With reference to these Markets, Mr. Brewin, did you see much of the work of the Markets and the system on which they were being let?

A.--I practically had everything to do with that, and these last two years during the summer as well when I have been Acting Registrar General.

Q.-You have been Acting Registrar General too?

A.-Yes, for a few months in 1898 and 1899.

Q.-We would be glad to have your candid opinion as to the working of that

system.

A.Well, it depends upon the Registrar General a good deal. He has full authority to let the Markets as he likes, to fix the terms and conditions.

Q.Are there any rules or principles laid down for his guidance in the manage. ment of the Markets and the letting of the stalls?

A.-There were some rules made at, I think, the time the Market Ordinance was passed and, of course, he is guided to a certain extent by them, although he has been given full authority since then.

Q.-But they don't lay down any principles for the guidance of the Registrar General as to the amount of rent he is to ask?

A.-No.

Q.-Then on what principle did you act in fixing from time to time the amount to be charged for the different Market stalls?

A.-The custom is to put up each stall to tender.

Q.-Practically to auction?

A.-No, it is by sealed tender. When I first went there sealed tenders were presented but after the tenders had been handed in the tenderers were asked whether any one wished to add to his tender. If the stall was a good one the men began to bid against one another and ran the rents up far too high so the practice was put a stop to.

-As I understand is the system that they were to send in offers in writing?

A. Yes.

( 66 )

Q.-How was it advertised and made known to the people that the stalls in the Market were to be let? Is it advertised in the papers?

A.-There is a notice posted up in each Market. I sometimes think it is perhaps not posted up long enough, that there is not sufficient notice given.

Q.-Well, was any means taken to let people outside the Market who might be desirous of getting stalls know that the stalls were to be let?

A.-No.

Q.--Had you general instructions to get as much rent as you possibly could for the Markets, or was there any limit, or did you act on any principle?

www

A. That was the usual principle, but if there was any one had any claim to a stall or shop it was considered.

Q.--That is any member of a deceased stull-holder's family or anything like that? A. Yes, that was the principle.

Q.-To get as much rent out of it as you possibly could ?

A. Yes. But to prevent speculative tenders when I thought a shop was in a very good position and there was likely to be keen competition for it, I used to require the man whose tender was accepted to deposit a sum of money, say three months' rent, as security that he would rent the stall for a year. This deposit acted in two ways. It prevented speculative rents being offered, and it also prevented the Government being ultimately left in the lurch. When a stall became vacant the next man would pay an absurd price for it so as to keep the business to himself for two or three months, then when he had got all his neighbour's business he gave up the stall and the final rent was, of course, very low.

Q.-How did you stop that?

A.-We stopped it by requiring them to keep the stall for a year by depositing a quarter's rent.

Q. Do you know of your own knowledge, Mr. Brewin, whether there was, or was not, much sub-letting? That is the man who got the stall from you went and sub-let it at an enhanced rental to somebody else?

A.-Every now and then cases used to come up of that having been done.

Q.-Do you remember any bad case of that sort ?

A. Yes, I remember a very bad case in Saiyingpun Market, I think. I can't remember the figures. Perhaps the man got it for $10 and sub-let it for $25.

Q.--Was there any means of punishing such men ?

A.-You could only punish them by taking away the shop from them.

Q-Were there regular leases granted, for one, two or three years or more?

A.--No, only monthly leases, but when Mr. Mitchell-Innes revised the Market rents in 1889, he gave the stall-holders a written undertaking that they would not be disturbed for three years if they did not contravene the terms of the lease, and when I had occasion to revise the leases I gave the men the same written promise.

Q.--Then, in fact, they had three years' leases?

A.--A good many of them have three years' leases now.

Q.--There is no formal lease, but there is a written undertaking that so long as they comply with the conditions they won't be interfered with for three years and that the rent won't be increased. Is that what you mean?

A. Yes, that is it. A monthly lease with a written undertaking for a longer period.

(67)

Q.-Does that system prevail in the Central Market?

A.-I think that most of them have it.

Q.-Have you let any of them for a longer period than three

years ?

A.-No, I simply stuck to three years because that was the original term.

I was only Acting Registrar General at the time, but longer leases might be given, I think.

Q.-In the case of a man sub-letting he cancels his agreement?

A. Yes, because it would be against the terms of the lease.

Q.-With reference to the vegetable stalls, Mr. Brewin, is there anything wrong with them in your opinion generally, the manner in which the vegetable and fruit business is managed? You know the complaints about the so-called hawkers?

A.-Well, we want more accommodation in the Western Market for vegetables.

Q.--And the Central, what about it?

A.-I don't think so.

Q. Do you see any reason yourself--I understand you give a good deal of thought and consideration to these matters, Mr. Brewin-is there any reason why people should not be allowed to sell vegetables of every kind all over the town, in the ordinary shops? Meat we can understand being confined to the Markets. It wants close inspection, but is there any reason why vegetables and fruit should not be sold in any part of the town in the shops?

A.-I don't see that it should be confined to the Market.

Mr. Marshall. Do you think many more stalls could be let in the Market than are let at the present time? Supposing there were more stalls do you think they could be let ?

The Chairman.-Supposing the vegetable and fruit stalls were cleared out, do you think there would be a greater demand for them as pork or meat stalls?

A.-No, I don't think so. I think there might be a greater demand for wholesale vegetable shops. I know that two or three years ago we put up some vacant shops to tender as wholesale vegetable shops. We got very high rents for them indeed, something like $20 a month. I don't think you want any more meat stalls because I know that some are vacant.

Q.-But have they not been kept vacant by a sort of combination among the owners of the other meat stalls?

A.-I don't think so.

-Don't you think the rents paid for these Market stalls are very high, Mr. Brewin ?

A.-Some of them pay extraordinary rents. There is one man in the Western Market who used to pay $100 a month for a beef stall.

Q.-Was that the result of competition?

A.-I don't think so. I think that rent was fixed by the Registrar General in 1889.

Mr. Maitland. Was it a very big stall?

A.-Not as regards size.

Mr. Marshall. It was in a very good position, I suppose?

A.--I think it was the only meat stall there. One has been let since at something like $50 in the Western Market.

( 68 )

The Chairman.-The Western District is, I think, very poorly provided with Market accommodation is it not?

A.-I think it is.

Q.-Have you any means of forming an opinion, Mr. Brewin, as to whether or not the present system of letting the Markets and the high charges for the stalls has had any effect on prices of provisions? Don't you think it practically acts as a tax on the sale of provisions?

A. The stall-holders might make it a reason for raising the prices, but I think the Government should get a fair rent for the building.

Q.-But they are getting a fair rent are they not? Three thousand and odd dollars a month for the Central Market?

A. It would be better to extend the Market accommodation than to lower the rents. I think the present system is the only way by which the Government can be sure of getting a proper rent.

Q.-Supposing there was a definite fixed rent for each stall and any man who could provide security for it wanted a fruit or vegetable stall why should he not be able to get it at that fixed rent?

A.--The difficulty is in fixing the rent.

Q.-What you said yourself was that there should be a fair rent to the Govern- ment taking into consideration the cost of the building and its upkeep?

A. Yes, but you must not make it the same for each individual stall because they differ so much. They can pay so much more rent for one stall than they can for another.

Q.-Could they not be valued accordingly, say a small rent for an inferior stall and a bigger rent for a superior stall?

A. Yes, in a Market which has been long established. There would be no difficulty in valuing the Central Market.

Q.-You could arrive at a very good idea as to the relative value of the stalls there and so fix the rent ?

A.-When we first moved into the Central Market it would have been impossible to do that.

-How is the new Market as to accommodation ? Has it completely satisfied all the hopes that were entertained with regard to it as to light, etc.?

A.-There was a complaint as to the light and I went down when I was a member of the Sanitary Board with Mr. Ormsby to inspect the place after dark and we could read perfectly well with the electric light, but, all the same, some of the men who were making up their accounts were using lamps. They perhaps wanted them to inspect the money more closely, but you could read their account books perfectly well. In the shops which may be rather worse lighted there are partitions in between.

Q.-What is the difference between a shop and a stall?

A.-The stall is simply a table.

Q. How is one stall separated from another?

A.-They are not separated at all.

Q. And the shop is partitioned off?

A. Yes.

( 69 )

Q.-How high do these partitions go ?

A.--About as high as that bookcase. [About 7 feet.]

Q. Why are compradores who sell tinned provisions allowed into the Market? What business have they there?

A. They have really no business there. If there was a demand for the stalls by people selling perishable goods they would have to go. But at the old Central Market there were some compradore's shops and when it was about to be pulled down these men were promised that they would get premises in the new Market when it was built. In the Central Market one side was taken up by poultry and, as I found that the poultry men did not want so much accommodation, we allowed the compradores to have some more room.

Q.--Have many new compradores been allowed there who had no claim in conse- quence of their connection with the old Market? or would you say that the compradores there now had claims ?

A.-No, not all of them.

Q-If they were sent out and told to find shops outside would that not leave adequate room in the Central Market?

A.-I don't think the room is wanted in the Central Market.

Q. Are there any compradores in the Western Market?

A.-I don't think there are any. I don't remember.

Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-Does it not happen that the rent of a certain stall is very much higher than that of its next neighbour?

A. Yes, there might be a difference of $10 on the rent of the very next stall $8 any way.

Mr. Maitland. Exactly the same position?

A.-No, the difference in rent is on account of the position.

Q. How is that when they are so close to one another?

When a

A. Of course some difference might be caused in the following way. stall is put up for tender a good deal of the money might be paid for the good-will of the late business, and the difference in that case might not depend upon the position at all,

The Chairman. If that is so the Government should not get that money ?

A.-Well, if the stall is thrown on the Government's hands

Q. We understood from Mr. Ball that sometimes it happened when a stall had been let for a low rent and one or two stalls in the neighbourhood became empty that the Department raised the rents and raised the rent of the man who had been paying the low rent. A man has been paying $10 a month for some time. One or two stalls in his neighbourhood have been put up for tender and a much higher price has been got for them. You don't wait till that man is finished with his stall. The Department

and

Is that so? says. If you don't quit this stall you must pay more.

goes

A.-They don't do that as a rule. The rents were settled by Mr. Mitchell-Innes. In 1898 and 1899, I went over the old rents and compared them with the rents of the new men. When I found that any of the stalls had not got the old occupants in them I raised the rents, but I did not raise them to a rack rent.

Q.-You raised it to the same standard as the new ones?

A.-I think as a matter of fact I raised it half as high. I could not be sure though.

( 70 )

Mr. Fung Wa Chun.-Do you think that the food will be cheaper if the Govern- ment were to reduce the rents ?

A.—I think if the rents of the stalls were reduced below their market value people would sub-let as they used to do.

Q. What do you mean by sub-letting?

A.-If they were to pay the Market rent and offer the business to some one else and pocket the difference between the rent received from these people and the Market rent.

Q.-In your opinion does the present system affect the price of food very much?

A.-No, I don't think it does owing to the way in which food is sold. Food is sold in such small quantities that although you were to reduce the stall rents the pro- portionate reduction on each sale effected would be so small that the stall-keeper could not make it. The reduction of rent whatever it might do with the wholesale trade could not do much to affect the small sales.

Q.-Supposing a stall-keeper wanted to give each of his customers the full benefit of the reduction of his rent?

A.-I don't think he possibly could.

Mr. Marshall.--Have you formed any idea as to the reason for the increase in the provisions ?

A.-I think, perhaps, that we don't get our supplies from a large enough area. Sometimes there is a scarcity and consequently up goes the price.

Mr. Francis. Do you think that the supply is equal to the recently increased demand? Your last reply seems to indicate that the source of supply is not large enough for the increasing demands of the Colony.

A.-I know that they are actually sold out of certain things occasionally. One day I know there was not a pound of mutton left in the Market at one o'clock.

-Have you known that of beef?

A.-I don't know about heef, but I have known it of

eggs.

Q.-Was that during the commencement of the war with the Philippines? A.-I think both happened this year.

Q.-What, in your opinion, has been the increase in the foreign population of Hongkong within the last two years ?

A. I have no idea at all.

Q. Do you think that the Registrar General's returns or the returns of the Sani- tary Board are correct or understated?

A.-You mean the estimated figures? I think they are more likely to be under- estimated than over-estimated.

Q.--Have you seen much of the New Territory?

A.-No, very little.

Q.-Can you help us in any way from your experience with reference to this ques- tion of food supply as to the causes, if any, for this recent very considerable rise, or can you suggest anything by way of providing a larger supply or a larger area from which a supply could be drawn?

A.-I have no suggestion to make.

( 71 )

-First as to the cause, have you any suggestions?

A. The same causes have affected not only Hongkong, but the neighbouring parts of China, and it is not only affecting provisions for Europeans, but food and material used by Chinese. There is no doubt about that.

Q.-Well, what has been the reason of the general rise in the cost of food for Euro- pean and Chinese? Increased demand or short supply or both combined?

A. Yes, but that hardly seems enough.

Q.-What do you think has been the principal cause?

A.-I should like to find out whether the price of copper and silver had anything to do with it.

Q.-You mean cash?

A. Yes.

Q.-Do you know whether there has been any considerable rise in the price of copper cash within the last two or three

years?

A.--I don't know the figures but I feel sure there has been a rise.

Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-Twenty years ago for 10 cents you got 140 cash, ten years ago you got 120, and now you get no more than 96.

The Chairman.-Has there been any decrease within the last two or three years ? Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-Three years ago you got 105 or 106 but now 96 or 97.

Question by Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-Don't you, Mr. Brewin, think the high rents of houses in Hongkong has got something to do with the price of food?

A.-It must of course affect the price of food to a certain extent.

-The Market people have got to live outside?

A. Yes.

Q. And they pay more rent?

A. Yes.

Q.-So that they must charge people higher prices for the food they supply in order to meet their house rent?

A. Yes, they will have to do that.

The Chairman.-We have got to consider that the laying down prices of the dif- ferent things here is higher than it was.-Is that not one of the causes of the increase?

A. That is one of the causes.

Q.-There are causes outside Hongkong, cattle for instance, which have caused the prices to rise?

A.-There are. When the price of rice rises the price of everything in China

There is then less poultry and less pork in the country.

goes up.

Q.-Do you think the cost of rice affects the keeping of pigs and chickens in country places where they live practically on other things than rice?

A.-I am sure of it. It is a sort of extra tax on the people if they have got to pay more for their rice and they won't keep the animals if they have got to buy rice for them.

The Chairman.--I thought chickens in the country were fed without it. Pigs, for instance, are not troubled with much rice at the best of times.

•

(72)

Mr. Marshall. They eat all the refuse though.

Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-Have you got anything to do with coolies?

A.-No.

Q.-You don't know how many coolies pass through the Colony from the country

districts?

A.—I have only heard. I have nothing to do with coolies leaving China and passing through here.

Q.-With so many coolies leaving the people would be able to keep cheaper pigs? A. After the young men go away, I fancy the poultry and pigs are kept by the

old women.

Mr. Marshall.-I don't think the number of coolies leaving China has increased. The Chairman. My own opinion is that the number has very considerably dimin- ished lately.

Mr. Marshall.-There used to be many more going to the Straits.

Mr. Maitland.--And to the States.

Mr. Brewin.-There has been a rush during the last few months on account of the demand for labour and the desire to get out of China during the present trouble.

Mr. Marshall. But that has absolutely ceased now during the past two months. Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-With so many people going away from China there would be less people looking after the feeding of the cattle and so on.

The Chairman.---But I think, as Mr. Brewin showed, though all the young, strong, healthly men should go away and leave their families and homes behind them, the chickens and pork would not be affected?

Mr. Fung Wa Chiin.-I do from my knowledge of the people.

The Chairman.-Have you been up the West River to any great extent ?

A.-No.

Q.-You don't know where the supplies of cattle come from?

A.-I know them by name. I have not been to them. The cattle come from a great distance.

Q.-Do you know why we are not able to get them from nearer places?

A.-I don't know. I should have thought we ought to have been able to get enough from what is called the Hoifung district, which is comparatively close. It is up the coast.

Mr. Maitland. They have difficulty in getting cattle there in certain seasons of the year-in the S.W. Monsoon.

Mr. Brewin.—That is quite probable. Of course they might come overland. The Chairman.-What proportion of our cattle coming here come overland ? A.-I don't know, but I always understood that a number of cattle came down the North River. Some come from the Yangtsze Valley.

This closed the evidence of Mr. Brewin, and he was thanked for his attendance.

133

No. ¿

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF VICTORIA GAOL, FOR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

No. 17/1901.

VICTORIA GAOL OFFICE, HONGKONG, 23rd January, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit for your information the following report on the Victoria Gaol, for the year 1900.

2. The number of prisoners admitted to the Gaol under sentence from the ordinary Courts was 5,263 besides 127 soldiers and sailors sentenced by Courts Martial. There were 30 prisoners admitted for debt and 12 in default of finding security, making a total of 5,432. Of these, 702 were. old offenders.

3. The corresponding numbers for the preceding year were respectively as follows:-

Convicted by the ordinary Courts

Courts Martial ...

Debtors

In default of finding security

Total (including 736 old offenders)

.4,164 89

501 .4,789

4. The daily average number of prisoners confined in the Gaol during the year was 486 as com- pared with 434 for the year 1899, and 510 in 1898. There were 125 prisoners convicted from the New Territory during the year, 37 of whom were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and upwards. There were 141 convicts in the Gaol on the 31st December 1900, against 96 on the 31st December 1899, and 55 on the 31st December 1898.

5. The number of prisoners admitted to the Gaol for offences not of a criminal nature was 2,267 made up as follows:-

Convicted under the Opium Ordinance

... 444

Market Ordinance

180

Arms Ordinance

;)

Vehicle Ordinance

Post Office Ordinance.........

};

Sanitary Bye-laws

146

Women and Girls Protection Ord....

Harbour Regulations

Gambling Ordinance.

509

of drunkenness

129

of trespassing

112

})

of disorderly conduct

477

of vagrancy

Total,..

.2,267

6. The following table shows the number of prisoners committed to Gaol without the option fine and in default of payment of fine-

Imprisonment in default of payment of fine, etc.

Year.

Total.

Imprisonment without the option of Fine.

Total.

Served the Imprisonment.

Paid full fine. Paid part fine.

1899 4,232

1,903

2,530

1,281

895

174

1900

4,783

2,052

2,691

1,320

169

752

134

7. There were 6 deaths and 2 executions during the year, and 27 prisoners were released on medical grounds.

8. The sanitary condition of the Gaol was good.

9. There were 2,344 reports against prisoners for breaches of prison discipline, being an average per prisoner of 4.82 as compared with 2,459 with an average per prisoner of 5.66 for the preceding year, and 4,038 with an average per prisoner of 7 9 in 1898. There were 7 cases in which corporal punishment was awarded during the year.

10. The industrial employment of prisoners remains the same as last year. forms printed and issued during the year, and 5,966 books were bound during value of the work done in the Printing Department amounted to $17,365.57. type, paper, etc. from the earnings, the net profits amounted to $12,064.46. industrial labour amounted to $17,458.34.

There were 2,265,291 the same period. The Deducting the cost of The total profits on all

11. All the improvements in the Gaol have been completed. The new wing, however, has not been opened, as the locks for the doors have only just arrived from England. The building of the new quarters for the Staff proceeds slowly.

12. The Gaol at the present time contains 500 separate cells (78 of which are just about to be opened), and 14 association cells.

Five hundred and fourteen prisoners can thus be confined on the separate system -the only satis- factory one-while 56 more prisoners could be accommodated on emergency by putting 5 prisoners in each association cell. This gives a total capacity of 570 prisoners. The daily average number of prisoners was last year 486, and on occasions, by no means of emergency, as many as 598 prisoners were confined at one and the same time, while the numbers for several weeks in the hottest weather were over 570. The accommodation is therefore already insufficient, and I have accordingly to point out that the building of a new prison for convicts should receive early consideration.

The conduct of the Gaol Staff has been good. From February to October, the Deputy Superin- tendent of Police acted as Superintendent of the Gaol, while I was acting as Colonial Secretary.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

The Honourable.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

(A.)

F. II. MAY,

Superintendent.

VICTORIA GAOL.

Return of Reports for the talking, idling, short oakum picking, &c., in the years 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, and 1900.

1896. Daily average

MONTH.

number in Prison,

1897. Daily average number in Prison,

1898. Daily average number in Prison,

514.

462.

510.

-1899. Daily average number in Prison, 434.

1900. Daily average number in Prison,

486.

January,

214

200

170

February,

209

161

113

March,

249

147

165

April,

257

154

213

192

May,

June,.

July,

270

191

223

261

166

241

134

191

142

282

138

August,

192

159

331

100

163

September,

213

132

274

121

159

October,

174

160

227

127

201

November,

174

151

131

158

135

December,

188

140

100

127

Total,.....

2,592

1,903

2,470

1,284

1,413

(B.)

Return of Offences reported of Prisoners fighting with or assaulting each other, or officers, for the years 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, and 1900.

135

MONTH.

1896. Daily average number in Prison, 514.

1897. Daily average number in Prison, 462.

1898. Daily average

1899. Daily average

number in Prison, number in Prison,

1900. Daily average number in Prison,

510.

434.

486.

January, February, March, April,

May,.. June,

1350

July,...

August,

September,

October,

November,

December,

OHN HN - ∞Q

5 3

:3966721

Total,..

(C.)

Return of Offences of Prisoners having Tobacco, for the years 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, and 1900.

MONTH.

1896. Daily average

number in Prison,

514.

1897. Daily average number in Prison, 462.

1898. Daily average number in Prison, 510.

1899. Daily average number in Prison, 434.

1900. Daily average number in Prison, 486.

January, February, March, April, May,...

June, July,....

....

August,

September,

October,

November,

10 30 to 30 LO

OLB4NI-NO-ANN

December,

+34 6HQZ 00 00 1 —and part

VA - WA

4-4:122 :~ ; ;~

Total,...........

Dr.

1900.

(D.)

Abstract of Industrial Labour, Victoria Gaol, for the year 1900.

OAKUM.

Cr.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,.

Cost of Paper Stuff purchased dur-

ing the year,...

Profit,........

Nil.

$ 715.00

1900.

By Oakum sold during the year,

Stock on hand, 31st December,.

$ 1,050.97 236.25

572.00

Total,....

..$ 1,287.22

To Stock on hand, 1st January,...

Cost of Material purchased during

the year,

Profit,..........

COIR.

$1,229.22 1900.

599.65

512.07

Total,...... ..$ 2,340.94

Total,..... .$

1,287.22

By Matting, &c., sold during the year, $1,276.21

Articles made for Gaol use,

Stock on hand, 31st December,......

82.65 982.08

Total,....

2,340.94

136

Dr.

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,..

وو

Cost of Material purchased during

the year,

NET-MAKING.

11.99 1900.

42.64

56.37

Profit,

Total,.

111.00

TAILORING.

By Nets aud Nettings sold and re-

paired,

Stock on hand, 31st December,

Cr.

92.08

18.92

Total,

111.00

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,.

Cost of Material purchased during

151.23 1900.

By Articles sold and repaired,

the year,

1,007.40

Work done for Gaol, Stock on hand, 31st December,

$ 135.75 1,368.87

197.76

Profit,

543.75

Total,.....$ 1,702.38

PRINTING AND BOOK-BINDING.

Total,

1,702.38

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,.

1900.

Cost of Material and Machinery

purchased during the year,

7,389.11

By Printing done for outside,......

Printing, etc. done for Government, Stock on hand, 31st December,

17,367.57

20.86

Profit,

12,064.46

Total,............$ 19,453.57

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,................

Cost of Material purchased during

1900.

the year,

Profit,

WASHING.

31.68

1900.

585.07

3,196.64

Total,.......

3,813.39

To Stock on band, 1st January,.

Cost of Material purchased during

1900.

Total,

19,453.57

By Washing done for Prison and Police

Officers at 1 cent per piece, Washing Prisoners' Clothing at

1 cent per piece,

Stock on hand, 31st December,

RATTAN WORK.

$ 1,252.96

2,538.11 22.29.

Total,

3,813.39

4.25 1900.

20.83

8.79

By Articles sold during the year,.......... Articles made for Gaol use, ..... Stock on hand 31st December,

22.26

6.96

4.65

the year,

Profit,

Total,....... ...$

33.87

To Stock on hand, 1st January,

Cost of Material purchased during

the year,

Profit,

TIN-SMITHING.

Total,.....

33.87

5.63 1900.

By Work done for outside,.

Work done for Gaol,.

16 103.70

43.54

Stock on hand, 31st December,

55.55

Total,...... .$

104.72

Total,.....$

104.72

Dr.

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,..

Cost of Material purchased during

the year,

Profit,

CARPENTERING.

17.49 1900.

612.84

275.26

Total,...... .$

805.09

By Articles sold and repaired during

the year,...

Work done for Gaol,

Stock on hand, 31st December,

GRASS-MATTING.

Total,

137

Cr.

96.03

472.60

236.46

805.09

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,.

17.46

1900.

By Matting sold during the year,

28.85

Cost of Material purchased during

the year,

18.53

Matting and Mats made for Gaol

during the year,...............

18.08

Stock on hand, 31st December,

15.41

Profit,

20.33

Total,......

..$

62.31

Total,

..$

62.34

SHOE-MAKING.

1900.

To Stock on hand, 1st January,.

Cost of Material purchased during

30.10

1900.

By Outside work during the year, $

Gaol work during the year,

43.35

599.16

the year,

595.00

Stock on hand, 31st December,

129.49

Profit,

146.90

Total,............$

772.00

Total,

..$

772.00

1900.

Oakum, Coir,

Net-making,

Tailoring,..

Washing,

Rattan,

Tin-smithing,

Carpentering,

Grass-matting,

Shoe-making,

Printing,

RECAPITULATION.

$ 572.22

1900. By Surplus,

$17,458.34

512.07

56.37

543.75

3,196.64

8.79

53.55

275.26

26.83

146.90

12,064.46

Total,............$ 17,458.34

Total,

17.458.34

Table showing the number of Casualties in the Gaol Staff during the year 1900.

Establish- Resigned Pensioned.

Died.

ment.

voluntarily.

Services dispensed Dismissed.

with.

Total number

of Casualties.

Europeans,

Indians,

138

Return showing the Employment of Prisoners and the Value of their Labour.

Description of Employment.

Daily average number of Prisoners.

Value

Prison

Total.

Males.

Females. Total.

Labour.

NON-PRODUCTIVE,-

Crank-labour, shot and stone,--debtors, remands, sick and

under punishment,

IN MANUFACTURES,—

176

Bookbinding,

Printing,

702.00

1,638.00

Printing, Labourers,

374.40

...

Knitting,

Oakum Picking,

28.50

Coir Matting,

Grass Matting,

Shoe-making,

Tailoring,

Net-making, string-making and ship's fender-making,

NZDANO

495.90

684.00

HON

34.20

205.20

940.50

384.75

5,487.45

IN BUILDING,-

Bricklaying,

Carpentering and Fitting,

Painting,

IN SERVICE OF THE PRISON,-

Laundry,

Cooking,

Cleaning,.

Hospital Cleaners,

White-washing,

42.75 501.60

28.50

572.85

...

ཕེ ཏོ བ

...

1,154.25 394.20 627.00 73.00 85.50

2,333.95

473

486

Total,...$ 8,394.25

1900.

FLOGGING RETURN.

Prison offences for which

floggings were inflicted.

Number of floggings awarded

by Prison Authorities.

Number of floggings awarded

by Courts.

Total.

Personal violence to

an Officer.

Fersonal violence to

a fellow Prisoner.

Destroying property.

Repeated refusals to

labour.

Total.

Average number of prisoners

in Gaol,

By Assistant Super-

intendent only.

By Assistant Superin. tendent and a Visiting Justice.

By Judge.

By Magistrate.

Total.

Table showing the number

of floggings ordered.

Table showing the number of strokes awarded in each case.

DATE.

Total.

F:.

ΟΙ

:..

...

4:.

...

A:.

...

January,

422

February,

422

March....

437

April,

453

May,

436

June,

467

July,

505

August,

526

September,

October,

November,

523

December,

516

Total,...

128

I 128

121

139

453

No. 25

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE ACTING HARBOUR MASTER FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

No. 134.

HARBOUR DEpartment, HONGKONG, 15th March, 1901.

SIR,—I have the honour to forward the Annual Report for this Department for the year ending 31st December, 1900.

I. Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels entered.

II. Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels cleared.

III. Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels entered at each Port.

IV. Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Cargoes of Vessels cleared at each Port.

V. Number, Tonnage, and Crews of Vessels of each Nation entered. VI. Number, Tonnage, and Crews of Vessels of each Nation cleared. VII. Junks entered from China and Macao.

VIII. Junks cleared for China and Macao.

IX. Total number of Junks entered at each Port.

X. Total number of Junks cleared at each Port.

XI. Junks (Local Trade) entered.

XII. Junks (Local Trade) cleared.

XIII. Summary of Arrivals and Departures of all Vessels.

XIV. Licensed Steam Launches entered.

XV. Licensed Steam Launches cleared.

XVI. Vessels registered.

XVII. Vessels struck off the Register.

XVIII. Chinese Passenger ships cleared by the Emigration Officer (Summary).

XIX. Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to Hongkong from places out of China (Summary).

XX. Marine Magistrate's Court.

XXI. Diagram of Tonnage of Vessels entered.

XXII. Statement of Revenue collected.

XXIII. Return of work performed by the Government Marine Surveyor.

XXIV. Return from Imports and Exports (Opium) Office.

SHIPPING.

1. The total tonnage entering and clearing during the year 1900 amounted to 18,445,134 tons, being an increase, compared with 1899, of 343,825 tons.

There were 41,223 arrivals of 9,228,762 tons, and 41,233 departures of 9,216,372 tons.

Of British Ocean-going tonnage, 2,841,936 tons entered, 2,821,410 tons cleared.

Of River Steamers (British) 1.746,674 tons entered, and 1,745,178 tons cleared; making a grand

total of British tonnage of 9,155,198 tons entering and clearing.

Of Foreign Ocean-going tonnage, 2,425.086 tons entered, and 2,425,311 tons cleared.

Of Foreign River Steamers, 8,286 tons entered, and 8,286 tons cleared; making a grand total of Foreign tonnage of 4,866,969 tons entering and clearing.

Of Junks in Foreign Trade, 1,604,632 tons entered, and 1,620,224 tons cleared.

Of Junks in Local Trade, 602,148 tons entered, and 595,963 tons cleared.

Thus-

British Ocean-going tonnage represented 30.7%.

River

19.0%.

Foreign Ocean-going

26.3%.

River

་,

0.1%.

Junk (Foreign Trade)

17.4%.

(Local Trade)

6.5%.

2. Five thousand three hundred and ninety-five (5,395) steamers, 78 sailing vessels and 17,732 junks in Foreign Trade entered during the year, giving a daily average of 63.6 as against 76.9 in

1899.

For European constructed vessels the daily average entry would be 14,99 against 14.91 in 1899, and, of the vessels entering 68.77 were British.

454

3. A comparison between the years 1899 and 1900 is shewn in the following Table:

Comparative Shipping Return for the Years 1899 and 1900.

1899.

1900.

INCREASE.

DECREASE.

Ships. Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage.

British,.. Foreign,

Junks in Foreign

Trade,

7,408 3,497

45,067

8,725,016| 7,511 9,155,198 103 430,182 4,712,131 | 3,429

3,696,184 35,425

4,866,969

3,224,856

154,838 68

9,642 471,328

...

Total,...

Junks in Local

Trade,

55.972 17,133,331 46,365 17,247,023

103 585,020 9,710 471,328

32,655 967,978 36,091

Grand Total.... 88.627 18,101,309 82,456 18,445,134 3,539 | 815,153| 9,710 | 471,328

1,198,111 | 3,436| 230,133

NETT,

343,825 | 6,171

* Including 4,918 Conservancy and Dust Boats measuring 108,83-4 tons. Including 12,826 Conservancy and Dust Boats measuring 316,300 tons. Including 13.724 Conservancy and Dust Boats measuring 160,196 tons.

4. For vessels under the British flag this table shews an increase of 103 ships measuring 430,182 tons, but when taking into account the decrease in River Trade under this flag, viz., 111 vessels of 58,317 tons, the actual increase to Ocean-going trade would be 214 ships of 488,499 tons. The fall- ing off in River Trade may be wholly ascribed to the Steamers Samshui, Wuchow, Hoi Tong and Kwai Lum being sold and off the run.

Of the increase mentioned above the chief factors are:--(i) The turning over of many of the China Merchant Steamers to British Colours. (ii) The fact of a greater percentage of tramp steamers calling than heretofore (principally carrying coal). (iii) The increased size of many of the liners on home routes. And (iv) The fact of some of the coasters calling at the port more frequently than they

did last year.

For vessels under Foreign flags there is a numerical decrease of 68 shewn, but with an increased tonnage of 154,838 tons, the falling off in vessels is ascribed to the turning over of a portion of the China Merchants fleet to the British flag, also further augmented by a falling off in vessels under the United States, Japanese and Norwegian colours. The increase in tonnage is explained by the greatly increased size of many of the German Steamers also to the Scottish Oriental Steamship Company turn- ing over to German colours, which has considerably augmented the tonnage under this flag. Vessels under French colours have also helped to enhance the increase, which is explained by their making more trips than were made last year.

5. The actual number of ships of European construction (exclusive of River steamers) entering the port during the year 1900, was 709-being 363 British and 346 Foreign.

These 709 vessels entered 3,440 times and gave a total tonnage of 5,267,022 tons. In 1899, 603 vessels entered 3,361 times and gave an aggregate tonnage of 4,940,218 tons.

Thus 106 more vessels entered 79 more times and gave a total tonnage increased by 326,804 tons.

STEAMERS.

Ships.

No. of Times Entered.

Total Tonnage.

Flag.

1899. 1900. 1899. 1900.

1899.

1900.

British,

289

3321,654 1,759

Austrian,

Belgian,

Chinese,

2,557,920 71,195 4,574 248,809

2,792,973

102,727

5,963

128,479

Danish,

23,560

17,789

Dutch,

2,470

22,846

French,.

German,

228

221

232

218,669

229,954

107

632 656

826,275

952,870

Hawaiian,..

4,596

Italian,

26,710

19,782

Japanese,

330

314

671,817

649,288

Norwegian,

125 110

117,220

122,859

Portuguese,

1,672

5,856

Russian,

4,889

24,799

Spanish,

3,516

Swedish,

5,934

United States,

No Flag,

80,493

87,206

593

Total,

*550

643 3,303 3,362 4,864,385

5,169,918

SAILING VESSELS.

Ships.

No. of Times Entered.

Total Tonnage.

Flag.

1899. 1900. 1899. | 1900.

1899.

1900.

British,

29,558

German,

Italian,

United States,

Danish,

French,

9,241

794

48,963 6,303 720

36,240

39,056

895

337

Japanese,

515

Norwegian,

315

Total,......

333

75,833

97,104

455

6. The 363 British ships carried 2,667 British Officers and 15 Foreign Officers, as follows :-

British...

Danish

German

United States

Total,....

..2,667

..2,682

The proportion of Foreign Officers was, therefore, 0.55%, comprising 3 nationalities--a decrease of 0.63% with an increase of ships.

The 346 Foreign Ships carried 2,291 Officers, of whom 274 were British, borne as follows:--

In Japanese

ships

Chinese

German

United States

Dutch

French

Russian

Portuguese

Total,.......

133

.274

The proportion of British Officers in Foreign ships was, therefore, 11.9% distributed among 8 nationalities. A decrease of 3.7 % on 1899, with an increase of 55 ships.

Of the crews of British vessels-

18.4% were British.

1.3% Other Europeans. 80.3%

Asiatics.

Of the crews of Foreign vessels---

1.8% were British.

28.9% Other Europeans.

69.3 %

Asiatics.

This shows a slight falling off of Asiatics with a corresponding increase in the proportion of Europeans.

At the same time there is an increase in the percentage of "Other Europeans" employed in British ships, and a slight falling off of British seamen employed in Foreign vessels.

456

TRADE.

7. The principal features to be remarked as to the trade of the port for the year 1900 are:-

(i) A great increase in Sugar Imports amounting to 76.6 %.

(ii) A great increase in Timber showing 74.2 %.

(iii) A great increase in Flour representing 66.1 %.

(iv) A great increase in Coal Imports amounting to 65.7

(v) A large increase in Hemp representing 60.7 %.

(vi) Bulk Oil is almost at a standstill compared with last year; but Case Oil shows a

decline of 10,609 tons.

(vii) The Rice Trade which reached its culminating point last year, has fallen back by

98,801 tons and may now be said to be at its normal condition.

The net increase in Imports reported amounts to 422,717 tons.

In Exports there is a decrease of 70,666 tons.

The Transit cargo shows an increase of 186,046 tons.

The foregoing information regarding Trade statistics must be taken as a rough approximation only.

8. The total Import Trade of the port for 1900 amounts to 23,205 vessels of 8,626,614 tons carry- ing 6,342,138 tons of cargo of which 4,198,389 tons were discharged at Hongkong. This does not include tonnage, number or cargo of Local Trade Junks.

COUNTRY.

CARGO.

SHIPS.

Tons.

Discharged.

In Transit.

CLASS I.

Canada,..

Continent of Europe,

Great Britain,

Mauritius,

United States,

57,533

136

380,661

32,303 100,352

175

470,437

297,515

381,839 511,853

828

300

143

357,075

275,442

59,407

475

1,266,534

705,912

953,099

CLASS II.

Australia and New Zealand,

78,012

25,132

29,334

India and Straits Settlements,

121

229.597

146,718

90,352

Japan,

Java and Indian Archipelago,

North and South Pacific,

Russia in Asia,.......

414

920,433

890,356

287,846

186

243,043

274,346

48,501

}

9,878

8,520

1,000

773

1,481,010

1,345,080

457,033

CLASS 111.

North Borneo,

Coast of China,.

1,178

25,442 1,567,478

37,468

283,942

685,047

Cochin-China,

156

178,964

311,242

3,000

Formosa,

113

93,754

26,769

Philippine Islands,

183

217,572

106,854

8,200

Hainan and Gulf of Tonkin,

351

270,813

345,636

31,940

Siam,

154

153,035

243,013

3,030

Macao,

8,791

Kiaochow,

3,623

800

2,400

2,192

2,519,178

1,355,724

733,617

CLASS IV.

River Steamers,-Canton, Macao and West River,

2,033

1,754,960

197,606

CLASS V.

Junks in Foreign Trade,.

17,732

1,604,632

594,067

TOTAL,........

23,205

8,626,614

4,198,389

2,143,749

457

Similarly, the Export Trade for 1900 was represented by 23,160 vessels of 8,620,409 tons carry- iug 2,836,905 tons of cargo, and shipping 489,456 tons of Bunker Coal.

COUNTRY.

CARGO.

SHIPS.

TONS.

Shipped.

Bunker Coal.

CLASS I.

Canada,

55,229

16,957

Continent of Europe,

234,726

71,053

25,750

Great Britain,

Mauritius,

Natal,

271,455

118,451

2,925

1,811

1,292

1,100

1,474

600

400

South America,

United States,.

1,616

2,460

115

286,757

200,135

3,680

302

853,068

410,948

33,855

CLASS II.

Australia and New Zealand,

76,387

28,929

7,735

India and Straits Settlements,

201

416,969

253,757

52,466

Japan,

392

834,696

240,913

52,075

Java and Indian Archipelago,

71,957

13,608

15,000

Russia in Asia.......

39,741

42,050

4,181

709

1,439,750

579,257

131,457

CLASS III.

North Borneo,

Coast of China,..

1,582

26,325 2.116,568

5,866

6,885

401,185

161,052

Cochin-China,

152

179,278

54,584

30,018

Formosa,

9,718

42,266

550

Philippine Islands,

155

192,916

180,097

32,433

Hainan and Gulf of Tonkin,

370

289,588

88,369

40,394

Siam,...

Kiaochow,

Macao,

Weihaiwei,

92,461

42,670

22.673

36,857

1,464

3,895

7,051

1,617

3,141

600

550

2,426

2,953,903

818,718

298,450

CLASS IV.

River Steamers,-Canton, Macao and West River,

2,030

1,753,461

124,307

25,691

CLASS V.

Junks in Foreigu Trade,

TOTAL,.

17.693

1,620,224

903,675

23,160

8,620,409

2,836,905

489,456

Comparing this with 1899, we find that the Import Trade has increased, the increase being general among all the classes.

The Transit cargo has also increased in classes I and III but in class II a falling off of 97,550 tous is shown.

In Exports, although the tonnage cleared has increased by 57,282 tons, yet the number of vessels is less by 4,802 and the Export cargo has diminished by 77,892 tons.

9. During the year 10,940 vessels of European construction of 14,022,167 tons (Net Register) carried 8,170,757 tons of cargo, as follows:-

Import Cargo

.3,604,322

Export

Transit

Bunker Coal shipped

......

1,933,230

.2,143,749

489,456

8,170,757

458

The total number of tons carried was, therefore, 58.3% of the total registered tonnage, or 74.5 % exclusive of River Steamers, and was apportioned as follows:-

Imports---

British Ships,

Foreign do.,

2,030,697

1,573,625

3,604,322

Exports-

British Ships,

Foreign do.,

...

1,188,608

744,622

1.933.230

Transit-

British Ships,

1,139,173

Foreign do.,

..1,004,576

2,143,749

Bunker Coal-

British Ships, Foreign do.,

274,681

214,775

489,456

8,170,757

Grand Total,..........

Trade of the Port of Hongkong for the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

TONS.

Passengers Carried.

No. of

Ships.

Discharged. Shipped.

In Transit.

Bunker Coal Shipped.

Total.

Registered Tonnage.

155,889 Arr.

British......

3,584

1,843,267

1,076,002

1,139,173

249,583 4.308,025

5,663,316

106,360 Dep.

53,385 Em.

95,646 Arr.

Foreign,

3,293

1,563,449

732,885 1,004,576

214,024

3,514,934 4.840,397

58,738 Dep.

30,258 Em.

River Steamers (British),.

3.927

187,430

112,606

639,589 Arr.

25,098

825,134

3,501,852

613,789 Dep.

10,940

Do.

(Foreign), ....

136

10,176

11,737

Total,..

751

22,664

16,572

3,601,322 1,933,230 2,143,749

489,456

8,170,757

14,022,167

891,124 Arr. 778.887 Dep.

83,643 Eni.

Junks in Foreign Trade, !......

35,425

594,067

903,675

1,497,742

3,224,856

56,072 Arr. 57,023 Dep.

113,095 Total.

947.196 Arr.

Total,..

46,365

4,198,389 2,836,905 2,148,749

489,456

9,668,499

17.247,023

835.910 Dep.

83,643 Emi.

Junks in Local Trade,

26,091

164,015

20,354

194,369

1,198,111

80,958 Arr. 83,372 Dep.

164,330 Total.

1,028,154

919,282

Grand Total,................

82.456

4,362,404 2,867,259 2,143,749

189,456

9,862,868

18,445,133

83,643

2,031,079

1899.

IMPORTS.

EUROPEAN CONSTRUCTED VESSELS.

1900.

Increase.

Decrease.

459

No.

Tonnage.

No.

Tonnage.

No.

Tonnage. No. Tonnage.

Steamers

3,303

4,864,385 3,362

River Steamers

2,083

Sailing Vessels

75,833

1,780,551 2,033

5,169,918

1,754,960

305,533

25,591

97,104

21,271

Total,..........

5,444 6,720,769 5,473 7,021,982

326,804

25,591

Nett,......

301,213

Imported tons,.....

3,181,605

3,604,322

As follows-

Articles.

1899.

1900.

Increase,

Decrease.

Beans,

8,110

560

7,550

Bones,

1,800

Coal,

687,557

1,045,312

358,255

Cotton Yarn and Cotton,...

34,470

19,993

14,477

Flour,

101,939

151,111

52,172

Hemp,

32,868

54,105

21,237

Kerosine, (bulk),

61,027

64,732

3,705

(case),

80,588

69,979

10,609

Liquid Fuel,

2,759

Lead,

Opium,

Pitch,

Rattan,

Rice,

6,468

2,350

4,118

2,775

3,194

419

3,998

10,204

6,206

771,830

673,029

98,801

Sandalwood,

Sulphur,..

Sugar,

1,282 506 183,162

3,811

2,529

...

484

238,863

Tea,

Timber,

General,.

6,287

6,393

55,701 106

61,110

82,311

21,201

1,135,828

1,172,024

26,266

Total,......

3,181,605

3,604,322

560,556

137,839

Transit,

1,957,703

2,143,749

186,046

Grand Total,.....

5,139,308

5,748,071

746,602

137,839

Nett,.....

608,763

460

EXPORTS.

1899.

1900.

Increase.

Decrease.

No.

Tonnage.

No.

Tonnage. No.

Tonnage. No. Tonnage.

Steamers,

3,319 4,861,012

River Steamers,

2,085

1,781,264

3,363 5,154,215

2,030 1,753,464

293,203

27,800

Sailing Vessels,

74,102

92,506

18,404

Total..

5,461 6,716,378

5,467 7,000,185

311,607

27,800

Nett,

1,933,230

283,807

Exported tons...

2,003,896

Strs. Bunker Coal.

Strs.

Bunker Coal.

Strs.

Bunker Coal.

Strs.

Bunker Coal.

Steamers,

3,319

467,664

River Steamers,

2,085

26,207

3,363

2,030

463,607

25,849

4,057

358

Total.......

5,404

493,871

5,393 489,456

4.415

Nett....

4.41:

RIVER TRADE.

1899,

1900.

Year.

Imports, Exports and Passengers.

Imports.

Exports.

Passengers.

184,177

131,362

1,095,266

197,606

124,343

1,253,378

IMPORTS.

Junks.

Foreign trade, 17,732 measuring

Local trade,

18.018

1,604,632 tons.

602.148

Total, ....35,750

2,206,780

Imported 758,082 tons as under :-

Tea,

2,597 tons.

884

Oil,

Rice,

Swine (22,727 ),

Earth and Stones,

General,.

1,539

1,345 .128,868 ..622.849

Total,....

.758,082

EXPORTS.

Junks.

Foreign Trade, 17,693 measuring

Local Trade,

18,073

1,620,224 tons.

595,963

Total, ......35,766

2,216,187

↑

Exported 934,029 tons as under :-

Kerosine (1,313,452 cases),

10.

Rice and Paddy,

Earth and Stones,

General,

46,909 tons.

.395,824

57,464

........433,832

Total,............

.934,029

PASSENGERS.

1899.

1900. Increase. Decrease.

British Vessels, Arrivals,

Do.,

Departures,

Emigrants,...... 41,358

139,621 155,889

105,701 106,360

53,385 9,027

16,268

659

Total,

289,680 315,634 25,954

Nett,..

25,954

Foreign Vessels, Arrivals,

77,214

95,646

18,432

►

Do.,

Departures,

57,517

58,738 1,221

Do.,

Emigrants, ....

16,717

30,258 13,541

Total,.........

151,448

184,642 33,194

Nett,....

33,194

River Steamers, Arrivals,

558,028 639,589 81,561

Do.,

Departures,

Total,.................

537,238 613.789 76,551

1,095,266 1,253,378 158,112

Nett.....

158,112

Junks, Foreign Trade, Arrivals,

83,239

56,072

27,167

Do.,

Departures, 80,859

Total,.....

57,023

23,836

164,098 113,095

51,003

Nett,..

51,003

Total Arrivals,

858,102 947,196 89,094

Do. Departures,...

781,315 835,910

54,595

Total....

1,639,417 | 1,783,106 |143,689

Total Emigrants,

61,075

83,643

22,568

Total....

1,700,492 1,866,749 | 166,257

Nett......

461

462

PASSENGERS,—Continued.

1899.

1900. Increase. Decrease.

Diff. of Arrivals and Dep.,

Emigrants,

76,787

111,286

61,075

83,643

...

Remainder+or-

+ 15,712 + 27,643

Nett...

Junks, Local Trade, Arrivals,.......

Do.,

Departures,

42,973 80,958

42,117

37,985

83,372 41,255

Total,......

85,090 164,330 79,240

Nett...

79,240

REVENUE.

11. The total Revenue collected by the Harbour Department during the year was $246,039.12 being an increase of $55,483.62 on the previous year.

1. Light Dues,

2. Licences and Internal Revenue,

3. Fees of Court and Office,

Total,.

$ 55,379.38

47,419.30

143.240.44

.$246,039.12

STEAM LAUNCHES,

12. On the 31st December, there were 179 Steam Launches employed in the Harbour; of these 95 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 84 were privately owned, 15 were the property of the Colonial Government, and 6 belonged to the Imperial Government, in charge of the Military Authorities.

Three Masters' Certificates were suspended for three months, five for two months, five for one month, and three masters were cautioned. One Engineer's Certificate was suspended for three

months.

EMIGRATION.

13. Eighty-three thousand six hundred and forty-three (83,643) Emigrants left Hongkong for various places during the year; of these 53,385 were carried by British ships and 30,258 by Foreign ships; 121,322 were reported as having been brought to Hongkong from places to which they had emigrated, and of these, 92,870 were brought in British ships and 28,452 by Foreign ships.

Returns Nos. XVIII and XIX will give the details of this branch of the Department.

REGISTRY OF SHIPPING.

14. During the year, 6 ships were registered under the provisions of the Imperial Act, and 9 certificates were cancelled.

MARINE MAGISTRATE'S Court.

15. Forty-two cases were heard in the Marine Magistrate's Court, refusal of duty and absence from ship without leave were the principal offences.

EXAMINATION OF MASTERS, MATES AND ENGINEERS.

(Under Section 15 of Ordinance No. 26 of 1891.)

463

16. The following table will show the number of Candidates examined for Certificates of Com- petency, distinguishing those who were successful and those who failed:-

Grade.

Passed.

Failed.

Master,

First Mate,

Only Mate,

Second Mate,

co: 05

Total,......

First Class Engineer,

Second Class Engineer,.

Total,......

2725

MARINE COURTS.

(Under Section 13 of Ordinance No. 26 of 1891.)

17. The following Court has been held during the year :--

On the 22nd November, inquiry respecting the circumstances connected with the foundering of the British Steam Dredger Canton River, Official No. 102,002 of Waterford, in the Hongkong Harbour on the morning of the 10th November, 1900. Nobody was blamed for the casualty.

SUNDAY CARGO-WORKING.

(Ordinance No. 6 of 1891.)

18. During the year, 419 permits were issued, under the provisions of the Ordinance. Of these, 88 were not availed of owing to its being found unnecessary for the ship to work cargo on the Sun- day, and the fee paid for the permit was refunded in cach case, and 55 permits were issued, free of charge, to Mail Steamers.

The revenue collected under this heading was $43,550; this was $21,725 more than in 1899. The Revenue collected each year since the Ordinance came into force is as follows :----

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

1896,

1897,

1898,

1899,

1900,

SEAMEN.

...$ 4,800

7,900

13,375

11,600

7,575

11,850

25,925

21,825

43,550

19. Eighteen thousand five hundred and twenty-three (18,523) Seamen were shipped, and 22,089 discharged, at the Mercantile Marine Office and on board ships during the year.

Two hundred and thirty-two (232) "Distressed Seamen" were received during the year. these, 51 were sent to the United Kingdom, 2 to Singapore, 1 to Colombo, 14 to Calcutta. I to Mel-

464

bourne, 12 to Sydney, 3 to Taku, 7 obtained employment on shore, 4 went to Manila, 2 to Calcutta, 1 to Bombay, 1 to Shanghai, 1 to Canton, 2 joined Chinese Customs, 1 taken charge of by Naval authorities, 2 disappeared, 3 died, 3 remained at the Government Civil Hospital, 2 at Sailors' Home, and 119 obtained employment.

Four thousand one hundred and ninety-eight Dollars and Seventy-five Cents ($4,198.75) were expended by the Harbour Master on behalf of the Board of Trade in the relief of these distressed Sea- inen, and $213.04 by the Colony.

MARINE SURVEYOR'S SUB-DEPARTMENT.

20. Return No. XXIII shows the work performed during the year by this branch of the Harbour Department, and in forwarding this, I wish once more to draw attention to the undermanning of this sub-department. In December, 1900, the engagement of a temporary Second Assistant Government Marine Surveyor was sanctioned, and this officer is still employed as such, rendering most valuable assistance, thereby enabling the work to be promptly done and avoiding the detention of shipping. The tonnage of vessels surveyed during the year 1900 was 327,286, an increase of 40,512 over 1899.

During the same period, the number of licensed passenger steam launches surveyed has increased from 134 in 1899 to 187 in 1900; while the.number of boilers built under the superintendence of the Government Marine Surveyor has increased from 62 to 73. This being so, I consider it essential that the temporary appointment above mentioned be made permanent.

I may perhaps be permitted to quote the following significant figures, in continuance of Captain RUMSEY'S report for 1899, in which he compares the work done in Liverpool, and in this port, by the Surveyor's Department.

In Liverpool in the year 1898, vessels aggregating 1,105,000 gross tons, were surveyed by a staff of eleven, while in Hongkong during the same period 324,610 gross tons were surveyed by a staff of two, this giving 100,454 tons per surveyor at the former port to 162,305 tons per surveyor at the latter.

The returns for six months during 1900, show that in Hongkong the steamers surveyed aggre- gated 181,485 gross tons, while in Liverpool 550,000 tons were surveyed during the same period, giving in Hongkong over 90,000 tons per surveyor as against some 50,000 odd tons in Liverpool.

The revenue derived, from the work of this Sub-department, by the Colony, has increased from $10,055.87 in 1890 to $15,036.59 in 1900.

This revenue does not show the actual work performed, as all Government work such as survey and reports on Pumping Stations, Disinfectors, Steam Road Roller, Stone Crusher, Dredger, Pontoon Crane and Government Launches do not appear. In one Government Department alone, viz., the Water Police, launches have increased from 3 to 7. These launches are surveyed twice a year and take up a considerable amount of time and attention of this Sub-department.

LIGHTHOUSES.

21. The amount of Light Ducs collected was as follows:--

'Class of Vessels.

Rate

per ton.

No. of Ships.

Tonuage.

Total Fees collected.

Ocean Vessels,

Steam Launches,

1 cont

River Steamers (night boats),

Launches plying exclusively to Macao and West River, by night,

3,442 149 1,028

5,264,934 5,802 788,756

52,649.34

38.02 2,629.48

River Steamers (day boats),

Free

250 1,005

12,712 966,204

42.54

Launches plying exclusively to

Macao and West River, by day,

Free

483

23,457

Total........

5,357 7,061,865 55,379.38

Telegraphic and telephonic communication has been kept up with the Gap Rock and Cape D'Aguilar during the year. From the former station 957 vessels have been reported as passing, and in addition 200 messages were received and 3,512 sent, including the daily weather report for the Observatory.

་་

465

From Cape D'Aguilar, 1,499 vessels were reported, and in addition 1,826 messages were sent and 11 received.

Sixty-five hours and 50 minutes of fog were reported from Gap Rock during the year, and the fog signal gun was fired 410 times. On three occasions the fortnightly relief could not be effected owing to the rough sea.

On December 25th, a telephone cable was successfully laid to Waglan Island in readiness for use when this lighthouse is taken over.

GOVERNMENT GUNPOWDER DEPÔT,

22. During the year 1900 there has been stored in the Government Gunpowder Depôt, Stone Cutters' Island:-

No. of Cases.

Approximate Weight.

lbs.

Cartridges, privately owned,...

Do.,

Gunpowder, privately owned,

Do., Government owned,..

Explosive Compounds, privately owned,...

21,139 314

5,645

445,815 42,560 1,283,827

Government owned,

491

16,740

26,177

Do.,

Government owned,

Total,.....

27,647

1,815,119

During the same period there has been delivered out of the Depôt :—-

No. of Cases.

Approximate Weight.

lbs.

For Sale in the Colony

Gunpowder, privately owned,

11.649

249,570

Cartridges,

do.,

1,262

367,034

Explosive Compounds, privately owned,..

6,588

For Export:-

Gunpowder, privately owned,

601

12,025

Cartridges,

do.,

1,561

412,909

Explosive Compounds, privately owned,.....

1.589

Total,...

15,192

1,049,715

On the 31st December, 1900, there remained as follows:-

No. of Cases. Approximate

Weight.

lbs.

Gunpowder, privately owned,

Do., Government owned,

Cartridges, privately owned,.....

Do., Government owned,

Explosive Compounds, privately owned,...

8,889

184,220

312 2,822

42,240

403,884

15,620

372

18,000

Do.,

Government owned,

Total,...

12,448

663,964

466

GENERAL.

23. The present Harbour Office, originally placed in a most unsuitable position (the view of the Harbour to the westward of North-west being cut off by buildings), will shortly be entirely built in.

It is therefore to be hoped that work will shortly be commenced on this much needed new build- ing, and pushed forward rapidly, otherwise the efficiency of this Department will be seriously impaired, by the impossibility of seeing any part of the Harbour from the Office.

The staff of the Department is still of the same strength as it was 26 years ago (if I except the temporary addition of a third Marine Surveyor). During this time the nett register tonnage passing through their hands has approximately doubled. There is, however, every prospect of the clerical staff being increased by one in the near future, which will be of great assistance in coping with the ever increasing work.

During the year one new Harbour Station has been opened at Tai Po, in the New Territory.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS (OPIUM) OFFICE.

24. The Return shows that during the year the amount of Opium reported was as follows

1899.

1900.

Increase.

Decrease.

chests.

Imported

.41,690

43,2563

2,5661

Exported

.40,524

38,721

1,8021

Through Cargo reported but

not landed...

}

17,346

17,557

2113

Fourteen thousand six hundred and forty-four permits were issued from this Office during the year, being a decrease of 656 as compared with 1899.

A daily memo. of exports to Chinese ports was during the year supplied to the Commissioner of Imperial Maritime Customs, and a daily memo. of exports to Macao was supplied to the Superintend- ent of Raw Opium Department of Macao.

Suprise visits were paid to 81 godowns during the year.

I have the honour to be.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant.

The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G,

Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

Je.

BASIL TAYLOR,

Acting Harbour Master, &c.

.........

I-NUMBER, TONNAGE, CREWS, and CARGOES of Ve

BRITISH.

Formosa,

Great Britain,

India and Singapore,

WITH CARgoes.

IN BALLAST.

ΤΟΤΑΙ..

COUNTRIES WHENCE ARRIVED.

Cargoes.

Vossels.

Tons. Crews.;

Vessels.

Tons.

Crews. Vessels.

Tons. Crev

Dis- charged.

Transit.

Dis char

Australia and New Zealand,

British North Borneo,..

Canada,

Coast of China,..

Cochin-China,

Continent of Europe,

46,476 1,909||

19,549 14,780||

14.450 559 21,781

20,

57,533 3,154| 32,303

1,986 2,129,630 89,567 296,897 390,782

73.189 2,802 128,808)

10 23,478 467 8,200 42,430| 53 38,818 2,801| 18,100

46,476 1,909| 19

14.450 559

201

57 533 3 154|

21, 32,

156 183,724 8,236) 2,092′2,313,354 97,803 296.

1.800

73,189 2,802 128,

23,478 467

690

الة

39.508 2,839Į 13.

Japan,.....

Java and other Islands in the Indian Archipelago,..

Kiaochow,

Magao,

Mauritius,

147 193,475 8,558 209,799 41,141j 570 352,152 21,476 39,663

144 378,554 8,429 256,311 406,705) 83 174.846 8,411, 111,743 69,692 193 424,02311,764 431,479 130,420

170

2.145

2,941

144 378,554 8.429 256, 84 175,016 8,433 11, 193 424.023 11,764 431. 148 195,620 8,382 209,7

571 $55,093 21.590| 89.

North Pacific,

Philippine Islands,

Ports in Hainan and Gulf of Touquin,

133 149,847 9,343

95,477 56,101 2,531 91,576

29,718 690

784

150 179.565; 10,077 95.4

56,791| 2,563||||91,7

Russia in Asia,........

Siam,

United States of America,

Þ{

84,236 4,249 133,624 1,500 71 171,724 4,542 145,584 40,023

84.236 4.249 138,6 171,724 4,542| 145,8

TOTAL.......

3,586 4,368,532 180,300 2,030,6971,139,178| 178 220,078 9,202 8,7644,588,610 189,562 2,080,6

II.-NUMBER, TONNAGE, CREWS, and CARGOES

BRITISH.

WITH CARGOES.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

COUNTRIES TO WHICH DEPARTED.

Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

Shipped.

Bunker Cargoes.

Shipped.

Vessels,

Tons. Crev

Bunker

Coal. Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

Coal.

Cargoes. Coal.

Bunker Vessels.

Australia & New Zealand,

British North Borneo,

Canada.

Coast of China,

39,141 2,005; 22.550, 8,705 6 9,864 471 1,177 2.210' 16 47,818 8,289) 16,957 2,8192,657,372 111,589 330.861|| 109,116

Cochin-China,

4,728 172

250

710

Continent of Europe,

1,000)

Formosa....

5.801 250

18 981

820

Great Britain,

60 190,880 4.928; 109,081|

2.925)

India and Singapore,.

Japan,

Jura and other islands in the Indian

Archipelago,

8,265 357

Kiaochow,

Macao,

569

251,806 10,798 209.103 33,890

122 251,451 8,381| 140,043 17,876

9,808 3,080 7 20.207 422 1,250 1,785

850,754 21,424 24,730

18:

14.261 221 1,148 38 7,416 128) 64,328 2,80,7] 49,363 1,368)

1,241

86,761 790. 5790 86.724 1.948|| 6.015

2,750 31

250;

53.402 2,226 22.550 6.4551

11,069 7,197

21 2,8762,721,700 114,391 330.861|| 120,185| 12,456

250 32 54,091 1,540

11,012 509 1,177 2,460! 10 55.229 8,417||||| 16.957|

7,9071

1,000

200

6,642 2869 18.984

520

49,540 1,125| 8,715

60 190.880 4,925 109,081 2.925 135 288,627 11,588 209,103 59 680! 171 338,175 10,324 140,043 88 57,805 1,182; 9,808

23 391

142

11,795

20,207 4221 1.250 1,785

5.150

Mauritius,

569 350,754 21,424|

24,730

5,150 699

Natal,

Philippine Islands,

Portsin Hainan & G. of Tonquin,

1474

89:

600! 127: 150,707; 9,087; 172 109 27.197 1,826) 6459

100 27,450 4.680

Bussia in Asia,

Sizin,

South America,

United States of America, Wei-hai-wei,

2.202 107: 8,900 80.270 1,505 14.870|| 1,616 25 2,460 46 115,489 8,171 101,816

3,141) 95

600

8,208

600

2.050 530

19,251 342 1.700, 38,623 1,551| 4,280,

8.754 274 1,860.

10 19,440 265

100

TOTAL,..

3,4954,169,738 179,386 1,188,608 224,805

252 396,850 10,889||

1.474 169.958

9,379 172.109

6.459 8.910 3.900

14,870 10,063||

65,820 2,880 2,202; 107 39,024 1,779| 1.616 25 134,929 3,436.101,816 2,750

3,111

GOO 5501

49,870 3,7474,566,588 190,275|1,188,008||| 274,681] 13,963|3

609! 400

29.155 16:

278

600

2,460

TONNAGE, CREWS, and Cargoes of Vessels ENTERED at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong from each Country for the Year ending 31st Dece

BRITISH.

FOREIGN.

IN BALLAST.

ΤΟΤΑΙ

WITH CARGOES.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Cargoes.

cssels. Tons. Crews. Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

Dis-

Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

charged. Transit.

Dis- charged. Transit.

Vessels. Tons. Crews. Vessela.

Tons. Crews.

Dis- char ed Transit

46,476 1,909| 14.450

559 57 533 3 154|

156 183,724 8,286 2,092 2,513.354 97,803

690 38

170

الة

19 549 14,730 21,784 32,303 296.897 73,189 2,802 128,808 23,478 467 3.200 39.508 2,839| 13.100

14 31,536 1,391) 8 10,992 460

5,583 14,604

15,684

14 31.536) 1.891| 5.583 14.604

8 10,992 460 15,684

590.732 11.7011,510,828 155.812 709 369 294,315 5,659 661,247 65,06: 17,360 2,172.075 220.873 709.369 294.315 12

1.800 102 105,775 3,381 182,434| 1.200

102 105,775 3,581| 182,434| 1.200 42,430 126 357,183| 12,691| 97,152 339.409)

126 357,183 12,691| 58 53,272 3,268| 13,669

97.152 339,409|

: 36

2,145 201

2,941 14

144 378.554 8.429 256,311) 406.705) 84 175,016 8,433 111,743 69,692 193 424.023 11,764 431 479|| 130,420 148 195,620 8,352 209,799| 41,141

91.695 2.565

41.204 105,148

54,581 2,477

34,975 20,660

216

485,206 13.879 458 877 157.426)

45,767 1,343]

64,547

7,360

974

47 188 28

11,204 1,656

59 31

54.246 3.3:5

13.669;

91,883 2.593

41.204 105.149

1549

37 54.58 2.477

34.975

20,660)

120

178 71

221 496.410 14,057 458 877

157,426)

400

47,423 1,414.

64,547

7.360

184

3,623

800

2,400

...

571 355,093 21,590

39.663

550

61,926 10,097)

29,686|

409

33,419 4,545

959

3.623 95.345 14,642

800

2,400

29,686

1,12f.

828

sno

828 36

300

29,718

7841

690

150 179.565 10,077 95.477)

56,791 2,563 91,576

181

21,978 723

802

11,377 214,022 12,185 254,060

8,200!

16,029

540元

331

38,007 1,263! 11.377

8.200

151

31.940

302

214,022 12,185||| 254,060

31 940

:::

9.878 310 8,520 84.286 4,249) 133,624 1,500

68,799 3,312 109.389) 171,724 4,542 145,384| 10,028 72 185,351 7,156 130,058 19,384

1.000

B 9,878 310 8.520

1,000

1.530

68,799 3.312 109,389

15.10

154

72 185,351 7,156| 130,058 19,384)

143

178 220,078 9,202 3,7644,588,610 189,562 2,030,697 1,159,175 13,349 8,318,287 231,141 2,167,692 1,004,576 6,092 724,717, 70,470 19,441 4,088,004 301,611 2,167,602 1,004 576| 16,935 2.

(ber, Tonnage, CREWS, and CARGOES of Vessels CLEARED in the Colony of Hongkong for each Country for the Year ending 31st December,

TOTAL.

WITH CARGOES.

FOREIGN.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

WITH

Shipped.

Shipped

Vessels. Tons. Crews.

Cargoes.

Bunker Vessels. Tons. Crews.

Coal.

Cargoes.

Bunker Vessels. Tons. Crews

Bunker

Vessels. Coal.

Tons. Crews.

Cargoes

Coal.

Bunker Vessels.

Coal.

Tous. C

750

31 53,402 2,226| 22.550 6.455

2501

18.744 806 6,379 7 11,012 5091 1,177 2,460 10 15,318 670 4.689 211 55.229 3,417 16.937|

69|||2,876|2,721,700|114,391|| 380.861|| 120,185| 12,456 1,592.489 186,370 1.622,403

1,280 4,425

3 4,241! 59

97 32

54,091 1,540

250) 7,907 69 74,848 2,262|

200)

·90

015

171

57,805 · 1,482

1,000 6,542) 286 18.984 60 190.880 4,923 109,081 2.925 135 288,627 11,588 209,103 59 680

838,175,10,524 140,043) 9,808

81 294,726|10,399|

520

54.334 70,058 3 3,176 125 28,282 21 80,575 2.4741

54,427 5,064 343.720 39,875 12.756 51 50,839 1,697 25,750

9,355

9,37

21;

80,575 2,474

23 391 11,795

64 110.804 4,881| 44.654 142) 351,844 10,835| 100,870|

10.181

24,899

12: 17,638 510 79 145,177 3.559

2,665

4,283

22.985 865 6,379 10 15,313 670 4.689

6,984|17,520 2,336.209 226,251 1.022.408

25 17 47,81€

61,411 14,775 4,649,861 29

120 125,187 3,959|| 54,88-4 22.11 81 234,726 10,399 70.053 25,750)

23,282 9.370 66 128.842 4.891 44.65-1

3,176 125

12,786 221 496,52114,394| 100,870 28,684

73 79,074 % 81 234.726 10

8.471

81 271,47

362.67 13

1,280

4 425

57.88

4,738 172

3,800

1,130

ti 9,414 212

2,075

1.474

.00,

20,207 422 1.250 1,785

569 350,754| 21,424|

24,730 5,150

136 169.958] 9,379 172.109) 29,155|

16,650 270

75,460 12,085

214 52,790)

2,110

14,152 384 3,800 16.650 2701

214

3,205

14 2,110

264 602,79 19

11:

13,00

179 13,184 1,925

878

88.64414,010| 5%,790.

36,8 1,268 426,2 33.

1.811 112

1.292

60gi 400!

1,100

1,811 1121

1.292

1,100

1.8

1,41

161 18,743 765

7,988

2.478

280

65,820 2,880 6.459 8.010

278 188,225 9,371

81,910

360

-.00

2,202 107 3.900 39,024 1,779 14,870 1.616 25 2,460 134,929 3,486[ 101,816)

8,141 951

600

21 35.449 862

38.150

10,063|

2,750

45 48,619 2,111

47 180,838 5,579

27,800

26,884 3,350 11,750

3 4.215 34 35,543 1,194 3 2.090 81 4 4,818 160.

800!

22.958 862

7.988

3.278

143 169.4

4,600

3.2

223.768 10,565

81 910

31,484

307 215,410.

231

37 539 943

88.150 3,581

87,6

860

53,437 2,271) 27,800, 12,610

78,*

98,319

930

12 20.990 266

59 151,828 5,845 98,319 950

246,

GOO

550

376|| 3,7474,566,588 190,2751,188,608 274,681 13,963 3,402,052 249,655|1,648,297|182,980 5,450 651,769 49,635 31,795 19,413 4,053,821 299,290 1.648,297 214,775 17.4587,571, 30 42 4

From each Country for the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

GN.

TOTAL.

LAST.

TOTAL.

WITH (JARGOES.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Cargoes.

[Crews. Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

Dis- chared Transit

teels.

Dns.

Vrews.

Dis-

Vessels.

Tons. Crews. Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

char ed Transit.

Dis-

charged Transit.

247 65,06: 17,360 2,172.075' 220.873

47 974 188 281

91,883 2.593

54.58 2.477

204 .656

178

5.583 31,536 1.891 10,992) 460 15,684

709,369 102, 105,775 3.581| 182,134 126 357,18312,691| 97.152

13,669: 69:

54.246 3.3:5

41.204 105.149 34.975 20,660 221 496.410 14,057 458 877 157,428|

14.604)

8.012 5.445

3,300

7.55

1.0 9 3,154

25,132 37 468

29.331

78.012 8.300

25.132

29.334

32,. 03

25.442 1,019 37.468 57.5 3 3.154|| 32.30%

294.315| 18

1.200] 839,109)

1.4

249 10,994

,419 4,545

959

38; 47,423 1.414. 48* 3.623 95.345 14,642;

64,547 800. 29,686

7.360 2,400

828 36

300

828

3,6.0.4518 245,379 1.006,266 78.904 6.183 3 1242

36 80.6/6113,158 100 352

76 769 92,090 6,069

297.515) 511.853; 90.352) 12 0427 10.888|| 146.718

409 $79,229 25,643 809,356|| 287.846 48.501 183 239,242 9,696|| 274,346|

3.623 48 800 2,400 1,124 4.078 31,575 86

1,661

188

170,

11,2041

178

3.801 100

69,849 300

410

685,047 5,815 844,97173,207 19,452 4.485.429 312,676 1.006 266

3,000

156) 178.9641 6.183 311:42 381,839

136 389,661 18.158 100.352 115

93.754 6.154 1761 470,487 11 022)

229,597, 10.910 414) 920 483 25,81 186 243,048 9.796 48 3.628 36.360 4,059 1,530 450,438) 36,232| 828 36

685 047 3,000 581,839

26 769 297.515

121

146,718

511.853 90.352

890.356 287,846

274,346

48.501

800.

2.400

69.349

300

,029

540

831

38,007 1,263!

11.377

302

214,022 12,185) 254,060

310 9,878

8.520

8.200 31940 1,000

471 151 171.825 10.066] 106,854 3250 270,123 14,719 345.636 9.878! 310 8,520

8.200

31.940 1,000

45.747 1,274

690

183 217.57211,340) 106,854

8.200

351

27.818 14,748 345,636,

51.940

9.878 310 8,520

1,000

68,799 3.312 109,389

15.0

154 153.036) 7,561] 243,013]

8,030

104

153.035 7,561) 243,013,

3,080

72 185,351| 7,156 130,058 19,384

145) 257,075 11,698 275,442 59,107

143 357,075 11,698 275,412 59,407

,717, 70,470| 19,4414,038,004 301,611 2,167,692 1,004 576 16,935 2,681,819, 411,5014,198,389|2,145,749 6,270 944,795 79,672 23,205 8,626,614 491,173 4,198,389 2,145,749

ach Country for the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

98,389|2,1

TOTAL.

WITH CARGOES.

TOTAL.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Shipped

Shipped.

Bunker

Vesicle.

Tons. Crews Car_oes

Bunker Vessels, Tous.

Cargoes

Bun. er vesects. Tons. rews. Coal. Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

4 021.

Coni.

Car oes.

I unker

C'oa

10:

22.985 15,818

865 670

6,379 4,689

1,280 1425

ران

57.88

2,811;

28,929

4.985

18.502 280

16.

25 17

1.141

5.866

6,635

1.148

88;

2,700 250

11.

76,887 3.091

28.929

7.735

171

26.825 1.179|

5.866

6,885

47.81

8.289 16,9571

7,416

128

551

120 126,187 8,959,

81 284.726 10,899 3.176

70.953

126

28,282

80,575 2,474

9870

66 128.842, 4.891

44.654

12,786

496,52114,394 100.870

28,681

11,152 384

3,800

8,205

16.650 270

214

2,110

88 64414,010)

52,790

84| 17,520°2,836.209 226,251 1,022,408 54,884

61,411 : 1,775 4,649,861 291,965 1,353,261| 163.543 5,121

73 79,070 2.484; 51,584 18.466 ST 234.726/16.399) 71.058

25,750 8.4702 375 12.266)

81: 271,45 7,897) 118,451 171; 362,67017.179–258,757) 264–602.7% 19.216, 240915)

329 15,06 14. 36,85 692 1,268 426,21433,509|

408,048) 42,680 100,202 8,065||

55,229! 3417 16 957 18,05319,896 5.057,909 310,645 1,353.264 16,552 152 179 278 5.499

181,596

54.581

30.018

234.726) 10,399

71.053

25.750

850 2.925 41.071) 41.775 128 13.608 4.210 58

1,464 3,895 77,520 5,250

1241

54 299) 1,800 231,901 5,502 58,954 1,837

ران

200

9,718 411

42.266

550

271.455 7.397 118.451

2.925

8.895 10 300. 10,790;

71.957||| 1,866

20 416,969, 16,479–258 757; 892; 834,696 24,7 8 240.9 3

2 466

52.075

13.608

15 000

13,184 1.925

36 857 1,117 439,398, 35,434

€92

1,464

3.895

77,520

5,150

1,811

112

1.992

1,100

1.811

112

1,292

1,100

1i 1,474 39

600

400

8855

22.358

862

8.2 223.768' 10,565

7.988 81.910

3.278

143 169.45 9,802] 180,097)

29.933

23.466 439

2.500

307 81,484

215,49) 10,697)

88.369

31,564|

74.66 2,748

8,830

18H; 112 1.474 155) 192,916 10.211 870 289,588 13,445

1.292

1,100

600

400

180.097

$2,458

88.369

40 30-1

37 539

348

38.150

58,437 2,271

27,800,

23 8,5811 12,610

37,061 9691

42,050

3 950

2.090 811

231

261 ::9 741 1,050

42.050

4.181

76.

78,8) 2016

42,670

19,958

13.572 434

2.720

1 1,616

2.4100

151,828 5,845

980 98,319)

93 246,327 8.750|||200,135||

3,141 951

COU

3.580

5501

40.480

100

115

92,461 4,050

1.616) 286,757 9-281 200,186

42.670

22,673

25 2,160

3.680

3.0

600

550

95 19,413 4,053,821|299,2901,648,297|| 214,77517.4587,571,70 421,041 2.856,905 407,785 5,702,1,048,619 60,521

27,5*1,304

81,671 23,160,8,620,409, 189,565 2,830.905; 469,456

467

463

NAMES

OF PORTS.

Aberdeen,

III. TOTAL NUMBEI TONNAGE, CREWS, AND CARGOF

BRITISH.

IN BALLAST.

WITH CARGOES

WITH CARGOES.

AL.

Cargoes.

VIs.

Tons. Crews.

Vls. Tons. Crews. Vis.

Dis- charged.

Tons. Creaws. Dis-

Vls. Tons. Crews.

Transit.

charged.

Dis charg

220. 5,907 1,219 2,1 114 3,199 721 2,:

Cheung Chaú,.

Hunghom,

Shaukiwán,

Sham Shui-po,

Stanley,

Tai 0,

3,586 4,368,532|180,360 2,030,697, 1,139,178|

593

14,409 2,920 8,0 202 6,762 1,947 3,8 2,301 247,320) 22,878–196,8

166

268 128 3,686 1,078 1,

Victoria,

178 220,078 9,202 3,764 4,588,610 189,562 2,430,697, 1,189,178| 9,530| 3,031,736 200,250 1,951,(

Total,...... 3,586 4,368,532 180,360 2,030,697 1,139,173| 178 220,078 9,202 3,704 4,588,610189,562 2,030,697, 1,139,173] 13,349 3,313,287 231,141|2,167,6

IV. TOTAL NUMBER, TONNAGE, CREWS, AND CARGOES

NAMES

OF PORTS.

Aberdeen, Cheung Chaú,

Hunghom,

Shaukiwán,..

Sham Shui-po,

Stanley,

Tai 0, Victoria,

WITH CARGOES.

BRITISH.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

WITH CA

Shipped.

Vls.

Tons. Crews..

Vls.

Tons. Crews.

Cargoes.

Bunker Coal.

Vls.

Tons.

Crews.

Vis. Tons. Crews

Bunker

Cargoes. Coal.

1,398 31

116

3,342 767

380

16,200 2,44:

619

31,301 4,717

2,393 230,988 24,917

3,495 4,169,738 179,386 1,188,608 224,805

252 396,850) 10,889,

583 14 83 1,887 55% 49,876; 3,747 4,566,588190,275 1,188,608 274,681|10,293 3,116,353 215,79€

Total,

3,495 4,169,738 179,386 1,188,608 224,805

252 396,850 10,880 49,876 3,74; + $66,588190,275 1,188,608 274,681 13,963 3,402,052 249,655

}

TOTAL JUMBEI TONNAGE, CREWS, AND CARGOES OF VESSELS ENTERED AT EACH PORT IN THE COLONY OF

TOTAL.

Cargoes.

Vls.

Transit.

TAL.

WITH CARGOES.

FOREIGN.

IN BALLAST.

Cargoes.

7S. Vls. Tons. Crews,

Dis- charged.

Vis. Tons. Crews.

Vls.

Tons. Crews. Vls.

Tous.

Crews.

Transit.

Dis- charged.

Transit.

220. 5,907 1,219

2,912

114 3,199 721

2,303

111

306 1,998 702:

593

202

14,409 2,920

6,762 1,947 3,813

8.694

281

237 225 12,524 1,822 874 31,203 4,718 999

Dis- charged.

6,213 1,299 2,912 5,197 1,423| 2,303 26,983 4,742 8,694 607

37,965 6,665 3,813 1,863 169,661 18,547 4,164 416,981 41,425 196,868

2841 112

552 240

191 772 296 2001 4,458 1,374 1,838 202 3,764 4,588,610 189,562 2,030,697 1,139,173 9,530 3,031,736 200,250 1,951,073 1,004,576 3,164 507,969 44,193|12,694| 8,539,705 244,448 1,951,073 1.004,570 13.116

2,301 247,320) 22,878, 196,868

268 1281 166 3,686 1,078

191

1,838

15 34.

220

114

593

392

2,301

33!

106

202 3,764 4,588,610149. 22,030,697 1,139,173 13,349 3,313,287 231,141 2,167,692 1,004,576 6,092 724,71770,470) 19,441 4,038,004 301,611 2,167,692 1,004,576 16,935

-TOTAL NUMBER, TONNAGE, CREWS, AND CARGOES OF VESSELS CLEARED AT EACH PORT IN THE COLONY OF

FOREIGN.

ST.

TOTAL.

WITH CARGOES.

IN BALLAST.

TCTAL.

Shipped.

WS.

Bunker Coal.

Vls.

Tons.

Crews.

Vls.

Tons. Crews.

Vis.

Tons. Crews.

Cargoes.

Bunker Coal.

Bunker

Bunker Coal.

Vls. Tons. Crews.

Cargoes. Coal.

Cargoes.

1,398 318

662

164 1,560 642

219

2,958 960

662

116 3,342 767

2,387

97 1,529 591

213.

4,871 1,558

2,387

380 16,200 2,445

9,201

523

12,864 2,292

903.

29,064 4,787

9,201

619, 31,301 4,715 25,188

2,393 230,988 24,917 183,028

391 5,706 2,004 1,761 185,274, 15,770

1,010

37,007 6,719 25,188

4,154

416,262 40,687–183,028

'583' 145

183

1,889

83 1,887 5521

49,876 3,747 456,588190,275 1,188,608 274,681 10,293 3,116,353 215,796 1,426,930 182,980 2,365 441,881 27,341|

),889 49,876 3,741 + $56,588190,275 1,188,608 274,681 13,963 3,402,052 249,655 1,648,297 182,980 5,450 651,769 49,635

718

117

397 168 2,558 827

إفادة

9801 313

183

200.

4,445 1,379

7181

31,795 12,658 3,558,234,245 157 1,426.930| 2

31,795 19,413,4,053,821 299.290 1,648,297

ORT IN THE COLONY OF HONGKONG, IN THE YEAR 1900.

TOTAL.

IN BALLAST.

TAL.

WITH CARGOES.

TOTAL.

Cargoes.

WS.

VIS.

Tons.

Crews.

VIs.

Tons. Crews.

Vls.

Tons.

Crews.

Dis- charged.!

Transit.

Dis- charged.

Dis-

Transi..

Cargoes.

Transit.

charged.

299

2,912

220

5,907 1,219,

2,912

171

306

801

2371

6,213

1,299

2,912

423] 2,303

114

3,199

721

2,303

1,998

702

225

5,197

1,423

2.303

742

8,694

593

14,409

2,920

8,694

281

12,524

1,822

874

20,933

4,742

8,694

365

3,813

392

6.762

1,947

3,813

607

31,203

4,718

999

37,965

6.665

3,813

125 196,868

2,801

247,320

22,878||

196,868

1,863

169,661

18,547

4 164

416,981

41,425

196,868

240

3741

191 1,838

268

106

443 1,951,073 1,004,576|||

13,116

3,686 7,400,265 380,610| 3,981,670| 2,143,749

6112,167,692 1,004,576 16,935 7,681,819 411,501 4.108,389 2.143,749,

ORT IN THE COLONY OF HONGKONG, IN THE YEAR 1900.

128 1,078)

191

284

112

1,838

772

3,342.

728,047

296 53,405

200

552

240 4,458 1,374 16,458 8,128,315 434,05

191

1,838) 3,981,7702,143,749

0,270

944,795 79,672|

23,205|||| 8.626,614; 491,173

4,108,380 2,143,749

TOTAL.

IN BALLAST.

TCTAL.

WITH CARGOES.

TOTAL.

Shipped.

Vls.

Tons. Crews.

Cargoes.

Funker Coal.

Vls. Tons. Crews.

Vls.

Tons. Crews.

Cargoes.

Bunker Coal.

VIS. Tons. Crews.

Bunker

Cargoes.

Coal.

219 2,958 960

662 2131

4,871 1,358 2,387 903 29,064 4,737 9,201 2010 87,007 6,719 25,188 4,154||| 416,262 40,687 183,028

55 1,398 318 116 3,342 767

662

164

1,560 642

219 2,958 960

662

2,387

1,529 591

213

4,871 1,358|

2,387

380

980 313

183

16,200 2,445 619 31,301 4,715 25,188 2,393||| 230,988 24,917; 183,028

9,201

523

12,864 2,292

903

29,064, 4,737

9,201

391

5,700 2,004

1,010

37,007 6,719 25,188

1,761

185,274 15,770

4.154

416,26240,687||| 183.028,

583 1451

183

200

4,445 1,379

7181

83 1,887

552

718

117

397 168 2,558 827

980 313

183

200 4,445 1,379'

718

2,6583,558,234 243.1371,426,930|| 214,775 13,788 7,286,091 395,1822,615,538 407,785

2,017|| 838,731|38,230|| 81.671 16.405. 8,124,822 438,4 22,015,538|| 489,456

3,4134,053,821 299,2901,648,297 214,775 17,458 7,571,790 429,041 2,830,905 407,785 5,7021,048,619 (0,524 81,071 23,160 8,620,409 489,565 2,836,905|| 489,456

469

V.-NUMBER, TONNAGE and CREWS of Vessels of each Nation ENTERED at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong

in the Year 1900.

NATIONALITY

VESSELS.

ENTERED.

WITH CARGOES.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Vessels. Tons. Crews. Vessels.

Tons. Crews. Vessels.

Tons.

Crews.

American,

110,357

4,647

15,905

605

126,262

5,252

Austrian,

101,723

2,372

1,004

102,727

2,392

Belgian,

5,963

123

5,963

123

British,

3,586

4,368,532180,360

178

220,078

9,202

3,764

4,588,610

189,562

Chinese,

147

109,894 6,712

26,871

1,066

164

136,765

7,778

Chinese Junks,

11,829

1,041,366 138,955

5,903

563,266

64,105

17,732

1,604,632

203,060

Danish,

14,981

315

3,703

18,684

375

Dutch,

22,846

589

22,846

589

French,

234

228,501

17,415

1,790

235

230,291

17,475

German,

590

893,180

30,246

65,993

2,361

659

959,173

32,607

Italian,

20,502

991

20,502

991

Japanese,

305

639,919

25,999

9,684

506

315

649,603

26,50,5

Norwegian,

94,629

2,031

28,745

870

111

123,374

2,901

Portuguese,

5,856

707

5,856

707

Russian,

24,070

547

729

24,799

619

Swedish,...

1,945

169

989

5,934

202

No Flag,

411

182

593

TOTAL,..

16,935 7,681,819 411,501

6,270 944,795 79,672 23,205 8,626,614 491,173

VI.-NUMBER, TONNAGE and CREWS of Vessels of cach Nation CLEARED at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong

in the Year 1900.

CLEARED.

NATIONALITY

WITH CARGOES.

IN BALLAST.

TOTAL.

VESSELS.

Vessels. Tons. Crews. Vessels.

Tous.

Crews. Vessels.

Tons. Crews.

American,

Austrian,

99,988 100,134

4,295

2,560

28,846 2,593

560

Belgian,

5,963

158

British,

3,495

4,169,738

179,386

252

Chinese,

157

126,561 7,266

Chinese Junks,

12,494

1,309,208 | 162,885

5,199

396,850 11,946 311,016

10,889 576 39,948

3,747 168 17,693

128,834 4,855 102,727 2,604

5,963

4,566,588190,275

158

138,507 7,842 1,620,224 | 202,833

Danish,

17,868

303

458

18,326

327

Dutch,

15,281

392

7,565

203

22,846

595

French,

234

228,861

16,606

2,169

236

231,080

16,657

German,

554

842,755

27,608

106

115,816

3,599

660

958,571

31,207

Italian,

17,988 1,000

1,794

19.782

1,061

Japanese,

256

534,314 23,398

114,713

3,355

319

649,027

26,753

Norwegian,

75 72,467 1,865

47.714

906

109

120,181

2,771

Portuguese,

1,872

501

3,984

180

5,856

681

Russian,

24,611

623

188

24,799

651

Swedish,

No Flag,

2,967 1,214

2,967

100

5,934

179

116

1,214

116

TOTAL,......

17,458 7,571,790 429,041

5,702 1,048,619 60,524

23,160 8,620,409 | 489,565

470

VII.—Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Passengers and Cargo of Junks ENTERED at each Port in the Colony

of Hongkong, (exclusive of Local Trade), during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

CARGO.

BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Ves- sels.

Tons. Crews.

gers.

Passen- Cargo Ves-

Discharged.

Tons. sels.

Tous. Crews.

Passen- Ves- gers. sels.

Tons. Crews.

gers.

Passen- Cargo

Discharged. Tons.

Aberdeen,

220

5,907 1,219

170

2,912 17

Cheung Cháu,

114

3,199 721

2,303 111

306 1,998 702

237

6,213 1,299

170

2,912

202

225

5,197 1,423

220

2,303

Hunghom.......

593

14,409 2,920

8,694 281

12,524 1,822

874

26,933 4,742

8,694

Sham Shui-po, 2,301

247,320 22,878

Shaukiwán,

392

6,762 1,947

Stanley,.

268 128

Tai O,

Victoria,

166 8,010

3,686 1,078 439

196,868 1,863|

3,813 607 191 15 1,838 34

169,661 18,547

4,164

416,981 41,425

113

196,868

31,203

4,718

999

37,965 6,665

3,813

284 112

552 240

191

759,815108,064 43,815

377,448 2,975

772 296 346,518 37,828 11,009

187

200 4,458 1,374

626

1,838

10,985 1,106,333 145,892 54,824

377,448

Total.... 11,829 1,041,366 138,955 44,572

594,067 5,903| 563,266 64,105 11,500 |17,732|1,604,632|203,060 56,072 594,067

VIII.—Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Passengers and Cargo of Junks CLEARED at each Port in the Colony

of Hongkong, (exclusive of Local Trade), during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

CARGO.

BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Ves- sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen- Cargo Ves-

Shipped. gers.

Tons. sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen- Ves-

gers. sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen- Cargo

gers.

Shipped. Tons.

Aberdeen,......

1,398 318

Cheung Cháu,

116

3,342 767

146

Hunghom,...

380

16,200 2,445|

Sham Shui-po,| 2,393|

230,988 24,917|

662 164

1,560 642 2,387 97 1,529 9,201 183,028 1,761 | 185,274|15,770

219

2,958 960

662

591

213:

4,871 1,358

229

2,387

523 12,864 2,292

903

29,064 4,737

9,201

147

Shaukiwán,

619

Stanley,

31,301 4,715

583

25,188

391 5,706| 2,004

4,154 416,262 40,687 1,010

152

183,028

37,007 6,719

25,188

145

Tai O,

83 1,887

552

8,824 1,023,509 129,026

Victoria,

Total.... 12,494 1,309,208 162,885

397 2,558 54,917 | 682,308 | 2,114 101,128|17,654|

183

283

718

32 117

168 827

980 313

183

312

200

4,445 1,379 595 964 10,9381,124,637146,680 55,881

718

682,308

55,503

903,675 5,199 311,016 39,948

1,520 17,693 1,620,224 202,833 57,023

903,675

IX.—Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Pussengers and Cargo of Junks ENTERED at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong,

from Ports on the Coast of China, and Macao, during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

CARGO.

BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Tons. Crews.

East Coast,. San On Dis- trict, West

28,585 4,386

8,223

River, &c., West Coast,

20,472 3,076 107 10,581 865 40,980 6,793 361

Macao,

85 29,686 371 27,563 3,838

330

350 61,926 10,097

Total,... 11,8291,041,366138,955 44,572 594,067 5,903 563,266 64,105 11,500 | 17,7821,604,632 203,060 56,072 | 594,087

Ves-

Passen- Cargo Ves-

Discharged. sels.

gers. Tons. sels.

2,720 195,013| 20,594 351 168,914 649

763,955 105,188 44,029|384,886| 4,018| 466,138 | 49,088. 10,023 | 12,241|1,230,093|154,276; 55,052 | 384,886

1.201 61,452 9,869:

468 10,581

89,489 13,935 90 29,686

Passen-Ves- gers. sels.

111 3,869 223,598 24,980

Tous. Crews.

Passen- Cargo

gers.

462 168,914

Discharged Tons.

921

471

X.—Total Number, Tonnage, Crews, Passengers and Cargo of Junks CLEARED at Ports in the Colony of Hongkong,

for Ports on the Coast of China, and Macao, during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

Cargo.

BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Ves- sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen-

gers.

Cargo Ves- Shipped.

Tons. sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen- Ves- gers. sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen-

gers.

Cargo Shipped.

Tons.

78,556 11,220

191

85 3,389 242,773 25,542

276

51,170

San On Dis- trict, West

River, &c., West Coast,

Macao,

East Coast,.....* 1,383

51,170 2,006|| 164,217 14,222

9,645 1,111,162 133,342 55,067 | 766,010| 2,763 | 124,601|21,792

1,279 | 12,4081,225,763155.134 56,346 766,010

143 1,066 60,095 8,933

81,593 13,224

804 49,089 6,934

159 35,322 262 11,006 1,999

662

70,401 11,389

86 51,173 178 11,192 1,835

Total,... 12,494 1,309,208 162,885 55,503 903,675 5,199 311,016 | 39,948| 1,520 17,693 1,620,224 202,833 57,023 903,675

302 35,322

830

99 51,173

XI.-Keturn of Junks (Local Trade) ENTERED at each Port in the Colony of Hongkong,

during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

CARGO.

BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Ves- sels.

Tons. Crews

Cargo Passen-

Ves- Discharged. gers. Tons. sels.

Ves- Tons. Crews. Passen-

gers. sels.

Tons. Crews.!

Passen-

Cargo Discharged.

gers.

Tons.

Aberdeen,.

141

7,258

1,204

4,692

580

186

170

7,838

1,390

4,692

} Cheung ( háu,

687

162

547

538

142

1,225

304

547

Hunghom,....

478

7,302

1,740

3,093 118

1,551

579

596

7,853

2,319

3,093

Sham Shui-po,

796

182

453

902

225

1,698

407

453

Shaukiwán,

Stanley,..

347

296

291

410

335

291

381

124

480

116

124

Tai 0, Tai Po,

Victoria,

356

150

240

คา

408 168

240

216

109

186

44.

402 174

109

6,388 238,627 72,920 18,109

154,466 10,583 343,207 68,692 62,744 16,971

Total,... 7,195 254,970|76,828 18,146 | 164,015 10,823 347,178 69,997 62,812 18,018 602,148 146,825 80,958

581,834 141.612 80,853

154,466

164,015

XII.—Return of Junks (Local Trade) CLEARED at each Port in the Colony of Hongkong,

during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

CARGO.

BALLAST.

TOTAL.

Ves- sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen- Cargo Ves-

Shipped. gers.

Tons. sels.

Tons. Crews.

Passen- Ves- gers. sels.

Tons. Crews. Passen-

Cargo Shipped.

gers.

Tons.

Aberdeen,..

59 2,186

473

962 129

8,906 1,280

Cheung Cháu,

542

101:

299

1,062

268

188 11,092 1,753 44 1,504 369

962

299

Hunghom,..

141

1,313

576

801

426

4,412

1,596

567

5,725 2,17

804

Sham Shui-po,

1,787

273

603

629

228

2,416

50!

603

Shaukiwán,

Stanley,.

Tai 0, Tai Po,

Victoria,

61 142 4,882 146,933 | 43,440, 81,583

Total,... 5,207|173,296 | 45,152 81,601

511

368

278

439 329

111

157

263

102

115

420

163

131

333

268

32!

402 174

268

27,249 12,145 406,921 | 96,951

1,603 17,027

573,854 140.391 83,190

27,249

30,354 12,866 422,667 | 100,753]

1,771 18,073 595,963145.905 83,372 30,354

472

XIII. SUMMARY,

FOREIGN TRADE.

No. of VESSELS.

TONS.

CREWS.

British ships entered with Cargoes,

Do.

do. in Ballast,

3,586 178

4,368,532 220,078

180,360

9,202

Total,...

3,764

4,588,610

189,562

British ships cleared with Cargoes,

3,495

4,169,738

179,386

Do.

do. in Ballast,

252

396,850

10,889

Total,......

3,747

4,566,588

190,275

Total British ships entered and cleared,

7,511

9,155,198

379,837

Foreign ships entered with Cargoes,

Do.

do. in Ballast,

1,520

2,271,921

92,186

189

161,451

6,365

Total,......

1,709

2,433,372

98,551

Foreign ships cleared with Cargoes,

Do.

do. in Ballast,.......

1.469 251

2,092,844

86.770

340,753

9,687

Total,..

1,720

2,433,597

96,457

Total Foreign ships entered and cleared,

Junks entered with Cargoes,

3,429

4,866,969

195,008

11,829

1,041,366

138,955

Do.

do. in Ballast,

5,903

563,266

64,105

Total,......

17,732

1,604,632

203,060

Junks cleared with Cargoes,

Do.

do. in Ballast,

12.494 5,199

1,309,208

162,885

311,016

39,948

Total,.....

17,693

1,620,224

202,833

Total Juuks entered and cleared,

35,425

3,224,856

405,893

Total of all Vessels entered,

Total of all Vessels cleared,

Total of all Vessels in Foreign Trade, entered and cleared,

23,205 8,626,614

491,173

23,160 8,620,409

489,565

46,365

17,247,023

980,738

LOCAL TRADE.

Total Junks entered,.

Do.

cleared,..

18,018 18,073

602,148

146,825

595,963

145,905

Total of all Vessels in Local Trade, entered and cleared,

36,091

1,198,111

292,730

Total of all Vessels in Foreign Trade, entered and cleared, Do. all do. Local Trade, entered and cleared,

Grand Total of all Vessels entered and cleared,

46,365 17,247,023 36,091

980,738

1,198,111

292,730

82,456

18,445,134

1,273,468

XIV.-RETURN of LICENSED STEAM-LAUNCHES ENTERED in the COLONY of HONGKONG during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

TOWING.

NOT TOWING.

TOTAL.

PLACES.

Cargo

Vessels. Tonnage. Crews.

Passen-

gers.

Discharged Vessels. Tonnage. Crews. Passen- Discharged Vessels. Tonnage. Crews.

Cargo.

gers.

Passen-

gers.

Cargo

Discharged

in tons.

Within the Waters of the Colony,

28,606 730,754 237,696

Total,..

28,606 730,754 237,696

89,700 3,009,883 810,897 3,632,607

118,306 3,740,637 1,048,593,3,632,607

89,700 3,009,883 810,897 3,632,607

118,306 3,740,637 1,048,593 3,632,607

Within the Local Trade Limits,

Total,.

Outside the Local Trade Limits,-

Sam Shui,....

Kong Mun,

8,392 258,995 64,356 326,198

8,392

258,995 64,356

326,198

8,392

258,995

64,356 326,198

.4.

483

26,357 9,464 17,622

2,011

483

26,357

9,464

17,622

2,011

Kam Chuk,

Wu Chow,

1,925

608

233

Macao,

3,820

1,710

2,158

672

222

2,007

837

3,820

1,710

2,007

837

Other places,

1,083

291

2,751

594 1,192

676

3,834

885

1,192

672

Total,..

3,008

899

634 33,161 11,832 20,821

3,589

733

36,169 12,731 20,825

3,742

Grand Total,...

28,705 | 733,762 | 238,595

3,302,039 98,726 3,302,039 887,085 3,979,626

3,979,62

5,680 3,979,630 3,589 127,431 4,035,801 1,125,680 3,979,630,

3,742

473

NOT TOWING.

XV.-RETURN of LICENSED STEAM-LAUNCHES CLEARED in the COLONY of HONGKONG during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

TOWING.

TOTAL.

474

PLACES.

Vessels. Tonnage. Crews.

Passen-

gers.

Cargo

Shipped

in tons.

Vessels. Tonnage. Crews.

Passen-

gers.

Cargo

Shipped

in tons.

Vessels. Tonnage. Crews.

Within the Waters of the Colony,

28,606 730,754 237,696

Total,..

28,606 |730,754 | 237,696

89,700 3,009,883 810,897 3,633,406

118,306 3,740,637 1,048,593 3,633,406

118,306 3,740,637 1,048,5933,633,406

Cargo

Shipped

in tons.

Passen-

gers.

Within the Local Trade Limits,

Total,.

Outside the Local Trade Limits,-

Sam Shui,

Kong Mun,

Kam Chuk,

Wu Chow,

1,838

588

Macao,

Other places,

1,083

291

Total,...

2.921

879

Grand Total,

28,703 783,675 | 238,575

8,392 258,995 64,356 327,598

8,392

258,995 64,356 327,598

8,392

258,995 64,356 327,598|

483

26,357 9,464 18,333

7,126

483

26,357

9,464|

18,333]

7,126

320

281

2,158

672

281

3,820

1,710

1,959

849

3,820

1,710

1,959

849

2,751

594

1,004|

269

3,834

885

894

269

636 33,248 11,852 21,306

8,525

733 36,169 12,731 21,296

8,525

98,728 3,302,126 887,105 4,172,310

8,525 127,431 4,025,801 1,125,680 3,982,300

8,525

XVI. RETURN of VESSELS REGISTERED at the Port of Hongkong, during the Year 1900.

475

Name of Vessel.

Official Number.

Regis- Horse

tered

Power. Tonnage.

Rig.

Built of

Where built and when..

Remarks.

Perla, (str.),

77,120 1,287 240 Schooner Iron

Sunderland Durham, 1878. Formerly "Menmuir."

Luisa, (str.),

109,854

None

Wood Sam Shui Po H'kong, 1899.

Fuk Wo, (str.),

72,750

764

Schooner

Wo Foo, (str.),

109,855

258

33 Schooner

Iron

Shanghai, 1879.

Wood Hongkong, 1899.

Since registered anew at

[Shanghai.

Nauning, (str.),

109,856

348

Telemachus, (str.),...... 81,368 1,340

Noue

250 Schooner Iron

Steel

Hongkong, 1900.

Newcastle, 1880.

XVII.—RETURN of REGISTRIES of VESSELS Cancelled at the Port of Hongkong, during the Year 1900.

Name of Vessel.

Official Number.

Regis- tered Tonnage.

Date of Horse Registry. Power.

Rig.

Built of

Where built and when.

Reason of Cancellation.

Sebastian Bach,

Propontis, (str.),...

Kwong Hoi, (str.), 73,794

Caleb Curtis,....... 95,866

Germana, (str.),... 95,875

Hoi Tong, (str.),... 107,019

Kwai Lum, (str.), 107,023

Wuchow, (str.), 109,853

Ful Wo, (str.), ... 72,750

95,857 823 1891

50,485

513

1,390 1893

1894

250

400

Iron

67 1894

86 1897

410 1897

1898

156

1899

764 1900

Barque

Schooner

None

Schooner

28 Schooner

62 None

24 Schooner

80 None Steel Shanghai, 1899.

52 Schooner Iron Shanghai, 1879.

Govan, 1864.

Wood Bremenhaven, 1868. Sold to Foreigners.

Broken up.

Clyde, 1875.

Sold to Foreigners.

Wood Boston, Massachus- Lest.

[etts U.S.A., 1859. Wood Hongkong, 1897.

Sold to Foreigners.

Wood Hongkong, 1897.

Sold to Foreigners.

Wood Hongkong, 1897.

Sold to Foreigners.

Registered anew at S'hai

XVIII.—SUMMARY of CHINESE EMIGRATION from HONGKONG to Ports other than in China, during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

BRITISH VESSELS.

FOREIGN VESSELS.

GRAND TOTAL.

WHITHER BOUND.

Adults.

Children.

Adults. Children.

Adults.

Children.

Total.

M. F. M. F.

Mauritius,

,, Seattle, U.S.A.,

,, Tacoma, U.S.A.,

To Bombay,

Honolulu,.

Japan Ports,

Portland, Oregon,

San Francisco, U.S.A.,

Straits Settlements,.

...

440

152

227

2,972

200

460 655 10 155 146

G84 1.095

156 298

64 1,144 311

613 5

227

20 3,045 4,104

191

622 613 227 4,198] 7,076|

622

227

127

7,243

Vancouver, British Columbia,

او

Victoria, British Columbia,

115 3,030 1,016

115 3,032

38,824 5,033 1,047 430 45,334 20,687 2.485 499 208 23,879 59,511 7,518 1,546

190

638

19 69,213

190 305

305

46 3,076

3,078

1,017

400

400 1,416

1,417

TOTAL PASSENGERS,.

46,776 5,056 1,116 437 53,385 26,924 2,525 501 218 30,258 73,700| 7,581 1,707

G55 83,643

Total Passengers by British Vessels,

Total Passengers by Foreign Vessels,

46.776 5,056 1,116 437 53,385

26,924 2,525 591 218

30,258

Excess of Passengers by British Vessels, .

|19,852 2,531 525 219 23,127

476

XIX.-SUMMARY of CHINESE IMMIGRATION to HONGKONG from Ports other than China,

during the Year ending 31st December, 1900.

BRITISH VESSELS.

FOREIGN VESSELS.

GRAND TOTAL.

WHERE FROM.

Adults.

Children.

Adults.

Children.

Adults.

Children.

Total.

F. M. F.

M. F. M. F

From Bangkok, Siam,.

1,495

1,495 2,057

2,057

3,552

Honolulu, Sandwich Islands,

252

182

431

Japan Ports,

151

Mauritius,

242

Melbourne,

234

New South Wales,.

287

241

134 1

141

368

299

279

566

وو

New Zealand Ports,

+35

382

578

Portland, Oregon,

•

Queensland Ports,....

428

430

238

239

666

669

San Francisco, U.S.A.,.......

3,578

71 3,819 3,678 86 79 14 3,857

7,256

183 152

7,676

Seattle, U.S.A.,

►

South Australian Ports,

110

40 4

...

114

Straits Settlements,

78,547 2,980 | 1,033 519 83,079 18,922, 970 280 117 20,289

97,469 3,950 1,313

636 103,368

Sumatra,

617

Tacoma, U.S.A.,

Tasmania,

Vancouver, British Columbia,

159

441!

441

600

2,635

Victoria, British Columbia,....

TOTAL PASSENGERS,

237

1 2,648 237

2,635

2,648

282

735 121,322

88,063 3,0861,123 598 92,870 26,898 1,058 359| 137 28,452 114,961 | 4,144 | 1,482

Total Passengers by British Vessels,..

Total Passengers by Foreign Vessels,

Excess of Passengers by British Vessels.

$8,063 3,086 1,123 598 92,870

26,898 1,058 359 137 28,452

61,165 2,028 764 461 64,118

XX. RETURN of MARINE CASES tried at the MARINE MAGISTRATE'S COURT, during the Year 1900.

NATURE OF Charge.

No. of Cases.

No. of Defendants.

DEFENDANTS HOW DISPOSED OF.

Amount of

Fines.

Fined.

钥

Absent from ship without leave,

Assault,

Desertion,

Disorderly Behaviour,

•

Drunkenness,

Harbour Regulations,-Breach of (Junk),

...

270

Obstruction of Fairways,

Refusal of duty,......................

Launch),..............

Rules of the Road,-Failed to observe (Steam-

Wilfully remaining behind,

Total,

144

106

$ 348

AGRAM of Tonnage entered at Hongkong, from 1867 to 1900, inclusirė

D LINE represents British Shipping Tonnage only.

UE LINE represents Foreign Shipping Tonnage only.

represents entire

EEN LINE represents British and Foreign Shipping Tonnage, LLOW LINE represents Junk Tonnage only, excluding Local Trade. ICK BLACK LINE

Trade in British and Foreign Ships and Junks.

1872.

1873.

1874.

1875.

1876.

1877.

1878.

1879.

1880.

1881.

1882.

18$3.

1884.

1855.

1886.

1887.

ISSS.

1889.

1890.

1891.

1892.

1893.

Toss.

8,700,000

$,600,000

8.500,000

8,400,000

8,300,000

8,200,000

8,100,000

8,000,000

7,900,000

7,400,000

7,300,000

7,200,000

7,100,000

7,000,000

6,900,000

6,800,000

7,400,000

7,300,000

7,200,000

7,100,000

7,000,000

6,900,000

6,800,000

6,700,000

6,600,000

6,500,000

6,400,000

6,300,000

6,200,000

6,100,000

6,000,000

5,900,000

5,800,000

5.700,000

5,600,000

$ 500,000

5,400,000.

5,300,000

5,200,000

5,100,000

5,000,000

4,900,000

$800,000

,,700,000

4,000,000

4,500,000

4,400,000.

4,300,000

4,200,000

4,100,000,

4,000,000.

3,900,000

3,800,000

3,700,000

3,600,000

ܘܘܘ,ܘܘܪ,3

3.400,000

3,300,000

3,200,000

3,100,000

3,000,000

2,900,000

2,800,000

*2,700,000*

2,600,000

2,500,000

2,400,000

2,300,000

2,200,000

2,100,00

2,000 nno

1,700,000

1,600,000

1,500,000

1,300,000

1,200,000

ܘܘܘܕܘܘܙ,1

ܘܘ000,0ܕ1

ܘܘܘܨܘܘ9

800,000

བས།

700,000

500,000

TONS.

8,700,000

8,600,000

8,500,000

8,400,000

8,300,000

8,200,000

8,000,000

7,900,000

7,800,000

7,500,000

7,400,000

7,300,000

7,200,000

7,100,000

7,000,000

6,900,000

6,800,000

6 -00 000

1867.

XXI. -DIAGRAM of Tonnage entered at Hongkong, from 1867 to 1900, inclusive

RED LINE represents British Shipping Tonnage only,

BLUE LINE represents Foreign Shipping Tonnage only,

GREEN LINE represents British and Foreign Shipping Tonnage,

YELLOW LINE represents Junk Tonnage only, excluding Local Trade.

THICK BLACK LINE represents entire Trade in British and Foreign Ships and Junks.

1868.

1869.

1870.

1871.

1872.

1873.

1874.

1875.

1876.

1877.

1878.

1879.

1880.

1881.

1882.

1883.

1884.

1885.

1886.

1887.

ISSS.

1889.

1890.

1891.

1892.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

7,200,000

7,100,000

7,000,000

6,900,000

6,800,000

6,700,000

6,600,000

6,500,000

6,400,000

6,300,000

6,200,000

6,100,000

6,000,000

5,900,000

5,800,000

5,700,000

5,600,000

5,500,000

$5,400,000

5,300,076

5,200,000

5,100,000

5,000,000

4,900,000

+,800,000

4.700,000

4,600,000

4,500,000

4,400,000

4,300,000

4,200,000

4.100.000

4,900.000

3,900,000

3,800,000

3,700,000

3,600,000

3,500,000

3,400,000

3,300,000

3,200,000

3,100,000

3,000,000

2,900,000

2,800,000

2,700,000

2,600,000

2,500,000

2,400,000

2,300,000

2,200,000

2,100,000

2,000,000

1,900,000

21,800,000

1,700,000

1,600,000

1,500,000

1,405,000

300,000

1,200,000

1,100,000

1,000,000

900,000

800,000

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

སྩབ་

BUBONIC FEVER AN

WEEKS.

1st

2nd 3rd

4th 5th

6th

7th

8th

9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19ti

Mean Weekly Temperature

88° F.

87°

86°

85°

84°

83°

82°

81°

*80°

79°

78°

770

76°

75°

74°

73°

72°

71°

70°

69°

68°

COPY OF ENCLOSURE No.

AND MEAN ATMOSPHERIC T

1899.

17th 18th 19th 20th

21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th

C TEMPERATURE.

h 37th 38th 39th 40th 41st 42nd 48rd 44th 45th 46th 47th 48th 49th 50th 51st 52nd

No. OF CASES.

Per Week.

140

135

130

125

120

115

110

105

100

55 μ

84°

83°

92°

81°

80°

79°

780

77°

76°

75°

74°

-73.

72°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

64°

63°

62°

61°

60°

Bubonic Fever, Fed line.

Mean Atmospheric Temperature, Black line.

ZAZ-RENATION DE

120

115

110

105

100

35 μ

35.

Mean Weekly

Temperature.

90°F.

89°

880

87°

86°

85°

84°

83°

82°

819

80°

79°

78°

77°

76°

75°

74°

73°

72°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

66°

65°

64°

63°

62°

61°

*60°

COPY OF ENCLO

BUBONIC FEVER AND EAN A

HONGK

1900

8th

9tlı

10th 11th

12th 13th 14th 15tli 16th 17th 18th

19th

· 20thi 21st 221

LOSURE No. 5.

ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE.

KONG

22nd 23rd 24th

25th 26th 27th 28th

29th

30th

31st 32nd 33rd

34th

35th

No. of Cases of Buboinc Plague.

125

1.20

115

110

105

100

300

1 53

三

Mean Weekly

Temperature.

90°F.

890

88°

87°

86°

85°

84°

.83°

82°

81°

80°

79°

78°

77°

76°

75°

74°

73°

72°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

66°

65°

64°

63°

62°

61°

•60°

HONGK

190

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th 16th 17th 18th

19th 20th 21st 2

Mean Weekly Temperature, black line.

Plague Cases, red line.

KONG

22nd

23rd

24th

25th 26th 27th 28th 29th

30th

31st 32nd

33rd 34th 35th

No. of Cases of Buboinc Plague.

125

120

115

110

105

100

ΤΟ

15100

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of Health.

()

COPY OF SUB-ENCLO

BUBONIC FEVER AND GEN

HONGK (

1901

WEEK.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th 10th 11th

12th

13th

14th

Weekly death rate, Total deaths

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

ENCLOSURE No. 6.

GENERAL MORTALITY.

-KONG

O 1

14th 15th

16th

17th 18th 19th

20th

21st

22nd

23rd 24th

25th 26th

No. OF CASES.

Per Week.

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

BATMAN

KAMANNAA....

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

112

1 Total weekly

2 Total weekly 3 Weekly Morta

weekly Plague cases, Red line.

weekly Mortality, Black line.

ly Mortality excluding Deaths from Plague, Dotted line.

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

COPY OF ENCI

BUBONIC FEVER AND MEAN

HONG:

WEEK.

1st

2nd 3rd

4th

5th 6th

7th

8th

9th 10th 11th 12th

13th

}

Mean weekly Temperature.

F. 83°

82°

81°

_80°

79°

78°

76o

75€

740

*39

72°

719

70°

69°

68°

670

66°

65°

64°

OSURE No. 6.

WEEKLY TEMPERATURE.

KONG

4th 15th

16th

17th 18th

19th 20th 21st

22nd 23rd

24th

25th

26th

No. of CASES.

Per Week.

230

220

210

200

-190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

80°

79°

78°

769

75€

740

*3°

72°

719

70°

69°

68°

670

66°

65°

64°

63°

62°

61°

60°

1 Total weekly Plague case:

2 Mean weekly Temperatur

cases, Red line.

ature, Black line.

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

XXII. STATEMENT of the REVENUE. collected in the Harbour Department, during the Year, 1900.

Head of Receipt.

Amount.

Remarks.

cts.

Cargo-boats Certificates, Ordinance 26 of 1891,

1. Light Dues, Ordinance 26 of 1891,

2. Licences and Internal Revenue not otherwise specified :—

Chinese Passenger Ship Licences, Ordinance 1 of 1889, Emigration Brokers' Licences, Ordinance 1 of 1889,

Fines,

Junk Licences, &c., Ordinance 26 of 1891, from the New Territory, Junk Licences, &c., Ordinance 26 of 1891,................ Steam-Launch Licences, &c., Ordinance 26 of 1891,

3. Fees of Court or Office, Payments for specific purposes and Rc-imbursements-in-

Aid:-

55,379.38

345.00

800.00

348.00

8,390.75

36,069.05

1,466.50

2,193.00

Engagement and Discharge of Seamen, Ordinance 26 of 1891,... Examination of Masters and Engineers of Launches, Ordinance 26 of 1891,. Examination of Masters, Mates and Engineers, Ordinance 26 of 1891, Gunpowder, Storage of, Ordinance 26 of 1891,

22,297.00

485.00

2,495.00

27,944.35

Medical Examination of Emigrants, Ordinance 1 of 1889, Printed Forms, Sale of, Harbour Regulations, Tide Tables, &c.,.............. Private Moorings and Buoys, Half-yearly Rent, Ordinance 26 of 1891, Registry Fees (Merchant Shipping Act), Ordinance 26 of 1891,.... Steam Launches, Surveyor's Certificates, Ordinance 26 of 1891, Survey of Steam-ships, &c., Ordinance 26 of 1891,

Sunday Cargo Working Permits, Ordinance 6 of 1891,..

Total,.......

2,675.00

12,361.59

43,550.00

.$ 246,039.12

XXIII.-RETURN of WORK performed by the Government Marine SURVEYOR'S Department.

25,460.50

228.00

3,030.00

521.00

Years.

479

Passenger

Certificate and

Inspection of

Bottom.

Emigration.

Tonnage for Registration.

British Tonnage Certificate for

Foreign Vessels.

Inspection of

Lights and

Markings.

Crew space,

Minor Inspec- tion.

Survey of Licen-

Steam-launches. sed Passenger

Boilers under Construction.

Survey of

Inspection of Government

Launches.

Examination of Engineers.

Examination of Chinese Engi-

neers for Steam-

launches.

Number of Visits in Estimated Total

connection with fore.

going Inspection.

1890,

112

1891,

108

1892,

122

1893,

136

1894,

124

1895,

102

1896,

142

1897,

158

1898,

164

1899,

144

1900,

151

[

1899. 1900,

Increase,... Decrease,

∞ II

10 20

2360) 10 10 10 60 co co —

130

...

986

1,615

1,678

1,659

116

1,364

1,452

1,409

109

1,631

121

134

187

158

1,729

1,602

124

1,834

XXIV. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OFFICE.

IMPORTS.

MALWA

PATNA.

chests.

BENARES. PERSIAN. TURKISH.

chests.

CHINESE.

TOTAL.

chests.

9,0281/

17,866

9,739

5,966

41,690

10,218

19,351

8,045

5,184

418

43,2561

1,1891

1,485

367

3,042

694

782

1,476

....

EXPORTS.

MALWA.

PATNA.

BENARES.

chests.

PERSIAN.

chests.

TURKISH.

chests.

CHINESE.

TOTAL.

chests.

1899, 1900,

9,017

17,812

8,597

5,034

40,524

9,392

16,630

7,948

4,496

255

38,721

Increase,...... Decrease,

375

228

...

1,182

649

5371/

603 2,4051

Through Cargo reported in Manifests but not landed, 1900,

1899,

17,346 chests. 17,557

Increase,............

211 chests.

No. 10.

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE LAND COURT FOR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

371

No. 18

1901

LAND COURT,

SIR,

HONGKONG, 4th March, 1901.

I have the honour to forward my report on the work of the Land Court for the seven months ending December 31st, 1900.

The Department was constituted as from the 1st June, Mr. H. E. POLLOCK being appointed Pre- sident, myself Member. Mr. J. H. KEMP was gazetted Registrar, and on his removal to the Magistracy on 28th November Mr. WooD was gazetted Registrar in his place.

2. I found on taking up my duties that matters were in the following state.

The Survey on a scale of 16" of between 30,000 and 40,000 acres of the New Territory had been completed leaving the remainder of the mainland and the whole of the islands to be dealt with.

Demarcation.

It had not been possible to arrange for any demarcation either precedent to the survey or follow- ing with it and no holdings therefore were shown on the maps which had been completed. A large number of claims to land had been brought in at Tai Po and at Ping Shan for the purposes of the Rough Rent Roll, but the form in which they were laid, though possibly adequate for the purpose for which they were received, was neither sufficiently full nor sufficiently clear for them to serve as the basis of an investigation into title.

3. It was necessary therefore to provide in the first instance a suitable form of claim and this was drawn up by the President and myself. A Demarcation Staff had also to be improvised and after experiments lasting over several weeks I obtained the sanction of His Excellency for the enlistment of 20 Chinese to be trained as demarcators to accompany the Indian Surveyors in the field and obtain particulars of the ownership of holdings.

4. The enlistment and training however of the Deinarcation Staff required time and meanwhile it seemed advisable to commence getting in claims as rapidly as possible leaving where necessary the identification of the land claimed to be completed when the lot number tickets had all been issued. This has caused a good deal of delay; for persons who have first laid a claim in the Court, and subse- quently received a lot number ticket on demarcation usually imagine that nothing further is necessary so that it has often proved very difficult to get them to come to the office and produce their tickets. I have arranged that in future demarcation shall have a clear start in each district before the receiv- ing of claims begins and that no claim shall be received unless the appropriate lot number ticket is produced at the same time.

Commencement at Kowloon City.

5 The Law Committee of the Legislative Council had recommended that if possible the land facing Hongkong and lying to the south of the Kowloon watershed should be first dealt with on account of its growing importance as an outlet for the expansion of the Colony and of its far greater superficial value relative to the rest of the New Territory. I therefore decided to make Kowloon City the first base of operations and by the courtesy of the Trustees I obtained as an office the building used before the Convention as a general Meeting House and School room within the Walled City.

The area including Kowloon City and extending to the Lyeemun Pass was well adapted to be taken as a test of the work that would have to be done containing as it did (a) padi and vegetable land, (b) house and shop property, and (c) fishing grounds and foreshore. Furthermore it was rea- sonable to suppose that its proximity to Hongkong would render the people more amenable to Western methods and better able to understand the meaning of what they were required to do than might have been the case with villagers in more remote districts.

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General procedure.

6. I think it may be expedient to sketch generally at the outset the procedure I have adopted so as not to render necessary further explanation upon particular points relating to the work of the Land Court.

The initial step is to select and mark out the boundaries of a District and a notification from His Excellency in the Gazette then fixes a date after which no claims in respect of that district will be received by the Court. Notices are published directing claimants to attend the Court where the proper forms are filled in for them by the clerical staff. A demarcation party is sent out and persons are invited to attend and give particulars of ownership pointing out their land, the outlines of which are then put in on the Cadastral Map with an appropriate lot number.

7. Finally if we suppose that the last day for receiving claims in "X District is the 31st July, on the 1st August the Court will be in possession of the following documents:-

(a.) Cadastral maps showing the exact position of every claim.

(b.) A statement prepared by the Survey Department giving the areas of every claim in

acres to two decimal points.

(c.) The claim forms signed by the claimants themselves.

(d.) The demarcation books giving particulars as to ownership, nature of cultivation, etc.

collected on the ground.

The first step is then to send the Cadastral maps to the Public Works Department. Under section 15 of the Ordinance all persons in occupation of land as to which claims have not been presented by the last day fixed by His Excellency are trespassers against the Crown. The land claimed should be marked off by boundary stones from the unclaimed, the latter being thenceforward the property of the Crown.

8. The undisputed claims must then be separated from those which are contested. The latter can be easily picked out for where the same lot number is found on more than one claim the owner- ship of the land to which that number relates is obviously contested, while conversely where there is only one claim to a lot, the ownership of that lot is not in dispute.

By far the major portion of the land either under cultivation or covered by buildings is held by persons whose claims to the ownership is not disputed. The average areas of individual holdings are so small and their value to the possessor so great that it is not remarkable that the ownership is as a rule perfectly well known and uncontested, especially seeing that much cultivated land bears three crops a year and is consequently hardly ever left fallow. I estimate that omitting Sham Shui Po which bristles with difficulties, and perhaps the strip of coast from Ngau Tau Kok to Lyeemun the percentage of disputed claims will not be more than about 5%.

9. The disputed claims having been put on one side those which are undisputed must be care- fully sifted to ascertain whether there is any effective occupation. Where the land is and has been for any considerable time under cultivation or where there are inhabited buildings on the land, I take it the Government will as a general rule confirm the occupiers in their possession, even though they have no real title whatever. But where the land is unoccupied and consists of foreshore or waste hill land the titles will need careful scrutiny. Taking as general the axiom that the Chinese Government recognized no ownership not authorized by a registered instrument it is unlikely that many persons would have been at the expense of paying taxes and registration fees for land which under Chinese rule was practically valueless. Many persons no the other hand, now that there is a ready market for such land will be anxious to assert rights of ownership which they never possessed or which have long lapsed to the Crown in consequence of the abandonment of the land.

In other cases also exclusive rights of fishery or of wood and grass cutting may have been granted to individuals who are now anxious to claim full ownership of the land over which they exercised these rights. These are the cases which present questions really difficult of solution, many of which may not be satisfactorily settled for some years to come.

10. It will be seen from what I have said in the foregoing paragraphs that until a good deal of work has been done on the land the judicial functions of the Court do not begin to be exercised. soon as the last day for receiving claims is past all the land in a District that has not been claimed should be marked off as Crown Land,

When all the claims are collected the separation of those which are undisputed will leave a comparatively small residuum for the Court to deal with. The undisputed claims are immediately available and can be handed over to form the basis of a permanent rent roll.

Staff.

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was ready to sit. Mr. Woon is at present performing this very useful work at Tai Po and I see no reason why he should not after six months' experience of the work of Registrar be given a limited jurisdiction in undisputed claims.

This would make the settlement more than twice as rapid as it is now. Five-sixths of the cases would be dealt with before reaching the Land Court which would not then be occupied with the innumerable details which have to be dealt with in the preliminary stages.

Supervision of the demarcators in their work with the Survey Staff and of the Clerks occupied in taking claims is an absolutely necessary preliminary to the hearing of cases. It is useful and interesting work though of course not judicial and it is an excellent training in the handling of a staff and the lesser details of land work.

Late claims.

11. It invariably happens that after the last day for receiving claims in a district has passed there are persons who come in with more or less plausible reasons why they have not been able to present their claims in good time. Some of these have registered their deeds at the Land Office and have rested happy in the belief that they have thereby done everything that is necessary. Others have had their titles looked at in the Tai Po or Ping Shan Rent Roll Office and say that they did not understand that they had to come in again. Others have been at sea or in some village inland or in Singapore or Java not returning until the appointed day was over.

I take it that before the law such persons have no rights at all. Section 15 of the Ordinance makes it quite clear that they are in the position of mere trespassers against the Crown. It would however be inexpedient to ignore them, for this would mean the banding over to Government as Crown land, of areas on which were settled many bonâ fide occupants whose claims Government would in equity feel itself bound to enquire into at some later date.

I have adopted the course of making a separate roster for these late claims informing the parties that the land has lapsed to Government but that I will make a report on their cases to His Excellency who will deal with them as he thinks fit. Possibly in most cases it will be found best for Government to allow them titles on the payment of a small fine as an example to others.

Survey.

12. It has been very fortunate that the Colony has had the services of a staff of trained Indian Surveyors under a responsible experienced head to prepare the Cadastral maps. The work if under- taken piecemeal by the local establishment must have proved long and costly for there appear to be no properly qualified Chinese Surveyors in the Colony while the expense of employing Europeans on such work would have been quite prohibitory.

It still remains however to arrange for the survey of such claims as are too large to come within the ordinary Cadastral plotting. For them it is necessary to fix fresh points and traverse lines and the 16" scale is not convenient for large tracts of land.

•

Claims received.

13. I have during the past seven months received claims in respect of :-

www

I. Survey Districts Nos. I-IV comprising that portion of the New Territory which lies South of the Kowloon watershed and is bounded on the East by Li U Mun and on the West by Lai Chi Kok. In all 5,675 claims comprising 7,583 lots have been received in respect of this area.

The demarcation of No. IV District is not yet complete owing to the survey having omitted to traverse some of the padi land in the smaller valleys North of Lai Chi Kok, but this work is being pushed on as rapidly as possible.

II. Claims have also been received in respect of the following islands :-

Tsing I or Chung Hue.

Ma Wan.

Ping Chau.

Ni Ku Chau.

Cheung Chau.

In all 880.

As no claims were received in respect of-

Cheang Chau Ching,

Cowe Chau (Kau I Chau),

Chau Cung, Patung,

these islands are now by virtue of section XV of the Ordinance Crown land.

14. Claims are being received at Tung Chung in Lautao Island where also a small demarcation party is at work. Demarcation is in progress at Tai Po where Mr. Woon has recently opened an office for the reception of claims.

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It would prove a great economy both of time and expense to detach another Cadet to perform the same work at Ping Shan so that when the Land Court transferred its operations to that district the ground would be cleared in advance of all but the really important cases. Up to the present everything has had to be dealt with by the head office, but there is no reason why this should continue now that we have a system in working order and a trained clerical staff.

15. I have added to this report some Notes on Land Tenure in the New Territory with suggestions as to the form of titles and the system of registration to be adopted when the Court has finished its work.

I wish to acknowledge my obligations to the interesting Memorandum on Land published in the Colonial Secretary's report dated 7th February, 1900.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant.

H. H. J. GOMPERTZ, Member of Court.

The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

SOME NOTES ON LAND TENURE IN THE NEW TERRITORY.

General theory of Chinese Tenure.

It is the commonly received opinion that in China the Crown is the universal land lord in whom the ultimate ownership of all landed property is vested.

Williams says (Middle Kingdom Vol. II, pp. 1-2):-

The

"The land is all held directly from the Crown, no allodial property being acknowledged; if mesne lords existed in feudal times they are now unknown. The conditions of common tenure are, the payment of an annual tax; the fee for alienation; a money composition for personal service to the Government, a charge generally incorporated with the direct tax as a kind of scutage. proprietors of land record their names in the district and take out a 'hung-k'i,' or red deed, which secures them in possession as long as the ground tax is paid," that is to say that land once granted by the Crown remained the property of the grantee as long as-but no longer than Crown Rent was paid on it.

2. In many parts of the Empire and notably in the San On District of the Kuang Tung Pro- vince there are large tracts of land so infertile as to possess hardly even a nominal value. These lands it would be the natural desire of Government to see taken up on almost any terms and it is not surprising to find that it was the custom for a grant of such lands to be made to proper persons without premium on their complying with the regulations laid down for applicants.

The name of the person applying was entered on the register with the area desired-a descrip- tion of the land—and the class of tax proper to be paid.

The following extract from a translation by T. T. Meadows of the Provincial Laws and Regula- tions of the Province of Kuang Tung, published in 1846 by the Governor and Governor General, gives the prescribed form of application for persons wishing to take up land hitherto uncultivated :- (a.) The party who intends bringing a piece of land, no matter of what extent, into cultiva- tion, must first repair to the local authority and present a statement containing his individual and family names, and indicating the piece in question; which will then be registered as ground being brought under cultivation. After it has been brought into cultivation, so as to form a regular piece, a plan must be drawn showing its extent in every direction, which must be presented to the local authority, with the request that it may be surveyed: and the latter will after the survey grant a deed placing the cultivator in full possession.

(b.) Odd patches not forming complete lots, the extent of which does not perhaps amount to 10 mau, and which are barely fit for growing vegetables and miscellaneous pro- duce, need not be reported, &c., &c., as above, at the time their cultivation is under- taken, but only after they have been reclaimed; an exemption granted, “in order to manifest compassion for the cultivators." Whoever has at a former period spent labour and money in cultivating any such piece of land without the cognizance of the authorities, and who has succeeded in reclaiming it, shall be allowed to give information thereof; on which the land in question will be surveyed, and a deed given for it by the local authorities.

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The sense of these two paragraphs seems quite clear. A person wishing to take up Crown land might do so on the condition of--

(1.) Reporting to the proper authority.

(2.) Getting a deed issued to evidence his possession. This evidently holds good for all land, but in the case of odd patches amounting to less than 10 man the cultivator need not report until he has already reclaimed the land.

3. No Government professing to derive revenue from the soil can hope to collect that revenue effectively unless the regulations as to registration and enrolment of title are complied with; and that unauthorized occupation was regarded with great disfavour in China is sufficiently shown by the following quotation from Staunton's Ta Tsing Leu Lee, Book II, Section 90:-

"Whoever fraudulently evades the payment of the land-tax, by suppressing or omitting the register of his land in the public books, shall be punishable in proportion to the amount of the chargeable land omitted, in the following manner:-When the unre- gistered land amounts to one mau, and does not exceed five mau, with 40 blows; and for every additional number of five mau so suppressed, the punishment shall be increased one degree. until it arrives at the limit of 100 blows. The unregistered lands shall be forfeited to the State, and the arrears of the land-tax (computed accord- ing to the period during which it had been unpaid, the extent of the land, and the rate at which it would have been chargeable), shall be at the same time discharged in full.

When the land is entered in the register, but falsely represented, as unproductive when pro- ductive, lightly chargeable when heavily chargeable; or if the land is nominally made over in trust to another person, in order to exempt the real proprietor from personal service, the punishment, whether corporal or arising out of the payment of the arrears of the tax, shall be inflicted in the manner and according to the scale above stated; but instead of a forfeiture of the lands, the register of them shall simply be corrected, and the assessment and personal service of the real proprietor be established agreeably thereto.

If the head inhabitant of the district is privy to any breach of the law, but does not take

cognizance of it, he shall be equally punishable with the original transgressors."

Anomalies in the New Territory.

4. Having regard to the opinion of Williams that no allodial property was recognized but that all land was held directly from the Crown, and in view again of the extremely explicit provisions for registration and the severe penalties following on disobedience, how are we to explain the curious state of things prevalent in the New Territory? It is impossible not to be convinced after even a most superficial examination of the claims brought in that--

(1.) Many large tracts of land are now claimed by persons who have never paid Crown

Rent on them-who never reported their occupation such as it was-to the authori- ties and whose claims have never been in any way recognized by the Chinese Govern- ment,

(2.) Very many persons have been paying under the name of tax annual sums to families who professed to be giving an account of these sums to the District Treasury but who as a matter of fact very often did nothing of the kind and who in many cases had no real title to more than a very small fraction of the territory over which they collected this rent.

Suggested explanation.

5. I hope to be able to show that these claims have their origin in one or the other of two sets of conditions prevalent in the New Territory.

The first of these was the disorder and unrest prevalent for generations past in the districts bor- dering on the Canton delta. Usually a clan or family had a registered deed for a small area on which they undoubte lly paid Crown Rent but it is quite certain that they collected large sums under the naine of Land-tax of which they have never given any account to the authorities.

The explanation usually offered by the people themselves is that these clans are the representa- tives of the first settlers in the locality.

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land as one family could cultivate, on easy terms. One can imagine an immigrant family established in a valley under a deed say for 10 acres of land adopting an attitude of superiority towards later arrivals. No doubt the cultivation was shifting according to the season-swampy and low-lying land being taken up when the year was a dry one to be abandoned in favour of better drained fields when the rains were heavy.

7. In this way the clan would at one time or another have worked the greater part of the valley though the actual amount of land at any one time under cultivation might not exceed the legitimate ten acres. Newcomers wishing to settle would be told that the land belonged to the clan who were responsible for the tax. The strangers would have nothing to gain by objecting to pay. Any refusal would mean bad blood and possibly litigation with the result that the Government would get the tax and that the old settlers would have a lasting feud with the new arrivals.

Other immigrants would similarly find it to their interest to keep in with the clan and in time every settler in the valley would be paying them a fixed yearly sum under the name of tax although none of it would ever reach the coffers of the Government.

8. This I take to have been the usual manner in which clan rights over land came to be so universally asserted. The country bordering on the Canton delta has always been turbulent and lawless and the great difficulty of communications in a mountainous region no doubt made the Magistrates willing to condone such frauds on the revenue. No doubt the clan would pay a proportion of their receipts as hush money. When the District Magistrate was honest this would be absorbed by his underlings, when he was not it would form a useful addition to his slender stipend.

9. I estimate that four-fifths of the land tax in the New Territory passed through the hands of an intermediary before reaching the Government. The system I have described was not however the only The second cause was undoubtedly the desire of evading the heavy registration fees charged in the District Land Office.

cause of this.

In the first place unless a man had a "heading"-a page with his own name or that of his ancestor in the register-it cost him not less than $100 to begin his registration. Even when he had this heading in the register there were fees legitimate and otherwise, to be paid and the trouble and delay of going to the District City.

10. The result was that very few sales of land were registered. The more usual course was for the transaction to be evidenced by a white, i.., an unregistered deed containing a covenant by the purchaser to pay the vendor a yearly sum to meet the tax which the vendor continued to pay as before. This was frequently done even when the vendor parted with the whole of the land held by him under a red deed when in order to save the purchaser the trouble and expense of registration the latter took a white or unregistered deed as evidence between himself and the vendor of the transaction and of the payment of the purchase money. He might also get the original red deed to be kept as security against subsequent dealings with the land by his vendor. Thus the taxes were still paid in the old name though the land had passed into other hands.

It is possible I think to find in one or other of these sources the origin of all the clan claims in the New Territory. That is to say: either a clan has forced later immigrants to pay to itself an imposition under the name of land tax; or the clan (or individual members of it) has parted with land under a white deed and still continues to be responsible for the tax.

Ownership of land how acquired.

11. It may not be amiss to recapitulate briefly the various methods of acquiring land in the New Territory.

First by grant from the Crown.-On application to the District Magistrate for unoccupied waste, or for newly formed alluvial land, a notice was posted reciting the application. Then, after five months if no objection had been lodged a grant issued stating the area and class of the land and the tax payable.

Secondly by purchase.-The law required that every deed of sale should be registered and the amount of tax due transferred into the purchaser's name. In most cases the instrument was not registered, the vendor continuing to pay the tax and the purchaser indemnifying him by a yearly contribution. It was however usual in such cases as I have stated above for the vendor to hand over the prior registered deed to the purchaser to secure the latter against any subsequent dealings with it to his prejudice.

The Perpetual Lease.

12. Thirdly by perpetual lease.-This was by far the most common method of dealing with land in the New Territory.

The effect of a grant of land from the Crown was really to make the grantee a perpetual lessee subject to the payment of the proper Crown Rent. Something analogous was adopted by private individuals. When the transaction was intended to be registered it was usually called a sale, being

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in effect the transfer of the perpetual lease granted by the Crown from the vendor to the purchaser who took the place of the former as the person inscribed as tax payer in the register. When as was usually the case it was preferred to dispense with registration, a sale was inconvenient, for it left the vendor responsible for the tax and without any covenant of indemnity from the purchaser. On the other hand under a perpetual lease the purchaser got practically the full rights of ownership and could mortgage or lease or even sell the property provided always that the rent reserved under the old lease was punctually paid. The vendor got an annual sum sufficient to indemnify him for the tax to be paid but had otherwise no further interest in the land.

13. I have said that the annual sum reserved was sufficient to indemnify the vendor for the tax it was supposed he would continue to pay, but its amount was often very much larger than this. Frequently the rent under a perpetual lease is a full rack rent the explanation no doubt being that in such cases the true relationship of land lord and tenant exists and that through habit people in the New Territory have come to prefer this form of alienation to a regular sale.

14. The perpetual lease was sometimes in writing but very much oftener it was oral merely and so general was it and so popular that it seems usually to have been presumed in the absence of any explicit agreement between the parties. Thus if A builds a house on B's land and B ratifies his action by accepting rent the implied condition is that subject to the payment of annual sum initially fixed and not liable to be raised A can continue in occupation of the land and that B has meanwhile no interest therein beyond the receipt of this annual rent. B has it is true the reversion if A die without heirs but that is a remote contingency in China where in default of issue adoption is freely resorted to.

15. The annual rent may be very small-this usually means either that a capital sum was paid originally or that the value of the land was so insignificant that no more rent was reserved than was necessary to meet the tax. It may again amount to almost the full annual value of the land and in some localities this is said to be as high as $3 and $4 a mau-though in view of the exceedingly elastic ideas of measurement current amongst the villagers it is impossible to place much reliance on their figures.

16. The interest of the lessee then amounts to this-that as long as the rent is paid the land belongs to him and to his heirs forever. It seems beside the purpose to ask whether he can leave it by will for the will as we know it does not exist in the New Territory. If the lessee parts with the possession and the rent is not paid he remains liable to the lessor for the amount. The lessor on the other hand has a perpetual right to receive the rent originally stipulated for. He cannot increase it nor can he alienate more than the right to receive this annual sum. The land reverts to him if the lessee's family becomes extinct.

17. In several cases that have come to my notice since the Convention landlords have realized that in view of the recent enhancement in the value of property it is to their interest to compound with their perpetual lessees and resume for a money payment their original interest in the land. I anticipate frequent attempts to override the rights of lessees by persons who have recently acquired land for parts of which such leases have been originally granted. It may be well to note, that out of the several hundreds of such leases which have come to my notice I have not found a single instance of the lessee's rights not being respected under Chinese rule.

A man could only sell his land subject to the rights of any persons on it who had taken such a lease from him and the only result of the transfer was that the rent reserved under the lease became henceforward payable to the new landlord.

In several sales of land that have taken place since the Convention the purchasers have I believe failed to recognize the importance of ascertaining whether such leases had been previously granted on the property and they have now to face the alternative of either buying out the lessees or being satis- fied with the very small annual rent which is all that remains of the landlord's rights.

Mortgages.

18. Fourthly by a mortgage.-Mortgages of land are very common transactions in the New Territory. The Chinese mortgage, as I have found it, is like the Welsh mortgage of the text books, a conditional sale. It may be in writing but is very often oral and in spite of the great strictness of Chinese Laws upon the subject it is hardly ever registered. It is faithfully described in the follow- ing account of a Welsh mortgage taken from a well known Text book :-

"What is known as a Welsh mortgage is a transaction whereby the estate is conveyed to the mortgagee, who is to go into possession and take the rents and profits as an equiva- lent for his interest, the principal remaining undiminished. In such a transaction there is no contract, express or implied, between the parties, for the repayment of the debt at a given time, and though the mortgagee has no remedy by action to enforce payment of his money, yet the mortgagor or his heirs may redeem at any time."

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It is only necessary to add that these mortgages when not evidenced by a deed are a fertile source of litigation. If the value of land should go up the mortgagor naturally claims to redeem but the mortgagee frequently resists on the ground that the sale was unconditional.

The mortgagee being from the nature of the transaction in possession becomes the owner for the time being of the property subject to the possibility of redemption at some future time by the mort- Mortgages are frequently assigned three or four times over and this of course increases the possibilities of dispute when the original owner comes to redeem.

gagor.

19. Short leases of agricultural land for a year are not uncommon but present no features worthy of particular attention-they are usually determined at the end of either the Spring or the Autumn harvest by six months' notice on either side.

20. After a District has been dealt with by the Land Court and all claims finally heard and deter- mined there are two important questions that still remain to be considered.

Firstly.-Who are the persons to be made liable for the Crown Rent and in what propor-

tions?

Secondly. What titles are to be issued to persons having interests in land and what form

of registration is most suitable?

Crown Rent-Incidence of.

21. As regards cases where the cultivator is himself the owner holding direct from the Crown and paying his own taxes there is of course no difficulty.

It will be found, however, that a large proportion of the land is held on perpetual lease. In such cases Government should I consider deal directly with the (perpetual) lessee and make him responsi- ble for the Crown Rent. He should then be allowed to deduct the amount he contributes as Crown Rent from the sum he pays his landlord.

If the lessor's rent is small in amount--this means either that he received full value for the land originally and that the annual payment was arranged simply to cover the taxes for the payment of which he continued liable--or that he had no real title to the land but has levied this amount under the name of tax from persons who were not in a position to resist the claim.

In such cases the lessor will no longer get anything; for the Crown Rent to be now paid by the lessee will be greater in amount than the old rent under the lease and there will be nothing left for him.

If however the relation between the parties was really that of landlord and tenant the sum paid will approximate more nearly to a rack rent and this sum less the amount paid for Crown Rent by the lessee will still come to the hands of the lessor.

22. In many cases the perpetual lessors are absentee landlords with no other concern in the land than the receipt of their rent, as for instance the LI family on the northern half of Lan Tao. In such cases the tendency will be for the lessee to buy out his lessor and gradually to get the full ownership subject to the rights of the Crown, into his own hands. Where conversely the lessors are powerful and wealthy families resident in the neighbourhood of their lands the tendency will probably be the other way and they are more likely to buy out the cultivator and either till the land themselves or let it on annual lease.

In the case of a mortgage the mortgagee, if he be, as he usually is, in possession, should pay the Crown Rent: the mortgagor has often severed all connection with the land and gone to California or to Singapore whence his return is at least problematical.

Titles.

23. Next as to the form of title. In my opinion it will be safest to keep at any rate for the pre- sent to the tenures which obtain and are well understood among the people.

A person who has a grant of land from the Chinese Governinent has in effect a perpetual lease subject to the payment of Crown Rent. If he converts the land to other uses than those to which it was put when he first took it up, his Crown Rent may be raised, but, subject to this and perhaps to some reservation with regard to minerals the land is his own, as long as he continues to pay the tax. Such person need not I think be given ordinarily a Crown lease. He should be entered on a Register as a "Customary land holder" and be permitted to have an extract from this Register as evidence of his title upon payment of a small fee. The rights and liabilities incident to such tenure might be summarily defined in a short Ordinance which however we need be in no pressing hurry to draft. After a year or two's experience we shall know much more about New Territory customs than we do at present.

24. Such a certificate of title to be issued on payment of a small fee would be amply sufficient for the ordinary cultivator. It would not however satisfy the needs of Europeans who might wish to acquire land and it would probably be of little use to a registered company taking up land for indus- trial purposes. The proper course would be for them to make their own arrangements with the cul- tivator who would then surrender his rights to the Crown in favour of the purchaser and this latter would be granted a Crown Lease on such conditions as to the payment of Premium, Crown Rent and Fees as the circumstances might seem to warrant.

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Under the Chinese regime waste areas were frequently granted on easy terms subject, however to an increase of Crown Rent, if the grantee converted the waste into agricultural land, or if he erected buildings thereon.

Land for which a Crown Lease might be issued would of course come under the ordinary law of the Colony as regards registration and so forth.

But the ordinary cultivator should I think be spared for the present the technicalities of English Law.

It is easy to see how the desire to avoid the expense of registration has complicated the land question in China by rendering unregistered transfers almost universal. Our aim should be to devise a system so simple and so cheap that the Chinese will find it more convenient to comply with the law than to evade it.

The Torrens System.

25. The best model is I think the system of Land Registration adopted in the Native States of the Malay Peninsula in the Settlement of Malacca which is a modification of the well known Torrens System, introduced by the late Sir WILLIAM MAXWELL. The peculiarity of this system is, that it makes the ownership of property pass by entry in the register: title by registration being substituted for title by deed.

Its main outlines are well described in the following quotation from Sir WILLIAM MAXWELL'S Essay on the Torrens System, paragraphs 4, 5, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30:-

"4. Legal expenses incident to the sale and purchase of land were heavy, and every addi- "tion to the deeds forming the chain of evidence of title increased the cost of subse-

quent dealings.

"5. It was, therefore, with a firm persuasion that great grievances were imposed upon the "Australian Colonists by the English law of real property that Mr. TORRENS (now "Sir ROBERT R. TORRENS, K.C.M.G.) proposed, in 1857, in South Australia, a system "of his own invention, adapted from the practice attending the transfer of shipping property, which, reduced to its elementary principle, substitutes title by registra- "tion for title by deed.

The

"25. A certificate of title is issued to every person entitled to any estate of freehold in "possession in land under the Act. Every certificate is in duplicate. One duplicate "is given to the proprietor, the other is retained in the Lands Titles Office.

certificates in the office constitute the register book, which, in the words of "Mr. TORRENS, is the pivot on which the whole mechanisin turns. Every certificate "is marked with the number of the volume and the folium of the register book. Crown Grants of land bought since the Acts came into operation are also issued in duplicate, one of which is bound up in the register book, and such grants are, in all respects, "equivalent to certificates of title.

"26. So far, it will be said, the title is simplified, but how is this simplicity to be retained,— ▼

"how will future complications be prevented? This is the problem which the Act "endeavours to solve.

27. For the purpose of facilitating transactions, printed forms of transfer, mortgage, lease, "and other dealings, are to be procured at the Lands Titles Office. Any person of "ordinary education can, with very little trouble, learn to fill them up in the more "simple cases without professional assistance. If a proprietor holding a certificate of title wishes to sell the whole of the land included in it, he fills up and executes a printed form of memorandum of transfer to the purchaser. The transfer is "presented at the Office, and a memorial of the transfer is recorded by the proper "officer on both duplicates of the certificate of title. The purchaser, by the recording "of the memorial, stands in precisely the same position as the original owner.

only a part of the land in a certificate is to be transferred, such part is described in "the memorandum of transfer, the transfer is noted on both duplicates of the original. "certificate; a fresh certificate is issued to the purchaser for the part transferred; and the original certificate is noted as cancelled with respect to such part. This process is repeated on every sale of the freehold, and it will thus be seen that every person entitled to a freehold estate in land under the Act has but one document to "show his title, through however many hands the property may have passed, and "such document vests in him an absolutely indefeasible title to the land it describes. 28. If the proprietor wishes to mortgage or lease his land, or to charge it with the pay- ment of a sum of money, he executes, in duplicate, a memorandum of mortgage, lease, or encumbrance, in the form provided by the Act, altered so as to meet the particular circumstances of the case. This is presented at the Lands Titles Office. "with the certificate of title; a memorial of the transaction is entered by the proper "officer on the certificate of title and on the duplicate certificate forming the register "book. The

The entry of this memorial constitutes registration of the instrument and a

380

46 note, under the hand and seal of the proper officer, of the fact of such registration is "made on both duplicates of the instrument. Such note is conclusive evidence that "the instrument has been duly registered; one of the duplicates is then filed in the "office, and the other is handed to the mortgagee, or lessee. The certificate of title "will thus show that the original proprietor is entitled to the land it describes, sub- "ject to the mortgage, lease, or encumbrance; while the duplicate instrument held by the mortgagee, lessee, or encumbrancee, will shew precisely the nature of his 'interest. Each person has and can have but one document of title, and this shows conclusively the nature of the interest he holds, and to that interest his title is "indefeasible. If a mortgage is paid off, a simple receipt is indorsed on the duplicate mortgage held by the mortgagee. This is brought to the office, and the fact that the mortgage has been paid off is noted on the certificate of title. Here a striking "inconvenience of the old system is done away with. Few things are more per- "plexing to simple minds than the necessity which that system imposes of a deed of "reconveyance when a mortgage has been paid off. A nortgage under the Act does not involve a transfer of the 'legal estate,' although the mortgagee is made as secure as if such transfer had taken place. The necessity, therefore, for a deed of reconveyance, when the mortgage is paid off, at once vanishes. If a lease is to be "surrendered, it has merely to be brought to the office with the word 'surrendered' indorsed upon it, signed by the lessor and lessee, and attested, and the proper "officer will note the fact that it has been surrendered, on the certificate of title. Mortgages or leases are transferred by indorsement, by a simple form. The Act provides implied powers of sale and foreclosure in mortgages; and in leases, implied covenants to pay rent and taxes, and to keep in repair, together with 66 power for the lessor to enter and view the state of repair, and to re-enter in case of non-payment of rent or breach of covenant. All these may be omitted or modified "if desired. In order to save verbiage, short forms are provided, which may be used "for covenants in leases or mortgages, the longer forms which they imply being set "out in the Act. Thus, in a lease, the words will not without leave assign or sub- "let,' imply a covenant that the said lessee shall not, nor will, during the term of "of such lease, assign, transfer, demise, sublet or set over, or otherwise, by any act "or deed, procure the lands or premises therein mentioned, or any part thereof, to "be assigned, transferred, demised, sublet, or set over, to any person whomsoever, "without the consent in writing of the said lessor first had and obtained.'

"29. Every person, therefore, entitled to a freehold estate in possession, has (if his land is subject to the Act) a certificate of title, or land-grant, on which are recorded "memorials of all mortgages, leases, or encumbrances, and of their discharge or sur- "reuder. If he transfers his entire interest, a memorial of the transfer is recorded "on the certificate, and the transferee takes it subject to recorded interests. The transferee can, if he chooses, have a fresh certificate issued in his own name, and "in that case the old certificate is cancelled, and the memorials of the leases or

mortgages to which the land is subject are carried forward to the new one.

If a "proprietor transfers only a part of his land, his certificate is cancelled so far, a fresh "certificate is issued, and memorials of outstanding interests are similarly carried "forward. Memorials of dealings with leases or mortgages are noted on the dupli- "cate lease or mortgage held by the lessee or mortgagee, and on the folium of the register book. The Officers of the Department, therefore, and persons searching, "can see at a glance the whole of the recorded dealings with every property; while each person interested can see, by the one document he holds, the precise "extent of his interest.

30. The foregoing extracts give a very clear exposition of the general effect of the system "of transfer by registration. It cannot be too emphatically pointed out that it is "not the execution of the memorandum of transfer, lease, or mortgage, but its regis- "tration in the Lands Titles Office, that operates to shift the title.

No instrument, "until registered in the manner prescribed by the Act, is effectual to pass any estate "or interest in any land under the operation of the Act, or to render such land liable "to any mortgage or charge; but upon such registration, the estate or interest com- prised in the instrument passes, or the legal effect of the transaction, whatever it "may be, is complete. Registration takes effect from the time of production of the "instrument, not from the time of the actual making of the entry.'

26. There must be 100,000 separate lots of land held in individual ownership in the New Terri- tory and of these probably 90,000 are in the country to the North of the Kowloon Watershed.

Land to the South of this range and bordering on the harbour might very well remain under the ordinary land system of the Colony; it is only for land which will in most cases remain in the hands of the peasant cultivators that I recommend a new departure.

493

No.

1901

HONGKONG.

CLINICAL REPORT ON MALARIA,

AS SEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL DURING THE HALF YEAR OF 1901,

Dr. J. BELL, Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer,

and

Mr. G. STEWART (Lieut. I.M.S.), Acting Assistant Superintendent.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,

Having had the great privilege of being instructed all last summer and winter by Captain JOHN- STON, I.M.S.-a co-worker of Major Ross-in the technique of the examination of blood for malaria, the various forms of the disease and the deductions to be drawn from an examination of a blood slide, we determined this year to examine the blood of all patients with fever and as many, as possible, with symptoms suggestive of malaria, and the results of our observations are embodied in this report. We are not aware of any extensive attempt in this direction having yet been made in a tropical hospital where, needless to say, there is a large amount of material available. No case of uncomplicated malaria has been returned as such without the parasite having been previously found. Many cases which might have shown malaria, as a complication, have no doubt been passed over, for, owing to the pres- sure of work, especially during the prevalence of plague, we have not been able to keep the record as complete as we would have liked. Practice in this, as in other similar work, makes perfect and it is surprising how quickly, after a few months' training, the eye detects the slightest signs of malaria in a blood slide. In a few cases-and very few-it has been necessary to withhold quinine for a few hours till a second examination showed the parasite, absent or overlooked at the first trial. A routine practice of this kind, apart from the benefit to the patients which naturally ensues, may, also lead to the accumulation of facts which, it is possible, will tend towards helping to eradicate the disease itself. We make no claim whatever to being authorities on malaria, but have simply recorded facts which have come under our notice clinically. We have dealt with over 400 cases, in the majority of which malaria has been present if not at the first examination at a subsequent one and it is possible these facts may be of interest to others.

PHTHISIS.

The combination of malaria with this disease is very important as well as very interesting. Of 17 cases examined 15 were complicated with malaria. Hongkong and, we believe, most tropical countries are looked upon as being very prejudicial to the cure of tubercle. Amongst the Chinese here it is generally, and probably rightly so, to a certain extent, put down to overcrowding and insa- nitary surroundings, but this does not apply to Europeans and Indians who form the bulk of our patients and who suffer quite as much as the natives. We are inclined to think that the malarial combination accounts in a great measure for the rapidity with which the disease advances. Several of the cases have come in two or three times for fever without anything but malaria being found until eventually they have returned with another attack of malaria, the sputum previously negative now full of tubercle bacilli and the lung symptoms in full swing.

Case 1.-European wardmaster with phthisis, who improved very considerably, especially when doing duty at Kennedy Town Hospital, contracted malignant malaria with dysentery. This set a light to the lung mischief which advanced rapidly, after the malaria and dysentery had been cured, and ended fatally.

It is useful to examine the blood of all phthisical patients for, if the disease is in an early stage, and the malaria treated, some cases improve considerably, and without a blood examination most of the cases would be treated only for the phthisis to which the fever would be supposed to be due.

Case 2.-An Indian Policeman with fever and cough. Malaria was present in the blood and though no lung symptoms could be detected tubercle bacilli were found in the sputum. Under quinine the fever subsided entirely, the patient put on weight and the bacilli disappeared. After a lapse of four months he is still doing his duty.

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Case 3.--Chinese cook to Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer was a similar case. After a long stay in hospital the fever subsided under quinine and he is now (five months after) working with the tubercular symptoms in abeyance--no cough and no loss of weight.

Unfortunately there is a reverse side to this picture, as in most of the cases after one or two attacks of malaria the fever does not subside but takes on the hectic type and the case goes downhill. In this disease we think it is as well to examine for malaria as we are inclined to think the combina- tion much more prevalent than is generally supposed or even than our figures show. Another practical suggestion we would offer is that in all cases with fever and cough, however slight, though there are no lung symptoms, an examination of the sputum should be frequently made. We have by this means detected several cases in the very earliest stage, i.e., the stage when treatment or change holds out most hope. As a diversion we may add that all phthisical cases have been treated routinely with Chinosol but we have found that the drug has no effect on the disease and after a long course the bacilli are still as numerous as ever. It has therefore been abandoned here and must, we think, be added to the long list of reputed specifics for this disease which have been found wanting. Carbolic acid in large doses has been substituted and the result will be duly recorded.

LIVER ABSCESS.

Only two cases have been under treatinent and both showed malaria in the blood. It is laid down by the authorities that malaria does not produce suppuration in the liver but both our cases are against this view and we therefore give them in short detail.

Case 4.--A young Officer was admitted to hospital from Lyeemun fort with fever. He had only three months' foreign service and had never been ill before. His liver was much enlarged and the blood slide contained numerous malignant parasites. Quinine was administered in various doses, both by the mouth and hypodermically, but notwithstanding this, the fever kept up and the parasites continually recurred in the blood. As the liver diminished in size slowly, the fever was looked upon as purely malarial and our attention was taken off the hepatic condition. Eventually, however, he was aspirated and on pus being found the usual operation was performed and the patient went home in due course. The case impressed us with the necessity of watching each case of hepatitis carefully even though malarial parasites are present. None of the ordinary causes of liver abscess were here present and we do not see to what other cause it can be put down to save malaria. Another feature in the case was the extraordinary manner in which the parasites recurred in the circulation, some days being present and on others absent notwithstanding the constant use of quinine.

Case 5.-A French Officer from a coasting steamer was brought to hospital with fever and a typical liver abscess pointing in front. He had never had dysentery or diarrhoea and had always been very abstemious. The operation was performed successfully but the temperature still kept up and three days after the operation he had a rigor and looked very ill, temperature 104.8. This condition recurred for two days but just previous to again exploring the liver-which we were loathe to do owing to his feeble condition-his blood was examined and showed numerous malignant parasites. Under quinine he rapidly improved and leaves for home by next French Mail. His condition was most suggestive of another liver abscess and we think the blood examination was most useful as it avoided another operation-not serious perhaps but one which it was as well to avoid in an already feeble patient. We also consider, possibly erroneously, malaria as the cause of this hepatitis going on to suppuration.

—

APPENDICITIS.

The combination of malaria with this disease is interesting. We have only had two cases and both showed malaria. The first came in with malaria and later on complained of the appendix trouble. The usual operation was performed successfully. The second was more instructive.

Case 6.-A French gentleman from Saigon was admitted with symptoms which were diagnosed as an appendicitis pointing towards the rectum. The temperature kept about 100°. The abscess eventually burst into the rectum and the patient's condition improved very much until four days after when the temperature suddenly rose to 103° and we concluded that the abscess must have filled owing to the entrance into the rectum having become obstructed. Previous to any surgical inter- ference the blood was examined as part of the routine and to our surprise malignant tertian parasites were found-under quinine the temperature ceased rising in the evening in a day or two and the patient is now at home quite well. The only attack of malaria he had ever had was 8 months pre- viously at Saigon.

DYSENTERY.

The combination of malaria with this disease is extremely common. 35 showed malarial parasites. followed by hepatic abscess.

Out of 37 cases examined None were fatal though one or two were very obstinate and none were Needless to say we found quinine most useful in addition to the saline

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and ipecacuanha treatment. We would almost say that, if a case of acute dysentery does not improve in 48 hours under the latter treatment, it is combined with malaria and requires quinine either by mouth or by enema.

Case 7.-A case of chronic dysentery from Manila was extremely obstinate and resisted all treat- ment until the blood was examined and parasites found. Quinine, given as above, soon cured the case and the patient left for America looking and feeling very well after six months of this trouble- some complaint.

TYPHOID FEVER.

The combination of malaria with this disease is most interesting to tropical practitioners. Without a post mortem examination our diagnosis in some of these cases may be called in question but they were all seen several times by other medical men who agreed with the diagnosis in every case and if they were not typhoid it would be difficult to explain the long continued fever. Of the 10 cases examined all showed malaria. The effect of the malaria on the chart was various. In some cases for several days the temperature intermitted regularly and markedly until, apparently, the ma- laria dropped out and the typhoid element had free play; in others, however, notwithstanding quinine, there was no intermission and the chart from the beginning was very suggestive of typhoid. We have not found much assistance from Widal's reaction, which in most of our cases has given a negative result-as late as the 16th and 20th day in two fatal cases. Our only dictum on this subject is that held by most other practitioners—if after thorough treatment by quinine for 10 days, the temperature does not fall in the absence of any symptom to account for the continued rise, the case is in all probability typhoid and purgatives should be withheld. Typhoid is held to be a more fatal disease in the tropics than in temperate climates but why this is so is not quite clear, unless the malarial element, which is present in the greater number of cases, has something to do with the high rate of mortality. The previous treatment of the malaria tends, we think, to keep the typhoid temperature lower than it would otherwise be. Our rate of mortality was 30%.

Case 8.-A Police Constable who had been doing duty at Tai 0-a fairly malarial spot-up to May 9th, returned on that day to the Central Police Station. On May 25th he was admitted to hospital suffering from fish poisoning as the result of eating raw oysters. On June 1st he was attacked with fever and the malignant parasite was found in his blood. In spite of quinine the fever continued and on the 18th day a slight hemorrhage from the bowels occurred. The diagnosis was now altered to typhoid and the quinine discontinued. The temperature fell to normal on the 29th day of the illness and he is now progressing favourably.

In some of these combined cases the blood examination gives information or relieves one's mind regarding a relapse.

Case 9.--A Policeman with malaria and typhoid. On the 18th day the temperature fell to normal and continued so for 12 days when it suddenly rose to 105. An examination of the blood showed the return of the malignant parasite and under quinine the fever ceased in a day or two and the patient left for Japan on leave.

Case 10.-A very bad case of malaria and enteric. After the temperature had been normal for 8 days it suddenly rose. No malaria was found and the case was treated as a relapse which it turned out to be and lasted 14 days. Patient recovered slowly and left the hospital on the 62nd day of the illness.

PLAGUE.

Up to date 8 cases have passed through the hospital, all being admitted as malaria and parasites being found in each case. It is very desirable to keep these cases out of a general hospital, as it entails such a lot of extra disinfection and there is always a risk-though small-of some of the other patients or the staff contracting the disease. We do not, however, see how this can always be managed. We were both on the alert throughout the plague epidemic and yet failed to detect some of these cases until they had been some time in hospital. We have not been very successful in finding the plague bacillus in the blood in these cases until the case was far advanced. Professor KITASATO states that it is rare to get them in the early stage and if present there may be only one in a whole slide. Detecting it under these conditions must be due to good luck. The invention, by some bacteriologist, of a double stain, similar to Gabett's for tubercle bacilli-one of the most useful ever invented-would be a great boon. The agglutination test, as improved by Professor KLEIN, we have not employed as it requires a good deal of time and skill in preparing the media. Its use in these cases will no doubt be settled in next epidemic by the Government bacteriologist. Cases of plague are so interesting that we need not apologise for detailing one or two.

Cases 11 and 12.-Were of interest as both presented the point of inoculation, one on the finger and one on the thigh and from the bleb in each case, plague bacilli were easily found. Both showed malaria as well and only slipped into hospital owing to the absence of the medical officer and were after an hour or two transferred to Kennedy Town Hospital.

496

Case 13.-An Indian Policeman admitted for fever. Parasites were found in his blood but in spite of quinine the temperature ran a typhoid course till the 11th day when some characteristic sputum was obtained in which were numbers of plague bacilli though there were no lung symptoms of any note.

He was transferred to Kennedy Town Hospital, recovered and returned to us for debility. After two days' stay he had another bad attack of malaria with parasites in his blood. is now well and doing his duty.

Case 14.--Admitted with fever and numerous parasites in the blood. He looked ill but had no bubo and no plague bacilli could be found. He died suddenly from heart failure and at the post mortem there was found an extensive retro-peritoneal haemorrage with both malaria and plague bacilli in the spleen.

Case 15.--A Chinese Policeman was admitted and malaria found in the blood. In spite of quinine the temperature still continued without any symptoms save a clean but tremulous tongue and no plague bacilli could be found. On the 10th day a cervical bubo developed and he was transferred to Kennedy Town Hospital. These and other cases we might mention show how difficult it is to diagnose some of these non-bubonic cases when combined with malaria.

RHEUMATISM.

Nine cases were examined, 6 being positive and 3 negative, one of the latter, if not two, being due to gonorrhoea. Acute rheumatism is said to be rare in this Colony and our experience bears out this view, but there is a great deal of what, for want of a better name, is called "rheumatism.” Patients who have no swelling in the joints and little or no fever come to hospital complaining of nothing but pains in or about the joints. It is, in these cases, extremely difficult to be sure one is not being imposed upon, as "pains all over" is a favourite way of getting a few days' rest, but we cannot help thinking that if more of these cases were examined it might turn out that some of them were really a form of malaria. If this disease produces inflammation of the nerves and their sheath one does not see why it should not equally affect the fibrous ending of muscles or joint ligaments without giving rise to any objective signs much in the same manner as syphilis does. For obvious reasons, not many of these cases are admitted to hospital so we have not been able to collect more cases. One case is, we think, worth recording.

Case 16.-European Constable admitted several times to hospital with malaria (fever and sciatica) came in again in April with fever. Parasites were found as usual and he had effusion and pain in the right elbow and left knee. Under salicylate of quinine and blisters he improved slowly when sud- denly the right knee became full of fluid, but without any pain. He eventually recovered after six weeks' stay but returned again with malaria and sciatica and was invalided home, having been in hospital for malaria every month in the year.

JAUNDICE.

This is by no means a common sequelae of malaria though hepatitis is common enough. Four cases were examined and 3 showed malaria. The fatal case is worth recording.

His

Case 17.-European sailor from a coasting steamer was admitted to hospital with fever. conjunctivæ were slightly jaundiced, temperature 100°, pain over left lobe of liver and vomiting. The blood slide teemed with malaria of the malignant type. The temperature rose to 104° and the jaundice extended more rapidly than we have ever seen before. Notwithstanding hypodermics of quinine and other treatment delirium set in and he died three days after admission. The post mortem showed no obvious cause for the jaundice though the gall bladder was distended. A smear from the spleen teemed with malaria.

HEPATIC COLIC.

One case was under treatment and his blood showed mixed malarial infection. Under quinine and morphia he recovered without jaundice.

BERI-BERI.

We do not see very much of this disease owing to our limited accomodation. Five cases were examined and three showed malaria.

Case 18.-Bad attack of malaria and acute beri-beri. Notwithstanding iron and arsenic and 15 grains of quinine every morning for 10 days he had a second attack of malaria and vet a third 18 days after. He was a long time in hospital but eventually recovered completely. If more cases were examined we have no doubt malaria would be frequently found associated with this disease.

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PNEUMONIA, PLEURISY AND BRONCHITIS.

Of these diseases 13 were examined and in 9 malaria was present. None of the cases were fatal. It is a question as to whether a good deal of what used to be known as "influenza

in this Colony was not malaria with a lung complication, the pains in the muscles, &c. being due to the malarial element.

ASTHMA.

It is an interesting fact that malaria has been recognised as a cause of this disease long before the parasitic days though no one has yet attempted, as far as we know, to explain the pathology. The disease is not very common here. Seven cases were examined and in 6 the malarial parasites were present. Hypodermics of quinine and morphia we found the best treatment.

NEURALGIA, &C.

Malaria has long been looked upon as a cause of inflammation of nerves or of effusion in their sheaths. These, not being exactly hospital cases, did not come much under observation and we can- not say if this is a common form of malaria here. Two cases only of neuralgia were examined, one of which was positive. The negative one subsequently turned out to be due to syphilis. Two cases of sciatica were examined, both being of malarial origin. They were so obstinately recurring that both patients were invalided. Hypodermics of quinine in the line of the sciatica nerve is the best treatment and it is just sufficiently painful to prevent malingering for the disease being one entirely of subject- ive symptoms offers a fair field for a rest in hospital.

COLITIS.

Only one case of this disease came under treatment and was most interesting.

The

Case 19.-A German sailor was sent in by the medical officer of the steamer to be operated on for appendicitis which the symptoms pointed as the cause of the illness in a marked manner. routine blood examination, however, showed malaria and the case was treated with quinine and saline purges. He recovered rapidly but had a return of all the symptoms whilst in hospital but eventually rejoined his ship quite well. On each occasion the stools were very typical being full of "jelly like"

mucus.

DIABETES.

The only case of this kind, which came under our notice, is recorded as a curiosity, the disease itself being very rare indeed in this hospital. The case was that of our Hindu cook and interpreter, an old Government servant of some 20 years' service and a subject of diabetes for over 8 years. disease seems to have absolutely no effect on him although when in hospital with his malarial attack he was passing over 4 grains to the ounce.

ALCOHOLISM.

The

Only a few cases were examined, two of which were positive and one negative. We have not had many opportunities of investigating these cases for malaria but we think there is little doubt that over-indulgence in alcohol, with the exposure which generally goes with these cases, helps to preci- pitate an attack of malaria in anyone who is already infected with the disease.

CHYLURIA.

Case 20.-This case was interesting as the fever was In a very few days, under quinine, the fever disappeared. the filaria both in the blood and the urine of this patient. of thymol-recommended by Indian authorities for this the patient insisted upon returning to Jaqan.

due to the malaria and not to the filaria. We had a very good opportunity of seeing We had hoped to be able to try the effect disease-but as soon as the fever was over

PURULENT MENINGITIS.

Only one case of this disease occurred.

Case 21.-A Chinaman from Manila was brought to hospital in a dying condition and without any history of his illness. The presence of malaria in his blood led to the belief it was a case of malarial coma. An examination after death showed extensive suppuration at the base of the brain extending up both sides and without any primary cause apparent either in kidneys, liver or elsewhere. Although it does not come under the head of a clinical report, another case might here be mentioned which, by a curious coincidence, came under the notice of one of us (Dr. BELL) a few days after at the public mortuary. As no internal cause of death was evident the brain was examined and a precisely similar condition to the above was found. A smear from the spleen also showed recent malaria. Is it possible to get purulent meningitis as a result of wholesale blocking of the vessels of the brain or meninges by the malarial parasites?

498

PERNICIOUS ANEMIA AND MALARIAL CACHEXIA.

One case of each of these diseases came under notice and both had the malarial parasite present in the blood. Both, I

Both, I regret to say, ended fatally.

SYPHILIS.

Only 4 cases were examined and 3 showed malaria. One of them was sufficiently interesting to deserve notice.

Case 22.-Patient was sent in from Canton and parasites were found in the blood. He was treated for some time with quinine, both by the mouth and hypodermically, but the fever still persisted running an irregular course. Eventually a typical sore was found on the scrotum and under mercury and iodide of potassium the fever rapidly subsided and the patient left quite well. In some of these obstinate causes of malaria it is just as well to bear in mind the possibility of a syphilitic element.

ABSCESSES.

Four cases were examined and in all malaria was present. Those in the neck and thigh were very large and required several small operations for their cure. In only one was any obvious cause found. They all did well.

INJURIES.

The shock of an injury, even when very slight, seems frequently to bring out an attack of malaria. Of nine cases examined five showed malaria. One case seems worth reporting.

Case 23.-Patient was admitted having had his hand blown off in an explosion. The arm was amputated, and on the 3rd day the temperature went up to 103°. Under the impression the wound was not healing by first intention, it was examined and found to be doing very well. His blood showed a mixed infection of simple and malignant tertian malaria and under quinine he did well. He had been subject to malaria all the summer and had only just returned from Japan where he had been recruiting his health. Another time we will examine the blood first and the wound after.

GONORRHEA.

Four cases of this common complaint had fever and their blood was examined. All showed malaria and under quinine the fever rapidly subsided.

ERYSIPELAS.

Only two cases of this unwelcome complication in a hospital have occurred, both in the surgical ward. Malaria was found in each and both were very bad probably owing to the complication. They, however, did well. They were at once isolated and no further cases occurred.

MEASLES.

Two cases of this complaint were under treatment, one being complicated with malaria. The disease itself is a very mild one here, but the combination of malaria made the case more troublesome and necessitated a longer stay in hospital.

NEGATIVE RESULTS.

A few other cases with fever, slight or otherwise, were also examined but gave negative results. They comprise cases of Burns, Dyspepsia, Endocarditis, Otitis, Anæmia and Hepatitis. The shock of a burn should, we think, produce an attack of malaria and further investigations on this head are required. We were only able to examine one case.

MALARIAL FEVER (UNCOMPLICATED).

Of these cases-perhaps the most interesting of the record-261 were under treatment during the past six months out of a total of 1,323 patients. There is, therefore, a fair amount of material avail- able for the study of the disease in this hospital. Of this number 216 were of the malignant variety which is here at any rate by far the most common form of the disease. Simple tertian fever occurred in 30 cases and only one quartan came under observation. The latter variety would, therefore, seem to be extremely rare, which is perhaps fortunate, as it is stated to be very unamenable to quinine and tends more to produce anæmia than the other forms. Fourteen cases of mixed infection were also seen but the combination of two forms of malaria in the same patient does not appear to make the case more serious or more obstinate. One Policeman, who has been in three times, always has the mixed infection. In pondering over malaria, as viewed clinically, one cannot help being struck with the various forms of the disease which are all due to the same cause. From the patient who either has no fever, or a fever which after a few hours disappears leaving him well and able to get up, to the patient who is suddenly overwhelmed with coma and in spite of all treatment passes away after only a day or two's illness occur all shades of the disease, some yielding rapidly to treatment and causing no anxiety,

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others running their own course without, as far as one can see, any cause for the continued fever or for the difference between any two cases.

"Coma" malaria is very interesting. The five cases we had were all very serious and two ended fatally. Only one was in a Chinese so that it would appear as if Europeans were more subject to this form.

Case 24.-Came to hospital with slight fever and with a history of intermittent fever of a week's duration. He was in a dazed. apathetic condition from which he never rallied. Numerous parasites were found in the blood and all internal organs were as far as one could judge healthy. In spite of vigorous treatment by quinine hypodermically the unconsciousness increased slowly but surely and he died a few days after admission.

Case 25.-This case was interesting from the fact that he came to hospital after a week's fever quite unable to talk. He lay quite

He lay quite quiet in bed but no answers could be obtained to any questions put to him. For a week his temperature ranged between 100° and 103° in spite of quinine grs. v every 4 hours. The drug was then given more frequently and without effect until it was administered hypodermically when the temperature slowly came to normal and the patient after a long stay recov- ered though his speech was always a little slow.

Case 26.-A Chinese female prisoner (who was pregnant) was suddenly seized with a fit at the Gaol. She was quite unconscious, stertorous breathing and dilated pupils. Under the impression it might be a case of uræmia she was transferred here. Her blood was found full of parasites. She never regained consciousness in spite of quinine, &c. As these cases all show at the post mortem. increase in the cerebral fluid one of us performed lumbar puncture and drew off a quantity of fluid. The case seemed to improve slighly after this but eventually, after the birth of a dead child, terminated fatally. l'arasites were present in the blood up to the last in spite of 20 and 30 grains of quinine hypodermically every day.

In these " coma "forms we have been somewhat disappointed in quinine as it does not appear to have much effect on the disease. In those who recovered we found iodide of potassium and arsenic help greatly towards regaining their normal mental condition, possibly by causing absorption and so relieving brain pressure. In all cases there was a marked slowing of the pulse for some time after (40–50) indicating stimulants and stychnia.

Two cases of malignant malaria, both in natives of Manila, were interesting in the way they ended. After three and five days respectively of a continuous fever their temperatures dropped sud- denly to 95° with a very bad pulse, profuse sweating, &c. They both, however, under strychnia and stimulants recovered. One of them was delirious on the 2nd day-rare in malaria-and but for the history might have been taken for typhoid.

MALARIA WITHOUT FEVER.

Two cases of this anomalous form occurred.

Case 27.-Was admitted on January 24th with crescents and sporing quartan parasites in the blood. On 25th quartan, 28th quartan and malignant tertian, and on the 31st crescents and malig- nant tertian were found. No rise of temperature throughout.

Case 28.- Admitted 30th January with malignant and simple tertian parasites en masse. Patient felt very seedy but had no fever. Under tonics and quinine he recovered.

In some few cases quinine did not seem to have much effect on the temperature though why this was so was not clear.

Case 29.-Parasites in the blood. Quinine grs. v every 4 hours was administered for 6 days without in any way affecting the temperature. The quinine was stopped and 4 days after the tem- perature fell to normal and remained so.

Case 30.-Parasites in blood. Temperature rose to 100° in the evening for 2 days when quinine was administered in 15-grain dose in the morning for 3 days. In spite of this the evening rise was 101°, 102.6° and 103° when the fever ceased.

Case 31.-Quinine grs. xv every morning for 3 days, then quinine grs. v every 4 hours for 6 days when temperature at last fell to normal with no further rise.

We found crescents in the blood of one patient throughout in spite of treatment for the attack of fever for which he was admitted. He left with the crescents still present, advised to continue arsenic and iron for a long period.

CLASSIFICATION.

As there seems to be some difference amongst authorities, as to the nomenclature of malarial parasites, we have adopted that suggested to us by Captain JOHNSTON, which we believe is that used by Major Ross. It seems to us both simple and scientific:-

Simple Malarial.-Simple Tertian and Quartan.

Malignant Malaria.-1° M. Tertian (ring-shaped parasites with pigment).

2o M. Quotidian (ditto without pigment).

500

To distinguish between the two forms of malignant malaria involves so many examinations of the same blood that we think it is sufficient to differentiate between the simple and malignant forms which is what we now attempt to do.

TREATMENT.

Though we have nothing new to bring forward under this head, a clinical report would hardly be complete without a few words on the subject.

PROPHYLACTIC.

This hardly comes within the scope of a report of this kind, but we think we have shown that, until the day dawns when the mosquito will cease from troubling, a good deal more attention must be paid to endeavouring to prevent such conditions arising as precipitate a second attack of the malady. Briefly this consists in good and cheap food, good water, well ventilated and dry houses and avoidance of all excesses.

CLINICAL TREATMENT.

Our experience in this direction has been solely with quinine. As far as we know none of the other drugs brought forward lately have fulfilled expectations and quinine will, we think, for a long time to come, be the sheet anchor in dealing with this tropical ailment in all its forms.

Now and again one, no doubt, meets with a case in which, in spite of the drug, the fever still continues and search, as carefully as one may, no cause can be found for the persistent rise of temperature. These cases are few and in our opinion most of them should be viewed with suspicion as cases of early phthisis. No less than four of our cases have, after repeated examination both of the lungs and sputum, at last given us the clue to the obstinate temperature chart.

We have only given quinine by mouth, hypodermically and by enema. Of the intravenous injec- tion we have no experience and we doubt it ever being extensively used save in the " coma forms where as we have already stated we have not had much success with quinine given in ordinary ways. It is certainly worth a trial and we propose, on the next opportunity, trying its efficacy in this man-

ner.

Quinine by the mouth will, we think, be the usual way of administering the drug for a long time to come and the only question is as to how and in what doses it is best used. First of all, there is no question that in all cases of fever the first drug to be used is calomel. The routine practice here is always to precede all treatment by a calomel purge and a saline draught and the benefit of this cannot be questioned.

We tried what, we believe, is known as the foreign method, viz., a large dose either at the fall of the fever or at its height and we gave 15, 20 and 30 grains in some cases in the morning and in others in the evening. As far as our fevers go this system is useless or not nearly as effectual as the old way in vogue in this hospital to which we have returned. This consists in giving quinine in 5-grain doses every 2, 3 or 4 hours irrespective of the fever or the condition of the parasites as seen in the blood. We have no hesitation in saying that for this country this is the best method and gives the best results. The use of antipyretics (ptenacetin, antipyrin, &c.) we have entirely given up as we think their employment depressing and of course quite useless as far as the destruction of the parasites go. In combination with the quinine we give a diaphnetic mixture (Liq. Ammon. Acet. 4 drs. and Pot. Acetat. gr. xx) every 4 hours whenever the temperature rises above 102° or 103°. This acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic and is at any rate harmless though personally we have a high opinion of it as tending to the comfort of the patient.

We may add that given in the above frequent doses we have seen no ill-effects nor have any of the patients complained of anything more than a temporary deafness.

We may also state that we tried in one case iron in large doses and quinine in small (Tr. Ferr. Perchlor. m. xx, Quinine gr. ii) every 3 hours, as recommended by a West Indian practitioner-and we certainly agree that it is worth a trial in those few cases which resist quinine.

Diet and the after use of tonics call for no remarks. Sir WILLIAM JENNER'S dictum "Feed your fevers" is as true of this fever as of any other.

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

G. E. STEWART, Lieut., I.M.S., Acting Assistant Superintendent.

247

No.

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE ACTING PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

No. 31.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL,

HONGKONG, 23rd January, 1901.

SIR,I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor the following report of the Medical Department for 1900.

MEDICAL STAFF.

Dr. J. M. ATKINSON, Principal Civil Medical Officer, proceeded in March on a year's leave and was succeeded by Dr. J. A. Lowson who, I regret to say, was compelled, through ill-health, to pro- ceed on a year's leave in August when I was appointed Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Dr. J. C. THOMSON returned from leave in April. During his absence Dr. J. WALES and Major CLARK, R A.M C., were teinporarily employed under Government in the interval between the Principal Civil Medical Officer's leaving and Dr. THOMSON's return.

Dr. HARSTON'S Services were also made use of when Dr. Lowson fell ill for a period of five weeks when he was succeeded by Lieutenant STEWART, I.M S., who is still attached to the department doing duty at the Civil Hospital.

To all these temporary officers I desire to express my thanks for their kindness in assisting us and for the efficient manner in which they performed their duties. I would take this opportunity of tendering my thanks to Captain WALL, I.M.S., who has been of great assistance throughout the summer helping at operations and at classifying the various kinds of malarial fever; to Captain JOHNSTON, I.M.S., a co-worker of Major Ross, who has kindly attended almost daily and initiated us all into the malaria-mosquito theory. This exceptional opportunity has freely been made use of and all malarial cases are now diagnosed and treated in accordance with the latest information on the subject; and to Dr. JORDAN, Medical Officer of Health for the Port, who has answered most readily all calls both at operations and in consultations.

ANALYTICAL STAFF.

Mr. F. BROWNE, Government Analyst, proceeded on leave for twelve months in April and was succeeded by Mr. T. J. Wild, Assistant Analyst.

NURSING STAFF.

Miss BATCHELOR (Sister HELEN) was granted two months' leave to Vancouver in March. Miss TODD (Sister MARY) proceeded to Japan on two months' leave in April.

Miss FRANKLIN (Sister HOPE) was granted two months' vacation leave in October and proceeded to Japan.

Mrs. ACKERS, Matron, Women's Hospital, left ou home leave in March and was succeeded by Mrs. ERNILOFF.

Miss ROBINS (private nursing staff) was obliged to proceed to Japan on sick leave in September. Miss BARR and Miss BATCHELOR were lent in August to the Naval Authorities for duty at Wei- haiwei.

Miss BATCHELOR (Sister HELEN) resigned on December 31st. Nurse MCCARTHY resigned through ill-health in January. tioners were engaged-Nurse McGowAN and Nurse NORPHA-but

time.

Consequent upon this two proba- neither stayed for any length of

Nurse HOGG and Nurse MANNERS are still at work here and have been most assiduous and atten- tive to their duties. Their help practically enabled us to spare two sisters to the Naval Authorities.

Wardmaster COURSE resigned in May and was succeeded by Mr. BAGG who arrived from England in August, was dismissed in October and was succeeded by Wardmaster TONG Po who, so far, has given every satisfaction.

Wardmaster TUOHY rejoined the Army in September and was succeeded by Wardmaster GRIFFITHS from home.

pital.

Wardmaster ABBOTT was transferred from duty at the Lunatic Asylum to Kennedy Town Hos-

248

The Government again kindly placed a room at "Craigieburn" at the disposal of the Sisters during the summer and this concession was most useful and much appreciated during the months when the work was exceptionally heavy.

CLERICAL STAFF.

The

The Senior Clerk, Mr. LEUNG PING FAI, was promoted to the Treasury much to our regret. second clerk Mr. CHAN TSUN ÜN received a step in consequence and a new third clerk Mr. CHU SZE YAN joined the department.

GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

POLICE.

The admissions to hospital were in excess of last year, the numbers being 920 as compared with 692, the strength of the force being 866 as against 716. Malarial fever has, as usual, accounted for the larger number of admissions. The confirmation of the malaria-mosquito theory early in the year held out great theoretical hopes that the disease would soon be much diminished, but on mature con- sideration I do not think very much good can be expected in this direction especially in the New Territory where ideal breeding grounds, in the shape of paddy fields, exist to such a large extent. I am in hopes that if more attention is paid to the sites and buildings thereon and quinine freely used in small daily doses we may see a slow but surely yearly diminution in the cases. Beri-beri accounted for 9 admissions and dysentery for 34. This latter disease is generally supposed to be due to bad water supply and this defect will no doubt soon be remedied as far as the New Territory is concerned, most of the cases coming from this part of the Colony. The causes of beri-beri are still very obscure and the subject of much difference of opinion amongst the medical authorities and I therefore offer no opinion or suggestions with reference to preventive measures. The exhaustive inquiry at present being conducted by Dr. WRIGHT under the Colonial Office at Singapore may help shortly to elucidate some of the problems connected with this disease.

The admission to Hospital from the various sections of the Force is given in the following table :-

Year.

Europeans.

Indians.

Chinese.

1891,

169

285

118

1892,

152

224

120

1893,

134

255

133

1894,

...127

244

134

1895,

254

116

* 1

1896,

370

124

1897,

320

107

1898,

279

122

1899,

117

421

154

1900,

183

522

215

Three

There were only 5 deaths amongst the members of the Police Force during the year. Indians died of pneumonia, phthisis. and mania following alcoholism respectively. Two Chinese died— one, a stoker, who does not appear in the Police figures but under "Government Servants," from the effects of an accidental gun shot wound and one from Chronic Bright's disease. Five members of the force were invalided, three Indians and two Chinese. The diseases incapacitating them from further service were phthisis, malarial cachexia, injuries received on duty and beri-beri.

Table I shows the admissions into and deaths in the Government Civil Hospital during each month of the year.

Table II shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the Police Force during the year.

Table III shows the admissions to hospital for malarial fever from each station during the year. This will be useful in future years in ascertaining the results of any measures which may be taken to suppress the mosquito plague or to prevent their bites giving fever.

The following table gives the total admissions to Hospital and deaths in the Force for the last ten years:

Year.

Admissions.

Deaths.

1891,

..570

1892,

496

1893,

522

1894,

..505

1895,

..466

1896,

...588

1897,

..526

1898,

...488

1899,

692

1900,

....920

24.9.

GAOL STAFF.

Sixty-five members of the Gaol Staff were admitted to hospital during the year out of a total staff of 86. There were no deaths and no invaliding out of this number.

SANITARY DEPARTMENT.

This department accounted for 15 admissions with no deaths and no invaliding, the Chief Inspector being invalided from the service for phthisis without coming into hospital.

The total number of admissions into the Government Civil Hospital is the greatest yet on record 3,030 as against 2,734 in 1899. Total number of out-patients was 13,883 against 13,744.

The following table gives the number and classification of those admitted during the past ten

years:

Police,

1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896.

1897. 1898. 1899. 1900.

570

496

522

505

466

588

529

488

692

920

Board of Trade,

135

157

132

100

129

Paying Patients,

464

378

467

491

498

632

603

741

764

891

Government Servants, ...

179

168

205

168

203

269

227

186

208

266

Police Cases,...

240

232

247

272

319

244

299

306

347

Free Patients,

279

284

262

427

668

778

742

785

739

569

2,571 2,784 3,030

1,867 1,715 1,835 1,963 2,283 2,598 2,445

يد

There is an increase in all classes except the "Free". patients, owing to the limited space at our disposal it was frequently impossible, especially in the summer months, to admit many deserving .cases. This is a strong reason for an increase in the hospital accommodation as the poorer classes, especially Chinese, have a strong claim on the community for proper inedical treatment and care. The troubles in the North accounted to a small extent for the increase in the private paying patients as several foreign sailors and soldiers were sent to hospital from the various transports.

The admissions into and deaths in the hospital for the past ten years are as follows:-

Year.

1891,

1892,

}

1893,

1894.

1895,.

1896,

1897

1898,....

Admissions.

Deaths.

..1,867

1,715

.1,835

.1,963

101

2,283

114

.2,598

143

.2,445

119

.2,571

138

•

2,734

114

....

3,030

155

1899,

1900...

The rate of mortality for the past year was 5.10 per cent.

The average daily number of sick was 110.95 as against 106.36 in 1899.

Women and Children.-The number admitted was 325. As has already been pointed out our accommodation for patients of this sex is practically limited to one general ward of 14 beds for all nationalities, and this in a way accounts for the small number of patients. A proper hospital or rather annexe to this hospital is much required.

Europeans.-943 were admitted during the year as against 811 in 1899 an increase of 132. Indians.-788 were admitted as against 659 last year, of this nuinber 522 were members of the Police Force.

Asiatics. As usual these form the bulk of our patients 1,299 against 1,264 for last year. Owing to the limited accommodation at our disposal especially in the summer large numbers of this nationality especially the destitute Chinese have had to be refused admission.

DISEASES.

Malarial Fever.-674 cases have been treated during the year as against 469 last year. The confirmation by MANSON and others of the discovery by BIGNAMI in 1898 that mosquitoes can and do give malaria to human beings has given a great impetus to the study of this disease and a large amount of speculation has arisen as to the best means of getting rid of these pests. Personally I am of opinion that a great deal more knowledge is required of the life history of these insects before there will be much chance of doing any permanent good in this direction. Dr. THOMSON's report, up to date, on the prevalcace of anopheles confirms the fact that on their presence or absence depends the number of cases of fever in a given locality. Perhaps some energetic entomologist may turn up in the Colony who will devote his time to ascertaining more about the breeding places and time and

250

other facts connected with their mode of living for in this direction lies some hope of keeping them under. The total destruction of such a large family as the mosquito seems to me an almost impossi- ble undertaking, and, though in individual cases some good may be done I do not think much hope can be held out of any large diminution in the cases of malaria by destroying these pests. Clinically the disease has become much more interesting to us all, and I trust this interest has been equally beneficial to the patients. I hope next year's report will contain exact information as to the varieties of fever prevalent throughout the year. It seems to me that this year the disease has been of a more malignant type though this impression may be owing to the better and more scientific methods now in use in diagnosing the disease. There have been 3 cases of what is known as the coma form of malaria under treatment, 2 Europeans and 1 Chinese, with two deaths a European and a Chinese. The Appendix gives an account of two cases of interest.

I am still of opinion that the best prophylaxis is the daily use of a small dose of quinine (3 to 5 grains) throughout the summer (May to November) but I am very sceptical as to whether it will ever be possible to persuade the bulk of the population to adopt this course. I certainly think the better educated amongst the community might in this instance do worse than follow medical advice though possibly they will prefer to go on expecting Government to kill off all the mosquitoes regardless of cost which idea seems at present to have taken hold of most. I may say that this course of treatment does not prove in any way injurious.

Enteric fever.-30 cases have been under treatment with 10 deaths, of this number 11 with 3 deaths were imported into the Colony.

Dysentery.-95 cases were admitted of which number 34 came from the Police.

Beri-beri.-29 cases were under treatment but this gives no idea as to the prevalence of the disease here as with our limited accommodation we can only take in the most serious cases. There were 9 cases amongst the Police, all Chinese and all newly-joined recruits. Practically little or nothing is known as yet about the causes of this tropical disease but we may, I think, look forward to more enlightment on the subject from Dr. WRIGHT's investigations in the Straits Settlements.

Diphtheria.--Only 4 cases were admitted, all from the Berlin Foundling. The antidiphtheritic serum was used in all cases with marked benefit but 3 of the cases died. They were weak, sickly children and all had complications (malignant malaria, dysentery and pneumonia).

Hepatic Abscess.-5 cases were under our care with two deaths. One of the deaths was in a Chinaman who as far as my experience goes are little troubled with this disease. He had been 14 days under quack treatment at the Tung Wa before he came to us and this long delay of course very materially influenced the result. One case being of interest has been reported in the Appendix.

Appendicitis.-6 cases were admitted to hospital with no deaths. Of this number two were operated on, three recovered without an abscess forming and one recovered after the abscess had burst through into the rectum.

Tetanus.-One case occurred in the person of a Chinaman who was brought in in the last stages of the disease and rapidly succumbed.

Cholera. We are able to report another year without any cases of this disease. Looking at the water supply of the Colony it seems almost an impossibility for this disease ever to take any footing here.

Bullet Wounds.-18 cases of this form of injury have been under treatment. We are much handi- capped in treating them as well as injuries about joints by the want of an X Rays apparatus,

Veneral Disease.-Our accommodation for treating this disease being so extremely limited the number of cases admitted do not prove anything one way or the other as to the increase or otherwise of the prevalence of the various forms of this disease. In the Out-Patient department, however, they form a very large number of the cases and some of the cases were very serious not so much from the virulence of the disease as from the want of proper treatment. It is a pity, as the Principal Civil Medical Officer remarked in his report last year, that the Tung Wa do not take in these cases as so much can be done both in treating the patients, if seen early, and by so doing preventing the spread of the disease. From the latter point of view more especially it is much to be desired that a Lock Hospital for Chinese existed in the Colony. In the whole Colony for the treatment of all the men so afflicted, other than Europeans, there is only the one ward of 14 beds in this hospital-a manifestly inadequate

number.

Guinea worm.-This obnoxious disease does not fortunately exist in the Colony but one case has been under treatment in the person of a young Indian policeman who brought the disease with him from India and so gave us an opportunity of studying another tropical ailment.

Poisoning.--The chief poisoning cases were due to opium (2) and datura alba (4)-one of the former died and the latter all recovered.

251

Surgical operations.-As usual a large number of cases came under the surgical side. Four of the most important are given in the Appendix. The case of splenectomy is the first successful one, I believe, ever done in the Colony for ruptured spleen. I am very much obliged for the skilful help rendered to me on the occasion by Dr. THOMSON, Captain WALL, I.M.S. and Lieutenant RAIT, I.M.S.

Lithotomy.-Only two cases were operated on for stone during the year, both successful. Strangulated Hernia.-Two cases were admitted for this trouble both were operated upon with one fatal result.

Amputation through the shoulder joint with excision of the scapula and outer half of the clavicle. This most serious operation was performed by Dr. Lowson for extensive necrosis.

The result was most successful and the patient is now alive and well.

Anaesthetics.-Chloroform was administered 156 times during the year without any bad result. The majority of the cases were anesthetised, as usual, by Krohne and Seismann's modification of Junker's inhaler and the remainder with Skinner's mask.

Fractures and Dislocations.--The following were treated during the year :--

Fracture of the Skull,

Fore-arm,

Collar Bone,..

Ribs.

Arm,

})

Thigh,

Leg,

Patella,

Pelvis,

Dislocation of the Hip....

Shoulder,

Elbow,

Wrist,

.....

2 10 30 3

Vaccinations.-Vaccinations were performed during the year :--

Primary Cases,.......

Re-Vaccinations,

Successful. Unsuccessful.

Total.

123

126

145

208

334

Fees. The total fees received during the year were $34,559.25 being an increase of $7,655.77 over last year.

Government Civil Hospital, Private Nursing,

...$ 32,673.02 1,886.23

$ 34,559.25

Buildings.-The main building has, as usual, given little trouble-evidently the work and material in the earlier days were of a more lasting nature than in modern days. The lower has, however, required a good deal of repair owing to white ants and dry rot. The whole roof had to be renewed just at our busiest time and we were obliged to resort to all sorts of unsatisfactory expedients to accommo- date patients as well as to keep out private ones. I am much obliged to the Public Works Depart- ment for carrying out this big work with speed and with the minimum amount of discomfort to all concerned. I trust, however, in future, that all rotten beans will invariably be replaced by iron, the only safe, sensible and economical material to use in the tropics.

Gifts and visits to patients.—I take this opportunity on behalf of the patients to thank all those who have so kindly kept us supplied with papers, books, flowers, &c. as well as to those who have so kindly visited the patients.

This being the last report of the 19th century I do not think it is out of place to look back and glance at the improvements effected in this important institution during the last few years. In 1887 when I arrived in the Colony there was only one Medical Officer, two European Wardmasters and nothing else but Chinese servants, operations were done in the verandah or elsewhere and lying-in cases treated in a general ward.

Slowly but surely there has been added an extra Medical Officer to the Hospital, skilled English nurses, a proper operating theatre, a lying-in Hospital and Lunatic Asylum as well as a really good hospital for Infectious Diseases at Kennedy Town. Though many improvements still lie before us I think the Government may feel a certain amount of satisfaction at possessing an institution which

252

contrasts very favourably with similar ones in this part of the world. The bulk of the population, more especially the European and Indian element, may well feel grateful to the governing authorities for establishing an institution where all and every one may be sure of skilled nursing if not treatment, and may end his days, if such be his fate, surrounded by the utmost care and comfort obtainable so far from home.

LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Tables VIII B and C show the admissions and deaths that have occurred during the year and the diseases for which the patients were admitted. 109 patients were admitted.

Europeans.-No females were admitted during the year. The American female admitted in April, 1895, and the German sailor admitted in April, 1898, are still in the asylum and both quite incurable mentally. No deaths occurred amongst the Europeans. An Austrian admitted with delusions has recovered and been sent home early this year.

Indians.-A death occurred as the result of debility in a chronic imbecile.

Chinese.―There was an increase in the admissions this year, 97 against 59 in 1899.

There were

5 deaths. 53 patients were transferred to Canton and 29 handed over to the care of their friends.

I am glad to say no accidents occurred in the Asylum throughout the year.

Staff.-Wardmaster ABBOTT was transferred to duty at Kennedy Town in October and his place taken by Wardmaster TONG Po.

Buildings.-These are in a good state of repair but require colour-washing and painting outside which has not been done for many years. I am in hopes that this will soon be done.

MATERNITY HOSPITAL.

year.

This institution is in a very good state of repair and has been made more use of during the 54 cases were admitted as against 36 last year. Five cases were not in labour were sent out after a short stay. Of the children born 23 were males and 22 females and in 4 cases the sex was not stated. There were 10 cases of still birth and one child died in hospital. Six deaths occurred amongst the patients-5 Chinese and 1 Japanese. The poorer Chinese unfortunately come in after some considerable delay and are generally the subjects of septicemia before admittance. The better class Chinese are slowly showing a greater liking for the place though not nearly in such numbers as one would like to see as I have little doubt the childbed mortality, which is to a large extent prevent- ible, amongst the Chinese must be pretty considerable. One case of interest is reported in the Appendix. Thirteen cases were wives of Government servants, 29 private paying and 12 free.

Table VIII (d) shows the admissions and deaths in the hospital during each month of the year.

PRIVATE NURSING INSTITUTE.

In February of last year "Stowford" was leased for a year in order to house the two private nurses, two probationers and Sister KATHERINE of the Hospital Staff. As was predicted by the Prin- cipal Civil Medical Officer this house has turned out much healthier and more handy than Westward Ho." The new nursing institute to be built on the site of the disinfector and to the west of the Sisters' quarters is still under consideration and I have already referred in detail to a better and cheaper scheme for providing more accommodation for the nursing staff.

The private nurses were engaged nursing for 422 days during the year. In addition, as a special favour, two of the hospital staff were 28 days out at private nursing.

The amount received in fees has been $1,886.23 against $1,465 earned in 1899. The fees charge- able, however, were raised in August nearly 20 per cent.

As I have already mentioned Sister ROBINS was unfortunately obliged to proceed to Japan on sick leave for 24 months.

GAOL.

I forward herewith the report of the Medical Officer of the Gaol. The quarters for the staff are rapidly approaching completion and when they are in their new residence a better hospital will be obtainable for the treatment of the sick though the present one is a great improvement on the old one.

TUNG WA.

The report of the Inspecting Medical Officer to this institution is attached. It shows an increase in the number of patients admitted as well as an increase in the number of those coming under proper treatment. The high rate of mortality is explained by the Medical Officer as a large bulk of the patients admitted are either in a dying condition or suffering from some incurable disease.

•

253

PUBLIC MORTUARY.

I attach the report of the Medical Officer in charge of the post mortem examinations. 1,712 bodies. were removed to the mortuary during the year.

KENNEDY TOWN INFECTIOUS HOSPITAL.

107 cases of plague were treated during the year with $3 deaths-a mortality of 77.5 per cent. The bulk of the cases of plague were, however, treated by the Tung Wa authorities at their matsheds at Kennedy Town and of course under native treatment. This prevented our testing the efficacy of large doses of Carbolic acid in this disease. The few cases amongst Europeans in which it was used seemed to benefit decidely but the number is too small to make any positive statement in regard to it. The dose to be of any use should be large Xiin of the pure acid every 3 or 4 hours. I have used it frequently in other diseases at the Civil Hospital and never observed any bad effects.

15 cases of beri-beri with one death were also treated at Kennedy Town Hospital. The disease broke out in an epidemic form on board of a steamer arriving from Shanghai. The patients were all Indians.

HOSPITAL HULK "HYGEIA."

This annexe to the infectious hospital has not been used during the year.

VACCINATIONS.

The following vaccinations have been performed during the year :-

Government Civil Hospital,.

Victoria Gaol,

Alice Memorial Hospital,.

Tung Wa:-

Victoria,

Aberdeen,

Stanley, Shaukiwan, Hunghom, Yaumati,

•

NEW TERRITORY.

334 2,638

111

1,214

4,406

Mr. Ho NAI HOP, licentiate of the Chinese College of Medicine, has continued to reside in the New Territory during the year and has been inspecting the various villages, vaccinating and treating such of the sick as desire his services as well as attending to the minor ailments of the various Govern- ment servants stationed in the Hinterland.

VACCINE INSTITUTE.

This institution has been maintained in a good state of repair and has been working throughout the year under the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon. The lymph has, as usual, given every satisfaction. The amount paid into the Bank for the sale of the lymph was $247.50.

I attach to this report an account of the work done in the Government Laboratory by the Acting Government Analyst.

The usual tables accompany this report and an appendix giving notes of the most interesting cases which have come under our care. This will give some idea of the variety and nature of the work done.

In conclusion I desire to render cordial thanks to all the members of the staff who have assisted me so well during my tenure of office.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c.

Your most obedient Servant,

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

254

RHY

POLICE.

Table I.-Shewing the ADMISSIONS into and DEATHS in the GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL

during each Month of the Year 1900.

EUROPEANS,

INDIANS.

CHINESE.

MONTHS.

Admissions. Deaths. Admissions.

Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.

TOTAL Admissions.

TOTAL Deaths.

Remaining on the 1st Jan.,

1900,.

January,

February,

March,

April,

...

May,

June,

July,

August,

128

September,.

127

}

October,

104

November,

100

December,

Total,......

183

522

215

920

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Table II.-Shewing the RATE of SICKNESS and MORTALITY in the POLICE FORCE during the Year 1900.

AVERAGE STRENGTH.

TOTAL SICKNESS.

TOTAL DEATHS. RATE OF SICKNESS. RATE OF MORTALITY.

European. Indian.

Chinese.

Total. European. Indian. Chinese. European. Indian.

Chinese. European. Indian.

Chinese. European.

Indian.

Chinese.

135 354 377 866 183 522 215

1 135.5

147.4 57.02

0.57 0.4

J. BELL,

STATIONS.

Average Strength.

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Table III.-Shewing the ADMISSIONS to HOSPITAL from the POLICE for MALARIAL FEVER from each Station, during the Year 1900.

Central

No. 2

268 52

No. 5

No. 6

No. 7

No. 8

Tzat Tzs Mui..

Shaukiwan...

Aberdeen

Stanley

Pokfulam

Gap

Water

130

Mount Gough

Yaumati Hunghom Sha Ta Kok

Ping Shang Tung Ching Sai Kung Sun Tin Kowloon City

Tai O

Un Long Sha Tin Tai Po... Au Tau

Shek O

Sheung Shui

Total,

པའི སྤྱི :ཌERE:སྤྱ;

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

- GA-

June.

July.

August.

September.

October.

November.

33 3

390

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer,

December.

Total.

100

255

Table IV.-Showing the ADMISSIONS and MORTALITY in the GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL during the Year 1900.

German Measles,.

Plague,

Influenza,

Mumps.

Diphtheria,

GENERAL DISEASES.

Simple Fever, continued,

Enteric Fever,

Dysentery,

Beri-beri.

Malarial Fever.

Malarial Cachexia,

Phagedoena.

Erysipelas......

Pyœmia.

Puerperal Fever,.

Tetanus.

Tubercle,

Leprosy.

SYPHILIS-

«. Primary,

b. Constitutional,

c. Inherited,

Gonorrhoea,

Malignant Pustule,

Diseases due to Animal Parasites,

Vegetable

Effects of Vegetable Poisons,

་་

་

Scurvy.

Heat.

Alcoholism,

Rheumatic Fever,

Rheumatism,

Gout,

Cyst,

New Growth. Non-malignant,

Anoemia,

Malignant,

Diabetes mellitus,

Congenital Malformation.

Debility,

Old Age,

ADMISSIONS.

DEATHS.

TOTAL.

Euro-

Indians & Asiatics, Coloured including

Euro-

Indians & Asiatics, Coloured including

peans.

Persons.

peans.

Japanese.

Persons.

Japanese.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 08: £24: : Son

114

320

194

674

- zwi HALAKO-KNE

2 61

LOCAL DISEASES-

Diseases of the-

Nervous System,

Eye.

Ear.

Nose.

Circulatory System,

Respiratory System, Digestive System.

Lymphatic System.

Urinary ystem

Generative System... Male Organs, Female Organs,

Organs of Locomotion, Connective issue, >kin,

Local Injuries,

Under Observation,

112

282***---R2

111

155

*****008

124

245

350

458

115

2 coco

- NA-Ni w moi

26. 12

29.

TOTAL,

943

788

1.299

3,030

155

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer..

256

Table V.-LIST of OPERATIONS performed during the Year 1900.

SURGICAL OPERATIONS.

Removal of Tumours,-Buboes, Incision,

Scraping,

Sebaceous Cyst,

Stramons Glands,

Epithelioma of Breast,

OPERATIONS.

DEATHS.

of Penis,

of Scalp,

Wounds, of Wrist,

of Foot,...

Polypus Nasi,

Warts of Labium,

of Arm (Gun-shot),.

of Thigh (Gun-shot),

of Abdomen (Gun-shot),

Eye Operations,-Enucleation of Eye-ball,

Hypopyon,

Operations on Head and Neck,-Ankylosis of Jaw,

Necrosis of Jaw,

Operations on Respiratory Organs,-Paracentesis Thoracic,

Operations on Genito-Uriuary Organs,--

Malignant Pustule,

Trephining,

Empyema,

Male, Circumcision,

Stricture of Mealus,

Phagodena,

Urethral Calculus,

Abscess of Penis,

Perineal Abscess,

021

Lithotomy,

Hydrocele,

Excision of Testicle,

Female,-Lubial Abscess,

Endometritis,

Uterine Polypus,

Operations on Digestive Organs,-Abscess of Liver,

Hæmorrhoids,

...

Fistula in Ano,

Hernia,

Appendicitis,

Laparotomy (Exploratory),

Operations on Lymphatic System,-Splenectomy,

Operations on Organs of Locomotion,-Amputation of Thigh,

of Leg,

of Foot,

of Arm,

of Hand,

of Finger and Toes,

Excision of Head of Humerus,

of Femur,

}

Necrosis of Humerus,.

of Tibia,

Operations on Cellular Tissue,-Abscess,

of Foot,...

Loose Body in Knee Joint,

Extraction of Guinea-Worin,

Total,.......

225

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

257

Table VI.-Shewing the RATE of MORTALITY in the GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL. during the last 10 Years.

Rate to Total Number of Rate to Number of Europeans Rate to Number of Coloured Rate to Number of Asiatics

Admissions.

Admitted.

Persons Admitted.

Admitted.

Per cent.

1891,..

4.49

1891,

3.46

1891,

2.97

1891.

7.33

1892.

3.96

1892,

2.92

1892,

8.28

1892,

5.74

1893,

3.65

1893,

1.57

1893,

2.28

1893,

7.34

1894,

5.14

1894,

3.71

1894,

3.51

1894,

7.36

1895,

4.99

1895.

2.47

1895,

1.32

1895,

8.35

1896,

5.50

1896,

3.65

1896,

1.84

1896,

8.88

1897.

4.86

1897,

3.63

1897,

2.61

1897,

6.56

1898,

5.36

1898,

5.07

1898,

2.07

1898,

6.59

1899,.

4.16

1899,

4.06

1899,

2.27

1899,

5.22

1900,

5.16

1900,

3.81

1900,

3.93

1900,

6.77

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Ciril Medical Officer.

Table VII.-Shewing the ADMISSIONS into and DEATHS in the GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL during each Month of the Year 1900.

EUROPEANS.

COLOURED.

ASIATICS.

MONTHS.

Total Admissions.

Total Deaths.

Admissions. Deaths. Admissions.

Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.

Remaining on the 1st

January, 1900, .

109

January,

February,

March,

April,.

May,

June,

July,

August,

115

118

September,

109

104

October,

November,

75.

December,.

10 COP 10 10 Coco *

102

221

187

106

192

193

102

206

106

231

104

252

119

352

121

334

118

293

112

271

189

Total,. . . . .

943

788

1,299

3,030

155

J. BELL,

January, February,

•

March,

April,

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

October, November, December,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Table VIIa.-MONTHLY AGGREGATE NUMBER of PATIENTS visited in the HOSPITAL daily for

1900, 1899 and 1898.

Months.

1900.

1899.

1898.

6,522

3,414

3,321

2,642

3,079

3,006

3,469

3,400

3,184

2,785

3,287

3,138

2,938

3,526

3,316

3,157

3,129

3,086

3,110

3,207

3,449

3,516

3,745

3,353

3,850

4,051

3,654

3,278

3,697

3,303

2,698

3,471

2,732

1,522

3,530

3,188

Total,.

39,487

41,539

38,730

•

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

258

Table VII.-Shewing the ADMISSIONS into and DEATHS in the GOVERNMENT LUNATIC ASYLUMS

during each Month of the Year 1900.

EUROPEANS.

COLOURED.

CHINESE.

MONTHS.

Total Admissions.

Total Deaths.

Admissions. Deaths. Admissions. Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.

Remaining on the 1st

January, 1900,

January,

February,

March,.

April, May, June, July, August,

September,

October,

November,

December,

Total,

109

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Table VIIc.-Shewing the NUMBER of PATIENTS admitted to the LUNATIC ASYLUM under the respective diseases.

་

EUROPEANS.

INDIANS.

CHINESE.

TOTAL.

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Mania,

Delusional Insanity, Dementia,

Melancholia,

Idiocy,....

Total,...

109

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

Table VIIA.-Shewing the ADMISSIONS into and DEATHS in the GOVERNMENT MATERNITY HOSPITAL during each Month of the Year 1900.

EUROPEANS.

JAPANESE.

CHINESE & INDIANS.

Total

MONTHS.

Admissions. Deaths.

Admissions.

Deaths. Admissions.

Deaths. Admissions. Deaths.

Remaining on the 1st

January, 1900,

January,

February,

March,.

April,.

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

•

October,..

November,

December,

10 CO 4-10 - 0019

GPVPV 00 1979 OAXA·

Total,.

J. BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

✓

259

•

Appendix.

CASE OF MALARIA COMATOSA-DEATH.

A Swedish officer residing at "Glenwood," Caine Road. was admitted at 6 p.m. on 15th Novem- ber, 1990, suffering apparently from typhoid fever. He was extremely ill, temperature 102, dry brown tongue. sordes on lips, low mattering delirium and a quick small pulse. He had all the appearances of a patient dying from enteric fever. Next morning his temperature was subnormal and his blood was examined. The slides showed large numbers of malignant tertian parasites. Notwith- standing large hypodermics of quinine (70 grans in all) he continued in the same condition till 6 p.m. on 17th November, 1900, when he died, his temperature ranging from 101° to 103° and the blood showing crescents for the first time on the day of his death.

Post mortem.--Showed effusion on the surface of the brain and in the ventricles. Liver en'arged weighing 90 oz. Spleen enlarg d and very soft 33 oz. Kidneys congested 11 oz. each. Intestines and intestinal glands quite normal.

Remarks.--Without any history and without a microscopical examination of the blood it would have been difficult to distinguish this case from enteric fever as the subnormal temperature might have been due to hemorrhage on moving the patient. It is the worst case of this for n of malaria that any of us had ever seen and emphasises the importance of examining the blood in all cases of fever in this country.

ENTERIC FEVER, TWO RELAPSES, RECOVERY.

A young German aged 25 years was admitted to hospital on January 7th with a history of five days' continued fever accompanied by hea lache, pain in the limbs, &c. His tongue was furre i the centre and clean at the tip elges. There was gurgling in the right iliac fossa with pain on pressure. Temperature 104°.

Initial Attack.-This lasted for 30 days, the temperature ranging between 101° and 104°. There were crops of roseola spots, splenic enlargement with tenderness pressure over the spleen, occasional epistaxis and delirium on the 21st day with a feeble pulse of 144 and constipation. This later symp- tom was most troublesome throughout. From the 30th to 41st day the fever was of the intermittent type, normal or 99 in the morning and 100' or 103° (105° once) in the evening. From the 41st to 54th day (13 days) it remaine normal and on this day he had a dose of castor oil followed by great pain in the abdomen and an evening temperature of 102°.

1st Relapse. This lasted for 20 days, the temperature ranging between 100° and 10° with a dry furred tongue, retention of urine a dry rub at left base and a bad pulse throughout. The tempera- ture remained normal for 14 days (up to $7th day) when patient had a do-e of cascara sagrada followed by much abdorminal pain and distress and an evening temperature of 101.8.

2nd Relapse. This lasted 13 days. temperature varying between 100° and 103°, with low deli- rium, feeble quick pulse and great depression.

Patient slowly convalesced and was up for the first time on the 120th day and left for Europe after 149 days in hospital.

Remarks -This case shows the amount of vitality possessed by some patients. He was not a robust young man having been rejected for the army and only weighing 108 lbs. on admission. Such a long illness on an ordinary mattress without a bedsore speaks volumes for the nursing an great credit is due to Sister HOPE and Sister EDITH for the keen and intelligent interest they took in the case throughout,

PNEUMONIC PLAGUE-RECOVERY.

A Greek sailor was admitted to hospital on the 17th April, suffering from gonorrhoea. His tem- perature was 101° with furred tongue and a general apathetic condition but this latt r was thought to be owing to his being unable to speak English. His condition for the next two days was decidely worse though nothing definite could be made out. On the 20th Dr. LowsoN saw the case and agreed that it was very suggestive of plague and shortly after this he coughed up some typical bloody spatum which was found full of ba silli. is pulse and general condition being so bad it was thought better to isolate him in a private ward here instead of transferring him to Kennedy Town Hospital. Carbolic acid gr.x every 3 hours was at once started with Brandy, Strychniæ, &c. to counteract the cardiac depressi n. After a very few doses of this medicine his tongue which was dry and brown soon became moist and the violent delirium passed into the quiet kind when he was easily fed and kept from getting out of bed. On the 22nd he was decidedly better tongue moist and cleaning, breath no longer offensive, and pulse good and no longer intermitting, sleeping well and no delirium. Sputum increased in quantity but no blood. Bacilli still present. Temperature 103°. On the 24th his tem-

260

perature fell to normal and he was practically well though he looked very pale and pinched. Sputum had ceased entirely. Under tonics and full diet he rapidly convalesced and left the hospital on the 3uth.

Remarks. This patient had roughly 280 grains of Carbolic Acid without any bad symptoms. From his friends we obtained the information that he had been down once to Ship Street but they were uncertain of the date-4 to 20 days before admission. One case proves nothing, but the high rate of mortality from this form of the dis ase, the serious condition of the patient and his rapid improvement makes one feel that the drug had a good deal to do with the successful result.

PUERPERAL FEVER-RECOVERY AFTER THE INFECTION OF ANTISTREPTOCEUS ŠERUM.

A Chinese female aged 20 was admitted to the Maternity hospital on the 15th March. with a his- tory of having been in labour for 4 days. The patient's tempe ature was 103° an she was already suffering from septicemia. The head of the child was outside the vagina. After some difficulty a blunt hook was passed into the left armpit and delivery effected. The temperature kept up betwe n 101° and 194° with most offensive vaginal discharge, bad pulse (120-13)) and offensive diarrhoea. The usual antiseptic douches were used, good diet, camphor and strychnia hypodermically for the pulse which was constantly threatening to fail. On the 19th the patient was very ill and evidently sinking with tenpera ure 104° pulse 120 and very offensive discharge an 1 diarrhoea. As a last resource

10 c.c. of serum were injected at 7 p.m. Next day the temperature had fallen to 102° but the dis- charge was still very offensive so another 10 cc. were given at 11 am. From now on everything changed rapidly for the better. Pulse and temperature both improved, discharge quickly became nor- mal and t e diarrhoea ceased. The convalescence was retarded a little owing to the formation of an abscess at the seat of the first injection. The patient was discharged quite well on the 19th April. The serious condition of the patient and the rapid general improveinent leave no doubt that the success was entirely due to the use of the serum.

ACUTE PANCREATITIS RECOVERY.

An American aged 19 was admitted on the 21st August suffering from malarial fever. Temper- ature 104.6, vomiting furred tongue and conjunctiva very yellow. He had had previous attacks of malaria. Under morphia hypodemuery calomel and quinine the vomiting ceased and the fever rapidly subsided and on the 5th day he was up and out of bed. There was a slight relapse for which he was treated. On the 11th day he was suddenly taken alarmingly ill. Intense abdominal pain chiefly at the pit of the stomach, cold clammy perspiration, hurried respiration, vomiting and an almost uncount- able pulse were the chief symptoms. He was at once seen and the abdomen found to be very tympa nitic and tender, the pain being most intense over an area above the umbilicus and to the left of the middle line. An enema brought away a large quantity of pale pasty faces and this relieved the pain somewhat. The condition-which puzzled us very much-ontinued for 48 hours during which time he required constant hypodermics of camphor and strychnia to keep him alive. His puse now im- proved rapidly though the pain and tympanites still continued. A dull area corresp nli g to the pancreas could now be made out easily and this was very ten ler on deep pressure. The patient slowly improved and was gradually brought on to solid diet. The dulness continued for some days and then disappeared. He was discharged well on the 14th September.

Remarks.This case was most puzzling after the collapse set in and it appeared as if an ulcer- duodenal or otherwise-had ruptured. Just at the time the Lancet of July 28th arrived containing Mayo Robson's article on pancreatitis and at once gave us the clue to the disease. I have no doubt that this was the cause of the patient's serious collapse and other symptoms.

OVARIAN TUMOUR-OPERATION-RECOVERY.

A Japanese female was admitted to the Maternity Hospital on 14th January and delivered with- out any trouble of a male child. On the 6th day the temperature rose suddenly to 102° with great pain and tenderness on pressure all over the abdomen chiefly on the right side at McBurney's point. The patient gave an account of a similar attack some time previously and it was thought she was suf fering from an attack of appendicitis. Under treatment she slowly recover and after a month she was removed to the general hospital. An examination now showed a tumour extending to both sides of the abdomen and probably growing from the right ovary. On March 28th abdominal section was performed. the incision extending from the umbilicus to an inch above the symphysis pubis. tumour was a thin-walled multilocular cyst growing from the left ovary and with only one extensive adhesion to the right loin. One of the cavities contained a considerable amount of flaky pus and this. no doubt accounted for the attack after pregnancy. Some time was taken in clearing out the fluid which had escaped into the abdominal cavity and in arresting the hemorrhage from the deep adhesion. Silk and silkworm gut were used for the sutures and a gauze drain was left in the lower end of the wound for 48 hours. There was no shock although the operation lasted hour and no after vomiting.

The

261

The temperature rose to 100.8 the following day but it fell after the removal of the drain and con- tinued normal throughout. The wound, which healed completely by first intention. was dressed on the 9th day, the silk sutures removed on the 10th and the gut on the 13th. The antiseptics held throughout and this no doubt contributed to the successful result. Mr. Lockwood's recommendations were carried out thoroughly and minutely. Silk sutures are not satisfactory and gut should always be used in these cases.

HEPATIC ABSCESS-REMOVAL OF A RIB-RECOVERY.

B. J. admitted to hospital on the 5th May, 1900, suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea but no fever. There was a doubtful history of dys ntery at Singapore 6 months previously. The liver dul- ness was normal and the tenderness and pain (which were present before his admittance) were gone. On the 16th of May his temperature rose to 100° and kept up between 100° and 101° when on aspiration pus was found in the liver. The abscess was opened in the usual way and a piece of the rib excised. The temperature fell in 48 hours to norm till the 1st June when it again rose 100°, and on the 10th he had a very severe r for with temperature 103°. There was slight tenderness just below the ribs in the mid-axillary line. His temperature now kept rising to 105° and 104° and on the 13th șix punctures failed to detect pus. His condition re nained the same with furrel tongue, vomiting, fever and great loss of flesh and occasional refor Quinine, carbolic acid in large doses and antistreptococcus serum were all tried without result. On the 19th July the liver was again explored with negative results but three ounces of clear serum were drawn off from the right pleural cavity. His condition getting worse he was again put under chloroform on the 22nd July when the whole of the 9th rib was found necrosed and was removed up to inch from the spine. His temperature still continued to rise in the evening to 100° and 101° but he slowly convalesced after a large abscess in the right thigh was opened. The patient's weight fell from 150 lbs. to 122 lbs. Patient was discharged on the I-t September. After a trip to Ja an returned en route to England. His weight had improved and this very large incision completely healed though he still showed traces of the severe illness he had been through.

RUPTURED SPLEEN-OPERATION-RECOVERY. "

A Chinese adult male was assaulted by two lukongs early in the morning of the 6th September. He walked to the Chinese hospital (Tung Wa) from No. 2 Police Station and after his dying deposi- tions had been taken was brought to this ho-pital at 1 p.m. Patient was in much pain and very col- lapsed with dulness in both flanks. The abdomen was rapidly opened in the middle line, blood clots removed, and the spleen ligatured and removed. This organ weighed 16 ounces and was found rup- tured right across fr m anterior to posterior bor ler During the operation Dr. THOMSON and Lieut. RAIT, L.M.S., transfused, which proceeding contributed in no small way to the success of the case. The patient rallied fairly quickly from the shock. On the 3rd day as the wound was gaping owing to the great intestinal detention chloroform was again administered and several more stitches inserted. Free purging removed the distension and th after history of the case was uneventful. Patient attended Court on the 26th October and left hospital apparently perfectly well on the 30th.

RUPTURED SPLEEN-OPERATION-DEATH FROM FRACTURED SKULL.

A Chinese adult male was admitted at 10.30 a.m. on the 19th September having been mixed up shortly before in a free fight Patient was not much collapsed but complained of great pain all over the abdomen. He continued in much the same condition till 8 p.m. when his pulse being worse. and the dulness in left flank markel, it was determined to perform abdominal section. Taking his de, osi- tions unfortunately involved loss of time but at midnight with the assistance of Dr. JORDAN, the abdo- men was opened, blood clot cleared out, and the spleen removed. This organ weighed 18 ounces and the rupture had occurred underneath the capsule which was completely raise from the surface of the organ and had eventually given away near the hilum. Previous to the operation two pints of saline fluid were transfused into the connective tissue over the pectoral muscle. At 8 p.m. next day the patient seemed quite out of danger. His pulse had improved, all shock had disappeared and his ten- perature was 100°.

The next day, however. cerebral symptoms set in with coma gradually deepening, restlessness and a rising tenperature till 8 p.m. on the 21st when he died, temperature 105.8 and pulse

150.

Post mortem.-Examination showed the ligature firm on the stump and the abdomen clean. There was a fracture on the left side extending through the petrous portion of the temporal bone to the base and a large clot pressing on the medulla.

MALIGNANT MALARIA-APHASIA-RECOVERY.

A German engineer from a steamer trading between here and Haiphong was admittel on the 24th December He was in a curious dazed condition unable to speak distinctly and could give no clear account of his illness. Temperature 99°, tongue furred but no vomiting and apparently no pain any- Heart and lungs were normal but pulse slow and very feeble. Pupils normal and no facial

where.

262

paralysis. The splenic dulness was increased, liver normal but skin and conjunctiva yellowish. A blood slide taken on admission was a perfect picture and showed in the same field numerous crescents, ringformed pigmented parasites, pigmented leucocytes, and leucocytes containing one, two and even three red corpuscles and parasites The urine contained a slight trace of albumin, probably due to a stricture which necessitated the urine being drawn off by a No. 4 catheter on the 26th.

Under quinine both hypodermically and by the mouth, stimulants and free purging the patient slowly improved and the temperature which rose daily to 101° to 103° dropped to normal on the 30th without any further rise. The speech, however, continued thick and indistinct for som time and he told us he couldn't remember the right words " This latter condition, which distressed the patient very much gradually improved under small doses of solide of potassim and arsenic though there was an occasional hesi- taney for a word now and then. The blood slide taken on the 2nd January (48 hours after the tem- perature fell to normal) was quite free from any malaria. Patient was discharged quite well on the 21st January.

Enclosure I.

Report of the Medical Officer of Victoria Gaol.

VICTORIA GAOL, HONGKONG, 8th January, 1901.

SIR,--I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor the Annual Medical Report on Victoria Gaol for the year 1900.

The total number of Admissions to the Gaol was 5 432, or 643 more than in 1899; and the daily average number of prisoners was 486, or 52 more than in the previous year.

The number of Admissions to the Gaol Hospital was 495, as compared with 503 in 1899; and 1,523 less serious cases, including cases of parasitic skin disease, were treated in the cells, being 255 less than in 1899.

Owing to the intermittent character of the supply of vaccine lymph, only 2,638 prisoners were vaccinated during the year, as compared with 3,378 in 1899 and 4,07 in 1898.

Six deaths from natural causes occurred, and there were two executions.

No case of flogging required any after treatment.

The health of the Warders has been almost uniformly good.

The sanitary condition of the Gaol is satisfactory; but there has been repeatedly, in course of the past year, very serious overcrowding.

I resumed medical charge of the Gaol on my return from leave on 12th May. During my absence Dr. Lowsos, Dr. BELL, Dr. WALES, and Major CLARK, R.A.M.C. at different periods acted for me.

I append the following tables:-

I. Return of Diseases and Deaths during the year 1900;

II. Showing the Rate of Sickness and Mortality during the year 1900;

III. Showing the Number and Results of Vaccinations during the past ten years;

IV. Showing General Statistics connected with the Gaol and Gaol Hospital during the past ten

years.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

THE ACTING PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER,

&c.,

&c.

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN C. THOMSON, M.D., M.A., Medical Officer.

Table I.-RETURN of DISEASES and DEATHS in 1900 at VICTORIA GAOL HOSPITAL, `Hongkong.

263

DISEASES.

*Remaining in Hospital at end of 1899.

YEARLY TOTAL.

† Total Cases Treated.

Admissious. Deaths.

Remaining

in Hospital at end of 1900.

Remark

GENERAL DISEASES.

Influenza,

Dysentery,

Plague,

Malarial Fever,—

(a) Intermittent, Type undiagnosed, (b) Remittent,

Beri-beri,.

Erysipelas,

Syphilis, Primary,

Gonorrhoea,..

Alcoholism,.

Rheumatism,

New Growth, non-malignant, Anoemia,

Debility,

LOCAL DISEASES.

Diseases of the Nervous System.

Functional Nervons Disorders,-

Paralysis,

Epilepsy,

Mental Diseases, Dementia,

10 00

- 100

82.

101

5 co No 00 00 pe

Diseuses of the Eye,

Ear,

Circulatory System,...

Respiratory System,

Digestive System,

Lymphatic System,...

Urinary System,

Cellular Tissue,

Skin,

Local Injuries,...

¶ Parasites,..

Under Observation,

Total,

495

505

Fatal case was Cere-

bral Hemorrhage, due to a fall.

*i.e., the year previous to that for which the Return is made.

Total cases treated" will, of course, include those remaining in Hospital at the end of the previous year.

The figures in this column to be carried on to the next year's Return.

“Local diseases" should be arranged in the order indicated, each under its specific name. It is evident that no useful information can

be conveyed by lumping all diseases, say of the Circulatory System, together, and should be specified, e.g., aneurism, válvular disease of the heart, and so forth.

|| Specify.

Return under their individual names.

simply returning them as such; each disease

JOHN C. THOMSON, Medical Officer.

264

}

Table II.-Showing the RATE of SICKNESS and MORTALITY in VICTORIA GAOL during the Year 1900.

TOTAL NUMBER OF:-

DAILY AVERAGE NUMBER OF :-

Cases, includ-

Pri- Sick

Sick

Admissions

Prisoners Admis-

Deaths due to Disease.

not

to Hospital

soners

in Hos- Gaol. pital.

Hos- pital.

to Total Admissions

to Gaol.

admitted sions to to Gaol. Hospital.

ing Skin Diseases, treated in

the Cells.

RATE PER CENT. OF:-

Daily Average Number of Sick in Hospital to Daily Aver- age Number of Prisoners.

Daily Average Deaths due Number of all Sick in Gaol

Daily Average

Number of Prisoners.

to Disease

to Total Admissions

to Gaol.

5,432

495

1,523

486

13.31 30.00

9.11

2.74

8.91

0.11

JOHN C. THOMSON,

Medical Officer.

Table III.-Showing the NUMBER and RESULTS of VACCINATIONS in VICTORIA GAOL during the past ten Years.

Year.

Number of Prisoners

Successful.

Unsuccessful.

Vaccinated.

Not inspected,

owing to early discharge from Gaol.

Number of those Vaccinated who

showed Marks of previous Vaccination.

2,521

1891

2,836

1,090

1,346

1892

2,625

1,985

640

2,618

1893

1,417

763

654

1,325

1894

747

242

505

746

1895

942

455

487

941

1896

831

631

200

831

1897

2,830

1,678

1,016

136

2,410

1898

4,507

2,875

1,252

380

4,181

1899

3,378

2,004

1,063

311

3,069

1900

2,638

1,765

666

207

1,916

JOHN C. THOMSON,

Medical Officer.

Table IV.-Showing GENERAL STATISTICS connected with VICTORIA GAOL and the GAOL HOSPITAL during the past ten Years.

Daily Average

Admissions to

Year,

the Gaol.

Number of

Prisoners.

Number of Cases treated in Hospital.

Number of less serions Cases,

including Skin Diseases, treated in the Cells.

Deaths due to Disease.

1891

5,231

607

364

558

1892

5,046

515

312

723

1893

4,010

458

272

523

1894

3,913

455

271

614

1895

5,014

472

231

948

1896

5,582

514

507

740

1897

5,076

462

342

455

1898

5,427

511

298

1,033

1899

4,789

434

503

1,778

1900

5,432

486

495

1,523

WOND79+66

Enclosure II.

JOHN C. THOMSON,

Medical Officer.

TUNG WAH HOSPITAL, HONGKONG, 9th January, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor the Annual Report of the Tung Wah Hospital for the year 1900.

I resumed the duties of Inspecting Medical Officer on my return from leave on 11th May. Dur- ing my absence Dr. Lowson acted for me.

265

The number of patients in the wards at the beginning of the year was 154; 2,981 were admitted during 1900, making a total of 3,135 cases treated; 1,743 were discharged; 1,267 died; leaving 125 in the Hospital on the evening of 31st December.

The admissions during the past ten years have been as follows:

1891,.... 1892. 1893.... 1894.

1895,

•

1896...

1897,...

1898,

2,514

2,455

2.255

2,354

2,732

2,041

2,776

2,898

2.542

2,981

1899, 1900,

Of the 2,981 admissions, 1.720, or 57.7 per cent., were under Chinese native treatment; 953, or 32 per cent., were treated by Dr. CHUNG according to European methods; and 308, or 10.3 per cent., were transferred to other institutions for treatment, as follows:-14 to Government Civil Hospital, 63 to Kennedy Town Infective Diseases Hospital, 220 to the Tung Wah Plague Branch Hospital at Kennedy Town, 8 to the Lunatic Asylum, and 3 to the Italian Convent.

In the previous year Dr. CHUNG treated 556 out of a total of 2,542 admissions, i.e. 21.8 per cent. ; so that there is in 1900 a marked increase in both the number of patients admitted to the Hospital and the proportion of patients availing themselves of European treatment.

With reference to the large mortality, it is necessary to have in mind the fact that the Tung Wah Hospital is used as a sort of dying house by the lower orders of the Chinese community. 347 of the fatal cases were already in a dying condition at the time of admission, and many others were hopeless from the first, including such conditions as advanced phthisis, heart disease, the general debility of old age, and cachexia due to malaria, the opium habit, or neglected wounds and abscesses.

505 dead bodies were brought to the Hospital Mortuary to await burial. 80 of these, and also 96 bodies of persons who died within the hospital itself, were sent to the Government Public Mortuary to be submitted to internal examination.

Free burial was provided by the Hospital for 2,134 persons.

The number of visits to the Out-patient Department was 94,755.

887 destitute persons were temporarily sheltered and fed.

131 Surgical Operations were performed by Dr. CHUNG, including 4 cases of Lithotomy, 1 Litho- trity, 2 Cataract, &c. He also attended three obstetric cases received from the Po Leung Kuk.

A good microscope has been obtained from London, and is now in daily use for purposes of diagnosis.

The incinerator for the destruction of infected materials and refuse has been rebuilt, and is in efficient working order.

During the Plague Epidemic of 1900 the Tung Wah Hospital was again used as a convenient centre for the inspection and diagnosis of all cases found by the Police or officers of the Sanitary Board, Dr. CHUNG forwarding pronounced cases without delay to the Infective Diseases Hospitals, and detaining suspicious cases for further examination by myself.

The Matshed Hospital at Kennedy Town was re-opened for the reception of Plague cases, and was in use from 16th May to 15th August. I have in a previous report (1898) described in detail the organization of this Branch institution, with the arrangements for isolation, disinfection, and due supervision. The number of admissions was 224, of whom 24 recovered and 200 died. No employée of the Hospital contracted the disease.

The site for a permanent Infective Diseases Hospital at Kennedy Town in connection with the Tung Wah Hospital is being levelled.

The scheme for enlarging the Hospital itself has not made much progress, but preparations seem now being made for commencing building.

I append the following Tables :-

I. A Return of Diseases and Deaths during the year 1900;

II.-Showing General Statistics relating to the Tung Wah Hospital during the year 1900; III. - Showing Vaccinations at, and in connection with, the Tung Wah Hospital during the

year 1900.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

THE ACTING PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER, ·

&c.,

fc.

JOHN C. THOMSON, M.D., M.A., Inspecting Medical Officer.

266

Table I. RETURN of DISEASES and DEATHS in 1900, at Tung WAR HOSPITAL, Hongkong.

*Remaining in

Remaining

YEARLY TOTAL.

†Total

DISEASES.

Hospital at end of

Cases Treated.

Hospital at end of

Remarks.

1899.

Admissions. Deaths.

1900.

GENERAL DISEASES.

Small-pox,

Influenza,

Measles,

Mumps,

Diphtheria,

Enteric Fever,

Cholera,

Dysentery,

Plague.

Malarial Fever,—

...

401

116

401

(a) Intermittent, Type undiagnosed,

172

(b) Remittent..

357

147

364

5 10

Beri-beri,..

Erysipelas,

361

214

407

Septicemia,

Tetanus,

Tubercle,

10006

...

Leprosy, Tubercular,

Syphilis, Secondary,

Rheumatism,

New Growth, Non-malignant,

Malignant,

Anomia,

Debility,

CONN

10:

§ LOCAL DISEASES.

Diseases of the Nervous System.

Sub-section 1,-

Meningitis,

Sub-section 2,-

Functional Nervous Disorders,-

Apoplexy,

Paralysis,

Epilepsy,

Hysterica,

Sub-section 3,-

Mental Diseases,-

Mania,

Melancholia,

Dementia,

Delusional Insanity,

*131

* CO

+ 4+ CO co

1331

Diseases of the Eye,

Nose,..

Circulatory System,...

Respiratory System,

491

378

525

Digestive System,

249

126

257

Lymphatic System,

...

Urinary System,

1:26737

Male Organs,

Female Organs,

Organs of Locomotion,

Cellular Tissue,

IG ลง

¶ Injuries, General,

Skin,

།

Local,

¶ Poisons,

156 1

168

Opium.

Total,....

154

2,981

1,267

3,135

125

Surgical Operations,

131 |

Already classed under the respective conditions requiring operation.

* i... the year previous to that for which the Return is made.

"Total cases treated" will of course, include those remaining in Hospital at the end of the previous year. The figures in this column to be carried on to the next year's Return.

"Local Diseases" should be arranged in the order indicated, each under its specific name. It is evident that no useful information can be conveyed by lumping all diseases, say of the Circulatory System, together, and simply returning them as such; each discase should be specified, e.g, aneurism, valvular disease of the heart, and so forth.

¶ Specify.

JOHN C. THOMSON, Inspecting Medical Officer.

Table II.-Showing GENERAL STATISTICS relating to the TUNG WAH HOSPITAL during the Year 1900.

267

Free

Remaining in

Patients.

Hospital Ad-

mitted.

Total Cases Treated.

Dis- charged.

Deaths.

Remaining in Hospital

Dead

Des-

Out- Vaccina- Patients. tions.

titute

persons

Bodies brought to Hospital

Burials

31st Dec.,

sheltered. Mor uary

provided for

poor

for bari. persons.

1899.

1900.

Male,......

127 2,503

2,630

1,475

1,045

110

66,563

609

887

385

Female,...

478

505

268

222

28,192

714

120

Total,...

154 2,981 3,135 1,743

1,267

125

94,755

1,323

887

505 2,134

JOHN C. THOMSON, Inspecting Medical Officer.

Table III.-Showing VACCINATIONS at, and in connection w th, the TUNG WAH HOSPITAL during the Year 1900.

Hongkong.

Shaukiwan.

Aberdeen.

Stanley.

Yaumati.

Hunghom.

1,214

Enclosure III.

Total.

1,323

JOHN C. THOMSON,

Inspecting Medical Officer.

PUBLIC MORTUARY, HONGKONG, 2nd January, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to report for the information of His Excellency the Governor that during the year 1900, one thousand seven hundred and twenty-one dead bodies were brought to the Public Mortuary for post mortem examination.

I enclose a Return of the Causes of Death.

THE ACTING PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN C. THOMSON, M.D., M.A., Medical Officer in Charge of Post mortem Examinations.

&c.,

&c.

268

RETURN of CAUSES of DEATH ascertained by Post mortem Examination in 1900, at the GOVERNMENT PUBLIC MORTEARY, Hongkong.

Remaining

YEARLY TOTAL.

Total

Remaining in

DISEASES.

Hospital at end of 1899.

Cases

Hospital

Remarks.

Treated.

Admissions. Deaths.

at end of 1900.

GENERAL DISEASES.

Small-pox,

Mensies,

Diphtheria,

Enteric Fever,

Cholera,

Dysentery,

Plague,

Malarial Fever, Pernicious,..

Beri-beri.....

Septicæmia,.

Tetanus,

Syphilis,-

(a) Secondary,

(b) Inherited,

Starvation,

New Growth, Non-malignant,

Rickets.

Debility,

...

:::

...

:::

* LOCAL DISEASES.

Diseases of the Nervous System.

Sub-section 1,—

Di-eases of the Nerves,-

Meningitis,

Sub-section 2,-

Functional Nervous Disorders,-

Apoplexy,

Diseases of the Circulat ry System,...

ད

Respiratory System...

Digestive System,

Urinary System,

Female Organs,

† Injuries General,

† Injuries Local,..... † Poisons.

Still-Birth,

Decomposed,

}

745

...

151

180

132

...

125

1,721

...

Eetonic Gestation.

f Brow-ing 19. Suffocation 24. 1 Hanging 3. Strangulation 1.

Opium 5. Gelsemium 3.

Decomposition too for ad- vanced to allow the cause of death to be ascer- tained.

JOHN C. THOMSON, Medical Officer.

*" oc 1 diseases should be arranged in the order indicated, each under its specific name. It is evident that no useful information can be conveyed by lumping all diseases, sy of the Circulatory System. together, and simply returning them as such; each disease should be specified, é.g., aneurism, valvular disease of the heart, and so forth.

† Specify.

Total,....

Enclosure IV.

269

INFECTIVE DISEASES HOSPITAL,

KENNEDY TOWN, HONGKONG, 3rd January, 1901.

SIR,-I have the honour to report for the information of His Excellency the Governor regarding the Infective Diseases Hospital at Kennedy Town for the year 1900.

On my return from leave, I assumed charge on 14th May. Dr. Lowson was in charge until that date.

I enclose a Return of Diseases and Deaths in the Hospital during 1900. The chief mortality was from Plague, of which there were 107 cases, with 83 deaths, ie., a mortality of 77.5 per cent.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

THE ACTING PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER,

&c.,

fc.,

fc.

JOHN C. THOMSON, M.D., M.A., Medical Officer in Charge.

RETURN of DISEASES and DEATHS in 1900, at KENNEDY TOWN INFECTIVE DISEASES HOSPITAL.

DISEASES.

*Remaining in Hospital at end of 1899.

YEARLY TOTAL.

† Total Cases Treated.

Admissions

Deaths.

Remaining

in Hospital at end of 1900.

Remarks.

GENERAL DISEASES.

Small-pox,

Plague,

Beri-beri,....

Leprosy,

(a) Tubercular,

(b) Anæstbetic,

Under Observation,

Total,.....

18 107

21 107

161

888

164

Under care of a Chinsee Doctor by His Excellency the Governor's instructions.

* i.e., the year previous to that for which the Return is made.

+ “Total cases treated" will of course, include those remaining in Hospital at the end of the previous year.

The figures in this column to be carried on to the next year's Return.

JOHN C. THOMSON, Medical Officer in Charge.

270

Enclosure V.

GOVERNMENT LABORATORY, HONGKONG, January 15th, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit a statement of the work done in the Government Laboratory during the year 1900.

2. The work may be summarized as follows:--

Petroleum Oil and Fuel,.

Potable Waters.

Food and Drugs Ordinance,

Toxicological,

Miscellaneous,

Description of Cases.

Total,.......

PETROLEUM OIL AND FUEL.

No. of Articles Examined.

156.

321

3. Twenty-eight samples of petroleum fuel were examine l, the remainder being petroleum oil. It may be mentionel that the average flashing point of the petroleum oil examined was 80° F. Thirty-six samples flashed at 76° F. or under, and three only at the legal minimum temperature, viz.: 73° F. No samples were found to flash below this temperature.

By rules made by the Governor in Council on December 28th, 1900, the Harbour Master has now power to cause samples to be taken from vessels entering the harbour which contain petroleum in cases. All oil flas ing below 70' F. is totally prohibited, any vessel containing such oil to leave the waters of the Colony in a similar manner to 'tank' steainers. No case oil samples have yet been examined.

WATERS.

4. The results of the monthly analyses of the public supplies viz.. from Tytam and Pokfulam reservoirs and from the Kowloon service, show that these continue to maintain their qual ty. A num- ber of well waters from the New Territory were examined, three of these were condemnet bing con- taminated by organic matter from pa ldy fiells. Particulars of these analyses appear in an appendix

to this report.

With regard to the public supplies, it is to be noted that upon several occasions the samples col- lected were turbid. The turbidity was due chiefly to suspended mineral matter, the filtered water being of excellent quality.

5. The Food and Drugs Ordinance.-Fifty-five exhibits were examined. The following table shows the results of the examination of 42 samples taken for the purpose of Analysis by the Police and by the Sanitary Board:-

Description.

No. of Samples.

No. found Genuine.

No. found Adulterated.

Branly,

-Gin.

Milk

Port Wine,....

Rum,

Whisky,

HCONCE

6. In the case of Spirits it will be seen from the above table that adulteration is rare.

Whenever

this has occurred added water has been the adulterant, in no case has fusel oil in harmful quantity or any other injurious constituent been found.

271

Complaints have recently been made by the Military authorities, that bad liquor is supplied by a number of public houses in this Colony, a list of which has reached me, together with samples, which have not yet been examined. From the results of analyses taken systematically by the Police for several years past, I am of opinion that very little bad liquor is sold (ie. liquor containing injurious ingredients). At any rate, bad liquor rarely finds its way into the hands of an Inspector. If a large amount of drunkenness occurs, followed by ill effects, it is due to the amount of liquor consumed and not to its bad quality. The liquor sold is very cheap, but it is possible to produce pure spirits quite cheaply, i.e., spirits which contain but minute and perfectly harmless quantities of the deleterious pro-

ducts of distillation.

7. Ten samples of liquors made in Manila were analysed for the public. These included samples of Brandy, Gin, Anisette, and Anise liquor.

8. In connection with the analysis of food and drugs, I have to report that, for the information of the Sanitary Board, I have commenced the series of analyses, in order to report upon the Milk supply of the Colony. These analyses were commenced in September last, and since that time twenty-four samples have been examined. The report will be issued as soon as a sufficient number of results have been obtained. The samples are taken from cows, buffaloes and goats.

9. Samples of Soda Water and Lemonade were examined and found to contain lead. These came from Foochow.

TOXICOLOGICAL.

10. The toxicological cases examined comprise three cases of human poisoning. In one case the poison was found to be opium. In another, a mixture of herbs, administered in the form of a decoc- tion made with foul water, caused death, and in the third case the root and stem portions of Gelse- mium Nitidum or Wild Jasmine were found to be the cause of poisoning. In connection with the above a number of herbs were examined and were all found, with one exception, to be quite harmless. They were also probably quite ineffective as medicines.

One exhibit was examined in a vitriol throwing case.

Samples of turnips, potatoes, bread and water were examined for the Military authorities at Wei- hai-wei. The goods were supplied by a local contractor, the water was condensed sea water and was found to contain quantities of vegetable matter, owing probably to uncleanliness in the tank in which the water was stored or in the condensing apparatus. Amongst the foods the potatoes were reported on as being poor in quality, containing but nine per cent. of starch, and of low nutritive value.

MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES.

11. The following miscellaneous articles were examined :-

Blood stains, mineral water bottles, cement, coal, cord, Chinese medicine and saltpetre. 12. Examinations for the public.-The list of articles examined for the public comprises coal, liquor, milk, petroleum and water. For these examinations the public have paid in fees $890.

13. Special reports.-Special reports have been supplied on :-

The manufacture of Vermilion by the Chinese.

The storage of Saltpetre.

Milk standards.

Petroleum in tins.

14. Value of work done.--As determined from the tariff of charges published in Government Notification No. 319 the value of the work carried out amounts to $3,100. A large amount of other work in connection with special reports and general laboratory work has not been included in this estimate.

15. Library.-A number of works of reference were received during the year.

16. Mr. FRANK BROWNE, the Government Analyst, has been absent on leave since April 4th last, upon which date I took over the management of the Hospital Pharmacy and Government Laboratory.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

THOMAS J. WILD, Acting Government Analyst.

&c.,

THE PRINCIPAL CIVIL MEDICAL OFFICER,

&c.,

&c.

272

HONGKONG PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES.

Results of the Monthly Analyses.

Results expressed in Grains per Imperial Gallon, (1 in 70,000).

Total Solid

1899.

Matter

Supply.

Chlorine.

Month.

dried at 100° C.

Ammo- nia.

Albume- noid Ammo-

Oxygen absorbed in

Nitrites.

nia.

4 hours at 80° F.

in Nitrates.

Nitrogen Sugar Test for

the detection of Sewage.

Poi-

sonous Metals.

Pokfulum.

3.6

Absent.

.015

Absent.

Absent. No trace of Sew- Absent.

January...

age indicated.

Tytam

3.5

Kowloon .

2.7

.006

وو

25.

.006

.016

Pokfulum.

3.7

February.

Tytam

3.5

Kowloon

3.7

666

ARA

.004

.008 Absent.

.004

.016

Pokfulum.

4.3

March

Tytam

3.5

Kowloon

3.7

996

.006

Absent.

.006

.012

وو

Pokfulum.

4.3

April

Tytam

3.7

Kowloon

3.7

666

.012

Absent.

ܕ܀

.003

3 3 3

.016

RRR

Pokfulum.

May

Tytam Kowloon

Pokfulum.

June

Tytam Kowloon

IN CO HA COCO LA

4.3

3.7

966

.016

Absent.

.008

.004

.016

4.3

3.7

4.7

998

.016

Absent.

وو

.008

.004

دو

.016

AAA

ARR

Pokfulum.

July

Tytam

Kowloon

COR

4.7

3.8

996

.020

.016

وو

.012

Abseut.

.004

.016

Pokfulum.

4.8

August

Tytam

4.7

Kowloon

3.8

999

.016

Absent.

ร

.004

وو

.001

.016

Pokfulum.

4.5

September

Tytam

4.0

Kowloon

2.8

696

.016

Absent.

.008

.004

.024

Pokfulum.

4.6

October...

Tytam

4.3

Kowloon

3.0

989

.012

RAA

Absent.

.012

.008

وو

Pokfulum.

5.0

November

Tytam... 4.5

Kowloon

3.1

666

.016

Absent.

.016

.006

.016

***

Pokfulum.

5.0

December

Tytam

4.3

Kowloon

3.3

966

.009

Absent.

.006

.003

ARR

1:4

WATERS.

RESULTS EXPRESSED IN GRAINS PER IMPERIAL GALLON, (1 IN 70,000).

Total

Date.

1900.

Situation.

Solid Matter Chlorine.' dried

at 100° C.

Ammo-

nia.

at 80° F.

Albu- Oxygen Nitrogen menoid absorbed in Nitrates Ammo- in 4 hours and Nitrites.

Nitrites.

Sugar Test for the detection of

Sewage.

Poi-

sonous

Remarks.

metals.

Jan. 14 Well near San Tin Village,.

من

.0056

Absent.

.021

.016

Absent. No trace of sewage

Absent.

indicated.

15 Spring near San Tin Village,

Absent.

.030

Absent.

Well at Gas Works, West Point,

38.0

2.7

.14

.0056

.033

Free sulphuric acid present.

24 Water from Kong Tsun River,

5.0

.0028 .0028

.027

Absent.

from Tsing Pu River,

13.0

3.4

.0084 .0042

.040

.016

25 Well at 35, Queen's Road,

5.1

.056

.0336

Present.

Sewage indicated.

Feb. 24 Water from Messrs. Lauts, Wegener & Co.,

3.7

Absent. .0014

.010

.016

Absent.

May 29 Well near San Tin Village,

4.8

.003

.0045

.190

June 14

near Ping Shan Village,..

20.8

4.2

.006

.003

.042

.200

Aug. 10

Sept. 11

near Au Tan,

2.7

Absent. .010

.228

.008

at Sai Kung,

14.0

4.0

.010

.006

.004

.080

رمو

near Tong To,

3.6

near U Shek Kok,

3.0

Nov.

3 From Naval Condenser Tank, Wei-hai-wei,

1.6

473

.003

.006

.108

.010

No trace of sewage

indicated.

Traces of sewage indicated.

Sewage indicated. Traces of sewage indicated.

No trace of sewage indicated.

وو

.003

.006

.016

.010

.0028 .0084 .399

Absent.

13 Well at No. 4, Lower Rutter Street,

7.2

.003

.160

.020

at No. 5,

7.3

.003

.009

.020

Trace of sewage

indicated.

Sewage absent.

Slight

Water fungi present in sediment.

trace.

Absent.

Dec.

3 Water from Military Swimming Bath,

1.5

...

.517

Sewage present.

Sediment consisted of animal and vegetable organic matter with numerous mosquito larvæ. Opinion was required, whether bath was fit for swimming in.

273

HONGKONG.

EXAMINATIONS OF MOSQUITOES.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

791*

No.

1901

}

HONGKONG, 18th October, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor the results of a systematic examination and classification of the mosquitoes that prevail in Hongkong and its Dependencies, on which I have been engaged during the past twelve months. For some months pre- vious to September, 1900, I was working at the subject as I had opportunity, but my field of observa- tion was limited to the Colony itself until in that month the Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Captain Superintendent of Police, kindly consented to my proposal that I should be supplied with at least one dozen mosquitoes from each of the police stations throughout Hongkong itself and the New Terri- tory once a week for a year. As the police stations are approximately equally scattered over the whole area, the mosquitoes that have been sent to me may be assumed to fairly satisfactorily represent the actual relative prevalence of these insects in this locality.

2. I distributed a number of glass test-tubes to each of the thirty-six police stations, with general instructions for the catching and transmitting of the insects in such a way as to avoid injury to them. They were to be caught by means of the glass tubes, killed by a whiff of tobacco-smoke, and sent enclosed in match-boxes to the Central Police Station, from which they would be duly forwarded to ine. It was requested that about two-thirds of each consignment should be caught in the evening, or from mosquito-curtains in the early morning, and the remainder from species seen flying about in the day time; and further that no selection of any kind should be made, the first dozen or so caught on any given date being sent.

The arrangements made have been carefully carried out by the officers in charge of the stations, with few exceptions; and I beg to express my thanks to the Captain Superintendent of Police, Chief-Inspector Mackie, and the officers of the Police Force for their hearty co-operation in this research.

3. During the twelve months, 1st October, 1900, to 30th September, 1901, 32,266 insects have been sent to me from the police stations. Of these, 31,390 proved to be mosquitoes; the others were chiefly insects belonging to cognate families, such as fungus gnats (Mycetophilida), midges (Chiro- nomidæ), sand flies (Simulida), &c.

1,169, i.e., 3.7 per cent., were Anopheles, of three species, and 30,221, i.e., 96.3 per cent., were Culex, of twelve species. As is shown in Appendix II., the number of species of Culex is probably considerably larger, some that I describe as varieties being perhaps distinct species.

4. I enclose a Table (Appendix I.) showing in detail my observations during the year as regards the various police stations. I show for each station the number of specimens received, the number of Anopheles and Culex respectively, and the names of the species of both that have come from the station. I describe the different species by letters corresponding to those used in the Systematic Account of Hongkong Mosquitoes given below (Appendix II.). Similar tables showing the same facts, but without the names of species, for each month and each quarter of the year are included in my quarterly reports on this subject, which have appeared in the Government Gazette.

792

5. The monthly percentage of Anopheles and Culex has been as follows:-

Anopheles.

Culex.

Mosquitoes examined.

Number.

Per cent.

Number.

Per cent.

October, November,

401

106

26.4

295

73.6

796

6.3

746

93.7

•

December,

2,342

138

5.9

2,204

94.1

January,

3,380.

143

4.2

3,237

95.8

February,

...

2,524

1.4

2,489

98.6

March,

1,586

3.1

1,537

96.9

April,

3,501

115

3.3

3,386

96.7

May,

June,.

5,476

116

2.1

5,360

97.9

3,562

111

3.1

3,451

96.9

July,.

2,582

138

5.3

2,444

94.7

August,.

2,296

3.8

2,208

96.2

September,

2,944

2.7

2,864

97.3

Last Quarter, 1900,

.....

3,539

294

8.3

3,245

91.7

First Quarter, 1901,.

...

7,490

227

7.263

97.

Second Quarter, 1901,..............

12,539

342

2.7

12,197

97.3

Third Quarter, 1901,

7,822

306

3.9

7,516

96.1

The Twelve Months,

31,390

1,169

3.7

30,221

96.3

6. I have arranged these facts regarding Anopheles in the form of a Chart, which I enclose; and through the kindness of Dr. F. J. A. BERINGER, Civil Surgeon, R.A.M.C., I am able to place alongside of them the monthly percentage of cases of Malaria that have occurred among European troops station- ed in Hongkong during the past five years. This Malaria Chart gives the most accurate information possible as to the occurrence of the disease in Hongkong, as it records the incidence of Malaria in large bodies of men who are bound to be either on parade or under careful medical observation. The result is a remarkable testimony to the truth of the Mosquito-Malaria Theory. The Anopheles curve is to a large extent almost parallel with that of Malaria; and consideration of the Malaria curve for the preceding years shows that this is no mere coincidence. The two first of the thirteen months' observations recorded on the Anopheles chart are too high, owing to the fact that some of the more healthy stations did not fall into line till late in October, and I was consequently before that time receiving an undue proportion of insects from the very malarial stations. This requires to be allowed for in comparing the two curves. The Anopheles curve reached its lowest point in February; the Malaria curve reached its minimum, or within a fraction of it, in all the five years shown on the chart in the same month. The Anopheles curve reached its highest point last year in October and this year in July; the Malaria curve reached its maximum in October, 1896, in November, 1897, in August, 1898, in August, 1899, in August, 1900, with a secondary rise in October, and in July of

year (to date).

this

7. Another noteworthy point in connection with the combined Chart is the sudden drop in both curves from July of this year, when theoretically, and in accordance with previous experience, both should have continued to rise. The facts accounting for this are interesting. On account of the large number of cases of Malaria that occurred in the garrison this year, a general issue of quinine was ordered to all the soldiers, except those in special circumstances where it seemed unnecessary, e.g., at Mount Austin Barracks. This was commenced in August, and at once there is a drop unusual at that season in the Malaria curve. On the other hand, about the end of June at the request of the Captain Super- intendent of Police I drew up a series of simple instructions for the destruction of the larvæ of mos- quitoes and their breeding-places. A General Order embodying these instructions was issued, direct- ing that officers in charge of all police stations should carry them into effect, so far as possible, for their own neighbourhoods. This was done more or less thoroughly from the beginning of July, and the result was a rapid and steady diminution of the Anopheles frequenting the stations. I enclose a

of my instructions to the police, which were necessarily brief and elementary, in Appendix III. 8. No Anopheles were found among mosquitoes sent to me from the following stations

copy

No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, Kennedy Town, Mount Gough, Shaukiwan, Tsim Sha Tsui,

Stone Cutters' Island, Hung Hom, and Kat 0.

793

9. The following Table shows the stations from which Anopheles were sent to me, and the per- centage of Anopheles among the total mosquitoes received from those stations :-

Anopheles.

Culex.

Mosquitoes examined.

Number.

Per cent.

Number.

Per cent.

No. 1 Station,

No. 2 Station,

No. 3 Station,

Pokfulam,

1,261

0.5

1,255

99.5

575

0.2

574

99.8

1,178

0.1

1.177

99.9

852

2.5

831

97.5

•

Aberdeen,

688

681

99.

Stanley,

963

1.6

948

98.4

Yaumati,

Shek 0,

Tsat Tsze Mui,

Fuk Tsun Heung,

Kowloon City,

748

116

15.5

632

84.5

600

7.8

553

92.2

1,066

0.1

1,065

99.9

558

0.2

557

99.8

•

1,717

0.1

1.716

99.9

Sha Tin,

572

7.5

529

92.5

Sai Kung,.

552

1.4

544

98.6

Tai Po,

809

191

23.6

618

76.4

Sha Tau Kok,

4,401

414

9.4

3,987

90.6

Sheung Shui,

815

1.2

805

98.8

837

1.7

823

98.3

1,841

113

6.1

1,728

93.9

245

4.9

233

95.1

•

399

9.5

361

90.5

226

34.5

148

65.5

4,704

0.02

4,703

99.98

Lamma,

•

604

574

95.

San Tin,

Au Tau, Ping Shan, Tai 0, Tung Chung, Ch'eung Chau,

10. In Appendix II. I describe systematically the mosquitoes that prevail in the Colony, examining in each case the wings, legs, head appendages, thorax, abdomen, and size. The size I express in millimetres (inch). It will be noted that, so far as Hongkong is concerned, the wings of Anopheles are in all species spotted, and those of all forms of Culex unspotted.

There are three species of Anopheles, a sub-species of Anopheles Sinensis, and two species which have been recognised as new species, not thus far observed elsewhere, by Mr. F. V. THEOBALD, Ento- mologist at the British Museum, to whom I submitted them. He has named one of them Anopheles Maculatus from its markings, the other Anopheles Minimus from its minute size. The former I at first believed to correspond to Anopheles Costalis of West and South Africa, but there are specific differences. I need not here enter into descriptive details, which I have set forth at length in the Appendix.

Anopheles Sinensis breeds chiefly in the rice-fields and the ditches surrounding or draining them, the other two chiefly in the ravines; but they do not confine themselves exclusively to their usual

habitats.

As to the relative prevalence of the three species of Anopheles, I ain not able to speak as regards the 294 Anopheles which I received during the last quarter of 1900, but of 875 received during the three quarters of 1901 included in this research, 483 were Anopheles Sinensis, 249 Anopheles Macu- latus, and 143 Anopheles Minimus.

11. I have differentiated twelve species of Culex, which I describe at length in the Appendix. There are probably considerably more, as some of the varieties of certain species which I describe may be regarded by entomologists as distinct species. I do not attempt to follow Theobald in his new classification of mosquitoes, just published in the Tropical Journal, into twenty-four different genera, breaking up the old genus Culex into some twenty new genera, based on the arrangement of the scales which cover the insects. For instance, he now describes Culex Scutellaris and Culex Obturbans, two of the most common of the Hongkong mosquitoes, as Stegomyia Scutellaris and Armigeres Obturbans. Culex Fatigans, Culex Scuttellaris, Culex Obturbans, and Culex Concolor have been described before. Culex Anulus, Culex Sericeus, and Culex Reesii are new species, and have been named by Mr. Theobald from specimens which I submitted to him. Culex Reesii he has so called from our

794

mutual friend Dr. D. C. Rees, lately Superintendent of the London School of Tropical Medicine, who put me in communication with Mr. Theobald. The insects which I have indicated by the letters, "n", "o", "p", "r", "r", and "s", I have carefully described, but not named. "p" may be Culex Fuscanus; the others are, I think, new species, but this question I shall remit to Mr. Theobald at the British Museum.

Culex Scutellaris is the black and white striped mosquito so common all over the Colony during the day time; Culex Fatigans and Culex Reesii are the equally common brown mosquitoes, to be found everywhere and at all seasons in the evening; Culex Obturbans is the very large dark mos- quito, also very widely prevalent. The others are less abundant, but for the most part occur pretty generally throughout the Colony.

It may be noted in passing that Culex Fatigans is the most usual intermediate host of the blood parasite, Filaria Nocturna, the cause of Elephantiasis and its kindred diseases, by no means uncommon in this locality.

While Anopheles as a rule only uses for breeding purposes clean water in more or less natural collections, the various species of Culex lay their eggs wherever stagnant water exists, in broken dishes, empty tins, flower pots, water tanks or barrels, drain traps, and the like. Nothing is too dirty to have its appropriate mosquito developing in it. Culex Obturbans is the most loathsome of all in its larval state, finding its most favourable conditions in decomposing urine.

12. I do not propose to enter here into details of prophylaxis against these insects, which I have dealt with in special reports; but in view of the approach of the cold season I desire to direct attention to observations which I made during last winter.

I was able to find the larvæ of Anopheles abundantly in the nullahs throughout the whole winter, in scarcely diminished numbers, though there were few in the pupa stage, and development at that season is evidently very slow or arrested.

I was able to note the effects of severe cold at the beginning of February. On 1st February, I had made a careful examination of the Kennedy Town nullah, and found Anopheles larvæ plentiful. On the 3rd there was a sudden rapid drop in the temperature, and when I examined the stream again on the 5th there were few larvæ to be seen. It seemed as if they had been killed by the cold. But fortunately I had some larvæ under observation at the time in a glass jar in my verandah. Under the influence of the cold these became torpid or sluggish, and most of them seemed dead. On the 7th, however, the sun shone out brightly, and the seemingly dead ones as well as the others became quite lively again. It is probable, therefore, that much of the diminution in numbers of the larva in the ravines during the winter is more apparent than real, since they are most easily recognised in ordinary circumstances by their very characteristic movements when disturbed.

13. I mention this observation now in order that I may urge that efforts already being made by Government, and by owners of private property as well, to eradicate these pests should be redoubled during the coming winter months. New generations are during these months being developed either not at all, or at least very slowly, and therefore such efforts are certain to be very much more effective than during the summer. From experience in Hongkong, kerosene is at once the cheapest, safest, and most efficient larvicide.

I further urge upon householders in malarious parts of the city the desirability of making an effort to destroy as many as possible of the hibernating adult insects during the winter months, by occasionally fumigating with sulphur all servants' quarters, basements, boxrooms, stables, &c., where in ordinary circumstances the insects might remain undisturbed in dark corners for long periods.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Dr. J. M. ATKINSON,

Principal Civil Medical Officer,

&l.,

&r.

JOHN C. THOMSON, M.D., M.A.

બ

2 2 2

1896.

Per

cent.

July.

August.

September.

October.

November.

CHART showing the Monthly Percentage of Cases of Malar

and the Monthly Percentage of Anophel

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

1897.

July.

August.

September.

October.

November.

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

Malaria Curve

Black Line.

Anopheles Curve = Red Line.

February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

July.

1898.

'ases of Malaria among the European Troops stationed in Hongkong, during five

ge of Anopheles among Mosquitoes examined during thirteen months-September.

September.

October.

August.

November.

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

July.

August.

September.

1899.

October.

November.

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

ongkong, during five years-September, 1896, to September, 1901;

months-September, 1900, to September, 1901.

November.

1900.

1901.

Per

ceut.

F = 6 N NO NO NO N N N

14.

1 0 0 0 N N N N N N N

Per

cent.

July.

August.

September.

October.

1896.

November.

December.

January.

CHART showing the Monthly Percentage of Cases of A

and the Monthly Percentage of An

February.

March.

April.

May.

1897.

June.

July.

August.

September.

October.

November.

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

Malaria Curve

Black Line.

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

July,

1898.

2 of Cases of Malaria among the European Troops stationed in Hongkong, during

"centage of Anopheles among Mosquitoes examined during thirteen months-Sept

September.

October.

November.

Angust.

December.

January.

February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

July.

August.

September.

1899.

October.

November.

December.

January.

February.

March.

gkong, during five years-September, 1896, to September, 1901;

nonths-September, 1900, to September, 1901.

1900.

795

1901.

Per cent.

* * * 2 = 2 °

· ཾ་।་་

Appendix I.

PREVALENCE OF MOSQUITOES, DURING THE YEAR ENDING 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1901.

NAME OF STATION.

ANOPHELES.

CULEX.

797

Specimens received.

Other Genera.

Number. Species.

Central Station

Nil.

No. 1 Station

1,360

a b

No. 2

576

1,255 574

No. 3

1,334

1,177

efhikn efhiknr efhiknor

156

No. 5

107

ehir

No. 6

ehino

No. 7

462

447

efhik

No. 8

efhiko

་་

Kennedy Town

764

716

efhiku

Mt. Gough Pokfulam..

efhi

872

a b c

831

eflikmuor

Aberdeen

735

681

efghikmnr

Stanley

Shek O...

Shaukiwan

Tsat Tsze Mui

980

a be

948

efhiknor

750

116

632

efhimno

1,579

...

1,538

efhikmnor

607

a b c

553

efhikn

Tsim Sha Tsui

678

676

efhikn

Yaumati

1,069

રી

1,065

efghikurs

Fuk Tsun Heung

572

557

efhiknor

Stone Cutters' Island.

ehkon

Hung Hom

729

725

efhinor

Kowloon City.

1,726

ม

1,716

efhiknor

Sha Tin Gap

Nil.

Sha Tin

662

a be

529

efghiknops

Sai Kung..

648

a b c

544

efghikn

Tai Po

819

191

a b c

618

efliknopr

Sha Tau Kok

4.428

414

a b c

3,987

efliknopr

Kat O

709

696

efbi

Sheung Shui

829

a b

805

efhikmnor

San Tin

916

a b c

*23

efhiknor

➤ Au Tan

Ping Shan Tai O Tung Chung Cheung Chau Lamma...

1,853

113

a be

1,728

efhikmnor

251

a b

233

efghikn

408

a b c

361

efhiko

233

148

efhikm

4,704

4,703

efhikn

628

a be

574 efhiknor

Total......

32,266

1,169

a b c

30,221

efghikmnoprs

876

Less...

876

Net Total.....

31,390

Appendix II.

AN ACCOUNT OF HONGKONG MOSQUITOES.

A. Anopheles Sinensis (Wiedemann).

Sub-species: Annularis.

Wings spotted. Dark brown costa, with two lighter interruptions. Dark brown spots irregularly placed on wing field. Legs brown.

White-banded at joints. White bands at apices of tarsi.

Antennæ and palpi brown. Proboscis darker brown.

Thorax brown. Linear markings of a deeper brown.

Abdomen brown, unbanded.

Length, 5 mm.

B.-Anopheles Maculatus.

A new species.

Wings spotted, transparent. Four linear black spots along costa, with three pale intervals. Also faint linear spots on wing field at points on course of veins.

Legs black, white-banded. White bands at apices of tarsi.

Antennæ grey. Palpi black, white-banded, and white-tipped. Proboscis dark-brown, with pale tip.

Thorax brown, with grey-white tomentum.

Abdomen brown, unbanded.

Length, 4 min.

798

C-Anopheles Minimus.

A new species. At first sight appears simply a dwarf variety of Anopheles Maculatus. distinct, and it is exceedingly minute.

All its markings are less Wings spotted, transparent. Four linear black spots along costa, with three pale intervals. Also faint linear spots on wing field.

The black is not so deep as in the previous species.

Legs black, white-banded. Faint white bands at apices of tarsi. Antennæ grey. Palpi black, white-banded, and white-tipped.

Proboscis dark brown, with pale tip.

Thorax brown, with linear darker markings.

Abdomen brown, unbanded.

Length, 24 mm.

Wings unspotted. Transparent.

Legs brown.

Unbauded.

Anteunæ, palpi, and proboscis brown.

In some specimens the palpi are brown and unbanded.

E-Culex Fatigans (Wiedemann).

Thorax brown, with golden scales, and with a median and two lateral dark bare lines. Abdomen banded. Segments brown, with white bands at bases. Length, 4 mm.

F-Culex Anulus.

A new species.

Wings unspotted. Dark veins.

Legs brown. White-banded at joints. White bands at apices of tarsi.

Antennæ grey. Palpi brown.

Proboscis brown, with broad white band at the middle of it.

Thorax brown, with lighter linear markings.

Abdomen brown, with white bands at bases of segments.

Length 3 mm.

G.-Culex Sericeus.

A new species.

Wings unspotted, brown, transparent, with prominent veins.

Legs brown, unbanded.

Antennæ grey. Palpi and proboscis brown.

Thorax brown, with golden-yellow tomentum.

Abdomen speckled, blackish brown, with yellowish white bands at bases of segments. Length, 5 mm.

H.-Culex Recsii.

A new species.

Wings unspotted. Greyish brown.

Legs yellowish brown. Unbanded.

Antennæ grey. Palpi brown, with black tip in male. Proboscis brown.

Thorax brown, with faint linear marking.

Abdomen speckled, blackish brown, with faint pale bands at bases of segments. Length, 4 mm.

I.-Culex Scutellaris. (Walker).

(Stegomyia Scutellaris. Theobald).

There are several varieties of this insect, differing markedly in size. There is also one in which the median white line, while present on the head, is absent from the thorax, which is a very dark brown. Probably some of these would by entomologists be described as different species. The one I describe may be regarded as the type. The different varieties occur in different parts of the Colony.

Wings unspotted. Greyish, with dark scales on veins.

Proboscis black.

Legs dark, with whitish femur, and with white bands at bases of tarsi. Antennæ grey. Palpi white-tipped in female, with four white bands in male. Head and thorax with median white line, with silvery white spots on sides of thorax. Abdomen black, with silvery white bands at bases of segments. Length, 4 min.

K-Culex Obturbans. Walker). (Armigeres Obturbans. Theobald).

Mr. Theobald recognised the specimens of this which I sent him as Culex Obturbaus, but many of the specimens agree more closely with the Culex Ventralis of Walker. It may be that sub-varieties of both, approaching each other in charac- teristics, are present in the Colony. They are both large species. While I adopt the name Culex Obturbans, the following description of the insect, as it is now in large numbers before me, is very like the description of Culex Ventralis in Giles's Handbook of Mosquitoes.

Wings greyish, unspotted. Veins black, with fringe of large scales.

Legs almost black, unbanded. Femur pale underneath.

Antennæ grey. Palpi brown. Proboscis black.

Thorax brownish black, unadorned above, with white spots on sides.

Abdomen black, dorsally unbanded, but with pure white bands on under surface.

Length, 65mm.

In some specimens the thorax and abdomen are more brown than black,

Wings unspotted, clear, transparent.

Legs yellowish, unbanded.

Antennæ pale brown. Palpi brown.

M.--Culex Concolor. (R. Desvoidy). Veins almost nude.

Proboscis yellowish.

Thorax reddish brown, with three indistinct brown hairy lines. Abdomen yellowish brown, with pale yellow bands at apices of segments. Length, 7 mm.

Probably a new species.

Wings smoky, owing to thick black scales on veins, unspotted. Legs black, unbanded.

Antennæ, palpi, and proboscis black.

Thorax black.

Abdomen dark brown. Unbanded.

Length, 5 mm.

799

Probably a new species.

Wings unspotted, transparent, with dark scales on veins.

Legs black, with white hands on bases of tarsi.

Antennæ grey.

Thorax brown.

Palpi black, and in the male with white band at middle. Proboscis dark brown.

Abdomen brown. Unbanded.

Length 4 mm.

There is a variety of this insect with a darker thorax and abdomen, greenish-black in colour.

P.-Probably Culex Fuscanus (Wiedemann).

Wings unspotted. Dark owing to thick covering of large scales on veins.

Legs brown, unbanded.

Antennæ grey. Palpi and proboscis brown.

Thorax brown, with grey tomentum.

Abdomen black, with faint grey bands at bases of segments.

Length, 4 mm.

Under "

Ihave included two small dark species, which to the naked eye look alike, but show marked differences on examination with a lens. I shall describe them as “r” and “pl ̧”

R.-Probably a new species.

Wings unspotted. Veins thickly covered with dark scales. Legs dark brown, unbanded.

Antennæ, palpi, and proboscis dark brown.

Thorax very dark brown. Fine linear markings of grey hairs. Abdomen black. With faint grey bands at bases of segments. Length, 3 mm.

R1.

Probably a new species.

Wings unspotted, transparent. Veius almost nude.

Legs dark reddish brown, unbanded.

Antennæ, palpi and proboscis black.

Thorax black. Faint pale linear marking.

Abdomen black, unbanded.

Length, 4 mm.

Probably a new species.

Wings unspotted, greyish, with dark scales on veins.

Legs dark, with whitish femur, and white bands at bases of tarsi.

Antennæ greyish. Palpi white-tipped in female, with white bands in malę. Proboscis black Thorax dark reddish-brown, with white spots on sides.

Abdomen black, unbanded.

Length, 23 mm.

Appendix III.

Directions for the Destruction of the Larva of Mosquitoes, embodied in a General Order to officers in charge of Police Stations, 22nd June, 1901.

The one great principle to act on is to prevent or abolish all stagnant water.

Careful search should be systematically made in the neighbourhood of all dwellings for any vessels that might contain stagnant water from rain or any other source; and arrangements should be made to keep them empty, or to have them emptied, or the water changed, once a week.

If running streams or ravines be anywhere near a station, efforts should be made to confine the water to a central channel. Side pools should be filled up; rock hollows should be smoothed out by cement or concrete, or a channel should be made from them by means of hammer and chisel; and a ready exit, or drainage under ground, should take the place of all oozings of water from the ground surface.

This is most

Where this guiding principle cannot be applied, or until it can be applied, still or stagnant water surfaces should be systematically inspected for the presence of larvæ of mosquitoes, and measures adopted to destroy them. conveniently done in this locality by sprinkling the water surface with kerosene oil. The oil spreads in a very thin layer over the surface, and prevents the larvæ from rising to breathe the air, which results in their speedy death. About one tea-spoonful of oil to each square yard of water surface is sufficient, and, if there is little movement of the water, once a week is often enough.

As the colour of the larva assimilates itself to the colour of the water it inhabits, the larvæ cannot usually be easily seen in the water pool itself. It is necessary to dip up the water with a rapid dip of a large spoon or a saucer.

Enclosure No. 1.

See Appendix No. 14

in Enclosure No. 1.

See Report.

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORY FOR THE YEAR 1900

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

Fis Excellency the Governor.

No. 304

SIR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 12th August, 1901.

I have the honour to forward for your information a report furnished by th Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, on the operations in the Ne Territory during the year 1900.

2. I had hoped that the collection of revenue might have been in a more fo ward state, but the report by Mr. GOMPERTZ of the working of the Land Co shows the difficulties of dealing with these small plots and defining the rights of í occupier, the family, the clan, and the Crown. It is possible that a certain ar of revenue might have been got in by rough and ready methods, but there ́ have been much injustice to individuals-indeed an attempt was made to co upon a system of averages, Crown Rent upon claims that had been lodged, result being complaints from several people that they had been compelled to I two and three times the amounts claimable from them under the terms of Cro Rent as gazetted and notified. Finding that this was true I ordered the mo paid in excess to be refunded, and determined that it is better not to pres payment until we have the different plots properly entered and registered. 11 slower, but will save much trouble in the future. I attach a copy of ano

that will illustrate the intricacy of the claims put forward to the Land Court.

3. I hope to be able to reduce the number of Police in the New Tae immediately. Since the late abortive rebellion in the Wai Chon dist subj northern portion of Shan Chun Valley has been in a disorderly conditâ fid several robberies have been efected in our territory by bands from ld ha border. At my request the Viceroy of Canton, who has shown the utmo ness to assist in securing the peace of that district, has ordered that tr be stationed at various points along the frontier. I hope

I hope that this will effect of putting a stop to the trouble, and enable me to reduce our Polic more modest dimensions.

Appendix No. 2, page 1 report of Mr. GoMPERTZ's decision as to ownership in the small Island of Ts'i

4. Unhappily we find the whole of the New Territory malarious. ments are now being tried of different treatment at different stations and r are being carefully kept. At one station quinine is administered as a prophy after Dr. KоcH's advice, i.e., 15 grains two days running and then an intery seven days before repetition. At another, 5 grain doses are given daily; at a t arsenic is given instead, &c., &c. Wire gauze windows are being added to tions, but as the men are out almost every night on patrol duty I fear that will not suffice as a preventive measure.

5. The question of an experimental garden must remain ove un FORD's return, but I question if the low lying land can be made to produ paying crops than at present. The fresh sugar canes imported last year a well, but, so far, the working of the improved steel mills does not meet approval of the farmers, the principal complaint being that they break up so finely as to make it useless for fuel. They do not yet realize the wast half crushed cane for fuel, and probably do not quite understand the the mills. This will come later on.

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

t t

&C...

&c.,

&c.

[2]

I have seen one herd of cattle grazing near Saikung and it appears to me th the growing of succulent grasses, the hills in the New Territory are cap- supporting a sufficient number of cattle to render Hongkong independent present sources of supply on the West and North Rivers. This is a question ill be taken up on the return of the Veterinary Surgeon and the Superin- t of the Botanic and Afforestation Departments.

is remarkable that the New Territory north of the from plague although the town of Unlong is ap an would object to, while in the fishing village of il from Hongkong, a single street, kept particular on of the European Police Sergeant stationed there, and there have been 40 cases this year in a population of about 1,

loon Hills has been

rything that island

8. A licence has just been issued to a person in Unlong for a powde anufactory, for the making of fireworks-a very large industry in China. I am informed that in the neighbourhood of Kowloon several ventures of various kinds ill be started as soon as the land claims have been decided so that capitalists can

tain a title.

9. On the whole I am satisfied with the progress inade in the New Territory, ere everything is being done without friction and with apparently the full con- rence of the people.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

HENRY A. Blake,

Governor, &c.

nto a intil t JOOD!

Enclosure No. 1.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 15th July, 1901.

submitting the following Report on the New Territory, for the year 1900, express my regret at not having been able to prepare it earlier. But been taken ill in March last, I had to leave the Colony under medical orders pril, and I did not return to Hongkong until June. I trust, therefore, the y will be excused, as well as any shortcomings in the Report, which has had to compiled somewhat hurriedly.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary.

Y A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

rnor, &c., Hongkong.

[3]

EPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORY FOR THE YEAR 190

LAND.

The work of the Land Office in Hongkong as regards the New Territory 1900 falls under two heads :-

(n.) The translation and registration of Deeds under Ordinance No.

1844.

(b.) The registration of claims for the purposes of the Rough Rent

As regards (a.), the Registration Fees received from the New Territory las. year amounted to $1,892, and Deeds relating to 431 Lots situated in 45 different villages were duly registered by Memorials under the Ordinance.

The question has been raised whether it is desirable to continue the registra- tion of instruments in the Chinese language dated in some cases many years before the Convention. It is found that villagers who have deposited their documents for registration and paid the proper fees are apt to imagine that their title has beer recognized by Government and that they need not trouble further to bring thei claims before the Land Court.

Moreover, the lot number given on registration of a deed does not relate t any map, for the simple reason that there is not yet one available, and as the bot daries and the description of the land in the Chinese deed are invariably extr vague, it is impossible to ascertain with any certainty where the land affect the instrument is really situated.

It is true that the title of a registered owner becomes absolute if he remain. possession for 20 years, but in view of the constitution of a special tribunal— Land Court--all claims will have been enquired into and fresh titles or certifica of title issued by a very much earlier date.

It would no doubt be desirable to continue the operation of the Ordinanc the New Territory for all conveyances and other deeds executed since the terr has become British, but it will probably be advisable to discontinue the regis of older deeds until their validity has been decided on by the Land Court.

As regards (b.)—the Rough Rent Roll-the work of enquiring i registering claims, as described in my Report for 1899, was carried on summer of 1900 by Mr. KEMP, who was subsequently relieved by Mr. V P'ing Shán and by Mr. MESSER at Táipó.

A summary survey of holdings was made by an auxiliary staff, M: GREY, working under the directions of the Deputy Land Officer, being empi the area to the south of the Kowloon watershed and part of Ts'ün Wär

In the district to the north of the Kowloon watershed Mr. MESSER a Corporal detached from the Royal Engineers, was responsible for the by plot of the land in Hap Wo Sub-district and near the villages of She and Lin Au (Lam Ts'ün Sub-district), Ha Háng, Sha Lo Tung, and Tsai (Shün Wán Sub-district ).

At Ping Shán Mr. KEMP and subsequently Mr. WooD assisted from the Royal Engineers made similar measurements over a large are:

These operations were intended by the Deputy Land Officer to fu visional Rent Roll sufficiently accurate for the collection of revenue time as it should be superseded by a register of holdings based on i survey, but as it was realised that it would be impossible to finish the v tory on this plan within anything like a reasonable time, it was decided this scheme.

Until a rent roll based on the cadastral survey and the result the Land Court has been completed, the land revenue of the New be collected in anything like a satisfactory or thorough mar attempt will be made in the meantime to collect as much Crow

A number of disputes connected with land were submi to the Land Office in Hongkong and to Messrs. MESSER and K of these as involved questions of title now await settlement by t}

[4]

TITLES.

I attach a memorandum (Appendix No. 1) by Mr. GoMPERTZ, Member o Land Court, upon Land Tenure and Titles in the New Territory.

He recommends a modification of the Torrens System of Title by Registration, ch as is in use in Malacca and the Federated Malay States, for the New Territory. 7iew of the very large number of small Chinese holdings in the New Territory, 1 of opinion that this system will prove more effectual than the technical pro- ire based upon English law now in use in Hongkong.

LAND COURT.

The Land Court, established by Ordinance No. 18 of 1900, was constituted on he 1st June, 1900, Mr. H. E. POLLOCK being President, aud Mr. GoMPERTZ, Member. Mr. KEMP was appointed Registrar, and on his removal to act at the Magistracy, Mr. WOOD was appointed Registrar. A very large amount of work ad to be done before the Court could commence its sitting. The formation of a roper demarcation Staff and the arrangements connected with the registration and eception of claims provided full occupation for the Court so that no sittings had een held up to the end of the year.

The Indians making the field to field survey were of course strangers to the untry and not knowing the language were unable to ascertain particulars of nership. It became therefore necessary to form a Staff of Chinese Demarcators iccompany the survey parties and as the outcome of several experiments twenty

, mostly villagers of the better class, were enlisted to make the record of ys. This work they have proved fairly competent to perform, but they are inable to read a map and this necessitates their being accompanied in every by a Surveyor even when at work upon land the field to field survey of which been completed.

The area selected for the commencement of operations was the long and narrow of territory, fronting the harbour of Hongkong and extending from the aun Pass on the East to the village of Lai Chi Kok on the West, on account great importance as an outlet for the expansion of the Colony and its very

lue.

fortunately the inhabitants of this area were fully alive to the possibilities uation and it may be said that every foot of land anywhere near the sea is ect of five or six conflicting clains. It is impossible to believe in the of many of the claimants or to imagine that their own Government ve given a patient hearing to many of the demands now put forward.

he same time when it is remembered that the Chinese authorities had de a survey and that the Chinese Magistrate seldom or never settled dis- land of little value by personal inspection, it is evident that considerable

caution are now needed.

the strip of country on the North shore of the harbour, 9 lesser between Hongkong and the large Island of Lan Tao have been taken Five of them being barren and practically valueless have not been will therefore be considered as Crown Land.

the others were claimed by the representatives of wealthy families on

but no decision had been given by the Court up to the end of the

year. ral procedure of the Land Court is given in a Report by Mr. GoMPERTZ March, 1901 (Appendix 1a). It may be summarised as follows:- ct is chosen and marked out by boundaries and a notification then 1 land-owners to present their claims to the Court before a given ›ds claimed are surveyed and particulars of ownership entered on the ks, while claimants are summoned to attend the Court where the filled in for them by the clerical staff. After the last day for Il land unclaimed in the district is the property of the Crown. es are sorted, undisputed ones being available for the rent roll, contested are set down for hearing. The holdings are very cracies of the people are so productive of delay that it is even a moderate amount of expedition without a corres- + accuracy.

[5]

There can be little doubt, however, that the operations of the Court wa. far mere rapid and the difficulties less in the districts to the north of the Kowlo watershed, from which most of the land revenne must be drawn in the future.

The land outside permanent cultivation has been regarded by the Chinese of little value and will therefore be rarely claimed while the ownership of lar under crops is usually well known and will hardly ever be the subject of dispute.

SURVEY.

Mr. TATE and his assistant, Mr. NEWLAND, with their staff of trained India Surveyors and coolies have been continuing the survey of the New Territor throughout the year.

An area of 4,000 square miles has been triangulated, and of the points la down, those which are situated within the New Territory are being marked.

An area of 300 square miles has been surveyed on the scale of one inch to a mile for the topographical map, while an area of 4,500 acres has been surveyed partly on the scale of 16 inches and partly on the scale of 32 inches to a mile.

A special survey of the Chinese town of Kowloon together with its walled or fortified portion has also been made on the scale of 64 inches to a mile.

Progress has not been rapid, partly owing to unfavourable weather, and it is evident that the work will cost more than was anticipated by this Government on the report of the Surveyor General of India. As, however, the triangulation e the topographical survey are almost complete, it has been decided that Mr. T should return to India and that Mr. NEWLAND should be retained with such s as may be considered necessary for the completion of the cadastral survey.

I attach a report by Mr. TATE (Appendix No. 3) on the progress of cadastral survey up to the Loth of February, 1901.

The cadastral survey, which gives the position and area of individual hol is of course necessary as the basis of a permanent Rent Roll. A commenceme made with a scale of 16 inches to the mile and the first 40,000 acres of cultivate were surveyed on this scale which is probably adequate in level country sue found round Ping Shán where holdings are large and cultivation continuous well populated areas where every foot of land is valuable-as for instance south of the Kowloon watershed-a survey on a larger scale will no doubt be necessary, while for land where the holdings are small there is no doubt t 16-inch scale is totally inadequate.

For these reasons and because it was desired to have maps of village sufficiently large scale to show each building in the village, it has been arrang when Mr. TATE, in charge of the surveys, and Mr. GOMPERTZ, Member of ti Court, agree that for any given area the 16-inch scale is too small, the larg of 32 inches may be adopted.

Since the constitution of the Land Court the area to the south of th hills, which had been already surveyed, has been entirely demarcated, Táipó District the work of demarcation and survey is being pressed for

BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMEN

Mr. TUTCHER, the Acting Superintendent of the Botanical and Department. has furnished me with the following information concerni done by his Department in the New Territory during last year.

Tree planting was commenced around the Police Stations, at Au Tau, Táipó, and on both sides of the road from Sham Shui-pó 81,154 trees have been planted.

In February, 145 cuttings of seedling sugar canes were received CURTIS, F.L.S., Assistant Superintendent of Forests, Penang, and abc these were planted in the Sookunpó Nursery and the rest at Ha 15 plants were obtained in all, as the whole of the cuttings put in failed. Similarly of 318 cuttings received in July from Mr. E. Province Wellesley, only those planted at Sookunpó have done regards size a great improvement on the ordinary Chinese cane. them were taken in this spring so that by next winter, there shou quantity of mature canes to test their sugar producing qualities.

[6].

In September. a consignment of 2,200 cuttings, in five varieties, was received om Java. These cuttings were planted at Ha Ts'ün, but owing to the lateness of e season, they have not done well, only about 300 plants having survived.

The quantity of land under sugar cultivation in the New Territory is estimated › over 7,000 acres.

At the suggestion of Mr. TUTCHER it is intended to establish Experimental ardens on some of the agricultural land in the New Territory. Mr TUTCHER is opinion that there are many kinds of fruit which could be grown and that the xperiment if successful would improve the varieties already in the market and 30 supply new kinds. He mentions Agave sisalina as a plant likely to succeed id states that though sisal hemp is not of such good fibre as Manila hemp, it will obably repay cultivation.

Great difficulty has been experienced in the attempt to prevent tree-cutting, but before effective measures can be taken to stop the practice, the Land Court will have to decide the validity of the various leases under which it is alleged that the Chinese Government granted the owners power to cut down trees growing on their property. If such rights are established it may be necessary for the Government to purchase them in cases where the trees are of importance to the health of the New Territory.

PUBLIC WORKS.

I attach a report (Appendix No. 4) of the Director of Public Works on the k done by his Department in the New Territory during 1900.

The main road in course of construction between Kowloon and Táipó, which n completed will be about 16 miles in length, has now reached a point 114 s distant from Kowloon. From this point on to Táipó there is a passable ath. The plans for the last 5 miles are being completed in the Public Works tment and it is hoped the road will be finished this year. It is intended tely to extend this road beyond Táipó to the frontier.

he road to Kowloon City, 14 miles in length, was completed early in 1900, also the cross-road leading from Tai Shek Ku to Yaumati. Both these ave proved of great value as main arteries for traffic.

lephone communication was extended to the temporary Police Station at in, and also to Shat'aukok, so that the telephone communication between the

Police Stations in the New Territory and with Victoria is now complete. ermanent Police Stations have been completed and occupied at Au Tau, at hán, and at Shat'aukok near Starling Inlet, while a station at Saikung ter Bay is in course of construction.

iron and concrete bridge of two spans of 15 feet each has been built on the 5 Road just beyond Kowloon City, and the attention of the Public Works nent has also been engaged by the renewal of the Kowloon City Pier and ction of a causeway to connect the hill on which the temporary official Táipó now stand with an island close up to deep water.

}

photographs, prepared by Mr. GALE, Executive Engineer of the Public rtment, which show the nature of the works that have been undertaken. porary quarters at Táipó are only matsheds and not well suited for their has been thought advisable before finally deciding to erect permanent scertain by experience which would be the most suitable situation.

EDUCATION.

as so far been done in the way of Education in the New Territory. It , been decided to build a school for teaching English at Un-long and ld season, the attendance officer of the Inspector of Schools visited the Territory. An inquiry has been made regarding the schools at stence and steps will be taken to bring them so far as possible under

Department.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

report (see Appendix No. 5) drawn up by Mr. Ho NAI HOP, Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese, showing the work done

partment in the New Territory.

aur

'L'

[7]

Mr. Ho continued to reside at Táipó throughout last year, Government servants for mild ailments and visiting the various villages to time. He treated 1,267 cases during the year, of which 961 were and the rest were former patients.,

Malarial fever was very prevalent in the rainy season. I append (Appendix No. 6) by Dr. THOMSON and Dr. YOUNG on the causes of the prevalence of Malarial Fever at Táipó. Dr. THOMSON has also been e and classifying the specimens of mosquitoes supplied to him from the variou Stations throughout the New Territory and his reports confirm what is well-known as the anopheles theory.

There has also been a great deal of dysentery amongst the Police statio the New Territory. This, in the opinion of Dr. BELL, Acting Principal Medical Officer, is another form of malaria, as the malarial parasites have found in the blood and have answered more readily to treatment by quinine by the other drugs usually employed in treating dysentery. All cases of disease admitted to the Government Civil Hospital are being carefully examined a view to ascertaining the extent to which malaria is a cause of dysentery.

Free vaccinations have been performed by Mr. Ho, but only 78 in num There are now 5 Vaccinators with a good supply of vaccine lymph in the 1 Territory and it is hoped that the inhabitants may gradually be induced to aband the practice of direct inoculation now prevalent and submit to be vaccinated manner in vogue in civilised countries.

HARBOUR OFFICE.

A station at Táipó in Mirs Bay was opened during January, 1900. From the 1st January to the 31st of December last, 6,140 licences, cl permits, etc., had been issued to junks at Cheung Chau, 3,676 at Tái Ó, a at Táipó. The figures for last year at Cheung Chan were 2,616 and 1,353, so there has been a satisfactory increase at both these Stations.

POLICE.

The strength of the Police Force in the New Territory up to the 25ti last was as follows:-27 Europeans, 105 Indians, 30 Chinese, and 10 Inte but on the date mentioned the stations on the frontier and at Táipó wer thened by a total force of 4 Europeans, 40 Indians and 4 Chinese, owing to in the neighbouring Chinese territory. No attempt was, however, made to the peace in the New Territory.

Nine Europeans and 51 Chinese were employed during the year in launches which are used to patrol the waters of the New Territory.

Four piracies were committed in the waters of the New Territory up launches owned and licensed in Hongkong, and the frequency of these led to special legislation with a view to compel owners of launches plyin the harbour to take proper precautions against such attacks which are committed by persons who embark under the guise of passengers.

The Police in the New Territory again suffered severely from malari spite of every precaution.

CRIME.

I attach a return (Appendix No. 7) of cases from the New Territor the Police Court of Victoria during 1900, with which I have been fur Mr. HAZELAND, the Acting Police Magistrate. Mr. HALLIFAX has sr further with a return (Appendix No. 8) of the cases tried in that po New Territory which is situated to the north of the Kowloon range of h exception of the Tung Hoi District.

The arrangement previously in force according to which the Mag the New Territory sat twice a week in Hongkong has been aband HALLIFAX, Assistant Superintendent of Police, also discharges the duties trate in the New Territory and tries all cases arising there with the e those from the Tung Hoi or Eastern District, which are still brought kong, as it is found more convenient to try them in Victoria.

ܕ܆

[ 8 ]

ost notable feature is the increase in cases during the year. In 1899 the ber of cases for the New Territory was 155 with an aggregate of 271 rsons. Of those cases only 23 were dealt with in the New Territory 1900 the total number of cases had increased to 586 involving 802 persons. Of these no fewer than 283 cases involving 393 accused persons ed in the New Territory, while 303 cases comprising 409 accused persons, ed in Victoria.

e increase is due partly to the more complete development of the Police ation, and partly to the greater readiness with which the inhabitants seek >tection of the Police by laying complaints before them.,

y far the largest item in the list of offences is that of unlawful possession of , with which altogether 222 persons were charged.

During the

year New Territory:

LEGISLATION.

1900 the following Ordinances were passed in connection with

No. 8. An Ordinance to facilitate the hearing, determination, and settlement of I claims in the New Territories, to establish a Land Court, and for other pur-

es.

No. 18.-Re-enacting Ordinance No. 8 with certain amendments suggested by Secretary of State.

o. 30.--An Ordinance to extend the operation of such of the laws of this yas are not at present in force in the New Territories to a certain portion of 'erritories.

ecessity for this Legislation was clearly set forth by the Attorney General MAN) in the objects and reasons attached to those Bills. (See Appendix

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

tach a statement of Revenue and Expenditure (Appendix No. 10) on account ew Territory, which has been drawn up by the Acting Treasurer.

total expenditure for 1900 was $243,361.66, exclusive of the sums ex- n the Police Establishment. Of this amount a sum of $58,196.25 was the construction of stean-launches, and a sum of $13,200 on the charter les required whilst the new launches were being built. A sum of $15,880

expended on Maxim guns with which it was deemed advisable to equip ce Stations. Public Works in the New Territory, including the cost of the

were responsible for an expenditure of $143,436.33.

: expenditure on the Police Establishment in the New Territory amounted 292.48. I attach a detailed statement of this expenditure with which I 1 furnished by the Captain Superintendent of Police. (See Appendix No.

evenue collected amounted only to $17,530.75.

sum is certainly small when compared with the expenditure, but the in connection with the land settlement, to which reference has been his and previous reports, have hitherto rendered it impossible to make a y collection of crown rents. The work of the Survey and of the Land progressing satisfactorily, though the rate of progress has necessarily what slow. When the survey is completed and rent rolls have been in accordance with it, the holders of land will have no means of evading ent of crown rent for their holdings, which will yield a good yearly revenue. e remembered that most of the money already expended on account of the itory has been devoted to works of a permanent nature which cannot fail 'ts development. The cost of the civil administration has not been large, e expenditure on account of the Police has been high, as it has been maintain a strong force of Police in the interests of the peace and good nly of the New Territory but also of the Colony generally. It is hoped long it may be found possible to reduce the present large Police expend- ugh the New Territory does not pay its way at the present time, t at all improbable that it will do so in the near future. Any one who aclined to take a pessimistic view of its prospects should bear in mind t when Hongkong itself, which has become so prosperous, first came ch rule, there were not a few people who prophesied that the Colony ve a failure, and as a matter of fact it had to receive assistance from ol Exchequer for me years.

›

↑

[9]

STAFF.

Mr. MESSER as Land Officer, Mr. HALLIFAX as Magistrate, and Mr. B. W. GREY as temporary Land Surveyor, resided in the New Territory throughout last year, as also did Mr. Ho NAI HOP, Chinese Medical Officer.

Mr. GOMPERTZ, as member of the Land Court, has worked principally in the New Territory since last May. From May to November he was assisted by Mr. KEMP as Registrar of the Land Court, and from November onwards by Mr. WooD in the same capacity. Mr. CHEUNG TSOI acted as Chief Clerk and Interpreter to the Land Court from May onwards, while from January till May, Mr. TsoI YEUK SHAN was Chief Chinese Assistant and Interpreter to the Land Öfficer.

Mr. S. R. MOORE, Demarcation Officer of the Land Court, has been working in the New Territory since November, and Mr. H. T. WATSON, Clerk in connection with the preparation of a rent roll for the cultivated portion of the New Territory, resided there permanently from April to July.

I attach a list (Appendix No. 12) of the officers who have worked in the New Territory during the year.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

Hongkong, 15th July, 1901.

Appendix No. 1.

SOME NOTES ON LAND TENURE IN THE NEW TERRITORY.

General Theory of Chinese Tenure.

It is the commonly received opinion that in China the Crown is the universal land lord in whom the ultimate ownership of all landed property is vested.

Williams says (Middle Kingdom Vol. II, pp. 1-2):—

"The land is all held directly from the Crown, no allodial property being acknowledged; if mesne lords existed in feudal times they are now unknown. The conditious of common tenure are, the payment of an annual tax; the fee for alienation; a money composition for personal service to the Government, a charge generally incorporated with the direct tax as a kind of scutage. The proprietors of land record their names in the district and take out a ‘hung-k'i,' or red deed, which secures them in possession as long as the ground tax is paid," that is to say that land once gra”.ed by the Crown remained the property of the grantee as long as but no longer than Crown Rent was paid on it.

2. In many parts of the Empire and notably in the San On District of the Kuang Tung_Pro- vince there are large tracts of land so infertile as to possess hardly even a nominal value. These lands it would be the natural desire of Government to see taken up on almost any terms and it is not surprising to find that it was the custom for a grant of such lands to be made to proper persons without premium on their complying with the regulations laid down for applicants.

The name of the person applying was entered on the register with the area desired-a descrip- tion of the land-and the class of tax proper to be paid.

The following extract from a translation by T. T. Meadows of the Provincial Laws and Regu- lations of the Province of Kuang Tung, published in 1846 by the Governor and Governor General, gives the prescribed form of application for persons wishing to take up land hitherto uncultivated :— (a.) The party who intends bringing a piece of land, no matter of what extent, into cultiva- tion, must first repair to the local authority and present a statement containing his individual and family names, and indicating the piece in question; which will then be registered as ground being brought under cultivation. After it has been brought into cultivation, so as to form a regular piece, a plan must be drawn showing its extent in every direction, which must be presented to the local authority, with the request that it may be surveyed; and the latter will after the survey grant a deed placing the cultivator in full possession..

migh

(b.) Odd patches not forming complete lots, the extent of which does not perhaps amount to 10 man, and which are barely fit for growing vegetables and miscellaneous pro- duce, need not be reported, &c., &c., as above, at the time their cultivation is under- taken, but only after they have been reclaimed; an exemption granted, "in order to manifest compassion for the cultivators." Whoever has at a former period spent labour and money in cultivating any such piece of land without the cognizance of the authorities and who has succeeded in reclaiming it, shall be allowed to give of; on which the land in question will be surveyed, and a deed

local authorities.

informati

s seems quite clear. A person wishing to take up

ority.

Crown land

ce his possession. This evidently holds good for all patches amounting to less than 10 mau the cultivator lready reclaimed the land.

[ 10 ]

3. No Government professing to derive revenue from the soil can hope to collect that revenue effectively unless the regulations as to registration and enrolment of title are complied with ; and that unauthorized occupation was regarded with great disfavour in China is sufficiently shown by the following quotation from Staunton's Ta Tsing Leu Lee, Book II, Section 90:-

"Whoover fraudulently evades the payment of the land-tax, by suppressing or omitting the register of his land in the public books, shall be punishable in proportion to the amount of the chargeable land omitted, in the following manner :— When the unre- gistered land amounts to one man, and does not exceed five mau, with 40 blows; and for every additional number of five mau so suppressed, the punishment shall be increased one degree, until it arrives at the limit of 100 blows. The unregistered lands shall be forfeited to the State, and the arrears of the laud-tax (computed according to the period during which it had been unpaid, the extent of the land, and the rate at which it would have been chargeable), shall be at the same time discharged in fuli.

When the land is entered in the register, but falsely represented, as unproductive when productive, lightly chargeable when heavily chargeable; or if the land is nominally made over in trust to another person, in order to exempt the real proprietor from personal service, the punishment, whether corporal or arising out of the payment of the arrears of the tax, shall be inflicted in the manner and according to the scale above stated; but instead of a forfeiture of the lands, the register of them shall simply be corrected, and the assessment and personal service of the real proprietor be established agreeably thereto.

If the bead inhabitant of the district is privy to any breach of the law, but does not take

cognizance of it, he shall be equally punishable with the original transgressors."

Anomalies in the New Territory.

4. Having regard to the opinion of Williams that no allodial property was recognized but that all land was held directly from the Crown, and in view again of the extremely explicit provisions. for registration and the severe penalties following ou disobedience, how are we to explain the curious state of things prevalent in the New Territory? It is impossible not to be convinced after even a most superficial examination of the claims brought in that—

(1.) Many large tracts of land are now claimed by persons who have never paid Crown Rent on them-who never reported their occupation such as it was-to the authori- ties and whose claims have never been in any way recognized by the Chinese Government.

Suggested Explanation.

5. I hope to be able to show that these claims have their origin in one or the other of two sets of conditions prevalent in the New Territory.

The first of these was the disorder and unrest prevalent for generations past in the districts bor- dering on the Canton delta. Usually a clan or family had a registered deed for a small area on which they undoubtedly paid Crown Rent but it is quite certain that they collected large sums under the name of Land-tax of which they have never given any account, to the authorities.

The explanation usually offered by the people themselves is that these clans are the representa- tives of the first settlers in the locality.j

6. We know that about 1665 A.D. the coast districts of S. E. Kuang Tung were laid waste for a distance of three leagues inland in order to deprive the Ming partisan "Koxinga" of any base of operations (Williams' Middle Kingdom, Vol. II, 180). After this leader had been conciliated and peace restored on the coast it would no doubt be some time before any large number of persons had settled in the depopulated districts. It is alleged that the Central Government made small grants of money to encourage immigration from other districts. The early settlers would receive as much land as one family could cultivate, on easy terms. One can imagine an immigrant family established in a valley under a deed say for 10 acres of land adopting an attitude of superiority towards later arrivals. No doubt the cultivation was shifting according to the season-swampy and low-lying land being taken up when the year was a dry one to be abandoned in favour of better drained fields when the rains were heavy.

8. This I take to have been the usual manner in which clan rights over land came to be so universally asserted. The country bordering on the Canton de

ways been turbulent and lawless and the great difficulty of communications in a mour

doubt made the Magistrates willing to condone such frauds on the revenue. tion of their receipts as hush money. When the District absorbed by his underlings, when he was not it would for ~

9. I estimate that four-fifths of the land tax in the of an intermediary before reaching the Government. the only cause of this. The second cause was undonly tion fees charged in the District Land Office.

opor-

ld be

end.

ands

ver

stra-

[ 11 ]

In the first place unless a man had a “heading "—a page with his own name or that of his ancestor in the register it cost him not less than $100 to begin his registration. Even when he had this heading in the register there were fees legitimate and otherwise, to be paid and the trouble and delay of going to the District City.

10. The result was that very few sales of land were registered. The more usual course was for the transaction to be evidenced by a white, i.e., an unregistered deed containing a covenant by the purchaser to pay the vendor a yearly sum to meet the tax which the vendor continued to pay as before. This was frequently done even when the vendor parted with the whole of the land held by him under a red deed when in order to save the purchaser the trouble and expense of registration the latter took a white or unregistered deed as evidence between himself and the vendor of the transac- tion and of the payment of the purchase money. He might also get the original red deed to be kept as security against subsequent dealings with the land by his vendor. Thus the taxes were still paid in the old name though the land had passed into other hands.

It is possible I think to find in one or other of these sources the origin of all the clan claims in the New Territory. This is to say: either a clan has forced later immigrants to pay to itself an imposition under the name of land tax; or the clan (or individual members of it) has parted with land under a white deed and still continues to be responsible for the tax.

Ownership of Land how acquired.

11. It may not be amiss to recapitulate briefly the various methods of acquiring land in the New Territory.

Secondly by purchase. The law required that every deed of sale should be registered and the amount of tax due transferred into the purchaser's name. In most cases the instrument was not registered, the vendor continuing to pay the tax and the purchaser indemnifying him by a yearly contribution. It was however usual in such cases as I have stated above for the vendor to hand over the prior registered deed to the purchaser to secure the latter against any subsequent dealings with it to his prejudice.

The Perpetual Lease.

12. Thirdly by perpetual lease.-This was by far the most common method of dealing with land in the New Territory.

The effect of a graut of land from the Crown was really to make the grantee a perpetual lessec subject to the payment of the proper Crown Rent. Something analogous was adopted by private individuals. When the transaction was intended to be registered it was usually called a sale, being in effect the transfer of the perpetual lease granted by the Crown from the vendor to the purchaser who took the place of the former as the person inscribed as tax-payer in the register. When as was usually the case it was preferred to dispense with registration, a sale was inconvenient, for it left the vendor responsible for the tax and without any covenant of indemnity from the purchaser. On the other hand under a perpetual lease the purchaser got practically the full rights of ownership and could mortgage or lease or even sell the property provided always that the rent reserved under the old lease was punctually paid. The vendor got an annual sum sufficient to indemnify him for the tax to be paid but had otherwise no further interest in the land.

bek

16. The interest of the lessee then amounts to this-that as long as the rent is paid the land im and to his heirs for ever. It seems beside the purpose to ask whether he can leave it will as we know it does not exist in the New Territory. If the lessee parts with the the rent is not paid he remains liable to the lessor for the amount. The lessor on the as a perpetual right to receive the rent originally stipulated for. He cannot increase it helenate more than the right to receive this annual sum. The land reverts to him if the lessee's family becomes extinct.

pos

other hand

[ 12 ]

In several sales of land that have taken place since the Convention the purchasers have I believe failed to recognize the importance of ascertaining whether such leases had been previously granted on the property and they have now to face the alternative of either buying out the iessees or being satisfied with the very small annual rent which is all that remains of the landlord's rights.

Mortgages.

19. Fourthly by a mortgage.-Mortgages of land are very common transactions in the New Territory. The Chinese mortgage, as I have found it, is like the Welsh mortgage of the text books, a conditional sale. It may be in writing but is very often oral and in spite of the great strictness of Chinese Laws upon the subject it is hardly ever registered. It is faithfully described in the following account of a Welsh mortgage taken from a well known Text book :—

"What is known as a Welsh mortgage is a transaction whereby the estate is conveyed to the mortgagee, who is to go into possession and take the rents and profits as an equivalent for his interest, the principal remaining undiminished. In such a transaction there is no contract, express or implied, between the parties, for the repayment of the debt at a given time, and though the mortgagee has no remedy by action to enforce payment of his money, yet the mortgagor or his heirs may redeem at any time."

It is only necessary to add that these mortgages when not evidenced by a deed are a fertile- source of litigation. If the value of land should go up the mortgagor naturally claims to redeem but the mortgagee frequently resists on the ground that the sale was unconditional.

The mortgagee being from the nature of the transaction in possession becomes the owner for the time being of the property subject to the possibility of redemption at some future time by the mortgagor. Mortgages are frequently assigned three or four times over and this of course increases the possibilities of dispute when the original owner comes to redeem.

19. Short leases of agricultural land for a year are not uncommon but present no features worthy of particular attention—they are usually determined at the end of either the Spring or the Autumn harvest by six months' notice on either side.

20. After a District has been dealt with by the Land Court and all claims finally heard and determined there are two important questions that still remain to be considered.

Firstly. Who are the persons to be made liable for the Crown Rent and in what propor-

tions?

Secondly. What titles are to be issued to persons having interests in land and what form

of registration is most suitable?

Crown Rent-Incidence of.

21. As regards cases where the cultivator is himself the owner holding direct from the Crown and paying his own taxes there is of course no difficulty.

It will be found, however, that a large proportion of the land is held on perpetual lease. In such cases Government should I consider deal directly with the (perpetual) lessee and make him responsible for the Crown Rent. He should then be allowed to deduct the amount he contributes as Crown Rent from the sum he pays his landlord.

If the lessor's rent is small in amount--this means either that he received full value for the land originally and that the annual payment was arranged simply to cover the taxes for the payment of which he continued liable—or that he had no real title to the land but has levied this amount under the name of tax from persons who were not in a position to resist the claim.

If however the relation between the parties was really that of landlord and tenant the sum paid will approximate more nearly to a rack rent and this sum less the amount paid for Crown Reat by the lessee will still come to the hands of the lessor.

22. In many cases the perpetual lessors are absentee landlords with no other concern in the land than the receipt of their rent, as for instance the Li family on the northern half of Lan Tao. In such cases the tendency will be for the lessee to buy out his lessor and gradually to get the full ownership, subject to the rights of the Crown, into his own hands. Where conversely the lessors. are powerful and wealthy families resident in the neighbourhood of their lands the tendency will probably be the other way and they are more likely to buy out the cultivator and either till the land themselves or let it on annual lease.

Titles.

23. Next as to the form of title. In my opinion it will be safest to keep at any rate for the present to the tenures which obtain and are well understood among the people.

A person who has a grant of land from the Chinese Government has in effect a perpetual lease- subject to the payment of Crown Rent. If he converts the land to other uses than those to which it was put when he first took it up, his Crown Rent may be raised, but, subject to this and perhaps to some reservation with regard to minerals the land is his own, as long as he continues to pay the tax. Such person need not I think be given ordinarily a Crown lease. He should be entered on a Register as a "Customary land holder" and be permitted to have an extract from this Register as evidence of his title upon payment of a small fee. The rights and liabilities incident to such tenure might be summarily defined in a short Ordinance which however we need be in no pressing hurry to draft. After a year or two's experience we shall know much more about New Territory customs than we do at present.

24. Such a certificate of title to be issued on payment of a small fee would be amply sufficient- or the ordinary cultivator. It would not however satisfy the needs of Europeans who might wish fo acquire land and it would probably be of little use to a registered company taking up land for tndustrial purposes. The proper course would be for them to make their own arrangements with

[13]

the cultivator who would then surrender his rights to the Crown in favour of the purchaser and this latter would be granted a Crown Lease on such conditions as to the payment of Premium, Crown Rent and Fees as the circumstances might seem to warrant.

Under the Chinese regine waste areas were frequently granted on easy terms subject, however, to an increase of Crown Rent, if the grantee converted the waste into agricultural land, or if he erected buildings thereon.

Land for which a Crown Lease might be issued would of course come under the ordinary law of the Colony as regards registration and so forth.

But the ordinary cultivator should I think be spared for the present the technicalities of English Law.

The Torrens System.

Its main outlines are well described in the following quotation from Sir WILLIAM MAXWELL'S Essay on the Torrens System, paragraphs 4, 5, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30:-

"4. Legal expenses incident to the sale and purchase of land were heavy, and every "addition to the deeds forming the chain of evidence of title increased the cost of "subsequent dealings.

"5. It was, therefore, with a firm persuasion that great grievances were imposed upon the "Australian Colonists by the English law of real property that Mr. TORRENS (now

Sir ROBERT R. TORRENS, K.C.M.G.) proposed, in 1857, in South Australia, a system "of his own invention, adapted from the practice attending the transfer of shipping 'property, which, reduced to its elementary principle, substitutes title by registration "for title by deed.

"25. A certificate of title is issued to every person entitled to any estate of freehold in 'possession in land under the Act. Every certificate is in duplicate. One duplicate "is given to the proprietor, the other is retained in the Lands Titles Office. The "certificates in the office constitute the register book, which, in the words of "Mr. TORRENS, is the pivot on which the whole mechanism turns. Every certificate "is marked with the number of the volume and the folium of the register book. "Crown Grants of land bought since the Acts came into operation are also issued "in duplicate, one of which is bound up in the register book, and such grants are, “in all respects, equivalent to certificates of title.

“26. So far, it will be said, the title is simplified, but how is this simplicity to be retained,-

"how will future complications be prevented? This is the problem which the Act "endeavours to solve.

27. For the purpose of facilitating transactions, printed forms of transfer, mortgage, lease,

"and other dealings, are to be procured at the Lauds Titles Office.

Any person of ordinary education can, with very little trouble, learn to fill them up in the more simple cases without professional assistance. If a proprietor holding a certificate "of title wishes to sell the whole of the land included in it, he fills up and executes

a printed form of memorandum of transfer to the purchaser. The transfer is presented at the Office, and a memorial of the transfer is recorded by the proper "officer on both duplicates of the certificate of title. The purchaser, by the recording "of the memorial, stands in precisely the same position as the original owner.

If only a part of the land in a certificate is to be transferred, such part is described in "the memorandum of transfer, the transfer is noted on both duplicates of the original "certificate; a fresh certificate is issued to the purchaser for the part transferred "and the original certificate is noted as cancelled with respect to such part. This

process is repeated on every sale of the freehold, and it will thus be seen that every person entitled to a freehold estate in land under the Act has but one document to "show his title, through however many hands the property may have passed, and "such document vests in him an absolutely indefeasible title to the laud it describes. "28. If the proprietor wishes to mortgage or lease his land, or to charge it with the pay- "ment of a sum of money, he executes. in duplicate, a memorandum of mortgage, "lease, or encumbrance, in the form provided by the Act, altered so as to meet the particular circumstances of the case. This is presented at the Lands Titles Office "with the certificate of title; a memorial of the transaction is entered by the proper "officer on the certificate of title and on the duplicate certificate forming the register "book. The entry of this memorial constitutes registration of the instrument and a note, under the hand and seal of the proper officer, of the fact of such registration "is made on both duplicates of the instrument. Such note is conclusive evide "that the instrument has been duly registered; one of the duplicates is then f "the office, and the other is handed to the mortgagee, or lessee. The cem

"title will thus show that the original proprietor is entitled to the

subject to the mortgage, lease, or encumbrance; while th

"held by the mortgagee, lessee, or encumbrancee, will shew "his interest. Each person has and can have but one d "shows conclusively the nature of the interest he holds, - "is indefeasible. If a mortgage is paid off, a simple

duplicate mortgage held by the mortgagee. This is '

"fact that the mortgage has been paid off is noted on

a striking inconvenience of the old system is dor

[ 14 ]

more perplexing to simple minds than the necessity which that system imposes of "a deed of reconveyance when a mortgage has been paid off. A mortgage under "the Act does not involve a transfer of the 'legal estate,' although the mortgagee is "made as secure as if such transfer had taken place. The necessity, therefore, for "a deed of reconveyance, when the mortgage is paid off, at once vanishes.

If a "lease is to be surrendered, it has merely to be brought to the office with the word "surrendered' indorsed upon it, signed by the lessor and lessee, and attested, and 66 the proper officer will note the fact that it has been surrendered, on the certificate "of title.

Mortgages or leaves are transferred by indorsement, by a simple form. "The Act provides implied powers of sale and foreclosure in mortgages; and in "leases, implied covenants to pay rent and taxes, and to keep in repair, together with "power for the lessor to enter and view the state of repair, and to re-enter in case of non-payment of rent or breach of covenant. All these may be omitted or modified "if desired. In order to save verbiage, short forms are provided, which may be used "for covenants in leases or mortgages, the longer forms which they imply being set "out in the Act. Thus, in a lease, the words will not without leave assign or sub- "let,' imply a covenant that the said lessee shall not, nor will, during the term of of such lease, assign, transfer, demise, sublet or set over, or otherwise, by any act or deed, procure the lands or premises therein mentioned, or any part thereof, to "be assigned, transferred, demised, sublet, or set over, to any person whomsoever, "without the consent in writing of the said lessor first had and obtained.'

“29. Every person, therefore, entitled to a freehold estate in possession, has (if his land is subject to the Act) a certificate of title, or land-grant, on which are recorded "memorials of all mortgages, leases, or encumbrances, and of their discharge or sur- "render.

If he transfers his entire interest, a memorial of the transfer is recorded on the certificate, and the transferee takes it subject to recorded interests. The "transferce can, if he chooses, have a fresh certificate issued in his own name, and "in that case the old certificate is cancelled, and the memorials of the leases or

mortgages to which the land is subject are carried forward to the new one.

If a "proprietor transfers only a part of his land, his certificate is cancelled so far, a fresh "certificate is issued, and memorials of outstanding interests are similarly carried "forward. Memorials of dealings with leases or mortgages are noted on the dupli- "cate lease or mortgage held by the lessee or mortgagee, and on the folium of the "register book. The Officers of the Department, therefore, and persons searching,

can see at a glance the whole of the recorded dealings with every property ;- "while each person interested can see, by the one document he holds, the precise "extent of his interest.

30. The foregoing extracts give a very clear exposition of the general effect of the system "of transfer by registration. It cannot be too emphatically pointed out that it is not the execution of the memorandum of transfer, lease, or mortgage, but its regis- "tration in the Lands Titles Office, that operates to shift the title. No instrumeut, "until registered in the manner prescribed by the Act, is effectual to pass any estate or interest in any land under the operation of the Act, or to render such land liable "to any mortgage or charge; but upon such registration, the estate or interest com- prised in the instrument passes, or the legal effect of the transaction, whatever it may be, is complete. Registration takes effect from the time of production of the "instrument, not from the time of the actual making of the entry.”

26. There must be 100,000 separate lots of land held in individual ownership in the New Terri- tory and of these probably 90,000 are in the country to the North of the Kowloon Watershed.

Land to the South of this range and bordering on the harbour might very well remain muder the ordinary land system of the Colony; it is only for land which will in most cases remain in the hands of the peasant cultivators that I recommend a new departure.

Appendix No. 1a.

No. 10.

SIR,

LAND COURT, HONGKONG, 4th March, 1901.

I have the honour to forward my report on the work of the Land Court for the seven months ending December 31st, 1900.

The Department was constituted as from the 1st June, Mr. II. E. POLLOCK being appointed President, myself Member. Mr. J. H. KEMP was gazetted Registrar, and on his removal to the Magistracy on 28th November Mr. Woon was gazetted Registrar in his place.

2. I found on taking up my duties that matters were in the following state.

The Survey on a scale of 16" of between 30,000 and 40,000 acres of the New Territory had been completed leaving the remainder of the mainland and the whole of the islands to be dealt with.

Demarcation.

had not been possible to arrange for any demarcation either precedent to the survey or follow-

no holdings therefore were shown on the maps which had been completed.

A large

land had been brought in at Tai Po and at Ping Shan for the purposes of the the form in which they were laid, though possibly adequate for the purpose ceived, was neither sufficiently full nor sufficiently clear for them to serve as

ion into title.

herefore to provide in the first instance a suitable form of claim and this esident and myself. A Demarcation Staff had also to be improvised and er several weeks I obtained the sanction of His Excellency for the e trained as demarcators to accompany the Indian Surveyors in the field

vnership of holdings.

[ 15 ]

4. The enlistment and training however of the Demarcation Staff required time and meanwhile it seemed advisable to commence getting in claims as rapidly as possible leaving where necessary the identification of the land claimed to be completed when the lot number tickets had all been issued. This has caused a good deal of delay; for persons who have first laid a claim in the Court, and subse- quently received a lot number ticket on demarcation usually imagine that nothing further is necessary so that it has often proved very difficult to get them to come to the office and produce their tickets. I have arranged that in future demarcation shall have a clear start in each district before the receiv- ing of claims begins and that no claim shall be received unless the appropriate lot number ticket is produced at the same time.

Commencement at Kowloon City.

5. The Law Committee of the Legislative Council had recommended that if possible the land facing Hongkong and lying to the south of the Kowloon watershed should be first dealt with on account of its growing importance as an outlet for the expansion of the Colony and of its far greater superficial value relative to the rest of the New Territory. I therefore decided to make Kowloon City the first base of operations and by the courtesy of the Trustees I obtained as an office the building used before the Convention as a general Meeting House and School-room within the Walled City.

The area including Kowloon City and extending to the Lycemun Pass was well adapted to be taken as a test of the work that would have to be done containing as it did (a) padi and vegetable land, (b) house and shop property, and (c) fishing grounds and foreshore. Furthermore it was rea- sonable to suppose that its proximity to Hongkong would render the people more amenable to Western methods and better able to understand the meaning of what they were required to do than might have been the case with villagers in more remote districts.

General Frocedure.

7. Finally if we suppose that the last day for receiving claims in "X District” is the 31st July, on the 1st August the Court will be in possession of the following documents :-

(a.) Cadastral maps showing the exact position of every claim.

(b.) A statement prepared by the Survey Department giving the areas of every claim in

acres to two decimal points.

(c.) The claim forms signed by the claimants themselves.

(d.) The demarcation books giving particulars as to ownership, nature of cultivation, etc.

collected on the ground.

9. The disputed claims having been put on one side those which are undisputed must be care- fully sifted to ascertain whether there is any effective occupation. Where the land is and has been for

any considerable time under cultivation or where there are inhabited buildings on the land, I take it the Government will as a general rule confirm the occupiers in their possession, even though they have no real title whatever. But where the land is unoccupied and consists of foreshore or waste hill land the title will need careful scrutiny. Taking as general the axiom that the Chinese Government recognized no ownership not authorized by a registered instrument it is unlikely that many persons would have been at the expense of paying taxes and registration fees for land which under Chinese rule was practically valueless. Many persons on the other hand, now that there is a ready market for such land will be anxious to assert rights of ownership which they never possessed or which have long lapsed to the Crown in consequence of the abandonment of the land.

In other cases also exclusive rights of fishery or of wood and grass cutting may have been granted to individuals who are now anxions to claim full ownership of the land over which they exercised these rights. These are the cases which present questions really difficult of solution, many of which may not be satisfactorily settled for some years to come.

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Staff.

It would accelerate the work of the Court considerably to have two more Cadets who might be styled Assistant Registrars to work in advance of the Court and prepare the ground for its operations. All the claims would by this means be got in, compared with the maps, and tabulated before the Court was ready to sit. Mr. Wood is at present performing this very useful work at Tai Po and I see no reason why he should not after six months' experience of the work of Registrar be given a limited jurisdiction in undisputed claims.

Late Claims.

11. It invariably happens that after the last day for receiving claims in a district has passed there are persons who come in with more or less plausible reasons why they have not been able to present their claims in good time. Some of these have registered their deeds at the Land Office and have rested happy in the belief that they have thereby done everything that is necessary. Others have had their titles looked at in the Tai Po or Ping Shan Rent Roll Office and say they did not understand that they had to come in again. Others have been at sea or in some village inland or in Singapore or Java not returning until the appointed day was over.

It would

I take it that before the law such persons have no rights at all. Section 15 of the Ordinance makes it quite clear that they are in the position of mere trespassers against the Crown. however be inexpedient to ignore them, for this would mean the handing over to Government as Crown land, of areas on which were settled many bonâ fide occupants whose claims Government would in equity feel itself bound to enquire into at some later date.

Survey.

12. It has been very fortunate that the Colony has had the services of a staff of trained Indian Surveyors under a responsible experienced head to prepare the Cadastral maps. The work if undertaken piecemeal by the local establishment must have proved long and costly for there appear to be no properly qualified Chinese Surveyors in the Colony while the expense of employing Europeans on such work would have been quite prohibitory.

Claims received.

13. I have during the past seven months received claims in respect of :-

I. Survey Districts Nos. I-IV comprising that portion of the New Territory which lies South of the Kowloon watershed and is bounded ou the East by Li U Mun and on the West by Lai Chi Kok. In all 5,675 claims comprising 7,583 lots have been received in respect of this area. The demarcation of No. IV District is not yet complete owing to the survey having omitted to traverse some of the padi land in the smaller valleys North of Lai Chi Kok, but this work is being pushed on as rapidly as possible.

II. Claims have also been received in respect of the following islands:

Tsing I or Chung Hue.

Ma Wan.

Ping Chau.

Ni Ku Chau.

Cheung Chau.

In all 880.

As no claims were received in respect of

Cheang Chau Ching,

Cowe Chau (Kan I Chan),

Chau Cung,

Patung,

these islands are now by virtue of section XV of the Ordinance Crown land.

14. Claims are being received at Tung Chung in Lantao Island where also a small demarcation party is at work. Demarcation is in progress at Tai Po where Mr. WOOD has recently opened an office for the reception of claims.

15. I have added to this report some Notes on Land Tenure in the New Territory *with suggestions as to the form of titles and the system of registration to be adopted when the Court has finished its work.

[* Printed as Appendix No. 1.]

}...

[ 17 ]

I wish to acknowledge my obligations to the interesting Memorandum on Land published in the Colonial Secretary's report dated 7th February, 1900.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

Appendix No. 2.

H. H. J. GOMPERTZ, Member of Court.

SIR,

LAND COURT, HONGKONG, 27th June, 1901.

I have the honour to submit a report upon the ownership of Ts'ing 1 (Chung Hue) Island. On the 4th August, 1900, a Notification was published in the Government Gazette fixing 1st October, 1900, as the last day on which claims to land in this and other Islands would be received by the Court.

Notices (three) in the usual form had already on 30th July been posted in the Island itself, and on 14th August the Honourable Captain Superintendent of Police undertook to impress on the inhabitants the importance of reporting their claims in due time.

It was not, however, until October 10th or nine days after the limit of time had expired that the first claim was filed for Tsing I, and others came in gradually until the 2nd May this year, by which date 77 claims in all had been received.

This is a good example of the apathy of the country Chinese and their apparent indifference to their own interests.

Judging from the experience of the past twelve months it seems that nothing but demarcation will really stir up more than a very small fraction of the population to report their claims. Until they have actually been called out in to the field and seen their holdings put in on a map they prefer to put off the evil day hoping possibly that they may remain forgotten until the evil day has passed and the unwelcome attentions of Government have been relaxed or diverted in some other direction. The result of course in such a case is that all owners of land become trespassers against the Crown and that such rights as they might have hoped to establish lapse and become vested in the Government.

2. It is now my duty to submit for His Excellency's information a short report as to the nature of such rights as appear to have existed in the Island before the Convention.

Seventy-six out of seventy-seven-the total number of claims received-are such as call for no special remark. In No. 74, however, it appears that the members of a branch of the Tang family of Kam T'in claiming descent from one Tang Ku Nam lay claim as his descendants to the whole of Ts'ing I Island.

I have taken special pains to go thoroughly into this case because it seems a very typical example of the curious and unwarrantable pretensions to the ownership of very large tracts of country which are perhaps the most striking feature in the economy of what we call the New Territory.

It appears from evidence I have taken that no members of this family reside on the Island- that they have no cultivation there or houses, nor have they any other interest than the collection of a fixed annual rent charge from the cultivators. This rent consisting nominally of 40 piculs of grain is regularly commuted into a money payment based on the current price of padi in Hongkong at the Winter Solstice. It is not pretended that this payment has ever been increased within the memory of any of the inhabitants, although it is quite certain and is freely admitted by the cultivators that additions have from time to time been made to the area of land under cultivation. Its incidence is shared among the various family cultivating padi on the Island according to the area and value of their holdings.

3. I made enquiries of both parties as to how the payment originated in the first instance and as to what explanation of its continuance was generally accepted among themselves. The Tang family replied that the whole Island has been their property for the last 200 years, but that they have never demanded any larger payment because of their knowledge of the poverty of the inhab- itants. The cultivators on the other hand declare that they have been saddled with this payment because their ancestors-the pioneers of cultivation on the Island-were few and uninfluential and therefore unable to resist the demands of the powerful Tang family for a payment to which they were in no way entitled.

4. No deed was produced by the Tang representatives at the time of my examination into their claim, but they put forward a Certificate in the form usually issued by District Magistrates when land changes hands in China, wherein mention is made of 66 mau of land. The land however is described as being situated in three different localities, namely, Ngau Ku Tun, Ts'ing I Island and Ts'uen Lung, and there is no indication as to what the area is in each place. Some tax receipts for the year before the Convention—the 24th year of Kwong Shui-show a tax on 98.5 mau, but as land all over the district may be put on the same receipt little reliance can be placed on this figure as a guide to the ownership.

It seemed therefore impossible without a reference to the San On Magistrate to ascertain definitely what the real amount of interest might be that was really possessed by the Tang family, and matters being thus at a dead-lock I thought it advisable to wait for more light.

[ 18 ]

5. Curiously enough however a few days ago members of another branch of the same clan-the Tangs of Kam Ti'n-brought to this office a document which appears to be the original deed described to me by the first claimants as missing. It is dated some seventy years earlier than the Certificate: which may be accounted for by the latter being a duplicate issue made at the instance of persons desiring some convenient evidence of title. This deed relates to land in three different localities and

the area in each are as follows:-

(1) For a place, name illegible,

(2) For Ts'ing I,.....

(3) For Ngan Ku Tun,.

Total,

.21.6 mau .36.2

6.3

.64.1

According to this deed, which is dated 1788, the real arca of the land belonging to the Tangs of Kam T'in in Ts'ing I was only some 36.2 mau.

No other deed is produced or alleged to have ever existed and that this is the instrument to which the Certificate above mentioned relates may be concluded from the close approximation of the areas mentioned-64.1 mau in the deed and 66 mau in the Certificate dated more than half a century later. Further confirmation if it were necessary is afforded by the mention of three different localities in each. I cannot make up my mind whether this deed was purposely kept back by the persons who laid the claim under the apprehension that its production would dispose once and for all of their claims to the proprietorship of the whole Island. Possibly they told the truth when they said that they did not know where it was, but it is significant that it was eventually produced by a man who accused his kinsmeu-the original claimants-of conspiring to sell the Island to other parties without giving him a share of the purchase money. He expressly declared that the fact of the deed having always been in his custody showed that he was entitled to at any rate a share of whatever his family might be entitled to possess in the Ts'ing I.

6. Apart from a prawn fishery in the sea adjoining the Island the Tangs seem not to have any other source of profit from Ts'ing I beyond the annual rent of 40 piculs of padi already mentioned.

It is true that they point to an old embankment which has been long in ruins and which they state marked the site of a fish pond which was constructed originally by an ancestor of theirs and has continued in the possession of their family until it was destroyed by a typhoon many years ago. There is however no reference to any fish pond in the only deed produced by them and we may fairly assume that if the construction of this work was ever known to and approved by the Chinese Government and if the claimant's interest in it had really survived its destruction by the elements they would now be able to produce some sort of proof of their ownership.

It only remains to mention that there is on the north-eastern side of the Island the site of an old brick kiln which the Tangs declare was worked by lessees of their own about ten years ago.

7. As regards the cultivators it is evident, I think, that they are the perpetual-lessees of the Tang family to whom they are bound to pay 40 piculs of grain annually as long as they continue to cultivate the 36.2 mau of land originally taken by them on lease.

The Island has not yet been cadastrally surveyed and it is impossible to say how far they may have encroached on Crown land and what is the real area they have under cultivation. Meanwhile however they should be called on to pay the proper Crown Rent on 36.2 mau of land which amount they are entitled under the Rules made by His Excellency in Council to deduct from the rent they pay their landlords the Tangs.

Later on when their fields have been surveyed they will pay according to the actual areas they farm and I recommend that titles should then be issued to them as customary lessees of all the land they were in occupation of at the date of the Convention.

8. The Tang family should be told that their claim to the Island as a whole will not be allowed, but that they are entitled to collect the annual rent of 40 piculs of grain less the amount paid by the tenants as Crown Rent as long as their tenants continue in occupation of the Tang land.

As an act of grace they might, I think, be allowed to take up the site they desire which was once in their occupation not exceeding one acre in extent for the purpose of a brick or lime kiln ou the north-eastern shore of the Island.

9. There are two more claims-Nos. 76 and 77-to which I should like to allude briefly. They relate to fishing grounds on the coast of Ts'ing I, but as the representative of the claimants has produced no tax receipts to substantiate his claim and has failed to call his vendor to vouch for the original sale although expressly called on by me to do so as soon as possible, I do not think that they need further consideration.

10. Should my recommendations be approved it will be a matter of no great difficulty for me to prepare a short Rough Rent Roll which will suffice for the collection of Revenue until the cultivation has been surveyed and the titles properly adjusted.

There is no doubt that the trees on the Island have been used by the cultivators as their property for some generations. They should, I think, be allowed to continue this practice for the present on the express understanding that no area is to be denuded of its forest without the express sanction of Government.

In conclusion I think that the Colonial Government is fortunate in the possession of a fine Island, easily accessible in all weathers and comprising considerably more than a thousand acres of hill and level land well wooded and watered. There would be ample room for plague and other cemeteries were it thought desirable to establish them there and this could be arranged without in any way interfering with the various sites available for factories, kilns, and residential areas.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

H. H. J. GOMPERTZ,

Member of Court.

[ 19 ]

Appendix No. 3.

21st February, 1901.

1. This report treats of the progress of the Cadastral Survey from the 1st December, 1900, that being the commencement of the Survey season, up to the 15th February, 1901, compared with the area surveyed up to the same date last year.

2. But there was a large increase after this period last year when all the Surveyors were at work in the country around Ping Shán, owing to very favourable circumstances, which do not pre- vail at the present time. These favourable circumstances were the (comparatively) very large sized fields into which the cultivated areas in those open Districts was divided. Owing to this the Sur- veyors were able to complete large out-turns every month. The country which is now being surveyed is broken; the fields are much smaller; and these difficulties will increase somewhat as the Cadastral Survey enters further into the hilly tract of country that remains to be dealt with.

The area

3. The area surveyed cadastrally up to the 15th February, amounts to 3,600 acres. surveyed last year during the same period amounted to 6,000 acres. It will be seen that the area completed during the present year amounts to 3 of that completed in the same period last year.

4. This deficiency is chiefly due to the Surveyors working with the demarcators--both the Survey and Rent Roll operations being carried on at one and the same time. Some proportion of this deficiency most also be attributed to the increase of scale and the fact that under present con- ditions the Field Surveyors are on the fixed salaries. The precise shares of the decrease in the out-turn this year, as compared with last year, cannot be exactly apportioned to each of the causes mentioned, because there have been, apart from these, other hindrances to continuous work, which make it very difficult to say with any degree of certainty whether the progress made up to the 15th February is that which might have been expected.; or whether, now that the Surveyors have set- tled down to their work, it may not be found that they will make better progress. I allude to the original orders that holdings alone should be surveyed: than that individual fields should also be mapped with the holdings. The change of scale to 32 inches when the work was in progress on the 16′′-1 mile scale is also accountable to some degree for the deficiency in the out-turn.

5. But the chief causes may be said to be the two operations of the Rent Roll and survey work which are being performed at one and the same time. And also, but to a very much smaller degree, the change of scale.

6. I do not see how these hindrances to rapid work can be removed if the Rent Roll operations are to progress and keep abreast of the surveys.

7. If it be granted that the surveys are to be dissociated from the Rent Roll work and are to be carried on irrespective of holdings, the same condition of things will come to pass that now exists with regard to the maps of the (say) 35,000 (thirty-five thousand) acres surveyed last year to the North of the Tai Mo Shán hills. These maps have been traced for the Land Court and the areas of individual fields have been calculated and recorded; but the Land Court cannot deal with those documents or that information because it possesses no establishment for that purpose. There- fore for all the immediate purposes of the Rent Roll those thirty-five thousand acres might almost have remained unsurveyed. Were the demarcation operations and the record of rights now going on to be severed from the survey work, there would be a larger mass of unusable material accumulating on the hands of the Land Court which would become stale and possibly even out of date by the time that the purely survey work was finished, and the staff set free, and placed at the disposal of the Land Court to enable that body to use the maps (and other information) to illustrate questions of title.

8. It would therefore be necessary to keep up a separate staff for the Land Court while the surveys were in progress (and afterwards) to deal with the maps and to compile areas of holdings, if it was desired to dissociate the two operations, but to keep the Rent Roll abreast of the surveys.

9. Any compromise would hasten the survey to a small extent at a sacrifice of the Rent Roll, with the present staff, for only 3 or 4 Field Surveyors could be spared from the survey to carry on demarcation in the wake of the Surveyors. This is the only compromise at all possible.

10. The question is complicated by considerations affecting the realization of the Crown Rent. It is one entirely for the decision of the Colonial Government. If the objects of the Rent Roll are being fully obtained by the present system then that system must continue in force. The cadastral work being undertaken for the Rent Roll alone.

11. With regard to the increase of scale from 16 to 32 inches: This became absolutely neces* sary as soon as the more open valleys had been surveyed. In the remaining portions excepting in over two localities the fields are situated on hill sides and in the glens and smaller valleys where they vary from 90 to 120, and perhaps more, to an acre. It is impossible to represent such minute detail on the 16 inches to a mile scale with any degree of utility. For purposes of the Rent Roll also it is necessary that dwelling lots should be shewn on the maps. Villages therefore are now surveyed in detail as well as the cultivated lands. On the 16 inches to a mile scale such detail sur- veys of villages are impossible. During the past year no villages have been surveyed in detail for this reason.

In India while the 16 inches scale is that generally adopted for the plains, this scale is rejected, when cadastral surveys in the Himalayas are undertaken, for larger scales. In the Himalayan valleys and even in the hillside cultivation the fields are larger than those in the hilly tracts of the New Territory. In the plains of India where the 16" scale is in general use for cadastral sur- veys, except in certain localities where local considerations compel the adoption of a larger scale, villages and towns are always surveyed (when necessary) on a larger scale and as a separate operation.

12. In the surveys in this Colony everything is being done in one operation by the Survey Staff except the demarcation on the ground of the boundaries of claims and the records of owners'

names.

GEO. P. TATE.

[ 20 ]

Appendix No. 4.

WORK DONE BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE

NEW TERRITORY, DURING THE YEAR 1900.

BUILDINGS.

1. The large permanent two-storied Police Station containing 11 rooms at Au-tau near ÜB Long, containing accommodation for 6 Europeans, 21 Indians and Chinese, was completed, the total cost being $13,286.83.

2. Plans and estimates were prepared and a contract let for a similar Station, but rather smaller, at Shataukok near to Startling Inlet at the Northern Boundary of the Territory. The building was finished and occupied before the end of the year. The total expenditure on it in the year was $9,100.15.

3. Plans and estimates were also prepared and a contract let for a similar Station at Sai Kung on Shelter Bay. The masonry was well advanced before the end of the year, but the work has been slow owing partly to much sickness among the workmen. The expenditure in the year on this Station was $2,628.05.

4. Ping Shán Police Station was finally completed at a total cost of $13,514.15. It is similar to that at Au-tau.

5. The construction of a causeway to connect the hill on which the official quarters and the Police Station stand with an Island close to deep water at Táipó was undertaken under a contract amounting to $4,887.70. The work when well advanced was twice partially destroyed by storms, and the contractor, who is unfortunately a man wanting in resources, has been disheartened and has made indifferent progress. The work will be finished this year. The expenditure in 1900 was $2,030.72.

6. The matshed buildings at Táipó suffered severely in the somewhat severe gales which occurred in September and were almost destroyed in the typhoon of November. They have been restored and put in good order at a cost of $1,051.

7. Telephone communication was extended to the temporary Police Station at San-t'in at a cost of $944.04.

8. Shataukok Station was also connected with the Telephone system, the expenditure on it and other lines being $852.

9. Táipó Road.-This road was completed down to sea level in the Shatin valley, a distance of 9 miles from Kowloon ferry, early in the year. The contractor who had constructed the road so far, and done good work, refused to go on with the next section except at very exorbitant increases in rates, nor was it found possible for some time to secure any contractor willing to take up the work at anything like reasonable rates.

However at last a man was found to take it on, but the progress during 1900 was not equal to that made in 1899. The 10th and 11th miles for a great part skirt the sea-shore of Shatin Inlet and some heavy bridging is necessary to carry the road over streams draining the southerly and easterly slopes of the Tái-mó-Shán range. The road is chiefly on embankment with the sea-face pitched with granite laid in mortar and pointed in cement. The masonry of the abutments and piers of the Tai Wai bridge, 3 spans of 30 feet clear, was completed in the year, and also that of the 30- foot bridge on the 10th mile. The eleventh mile is, for over 1,700 feet, carried on a causeway across a bay or arm of the sea so as to avoid a long detour. This was a difficult work, but has been successfully completed, and being shorter and more direct than a road hugging the sea-shore, will save in future maintenance. Except the fixing of the iron work, which had not arrived from England, on the large bridges, the road was practically completed and ready for traffic to 114 miles from Kowloon in December. The trace was carried on to Táipó, and a foot-path opened along it, the total distance to Táipó by this road turns out to be 18 miles.

10. The renewal of Kowloon City Pier was completed, the total cost being $5,829.

11. The survey of the New Territory proceeded during the year under Mr. TATE, his Assistant Mr. NEWLAND carrying out the cadastral work. Progress has not been rapid and the work will evidently cost much more than was anticipated by this Government on the report of the Surveyor General of India. The total area cadastrally surveyed in the year was about 41,000 acres, and the total expenditure in the year was $32,455.26.

It was expected that at least Mr. TATE's work, namely the Trigonometrical Survey, would have been completed much sooner.

12. An iron and concrete bridge of two spans of 15 feet each was built on the Saikung Road just beyond Kowloon City.

13. The completed roads were well maintained during the year and were considerably used, that to Kowloon City proving that it met an urgent want of the constant stream of traffic pouring along it, and also on the cross road leading to Yaumati.

The Táipó Road has also come into use, persons visiting the New Territory, using it with carriages or jinrickshaws as far as Tai Wai on the 9th mile. Táipó is now easily within 4 hours' reach of Hongkong by road.

R. D. ORMSBY, Director of Public Works.

HONGKONG, 4th March, 1901.

No. 70.

[ 21 ]

Appendix 5.

MEDICAL Department,

Táipó, 4th March, 1901.

SIR,-I have the honour to submit to you my annual Report upon my medical work done in the New Territory during the year 1900.

The total number of patients attended by me during the year was 1,267, of which 961 were new and 306 old cases. They are shown in the following table :-

CASES AMONG

NEW.

OLD.

TOTAL.

Villagers,

148

196

Police Department during visits,...

174

237

Do.

at Táipó,

129

Civil Department at Táipó,

Villagers about Táipó,.....

168

195

663

961

306

1,267

The number of cases of vaccination performed by me during the year was 78. The four native vaccinators who have been practising for many years among the villagers show a return of 562 children successfully vaccinated by them.

With the intention of being able to bring, as nearly as possible, all the children in the Territory under immunity, these vaccinators are told to practise chiefly among the villagers who live far away from Police Stations and are, therefore, unable to come to me.

In order to avoid the danger of infection from the lymph taken directly from children to children, as they used to do, I supply these vaccinators with the Hongkong calf lymph.

"Fook Tau" the old method of acquiring immunity from small-pox is still practised among some of the Hakka people here by purposely blowing the dry scabs from the eruptions of small-pox into the nostrils of children to set up the disease all over the body in a more or less severe form. This is a very dangerous operation, and fatality is sometimes the result. I have strongly dissuaded them from doing this, and I now suggest that the authorities should take its suppression into consi- deration.

The worst season of malarial fever in the year was from May to the middle of November. Its prevalence coincided remarkably with the rainy season. This is due, I believe, to the paddy fields being filled with water at the time, and consequently affording au efficient breeding place to the anopheles larvæ. Towards the end of the year, when the weather was dry, the cases of malarial fever declined with marked rapidity while the larvæ could no longer be found in the fields.

I found the auopheles larvæ, which are now believed to be the carrier of malarial germs, in enormous quantities in the paddy fields close to all the Police Stations, sepecially at Shataukok and Táipó. In the latter place, for instance, 4 or 5 dozen of the larvæ (anopheles) can, during the height of the season, be collected from every 10 square feet of water. For the information of Dr. THOMSON I regularly forward to him the specimens of the larvæ for his examination.

As malarial fever was so obstinately prevalent among the Police in spite of every precaution being strictly observed, in order to improve the health of the Stations in the ensuing season, the main cause, I think, should be removed as far as possible. I therefore urge that the Government should take immediate steps, while the fields are still dry, to buy up all the fields close to Stations to the extent of at least one hundred yards from the Station and to fill them up with earth, or, to order that the fields in this vicinity be converted into kitchen gardens where stagnant water is of no necessity.

I have the honour to be,

Dr JOHN BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer,

&c.,

& C.,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

&c.

HO NAI HOP.

No. 10

[ 22 ]

Appendix No. 6.

HONGKONG, 17th November, 1900.

SIR,-We have the honour to report for the information of His Excellency the Governor that in accordance with His Excellency's instructions we proceeded to Táipó on the afternoon of Monday, 12th instant, for the purpose of enquiring into the causation of the marked prevalence of Malarial Fever there recently; and returned to Hongkong on Wednesday evening.

2. We desire to acknowledge the courteous assistance rendered to us by Mr. MESSER, Mr. WOOD, Dr. Ho Nai Hop and the police, enabling us to make the most of the short time at our disposal.

3. We already had before us the following statistics as to the prevalence of mosquitoes at Tái- pó during the preceding months :-

Date. September 4,

19,

Mosquitoes caught Anopheles.

Culex.

24,

⚫ 39

October

17, 21,

November 12,

Total,

309

126

183

i.e., Anopheles...40%

Culex .......60 %

By special request there had been no selection of specimens, all those caught on the various dates named being sent for examination and classification; so that during the period between 4th September and the date of our visit 40% may be taken as the actual average prevalence of the Anopheles among all mosquitoes found. The species is a larger one than that most common iù Hongkong, and we identify it as Anopheles Sinensis.

4. From police records placed at our disposal we ascertained that the cases of Fever among the police during the last twelve months have becu as follows:-

November, 1899, December,

April, May

∞ ∞ 12 NON

2 Europeans, 7 Indians.

January,

1900,

February, March,

June,

July,

3 Europeans, 22 Indians.

August,

September,

October, November,

17 1

It is noteworthy, on comparison of this with the preceding table, that while the enumeration of Anopheles rises to 60% of all mosquitoes found at the date of our arrival at Táipó, Malarial Fever had almost disappeared. We attribute this rapid fall in the number of cases of fever during the period of the cutting of the second rice-crop, which we found in progress, and during which the previous experience of the police would have led to the expectation of an increased number of cases of Malaria, chiefly to the recent adoption of vigorous prophylactic medication with Quinine on two days successively at intervals of seven days.

5. We made careful search in all directions around the Government buildings and matsheds for breeding-places of Anopheles, our investigation extending over the adjoining paddy-fields as far as the river to the north, to the villages on the west, and across the river and up certain of the ravines beyond it on the south side.

We show the results of our search on the accompanying rough sketch-map, the places where Anopheles larvæ were found being indicated with red ink. We believe that the negative results in the paddy-fields and in the whole river valley to the south were probably chiefly due to the washing away of larvæ by the rain-storm which accompanied the typhoon three days before our visit.

The positions in which larva were actually found abundantly were in the narrow ditches around the uppermost paddy-fields, where the rain-washing would be least marked, and in a marshy sluggish stream, into which the paddy-fields drain, to the north-west of the Government buildings, where, also the disturbance by the storm would be at a minimum.

We direct special attention to two important points: (1) that the breeding-pools that proved most resistant to the severe strain of the recent rain-storm, and which even at this late date in the year contain abundant larvæ, are within 80 yards from the Police Station and 40 yards from the matshed occupied by the Civil Staff; and (2) that the marshy stream above referred to is a perma- nent and prolific breeding-ground.

* Not printed,

[ 23 ]

6. We examined under the microscope the blood of ten children from the village nearest to the Police Station. At first we had some difficulty in obtaining the necessary specimens, but having finally persuaded a chair-coolie to bring his own son we presented the child with a five-cent piece, and let it be known that we were willing to pay for blood at the rate of five cents per drop, where- upon more children turned up than our time permitted us to deal with. Results were as follows:-

Sex.

Age. 3

Type of Parasite found. Benign Tertian Gamete. Benign Tertian Rosette.

Nil.

in.

Aestivo-Autumnal Gamete.

Nil.

Young Aestivo-Autumnal.

9 8

Nil. Nil.

Thus in 50 per cent. of the cases examined we found the parasites of Malaria; and when it is borne in mind that the amount of blood examined in any case did not exceed the size of a pin's head, and that in no case did time allow us to take a second specimen, it will be apparent that the actual prevalence of Malaria among the village children is probably greater than the percentage above named. Two cases were of benign type and three malignant, and while all five children were infec- tive to the mosquito, rendering any anopheles feeding upon them capable of a few days later transmitting the disease to other persons, in two cases the form of the parasite that actually came under our observation was the gamete, i.e., the form which ween ingested by the mosquito is capable of undergoing metamorphosis in the body of that insect.

7. In the abundance of mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus above described, with their breeding- grounds almost close up to the Government buildings, and in the near proximity of an extensively infected native population, by which many of these mosquitoes are being continuously rendered in- fective to healthy persons who may be bitten by them, we have the factors that account sufficiently and conclusively for the fevers that have prevailed among the Government officers at Táipó.

We are of opinion that the seasonal increase of fever cases that has been observed at the time of ploughing, and at the period of harvesting the two rice-crops, is due to the disturbance at these times of mosquitoes usually resting among the grass or growing paddy, and feeding on Chinese coming within their reach, such disturbance resulting in their flying further afield and finding their way in larger numbers to the houses on the hills.

8. Having given our most careful consideration to the facts above stated, in all their bearings, we have come to the conclusion that all temporary measures for the improvement of the health of the station at Táipó should be superseded with as little delay as possible by a definite scheme for the complete eradication of the breeding-places of the Anopheles mosquito over a wide area surrounding the Police Station.

The district involved is too large to be efficiently dealt with by any culicicide; the cutting and clearing of long grass and shrubs from the hillside is only a subsidiary measure, though undoubtedly a useful one; the mosquito curtain, especially if put down an hour before dusk and kept down as long after sunrise, is a valuable preventive of the approach of mosquitoes at night, but with definite limits to its usefulness; and drugging with large quantities of quinine is manifestly undesirable as a permanent method of dealing with the matter.

We consider that we have no alternative but to recommend, as the one means of rendering the Police Station and its neighbourhood more healthy as regards Malaria, the acquirement and reclamation or efficient drainage of all the paddy-fields within a radius of 250 yards from the foot of the hills on which the houses stand, including to the north-west the whole of the marshy water-bed to which we have already referred as a large permanent breeding-place of the Malaria-bearing mosquito.

9. Finally, we recommend that the matsheds in use for the accommodation of the Civil Staff, affording as they do ready cover for adult mosquitoes, and also rendering the inmates liable to chills at night, should be replaced by permanent buildings; and we venture to suggest for the .considera- tion of His Excellency that a more suitable and healthier site than those that have been proposed is available for the purpose. Observing that no permanent foundations for these buildings have yet been laid, and that an Island, 900 yards due east of the Police Station, and well removed from any considerable native population, is being connected with the mainland by a solid road and bridge, in order that a pier may be constructed from it to reach deep water, we made a careful examination of this island. We found no larvæ of mosquitoes, and should any breeding-places come to light after the thick undergrowth is cleared away, they could be readily eradicated. The location would probably be found convenient for executive purposes on account of the proximity of the proposed pier, and its isolation would render it much less malarious than either of the proposed sites even after the improvements we have suggested for the existing police station have been carried into effect.

It would be further conducive to the health of the Civil Staff, if the building were erected in two storeys, the ground floor to be used for office purposes, and residential quarters provided entirely on the upper floor.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servants,

Dr. JOHN BELL,

Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer,

&c.,

&c..

&c.

T. M. YOUNG,

M.B., F.R.C.s. Ed.

JOHN C. THOMSON,

M.D., M.A.

Appendix No. 7.

RETURN of CASES from New TERRITORY tried at Police Court, Victoria, during 1900.

Defendants IN EACH CASE AND SENTENCE, DECISION Or Order made.

Disorderly Behaviour,.

Larceny (common),

Opium (prepared) Unlawful Possession of,

Opium (raw) Breach of,

Cutting Trees,

Assault (common),

Property, Unlawful Possession of,.......

Cutting and Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm,

[ 24 ]

No. of Total Cases Number.

Convicted and Discharged. Punished.

Committed

for Trial

at the

Ordered to find Security

TO BE IMprisoned.

or to be of

Fined.

record-

Supreme

Court.

Good

Behaviour.

In lieu of fine,

&c., H. L.

Peremptory Hard Labour.

To be

Whipped.

ed.

M. F. M. F. M. F.

M. F.

៩.

4 2

$ 2

167

152 15

147

...

10 2

2 3

I am co::

O 10

...

22-

...

: 0:

Receiving Stolen Goods,..

Rogue and Vagabond, Suspicious Character,

Do.,

Found in Dwelling-house for unlawful purpose,

Boats, Unlicensed,

Do., Unlicensed Fishing,.

Arms, being in possession of,

Police Constables, assaulted,

Excise Officers, assaulted,

Gambling,

No co co

51 6

Banishment,

Robbery from the person,

Decoying a Woman into or away from the Colony,

Junks, Leaving the harbour without clearance,

399

Child Stealing,

Pawnbrokers, Unlicensed,

Seamen, absent from duty without leave,

Triad Society, Members of,

...

Bribery, offering to a Public Servant,.

Larceny from the person,

Armed Robbery,

...

Domestic Servant (leaving without giving reasonable notice),

Total,.

303

378 31 289

ลง

148 22 96

975

C. MELBOURNE,—Magistrate's Clerk.

Appendix No. 8.

RETURN of CASES tried at Police Court, NEW TERRITORY, from 1st January to 31st December, 1900.

DEFENDANTS IN EACH CASE, AND SENTENCE, DECISION, OR ORDER MADE.

Committed Orlored to find Security.

No. of

Cases

Number.

record-

ed.

Convicted

Total

and

Punished.

To be Imprisoned,

for Trial

Discharged.

at the

Supreme

Court.

Fined.

To ke p the Peace.

To be of

Good

Behaviour.

'In lieu of Fine Peremptory with with Hard Labour. Hard Labour.

M. F. M. F.

M. J. M. F.

M. F.

MI. F. M.

Ammunition-Being in possession of,-Ordinance 9 of 1900,.. Arms-Carrying or having possession of, without a licence, Assault-Causing grievous bodily harm,--Ordinances 4 of 1865 & 9 of 1897,

Do.

Common,

Do.

-Indecent,

Banishment-Returning after,--Ordinance 8 of 1882,

KARTON

心

Burglary-Ordinance 7 of 1865,

Burglary with violence--Ordinance 7 of 1865,

False Pretences-Obtaining goods or money by.

Felony-Found in dwelling-house by night with intent to commit, House-breaking,

Larceny as a bailee,

...

Larceny-Common,

Do. From a dwelling-house,

Do. -From the person,.........

Menaces-Demanding money by,

Stolen Goods-Receiving,

Decoying of Boys under the age of 14 years,—Ordinance 4 of 1865,

Boats-Unlicensed,-Ordinance 26 of 1891,

Bribery-Ordinance 16 of 1900,

Indecent and Obscene Pictures-Exhibiting,-Ordinance 10 of 1865,

Suicide Attempting to commit,-Ordinance 10 of 1865,

Dangerous Goods-Bont conveying, without attaching labels to cases con-

taining the same,

Common Gaming-house-Keeping or playing in,—Ordinance 7 of 1891,

...

Dealing in Lotteries,.....

...

324

Carried forward,.

185

267

13 192

♡

135 4

39 1

[25]

RETURN of CASES tried at Police Court, NEW TERRITORY,Continued.

DEFENDANTS IN EACH CASE, AND SENTENCe, Decision, or Order madE,

No. of

Cases

Total

Number.

Convicted

and

Punished.

Committed Ordered to find Security. for Trial

To be imprisoned.

Discharged.

record-'

at the

Supreme

Court.

Fined.

To be of

To keep the Pence.

Good

Behaviour.

In lieu of Fine Peremptory with with Hard Labour.]Hard Labour.

ed.

M. F.

MI. F. M. F.

M. F.

M. F. M. F.

Brought forward,,

185

267

192

ما

135

Street Gambling,.

Watchmen to Street Gamblers--Acting as, Animals-Cruelty to,--Ordinance 14 of 1845, Breach of the Peace,-Ordinance 14 of 1845, Disorderly Behaviour,-Ordinance 14 of 1845,

Unlawful Possession of Property,--Ordinance 14 of 1845,

Birds and Game-Unlicensed taking of,--Ordinances 15 of 1885 & 4 of 1892,

False Charge-Wilfully giving False Evidence,-Ordinance 12 of 1895, Malicious Injuries to Property,-Ordinance 8 of 1865,

Opium (Prepared)-Being in possession of, without valid certificates,- Ordinance 21 of 1891,

こい

Opium (Raw), Breach of,-Ordinances 22 of 1887 & 22 of 1891,.

Armed Robbery,-Ordinance 7 of 1865,

Pawnbrokers-Acting as, without a Licence,--Ordinance 3 of 1860,

Police Constables-Obstructing in the discharge of their duties,- Ordi-

nance 9 of 1862,

Police Constables-Impersonating,

Trespass ou Public Land,—Ordinance 12 of 1856,

Rogues and Vagabonds-Wandering abroad by night,-5th of Geo. IV,

chap. 83, s. 4,

Escaping from Police Stations,

Forged Bank Note--Uttering,

Trees-Damaging,-Ordinance 14 of 1845,

Total,

283

372

127

264

- 21

10 106

:::

175

[ 26 ]

[ 27 ]

Appendix No. 9.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE,

།'

HONGKONG, 24th March, 1900.

Extract from Report on Ordinance 8 of 1900.

I have examined the accompanying Ordinance, entitled an Ordinance to facilitate the hearing, determination, and settlement of land claims in the New Territories, to establish a Laud Court, and for other purposes, and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to the Governor's Instructions.

Objects and Reasons.

By Her Majesty's Order in Council of 20th October, 1898, it was ordered that the Territories within the limits and for the term described in the Couveution of the 9th June, 1898, should be and the same were thereby declared to be part and parcel of Her Majesty's Colony of Hongkong in like manner and for all intents and purposes as if they had originally formed part of the said Colony.

It was understood by the Convention that there would be no expropriation or expulsion of the inhabitants and it, therefore, became necessary to constitute some tribunal which should have authority to deal with the numerous claims in relation to the land in the New Territories which were certain to be made on behalf of those inhabitants as well as by others. It seems clear that for the term mentioned in the Convention, namely 99 years, (from I presume the 1st July, 1898, when the Convention came into force) the land in the New Territories belongs to the Crown, subject to the allowance of bonâ fide titles existing when the new Convention came into force. Now, although, as pointed out in the Secretary of State's Despatch of the 6th January, 1899, “the examination into the titles should not be of too technical a nature and where lengthened occupation or improvements can be shown with no adverse claims from private individuals, a Government title should be granted even if no other is forthcoming," yet it is clear that claims must be looked into, to see if they are bonâ fide.

I should not be surprised to find claims asserted to nearly all the land, claims some of which would not have been allowed by the Chinese Authorities, if they had remained in possession.

It seems to me that the best way will be to deal liberally with bonâ fide claims, but it is not at all unlikely that there will be also some utterly groundless pretentions advanced to rights over large tracts of land and especially of foreshore; nor, from what I already hear, is it unlikely that, in some cases, forged Chinese documents will be forthcoming. Not only will simple rustics have to be dealt with but also various designing persons capable of appreciating the rise in the value of various parts of the land certain to take place in the near future when roads are completed and communica- tion with Hongkong proper becomes easy.

The Ordinance is drawn, to a considerable extent, upon the lines of the Squatters Ordinance, 1890 (No. 27 of 1890), which has, I think, worked satisfactorily, but which could have worked more expeditiously had the Board been composed of fewer members. It is not always easy to get a quorum of at least three very busy men together from different departments for a fairly long sitting. Bearing this in mind, Section 3 confers considerable jurisdiction on one member sitting alone. But, as there will also be some cases involving important principles or where the claims advanced are of considerable value, the addition of the second member, viz., a President, will give additional weight to the decisions of the Court when it is necessary for both members to sit together.

Section 4 provides for the appointment of a Registrar. If he has tact and knows the ways of the Chinese and their language he will greatly facilitate the successful working of the Ordinance.

Sections 5 and 6 are very similar to sections 4 and 6 of the Squatters Ordinance. Section 7 sanctions friendly compromises of disputed rights.

Section 8 empowers the Court to make those who, by false claims or improper opposition, put the other side to unnecessary expense, pay the costs of witnesses, &c.

Sections 9, 10 and 11 are similar to Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Squatters Ordinance.

Section 12 is intended to prevent Chinese in the New Territory who are not accustomed to lawyers being compelled either to pay what, to them, would be very large fees or else to find them- selves at a disadvantage as compared with rival claimants who had long purses and had engaged legal assistance.

Section 13 will give an opportunity of dealing fairly with people who have squattered on land without any title and improved it and are willing to pay a small rent.

Section 14.-I think it important that all the inhabitants should feel that during the 99 years, they are holding from the Crown and not from the Emperor of China or the Chinese Authorities, but this clause leaves the Governor to settle the appropriate form of title.

Some Chinese may claim perpetual titles, but I have grave doubts whether those titles would have been recognised in China as lasting any longer than during such time as the rent was duly paid and the land cultivated or occupied.

The latter part of Section 14 (compare with section 12 of the Squatters Ordinance) is intended to meet such cases as, for instance, a man producing a sort of title from the Sun On Magistrate giving him vague fishing and foreshore rights for which his grandfather, as he alleges, paid some trifling sum. The use he makes of his claim is to squeeze "the poor fishermen if they fish near his preserves and "squeeze" them again if they dry their nets on what he would call his foreshore. He alleges that his rights go to the top of the hill and I noticed that, in December, 1899, he appears to have sold his rights to two Europeans in Hongkong. Of course this will develop shortly into a claim to land and also large and valuable foreshore rights put forward by Europeans. The man in question not long ago let out his right for $9 a year. It would certainly be to the public interest to clear the foreshore and waters of claims of this kind even if trifling compensation had to be given.

[ 28 ]

Section 15.-When in any District, the Land Court has got in and decided on all claims, persons occupping without any title may fairly be treated as trespassers from such date as may be notified by the Governor.

Section 16 gives a right of appeal when the value of the claim is over $5,000. Section 17 leaves the settlement of forms of title to be granted to the Governor.

Sections 18, 19 and 20 deal with the numerous cases where the occupier has to pay in produce instead of money. This form of payment is undesirable and leads to unfair treatment of many of the occupiers and dissatisfaction.

Section 21 enables the Governor to make, from time to time, all such appointments as as may be necessary for the proper efficiency of the Court.

W. MEIGH GOODMAN,

Attorney-General.

Ordinance No. 18 of 1900.

Objects and Reasons.

Ordinance 8 of 1900, providing for a Land Court for the purpose of hearing and determining claims in relation to land in the New Territories was assented to by the Governor on 28th March, 1900. It was duly submitted for Her Majesty's directions, and the Ordinance, generally, was approved; but the following amendments, on minor points, were suggested by the Secretary of State as desirable :-

(a.) The substitution, in section 18, of the words "by the Governor in Executive Council “ for the words "by the Court ", in relation to the fixing the rate of money rent in substitution of reut in produce. This is because the Court is not intended to be a permanent institution.

(b.) Provision being made, in section 19, for allowing payment of an annual money rent as an alternative to the payment of a capital sum, in cases of the redemption of a pro- duce rent payable in perpetuity.

(c.) The addition of a section providing that the Court shall be brought to an end as soon

as the work for which it is appointed has been performed.

Ordinance 8 of 1900 is repealed by this Ordinance and re-enacted with the amendments men- tioned. One other amendment has been made, at the suggestion of the Members of the Land Court. They thought it desirable that the value of disputed claims, which might be dealt with by one member of the Court, should be raised, with a view to expediting the business of the Court. The maximum has, accordingly, been raised from two hundred to five hundred dollars. Appointments made under Ordinance 8 of 1900 have been continued as valid, and, in order to prevent any coufu- sion in citing Ordinance 8 of 1900 and the present Ordinance by their short titles, the short title to the present Ordinance has been changed to "The New Territories Land Court Ordinance, 1900.”

W. MEIGH GOODMAN,

Attorney-General.

Ordinance No. 30 of 1900.

Objects and Reasons.

The portion of the New Territories, between Laichikok and Junk Bay which for the most part drains in a southerly direction from the Kowloon Mountain Range, is so closely connected with what used to be known as British Kowloon, that it is desirable that the laws in force in the latter should apply equally to the former district.

It may, at first sight, appear that it will be difficult to enforce compliance at once with all the requirements of some of the Ordinances which were declared by Ordinance No. 10 of 1899 not to apply to the New Territories. All that is really required, however, is consideration and tact in the administration of such laws; and the alternative would appear to be either to leave the district in question with no Sanitary, Building, or Licensing laws or else to pass new Ordinances applying only to that district. The latter course would be to make one set of laws applicable to the Colony generally, a second set to part of the New Territories, and a third set applicable to the rest of such New Territories.

It is difficult to see why laws applicable to the southern half of a village like Sam Shui Po, for instance, should not be equally capable of application to its northern half.

Section 4 is intended to meet cases, such as sections 13, 54, 55, and 57 of Ordinance No. 24 of 1887, where such expressions as the villages and rural districts of Hongkong and Kowloon used; and section 5 deals with evidence.

ure

W. MEIGH GOODMAN,

Attorney General.

Fines,

Forfeitures,

Junk Licences, Pawnbrokers,.

Land Revenne,.

Stone Quarry,

[ 29 ]

Appendix No. 10.

NEW TERRITORY.

Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for 1900.

REVENUE.

Crown Rent,

Rent of Government Buildings,.

EXPENDITURE.

ि

644.00

21.20 8,390,75

3,150.00 289.80

3,730.00

1,300.00

5.00

17,530.75

Personal Emoluments, Civil,

Other Charges, Civil,...

Travelling and Subsistence Allowauce, Civil,................

Do.

do.,

Charter of Steam Launch,

Launches under Construction,

3,662.91

2,095.41

455.50

Police,

165.00

620.50 13,200.00

58,196.25

Expenses incurred by Naval Yard in connection with the taking over of the New

Territory,

Furniture,.

Laying of Telephone lines,..

Tree planting,

Maxim Guns, &c.,

516.47

1,029.65

223.78

2,925.78

15,880.49

Tree planting,.

Do.,

Public Works Recurrent.-Maintenance of Roads,

86.04

584.05

670.09

904.00

Public Works Extraordinary.-Police Station, Saikung,

2,628.05

Do., Starling Inlet,

9,100.15

Táipó, Road,

60,755.17

Pier in Deep Water, Táipó,

2,030.72

Survey of New Territory,....

36,734.41

Telephone lines,.......

852.21

Telephone line at Satin,

944.04

Continuation of Hunghom Road,

5,226.01

Path from Kowloon City to Kok Hang,

673.00

Stores for Public Works,

9,961.85

Police Station at P'ing Shán,.

3,464.15

وو

Au Tau, Táipó,

2,956.83

1,935.36

Repairs, etc. to Police Stations at Ch'eung-

Cháu, Tái Ó, Kat Ó, etc.,

1,459.43

Miscellaneous Works,

1,332.01

Repairs, etc. to old Custom Station at

Kau Pui Shek,......................

227.71

Compensation for crops and removal of

house,

165.00

Cost of matsheds and repairs at Kow

loon, Tai Ó, Táipó, etc.,..

805.15

Repairs to Temporary Land Court, and

Survey Office at Kowloon,....

363.70

Working on Telephone Lines,

527.55

Wages for Tracer, Watchmen, etc.,..............

1,069.60

Travelling Expenses,

Miscellaneous,

218.80

5.43

12th July, 1901.

143,436.33

$243,361.66

C. McI. MESSER, Acting Colonial Treasurer.

[30]

Appendix No. 11.

Statement of Expenditure on the Police Establishment in the New Territory,

during the Year 1900.

Pay and Allowances-Land Force,

Do.

-Water Police,

Office Furniture,

Passages and Bonuses,

59,227.62

19,470.96

385.50

1,065.99

1,435.44

869.01

Arms and Ammunition,

Oil and Wick and Gas for Barracks,

Clothing and Accoutrements,..

Bedding, Mess Utensils, &c.,......

Repairs of Launches and Boats,

Coal, Oil, &c., for Launches,....

Meals for Prisoners in Cells,

Burial of Destitute Dead,

Conveyance of Police, Prisoners, &c.,

Small Stores,

Incidental Expenses,

Secret Service,.........

Rent of Police Stations,.

Disinfectants,

4,572.91

1,028.58

1,443.37

9,083.34

80.84

6.10

2,108.57

156.96

1,684.99

206.50

336.00

129.80

$102,292.48

11th April, 1901.

F. H. MAY,

Captain Superintendent of Police,

Appendix No. 12.

List of Officers who have worked in the New Territory during 1900,

NAME.

RANK.

DATE.

Mr. C. Mel. Messer,

Land Officer,...

The whole year.

Mr. E. R. Hallifax,

Magistrate and Asst. Supt. of Police, ....

Do.

Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz,

Member, Land Court,

May to December.

Registrar, Land Court,

Mr. J. H. Kemp,

Mr. J. R. Wood,

Mr. B. W. Grey,

Mr. S. R. Moore,

Mr. H. J. Watson,

Mr. Ho Nai Hop,...

Mr. Cheung Tsoi,

Mr. Tsoi Yeuk Shan,

Registrar, Land Court,

Temporary Land Surveyor,.

Demarcation Officer, Land Court,

May to November.

November to Dec.

The whole year.

November to Dec.

Clerk in connection with the preparation, April to July.

of a rent roll for the cultivated por- tion of the New Territory.

Chinese Medical Officer,

Chief Clerk and Interpreter to the Land

Court.

Chief Chinese Assistant and Interpreter

to Land Officer.

The whole year.

May to December.

January to May, (Resigned).

HONGKONG.

599

No. 30

1901

STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE IN THE NEW TERRITORY, FROM JUNE, 1898, TO 30TH JUNE, 1901.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

NEW TERRITORY.

STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE, FROM JUNE, 1898, TO 30TH JUNE, 1901.

1st January

REVENUE.

Up to

31st Dec.,

1899.

1900.

to 30th June,

1901.

Total.

EXPENDITURE.

Up to

31st Dec.,

1899.

1900.

1st January to 30th June,

1901.

Total.

Stone Quarries,

1,800.00

3,730.00

1,925.00

7,455.00

Personal Emoluments---Civil,

6,465.78

-4,732.51

8,658.41

19,856.70

Junk Licences, Fishing Nets, &c.,

3,108.63

8,390.75

3,890.10

15,389.48

Do.,

-Police,

26,116.83

78,698.58

39,686.15

144,501.56

Pawnbrokers' Licence,

2,100.00

3,150.00

2,100.00

7,850.00

Other Charges-Civil,

8,748.94

2,095.41

1,380.00

15,224.35

Fines and Forfeitures,

14.03

665.20

308.11

987.34

Do.,

-Police,

21,103.52

23,208.40

12,293.87

56,605.79

Crown Rent,

221.37

1,589.80

2,715.65

1,526.82

Land Court,

10,043.82

13,501.18

23,545.00

Squatters' Fees, ·

29.00

Public Works-Police Stations, Land-

Spirit and Kerosine Oil Licences,

Registration of Deeds,

Salt Pans,

1,996.92

80.00

1,235.00

1,996.92

ing Pier, Flag Pole, &c., &c.,

112,012,22

20,084.54

7,160.53

189,257.29

80.00

Matsheds,

3,964.20

1,235.00

Transport,

12,114.00

Buildings,

5.00

Water Shoot at Lai Chi Kok,

Pier Rent,

Collecting Ballast, Stones, &c., .

4.00

309.52

130.00

9.00

Furniture,

1,881.79

1,115.15

448.25

3,245.19

309.52

Compensation to Owners of Land,.

2,566.53

130.00

Expenses of the Navy,

3,061.05

1,516.25

Steam-Launches,

31,875.00

58,196.25

5,075.00

95,146.25

Telephone Lines,

2,543.81

2,517.58

136.90

5,228,29

Survey Party,.....

1,079.86

36,734.41

21,592.41

59,406.68

Piers,..

Táipó Roads,

Tree-planting, &c.,

Waglan Island Lighthouse,

Charter of Steam-Launches,

Travelling Allowances,

Expenses incurred by Naval Yard in

2,030.72

2,969.28

5,000.00

60,755.17

25,729.25

86,484.42

3,595.87

1,819.58

5,415.45

3,384.22

13,200.00

954.82

14,154.82

839.30

50.00

889.30

TOTAL,..............$

7,278.03

17,530.75

16,210.55

41,011.33

Treasury, Hongkong, 20th August, 1901.

connection with the taking over of the New Territory,

516.47

Maxim Guns, &c.,

15,880.49

Maintenance of Roads,

904.00

516.47

15,880.49

904.00

Continuation of Hunghom Road,

5,226.01

Path from Kowloon City to Hok Hing,

673.00

Stores for Public Works,

9,961.85

Repairs to Police Stations at Cheung

Chau, Tai O, and Kat 0,

1,459,43

1,459.43

Miscellaneous Works and Repairs to Buildings, .....

2,734.00

2,784.00

Compensation for Crops and Removal

, of Houses,

165.00

TOTAL,

233,033.53 855,697.96

147,839.83 736,571.34

C. McI. MESSER,

Acting Treasurer.

600

HONGKONG.

No. 31

REPORT ON THE PROGRESS MADE WITH THE SURVEY IN THE NEW TERRITORY,

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

1901

During Season 1899-1900 an area of 35,257.77 acres containing 226,588 fields was surveyed on the 16" scale.

This area includes:-

All the cultivation lying to the South of the Kowloon Hills;

The whole of the Unlong District;

Sub-Districts Santin, Sheongshui, Han Yuck, Fan Ling and Lung Yeuk-tau of District

Sheung ; and

The District of Luk Yeuk.

During Season 1900-1901 a total area of 9,024 acres, containing 139,857 fields, was surveyed; 550 acres being on the 16" scale and the remainder 8,474 acres on the 32′′ scale.

This area includes the following Sub-Districts of the Sheung U District, namely:-Hap Wo, Lam. Tsün, Tsoi Hang and Shun Wan; and the following Sub-Districts of Shataukok District, namely:- Liu Mahang, Ha Po, Wohang, Lukkeng, Kukpo and portions of Hing Chun and Nam Yeuk.

Also the Islands Cheong Chau, Peng Chau and Mah Wan and portions of Lantau at Tungchung and Mui Wo.

DEMARCATION.

The area surveyed during Season 1900-1901, namely, 9,204 acres, has also been demarcated and 2,133.32 acres south of the Kowloon Hills.

During the recess Season of 1900 a survey on the 64" scale was made of Kowloon City for the Land Court.

I should say that, at the very outside, about 25,000 acres remain to be done.

Total Area surveyed and demarcated up to date.

Area surveyed Area surveyed

on the 16′′

on the 32"

Total Area surveyed up

Number of

scale.

to date.

Fields surveyed.

Area demarcated up to date.

Acres.

From November, 1899, to

July, 1901,

35,807.77

8,474.00

44,281.77

366,445

.11,157,32

W. NEWLAND.

Táipó, 2nd August, 1901.

NUMBER OF CLAIMS RECEIVED AND SETTLED BY THE LAND Court.

From 1st June, 1900, to 16th July, 1901.

Total claims received.

37,922.

Finally settled. 23,457.

685

No.

HONGKONG.

RETURN OF THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF FISHERMEN EMPLOYED IN TAKING CORAL AND SHELL FROM THE SEA ADJOINING THE NEW TERRITORY,

Tsin Wan.............

Ni Ku Chau,................

and

Ping Chau,

Deep Bay,

Rocky Harbour,

Port Shelter,

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,

Locality.

Hebe Haven,..

Ping Chau (in Mirs Bay),

Knob Reef

Flat Reef

(in Tolo Channel),

Centre Island (in Tolo Harbour),

Average

Approximate Area.

Approximate No. of Boats.

No. of Men on each Boat.

1901

Total estimated No, of Men employed.

14 sq. miles

34.

miles

20 Junks 60 Boats

360

70 Junks

5 to 10

500

sq.

miles

25 Boats

125

24.

miles

3 to 4

2 to 3

150

2 to 3

400

•

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

145

1901.

HONGKONG OBSERVATORY,

25th January, 1901.

SIR,-I have the honour to submit my annual report for 1900 to His Excellency the Governor. My sixteenth volume of observations was published last autumn, and the seventeenth volume is now being printed. It contains the usual astronomical, meteorological, and magnetic observations. During my

absence on leave last year, Mr. F G. FIGG acted for me, and I found everything in good order on my return.

2. The comparison of weather-forecasts, issued daily about 11 a.m., with the weather subse- quently experienced has been conducted on the same system as heretofore (Comp. Annual Report for 1896 § 5). We have :

Success 60%, partial success 33 %, partial failure 6 %, total failure 1%.

་

Following the method used in meteorological offices and taking the sum of total and partial success as a measure of success, and the sum of total and partial failure as a measure of failure, we find finally that :--

93% of the weather forecasts were successful.

3. The China Coast Meteorological Register was printed every morning at the Observatory, and information regarding storms was telegraphed and exhibited on notice boards as often and as fully as such information could be justified by the weather telegrams received. This happened on 96 days in 1900. The Red Drum was hoisted twice, the Black Drum twice, the Red South Cone once, the Black South Cone 4 times, the Red North Cone 0 times, the Black North Cone once, the Red Ball () times, the Black Ball twice. Orders to fire the Typhoon Gun were issued 3 times. Printed bulletins were

circulated on 3 occasions.

4. Telegraphic connection with Victoria was interrupted from 2.7 p. on the 28th to 7 a. on the 29th April, 1900; on the 13th June, from 4 p. to 5 p.; on the 7th July, from 10.20 a. to li.15 a., and from 11.50 a. to 12.20 p.; from 12.30 p. to 8.20 a. on the 8th; from 1 p. on the 8th to 1 p. on the 9th; from 1.15 p. on the 9th to 7.50 a. on the 10th; on the 24th from 7.30 a. to noon; on the 23rd August from 11.8 a. to 4.20 p.; from 6.15 p. on the 8th September to 10.56 a. on the 9th ; on the 9th from 11.3 a. to 5.20 p.; on the 3rd October from 11:56 a. to 2.25 p.; on the 4th from 9.50 a. to 3.20 p.; from 4.10 p. on the 7th November to 1.30 p. on the 14th; from 1.33 p. on the 14th to 10.30 a. on the 15th; from 9.15 a. on the 7th December to 10.25 a. on the 8th. Interruptions occurred there- fore on 24 days, and of course, also during thunderstorms. Telephone connection with the Peak was interrupted from 3 p. on the 29th to 7 a. on the 30th July, 1900; from 4 p. on the 8th to 3.55 p. on the 9th August; on the 1st September from 11 a. to 2.30 p.; from 7 a. on the 10th to 7 a. on the 14th November; from 6 p. on the 15th to 7 a. on the 17th; from 7 a. on the 22nd to 7 a. on the 26th, i.e. on 18 days as well as during thunderstorms.

5. During 1900 in addition to meteorological registers kept at about 40 stations on shore, 2405 shiplogs have been copied on board or forwarded by the captains. The total number of vessels, whose log-books have been made use of, was 326. The total number of days' observations (counting separately those made on board different ships on the same day) was 19248.

6. The following is a list of ships, from which logs have been obtained in 1900. The majority are steamships, and the others are distinguished as follows:-bk., barque; sh.. ship; bqt., barquen- tine-Abergeldie, Aglaia, Airlie, Alcinous, Alesia, Alexander, Algo, Amara. Ambria, Anping Maru, Antenor, Argyle, Ariake Maru, Arratoon Apcar, Ashmore, Astoria, Asturia, Atagosan Maru, Athesia, Australian, Awa Maru, Ayr, Ballarat, Bamberg, Banca, Belgian King, Bellerophon, Benclutha, Bengal, Bengloe, Benlarig, Benlawers, Benledi. Bisagno, Bittern (bqt.), Bombay, Bonaventure (H. M.S.), Bormida, Brand, Brandenburg (S.M.S.), Breconshire, Broadmayne, Brooklyn (U.S.S.), Buffalo (U.S.S.), Calchas, Candia, Canton (P.O.S.N.Co. and I.-C.S.N.Co.), Carlisle City, Carlo Alberto (Italian man-of-war), Caermarthenshire, Cathay, Catherine Apcar, Centurion (H.M.S.), Changsha, Chasseloup Laubat (French man-of-war), Chelydra, Chihli, China (P.M.S.Co. and Austr. steamer), Chingwo, Chiyuen, Chowfa, Chowtai, Choysang, Chunsang, Chusan, City of Cambridge, City of

Square

146

Dublin, City of London, City of Peking, City of Rio de Janeiro, Clive, Clyde, Coptic, Coromandel, Dalhousie, Dardanus, Decima, D'Entrecasteaux (French man-of-war). Descartes (French man-of-war), Devawongse, Diamante, Dido (H.M.S.), Don Juan de Austria (U.S.S.), Doric, Eastern, Edgar (H.M.S.), Emily Reed (sh.). Empress of China, Empress of India, Empress of Japan. Endymion (H.M.S.), Ernest Simons, Eskdale, Esmeralda, Eva, Fausang. Feihoo (1.M.C.C.), Firzclarence, Fook- sang. Formosa, Gaelic, Gera, Gefion (S.M.S.), General Baquedano (Chilian_training-ship), Germania, Gisela, Glenesk, Glenfalloch, Glenfarg, Glengyle, Glenogle. Glenturret, Guthrie, Gwalior (hospital ship), Haiching, ailan, Haitan, Hakata Maru. Hakuai Maru, Hainan, Hangchow, Hanoi, Hating, Hector, Hela (S.M S.), Helios, Hertha (S.MS.), Hikosan Maru, Hinsang. Hiroshima Maru, Hi-yei (H.I.J.M.S.), Hoihao, Holland (Dutch man-of-war), Holsatia, Hongkong Maru, Hong Leong, sin Chi, Hue, Hunan, Independent, Idzumi Maru, India, Indrapura. Indus, Irene (S.M.S.), Isla de Cuba (U.S.S.), Itaura, Jacob Diederichsen, Japan, Jason, Java. Kachidate Maru, Kagoshima Maru, Kai- fong, Kaiserin Augusta (S.M.S.), Kaiserin Elizabeth (Austr. man-of-war). Kamakura Maru, Kana- gawa Maru, Kara, Kasuga Maru, Keong Wai, Kersaint (French man-of-war), Kiukiang, Kinshin Maru, Kongbeng, Kosai Maru, Kumsang, Kurfürst Friederich Wilhelm (S.M.S.), Kutsang, Kwanglee, Kweiyang, Kyoto Maru, König Albert, Liv, Loongmoon, Loongsang, Loosok, Loyal, Lyeemoon, Macedonia, Machaon, Machew, Maidzuru Maru, Malacca, Malta, Marco Minghetti. Marie Jebsen, Marie Theresa, Marquis Bacquebam, Mary L. Schepp (bk.), Mausang, Mazagon, Marathon (II.M.S.), Meefoo, Melpomene, Menmuir. Michael Jebsen, Miike Maru, Mohawk, Mohawk (H.M.S.), Mongkut, Monmouthshire, Moyune, Mukawa Maru, München, Nairung, Namyong, Nanchang, Nestor, Nevasa, Ningpo. Nippon Maru, Nowshera, Oceanien, Oldenburg, Olympia, Onsang, Oregon (U.S.S.), Orlando (H.M.S.), Ormazan, Pakhoi, Pakshan, Parramatta, Pascal (French man-of-war), Patroclus, Peiyang, Pekin, Pennsylvania, Perla, Perthshire, Petrarch, Phra Chom Klao, Pigmy (H.M.S.), Pique (H.M.S.), Plover (H.M.S.), President (bk.), Preussen, Princeton (U.S.S.), Progress, Pronto, Propontis, Pro- tector (H.M.S.), Quarta, Rajah, Razboinik (Russian man-of-war), Recina, Riojun Maru, Rohilla, Rosetta, Sachsen, Sado Maru, Saint Andrew, Sambria, Sandakan, Sanuki Maru, Sarpedon, Saxonia, Sazanami, Scindia (U.S.S.), Shantung, Shinano Maru, Siam, Siberia, Sierra Cordova (sh.), Sikh, Silesia, Singapore, Sishan, Skarpsno, Sobraon, Socotra. Stentor. Szechuan, Suisang. Sultan van Langkat, Sungkiang, Süllberg. Sydney, Tacoma, Taicheong, Tailee, Taisang, Taishun, Taiwan, Taiyuan. Takachiho (H.I.J.M.S.), Tamsui, Tamsui Maru, Tantalus, Tartar, Tategami Maru, Teenkai, Telemachus, Tetartos, Thales, Tientsin, Tiger (S.M.S.), Tonkin, Toyo Maru, Trafalgar (bk.), Tsinan, Tsurugisan Maru, Ulysses, Undaunted (H.M.S.), Unita, Urano, Vale of Doon (bk.), Valetta, Vesper, Victorius (H.M.S), Volute, Wakasa Maru, Wardha, Warren (U.S.S.), Waterwitch (H.M.S.), Weimar,. Wheeling (U.S.S.), Weissenburg (S.M.S.), Wittenberg, Woerth (S.M.S.), Yaeyama (H.Í.J.M.S.), Yangtze, Yuensang, Zenta (Austrian man-of-war).

7. The entry of observations made at sea in degree squares for the area between 9° south and 45° north latitude, and between the longitude of Singapore and 180° East of Greenwich for the construc- tion of trustworthy pilot charts has been continued, and 242481 in all have now been entered.

Table I.

Meteorological Observations entered in 10° Squares in 1893-1900 inclusive.

number.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

April. May. June. July.

August.

Sept. Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

(

243

293

102-

105

028-888

207

463

345

419

384

317

281

549

512

369

546

590

438

223

186

162

151

182

157

207

191

173

375

373

313

2871

2605

3142

3118

3396

3493

3661

3886

3712

3666

3019

2982

110

138

167

154

111

106

150

117

304

331

312

208

194

243

372

306

187

240

229

3109

2754

3384

3143

3800

4018

4140

4248

4170

4203

3903

3449

1817

1878

2132

2063

2228

2323

2141

2152

2159

2093

2009

1953

110

100

108

Square

number.

Meteorological Observations,-Continued.

147

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

April.

May.

June.

July. August. Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

101

155

120

109

147

2064

1847

1953

1914

2278

2269

2303

2173

2006

2217

2017

1973

913

882

1063

935

1049

1088

999

1019

1056

1091

1133

1058

296

285

283

303

360

408

401

399

401

374

383

350

127

168

119

114

150

105

124

143

127

128

188

103

141

130

109

124

183

156

126

193

165

124

129

217

130

194

210

130

185

183

185

161

209

220

176

130

529

377

459

440

578

581

661

-599

522

541

592

497

131

511

446

474

549

566

631

697

789

512.

592

533

452

132

1499

1469

1734

2350

2652

2741

3091

2759

2488

2575

2441

1714

133

103.

133

141

165

104

141

117

163

151

133

170

233

206

248

259

289

225

217

196

143

164

250

176

248

324

284

379

362

375

377

297

259

187

165

296

186

196

272

358

378

407

381

418

286

295

216

166

131

113

147

174

118

167

123

144

162

ΤΙ

168

199

200

202

203

318

319

40.

320

ONÖNN∞

321

४

322

323

417

243

333

217

210

171

253

220

213

235

288

323

324

333

256

200

115

147

144

239

299

342

374

325

300

266

268

389

411

566

536

591

367

370

328

18171 16514 18588 18885

20610 21473

23040 22522 21138 21983 20937 18620

8. As stated in the "Instructions for making Meteorological Observations, etc.," meteorological observations forwarded by observers who regularly send their registers to the Observatory are verified here free of cost. During the past year 3 barometers, 2 aneroids and 4 thermometers were verified. In addition, several hundred barometers and aneroids on board ship were compared with our standard.

9. The mean values of the spectroscopic rainband (1-5) in 1900 were as follows:--January 1.65, February 1.86, March 2.52, April 2.03, May 2.26, June 2.47. July 2.29, August 2.13, September 2.07, October 1.58, November 1.70, December 1.00. Year 1.96.

10. In 1900 the number of transits observed was 3729. The axis of the transit instrument was levelled 222 times, and the azimuth and collimation errors were determined 17 times by aid of the meridian mark erected in 1884. All these observations, with the exception of 137 transits made by myself in January, have been made and reduced by Mr. J. I. PLUMMER.

11. The Sidereal Standard Clock by Dent was cleaned on December 13th and its rate during the whole year has been satisfactory. It was found necessary to clean the platinum points of the contact springs on several occasions: viz. on February 27, April 20, June 19 and August 24. This can be done without interfering with the going of the clock. On August 29 and, again on September 3 the springs having been set too low the clock tripped a number of seconds during observations but it was detected at once and the escapement released. Advantage was taken of the cleaning of the clock to reduce the rate sensibly. The Standard mean time clock by Brock has been going uninterruptedly, but its rate is not satisfactory. The time-ball clock calls for no remark.

12. The errors of the time-ball are given in Table II. There was one failure in 1900. The ball is not dropped on Government holidays. On April 28th the Chinese assistant omitted to take the key of the time-ball tower with him. On September 11th the ball was not hoisted in consequence of a strong casterly gale, and from November 10th to November 12th, the telegraph line, having been broken down in the typhoon of the preceding day, was under repair. It was dropped successfully 348 times. The cause of the single failure was that the piston jammed at the top of the cylinder in consequence of the oil having become hardened in the dry weather. The probable error was in January± 0.12, in February ± 6.10, in March±0.19, in April ± 0.16, in May. ± 0.10, in June ± 0.12, in July.13, in August± 0.09, in September ±0.11, in October ± 0.09, in Novem- ber ± 0.12, and in December ± 0.10.

Date.

148

Table II.

Errors of Time-Ball in 1900.

means too late.

+ means too early.

Jan.

Feb.

March.

April.

May.

June.

July.

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

+0.6

+0.3

-0.2

0.1

+0.5

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.4

0.1

-0.4

0.1

+0.3

0.1

+0.6

0.1

+0.2

-0.5

0.1

+0.4

0.1

+0.4

-0.7

0.1

+0.5

-0.6

+0.2

0.1

+0.4

0.1

+0.6

-0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.6

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.4

0.1

+0.5

0.1

+0.2.

0.1

+0.2

0.1

-0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.4

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

...

+0.2

0.1

+0.3

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.3

+0.2

+0.4

0.1

+0,2

0.1

·+0.4

0.1

+0.2

· 0.1

0.1.

+0.2

0.1

-0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

-0.4

0.1

+0.3

0.1

+0.2

0.1

-0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

-0.2

0.1

-0.2

0.1

+0.2

0.1

-0.2

0.1

+0.3

0.1

0.J

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.5

0.1

+0.2

0.1

-0.2

0:1

0.1

-0.2

- 0.1

0.1

+0.2

0.1

+0.3

13. The cisterns of the barograph and standard barometers are placed 109 feet above M.S.L. The bulbs of the thermometers are rotated 108 feet above M.S.L., and 4 feet above the grass. The solar radiation thermometer is placed at the same height. The rim of the rain-gauge is 105 feet above M.S.L., and 21 inches above the ground.

14. The monthly Weather Reports are arranged as follows:-

Table I. exhibits the hourly readings of the barometer reduced to freezing point of water, but not to sea level nor for gravity, as measured (at two minutes to the hour named) from the barograms.

Tables II. and III. exhibit the temperature of the air and of evaporation as determined by aid of rotating thermometers. Table II. exhibits also the extreme temperatures reduced to rotating thermo- meter by comparisons of thermometers hung beside them. Table III. exhibits also the solar radiation. (black bulb in vacuo) maximum temperatures reduced to Kew arbitrary standard.

Table IV. exhibits the mean relative humidity in percentage of saturation and mean tension of water vapour present in the air in inches of mercury, for every hour of the day and for every day of the month, calculated by aid of Blanford's tables from the data in Tables II. and III.

Table V. exhibits the duration of sunshine expressed in hours, from half an hour before to half an hour after the hour (true time) named.

Table VI. exhibits the amount of rain (or dew) in inches registered from half an hour before to half an hour after the hour named. It exhibits also the observed duration of rain.

Table VII. exhibits the velocity of the wind in miles and its direction in points (1-32). The velocity is measured from half an hour before to half an hour after the hour named, but the direction is read off at the hour.

Table VIII. exhibits the amount (0-10), naine (Howard's classification) and direction whence coming of the clouds. Where the names of upper and lower clouds are given, but only one direction, this refers to the lower clouds. With regard to the names of clouds; nimbus (nim) is entered only when the rain is seen to fall; when no rain is seen to fall cumulo-nimbus (cum-nim) is entered. This name indicates clouds intermediate between cum and nimm. Cumulo-stratus (cum-str) is the well-known thunder cloud, while strato-cumulus (str-cum) signifies a cloud intermediate between stratus and cum. Sm-cum means alto-cumulus.

}

』

↓

149

Table IX. exhibits for every hour in the day, the mean velocity of the wind reduced to 4 as well as 2 directions, according to strictly accurate formulæ, and also the mean direction of the wind.

Below this is printed a list of the phenomena observed.

15. The following annual Weather Report for 1900 is arranged as follows:-

Table III. exhibits the mean values for the year (or hourly excess above this) obtained from the monthly reports. The total duration of rain was 838 hours. There fell at least 0.01 inch of rain on 140 days.

Table IV. exhibits the number of hours during a portion of which at least 0.005 inch of rain (or dew) was registered.

Table V. exhibits the number of days with wind from eight different points of the compass. The figures are obtained from the mean daily directions in Table VII. of the monthly reports.

Days with wind from a point equidistant from two directions given, are counted half to one of these and half to the other, e.g., half of the days when the wind was NNE are counted as N, and the other half as NE Table VI. exhibits the number of days on which certain meteorological phenomena were regis- tered, and also the total number of thunderstorms noted in the neighbourhood during the past year.

Table VII. shows the frequency of clouds of different classes.

Table VIII. is arranged as last year.

Table IX. exhibits the monthly and annual extremes.

Table X. contains five-day means.

16. The observations of magnetic declination and horizontal force published in Tables XI. and XII. were made with magnet No. 55 on Kew pattern unifilar magnetometer Elliott Brothers No. 55. The dips were observed with dip-circle Dover No. 71.

The methods adopted in making the observations and in determining and applying the correc- tions are explained in Appendix G. of Observations and Researches made in 1885:" On the verifica- tion of the unifilar magnetometer Elliott Brothers No. 55." The value of log K was 3.44907 at 25°. The value of P was + 6.597. The mean value of the magnetic moment of the vibrating needle was 580.82.

The times of vibration exhibited in Table XII. are each derived from 12 observations of the time occupied by the magnet in making 100 vibrations, corrections having been applied for rate of chrono- meter and are of vibration.

The observations of horizontal force given in Table XIII, are expressed in C.G.S. units. The vertical and total forces have been computed by aid of the observed dips.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c.

Sir.

Your most obedient Servant,

W. DOBERCK,

Director.

་

Table III.

Mean Value's and Hourly Excess above the Mean of Meteorological Elements in 1900.

3 a.

43,

5 a.

6 a.

7 a.

8 a.

9 a.

10 a.

11 a.

Noon.

1 p.

2 p.

3 P.

4 p.

бр.

6 p. 7 p.

8 p.

9 p.

10 p.

11 p. Midt.

1 a.

2 a.

Mean or

Total.

150

Pressure,.

+.004 —,008

—.017

Temperature,.

1.2

1.4

1.6

-.020

1.8

-.015

1.9

·.002+.015 +.031

1.9

1.4

0.5

+.042 +.045 +0.4 + 1.4

+.036 +.018 + 1.8 + 2.1

-.006 -.026

-.039

+ 2.4 + 2.4

043

+ 2.1 + 1.6

-040 -.030 + 1.0 + 0.3

-.015 +.001

0.2 -0.4

+.014 +.021

0.7

0.6

+.020 +.014|

29.854

0.9 1.0

71.6

8.1

Diurnal Range...

...

Humidity,

4 +

5 +

4 +

Vapour Tension,

+.009 +.005

.000 -.002

-.007

-.008

-.009 —.009

-.011 -013

.012

-.012

-.004

.003

-.001 .000

+.002 +.006

+ 2+

+.008 +.010

...

3 + 3 +.014 +.013

+.013 +.012

0.633

Sunshine (Total),

11.1

80.4 146.7

172.6

180.7

192.6 191.2

198.8

198.4

183.5

160.4

102.7

17.7

1836.8

...

Rainfall (Total).

Hours of Rain (Total).

Intensity of Rain,. Wind-Velocity. Wind-Direction,

Cloudiness,

Solar Radiation, Excess of do. do.,

3.045 3.060

3.110

3.920

4.770

3.190

3.995

6.285

7.110.2.635

5.075

1.755

1.750

3.425

2.260

2.585

1.920

1.820

2.780

2.855

2.420

1.115

1,665

1.185

73.730

41 33

876

0.065

0.5

0.068

0.069

0.082

0.099

0.094

0.102

0.157

0.173

0.069

0.169 0.055

0.070

0.122

0.068

0.076

0.056

0.057

0.082

0.087

0.069

0.034

0.013

0.041

0.084

1.2

1.3 1.0

1.9

1.6

0.6

+0.8 + 1.1

+ 2.4 + 1.6

+ 1.8 + 2.0

0°

4°

5o + 1°

+ 1o + 6°

.....

+ 2

+ 4

+10° + 70

+1.8 1.6 + 0.9 + 8°.+ 80

0.5

0.4

1.1

0.9

0.5

- 0.6

0.6

13.3

+ 50 + 20

4°

10 50

E 5° S

...

124.5

48.4

...

Table IV.

Number of Hours during a portion of which it rained for each Month in the Year 1900.

Month.

1 a.

2 a.

3 a.

4 a.

5 a.

6 a.

7 a.

8 a.

9 a.

10 a.

11 a. Noon. 1 p.

2 p.

3 p.

4 p.

5 p. 6 p.

7 p.

8 p.

9 p.

10 p. 11 p. Midt Total.

January,

February,

Marth,

April,

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

October,

}

November,

December,

:23 -

125

5312

1243 HIS HON-

9 10

[

326NDON LIIO

126421O~~-~O

11632-*4~0-0

O227NXX 330

1902 10 3 10 –~~~ O

11108 21C AND O

- 2 O 3 – 22-O

1I30NXIN21-O

234C TÍ LO CO — NNN O

2250 10 to 60 ON2420

CANAANONONZO

- ON - to 30 31 30 20 01 10 00

NNNN - 0100 P -- 0100 O

NN CN 00 00 01 09 10 OF NO —

O∞ 10 ∞ — 01 01 A CO IP 00 1

114

193

ONINN N

151

Total,

3333

876

Table V.

Number of Days with Wind from eight different points of the Compass during each Month of the Year 1900.

Month.

NE.

SE.

151

SW.

NW.

...

January,

February,

March...

April,

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

October,

November,

11.

December,

January, February, March,

April,

May.

June,

July,

August,

Sums,...

203

Table VI.

Total Number of Days on which different Meteorological Phenomena were noted and Total Number of

Thunderstorms during each Month of the Year 1900.

September,

October,

November,

December,

Month.

000 10

2222 H ∞ CO∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

1472626ON

LILO KO CO Q

Sums,...

Table VII.

Total Number of Times that Clouds of different forms were observed in each Month of the Year 1900.

Month.

c-str.

c-cum. sm-cum.

cum.

cum-str.

str. R-cum. cum-nim.

nim.

January,

February,

March,

April,

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

October,

November,

December,

888

119

177

144

14.

176

179

133

138

.59

138

108 78

10 10 00

Sums,...

149

467

576

1477

266

135

336

152

Table VIII.

Mean

Weight

Diurnal of Water

RAINFALL.

Baro-

Month.

Variabi. Vapour in

metric

Hourly Intensity

MEAN DIRECTION OF

CLOUDS WHENCE

COMING.

Tide.

lity of

Troy Grains in

NUMBER OF DAYS

WITH

CLOUDS BELOW

Temper-each cubic

Rain.

ature.

foot of Air.

Mean.

1900.

Lower.

1900.

Upper. Cirrus. 2,000 ft. 1,000 ft.

January,

0.114

2o.13

3.86

1.545

0.770

0.023

E 2° SW 2° S

February,

0.111

2.45

3.92

2.091

2.640

0.061

E 8° SW 8° S

March,

0.099 2.55

5.30

2.991

3.020

0.018

E W 24° S

April,

0.093

2.15

7.27

5.980

2.780

0,031

E 38° S W 6° S

May,

0.088

1.63

8.46

13.159

9.310

0.115

S 20° W W 12° S

June,

0.061

1.06

8.77

16.496

26.520

0.165

S 4° EW 17° N

July,

0.065

0.85

9.45

14.210

10.135

0.104

S 4° WE 40° N

-1

August,

0.074

0.90

9.38

13.482.

6.690

0.223

E 3° SE 43° N

September,

0.079

0.84

8.19

8.833

4.310

0.127

E 9° NE 15° N

October,

0.096

1.18

7.16

5.794

1.615

0.044

E 9° NE

7° N

November,

0.090 2.38

5.33

1.302

5.785

0.129

E 16° NE 56° S

December,...... 0.107 2.49

4.46

0.985 0.155

0.010

E 2° SW 37° S

Mean,...... 0.090 1.72

6.80

86.867

73.730

0.088

E 26° S

222222 223

Table IX.

Monthly Extremes of the Principal Meteorological Elements registered during the Year 1900.

BAROMETER.

TEMPERATURE.

HUMI-

DITY.

VAPOUR TENSION.

RAIN.

WIND VELO-

RADIA-

TION.

•

CITY.

MONTH.

Max. Min.

Max.

Min.

Max.

Min.

Daily

Hourly

Sum

Max.

January,

30.211 29.884

71.1

37.5

0.507 0.156

0.520

0.130

125.5

February,

.347

.$46

70.2

44.5

0.588 0.078 1.395

0.970

130.6

March,

.176

.717

74.4

49.7

0.796

0.238 0.680 0.465

130.1

April,

.082

.617

82.7

61.6

0.880

0.336

1.570 0.740

138.2

May,

29.942

.562

88.6

67.0

0.955

0.481

5.180 1.950

150.3

June,

.826

.397 86.5

70.3

1.001

0.461

8.450 2.855

149.1

July,

.889

.497

89.6

73.7

0.994

0.766

1.325 0.625

151.7

August,

.846

.227

97.0

75.4

1.017

0.535

2.330 1.465

155.9

September,

.965

.373

90.8

74.4

1.022

0.439 2.140

0.560

153.1

October,

30.078

.764 86.6

65.6

38*

0.917

0.314 0.975

0.305

151.7

November,

.158 28.735 81.9

51.6

0.831

December,

.317

29.791

76.6

48.1

0.064

0.664 *0.106

4.730

1.240

147.9

0.065 0.035

138.0

Year,

30.347 28.735

97.0

37.5

1.022

0.064

8.450 2.855

155.9

Table X.

Five-Day Means of the Principal Meteorological Elements observed at Hongkong in 1900.

153

FIVE-DAY PERIODS.

Barometer.

Temper-

Humidity.

ature.

Vapour Tension.

Wind Velocity.

Nebulosity. Sunshine.

Rain.

January

1- 5 30.067

52.0

0.305

7.1

10.0

0.1

0.135

6-10

.040

46.7

.231

6.0

7.1

3.6

0.012

.11-15

.052

56.4

-290

10.1

3.4

8.8

0 000

16-20

.097

58.2

.379

17 2

6.2

4.8

0.000

.21-25

.012

61.4

.458

18.5

6.2

4.8

0.000

.26-30

.085

58.1

.412

15.2

9.9

0.6

0.007

..31- 4

.022

56.6

337

11.6

8.4

1.8

0.000

February

5- 9

.180

52.1

.229

10.4

9.8

0.7

0.000

..10-14

.026

57.5

.356

14.9

8.9

2.0

0.000

.15-19

.033

57.8

.407

15.2

9.7

0.3

0.469

..20-24

.068

56.4

.319

11.0

8.4

3.6

0.053

..25- 1

29.953

64.1

.518

18.0

9.1

3.0

0.006

March

2- 6

.917

61.0

.484

19.3

9.9

0.6

0.144

7-11

30.077

60.7

.425

130

8.6

2.9

0.172

12-16

29.940

62.1

.473

15.2

9.6

0.5

0.037

17-21

.931

57.0

.412

12.1

}}

10.0

0.3

0.042

22-26

.885

64.0

.575

19.6

10.0

0.0

0.054

.27-31

.943

64.2

.510

18.8

9.7

0.5

0.155

April

1- 5

.746

68.2

.629

20.0

9.4

1.0

0.456

6-10

.742

76.5

.816

10.0

3.1

0.001

11-15

.810

72.9

.724

16.0

9.0

2.9

0.025

.16-20

.864

75.2

.757

10.5

4.5

9.2

0.000

21-25

.903

71.9

.647

19.0

9.1

1.4

0.034

.26-30

.969

70.4

.481

14.9

5.7

6.2

0.040

May

1- 5

.848

72.6

654

10.9

9.7

1.6

0.220

6-10

.764

78.0

ཀྵ ཀྵ ཀྵ ཀྵ མ

.747

17.7

8.2

6.6

0.001

.11-15

.843

74.8

.768

16.4

9.9

1.7

1.553

.16-20

.765

79.0

.854

10.5

9.1

4.7

0.003

.21-25

.691

$2.8

.899

10.7

8.2

6.9

0.019

26-30

.702

82.4

.853

9.7

5.6

9.4

0.013

..31– 4

.739

.77.6

.811

14.2

1.5

0.576

June

5- 9

.711.

78.7

.754

16.8

4.8

9.3

0.110

10-14

.634

79.6

.884

7.4

9.3

2.9

1.169

15-19

.550

78.3

.799

13.2

8.2

4.4

1.753

.20-24

.714

79.4

.789

18.2

6.7

5.8

0.393

.25-29

.648

81.6

.891

15.5

9.0

3.9

0.779

.30- 4

.618

79.6

.893

7.6

8.0

3.1

0.968

July

5- 9

.610

82.2

.932

6.2

8.0

5.4

0.542

10-14

.668

83.1

.901

13.0

8.6

7.8

0.241

15-19

.692

82.9

.897

8.2

6.1

9.5

0.114

..20-24

.768

82.6

.907

8.4

9.3

0.148

.25-29

.733

77.7.

.840

5.9

9.6

1.8

0.586

.30- 3

.672

81.1

.868

4.8

8.6

0.012

August

4- 8

.692

83.5

.922

6.0

3.0

10.0

0.003

9-13

.673

83.8

.912

6.5

10.4

0.017

..14-18

.452

84.0

.871

11.6

5.9

0.040

19-23

.422

83.1

.895

26.5

9.1

4.3

0.643

.24-28

.591

82.9

.853

5.4

7.8

0.297

.29- 2

.791

81.7

.869

9.5

5.9

6.6

0.333

September

3- 7

.776

82.6

.867

6.7

3.2

9.9

0.000

8-12

.591

82.3

.859

23.7

9.3

3.5

0.756

.13-17

.626

81.8

.744

10.3

7.3

7.8

0.039

18-22

.761

80.1

.686

6.6

7.0

4.7

0.056

.23-27

.794

80.2

وو

.745

10.2

3.4

8.2

0.002

..28- 2

.862

79.2

.669

20.4

7.2

6.8

0.002

October.

3- 7

.841

79.5

.763

26.6

5.9

8.5

0.000

8-12

.874

77.9

.806

17.6

9.1

2.7

0.322

..13-17

.910

75.7

.549

17.3

6.1

7.5

0.001

.18-22

.918

75.3

.544

14.3

2.9

9.2

0.000

.....23-27

.976

74.2

.640

15.0

2.6

8.8

0.000

.28- 1

.972

75.4

.658

11.5

3.0

7.8

0.000

November

2- 6

.943

73.4

.574

15.1

7.1

5.2

0.000

7-11

.702

74.1

.652

23.6

9.4

3.2

1.136

...12-16

30.001

65.3

.341

11.3

6.0

4.8

0.000

..17-21

.006

64.2

.399

11.3

6.3

4.5

}}

0.019

.22-26

.001

68.1

.511

18.2

3.2

8.8

0.000

27- 1

29.955

66.3

.468

12.0

6.6

3.7

0.002

December

2- 6

.895

67.9

.493

12.1

6.5

0.013

7-11

30.162

60.2.

.307

12.7

5.2

6.8

0.007

12-16

.149

64.7

.342

12.1

5.6

5.9

0.011

.17-21

.109

62.3

.333

11.5

9.6

0.000

.22-26

.115

63.8

.410

14.0

3.4

8.3

0.000

.27-31

29.957

67.5

.558

13.0

6.5

3.9

0.000

154

Table XI.

Observations of Magnetic Declination and Dip.

1900.

H.K.M.T.

Declination East.

Observer.

H.K.M.T.

Dip North.

Needle

Observer.

No.

February,

16d-3h-18m.p.

0°19'40"

F.G.F.

15.4b. 5m.p.

· 31°26'.79

F.G.F.

28.50

April,

13 3 17 p.

17 57

18 4 15 p.

24.44

25.03

June,

14 3 28 p.

17 46

13 4 16 p.

24.90

”

24.81

August,

14 3 29 p.

17 56

17 4

5 p.

25.24

24.25

October,

17 3 25 p.

18 30

15 3 55 p.

22.86

21.69

December,

17 3 16 p.

19 2

13 3 38 p.

24.70

ง

23.68

*****

Table XII.

Observations of Horizontal Magnetic Force.

Time of Tem-

one

1900.

H.K.M.T.

Vibra- tion.

per- ature. Cent.

Log mX.

Value of

H.K.M.T.

Dist- Tem- ance in' per-

Centi-ature. metres. Cent.

Mr.

Deflection. Log

Value of Ob-

server.

Feb. 14,... 350 p. 3.6349 19.9 2.32916

581.32 315mp.

19°.1

6°44'10".0 3.19968 0.36706 F.G.F.

2 49 38 .1

4 37 p.

18 .5

6 44 32.5

2 49 48 .8

April 17,. 3 59 p.

3 .6410 27 .55 2.32908

580.99

3 19 P:

27.35 6 42 27 .5

3.19926 0.36721

4.33 p.

2 48 54 .4 26.55 6 42 38 .7

2 49

June 17,4 13 p.

3.6421 28 .5 2.32899

580.90

3 35

28 .6

1.9 6 42 8.8

3.19921 0.36719

2 48 50.0

4 51 p.

27 .7

6 42 21 .2

2 48 55 .0

Aug. 13,... 3 57 p.

3.6456 33 .7

2.32913

580.61 3 17 p.

34 .0

6 40 40.0

3.19864 0.36748 i

2 48 10 .6

4 38 p.

33.5

6 40 48 .8

2 48 13 .1

Oct. 16,... 3 56 p. 3 .6401 | 26 .7

2.32906

580.74

3 15 p.

4 30 p.

26 .55 6 42 5.0 | 2 48 45 .0 26.45 6 42 16 .3

3.19890 0.36735

2 49 5.0

Dec. 14,... 3 46 p. 3 .6382 23 .2 2.32882 580 35

3 13 p.

22 .9

6 42.27 .5

3.19856 0.36739

2 48 55 .6

4 22 p. 30

21.5

6 42 52.5

2 49 13.1

Month.

Table XIII.

Results of Magnetic Observations made in 1900.

Magnetic Force.

Declination East.

Dip North.

Total.

February,

April,

June,

August,

October,

December,

0°19′ 40′′

31°27′ 39′′

0.36706

0.22459

0.43032

17 57

24 44

0.36721

0.22425

0.43027

17 46

24 51

0.36719

0.22426

0.43026

17 56

24 45

0.36748

0.22442

0.43060

18 30

22. 17

0.36735

0.22398

0.43025

19 2

24 11

0.36739

0.22428

0.43044

Year,.........

0 18 28

31 24 45

0.36728

0.22430

0.43036

HONGKONG.

643

No. 33

REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH ON THE EPIDEMIC OF BUBONIC FEVER (PLAGUE) DURING THE HALF-YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE, 1901.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

1901

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES,

HONGKONG, July 20th, 1901.

To the President of the

SANITARY BOARD.

SIR,I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Board, the following Report upon the epidemic of Bubonic Fever (Plague) during the half-year ending June 30th, 1901.

Cases. The total number of cases reported during the half-year has been 1,488, of which 26 were Europeans and 1,415 were Chinese, the remaining 47 being other Asiatics. A large number of Chinese however left the Colony as soon as they felt at all ill, some of whom showed unmistakeable signs of the disease on arrival at Canton and its neighbourhood.

Deaths. The total number of deaths recorded during the half-year was 1,417, of which 9 were Europeans, 1,376 Chinese, and the remaining 32 other Asiatics. The latter comprised 14 Indians, 2 Parsees, 10 Asiatic Portuguese, 3 Malays, 2 Japanese, and 1 Eurasian.

The death rate among the Europeans was therefore 34.6 per cent., while among the Chinese it was 97.2 per cent., and among the other Asiatics 68.1 per cent.; the total imortality being 95.2 per cent. This high rate is largely accounted for by the fact that 21.7 per cent. of the Chinese cases were dead bodies found in the Streets or in the Harbour.

The percentage of Chinese admitted to Hospital-including the Tung Wah Branch Hospital- was 35.1 per cent., while the percentage of other Asiatics that went to Hospital was 80.8 per cent. The death rate among the Chinese admitted to Hospital was 88.5 per cent. as against the general Chinese mortality of 97.2 per cent. This ought to convince the Chinese--if anything will-that admis- sion to Hospital is to their advantage.

The death rate during each epidemic has been as follows:-

1894

1896

1898

1899

1900

1901

Percentage

Mortality.92.7

89.5

89.0

96.1

95.5

95.9

have been more or less must be admitted that

European Cases.-Most of the European cases during the present epid directly associated with the finding of dead rats upon the premises, althou many dead rats have at the same time been found in European offices and dwellings in which the disease has not broken out. CANTLIE states moreover "that in certain limited outbreaks, such as that recently (1900) experienced at Glasgow, the rat has not been proved to be infected at all;" on the other hand ASHBURTON THOMPSON states, in reference to the outbreak in Sydney in 1900," that the infection was disseminated by rats appears tolerably certain." The following is a very brief summary of the European cases :-

The first Europeans to be attacked were three Assistants in a drug store-two of whom were reported on the same date, and the third a few days later; two of these patients succumbed to the disease. A considerable number of Chinese women are employed by this firm in packing drugs for the Chinese market, and it is more than possible that they may have introduced the infection into the building.

The next European case to occur was an employee at the Naval Yard, who had been more or less in ill-health since he arrived in the Colony a year previously, and who died of the disease. large number of Chinese are employed in the Naval Yard, some of whom had died of the disease, and it is believed that the infection was contracted from one of them. This man would appear to have infected the building in which he lived, as subsequently three other European cases occurred there, all of whom recovered. On the day following the report of the above case, another Euro- pean employee at the Naval Yard was reported to he suffering from Plague, and in the block of buildings in which he resided, four other European cases subsequently occurred, one being the wife of the first patient, and two of the others being husband and wife, while in addition, one European who had resided there, and one Asiatic Portuguese who had been employed there, also contracted the disease. There were also three Chinese cases in this block of buildings, one of which occurred two days previous to the first European case.

Of the above six European cases, only one died.

[2]

A European in charge of a bicycle shop next contracted the disease probably from a Parsee case in the same building; the Parsee died, but the European recovered.

One case occurred in the European quarters attached to one of the private docks, where also a large number of Chinese are employed. This patient also recovered.

A mild case occurred in an employee of the Telegraph Company who resided in a Chinese tene- ment house in which a number of rats were found.

A publican residing in Wanchai also succumbed to the disease.

Two cases occurred in an Hotel (husband and wife) one of whom died; on the day previous to that on which these two cases developed, a Chinainan in the same building had died of the disease, after having been sick for at least two days.

The wife of another publican next contracted the disease and recovered, and on the same day two cases (mother and daughter) were reported from a dwelling in the Queen's Road, situated over a wine store in which a number of rats had been found. It is also reported that two Chinese servants employed in this dwelling had left about seven days previously, without notice and probably in con- sequence of sickness.

A gentleman employed in a German firm was ill in his own quarters over a ship chandler's store, for about nine days with Fever, which proved, after death, to have been Plague.

A Sapper, who had arrived in the Colony only about a fortnight previously, died of the disease after two days' illness. He had visited a Chinese house seven days before he was taken ill.

Another gentleman employed by a German mercantile firm developed a very mild attack of the disease from which he recovered.

The last European case to occur during the half-year was a lady residing at a boarding-house. A dead rat was found in this lady's sitting room nine days previous to her being taken ill, and a number of rats had also been caught in the building during the few previous weeks. This patient made a good recovery.

Sea. The Chinese cases comprised 900 males and 515 females; this is equal to a percentage of 36.4 female cases. The proportion of females in the Chinese population at the Census taken this year was only 27.1 per cent., so that it is evident that the Chinese females have suffered, in proportion, very much more severely than Chinese males; this is probably because they remain in their houses much more than the men, almost all of whom are employed in the open air during the greater part of each day. Among the European cases there were fourteen men, one boy and eleven women; this gives a proportion of 42.3 per cent. of female cases, while if we take the whole of the non-Chinese cases, there were fifty males and twenty-three females, giving a proportion of 31.5 per cent. of female cases. The proportion of females among the non-Chinese community at the Census taken this year was 26.2 per cent., but this low rate was due in part to the large number of troops stationed here at the time, many of whom had left before the epidemic commenced, and the usual proportion would be about 30 per cent. so that there was no great excess of cases among the non-Chinese women.

Age. The total number of cases among Chinese children, under fifteen years of age, was 373, or 26.4 per cent. of the total Chinese cases. The percentage in 1900 was 25.9, and in 1898 it was 24.1 The proportion of children under this age, among the Chinese population, was found at the census taken this year to be only 17.2 per cent., so that it is very evident that children are very liable to contract this disease.

per cent.

Eight of the above-named children appear to have recovered, giving a mortality of 97.8 per cent. which is practically the same as the mortality among the adult Chinese.

Dead Bodies in the Street.-No less than 308 of the Chinese cases were dead bodies found lying in the street or floating in the harbour. This represents 21.7 per cent. of the total cases; it shows, how- ever, a considerable reduction when compared with previous years, as in 1900, the percentage of unclaimed bodies found was 37.1 per cent., in 1899 it was 40 per cent., and in 1898 it was 36 per cent. On the other hand more sick people, including even quite young children, have been found wandering about the streets, than in former years, having apparently been turned out of their houses by the other occupants.

The number of such cases occurring yearly without known addresses, coupled with the number of sick persons who leave the Colony in the early stages of the disease, afford a ready explanation of its annual recurrence, for many infected houses must of necessity remain undisinfected, and the only possible remedy that I can see for this is a thorough house-to-house cleansing and disinfection after the epidemic is at an end, so that we may prepare for the epidemic of next year, by destroying beforehand as many as possible of the germs which most certainly exist at present in the houses. whence these untraced cases came. This procedure cannot however be adopted until further powers are obtained by the Board, and Bye-laws have accordingly been made, which will furnish the neces- sary powers, and have been forwarded to the Government for the approval of the Legislative Council.

Temperature. It will be seen from the accompanying chart that as in former years the disease declined rapidly as soon as the mean weekly temperature exceeded 80° F. Thus on the 21st week (ending May 25th), the mean weekly temperature rose to $0.1° F., with the result that the total number of cases fell from 215 on the week ending June 1st to 161 on the week ending June 8th, the

[3]

effect of the rise of temperature not being apparent, of course, until after the lapse of the period of incubation (which varies usually from four to ten days) plus, in most of our cases, the period of duration of the disease, since the cases are seldom discovered or reported until they are either dead or moribund. A fall in the mean weekly temperature to 78,5° F. during the 22nd and 23rd weeks will be seen from the chart to have resulted in a very slight recrudescence of the disease in the 25th week, but after this the temperature ran up rapidly to 83.6° and the number of cases of the disease fell with even greater rapidity.

These

Rats. The outbreak this year has been specially marked, so far at least as the European cases were concerned, by the finding of dead rats in the dwellings in which such cases occurred. rats were found generally during the few weeks preceding the occurrence of the case, but, as I have already stated, many dead rats were also found in houses and offices in which the disease did not occur. Of three rats moreover which were caught alive in infected houses, and were kept in cages at the disinfecting station only one died, and this was apparently from an injury incurred at the time it was caught. In the chart showing Bubonic Fever and general rat mortality. I have given the curves for the last quarter of 1900 as well as for the half-year ending June 29th, 1901, as they show that a very rapid rise in the general rat mortality antedated the epidemic outbreak of Bubonic Fever by several weeks, for the disease can hardly be said to have become epidemic until the 17th week (ending April 27th), while by that time the rat mortality had almost reached its maximum, having risen from an average of between four and five hundred per week, to as many as 2,770. It is inter- esting to note also that the maximum rat mortality was reached on the 20th and 21st weeks, when it stood at just over 3,100, while the number of cases of Bubonic Fever reached its maximum in the following week (the 22nd). I have noted on the chart that the price paid per head for rats was increased from 2 cents to 3 cents on January 24th, and it might perhaps be thought that the rapid increase in the number of rats brought in could be accounted for in this way.

This sug- gestion is however discounted by the fact of the equally rapid fall in the rat mortality after the 21st week. corresponding as it does to the fall in the number of cases of Bubonic Fever reported.

There were about thirty men who made a business of collecting these rats, and I find that no less than seven of them died of Bubonic Fever during the period under report, while five others left the Colony because they were sick, and two of these latter are said to have died of this disease on the mainland.

The total number of rats paid for during the half-year, in the city of Victoria alone, was just 48,000; the number obtained during the corresponding half of last year was 26,880, while during the second half of last year we only obtained 19,700. A small percentage of these rats was examined systematically at the Government Mortuary, and some of them were found to have died of Bubonic

Fever.

There has been no evidence of any other animals (than rats and mice) dying of this disease during the year.

House-to-House Visits.-In addition to the visits of the District Inspectors, a gang consisting of seven specially selected Sappers and a European Police Constable was appointed early in March to make systematic house-to-house visits in No. 9 Health District; these men worked in pairs, and each pair was supplied with a native Interpreter. During the two mouths from March 23rd to May 25th fourteen cases of Bubonic Fever, one case of sinall-pox, and two dead bodies were discovered by, or reported to them, and during the same period twenty-five dead bodies were found by the Police, mostly at night, in the streets and lanes of the District in which the search-parties were at work. the 27th of May these men were transferred to Wanchai where they discovered fifteen cases between that date and the end of June, five of these cases being discovered by them on the first day before, that is to say, the natives were aware that they were at work in the District.

The system of house-to-house visiting appears to me to be of the greatest value before the discase becomes epidemic, and while the few sporadic cases are occurring within a circumscribed area, as the natives resort to every possible device to conceal their sick. I may mention the following as some of the difficulties with which we have to contend in this respect :-

(1.) a Chinaman of the poorer class, when he is sick or retires to bed, makes no change of costume, hence as soon as it is known that the search party is in the house, the sick man will get up and walk about and make every effort to appear in his ordinary health;

(2.) the other people living in the house will conceal their sick, and an instance occurred this year of a sick woman and a dead body being concealed under the same bed, within a cubicle;

(3.) when it is known that special house-to-house visits are to be paid the sick are con-

veyed from the un-visited to the recently visited houses;

(4.) the sick are also concealed on the flats roofs of the houses;

(5.) if there is no other means of concealing them, they are turned out into the streets to

wander at large.

[4]

Removal of the Sick and Dead.-Considerable improvements have been effected in the means of conveyance of the sick, an improved type of ambulance having been purchased and a permanent staff of coolies arranged for, to convey these ambulances to the Hospitals. A steam launch for the conveyance of the sick from the Wanchai districts to the Hospital at West Point was also employed during the later period of the epidemic. Dead bodies are conveyed in what are termed "dead-boxes," and I would suggest that some small covered-in hand-carts, capable of carrying two or three dead-boxes should be obtained, as complaints have been made that the dead-boxes are not always securely closed while being conveyed through the public streets and that the carrying coolies occasionally put the box down in some very public place, while resting. When the disease became rife in Wanchai the dead bodies were placed on board a cargo-boat hired for the purpose and towed round by a launch to the Mortuary at West Point.

Burial of the Dead.-This was carried out under the superintendence of one of the Board's Euro- pean Officers, all bodies being buried at the Kennedy Town Plague Cemetery, unless a special permit had been granted for burial elsewhere.

Disinfection of Infected Premises.-This work has been under the personal control of Inspector REIDIE, who spent the greater part of his leave in Europe last year in studying the different methods of disinfection in vogue in Glasgow (especially during the outbreak of Bubonic Fever in that city), in Edinburgh, and in Paris, and in examining the various forms of apparatus for this purpose which were exhibited at the Paris Exhibition. Inspector REIDIE was assisted by three European officers, eight coloured foremen, three Chinese foremen, a staff of thirty trained coolies, and a varying number of other coolies for carrying purposes. The processes of disinfection consisted in the removal of all bed- ding, clothing, curtains, carpets and mats to the Steam Disinfecting Station, these articles being first tied up into bundles with large sheets of unbleached calico, and then put into baskets which are carried by coolies, Government clothing being supplied to temporarily replace the personal clothing of the occupants of the infected houses. The walls and floors of the premises are then sprayed with a one- in-a-thousand solution of perchloride of mercury, and the building then thoroughly fumigated with Chlorine obtained by the addition of dilute sulphuric acid to chloride of lime, the pots being placed as high up as possible, on a trestle or shelf, on account of the weight of this gas. Finally the floors are scrubbed with a solution of one of the coal tar preparations, the drains flushed, and the walls lime- washed, chloride of lime being added to the limewash in the proportion of 1 lb. to the gallon.

The people displaced from their homes during the above processes, which occupy about six hours, are at liberty to make use of the Board's matshed shelters, but the men usually prefer to proceed with their ordinary work, while the women remain in the street to watch their household goods, or seek shelter with a neighbour.

Closure of Premises.-In consequence of the occurrence of a number of cases (European and Native) in a block of buildings known as Beaconsfield Arcade and consisting of fourteen three-storey buildings, used as shops, offices and dwellings, I recommended the Board, on May 24th, to close the entire block as unfit for human habitation. The closing order was made on the following day and the entire premises were then thoroughly disinfected by the Officers of the Board. The walls were sprayed with a 1-in-1000 solution of corrosive sublimate, all the rooms and passages were fumigated with free chlorine; floor-boards were taken up and the rat-runs traced and treated with crude carbolic acid, all rat-holes being stopped with cement; soft wooden partitions and all rotten woodwork were removed and destroyed, and the floor-boards then saturated with the crude carbolic acid, while the drains and traps were treated with the same disinfectant; all illegal obstructions to light and ventila- tion were removed from the backyards and the whole block then thoroughly limewashed. In addition, the owner, at my suggestion, removed a number of drain-inlets, which were within the building, to the outside, and also removed most of the ceilings, leaving exposed the floor-joists which were then painted-the object of these alterations being to provide as few facilities as possible for the entry of rats into the building. The premises were finally released from the closing order on the 27th day of

June.

On the same date (May 25th) the Board declared the premises known as Nos. 15, 17, and 19 Peel Street and also No. 63 Wellington Street, unfit for human habitation, in consequence of the occurrence of several cases of Bubonic Fever in each of them, and the same processes of disinfection and cleansing were adopted, the premises being released on the 11th of July.

On the 27th day of June another building known as "Wild Dell," which is divided up into a number of sets of apartments, occupied by Europeans, was closed by order of the Board, for similar reasons, and was then thoroughly cleansed and disinfected; at the time of writing these premises have not been released from that order.

General Sanitary Precautions.-Chloride of lime was supplied to all the public latrines for use in the buckets, and the District Inspectors were instructed to see that it was freely used. The sewers on the lower levels were also flushed with sea water, by means of the Fire Brigade engines.

City of Victoria.

Week.

Health District.

[ 5 ]

Staff- -The arduous duties connected with the disinfection of all infected premises, and the control of the Disinfecting Station, were carried out by Inspector REIDIE in the most efficient manner, and I have very good reason to know that he worked from early morning till late at night during the height of the epidemic to secure the efficiency of this service. It will be remembered that Inspector REIDIE Contracted Bubonic Fever in 1899 while in the execution of similar duties and he has there- fore good reason to claim a special knowledge of the disease. I consider that this officer deserves the special thanks of the Board for the manner in which he has performed these duties. officers who deserve special mention in connection with this year's outbreak are Inspectors ROGERS and C. W. BRETT who are employed in Kowloon; Inspectors HOGGARTH and FINCHER in Wanchai Inspector KNIGHT who superintended the removal of all infected corpses from the Government Mor- tuary and their interment at the Kennedy Town Cemetery; and Police Inspector ROBERTSON who had considerable experience of the disease at Shaukiwau and Quarry Bay.

I have the houour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The other

FRANCIS W. CLARK, M.D., D.P.H.,

Medical Officer of Health.

HONGKONG, 1901.

BUBONIC FEVER: WEEKLY DISTRIBUTION.

1st.

2nd.

3rd.

4th.

5th.

6th.

7th.

8th.

9th.

10th.

11th.

12th.

13th.

14th.

15th.

16th.

17th.

18th.

19th.

1 5 5 2

20th.

21st.

22nd.

23rd.

II,

ill,

...

IV.

VI,

VII. VIII.

IX..

LX.

XI,.

XII.

XIII,

XIV,

Villages Kowloon.

Peak, Harbour, New Terri-

tory,

Unknown,...

24th.

25th.

26th.

Total.

1 3 1 3 614

14 26

1 1

33 20 5 10 2 3 13 6 6 19 17 38 24 17 21 19 11

6 12 3

172

189

9 21 25 22 14 13 5 8 12 17 12 15 20 5 14 18 14 13 14 8

129

104

410

11 9 20 7 5

5 1615 15 12 16 17 16

181

312

7 13 18 56

8 8 6 9

29 24 30 16 10

149

3 5 1

1 1

Total,... 2 1 2 2

5 71414 8 14 17 18 24 65 93 128122200 215161 151:155 62 1,485

221200 215

Note.-The total number of cases given in the first paragraph of this Report for the half-year cuding June 30th, namely 1,488, includes, in addition to the above, three cases which occurred on the 30th June, the 26th week of the year ending on the 29th June.

[6]

Appendix A.

CITY OF VICTORIA,

Return of occupations of all Chinese reported cases occurring in the City during the half year ending June 30th, 1901.

Occupations.

Children,

No.

Remarks.

180 | 51 employed as domestic servants.

Coolies,

130 Including 7 rat collectors.

Domestic servants,.

Occupations.

No.

Brought forward,...] 664

Brokers,

Remarks.

Seamstresses,

Schoolboys,...

Policemen,

Boatmen,

Hawkers,

Cotton reelers,

Carpenters,

Hat-makers,

Cooks,

Watch-makers.

MANN AN

Married women,

Book-binder,

Barbers,

Cotton quilt maker,

Nightsoil carriers.

Draughtsman,

Rattan chair-makers,

Joss-stick maker,

Tailors,

Selioolmaster,

Shoe-makers,

Storeman,

Shopmen,

Sapper, R.E.,

Masons,

Laundry-man,

Black-smiths,

Tin-smith,

Engineers,

Mat-bag Maker,

Painters,

Rice pounder,

Silversmiths,

Electrician,

Clerks,.....

Watchmen,

Unemployed,

Unknown,

349

134 floors deserted.

Brick-layers,

Carried forward,... 664

To the President of the

SANITARY Board.

Appendix B.

Total,....

1,088

SANITARY Board Offices,

HONGKONG, August 22nd, 1901.

SIR,-I have the honour to report that, during the past six weeks, I have, with the assistance of Inspector REIDIE, conducted a series of experiments with the Virus Contagieux of Professor DaxYsz with the following results:-

Experiment No. 1.

On July 6th, two healthy rats A and B were fed with the virus, prepared in the manner indicated in the instructions issued by Prof. DANYSZ-five tubes being used in a quart of salt water.

On the 8th July, one healthy rat C was put in the same cage with the above two, and on the 10th July, another healthy rat D was also put into this cage.

A died on the 18th July,-twelve days after being fed on the virus-and its body was partly eaten by B, C, and D, and also by another healthy rat E, put into the same cage after the death of 4.

C died on the 25th July, seven days after eating of the body of A-and its body was partly eaten by two healthy rats F and G.

D died on the 27th July,-nine days after eating of the body of A—and its body was partly eaten by E.

B died on the 31st July,-twenty-five days after eating of the virus and thirteen days after eating of the dead body of A--and a portion of its body was eaten by three healthy rats H, J, and K.

F died on August 19th,-twenty-five days after eating of the dead body of C—and two healthy rats in the same cage did not touch the dead body.

[7]

Experiment No. 2.

On the 17th July, two healthy rats A and B were fed with the virus-ten tubes being used in half a pint of salt

water :-

A died on the 21st July,-four days after being fed on the virus-and three healthy rats which had been put in the same cage would not touch the body.

B died on July 27th,-ten days after being fed on the virus-and its body was partly eaten by three healthy rats C, D, and E.

C and D died on the 31st July,-four days after eating of the body of B. The body of C was partly eaten by three healthy rats, F, G, and H; the body of D was not eaten.

F and G died on August 2nd,-two days after they had eaten the body of C—and the dead body of F was partly eaten by two healthy rats, I and J, while the body of G was similarly eaten by two healthy rats K and L.

I died on August 6th,-four days after eating the body of F—and a healthy rat in the same cage with it would not touch the body.

E died on August 8th,-twelve days after eating of the body of B-and its body was partly eaten by a healthy rat M, which had been placed in the same cage.

H died on August 11th,-eleven days after eating of the body of C—and a healthy rat in the same cage did not touch the dead body.

J died on August 13th,-eleven days after cating of the body of F—and two healthy rats in the same cage did not touch the dead body.

K died on August 14th,-twelve days after eating of the body of G—and two healthy rats in the same cage did not touch the dead body.

L died on August 15th,-thirteen days after eating of the body of G-and its dead body was partly eaten by two healthy rats N and O.

M died on August 21st,~thirteen days after eating of the body of E--and two healthy rats in the same cage did not touch the dead body.

As a counter experiment several rats have been kept in the same place and under precisely similar conditions, with a view to ascertaining whether they would survive in captivity, if not infected with the virus, and these have remained in good health with the exception of one, that died as the result of an accident. Thus on June 25th, twelve rats were procured; ten of these were used in connection with experiment No. I and six of the ten have died, presumably as the result of the infection. Of the remaining two, one died as the result of an accident incurred while transferring the animal from one cage to another, and the other is still alive.

Between June 29th and July 1st, uiueteen rats were procured, of which fifteen were used in connection with experi- ment No. II; thirteen of these have died after infection, while the four which were not used for the experiment are still alive.

It will thus be seen that the the period which may elapse between the date of infection and death varies from two days to twelve or thirteen days, and that not infrequently healthy rats will not touch the dead bodies of the infected ones.

The proposal is to feed healthy rats on the virus and then to let them loose again, in the hope that they will die of the infection and that then other rats will feed on their dead bodies and will thus become themselves infected.

The objections to the proposal are that the rats may die in private dwellings and thus create a nuisance, and in any case no check can be kept upon the experiment after once the rats are set free.

I am not therefore inclined to recommend the adoption of the proposal by the Government on any extensive scale but if any owners of gedown property desire to experiment in the matter, I have now a sufficient number of inferted rats to be able to supply them with a few for the purpose.

It is very doubtful if rats can infect human beings in any way, so long as they are kept out of the dwelling-houses, and I think that the efforts both of the Sanitary Board and of the householders would be best directed to securing this end by keeping all drains and drain-fittings in perfect order, maintaining au impervious covering to all earth surfaces within the dwellings, by the removal (as far as may be possible; of all ceilings, wooden skirting-boards and lath-and-plaster partitions, and by avoiding the accumulation of garbage within or in the neighbourhood of the dwellings.

I have the honour to be,

Sir.

Your obedient Servant,

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of Health.

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Appendix C.

No. 1 HEALTH DISTRICT.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Frontage, street front- Open area in If back to back or

Width of

ing House.

rear.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi-

cles in room

where cuse

occurred.

༢༤། ༢༣༢༽ ༢། ། ། ། ཀཎྜ

Chinese

FRER: 3

3 Bowrington Road,

起

72′

28/

150 sq. feet.

Yes.

27 Irving Street.

Lane 9′ 8′′

Lane 9′8′′

Lane 10′ 1′′

29 Jardine's Bazaar,

33 sq. feet.

Vacant ground.

11 Keswick Street.

Lane

9′10′′

Lano 15′ 4′′

Lane 15′ 9′′

English

2 Wild Dell,

A Europeang

House.

Indian

11 Wanchai Road,

12'

24′

Yes.

Chinese

་་

3 5: 3

45 sq. feet.

.48

י,

RARARA AR

117

Lane 19' 7"

Lane 19′ 7′′ Lane 12′ 8′′

151

...

31 Yee Wo Street,

16'

14'

54′

38 sq. feet.

Lane 8′0′′

Lane 10′ 3′′

Open space 10' 2"

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

2ml

Fair.

Ist

Ground

1st

Ground

1st

Good.

Fair.

1st

2nd

1st

ད,

Ground

10 20 30

1st

Ground

~ 2 2

1st

Ground

ད*

[8]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 2 HEALTH DISTRICT.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of

Frontage. strect front. Open area in If back to back or

ing House.

rear.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi-

cles in room) where case

occurred.

2nd

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

Fair.

Chinese

1 Albany Street,.

57'

14'

31'

49 sq. feet.

Yes.

وو

งา

10 00 00 00 co

1st

2nd

1st

Ground.

1st

Lane 2' 9"

3rd

མི མིང མ སྐབ

Lane 4' 4"

1st

Lane 4' 4"

1st

6 Amoy Lane,

Yes.

2nd

3 Chin In Lane,

Ground.

2nd

י,

5 Cross Street,

lat

Ground.

4 Holy Infant Lane,

2 Kat On Street,

5' lane.

وو

2 Lung On Street,

121

}}

•

Indian

Chinese

མི ནི ནི མི མི ཎྜ མ ཱ

2 Man Ming Lane,...

7. McGregor Street,

57 sq. feet.

Lane 9'

Lane 8'

Yes.

Lane 5′ 8′′

1st

Ground.

1st

Ground.

2nd

Street 32′ 3"

1st

Lane 5' 9"

Ground.

Street 32′ 3"

2nd

3 Moon Street,

Lane 15'

1st

Lane 15' 4"

མིན་ ི་

Lane 15' 2"

Ground.

1st

...

وو

Lane 15'

Ground.

2nd

...

1A New Street off Tai Wong Street,.

85 sq. feet.

Yes.

1st

1 Nullah Lane,

}}

دو

}}

ར ར བར ར ར 3ར ར རཏུ སྐྱུ

}}

་་

Ground.

1st

[ 6 ]

No. 2 HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

[ 10 ]

No. of cubi-

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

rear.

Open area in | If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

'cles in room!

Sanitary

condition of

occurred.

where case

occurred.

premises.

Chinese

57 Nullah Lane,

13'

21'

50 sq. feet.

Yes.

3rd

Fair.

· 11

Ground.

}

42в Praya East,

103

3rd

1st

English

38 Praya East Hotel,..

2nd

Chinese

21 Queen's Road East,

Lane f'

73 sq. feet.

Yes.

Lane 9' 0"

}}

sq.

72 feet.

Lane 6' 5"

Yes.

3rd

Ground.

ง

2nd

}}

”ን

*99

109

110

}}

114 sq.

feet.

Vacant ground. Yes.

116

...

ל?

129

180 feet. sq.

134

143

146

148

21.

152

153A

155

9 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2

Yes.

Hillside.

Yes.

}}

وو

Lane 3′ 2′′

وو

Yes.

Hillside.

165

Yes.

167

178

יי

180

وو

201

Lane 15′ 2′′

201

205

Sq.

feet.

French

Scandal Point, Base Post Office,

Chinese

8 Shan Pin Lane,............

22 Ship Street,

40 sq. feet.

Yes.

Lane 10'

Yes.

12 St. Francis Yard,

1 Sun Street,

...

Lane 15' 3"

Yes.

Lane 15′ 3′′

Lane 15'

ce do 20 00 00 00 10 10:

10 09 09 10 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 20 10 10 00 00 00 0

1st

2nd

Ground.

1st

2nd

Ground.

2nd

Ground.

2nd

Ground.

2nd

1st

Ground.

20 — 10 10 : co co :

ני

}}

2nd

Ist

Ground.

2nd

1st

Ground.

2nd

1st

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

No. 2 HEALTH DISTRICT,-Continued.

די

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area in

If back to back or

rear.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi- cles in room

where case

occurred.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

[ 11 ]

Chinese

7 Sun Street,

43'

14'

27'

Lane 15' 2"

Ground.

Fair.

བ ོད་མི

Ist

3 Swatow Lane,

58 sq. feet.

Yes.

י,

4 Tai Wo Street,

2nd

16 Tai Wong Lane,

1 Tai Wong Street,

53 sq. feet.

· 18

وو

آن

وو

3 3 3 3 3 3

English

ནི ནི མི མཎྜ བཀྐཱ མི མི མི བའི བཏྟཏྟ ཨེ

86 ""

15 Triangle Street,..

1 Ui Hing Lane,

48 sq. feet.

Street 36′ 2′′

Lane 12′ 6′′

Yes.

Lane 11' 3"

Lane 11' 4"

Yes.

Lane 9'6"

}}

Lane 11' 11"

49 sq. feet.

Yes.

34 Wanchai Road,

Wellington Barracks, R.E.,

Chinese

1 Wing Fung Lane,

སྤྲོའ:བབ

es.

¡R.E. Compound.j

so so so on N NN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTNO

זי.

Ground.

1st

Ground.

1st

Ground.

1st

Ground.

Ist

2nd

1st

sq.

feet.

Yes.

2nd

לי

3rd

לי

བས

AARA A

3 Wing Fung Street,

86 sq. feet.

Street 18'

Yes.

Ground.

Star Street.

22 sq. feet.

...

18′ 6′′ in rear. Lane 9' 0"

Lane 7' 5"

Ist

3rd

Ground.

2 & Basement,,

2nd

AAA 2

Nationality. Age.

Sex.

No. 3 HEALTH DISTRICT.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi-

cles in room|

house.

occurred.

where case

occurred.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

30′

16'

148 sq. feet.

Yes.

2nd

Fair.

2nd

}}

...

B. to retaining wall

Hillside

Spanish

Chinese

European 40

6699

6 Beaconsfield Arcade,..

A European

House.

•

Chinese

German

Chinese

.32

German

Chinese

ལྟ མ བ ཟ བ མ ནི ནི

9 Belilios Terrace, servant Quarters,

12/

26 Belilios Terrace,

36 Caine Road,.

23 sq. feet.

14 Des Voeux Road;

"Devonia" Peak Road,

1 Duddell Street,

...

8 Ice House Lane,

37 Mosque Street,

English

2 Peddars Hill,

Chinese

وو

6 Queen's Road Central, 10 Queen's Road Central, 11 Queen's Road Central,

...

Scotch

י,

Chinese

}

...

- co

...

2nd

Ground

2nd

Ground

2nd

Ground

...

1st

Lane 6′ 2′′

2nd

1st

Lane 10′ 6′′

...

3rd

Ground

3rd

1st

...

22:13

}}

...

Good.

Fair.

[12]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

}

No. 4 HEALTH DISTRICT.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back ori back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi- cles in room

where case

occurred.

[ 13 ]

Chinese

15 Bailey Street,

59′

44 sq. feet.

(Old),

Lane 9′ 11′′

'4 & Basement,

Ground

Fair.

Central Police Station,

1 Chinese Street,

Lane 11′ 9′′

Yes.

2nd

4 Cochrane Street,

53 sq. feet.

1st

3rd

1st

48 sq. feet.

Lane 4'

Laue 3' 10"

Yes.

Ground

1st

2nd

Lane 3' 2"

1st

Lane 6'

4 & Basement.

Ground

Lane 6'

1st

42 sq. feet.

Lane 6′ 9′′

2nd

...

Parsee

11 D'Aguilar Street,

8 Lane.

Yes.

European

Chinese

50 sq. feet.

Lane 8' 7"

Yes.

00:00 9

1st

2nd

ここ

20 Des Voeux Road Central,

9' 10" Lane

Lane 7' 9"

Yes.

Portuguese

Chinese

པཎྜ མི མིང་ཏྟཎྜསཾམཎྜ

77/

119 sq. feet.

118

Ground

2nd

1st

2nd

1st

2nd

31 Elgin Street,

י,

Lane 3' 1"

1st

1 Ezra Lane,

Yes.

Ground

2nd

Lane 3' 5"

Ground

29 Gage Street,

Lane 6' 1"

Yes.

1st

יי

Ground

2 Graham Street,

46 sq. feet.

2nd

1st

י,

2220

Lane 16'

Lane 16′ 5′′

2nd

་་

Nationality. Age.

Sex.

No. 4 HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

{

Depth of

Address.

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi-! eles in room

where case

Sanitary condition of

house.

occurred.

premises.

Chinese

23 Graham Street,

50'

12'

25'

47 sq. feet.

Yes.

00 00

European

Chinese

FREE: RE: : P: P:

37 sq. feet.

3 & Basement.

1st

Ground

1st

Fair.

2 Gutzlaff Street,

Hongkong Dispensary,

Street 14′ 6′′

་་

63 sq. feet.

Yes.

1 Bunk

4th

...

2nd

...

•

17 Hing Loong Street,

39 sq. feet.

Yes.

1st

17 Hollywood Road,

Lane 8' 0"

Ground

...

37 sq.

feet.

Yes.

Lane

3 & Basement.

་་

65 sq. feet.

Yes.

192

00 00 00 3

2nd

1st

Ground

་་

5 Jubilee Street,

Ist

1 & Bunks

}

་་

35 sq. feet.

2nd

5 Lan Kwai Fong,

1st

| 16 Li Yuen Street Fast,

Lane in rear

10' 3"

Ground

:22:

6 Lok Hing Lanc,

29 sq. feet.

Yes.

Lane 1' 9"

1st

Yes.

2nd

1st

爷爷

13 Lyndhurst Terrace,

Lane 2′ 6′′

Yes.

Lane 3′ 9′′

12′ Laue

5 & Basement.

;;

Yes.

Lane 10' 7"

Ground

2nd

•

1 Pottinger Lane,.

ان

66 sq. feet.

Lane 6' 5"

Ground

Yes.

་་

Chinese

Х Х Х

1st

2nd

Lane 6' 5"

Lane 5′ 2′′

Ground

2nd

150

Yes.

Ground

2nd

66 sq. feet.

8 & Basement.

1st

Lane

38 sq. feet.

Yes.

& Rasement.

→

[ 14 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 4 HEALTH DISTRICT,– Continued.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front-

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi- jeles in room}

where case

ing House.

house.

occurred.

Sanitary

[condition of

premises.

[ 15 ]

Chinese

44 Pottinger Street,

35'

13'

29'

56 sq.

feet.

Yes.

3 Shelley Street,

11 Stanley Street,

*2 **

57 sq. feet.

*** IF 00 00 00

1st

Ground

Fair.

48 sq. feet.

Lane 5' 10"

Yes.

3 & Basement.

1st

Ground

1st

"""

2nd

4 Mezzanine Floor.

with 2 above

1st

་་

2nd

יי

Ground

Lane 3' 10"

2nd

7 Staunton Street,

Lane 5' 2"

Ground

י י

وو

Manila

Chinese

>""

ོམ: ལ ོ༤

Lane 5′ 10′′

2 & Basement!

1st

1 Sun Wai Lane,

sq.

feet.

Lane 5′ 0′′

2nd

ད

1st

9.3

2 Tit Hong Lane,.

57 sq. feet.

Yes.

...

1 Tun Wah Lane,

Ground

23 sq. feet.

་་

2 Tung Tak Lane,

108

3 Victoria Street,

3′ 10′′ Lane

Yes.

Backyard 8' Lane 8′ 0′′

1st

FOOIS.

2nd

1st

2nd

2 Wai Sun Lane,

47 sq. feet.

Yes.

3 & Basement

Ist

{

Ground

步步

5 Wai Tak Lane,

136

2 Wellington Lane,

Lane 5′ 9′′

Lane 9' 2"

1st

Ground

לי

Cingalese

Chinese

SSE: SEE:

9 Wellington Street,

65 sq. feet.

Lane 6' 7"

Yes.

4 & Basement.

2nd

产量

"""" "

Lane 8′ 0′′

Yes.

3rd

2nd

*22

Ground

B & Basement.

1st

2nd

No. 4 HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

[ 16 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

No. of

rear,

Open area in If back to back or back to side.

floors in

house.

Floor on

which

occurred.

No, of cubi-

where case

occurred.

case

Jeles in roomĮ

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

Chinese

385

58 Wellington Street,

49'

14'

30'

47 sq. feet.

Lane 6' 5"

3rd

Yes.

1st

་་

3 & Basement.]

20 00 00 LL

Fair.

Ground

2nd

Ground

2nd

Japanese

ད,

Chinese

136

༥

Lane 12'

Yes.

Ground

1st

Ground

1st

י,

Lane 3′ 10′′

Ground

2nd

116

16 Wing On Lane,.

56 sq. feet.

Yes.

Lane 2' 9"

Ist

2nd

.、

4 Wo On Lane,

Lane 5'

2 & Basement.] Basement.

Lane 5′ 10′′

3rd

Lane 3' 1"

Ground

Lane 3' 8"

3rd

.14

Lane 4' 2"

2nd

Yes.

Ground

1st

}

62 sq. feet.

ንን

65 Wyndham Street,

104

4 Yan Shan Lane,

Lane 3'

Laue 5′ 0′′

Yes.

[2 & Basement. Basement, 2nd

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 5 HEALTH DISTRICT,

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

rear.

Open area in If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case occurred.

No. of cubi-

cles in room

where case

occurred.

[ 17 ]

Chinese

1- 2012

4 Aberdeen Street,

38'

13'

25'

41 sq.

feet.

Yes.

22A

4 4 0

1st

Fair.

72 sq. feet.

Ground.

י,

2889

83 sq. feet.

2nd

Ground.

1st

Portuguese

42-

}}

Chinese

Ground.

}}

2 Chung Wo Lane,

1st

1 Elgin Street,,

2nd

1st

མིང་མི་

7 Elgin Road,

3rd

Ground.

1st

2nd

· 1st

"5"

}}

Parsee

16 Gage Street,

3rd

Chinese

42 sq.

feet.

Ground.

100

- r-r-boko co co vo v

14010221-

3rd

7 George's Lane,

}}

1813 1815

55 sq. feet.

10 Gilman Street,

...

1 Gough Street,

59 feet. sq.

Lane 5'

Lane 3′ 5′′

Yes.

Lane 4′ 6′′

Lane 3'

Lane 4' 10"

Yes.

Lane 3' 5"

1st

Ground.

2nd

}

1st

2nd

1st

144

Yes.

ད་

དེ མ ཡིད མཚོ ཟླ

Lane 6′ 8′′

4 & Basement.

Ground.

1st

34 sq. feet.

3 Hong Ning Lane,

Yes.

Lane 5' 6"

15' Lane in rear.

}}

45 Hollywood Road,

54 sq. feet.

Lane 11' 3"

CO CO NY

Ground.

1st

2, (neither of which

arc 60 sq. feet.)

Lane 11' 2"

4 & Basement.

Nationality. Age.

Sex.

No. 5 HEALTH DISTRICT,-Continued.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of

Frontage. street front- Open area in If back to back or

ing House.

rear.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi- cles in room

where case

occurred.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

[ 18 ]

Chinese

70a Hollywood Road,

50'

13'

26'

55 sq. feet.

Yes.

Portuguese Chinese

ཟླ་ ི ི་མ

70A

1st

Fair.

4 I On Lane,.........

י,

6 I Wo Laue,

3 Kau U Fong, South,

མི་ཡི་་མིའང་

48 sq. feet.

13 Mee Lun Lane,

Lane 6′ 2′′

Lane 5′ 2′′

Yes.

Victoria English School. Yes.

2nd

Ground

1st

Ground

1st

3rd

Ground

1st

Ground

.་

43 sq. feet.

1st

8 On Wo Lane,..

2 Pak Tsz Lane,

}}

52 sq. feet.

2nd

Yes.

4 Peel Street,

1st

}

Lane 22′ 2′′

50 sq. feet.

Lane 13' 0"

Ground

Lane 13' 5"

1st

יי

Lane 13' 10"

Lane 6' 1"

2nd

፡ ፰፡ ፰፡ ፡

131 Queen's Road East,

162

135 32

55 sq. feet.

Yes.

00004

1st

2nd

39 sq.

feet.

Yes.

3 & Basement.

162

30.00

Ground

1st

...

ال

"">

...

192

Laue 5′ 9′′

وو

FEE: RE: RE:

196

33 sq. feet.

Lane 6' 0"

2nd

1 Shing Hing Lane,..

Lane 10′ 4′′|

Lane 8' 4'

Ground

11'

48 sq. feet.

Belilios School.

Ground

- -1 -1 C ස ය

Belllios Public School play ground in rear.

2nd

Lane 8' 1"

Ground

40 sq. feet.

2nd

Yes.

Ist

Belilios Girls School,

2nd

,י

[ 19 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No.

HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of

Frontage.

rcar.

street front- Open area in If back to back or ing House.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi-

cles in room

Sanitary

condition of

where case

occurred.

premises.

Chinese

12 Shing Hing Lane,...

32'

13'

11'

50 sq. feet.

Yes.

47 Staunton Street,

152

3 & Basement.

Jewish

2nd

Ground

1st

Fair.

Chinese

Indian

Chinese

་.

50 sq. feet.

Lane 6′ 5′′

Yes.

13 Wah Infong, West,

43 sq. feet.

17 Wah Yim Fong, East,

Lane 3′ 5′′

Yes.

20 Wing Kut Street,

9 Wing Wo Street,

1 Yan Wo Lane,

Lane 4′ 6′′

Lane 4′ 5′′

co co co co co co co as no co co co w

Ground

1st

Ground

وو

Ground

2nd

1st

2nd

1st

Ground

1st

}

No. 6 HEALTH DISTRICT.

[ 20 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

If back to back or

in rear.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi- cles in room

where case

occurred.

Sanitary condition of

premises.

Chinese

Portuguese 30 Chinese

· · · PERFEE: REEF

73 Bonham Strand,

48'

13'

37'

Lane 12′ 4′′

Ground

Fair.

3 Bridges Street,

31 sq. feet.

Yes

2nd

...

Lane 6'

3rd

Lane 5' 4"

1st

37 sq. feet.

2 Burd Street,

100

Yard 5′ 9′′

Yes

coco 2

14 Circular Pathway,

}

39 sq. feet.

sq.

feet.

10 Cleverly Street,..

Lane 10′ 2′′

Lane 4'

Lane 3' 10"

Yes

26 Hillier Street,

00 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 10 09 00

Ground

1st

& Basement Ground

2nd

30 30 00 10 00 - N

1st

2nd

1st

Ground

2nd

93 Hollywood Road,

Lane 6' 5"

3 & Basement!

Ground

1st

3 & Basement

Ground

100

Lane 8'

101

3 & Basement

11]

114

111

sq.

feet.

ཐ མ༑ ཨྠ སྶ 1རྞྞ མྨེ མྨཱ

115

Lane 3′ 1′′ - Lane 28′ 5′′

Lane 4' 8"

1st

116

49 sq.

feet.

Vacant ground

2nd

117

Lane 2' 9"

3 & Basement]

1st

118

sq.

65 fect.

Lane 5' 11"

·1.

2nd

120

Lane 6'

6 Kwai Wa Laue,..

1 Lascar Row, Lower,

Yes

Lane 5' 10"

1st

4 & Basement

Ground

1st

2nd

Lane 8' 4"

i co⠀⠀⠀ ∞ONANNNN:

9 9 9

وو

2 Lascar Row, Upper,.

30 sq.

feet.

Lane 4'

Yes

Ground

2nd

1st

}}

Lane 4'

Ground

2 Ping On Lane,

sq.

feet.

Lane 3' 1"

1st

No. 6 HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

[ 21 ]

Width of

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

House,

Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Chinese

215 Queen's Road Central,

28'

13′

51′

Yes

2nd

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi- cles in room where case occurred.

Sanitary condition of

premises.

Fair,

249

298

39 sq. feet.

Lane 6'

3rd

Austrian

304 & 306

Lane 9' 2"

།

!་

Chinese

302

308

Lane 8′ 5′′

121 Hollywood Road,

Lane 4' 8"

122

50 sq. feet.

Lane 6' 3"

3 & Basement!

Ground

1st

Ground

་་

1st

125

Lane 6′ 4′′

2nd

125

14.

127

8′ 10′′

Lane in rear

127

135

Lane 4′ 9′′

Lane 6'

3 & Basement

2nd

3 & Basement:

135

་་

137

142

50 sq. fect.

Laue 4' 7"

Yes

142

Ground

150

}}

44 sq. feet.

་་

140 Jervois Street,

2nd

104

7 Kwong Yuen Street, West,.

40 $1. feet.

1st

2 Kwai Wa Lane,

51 sq. feet.

4 Square Street,

Lame 6'

2nd

3rd

...

37 sq. feet.

Lane 15′ 6′′

Yes

Lane 15′ 6′′

Ground

3 & Basement

1st

2nd

44 sq. feet.

Yes

Lane 15' 6"

Ground

1st

2nd

55 sq. fect.

Lane 5′ 6′′

} 1

3 Shing Wong Street,

Lane 24'

3 & Basement

1st

38.

Yes

2nd

ད་

18.

• BE: RE: K:

5 Tsui On Lane,

Lane 5'

1st

92 sq. feet.

Lane 3′

[

1 Ui Hing Lane,

| Wah Hing Lane,

ད་

Lane 3′ 5′′

2nd

Ground

Est

Lane 8'

2nd

66 Wing Lok Street.

59 sq. feet.

Yes

3rd

7 Wing Shing Street,

Lane 6'

2nd

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 7 HEALTH DISTRICT.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Sanitary

[condition of premises. ;

Width of

Frontage. street front-

ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi-

les in room

where case

occurred.

[ 22 ]

Chinese

6 Des Voeux Road, West,

13'

274

817

Malay

Chinese

• · · FFEE: RE: 2: 2; • FR: · FR: F: · PERER: *****

2 East Street,

严重

84 sq. feet.

Yes.

Lane 4' 0"

Lane 11' 10" Lane 12′ 6′′

1st

2nd

3rd

2nd

00 21

Fair.

Lane 13'

3rd

Lane 12′ 3′′

1st

Lane 10′4′′

Ground

45.

Lane 12′ 4′′

1st

Ground

Lane 3' 11"

1st

Ground

Lane 12′ 6′′

1st

160 Hollywood Road,

50 sq. feet.

Yes.

2nd

164

步要

210

Lane 24'

1st

214

Street 24′ 2′′

227

Yes.

18 Lower Lascar Row,

4 lane in rear.

10 10 -

Lane 10'

Lane 7' 10"

3 & Basement.

49 sq. feet.

Yes.

2nd

وو

Lane 4′ 4′′

Brd

Lane 7' 7"

1st

Lane 4' 6"

Ground

51 sq. feet.

Lane 2' 1"

1st.

24 Lascar Row, Upper,.

265

Yes.

3rd

Ground

་་

38 sq. feet.

3rd

4 Ng Kwai Fong,

2nd

265 Queen's Road Central,

66 sq feet.

308

Lane 7'

326

་་

44 sq. feet.

Yes.

Ground

365

•

1 Rutter Street, Lower,

1st

་་

Lane 5′ 11′′

156 sq. feet.

Ground

1 Rutter Street, Upper,

Yes.

1st

Lane 7'

...

Ground

Lane 7′ 11′′

1st

ད

Sanitary Department Disinfecting Station.

Good.

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 7 HEALTH DISTRICT, - Continued.

Sanitary condition of

premises.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. strect front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi- cles in room

where case

house.

occurred.

[ 23 1

Chinese

23 Square Street,

33′

12'

38 sq. feet.

Yes.

41 sq. feet.

Lauc 6'

Yes.

Lane 5′ 6′′

100 00 00 00 NO

1st

Ground

2nd

Fair.

::སྐལ

བརྟ མད ནི མ ནི ངོ མི

50 sq. feet.

Lane 5' 9"

爷爷

1st

ད,

2nd

1st

22 Station Street,

Lane 12′ 6′′

୮

6 Station Street, Upper,

Lane 13' 3"

2nd

Lane 12′ 7′′

1st

84 sq. feet.

Yes.

2nd

2 Tai Ping Shan Street,

Vacant Ground.

1st

མི་མི་་་་་

Vacant Ground. Lane in rear 14′ 8′′

Lane 14' 7"

15′ Lane in rear

Ground

2nd

3rd

5 (one of which

is illegal.)

3 West Street,

Lane 14′ 9′′

11′ 10′′

12′ 5′′

18′ 10′′

1st

Ground

2nd

...

6' 8"

Ground

12' 3"

1st

3 Yin Yam Lane,

32 sq. feet.

2′ 8′′

อง

No. 8 HEALTH DISTRICT,

[24]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

Ilouse.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi-

cles in room

Sanitary

condition of

where case

premises.

occurred.

Chinese

Berlin Foundling House Servants' Quarters.

22/

13′

Compound

Hillside

Ground floors, but

1st

Fair.

against hill-side

and is illegally

occupied

73 Bonkam Strand, West,..

212 Des Vœux Road, West,

36 Eastern Street,

* 88 18

37 sq. feet

9 Fat Hing Street,

Yes

Lane 5'

5' Lane in rear

Yes

8 Heung Lane,

68 sq. feet

እን

8 Li Sing Street,

3 New Street,

Lane 8' 1"

Hillside

་,

市场

130 sq. feet

house and hillside

110 sq. feet

112 sq. feet

Lane 10' 2"

Yard between

10′ Lane

Rear

Yes

Hillside

30 00 00 00

De co ou co co co os os 00 00 00 00 in 09 IPA

Ground

2nd

Ground

...

יי

2nd

1st

2nd

Ist

1st

་,

י,

ララ

爷爷

51 sq. feet

2nd

22A

1st

་

3rd

2nd

༑

26A

1st

2 Queen's Road, West,

2nd

་་

3 & Basement}

Ground

1st

་་

183

.18

15′ Laue in rear

3rd

106

་་

128

132

******

6862

****

་་

of 2′ top floor

Yes

Lane 3′ 6′′

3′ 9′′ Lane in rear 11' 6" Lane in rear

11' Lune

0000 00 00 00 P

2nd

1st

2nd

1st

2nd

་་

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 8 HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

honse.

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi- 'cles in roomĮ

where case

occurred.

Chinese.

148 Queen's Road, West,

65'

14'

51′

80 sq. feet

Lane 6' 1"

2nd

Fair.

153

6′ 2′′ Lane

་

وو

173

80 sq. feet

Yes

B & Basement

14.

1st

3rd

•

178

1st

186

B. to B. Hillside

217

219

་

多多

Yes

Lane 4' 1"

3 & Basement

2nd

Ground

229

3 & Basement

มา

·.

a nei a na nei

6 Sai Woo Lane,

50 sq.

feet

Lane 10'

Yes

1st

2nd

4 Tsung Sau Lane, West,

28.

Lane 12′ 4′′

Yes

28 Tsz Mei Alley,

30 00 00 00 00

1st

2nd

1st

•

2nd

N~N

[25]

No. 9 HEALTH DISTRICT.

[ 26 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street frout-

ing House.

No. of cubi-

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on

which case

cles in room

Sanitary condition of

where ease

house.

occurred.

premises.

occurred.

Chinese

22 Centre Street,

14'

75 sq. feet.

17 Chung Ching Lane,

12 sq. feet.

Yes.

Lane in rear

00 00 00

1st

Fair.

2nd

1st

43 Connaught Road, West,

113

Yes.

Street 46′ 6′′

3rd

289 Des Voeux Road,

100 sq. feet.

Yes.

1st

293

3rd

21 :འ ོ! = ལ

314

2nd

]

352

1st

386

7 Eastern Street,

5 First Street,

1 ł

Lane 12′ 2′′

00 10 00 00

2nd

1st

B & Basement.

2nd

1 4

45 sq. feet.

Lane 6′ 0′′

་་

sq.

15 feet.

} |

106

་་

112

119

123

125

爷爷

5 Fook Sau Lane,

ལྭ

5 Fuk Luk Lane,.

37 sq. fect.

Lane 12′ 5′′

11' Lane

12′ Lane in rear

Lane 9'

Lane 9' 3"

8' 1" Lane in rear Lane 8' 0"

11' Lane in rear

Lane 11'

Lane 7' 6"

Lane 15′ 9′′

10' Lane in rear Lane 9′ 10′′ 11′ 6′′ Lane in rear 11′ 5′′

Lane 11' 5"

Lane 5'

Lane 5′ 2′′

Yes.

00 00 00 10 10 30 1 00 20 00 IN Y

Ist

3 High Street,

2012 30 30 2 2 NNNN

2nd

Ground

Ist

Ground

奇奇

1st

2nd

ད.

ཝཱ

3 & Basement.

Ground

Ist

Ground

1st

་་་་་

多多

Ground

་་

ད་

59 sq. feet.

****2

Soy Factory, Lane 13′ 5′′

30 sq. feet.

Yes.

ČOLN N N N

3 & Basement.!

Ist

ད་

Ground

1st

Nationality.

Ago.

Sex.

Address.

No. 9 HEALTH DISTRICT,-- Continued.

No. of cubi-

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street frout- ing House.

Open area

iu rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred,

cles in room'

Sanitary condition of

where case

occurred.

premises.

[27]

Chinese

67 High Street,

وو

7 Lau U Lane,

2 Leung I Fong,

2228

28'

69 sq. feet.

Yes.

12.

وو

4 Pokfulam Road,

40 sq. feet.

ور

205 Queen's Road West,.

220

Lane 4'

Lane 5' 6"

236

242

ōl

247

258

259

288

68 sq. feet.

12' Lane

Laue 12' 2"

Yes.

268

274

Lane 9′ 6′′

276

165 sq. feet.

***

278

186

288

323

45 sq. feet.

332

340

382

383

56 sq. feet.

爷爷

1 Rinæcker Street,

2nd

步步

1st

24 Sai Yuen Lane,....

འཀྶཾ རཀྵ ཉཏྠ འད༵ ཡ ་

脐带

2nd

1 Second Street,

Laue 9' 10"

3 & Basement.]

Lane 6' 2"

Lane 6' 0"

Lane 8' 7"

Ground

Lane in rear 6'

122 sq. feet.

יי

Yes.

Lane 5′ 6′′

Lane 6′ 2′′

1st

3 & Basement,į

Ground

ོང ངར3

39 sq. feet. ⠀

Yes.

1st

12' 4" Lane in rear

Yes.

Lane 9′ 5′′

11' 5" Lane in rear

Lane 9' 10"

Yes.

do 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

30 00 00 4 1 00 10 00 IO NON NIO

Ground

1st

Fair.

יי

Ground

1st

2nd

Ground

1st

2nd

1st

2nd

ད,

י,

1st

生

One Partition

not 2/3 open

Cockloft.

ל,

2nd

+ & Cockloft.

1st

Good.

2nd

1st

Fair.

2nd

1st

No. 9 HEALTH DISTRICT,—Continued.

[ 28 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

Open area

in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi- cles in room]

where case

Sanitary condition of

occurred.

premises.

Chinese

78 Second Street,

28'

13'

31'

53 sq. feet.

110

Lane 4′ 10′′

117

Yes.

No.

Lane 9' 10"

1st

Fair.

Ground

2 & Basement.

15 Sheung Fung Lane,

42 sq. feet.

17 Sung Hing Alley,.

1 Third Street,

Yes.

Lane 4'

50 sq. feet.

Lane 4'

าง

44 sq. feet.

Lane 12' 4"

No.

Lane 12' 4"

Lane 6'7"

命多

Lane 4'

59 sq. feet.

Lane 13'

Lane 4'

68 sq. feet.

No.

32A

.51

Yes.

Archway over Leung I Lane

39 sq. feet.

Yes.

52 sq. feet.

ོ་ྲ

偷偷

No.

Lane 4' 1"

Yes.

7′ feet Lane in rear

of First floor, wall

of Ground floor

against Hillside.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NNNNNNN NO GO TO NON∞N

1st

Ground

1st

Ground

1st

Ground

1st

Ground

1st

2nd

มา

1st

Ground

1st

Ground

2nd

1st

:2:::: ོ

NNNN 200 20 30 so so so o * N N

2nd

1st

Ground

Nil, Bunks.

Ist

2nd

Ground

1st

2nd

1st

2nd

Ground

Ist

་་

104

Lane 12' 1"

喃喃

་་

110

11' 11" Lane in rear

113

Lane 12'

126

命带

4 Torseen Street,

sq.

feet.

Yes.

喃喃

51 sq.

feet.

་

50 sq. feet.

ེབ

3 Ui On Lane,

་་

2 U Lok Lane,

4′ 11′′ Lane in rear

of 1st floor only.

Nationality

Age.

Sex.

No. 9 HEALTH DISTRICT,---Continued.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of Frontage. street front-

Open area in rear.

If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

ing House.

house.

Floor on

which case

occurred.

No. of cubi-

'cles in room)

where case

occurred.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

42 sq. feet. 4′ 11′′ Lane in rear of 1st floor only. Lane 5'

心

2nd

Fair.

1st

Chinese

2 U Lok Lane,

35′

12/

.་

RE: RE: EFE: :

Lane 4' 11

}}

in rear

10 Un Shing Lane,

Yes.

2 Western Street,.

ད་

No.

223

Yes.

งา

לי

BFPF 20 10 10 NNNN

Ground

។

1st

Ground

บร

1st

Ground

2nd

Ground

[ 29 ]

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

No. 10 HEALTH DISTRICT.

Address.

Depth of

House.

Width of

Frontage, street front- Open area in If back to back or

ing House.

rear.

back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on

which case

No. of cubi-

cles in room

Sanitary

condition of

where case

house.

occurred.

premises.

1st

Ground

Fair.

2nd

1st

Ground

2 rooms.

2nd

Ground

1st

Ground

Public Latrine 19 Scats.]

2nd

وو

Chinese.

4 Belcher's Street,

48'

14'

40'

50 sq. feet.

Yes.

}}

3 Chater Street,

40'

8 Douglas Street,

48 sq. feet.

Lane 8' 6"

Lane 8' 9"

Yes.

· 15

16 Holland Lane,

وو

1 1 Yik Lane,

ร

46 sq. feet B. to Vacant Land.

15 Kennedy Town, Praya,

45 sq. feet.

Yes.

7 Police Station, Pokfulam Road (Stables),Į

Vacant ground.

9 Pokfulam Road,

33 sq. feet.

Yes.

+44

...

46 Public Latrine in On Ning Lane, 263 Queen's Road West,

363

366

378

ܕ܀

378

300 20 1 1 00 00

380

Lane 8' 2"

Lane 9' 2"

Lane 5' 5"

Lane 9' 6"

Lane 9' 3"

Lane 9′ 2′′

Lane 9' 3"

Lane 9' 8"

380

Lane 9′ 9′′

418

70 sq. feet. 2′ 8′′ lane in rear.

469

Lane 11' 0"

יי

475

Lane 10' 2"

477

500

524

A stall in 1 Yik Laue under

Lane 10' 5"

82 69.

feet.

Vacant land in rear.

10 00 00 00 10 00 0g co co co co co 00 — 10 00 00 00 00 —NNUN 10 CD CD CD 00 00 — 00 00

532

41'

15'

41'

70 sq. feet. /

638

542

562

576

2 Richmond Terrace,

,°

多多

་་

School house, Bonham Road,

9 Sam To Lane,

ོ ཡ མི: ོ ེ

Archway in rear of the ground floor of 524

Archway at Entrance to Tai Sam Lane.

Yes.

14.

68 sq. feet. |

Yes.

141

Archway over Yat Foo Street.

41 sq. feet.

Yes.

...

90'

21'

40'

73 sq. feet.

Yes.

NNN

1st

་་

2nd

1st

Ground

1st

2nd

Ground

2nd

1st

·.

Ground

Nil, cockloft.

1st

心心

༡

...

6 rooms.

[ 30 ]

No. 10 HEALTH DISTRICT,- Continued.

Nationality.

Age.

Sex.

Address.

Depth of House.

Width of Frontage. street front- ing House.

rear.

Open area in If back to back or back to side.

No. of

floors in

Floor on which case

house.

occurred.

No. of cubi- cles in room! where case

occurred.

Sanitary

condition of

premises.

Chinese.

23 Sam To Lane,

60'

13'

46 sq. feet.

130 Second Street,

Vacant ground in rear.

56 sq.

feet.

Yes.

12′ lane in rear.

141

157

163

2 Third Lane,

65 sq.

feet.

163 Third Street,.

224

Lane 3' 10"

Lane 8' 8"

16 lane.

Yes.

Vacant ground.

224

Timber Yard, Pokfulam Road,

Lane 3'

6 Tung Lung Laue,

35 sq. fect.

11 Tung Wo Laue,

우스

Yes.

~~~-~~WION: NO CO CO NO

Ground

1st

Fair.

...

1st

2nd

Ground

2 rooms.

Bad.

รา

Fair.

1st

[ 31 ]

[ 32 ]

Appendix D.

PLAGUE CASES, 1901.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

January 4th,.

March

19th,....

6 April 30th,.

10 June

1st.

5th..

21st,

May

1st,

哆喃

2ad,.

7th,

22ud,.

2nd,.

3rd,

སྭ

14th,

25th,

3rd,

4th..

19th,

26th,

4th,.

5th,

23rd..

27th,.

5th,.

6th,

February 4th,.

28th..

6th,

7th.

6th,

30th,.

7th,.

8th,.

11th,

31st,

8th,

9th.

13th,

April

1st,

9th,

10th,.

16th,.

18th,

3rd,.

4th,

10th,

11th,.

12th.

ララ

21st,

6th,..

12th,.

13th,

ܼܕ

22nd,.

9th,

13th,

14th,

25th,

26th..

11th..... 12th,.

14th,

15th,

15th,.

16th,

27th,

13th,..

16th,..

17th,

March

1st,

14th,.

17th,.

18th,

•

2nd,

4th,

15th,.

18th,.

19th,

17th,.

19th,

20th.

5th,

18th,

20th,.

21st,

་་

6th,

19th,.

21st,

22nd,

7th.

20th,.

22nd,

23rd,.

8th,

21st,

23rd,

24th,

་་

9th,

22nd,..

24th,

25th,

12th.

23rd,.

25th,

26th..

་་

13th,

24th,.

26th..

27th..

14th,

25th,

27th,.

28th,.

15th.

26th,

28th,

16th,

17,• 18th....

27th,.

28th,... 29th..

29th,

29th,....... 30th,.

30th,

31st,

Date.

Cases.

Date.

PLAGUE CASES, 1900.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Total cases,

1,487

Date.

Cases.

January

5th,.

April

24th,.

May

28th,..

¡July

1st,

8th,.

25th,

29th,.

2nd..

10th,.

26th...

30th,.

3rd..

17th,.

27th,.

31st,

4th,.

27th,.

28th,

June

1st,

5th,

་་

29th..

29th,

2nd,.

6th,.

31st,

30th,.

3rd,

7th..

February

Ist,

May

1st,

4th,

8th.....

2nd,

2nd,.

5th,

9th..

5th,.

3rd,

6th,.

10th..

وو

7th,.

10th,.

4tl.

7th,

11th,

5th..

8th...

12th..

27th,. 28th,

6th,

9th,.

13th,.

March

26th,

7th..... 8th,

10th,.

་་

14th..

11th,

loth..

27th,.

9th,.

12th,

31st,

10th,

13th,

16th, 17th,...

April

3rd,

11th,.

14th,

18th,

་་

4th,

5th,.. 7th,

12th,

15th,

19th,

13th,.

16th...

20th..

14th,

17th,.

21st.

9th,

15th..

18th,.

22nd,

10th,

16th,

19th,

23rd,

•

}lth,.

17th,.

20th,..

24th,.

་་

12th,.

18th,.

21st,

25th,.

13th, 14th,

19th,.

22nd,...

26th,

20th,.

23rd,

27th..

་

16th,.

21st,

17th,

22nd,.

24th... 25th,.

28th,.

18th,..

23rd,..

26th,..

29th, 30th..

20th,.

24th,.

27th,..

21st,

25th,.

22nd,..

26th.

28th, 29th,.

༢༣༣༠

311,

Angust 1st,

2nd,

23rd,..

27th,.

30th,

3rd.

Carried forward,... 982

[ 33 ]

PLAGUE CASES, 1900,-Continued.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Brought forward,... 982

August

4th,..

5th..

August 17th...

21st,

September 11th,.

October 15th,......

13th,

16th....

6th,..

23rd,

14th,

18th,

!་

7th..

24th,

19th,

20th,

་་

8tb,.

25th,.

23rd,

27th,..

9th,

27th,

28th,

November 26th,

10th,.

29th,

27th,

11th,.

30th,

12th,.

31st,

October

2nd,.

December 17th, 25th,

13th,.

September 2nd,

3rd,

14th,

4th..

Stb,.

15th,

Sth,

10th,

16th,.

9th,.

12th,.

Total cases.

1,086

Date.

Cases.

PLAGUE CASES, 1899.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

January February 28th,.

March

3rd,.

17th,.

May

5th,

་་

4th,. 5th,..

8th,..

9th,.

10th,.

11th,...

212

6th...

7th,

204-10

13 June

20th,..

August

8th,...

21st,

9th,

22ud,.

19th,

8th,.

23rd,

14th..

9th,.

24th,

15th...

10th,.

25th,.

16th,.

་་་

11th,

26th,.

17th..

སྙས

12th,.

27th,.

18th,..

13th,.

28th,

20th,

ཏཾ-

12th,. 14th,.

14th,.

29th,.

21st,

15th,.

30th,.

22nd,

* * *

18th,.. 21st,

24th,.

25th,...

28th,.

16th,

July

1st,

23rd,.

17th,...

2nd..

24th,.

18th,.

3rd,.

28th,.

19th,

4th,.

29th,

20th,.

5th,.

30:h,.

29th,

21st,

6th,.

31st,

April

་་

30th,.

2nd,.

3rd,

22nd,.

7th,.

September 12th,.

23rd,...

8th,.

13th.

24th,.

9th,

14th,.

4tb,.

5th, 6th,.

7th..

8th..

25th,.

10th,.

15th,.

26th,.

11th,.

16th,

27th,.

13th..

17th,.

་་

28th,.

14th,.

18th,

29th,.

15th,.

19th,.

སྭ་

梦梦

ས་

་་

May

12th,...

13th,

14th,...

15th,

17th,. 18th,

19th,.

20th,.

21st, 22nd,.

23rd,.... 21th,. 25th,.

26th, 27th,. 28th, 29th,.

1st,

2nd,.

3rd..... 4th,

30th,.

16th,

20th,

NWNNO 00 00 )

་་

31st,

17th,.

21st,

June

1st,

19th,.

29th,.

2nd,.

20th,.

30th,

3rd,...

21st,

October

2nd,

1th,

22nd,..

28th,.

་་

10 10

5th,..

23rd,.

30th,.

6th,.

24th,.

November 15th,

7th,.

25th,..

December 2nd,.

8th,.

26th,.

13th,.

9th,.

27th,.

18th,.

10th,.

28th,..

20th,.

11th,.

29th,

21st,

12th,.

30th,.

22nd,.

13th,

31st,

་

25th,...

14th,

19 August 1st,

28th,.

ང་

15th,.

2nd,.

16th..

3rd,.

30th,. 31st,

17th..

18th, 19th,.

4th,. 6th,.

7th,.

Total cases,......

1,462

Date.

Cases.

January 2nd,..

8th,. 20th,.

22nd,.

23rd, 30th,.

.་

31st,

20th,. 21st,

February

3rd..

5th,..

22nd,...

23rd,

9th,.

24th,.

March

Date.

[ 34 ]

PLAGUE CASES, 1898.

15th,....... 16th,...

17th,.

18th, 19th,

Cases.

10 10 6 8 10 47002

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

5 April

24th,.

21 June

3rd,................

25th,.

4th,.

26th,

5th,

་་

27th,..

་་

28th,..

་་

6th..... 7th,.

7462

29th,.

་་

8th,

30th,.

9th,

May

1st,

10th,...

2nd,.

11th,.

3rd,.

21.

12th,

ད་

10th,.

25th,

4th,.

13th,.

11th,.

26th,

5th,.

14th,.

12th,.

27th,

6th,.

15th,..

ཏཱཾ་

13th,.

28th,.

7th...

16th,.

15th,..

29th,

8th,

17th,.

་་

17th,.

30th,..

9th,.

18th,

18th,.

31st,

10th,

19th,

20th,..

April

1st,

11th,.

20th,.

21st,

2nd,.

12th...

22nd,

འ་

22nd,

3rd,..

13th,........

24th,

་

23rd,.

4th,.

24th,

5th,

25th,.

6th,

248

14th...

25th,.

15th,....

26th,.

16th,

27th,...

་་

26th,.

7th,.

17th,.

28th,..

27th,

Sth,.

18tb...

July

2nd,.

2xth,.

9th,

19th,.

4th,.

March

1st,.

10th,.

20th,

Sth,

2nd,...

11th,..

21st,

10th,.

ད་

3rd,

12th,..

22nd,.

18th,

.་

4ili,...

5th, 6th,.

71b,

13th,

23rd,.

.་

14th,...

24th,.

26th,.

.་

15th.

25th,

16th,.

26th,.

August 10th,.

301b,.

8th,.

17th,.

27th,

September 28tb,

9th,..

18th,

28th,

October 19th,.

10th, 11th,

19th,.

29th,

20th.....

20th,

30th,

་

ཉྭ་

12th,.. 13th, lith,...

21st,

31st,

22nd,.

20 June

1st,

23rd,.

2nd..

1022

December 16th,.

Total cases,

1,325

PLAGUE CASES, 1897.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

May

21st,.. 23rd,. 25th,.

1 July

12th,

July 23rd,

13th,

26th,..

June

5th,

14th, 21st,

31st,

September 26th,. November 13th, December 18th,.

August

Brd..

19th..

Total cases,..

PLAGUE CASES,-JANUARY TO NOVEMBER, 1896.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

January

7th,..

January 17th,...

January 29th,....

February 6th,................

8th,

,་

9th,..

19th,. 20th,...

30th,.

31st.....

་་

7th,

11th,..

21st,..

February 1st,.

2nd..

12th,.

22nd,.

Stb,..

9tb,.

10th,...

14th,

26th,.

3rd,.

11th,.

15th,

27th,.

4th..

12tb,....

16th,...

28th,.

5th...

13th,.

2010 TH 1027∞

Carried forward,...

[ 35 ]

PLAGUE CASES,—JANUARY TO NOVEMBER, 1896.—Continued.

Date.

Cares.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Casca.

Brought forward.......... 91

February 14th...

April

2nd,.....

9 May

20th,..

10 July

8th,.

15th,...

3rd,.

21st,

9th,.

་་

16th,

4th,.

22nd,

10th,

17th,

Stb...

23rd,

11th.

18th,

6tb,.

24th,

12th,

19th,.

7th,

25th,

13th,

!་

Sth..

26tb,.

14th,

20th,.

21st,

9th,

27th,.

16th,

22nd,

10th,.

28th,.

17th.

23rd,

11th,.

29th,

19th,

24th,..

12th,.

30th,

19th,

调情

25th,.

13th,

31st,

20th,...

་་

26th,..

14th,.

9 June

1st,

་་

27th,...

15th,

20d,.

警嘴

Bri...

28th,..

16th,.

•

29th..

17th...

ttb,.

30 10 30

་་

March

18th...

5tb..

21st, 23rd,. 24th,. 25th,. 26th,

1st,.

2nd...

19th,

6th...

27th..

3rd,

20th,..

7th,...

29th..

1th,.

21st,.

Sth,

31st,

ཞུས

5th,

22nd,..

9th..

August

1st,.

་་

6th,.

23rd,

10th,

2nd,.

7th,

24th,

11th,.

2rd..

་

8th,.

25th,

12th,

7th,.

་་

26th.

18th,.

10th,.

9th,.

.་

10th,.

11th,.

27th,

14th,

11th...

28th,

15th,

12tb..

12th,.

29th,.

16th...

13th..

30th,

17th,..

14th,

13th,.

14th..

May

ist,

18th,..

15th,.

2nd..

19th,

16th,.....

15th,.

16th,...

3rd,

20th,.

17th.

4th..

21st,

18th,

17th,

181b,.

5th,

22ud,

19th,.

དྷྭན

19th,.

6th,

23rd,

25th..

་

20th,.

7th,...

24th,.

27th,

་་

.་

21st,. 22nd,.

23rd, 24th,. 25th,. 26th,

8th,.

25th,

29tb.

9th,.

26th,

September 6th,..

10th,

27th,

10th,

11th...

11th,

28th..

12th,.

29th,...

14th...

13th,.

July

1st,

14th..

2nd,

27th,.

15th,.

3rd,

28th,

29th,

16th...

4th,.

30th,

171b,.

18th,.

31st,

་་

April

1st,.

19th,...

FRA

5th,.

6th,..

7th...

NANK – ON

18th,.

22nd,.. 24th,

26th...

October

3rd,

November 23rd,

Total cases,••

1,204

April,

May,

Date.

Cases.

SO ON

June,.. July,

PLAGUE CASES, 1895.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

Date.

Cases.

August,

September,

November, December,

6 12

Total cases,.

Week:

No. of Dead

Rats

collected.

3100

3000

2900

2800

2700

2600

2500

2400

2300

2200

2100

2000

1900

1800

1700

1600

1500

1400

1300

1200

1100

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

40th.

41st.

42nd.

43rd.

44th.

45th.

46th.

1900.

HONC

BUBONIC FEVER AND G

OCTOBER, 190

51st.

52nd.

1st.

2nd.

6th.

•

7th.

00-

:00

.00

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

00:

600

00:

000

300

.00

ek:

Dead

:ted.

40th.

41st.

•

42nd.

43rd.

44th.

45th.

46th.

47th.

1900.

48th.

49th.

50th.

51st.

52nd.

1st.

HONGKONG.

BUBONIC FEVER AND GENERAL R

OCTOBER, 1900, To JUNE, 1901.

2nd.

6th.

7th.

8th.

9th.

10th.

KONG.

ENERAL RAT MORTALITY.

TO JUNE, 1901.

1901.

17th.

18th.

19th.

20th.

21st.

22nd.

23rd.

24th.

25th.

26th.

27th.

No. of Cases

of Bubonic Fever,

per week.

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

Week:

No. of Dead Rats collected.

3100

3000

2900

2800

2700

2600

2500

2400

2300

2200

2100

2000

1900

1800

1700

1600

1500

1400

1300

1200

1100

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

Dead Rats, Black Line.

Bubonic Fever Cases, Red Line.

N.B. The price paid for Rats was increased on Jai

40th.

•

41st.

42nd.

•

43rd.

44th.

45th.

1900.

51st.

52nd.

1st.

2nd.

•

3rd.

OCTOBER, 1900

6th.

7th.

Rats was increased on January 24th, 1901, from 2 cents to 3 cents per head.

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of He

3rd.

4th.

5th.

OCTOBER, 1900, To JUNE, 1901.

6th.

7th.

8th.

1901.

14th.

15th.

16th.

21st.

22nd.

23rd.

24th.

•

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

22,

211

€

No. of

Bubonic

per w

4th, 1901, from 2 cents to 3 cents per head.;

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of Health,

8th.

9th.

10th.

TO JUNE, 1901.

11th.

12th.

13th.

14th.

1901.

15th.

16th.

17th.

18th.

19th.

20th.

21st.

22nd.

23rd.

24th.

25th.

26th.

•

27th.

No. of Cases

of Bubonic Fever,

per week.

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

HONG

BUBONIC FEVER AND MEAN

Week:

Mean Atmospheric Temperature.

F. 89°

1st. 2nd. 3rd, 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th.131

889

879

86°

850

84°

83°

820

819

80°

79°

780

770

76°

75°

740

ご

730

72°

71°

70°

67°

66°

3 3 3

68°

65°

64°

63°

62°

61°

60°

Week:

HONGKONG.

BUBONIC FEVER AND MEAN ATMOSPHERIC

Mean Atmospheric Temperature.

F. 89°

880

1901.

1st . 2nd . 3rd . 4th . 5th . 6th. 7th. 8th 9th. 10th. 11th 12th. 13th. 14th . 15th, 16th, 17th . 18th. 19th. 20th

870

86°

85°

84°

839

820

81°

80°

79°

780

77°

760

75°

74°

730

72°

710

70°

69°

68°

67°

66°

65°

64°

63°

629

61°

60°

-KONG.

ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE.

01.

. 14th. 15th. 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th. 21st, 22nd. 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th

No. of Cases of Bubonic Fever,

per week.

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

ΤΟ

Week:

Mean Atmospheric Temperature.

F. 89°

1st. 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th. 13th

880

870

86°

850

840

830

820

819

80°

79°

78°

77°

76°

75°

74°

73°

72°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

66°

65°

64°

63°

62°

61°

600

59°

Mean Weekly Temperature, Black Line.

6th. 7th. 8th. 9th, 10th. 11th 12th. 13th . 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th. 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd. 23rd . 24th, 25th. 26th

No. of

of Bubonic

per we

1901.

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

230

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

ΤΟ

ck Line.

FRANCIS W. CLARK

Medical Officer of He

>1.

4th. 15th. 16th, 17th, 18th. 19th. 20th, 21st. 22nd. 23rd . 24th, 25th. 26th

No. of Cases

of Bubonic Fever,

per week.

300

290

280

270

260

250

240

280

220

210

200

190

180

170

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

三

()

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of Health.

HONGKONG.

435

No.

1901

REPORT ON THE PÓ LEUNG KUK SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 6th May, 1901.

SIR.I have the honour to forward for His Excellency's information the Report of the Society for the Protection of Women and Girls for the year ending 31st December last, together with the accounts and a statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the Society accompanied by a declaration of the truth of it made before a Justice of the Peace by two members of the Permanent Board.

I have the honour to be,

Honourable

ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.

&.c..

$c.,

&e.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant.

A. W. BREWIN,

Registrar General.

Report of the Pó Léury Kuk Society, for the Year 1900.

The following ten gentlemen were elected to act as the Managing Committee for the year:-

TSANG WAI-HIM.

LI SUI-TING.

T'AM TSZ-KONG.

MUI KING-SHIK.

P'UN TSZ-WAN.

LEUNG PING-NÁM.

Ú HOI-CHAU.

P'UN PING-SHANG.

LAM SHAU-TING.

FUNG SHU-T'ONG.

A state-

Mr. LAU WAI-CH'UEN and Mr. WAI LONG-SHÁN were appointed to act as Treasurers. ment of the Assets and Liabilities of the Society and a declaration by the Treasurers and two statements showing the working account and revenue and expenditure during the year are attached. The balance to the credit of the fund was $13,697.99.

1899.

Messrs. SHAM KUN-SAI and WONG HOI-P'ANG have kindly audited the accounts.

The number of persons admitted into the home during the year was 409, being 2 less than in

The Visiting Justices during the year have been Captain ANDERSON, the Honourable WEI A-YUK and Mr. CH'AN FUK.

$ 225.00

225.00

210.00

150.00

120.00

436

The Society is indebted, as in former years, to the various Benevolent Societies of Macao, Canton and other places, for their co-operation in restoring women and children to their relatives, and for their assistance in other directions.

The subscriptions for the year amount to $5,465.10, showing an increase of $1,459.80 over the subscriptions for 1899, and of $3,628.15 over those for 1898. The Society is greatly indebted to the Chinese Commercial Community for its continued and increased support.

The following is a list of the Guilds which subscribe and of the amounts of their annual sub- scriptions:

Annual Subscriptions to the Pó Léung Kuk from the different Hongs and Guilds.

Nam Pak Hongs,.

Commission Agents,

Piece Goods Dealers and Drapers,

Rice Merchants,

Ginseng and Drug Dealers,.

Compradores to European Firms, ......$ 300.00

Prepared Opium Shops,

150.00

Californian Merchants,

150.00

Bankers,

75.00

Mat Bag Shops,

75.00

Cotton Yarn Merchants,

75.00

Foreign Goods Dealers,

30.00

Copper and Iron Shops,

60.00

Tientsin Dried Fruit Shops,

60.00

Wholesale Pig Dealers,

60.00

Vermilion Shops....

60.00

Compradore Shops,

60.00

Dealers in Medicinal Plants,

60.00

Wholesale Salt Fish Dealers,

60.00

Pork Sellers,---Sheung Wán,

27.00

Pawnbrokers,

60.00

Do.. --Chung Wán,

18.00

Gold Shops,

60.00

....

Do., -Sai Ying-pún,

9.00

Master Carpenters,

38.00

Rattan Shops-Masters,......

30.00

Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Dealers,

30.00

Cattle Dealers,

30.00

Mán On Insurance Co.,

30.00

Tsai On Insurance Co..

30.00

Ts'ün On Insurance Co.,..

30.00

Po On Insurance Co.,

30.00

Sea Fish Dealers,.

24.00

Tobacconists,

15.00

Rattan Shops Employées,

15.00

Fresh Water Fish Dealers,

15.00

Tailors,

15.00

Poultry Dealers,

40.00

Bricklayers,

15.00

Old Clothes Shops,

12.00

Barbers, Tea Dealers.

15.00

Restaurants.

500.00

34.00

Makers of Tin and Lead Boxes,

5.30

Tea Saloons,.

200.00

Tung On Insurance Co.,.

30.00

}

At the beginning of the year the services of a female teacher were engaged, and the inmates now receive regular elementary instruction.

A. W. BREWIN, President.

HO KAI,

Vice-President.

We, LAU WAI-CH'ÜEN and WAI LONG-SHAN, members of the Board of Directors of the Pó Léung Kuk Incorporated Society, do solemnly and sincerely declare that the attached statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the above Society on the 31st December, 1900, marked "A" and signed with our names on the fifth day of March, 1901, is a true statement, and we make this solemn decla- ration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of "The Statutory Declaration Act, 1835."

LAU WAI-CH'ÜEN.

WAI LONG-SHÁN.

Declared by the declarants, LAU WAI-CHUEN and WAI LONG-SHAN, at Victoria, Hongkong, this fifth day of March, 1901.

Before me,

BRUCE SHEPHERD, J.P.,

Victoria.

437

Sweet meats Shops,

Poultry Shops,

"A"

PERMANENT COMMITTEE.

Statement of Working Account from 1st January to 31st December, 1900.

Receipts.

Fixed Deposit, Subscriptions from-

Old Clothes Shops, Rattan Workers,

Californian Hongs,

Theatre Lessce,

Expenditure.

15,000.00

Advance Account with the Hongkong & Shang-

hai Bank,

1,293.27

12.00

90.00

Working Committee,

6,400.00

150.00

60.00

Interest due to Bank,

123.84

1,000.00

40.00

Mr. Un Lai Chun for Fixed Deposit,

15,000.00

Import Goods Shops,

30.00

Vermilion Shops,

60.00

Fresh Fish Shops,

24.00

Pork Sellers,

36.00

Man On Insurance Company,

30.00

Chai On Insurance Company,

30.00

Tsun On Insuraoce Company,

30.00

Po On Insurance Company,

60.00

Ginseng Hongs,.....

34.00

Tea Hougs,

120.00

Cotton Yarn Hongs,

75.00

Man Mo Temple, Compradores,

Chinese Banks,

910.00

300.00

75.00

Restaurants,

250.00

Cattle Lans,

30.00

Salt-Fish Shops,

120.00

Tea Saloons,

199.00

Copper and Iron Shops,

60.00

Opium Shops,

300.00

Gold Shops,

60.00

Nam Pak Hougs,

225.00

Mat Bag Shops,

150.00

Tobacco Shops,

30.00

Rice Shops,

150.00

Piece Goods Shops,

210.00

Pewter Shops,'

5.10

Fruit and Vegetable Lans,

60.00

Barbers Shops,

15.00

Commission Merchants,

225.00

Carpenters Shops,

30.00

Pig Lans,

60.00

Ship Compradores Shops,

60.00

Pawnbrokers,

60.00

Interest on Fixed Deposit,

1,050.00

Balance overdrawn,

1,302.01

Total,........

.$ 22,817.11

Total,..

22,817.11

Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Pó Leung Kuk Incorporated Society on the 31st December, 1900.

Assets.

On Fixed Deposit in hands of Mr. Un Lai Chun,

Kung Uen Rice Shop,

15,000.00

Liabilities.

Advance Account with the Hongkong & Shang-

hai Bauk,

1,302.01

Balance,......

13,697.99

Total......

15,000.00

Total,....

15,000.00

LAU WAI-CH'ÜEN. WAI LONG-SHÁN.

W. HOI-PANG, SHAM KUN-SAI,

Auditors.

This is the Statement marked “A” referred to in the Declaration of Lan Wai-ch'ün and Wai Long-shán, declare 1 before me, this 5th day of March, 1901.

BRUCE SHEPHERD, J.P.

438

Statement showing Particulars of Expenditure incurred by the Working Committee from the 1st January to the

.31st December, 1900.

1900.

RECEIPTS.

$ c.

EXPENDITURE.

$ e.

Balance from previous year,

56.12 By Wages of Li Yik-tin, Clerk, for 2 months,

48.00

Jan.

Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

Kuk,

2888

Do.

do.

do..

Sale of Kitchen Refuse,

400.00 400.00

7.4370

of Au Yang Chak-tung. Clerk, for 11

months....

264.00

Feb.

for the Wards,

Meals for the Wards,

Mar.

Premium on $202 received in Bank Notes.... Received from Charitable Persons for Special Meals

Received from Mr. Yun Yung Yik-ting for Special

Premium on $115 received in Bank Notes.... Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

1.30

50.00

5.00

1.30

Kuk,

400.00

Do.

do.

do.,

400,00

Sale of 31 Hemp Bags,

4.65

April 27

Premium on $300 received in Bank Notes,. Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

4.80

Kuk.....

400.00

Premium on $180 received in Bank Notes,

3.03

of Tsang Sz-ming, Clerk, for 13 months.. of Li Shun. Detective, for 9 months. of Wong Sui. Detective, for 3 months.... of Wong Hoi. Detective, for 13 months, of Chan Shan, l'orter, for 13 months, of Tam Wa, Servant, 13 months:

months at $4; 8 months at $5, of Cheung Lai, Cook. for 13 months: 5

months at $3; 8 months at $4. of Lau Chiu, Servant, for 2 mouths. of Ng Man, Servant, for 13 months:

months at $1,50; 11 months at $2...... of Lan Sz. Servant, for 11 months,

of Portuguese Matron, for 12 months, of Leung In, Female Servant, for 13

months.

156.00

198.00

69.50

156.00

130.00

60.00

47.00

-1,00

25.00

16.50

336.00

78.00

May 26

Received from the Permanent Board of Pó· Lóung

Kuk,

400.00

June 20

Premium on $230 received in Bank Notes,... Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Lóung

3.76

of Chán Ún. Female Servant. for 13 months: 2 months at $3: 11 months at $3.50,

14.50

Kuk,.

400.00

of Wong Un, Female Servant, for 13

months,

32.50

July D

Premium on $335 received in Bank Notes,. Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

Kuk,

5.46

of Lau Tsu-shi, the Teacher of Needle

Work, for 13 months.

39.00

400.00

Aug. 3

Premium on $220 rcccived in Bank Notes.... Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

1.88

of Lo Shi, Teacher, for 11 months: 1

month at $10; 10 months at $12.

130.00

of Ip Sam, Cook, for 13 months.

45.50

Kuk,

400.00

of Hon I au, Cook, for 5 months,

17.50

Do.

do.

do.,

400.00

•

of Lam Mui, Cook, for 8 months,

28.00

Sept. 13

Premium on $255 received in Bank Notes,...... Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

Kuk,

0.91

of Chran Kwan, Night-woman, for 13

monthis.

TULIPAO

26.00

600.00

Oct.

Premium on $250 received in Bank Notes,... Premium on Payment of Rice Account in Bank

Notes,

1.09.

Rice from U Tak-shing, Hop Hing and Ün

Fat shops...................

679.24

Bamboo Wares from l'o Wo shop...

41.74%

0.28

Oil from Tung Shang Wo shop,

96.17

Proceeds from the Sale of a wrecked Annamese

Juuk,

Tobacco and Soap from Chü Wing On shop,

21.74

2.50

Stationery from Kwong Fuk Hing shop,

118.72

Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

Kuk,

Porcelain from Kung Hing and Ho Cheung

400.00

shops,

21.34

6 Proceeds from the Sale of Cotton Wool of an Anna-

mese Junk,

Tea from Shang Mau shop.

33.82

20.00

Repairs from Wing Tai for Masons and Car-

6 Refund of Passage Money for 2 Annamese Women

by Working Committee, &c.,

penters' Work.

158.75

29.00

Repairs to the Rooms for the Inmates,

200.00

Nov.

Premium on $220 received in Bank Notes... Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Léung

Kuk..

2.04

Cloth from King Lung shop.

35.20

Slippers from Shing Li shop.

16.35

600.00

Barbers' Wages,

19.00

Premium on Payment of Rice Account in Bank

Notes,

Flowers from Tsung Lam Gardens,

41.28

0.30

Gas......

399.85

Commission from China Fire Insurance for the

Amount insured,

3.90

Printing Minutes of Monthly Meetings of the

Permanent Board,

15.90

Dec.

Premium on $175 received in Bank Notes,.. Received from the Permanent Board of Pó Lóung

Kuk.

1.99

Water Rates,

5.50

Bill of Tsun Wan Yat Po. Newspaper Office....

$7.70

Do.

do.

do.,

400.00 400.00

of Wa Tsz Yat Po, Newspaper Office,

8.20

of Chung Ngoi Yat Po. Newspaper office..

14.70

Premium on Payment of Rice Account in Bank

Photographs from Wo Cheung,.

13.80

Notes, Premium on $290 received in Bank Notes,...

0.28

Disinfectants.

7.80

4.28

Crown Rent for Lot No. 1.356.

32.00

Fruit from Kwong Wo Lung shop.

54.35

Extra Meals,

69.83-

Passages for Destitutes,

284.30

Hire of Jinrickshas and Boats by Detectives,

&c..

68.11

Firewood from Wing Tseung-shing, Fung Hing, Hang Shing Cheung and On Fat shops.

330.45fo

Meals for Clerks and Servants,

Meals for Teacher and Female Servants, Meals for Inmates,

Sundry Expenses.

142.70%

100.68

602.48

277.36%

Insurance in China Fire. Tung On, Tsun On

and Í On Insurance Offices.

301.78

Total,

6,611.31

Total.

Balance in Hand,

Total,

6,257.9076

353.40%

6,611.31

Return showing the Number of Beds, Staff and Persons whose cases have been dealt with by the Pó Léung Kuk, during the Year 1900.

Beds for the Inmates,

Staff,

2 Boy,

Inmates remaining on the 31st December, 1899.

Women, 28 Girls, Inmates admitted for the year 1900,—

Sent to Convents.-

Women,

2 Girls.

Married.

1 Total,

Adopted, Girls,

Boy,

2 Total,

1 Tota1,

Permitted to leave, Died,

Women, ...273 Girls, ..50 Boys, ......14 Total, ......337 Restored to parents or relatives or sent to the Charitable Institutions

for disposal of in 'hina.-

Women, ......140 Girls,

Sent to Missionary Schools,-

Women,

38 Boys. ......14 Total, ......192

www

2 Girls..... 5 Total,...

Still in Charge of the Society,—

Women,

.......45 Girls, Sent Home,-Male Destitutes, 72

Total,

.50

HONGKONG.

157

No.7

REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE FOR THE YEAR 1900.

[No. 42.]

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

1901

POLICE OFFICE, HONGKONG, 4th February, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the Criminal Statistics and Report on the Police Force for the year 1900.

2. The total of all cases reported to the Police was 9,873, as against 9,023 in 1899, being an in- crease of 850, or 9.42 per cent.

In the division of these cases into Serious and Minor Offences, there appears an increase, as com- pared with 1899, of 140 cases, or 4.12 per cent., in the former and of 710 cases, or 12.6 per cent., in the latter.

The increase, as compared with 1899, in Serious Offences of 140 is shewn as follows:--

Burglary or Larceny in Dwelling,

Assault with intent to rob,

Piracy,

Larceny,......

Kidnapping and Protection of Women and Girls Ord.......

Unlawful Possession,

169

Deduct decrease in :-

Murder,

Robbery,

Felonies, not already given,

140

3. Table A shows the number and character of the Serious and Minor Offences reported to the Police during the past year, and the number of persons convicted and discharged in connection with those offences.

MURDER.

4.—(1.) On the 23rd of March, the body of Private FUKIER KHAN, of the Hongkong Regiment, was found buried in the bed of a stream on the Rifle Range; the body was nude and had several wounds on it. The murdered man was last seen alive at 9 p.m. on the 16th of March. No arrest was made.

2.) On the 21st June, about 11 a.m., three men engaged sampan No. 2920 at Hunghom to take them to Sai Tso Wan where they landed for a short time, and, on returning to Hunghom, and when off Quarry Bay, they produced choppers. cut and wounded the master of the sampan, CHEUNG SAU, 73 years of age, (who was blind), put all the crew in the hold, shut the hatch on them and steered the boat to North Point where they ran her ashore and left, taking clothing and jewellery value $24 with them.

CHEUNG SAU was removed to Government Civil Hospital where he died from his wounds on the 15th of July. Two men, named TANG LIN and Lo TAM, were arrested and convicted at the Criminal Sessions and hanged.

(3.) On the 8th August, two coolies named U CHAN, 23 years, and To KAP, 26 years, employed at the Government Civil Hospital, quarrelled and fought in the cookhouse at the hospital. They were separated. About 5.30 a.m. on the 9th August, while U CHAN was asleep in the servants' quarters, To KAP struck him with a carrying pole. U CHAN was admitted into hospital where he died at 2 p.m. the same day from rupture of spleen. To KAP absconded and has not been arrested.

4.) On the 23rd December, about 4 p.m., while YEUNG SAM, Contractor, HA WO TSAI, was riding in his jinricksha with two coolies along the new Tai Po Road, and when near the sixth mile stone, three men armed with choppers attacked them. YEUNG was cut and wounded, dragged off the road into a ravine, robbed of a handkerchief containing $100 and left unconscious. He was removed to Government Civil Hospital by Police and died there on the 24th December. No arrest made.

158

MANSLAUGHTER.

(1.) On the 8th March, Lance NAIK GHULAM HASSAN, of the Hongkong Regiment, died in the Station Hospital, Kowloon, from the effects of an assault committed on him by Private GHEBA KHAN of the same Regiment in the barrack room at Whitfield Barracks on the same day. GREBA KHAN was tried at the Criminal Sessions and convicted.

(2.) On the 19th September, about 8.30 a.in., a number of coolies employed in the East Point Sugar Refinery quarrelled in the refinery, and, during the interval for breakfast, fought outside the building when one of the coolies named CHENG CHI HANG was so severely injured that he was removed to Government Civil Hospital where he died from his injuries on the 21st December. Two men, named U TAI NGAN and Ự CHING CHOI, were arrested and convicted.

GANG ROBBERIES.

In connection with 9 of these cases,

5. There were 31 gang robberies reported during the year. 36 persons were arrested, 27 convicted and 9 discharged. In 22 cases no arrest was made.

Only 2 gang robberies were reported in the City of Victoria, one is alleged to have occurred in the Eastern and the other in the Western District. These 2 reports were doubtful,

Of the 31 cases reported, 20 were from the New Territory.

ROBBERIES ON BOATS AND JUNKS.

Ten cases were reported, of which 5 occurred in the New Territory. In connection with 4 of these cases, 17 persons were arrested, 14 of whom were convicted and 3 discharged. In the remain- ing 6 cases no arrest was made.

HIGHWAY AND STREET ROBBERIES.

Eighteen cases were reported, of which 7 occurred in the New Territory. In respect of 4 of the cases, 5 persons were arrested, 4 of whom were convicted and 1 discharged. In 14 cases no arrest was made. Of these highway robberies only one was upon a European, viz. :-

On the 6th May, at 6 a.m., while Miss FREEMAN of the Land We Live In Hotel," Queen's Road Central, was in the Public Gardens near Gleneally Path, she was set upon by two Chinese, who assaulted her, knocked her down and robbed her of jewellery value $400. This girl was in the habit of going to the Gardens early, and, no doubt, she was watched by the robbers. She made no report to the Police at the time. No arrest inade.

FELONIES NOT ALREADY GIVEN.

6. Under this heading are comprised the following

Housebreaking, Forgery, Drugging.

Embezzlement,

Arson,

Suicide,

Kape,

....

Assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, Indecent Assault,

Throwing Corrosive Fluid,

Manslaughter,

Cutting and Wounding,

113

NNN

193

TRIAD SOCIETY.

7. Nine men were charged with being members of this Society, five of whom were convictedand four discharged.

PIRACY.

8. Five cases of Piracy occurred in the Waters of the Colony during 1900, viz.:-

(1.) On the 6th March, at 3.30 p.m., launch Shun Fat, running from Hongkong to Cheung Chau, left Praya West for Cheung Chau, and when near Che Kung Mun Island, five men who had embarked as passengers presented revolvers at the crew whom they drove below. They stopped the launch and were joined by a number of men from a boat. They then steamed away to the South-west of Lantao and stopped and robbed two junks. Then, after searching the passengers on the launch and robbing them of property to the value of $25, they landed at Lantao. No arrest was made.

159

(2.) On the 13th May, at 8.30 a.m., when the launch Fook Sang, running from Hongkong to Sham Chan, was off Castle Peak Bay, seven men who had embarked at Hongkong as passengers drew revolvers, overawed the crew and passengers and robbed them of money, jewellery, clothing and opium. They then steered the launch to Kau Chan Islands where the pirates and their booty embarked on board a fishing-boat and sailed away in the direction of Macao. Three of the pirates were subsequently arrested and convicted at the Criminal Sessions.

(3.) About 6 p.m. on the 7th June, a Hongkong launch while towing two junks laden with kerosine to Canton, was attacked off the Brothers Islands by a number of men from two fishing junks who fired two shots, then boarded the launch, cut the two junks adrift and steered the launch up the Canton River, and on their way robbed three junks and also stole money and clothing from the launch value $710. The pirates ultimately abandoned the launch at Tam Shui Ho in the Tung Kun District where they landed in boats which appeared to have been waiting for them. No arrest made.

(4.) On the 17th July, at 8.30 p.m., the ferry launch Cheung Yuen, running between Vic- toria and Yaumati, was seized by a number of men who embarked as passengers at Victoria and who were armed with revolvers and swords. The pirates drove the crew and passengers below, took the launch up the Canton River where they pirated a large fishing-junk to which they transferred the passengers; after which they attacked several junks, keeping possession of the launch till 1 a.m. on the 19th July. On the arrival of the launch in Victoria Harbour, the Water Police found a large quantity of stolen property on board, nine of the crew were charged for receiving stolen property, &c., but were discharged.

(5.) On the 24th November, at 7 a.m., the ferry launch Kwong Sing left Hongkong for Wan Ha in Chinese territory on the North shore of Deep Bay, and at 9 a.m. when off Nam Wan in British waters, five men who had embarked in Hongkong as passengers and who were armed took charge of the launch, robbed the passengers and took the launch to Chinese territory near Macao where the pirates landed with their booty. This launch was accompanied by two ferry launches who, on seeing her leaving her course, reported the occurrence to the Imperial Maritime Customs (Chinese) Authorities who sent a launch from Ling Ting Island in pursuit, but they failed to overtake the pirates in time to prevent the escape of the pirates. No arrest made.

GAMBLING.

9. The returns show a large increase in the number of cases under this heading. There was during the year evidence of an effort, in some cases most determined, to increase the promotion of gambling, which called forth increased activity on the part of the Police and especially of the Euro- pean Detective Staff who were successful in making several important raids. A syndicate which con- ducted a Lottery and other gambling in a village in the New Territory opposite Shaukiwan gave con- siderable trouble.

DRUNKENNESS.

10. The number of cases for the year was 49 more than last year.

There are in the Colony 25 houses which are licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor on the premises Three licensees were convicted for selling liquor to persons who were drunk, two were fined $25 each and one $10. One licensee was convicted of keeping a disorderly house and fined $50, one was convicted of selling liquor during prohibited hours and fined $5, and one was convicted for selling adulterated liquor and fined $50.

PROSTITUTION.

11. The Protection of Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance has continued to work satisfac- torily.

Forty-nine prosecutions were instituted under section 11a of the Ordinance and in 35 cases con- victions were obtained and fines to the total amount of $2,950 imposed.

One hundred and eighteen (118) brothels were closed by order of the Magistrate under section 4 of Ordinance 31 of 1899, while 3 prosecutions were instituted under section 8 of the same Ordinance result- ing in the conviction and banishment of two persons. A third absconded and bis bail was estreated.

PROPERTY REPORTED STOLEN AND PROPERTY RECOVERED.

12. The value of property reported stolen during the year was $110,366.85.

The value of that recovered by the Police and restored to owners was $3,972.45.

160

LOST PROPERTY.

13. The following is a return showing property lost and recovered during 1900:-

Articles reported lost.

Value lost.

Articles recovered and Articles found which were

Value found.

not reported lost.

113

$26,611.24

120

ARMS ORDINANCE.

$13,549.86

14. During the whole of the year a Proclamation has been in force prohibiting the export of arins and munitions of war from the Colony.

The following arms and ammunition were seized by the Police during the year, viz.:-197 rifles, 282 revolvers, 28,555 rounds of ammunition, 77 kegs of gunpowder, 347 bayonets and swords, 25,000 empty rifle cartridge-cases and 2,092 boxes of caps.

The new Arms Ordinance No. 9 of 1900 has thrown an immense amount of extra work upon this Department. There is evidence, however, that its provisions have had effect in diminishing the sinug- gling of arms and ammunition from the Colony.

OPIUM WARRANTS.

15. One thousand three hundred and fifty-two (1,352) search warrants for prepared opium were executed by the l'olice and Excise Officers of the Opium Fartner. In 486 cases, opium was found.

WEIGHTS AND MEASUREs.

16. The Examiner of Weights and Measures made the following verifications:-

Chinese balances,...

European scales,

Measures,

Examined. .3,442

Correct.

Incorrect.

3,162

280

638

571

767

750

The majority of the incorrect weights were found in the New Territory. The following prosecutions were instituted :—

Prosecutions.

Convictions.

Fines.

Possesion of unjust Weights and Measures,. 47 Obstructing Inspector of Weights and

$1,580

Measures,

7 $ 75

FOOD AND DRUGS ORDINANCE.

17. Thirty-one (31) samples of intoxicating liquor were collected and sent for analysis, and one prosecution was instituted, and a conviction obtained, for selling adulterated liquor.

Some of the cheap liquor so common in 1898, is again being sold, but is now up to legal strength and certified by the Government Analyst as genuine.

MENDICANTS.

18. In addition to beggars dealt with by the Police Magistrate and four sent to the Tung Wa Hospital, 319 were summarily deported to Canton as follows:-

HOW OFTEN SENT AWAY.

Once,

Twice,

Thrice,

4 times,

CANTON.

293

Nil.

5 times,

TOTAL,

319

་

161

LICENCES.

19. The following licences were issued during 1900:

675 Hongkong Jinrickshas 140 Kowloon

25 Quarry Bay 1.263 Private Vehicles.

565 Hongkong Chairs.

31 Hill District Chairs.

7 Gharis.

9,984 Drivers and Bearers.

Dogs Ordinance.

1,929 dogs were licensed.

15 watch dogs were licensed. 96 dogs were destroyed. 57 dogs were ransomed.

Arms Ordinance.

17 arms licences were issued.

4 sporting arms licences were issued.

POLICE FORCE.

20. Table E shows the strength, enlistments and casualties in the Force during 1900.

Forty-nine (49) European recruits were engaged during the year. Forty were volunteers from the Royal Marines, one was recruited in England with no previous Police service, and eight were enlisted locally. Of these eight, three resigned on completing their three months' probation, one was not allowed to enlist after completing his probation, one was unable to pass the medical examination on completing his probation and was struck off the Force, and one was dismissed. The Marines, with a few exceptions, have given satisfaction.

CONDUCT.

21. The number of reports against Europeans was 126, as against 75 in 1899; of these, 23 were for drunkenness, as against 19 in the previous year; 4 for asleep on duty, as against 2; 10 for disor- derly conduct and fighting, and 7 for sitting down on duty, as against 2 and 2 respectively, and 8 for neglect of duty as against 11 last year.

Three European Constables were brought before the Police Magistrate for assault, and two for allowing prisoners to escape, and discharged with a caution. One was charged with misconduct and fined $10. The conduct of the Contingent was on the whole good.

There were 635 reports against men of the Indian Contingent, as compared with 320 for last year. For drunkenness there were 41, against 11 in 1899; 49 for disorderly conduct, against 9; 78 for neglect of duty, against 32; 73 for absence from duty, against 68; 147 for gossiping and idling on duty, against 55, and 39 for asleep on duty, against 25 in the previous year.

Seven Indian Constables were convicted before the Police Magistrate: 6 for assault and one for using abusive language to his superior officer.

to his superior officer. The conduct of the Contingent was far from satis- factory.

The Chinese Contingent is responsible for 930 reports, against 634 in 1899.

There were no reports for drunkenness; asleep on duty increased from 50 to 100; disorderly conduct decreased from 22 to 18, and absence from station, duty and parades has increased from 260 to 356.

Four Chinese Constables were convicted before the Magistrate: one for allowing a prisoner to escape, one for violating his duty and bringing an improper charge, and two for assault.

The con- duct of the Contingent was on the whole satisfactory.

REWARDS.

22. During the year, 2 European Lance Sergeants, 1 Chinese Sergeant and 6 Chinese Con- stables were granted rewards for energy and zeal in making arrests of pirates, robbers and barglars.

1 European Constable and 1 Indian Constable were rewarded for rescuing 2 men from drowning. 2 Chinese Constables were rewarded in connection with the raiding of 2 lottery establishments." 3 District Watchmen were rewarded for arresting burglars.

PLAGUE SERVICES.

23. Six (6) Europeans and 6 Chinese were engaged on house-to-house visitation in connection with the Plague from 19th April to 12th May, and 10 Europeans and 6 Chinese from 12th May to 31st July.

162

HEALTH.

24. Admissions to hospital during the last three years were as follows:—

1899.

1898. (Strength

630.)

(Strength prior to 17th April 630 subsequently 827.)

1900. (Strength 929.)

Europeaus,

117

174

Indians,

279

421

512

Chinese,

124

155

223

Return of Police treated in Government Civil Hospital for Fever, from 1st January

Europeans,.

Indians,

Chinese,

to 31st December, 1900.

Old Territory.

159

New Territory.

In addition to cases treated in hospital for fever from the New Territory, the following numbers of cases were treated for fever in the various stations in the New Territory without being removed to hospital, viz., European 67, Indian 274 and Chinese 36, while 14 European, 29 Indian and 8 Chinese cases were treated in the stations in the New Territory for other causes.

The stations in the New Territory where the men suffered most from fever were Tai Po, Sha Tau Kok and Au Tau. These stations, it may be noted, are situated on isolated sites at a distance from the neighbouring Chinese villages. The remaining stations are situated in or on the outskirts of native villages.

EDUCATION.

25. During the year, 3 Europeans and 19 Indians obtained certificates for knowledge of Chinese, and 6 Indians obtained certificates of English.

I append a report from Mr. T. K. DEALY, Master-in-charge, on the work of the Police School during the year.

DRIL..

26. Drills were regularly carried out throughout the year.

No course of musketry was fired as the new range was not ready and the old is condemned for firing over with the new .303 carbines with which the European and Indian Contingents are now armed.

Three Maxim guns were received from England for use in the patrol launches.

They were removed to 3 of the frontier stations in June last in anticipation of the disturbances in Chinese territory, which subsequently took place, and the possibility of an attack upon British ter- ritory.

Most of the stations in the New Territory were largely re-inforced at the same time.

BARRACKS.

27. A house was rented at Sai Kung and Police stationed there on the 26th of July. A new. Police Station is in course of erection at this place.

A new Police Station was built at Sha Tau Kok and the Police occupied it on the 20th October. A new Police Station was also built at Kennedy Town and the Police occupied it on the 1st of October.

Arrangements were completed before the end of the year for beginning the building of a new station at West Point.

LAUNCHES AND PINNACES.

28. A new pinnace was received from England.

Two new launches were built but were much damaged just before they were ready for use, in the typhoon of November last.

The repairs were not completed before the end of the year.

163

DISTRICT WATCHMEN.

29. The members of this Force have done their duty satisfactorily under the supervision of the European Inspectors and Sergeants of l'olice.

EXECUTIVE STAFF.

30. The Deputy Superintendent acted as Captain Superintendent, and Chief Inspector MAKIE as Deputy Superintendent from February the 9th to September the 28th, while I was acting as Colonial Secretary.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c..

&c.,

&c.

F. H. MAY,

Captain Superintendent of Police.

POLICE SCHOOL,

HONGKONG, 31st December, 1900.

SIR,-I have the honour to forward the following Report on the Police School for the year just

ended.

1. On May 1st, Mr. W. M. B. ARTHUR went to England on four months' leave of absence, pre- liminary to retirement. I was left in charge, and the vacancy on the School Staff was filled by Mr. A. W. GRANT, one of the Assistant Masters at Queen's College. Both these temporary appointments were subsequently confirmed as from September 1st, on which date Mr. ARTHUR had definitely quitted the Service.

2. At an examination for European Constables held in February, five men-P.C.s 19, 28, 46, 49 and 60-passed, and, in due course, were awarded certificates exempting them from compulsory attendance at School. At a supplementary examination in September, four men-P.C.s 9, 70 and 85, together with Chinese Constable 232-passed satisfactorily, and were recommended for certificates of exemption.

3. Since June 6th, the Police Library has, by permission, been made available for lessons to European Constables, from 2.30 to 3.30 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, in each week when School is open. This arrangement means that occupation of the second Court room, on any of these afternoons, does not now, as it sometimes did of old, imply a forced holiday for the men concerned.

4. The total number of attendances made during the year is 3,546. School was open 99 days. This gives a daily average of 35.8. Actually the highest attendance on any one day was 54, on November 13th.

5. The following are the details of those who have made use of the School at all during the year, as supplied to me by Sergeant WILLIAMSON from the School roll.

European Constables,

Chinese

Indian

Gacl Staff, Garden Boys,

•

...

Total,

103

255

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable

F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

Captain Superintendent of Police.

T. K. DEALY,

Master-in-Charge.

1900.

Robberies

with violence Burglaries.

from the

person.

TABLE A.

RETURN of SERIOUS and MINOR OFFENCES reported to have been committed during the Year 1900, with the Results of such Reports.

Larcenies in Assaults Dwelling

Felonies

not

Assaults

and

with Intent

Larcenies.

to rob.

already Disorderly

given,

Conduct.

Houses.

Offences against Ord. 9 of 1897,

Gambling. Kidnapping. (Protection

Unlawful

Piracy.

possession.

and Girls.)

of Women

Euro-

Miscellaneous

Offences.

peans

and

Ameri-

Indians. Chinese.

Total.

cans.

17 5 3 2

248100| 28|| 23

1 [133

3088

45❘ 2

648

909

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Drunkenness.

Nuisances.

No Fass or Light.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

TOTAL

ALL

CASES.

January,...

173 19 20 70

February,..

March,......

April,......

195 103 21 11

2 2 114

137 20 17 71

મ

25 6

2:12 118

17 15

6116

156

11 30 179

♡

1 2

32 31

30 38

49 43

291

234

208

590

630

...

291

317

790

826

•

Jord

May, ...................

June,......

July........ 6 13 2

10 18 5 3

175 77 16 15

2135

19❘ 23 142

પ

29 28 4

299

332

728

768

2 2

201 102 23 18

1 134

3535

20 104

4 1

1 35 44

290

332

2 2 752

780

2❘ 18

November,

December,..

August,....

3❘ 10

4 1 19

}

September,.

October, ...

12 2

191 101

2223

12 10

4117 118

19 81

350

189

716

225 100

27 13 12 .. 124 174

27 15 23

있 1 1

30 26

.. 201 80

28 18

5 1154

152 47

39 154 13

•

10 130

235

ទ.

568

113

591

119

350

745 124

7822

130

885

886

૩

190❘ 72

101 10

122

125

46 38 153

29 34

13 164

3.18

38 28 8 6 1

708

103

742

112

11 5

.. 212 89

27 17

158

239 35

22 73

1 ..

►►

2 36 34

9..

...

19 118

269

999

108

716 110

1 2 33

عسم

...

179 80

25 23 6 5 125 129 35 37 274

1 1 48 51 15 1

17 89

233

258 24

3 742 87 815 109

رکت

27 1

..215111

27 22

3101 118 22 44 | 235

69 199

217

252

3 737

708

101

600

TOTAL,..

59 45 13 80 22

7 (236

335

....2,477 1,142 277 197

Police Department. Hongkong, 4th February, 1901,

433

25 |1,531| 1,891 | 344|324 | 1,564) 85 13 5 12 21 16 25

Ꮀ

434 | 448 801 5

182 1,033 ..3,265 3,625 375

451

228,355 1,124|| 8,859 1,207 9,873

F. H. MAY,

Captain Superintendent of Police.

•

164

|_ No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted. No. of Persons discharged. Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cruelty to Animals, & Furi- ous Driving. Contempt of Court, False Charge and Perjury.

Breach of

Dangerous

Goods and

Arms Ordes.

Totals.

1[..] 13

291 308 29

234

268 18

15 15

291

317

28 | 37

332

11 11 3

14 | 14

12 12

230

20 | 19 1

356

350

13 12

ગ

20 | 25

2 269

12 10

233

2333

1900.

Men-

Unlicensed dicants. Hawking.

TABLE B.

RETURN of MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES reported to have been committed during the Year 1900, with the Results of such Reports.

Street Cries.

Desertion, Refusal and Neglect of

Duty.

Rogues

and

Vagabonds, Suspicious Characters

& Vagrants.

Breach of

Public

Vehicles

Ordinance.

Breach of

Merchant

Shipping Consolidation

Ordinances.

Breach

Emigr.

Ord.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases

reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

1 Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted. |_ No, of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged. Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted. No. of Persons discharged.

Breach of Spirits

and Opium Ordinances.

Breach of Registration

Ordinance.

Breach of

Police, Gaol,

Deportation

and

Prevention

of Crime

Ordinances.

Breach of

Pawnbrokers, Markets and

Weights and

Measures

Ordinances.

Intimidation, Extortion,

Bribery and

Conspiracy.

Cutting

Trees

Earth.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted. No. of Persons discharged. Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted. No. of Persons discharged. Cases reported.

Spurious Coin.

Obtaining

Goods

or Money by False Pretences.

Damage to

Property.

Attempt to commit

No. of Persons convicted. No. of Persons discharged. Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted. No. of Persons discharged.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

Trespass.

Suicide.

January, ...

February,..

26 23 3 8 8

15 22 2 15

33 57 1 3)..] 3113 | 111

1..] 1) 34) 39

Cases reported.

.. 45

March,..... 211 38

April,................] 3 4....

35 3

6 5

633

2 30 33 .. 35 44

11.. 70

29 28

1 .. 11

12 13 2 1 c 1

22222

1 1 4 5

63 4

14 14.. 3 3

19 22 1 24 25 2 32 53 ]

1 2 1 115 109

000

17 17

ぐけ

1 6 7

May,.

48 47 1 6 6

1 10 11 .. 35 33 4 36

97 102

14 16 ..

12 13

June, .......

38 31

7 20 ❘ 20

61 5 1 32 35

6 12

8 4

25 83 1

3 86

90 2

26 29

1 1

July, ................] 4 3 1 33

August, .... 3 3

September,.1| 1|. 65 68.. October,.... 1).... 1] 36| 36 1 19

52 51 3 8

8 1

3 4

18 11

.. 7 7 1 21 20 |

1 10 17 5 11 9

18 1 5 4 1 15 17

16! 1 20 331

4 { . . . . ·

76 81 4

10 10

8 11

36 34

8 21 60

મ

1. 1 87 89 6

38 39 1 11

4. 30 33.. 32

11 62 64

灸

38 1

મ

*15

23 25 5 36 47

1..1 56 53

28 28 3

4 4

ដ

November,

30 30 2 10 10.16 24

1 20 20 1 19

21.. 32 49 1

.. 51 52

3 3

··

December,....] 19 19... 2

1 13 18

1 20 19 9

13 112 35 74 17

1 27

•

1] 1.. 3 1 2

5 2 5+1

ورم

فت

TOTAL,..|14|12|| 3|442|423| 29 102 97

563 80 12 240 289 39 295 305 28 348 671 30 17 913891 305 69

4 323 333

910 9 2 15 711 89 104 36 51 28 22 55|37|| 611

†

* 1 European Prisoner absconded from bail. Chinese Prisoner absconded from bail.

Police Department, Hongkong, 4th February, 1901.

‡ 1 European Prisoner absconded from bail.

54,

|48|1. 3641 18 7

252

171 178

20 3,265 3,625 375

F. H. MAY,

Captain Superintendent of Police.

165

TABLE C.

COMPARATIVE RETURN of OFFENCES coming under the Notice of the POLICE, during the Years 1898, 1899, and 1900.

SERIOUS.

NUMBER OF PERSONS.

NUMBER OF CASES.

DESCRIPTION.

Convicted.

Discharged.

1898. 1899. | 1900. | 1898. | 1899. | 1900. | 1898. | 1899. 1900.

MINOR.

NUMBER OF PERSONS.

NUMBER OF CASES.

DESCRIPTION.

Convicted.

Discharged.

Murder,

Robbery,

ไว้

Burglary or Larceny from Dwelling,

170

247

316

Assault with Intent to Rob, ·

Kidnapping and Protection of Women & Girls,

NION*

***

Assault,

Gambling,

Miscellaneous,

Drunkenness,

Nuisance,....

Piracy,

...

No Pass or Light,

Unlawful Possession,

436

389

434

454 381

448

Larcenies,..

Felonies not already given,

2,124 |2,432 | 2,477 191 193

147

1,042 | 1,023 1,142

132

220

277

54 58

Total,

2,935 3,392 3,532 | 1,651 | 1,589 1,779

201

349

453

Total cases 9,873 being an increase of 850 cases or 9.42 % over 1899.

1898. 1899. 1900. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1898. 1899. 1900.

1,765 |1,414 | 1,531 2,380 | 1,595 | 1,891 265 199 3241,077 6611,564 4,5313,170 | 3,265 5,412 |3,434 | 3,625 161 133 182 715 1,039

939

242

281

344

320 375

307 No analysis of Convictions & Discharges.

Total,

7,661 |5,631 | 6,341|8,869 | 5,690 | 7,080

604

674

754

Increase in Serious Offences 140 cases or 4.12 % and Minor Offences 710 cases or 12.6 %.

Police Department, Hongkong, 4th February, 1901.

F. H. MAY,

Captain Superintendent of Police.

166

Felonics

not already given.

TABLE D.

1.-RETURN of SERIOUS OFFENCES reported to the POLICE, during the 10 Years ending 1900, showing the Number of Prisoners Arrested, Convicted and Discharged.

Murder.

Robbery.

Burglary

and

Larceny in

Dwelling House.

Assault with

Intent to Rob.

Kidnapping and Protection of Women and

Piracy.

Unlawful Possession.

Larceny.

Girls.

YEAR.

18 10

CYC

71 52

2223

56 108

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of l'ersons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged. Į

Total No. arrested.

Cases reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No. arrested.

1891,

1892,

+++

38 10

1893,

1 19

3 9

1894,

3 1

3 1 4

1895,

3 3 11

81 301

12 42

Total,...

16 4

9 13 126 58 19

77 323

46 127

13 72 72

34106

1 48

42 36

28 105 10 13 6 19 320 270 206 476 4

500

478

550

2,300 1,109

411

375

102

477

2,304 | 1,179

262 1,371

298 1,477 44

29 44

327

299

361

2,156

964

188 1,152

27 18

278

272

317❘ 2,103

878

428

433

503

2,126

937

166 1,044

242 1,179

3 3

61,944 1,857

3512,208 10,989 | 5,067 | 1,156 | 6,223 312 159 141| 300

ཕྱྀ།། ཚེ་ཚེ

1896,

1897,

22 9

3120

14|159

1898,

2 15

15|170

1899,

48 23

71 247

Էր

2 2 2 2

62 52

...

***

40 1

...

59 55

13 3 2

823

...

⠀

1900,

...

59 45 5 13 58 316

37 58 5

273 298

398

386

33293

337

1,770

456 2,079

970

954

436

454

503 2,124 1,042

139 1,109 73

189 1,143 170

132 | 1,174|147

57 30

47 13 60

...

389

384

443

434

448

528

2,432 1,023

2,477 | 1,142

220 1,243|194

277 1,419 193

6 60

235

2 7 8 8 8

Total,.

27 15

28 189 120 | 41161|1,012 | 190

62252 13

ප

6233 223 | 141 | 364

6 3

31,930 1,970

297 2,267 10,882 | 5,131

957 6,088 777 239 103 342

Average of 1st period..........

Average of 2nd period,...............

3.2 0.8 1.8 2.6 |25.2|11.6|3.8 15.4 64.6|15.4 || 5.6 21.0 2.0 2.6 1.2 3.8 64.0 54.0 41.2 95.2 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.2388.8 371.4 5.4 3.0 2.6 | 5.6 37.8 24.08.2 32.2 202.4 38.0 12.4 50.4 2.6 | 1.2

...

1.2 46.6 44.6 28.2 72.8 1.2 0.6

0.0 386.0 | 394.0

70.2 441.6 2197.8 1013.4 231.2 1244.6 62.4 31.8 28.2 60.0 59.4453.4 2176.4 1026.2 | 191.4 1217.6 155.4 47.8 20.6 68.4

167

1896,

1897,

1898,

1899,

1900,

1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

YEAR.

Cases

reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

No. of Persons

discharged.

Total No.

arrested.

Cases

reported.

2.-RETURN of MINOR OFFENCES reported to the POLICE, during the 10 Years ending 1900, showing Number of Prisoners Arrested, Convicted and Discharged.

ASSAULT.

GAMBLING.

MISCELLANEOUS.

NO LIGHT

DRUNKEN-

NUISANCES.

OR PASS.

NESS.

No. of Persons

convicted.

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No.

arrested.

Cases

reported.

No. of Persons convicted.

1,335 1,723

247

1,970

523

1,623

1,688

5,656

5,974

361

6,335

133

1,111

1,057 1,315 1,007 1,151 1,240 1,503

140

1,492

255 1,747

595 1,720

141

1,861 4,341 5,033

333

5,366

221

399

219 1,534

319

1,031

109

1,140

4,328 4,749

333

5,082

192

510

250

1,401

218

843

933

3,806 4,161

428

4,589

302

538

360 1,863

191

171

676

751

5,400

5,968

551

6,519

378

1,223

2,196

Total,.

5,750

7,134 1,331 8,515

1,826

5,893

480

6,373

23,531

25,885

2,006 27,891

1,226

2,810

2,612

No. of Persons discharged.

Total No.

arrested.

1,135

1,441

219 1,660

126

732

1,404 1,795

287

2,082

145

666

1,765

2,380

242

2,622

265

1,077

ပေးတာ

748

4,342

5,147

343 5,490

336

1,245

3,477

732

4,122

4,538

412 4,950

132

780

150

1,132

4,531 5,412

307

5,719

161

939

...

1,414

1,595

281

1,876

199

661

731

1,531 1,891

344 2,235

324 1,564

1,599

3,170 3,434 3,265 3,625

320 3,754

133

715

375 4,000

182

1,039

Total,..

7,249 9,102 1,373 10,475

1,059

4,700

242

4,942

19,430 22,156 1,757 23,913

944

4,718

3,627

Average of 1st period,

1150.0

1436.8 266.2 1703.0

365.2 1178.6

Average of 2nd period,

1449.8

1820.4

274.6 2095.0 211.8 940.0

96.0

48.4

1274.6

4706.2 5177.0 401.2 5578.2

245.2

562.0

522.4

988.4 3886.0 4431.2 351.4 4782.6

188.8

943.6

725.4

Cases reported.

Cases

reported.

Cases

reported.

168

;

3.-CASES REPORTED TO POLICE.

SERIOUS OFFENCES.

In 1891,

2,994 cases.

In 1896,

1892,

2,983

1897,

1893,

1894,

2,725 2,575

1898.

1899,

1895,

2,767

1900,

14,044 cases.

MINOR OFFENCES.

In 1891,

7,875 cases.

In 1896,

1892,

6,747

1897,

1893,

1894,

6,463 6,062

1898,

1899,

,, 1896,

10,608

1900,

37,755 cases.

Altogether.

In 1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

10,869 cases.

9,730 9,188 8,637

In 1896,

1897,

1898,

و"

1895,

13,375

1899, 1900,

51,799 cases.

169

2,314 cases. 2,896 2,935 3,392 3,532

15,069 cases.

Increase of 6.8 per cent. in second period.

10,661 cases.

6,733 7,661 5,631 6,341

37,027 cases.

Decrease of 1.96 per cent. in second period.

12,975 cases.

9,629 10,596

9,023 9,873

52,096 cases.

Increase of 0.57 per cent. in second period.

4.-DETAIL OF CASES REPORTED TO POLICE.

SERIOUS OFFENCES.

1891 to 1895.

Yearly Average.

1896 to 1900.

Yearly Average.

1. Murder,

3.2

5.4

2. Robbery,

126

25.2

189

37.8

3. Burglaries and Larcenies in Dwellings, 4. Assault with Intent to Rob,.

323

64.6

1,012

202.4

2.0

2.6

5. Kidnapping, .

320

64.0

233

46.6

6. Piracy,

0.8

1.2

7. Unlawful Possession,

8. Larcenies,

.1,944

388.8

10,989

312

2,197.8 62.4

1,930 10,882 777

386.0

2,176.4

155.4

9. Felonies not already given,

MINOR OFFENCES.

1891 to 1895.

Yearly Average.

1896 to 1900.

Yearly Average.

10. Assault,

11. Gambling,

5,750

1,150.0

7,249

1,449.8

...1,826

365.2

1,059

12. Miscellaneous,

13. Drunkenness,

14. Nuisances,

15. No Pass or Light,

.23,531

4,706.2

19,430

211.8 3,886.0

.1,226

245.2

944

188.8

.2,810

562.0

4,718

943.6

.2,612

522.4

3,627

725.4

In 1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

In 1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

5.-NUMBER OF PERSONS ARRESTED BY POLICE.

FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES.

.2,131 persons.

In 1896,

.2,220 1,707 1,498 .1,871

1897,

1898,

1899,

1900,

1,641 persons. .1,842 1,858 1,938 .2,232

9,427 persons.

FOR MINOR OFFENCES.

Excepting Nos. 13, 14 and 15 (See Table 2) of which no details are given.

9,511 persons.

7,898 persons.

9,993 persons.

In 1896,

..8,974

1897,

.7,756 .6,923 ..9,133

وو

1898,

1899,

1900,

42,779 persons.

7,764

9,473 .6,361 .7,834

39,330 persons.

170

In 1891,

1892, 1893,

Altogether excepting Ños. 13, 14 and 15.

..12,124 persons.

.11,194

9,463

In 1896,

1897,

1898,

1894, 1895,

8,421

1899,

....11,004

1900.

52,206 persons.

6.-DETAILS OF NUMBER OF PERSONS ARRESTED

FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES.

1. Murder,

2. Robbery with Violence from Person,

3. Burglaries and Larcenies from Dwellings,

4. Assault with Intent to Rob,

5. Kidnapping,

6. Piracy,....

7. Unlawful Possession,

8. Larcenies,

9. Felonies not given,....

10. Assault,

11. Gambling,

12. Miscellaneous, 13. Drunkenness, 14. Nuisances,.

15. No Pass or Light,

9,539 persons.

9,606 .11,331

8,299 10,066

48,841 persons.

1891 to 1895.

1896 to 1900.

161

105

252

476

364

2,208

2,267

6,223

6,088

300

342

9,427

9,511

FOR MINOR Offences.

1891 to 1895.

1896 to 1900.

..... 8,515

10,475

6,373

4,942

27,891

23,913

1,226

944

2,810

4,718

2,612

3,627

49,427

48,619

7.-NUMBER OF PERSONS CONVICTED AND DISCHARGED

FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES.

Convicted.

Discharged.

Convicted.

Discharged.

In 1891,

.1,687

444

In 1896,

..1,378

263

1892,

1,728

492

1897,

..1,497

345

1893,

1,391

316

1898,

.1,654

204

1894,

.1,224

274

1899,

.1,589

349

1895,

1,478

393

1900,

.1,779

453

7,508

1,919

7,897

1,614

་

FOR MINOR OFFENCES.

Convicted.

Discharged.

Convicted.

Discharged.

In 1891,

.9,320

673

In 1896,

7,320

578

་

,, 1892,

.8,245

729

1897,

..6,999

765

1893,

.7,095

661

1898,

..8,869

604

1894,

6,155

768

1899,

..5,690

671

,, 1895,

.8,147

986

1900,

.7,080

754

38,962

3,817

35,958

3,372

Altogether excepting Nos. 13, 14 and 15.

Convicted.

Discharged.

Convicted.

Discharged.

In 1891,

......11,007

1,117

In 1896,

8,698

841

1892,

.9,973

1,221

1897,

8,196

1,110

1893,

.8,486

977

1898,

10,523

808

1894,

.7,379

1,042

1899,

7,279

1,020

1895,

..9,625

1,379

1900,

8,859

1,207

46,470

5,736

43,855

4,986

TABLE E.

RETURN showing the STRENGTH, ENLISTMENTS and CASUALTIES in the Police Force during 1900.

Strength of the Force.

Enlistments. Deaths.

Resignation through Sickness.

Resignation through Expiry of Terms

of Service

or otherwise.

171

Dismissals

Total Number of Casualties.

Desertions.

European,

153

•

Indian,..........

366

*10

Chinese,

410

127

106

Total,

*929

212

147

*This number iucludes the Police paid for by other Departments and Private Firms, and also the Engineers, Coxswains and Stokers, but is exclusive of :-

† 1 Died from Plague.

1 Captain Superintendent.

1 Deputy Superintendent.

1 Accountant.

1 Clerk and Hindustani Interpreter.

Grand Total, 1,001.

3 Clerks.

3 Telephone Clerks.

62 Coolies.

こ

F. H. MAY, Captain Superintendent of Police.

319

HONGKONG.

No. 15

REPORT OF THE ACTING POSTMASTER GENERAL FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His

1901

Excellency the Governor.

No. 57.

GENERAL POST OFFICE, HONGKONG, 9th April, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the Hongkong Postal Service for the year 1900.

DEPARTMENTAL CHANGES.

The Postmaster General obtained twelve months' leave of absence and left for England on the 6th March. The Assistant Postmaster General was appointed to act during his absence, and the duties of the Assistant Postmaster General were divided between the Accountant and the Superintendent of the Money Order Office.

On the 1st January, the six Armeniau Clerks, referred to in last year's Report as having been engaged, entered upon their duties. I regret to say, however, that after two or three months' experience of Post Office work, to which they were quite new, they all, more or less became dissatisfied, not only with the hard work and long hours, but also with the salaries which they received, and which they considered were inadequate, owing to the fact that they were strangers to Hongkong. By the end of the year four had severed their connection with the Office.

Including the above six Clerks, 23 new appointments were made during the year, and 12 Clerks resigned. With the exception of three-one with 11 years' service and two with three years'-none of those who resigned had completed even a year's service.

In the month of May, Mr. F. J. MACHADO, the Postmaster at Shanghai for the long period of 23 years, retired on a pension, which he fully deserved after his lengthened and faithful service of 43 years in the Department. He was succeeded by Mr. W. J. SOLLY, the Senior Clerk of the General Post Office, Hongkong, who in his turn was succeeded by Mr. G. G. BURNETT, transferred from the Sanitary Board,

There were numerous changes at Shanghai owing to resignations, and with the advent of a new Postmaster, the long needed additional assistance was pressed for, and I am pleased to say that three extra men were granted by the Government.

INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE.

The usual Table (A) of International and Local Correspondence received and despatched during the year is attached. It will be observed that there was an increase under each head in both classes of mails dealt with.

In Table (B) will be found the number of Bags, Packets, Parcel Boxes and Loose Letter Boxes received and despatched. It may be of interest to draw attention to the large number of Bags dealt with, viz., 74,844, an increase of over ten thousand on the total of the previous year.

POSTAGE STAMPS.

Table (C) contains the usual Statement of Monthly Sales of Stamps at Hongkong. The total amount received was $217,612.24, an increase of $820.79 on that of the previous year.

Included in the total receipts from sales of stamps in Table (F) are the sales of stamps at the British Post Office at Shanghai and at the several British Postal Agencies, amounting together to the sum of $76,220.55. A Statement, Table (D), of these receipts will be found attached.

year.

PARCEL POST.

The Parcel Post transactions, Table (E), again this year shew an increase on that of the previous The total number of parcels handled in 1900 being 54,396 (of which 6,315 were insured) against 49,354 (of which 6,217 were insured).

320

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The

Table (F) contains the Revenue and Expenditure for the year compared with that of 1899. total Revenue received in 1900 was $325,603.38, exceeding that of 1899 by $7,693.97, and the total expenditure was $235,263.08, less by $2,639.68 than that of 1899. The net balance to credit of the Hongkong Post Office on the year's transactions, as will be seen, amounted to the large sum of $90,340.25.

MONEY ORDEks.

In Table (G) will be found the Summary of the Money Order business done during the year, compared with that of the previous year. The detailed statement usually forwarded, owing to the Money Order Department, with the small staff, being barely able to keep pace with the greatly increased daily work, could not be completed in time to be attached hereto. The total amount of Orders issued and paid in Hongkong and Shanghai was $1,102,140.62, which was an increase on that of the previous year of $468,742.90. The increase in the number of Indian Regiments stationed at Hongkong will account for the larger number and amount of Indian Orders drawn in 1900.

The sales of Imperial and Local Postal Notes similarly exceeded the sales of 1899. The total of the former amounting to £6,149 17s. 2d. and the latter to $6,401.50. The increased sale of Imperial Postal Notes was largely due to such being applied for to a greater extent by the Naval men on this Station, particularly as their number had of late been so much added to by the additional Ships sent out to augment the China Fleet.

GENERAL.

Owing to the troubles in North China, and the consequent despatch there of British Troops, including a large number of Indian Regiments, it can well be understood that the work of this Depart- ment was considerably added to.

The Indian Postal Administration, however, sent out along with the Troops a fully manned and equipped Field Post Office Establishment. After consultation with me, the Chief Superintendent, with my consent, arranged to open a Base Post Office in Hongkong, and to this Office everything received here for the China Field Force was to be sent at once to be dealt with. That Office having more complete knowledge of the location from time to time of the different sections composing the Force, it was also settled that it should make up into Closed Mails addressed to the different Field Post Offices, such mail matter so received, and hand these bags to the Hongkong Post Office to be forwarded to destination by the shortest route possible.

I may also mention that, at the desire of the Imperial Postmaster General, all correspondence received from the London Office addressed to the China Field Force had to be first checked by this Office as regards the sufficiency or not of the postage on each separate article, and the result of same furnished in a monthly return to the London Office. This information was required to enable the London Office to make its claim on the War Department for loss of postage sustained on such corres- pondence as was insufficiently stamped. This work, as can be imagined, took time, and meant one or more Officers having to be detached from the ordinary general work of the Hongkong Post Office to deal with such mails as promptly as possible, so as to admit of their reaching the Base Post Office early enough to allow that Office to sort the same to their proper addresses and to be ready in time to go forward in the same mail in which they reached this Colony.

I regret to state that the Convention for Partial Postal Union between this Colony and China. which was sent forward for execution was not completed owing to the unfortunate troubles in China inde- breaking out about the same time. It appears very much as if this Convention will be hung up finitely. One of the Articles of the Convention would have done away with an anomaly, which cer- tainly allowed the Chinese Imperial Post Office an advantage over the British Postal Agencies in China. It was this: The Hongkong rate on letters is for all places in China (exclusive of Canton and Macao) 5 cents for each half ounce, whereas the Chinese rate is 2 cents for each quarter of an ounce or 4 cents per half ounce. I certainly think that this anomaly should cease without delay.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

E. CORNEWALL LEWIS,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Acting Postmaster General.

Table A.

APPROXIMATE STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1900.

International and Local Correspondence.

321

International.

Local.

Comparison with 1899.

Description of Correspondence.

Total.

Des- patched.

Received.

Des- patched.

Received.

Total in 1899.

Increase. Decrease.

Ordinary Paid Letters,

Unpaid or Short-paid Articles,.

1,523,440 1,896,510

79,920 44,560

3,544,430

3.161,840

382,590

41,990 78,360

8,320

1,740

130,410

71,910

58,500

Letters on Postal Business,

4,160 4,130

2,130

2,490

12,910

14,760

1,850

Post Cards,.....

66,920 103,030

1,820 !

1,320

173,090 157,430 15.660

Newspapers, Books, Circulars, Patterns,

&c.,

707,1701,541,030

54,080

9,300

2,311,580

2,415,340

103,760

Registered Articles,

157,720 237,770

7,260

7,070

409,820 382,190

27,630

Do.,

with Return Receipts,

960 6,100

7,130

7,210

Insured Letters (Actual),

117

Local Delivery :-Letters, Circulars, &c.,

211,870

199,520

12,350

Table B.

Mail Bags, &c. Received and Despatched during the Year 1900.

Mails for Hongkong.

from

Ordinary.

Registered.

Mails for H.M.'s Ships.

Mails for

Foreign Men-of-War.

Mails sent in transit through Ilongkong.

Bags. Packets.

Loose Letter Boxes.

Parcel

Bags. Packets. :

Bags.

Bags. Packets.

Boxes.

Received,...... 34,241

971

616

Despatched,... 24,884 1,188

300

6,961

8,758 1,325

1,543

914

2,016

869

16,085

372

567

133

1,677

Table C.

Sale of Stamps at Hongkong, 1899 and 1900.

1899.

January,

February,

March,

April,

May,

June,

July,

August,

September,

October,

November,

December,

Total...............

...$17,311.60

1900.

$19,767.98

24,032.50

13,762.84

18,321.76

18,297.22

22,604.37

16,495,48

15,972.91

17,741,82

15,316.60

17,722.32

14,091.67

19,272.19

18,734.72

18,993.75

14,940.81

17,940.29

19,426.30

18,561.80

17,661.73

20,024.19

18,876.48

19,032.86

$216,791.45

$217,612.21

322

Table D.

Sale of Stamps at the British Post Offices in China, 1899 and 1900.

Amoy,

1899.

.$11,768.53

1900. $11,077.29

Canton,

9,355.10

13,474.42

Foochow,....

7,123.96

6,911.58

Hankow,

4,610.93

4,913.39

Hoihow,

1,520.73

1,094.54

Liu Kung Tau, *

390.39

1,941.26

Ningpo,

678.05

287.09

Shanghai,

35,324.31

32,027.90

Swatow,

5,143.31

5,778.69

Total,......

.$75,915.31

$77,506.16

* Agency opened on 1st September, 1899.

Table E.

Statistics of Parcels for the Year 1900.

Despatched to

Ordinary.

Insured.

Received from

Ordinary.

Insured.

United Kingdom,

10,566

3,251

United Kingdom,

18,966

India,

911

686

India,

922

2,128 250

Germany,

310

Germany,

250

Australia,

Ceylon,

386

Australia,

436

129

Ceylon,

118

Malta and Gibraltar,

Egypt and Canada,

150

Egypt and Canada,..

637

Other places (approximate),

8,182

Other places (approximate),

6,032

Total,.

20,659

3,937

Total,....

27,422

2,378

Table F.

Revenue and Expenditure.

Receipts.

1899.

1900. Increase. Decrease.

Expenditure.

1899.

1900. Increase. Decrease.

Sale of Stamps,.

Unpaid Postage.

292,810.58293,832.79

1,022.21

Boxholders' Fees,

Commission on Money

Orders,

Profit on Exchange on Money Order Trans- actions,......

7,664.29 7,757.42

4,064.34 4,263,63 199.29

6,944.71 10,104.67 3,189.96

93.13

Transit Payment to the

United Kingdom.......... }

Transit Payment to

other Countries,

Commission on Money

Orders,

55.996.99

46.207.88

9,789.11

43,646.08 32,$27.49

10,818.59

1,030.43 :

1.299.46

269.03

6,117.72

9,281.03 3,163.31

Interest on Money Or-

der Fund.....

207.11

236.66

29.55

Void Money Orders and

Postal Notes,

100.61

97.13

3.48

Contribution towards

P. & O. Subsidy,

Gratuities to Shipmas- ters for the Convey- ance of Mails,

Working Expenses,

Balance,

61.614.95 60.004.36

1,610.59

8.180.81 6,926.19

1.254.62

67,433.50 87,997.70 20,561.20

$0.006.60 90.340.25 10,333.65

Total |317,909.36|325,603.33 7,697.45

3.48

Total,$317,909.36 325,603.33 31,166.88 23,472.91

Table G

STATEMENT OF MONEY ORDER TRANSACTIONS FOR THE YEAR 1900.

N པ པ ༈ "

IN STERLING.

IN GOLD DOLLARS.

IN GOLD YEN.

IN SILVER DOLLARS.

IN RUPEES.

STERLING.

IN SILVER

DOLLAR.

Orders

Issued.

Orders

Paid.

Orders

Issued.

Orders

Paid.

Orders

Issued.

Orders

Paid.

Issued.

Orders

Paid.

Orders

Issued.

Orders

Paid.

Orders

Issued.

s. d.

£ s. d.

Yen. sen. Yen. sen.

Rs. as.

s. d.

€*

United Kingkom,.

Queensland,

Victoria,

14,852 7 3

5,844 18 11

New South Wales,

South Australia,

51 7 10

504 12 11

329 12 5

29 14 3

21,634 6 3

3,414 13 9

2,994 19 3

2,177 16 8

Tasmania,

351 19 4

700 14 6

New Zealand,

123 0 5

975 8 6

United States of America,

3,703.62

9,826.96

Canada,

Hawaii,

1,357.74

15.00

1,656.27

21.70

Japan,

215,304.78| 13,041.96

Straits Settlements,

2,890.92

41,093.70

British North Borneo,

223.54

13,981.78

Siam,

150.89

695.98

Shanghai,

Other Coast Ports,.

2,888.25

1,269.70

3,806.52

...

India,

Ceylon,

203,089 9

1,150 0

51,960 6

716 0

Base Post Officé,

48.46

Imperial Postal Orders,

6,149 17 2

Local Postal Notes,

6,401.50

Totals for 1900,.

16,242 14 5 37,742 17 10

for 1899,.

13,978 17 6 38,797 16 10

5,076-36 11,504-93 215,304.78 13,041.96 3,623.35

| 215,01

9,366-46 215,017.06 10,004.95

7,423.30 59,626.44 | 204,239 9 9,061.74 52,039.75 65,335 4

52,676 6 6,149 17 2

6,401.50

57,302 15 4,521 190

5,297.00

323

279

No. 1901

HONGKONG.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE BRITISH POST OFFICES IN CHINA.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

REPORT.

We beg to attach Tables showing the Revenue and Expenditure of each of the British Post Offices in China for 1900.

In order to find out approximately the surplus or deficit in each case, it is necessary to apportion the Imperial Subsidy on the one side, Stationery and share of P. & (). Subsidy on the other, in accord- ance with the Revenue Table.

This can best be done by subtracting $7,100 from $31,475 leaving $24,375 to be added to the expenditure of the various offices in proportion to their revenues.

Therefore in the case of Shanghai, there has to be added :-

35,807

81,887

× $24,375 which is approximately $10,400.

This added to $31,724 gives a total expenditure of $42,124, therefore showing a deficit of $6,317. Even allowing some amount to Shanghai for work done on behalf of Ningpo and Hankow, it is apparent that the first named is run at a loss.

On this principle, all the other offices, except, obviously, Ningpo, earn some small profit.

As, however, it would be impracticable to abolish the Shanghai Office without abandoning the whole system, and as the total revenue shows an excess over the total expenditure, it would appear that there is no necessity for other action at present except to watch carefully any increase of the latter.

We recommend that, in the course of the next two or three years, another investigation should take place.

A. M. THOMSON,

Treasurer.

E. CORNEWALL LEWIS,

Acting Postmaster General.

Hongkong, 25th February, 1901.

Shanghai, Ningpo, Hankow,..... Liukung Tau,

Hoihow,

Canton,

Swatow,

Amoy,...

Foochow,

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE

OF H.B.M. POSTAL AGENCIES IN CHINA IN 1900.

AGENCY.

Stationery,

Share of P. & O. Mail Subsidy, Contribution from Imperial Post Office,

Totals,...

REVENUE.

EXPENDITURE.

305.77

4,994.79

$ 35,807.86

31,724.08

716.34 2,173.75

2,080.62

982.56

1,106.86

506.04

13,603.18

7,759.25

5,814.30

3,586.68

11,180.78

5,642.44

6,993.28

3,928.76

81,887.44

57,019.90

1,500.00

•

29,975.00

7,100.00

88,987.44

88,494.90

280

SHANGHAI.

1900.

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

Sale of Stamps,

32,027.90

Personal Emoluments,.

6,250.22

Unpaid Postage,

1,235.47

Incidental Assistance,

1,463.59

Boxholders' Fees,

743.80

Incidental Expenses,

1,501.82

Profit on Exchange,

988.29

Commission due to London on Money Orders,

161.83

Commission on Money Orders,

812.40

Exchange Compensation,

614.56

Repairs to Post Office Building,

307.03

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated),

249.08

Transit Charges (Estimated),

21,175.95

35,807.86

31,724.08

♥

Sale of Stamps, Unpaid Postage,

RECEIPTS.

Sale of Stamps, Unpaid Postage,

¤A

NINGPO.

1900.

EXPENDITURE.

287.09

Personal Emoluments,.

18.68

Incidental Assistance,

420.00 177.00

Incidental Expenses,

8.55

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated), Transit Charges (Estimated),

110.79

305.77

716.34

HANKOW.

1900.

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

4,913.39

Personal Emoluments,..

81.40

Incidental Assistance,

Incidental Expenses,

Ꭿ

4,994.79

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated),. Transit Charges (Estimated),.

LIU KUNG TAU.

1900.

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

1,941.26 123.38 15.98

Personal Emoluments,.

Incidental Assistance,.

Incidental Expenses,

Sale of Stamps, Unpaid Postage,

Profit on Exchange,

RECEIPTS.

Sale of Stamps, Unpaid Postage, Profit on Exchange,

420.00

96.00

77.18

8.71

1,571.86

2,173.75

2,080.62

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated),. Transit Charges (Estimated),

HOIHOW.

1900.

420.00

178.00

46.83

8.71

329.02

982.56

EXPENDITURE.

1,094.54 | Personal Emoluments,.

180.00

11.14

Incidental Assistance,

84.00

1.18

Incidental Expenses,

15.40

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated),. Transit Charges (Estimated),

46.80

179.84

1,106.86

506.04

CANTON.

1900.

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.`

Sale of Stamps,

Unpaid Postage,

Profit on Exchange,

13,474.42 125.30 3.46

Personal Emoluments,.

Incidental Assistance,

Incidental Expenses,

34c»}

Sale of Stamps,

Unpaid Postage,

RECEIPTS.

Profit on Exchange,

€

13,603.18

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated), Transit Charges (Estimated),

SWATOW.

1900.

EXPENDITURE.

5,778.69 33.57 2.04

Personal Emoluments,

Incidental Assistance,

Incidental Expenses,

5,814.30

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated), Transit Charges (Estimated),

281

1,020.00 228.00

5.42

668.59

5,837.24

7,759.25

720.00

612.00

170.55

150.28

1,933.85

3,586.68

ΑΜΟΥ.

1900.

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

11,077.29

Personal Emoluments,

85.37

Incidental Assistance,.

960.00 432.00

6.70

Incidental Expenses,

93.30

11.42

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated),

415.61

Transit Charges (Estimated),

3,741.53

€

11,180.78

5,642.44

Sale of Stamps,

Unpaid Postage,.. Profit on Exchange,

Interest on M. O. Fund,

Sale of Stamps,

Unpaid Postage,

RECEIPTS.

Profit on Exchange,

FOOCHOW.

1900.

EXPEND

RE.

6,911.58 74.67 7.03

Personal Emoluments,

1,200.00

Incidental Assistance,

Incidental Expenses,

324.00

45.28

Gratuities to Shipmasters (Estimated), Transit Charges (Estimated),

117.00

2,242.48

6,993.28

3,928.76

Weight of Mails exchanged between London and Hongkong, &c., by British Contract Packets

during the Month of May, 1899.

Letters.

Papers.

Despatched to London :-From Hongkong,

374 lbs.

457 lbs.

the Agencies,.

193 lbs.

408 lbs.

Received from London :-For Hongkong,

370 lbs.

3,665 lbs.

the Agencies,......

356 ibs.

6,420 lbs.

1,293 lbs.

10,950 lbs.

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR 1900.

325

No. 16

1901

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His

Excellency the Governor.

1. The sums voted for the Expenditure of the Public Works Department in the year 1900 (exclud- ing expenditure on the Praya Reclamation dealt with separately) were as follows, with the actual expenditure under each head shewn in Column 2 :-

Public Works Department--Personal Emoluments

and other Charges,.

Annually Recurrent, charged to Revenue,

.$91,402.00

187,500.00

Expenditure,

$ 90,411.61 173,030.77

Annually Recurrent, charged to Water Account,...... 19,700.00 Public Works Extraordinary, charged to General

18,765.41

Revenue,

164,600.00

132,198.13

Public Works Extraordinary, charged to Water

Account,

73,000.00

37,799.82

Public Works Extraordinary, charged to Loan,

73,500.00

47,978.65

Erection of a Chair Shelter at the Peak, as per Finan-

cial Minute No. 1,

4,300 00

3,400.00

Re-vote of Balance of Vote for Works in the New

Territory, Financial Minute No. 3,

18,525.52

Re-vote of Votes for :-

a. Public Works Department Store, Fin-

ancial Minute No. 4,..

4,064.86

3,908.82

b. Public Latrines, Financial Minute No. 4,

5,000.00

2,290.65

c. City of Victoria and Hill District Water

Works, Financial Minute No. 4,

19,637.26

12,028.42

d. Pokfulam Conduit Road, Financial Mi-

nute No. 4,

3,768.71

3,715./2

Storm Water Nullah at Yaumati, Financial Minute

No. 5.

8,200.00

6,936.68

Expenses in the New Territory, Financial Minute No.

6, ...

7,000.00

6,390.72

Telephone Line in the New Territory, Financial Mi-

nute No. 8,

1,000.00

852.21

Supplementary Vote for Taipo Road, Financial Mi-

nute No. 10,..

50,000.00

30.755.17

Maintenance of Roads in the New Territory, Financial

Minute No. 11,

1.050.00

904.00

Rifle Range for Hongkong Volunteer Corps in Soo-

kunpo Valley, Financial Minute No. 16,

3.201.40

3,201.40

Road from Upper Tram Station to High West, Finan-

cial Minute No. 20,.............

6,050.00

991.01

Completion of Improvement. Wong-nei-chung Recrea-

tion Ground, Financial Minute No. 20,.........

15,897.00

12.764.90

Forward,...

.$757,396.78

$606,849.61

* Exclusive of Crown Agents' accounts for Salaries paid in England of Officers on leave.

326

Expenditure.

Forward,..

$757,396.78

$606,849.61

Public Latrine in Gough Street, Financial Minute

No. 21,....

3,000.00

Supplementary Vote for New Territory, Financial

Minute No. 22,

5,000.00

Public Latrine at Sookunpo Market, Financial Mi-

nute No. 25,

3,292.88

1,137.54

Supplementary Vote for Water Accounts, Meters, &c.,

Financial Minute No. 30,

6,000.00

5,987.64

Supplementary Vote for Maintenance of Water Works, City and Hill District, Financial Minute No. 33, Amount of Compensation awarded to Madame Lucia

V. Musso, Financial Minute No. 35,........... Rain Storm Damages of 14th and 15th June, 1900,

Financial Minute No. 39 of 1900,

7,000.00

↓

29,453.88

5,000.00

4,625.50

Supplementary Votes for :-

a. Starling Inlet Police Station, Financial

Minute No. 46,

5,471.98

4,100.15

b. Survey of New Territory, Financial Mi-

nute No. 46,

15,000.00

12,455.26

c. Rifle Range at Tai Hang, Financial Mi-

nute No. 46,

416.60

d. Gaol Extension, Financial Minute No.

46,

5,000.00

4,959.06

Supplementary Vote for Maintenance of Telegraphs,

Financial Minute No. 48,

1,000.00

984.84

Supplementary Vote for Maintenance of Water Works,

Kowloon, Financial Minute No. 52,

4,500.00

3,995.03

Telephone Communication with Police Station at San

Tin, Financial Minute No. 54,

944.04

Supplementary Vote, Maintenance of Sewers, Finan-

cial Minute No. 61,

2,000.00

1,531.80

Supplementary Vote, Maintenance of Water Works

City and Hill District, Financial Minute No. 61, Supplementary Vote, New Territory Public Works

Miscellaneous, Financial Minute No. 63,

4,500.00

4,496.50

1,000.00

475.34

Signal Station at Green Island, Financial Minute No.

70,

6,954.40

6,777.99

Total,

$862,930.56

$704,190.78

2. The balances remaining over on Public Works Extraordinary are due to the extreme difficulty experienced last year in getting contractors to undertake works except at exorbitant rates, the greatly increased cost of materials, and the scarcity of skilled labour, owing to the large works in progress in the Colony.

3. The following is a list of the sums collected by, or through, the Public Works Department during the year :--

a. Premiums realized by sale of land, extensions, adjustments of

boundaries, &c.,...

b. Government stores sold in 1900,.

c. Fees for allotments in the Cemetery,

d. Fees for sheds in the Happy Valley,

e. Loan of the Government Dredger, f. Loun of the Steam Roller,

g. Miscellaneous,

$810,614.20

4,792.91

254.50

945.95

50.00

185.00

327

4. The following particulars of Land Sales and Survey Work are taken from figures furnished by Mr. KING, at present in charge of this branch:-

Land Sales, Extensions and Grants.

The following table gives particulars of these :—

No. of Lots.

Area in square feet.

Annual Crown Rent.

SALES BY AUCTION :-

Island of Hongkong,

Kowloon Peninsula, New Territory,

EXTENSIONS GRANTED :—

Island of Hongkong,

Kowloon Peninsula, New Territory,.

GRANT ON SHORT LEASES, &c. :—

Island of Hongkong,

New Territory,..

Kowloon Peninsula,

Total,......

Total.

1,937,344

774,811

ره

820

11-0

Premium.

$ C.

Total.

16,174.00

451,489.00

2,712,155

7,518.00 23,692.00 (324,119.00 ₹ 775.608.00

354,410

108 354,518

1,609.84 2.00

1,611.84

34,959.70 46.50

35,006.20

95,788 317,674

201.00

413,462

803.00

1,004.00

110

3,480,135

$26,307.84

$810,614.20

or 79 acres.

The sales of Crown Land were greatly in excess of the Estimate ($250,000). The following are a few of the prin- cipal sales :---

ISLAND OF HONGKONG :—

No. of Lot.

Quarry Bay Marine Lot 3,

Inland Lot 1491,

Inland Lot 1614,

Quarry Bay Inland Lot 6,

Inland Lot 1591,

Inland Lot 1592,

KOWLOON PENINSULA :-

Kowloon Inland Lot 1087,

Kowloon Inland Lot 1094,

Kowloon Marine Lot 69,...

Hung Hom Inland Lots 225 and 226,

Kowloon Inland Lot 1102,

Annual Rent. $ 8,680

Premium.

Price per Square Foot.

$ 100,860

$ 0.10

122

97,000

14.63

228

35,488

2.50

4,503

52,321

0.10

27,100

5.94

21,820

4.52

459

20,350

0.60

1,205

9,000

0.06

798

45,200

0.32

460

22,500

0.56

144

15,200

1.20

One hundred and six sets of plans and particulars (in duplicate) of lots were furnished to the Land Officer for the pre- paration of leases.

A sum of $945.95 was realized by the rent of Crown Land to the West of the Race Course for the erection of Booths and Stands during the Race Meeting, a great falling off from the sum realized the previous year, namely $10,390, due to certain stringent police regulations being enforced.

Inland Lot 1625, to the South of Morrison Hill Road, was granted to the Natives of Northern India for a "Dharma Sala"; and Inland Lot 1613 Kennedy Town was granted to the Trustees of the Tung Wah Hospital for extensious, both under 75-year leases. There were also two free grants at Kowloon, one of 30,000 square feet to the Church Missionary Society for the erection of a Home for Chinese Girls at Kau Pui Shek; and the other of 15,000 square feet to the Hilde- sheim Mission for Blind Girls at To-kwa-wan.

The owners of 53 lots ou Praya Reclamation amounting to 290,239 square feet were permitted to euter into occupation. The annual rental on the lots being $5,346.

The principal item under extensions during the year was Quarry Bay Marine Lot 2; the area so granted amounting to 323,800 square feet, Crown Rent $1,487 and the premium $32,380.

Under the Heading of Grants on Short Leases 7 lots were granted in Hougkong, 3 of which were Garden Lots, and the remainder Inland; while at Kowloon 7 Inland Lots were sanctioned.

The conversion of Farm and Garden Lots in Hongkong were as follows:-Portion of Farm Lot No. 64 owned by Mr. Ho TUNG, was converted into Inland Lot 1611 with an area of 11,314 square feet, Crown Rent $31.00 per annum, and premium $905.12. Garden Lot 1, was converted into Inlaud Lot 932 with an area of 17,050 square feet, Crown Rent $79.00 and premium $511,50.

In Kowloon Peninsula, portion of Kowloon Farm Lot No. 13 was converted into 13 Inland Lots of a total area of 100,457 square feet, with a Crown Rent of $452.

Kowloon Garden Lot No. 58 has been converted into 5 Kowloon Inland Lots, the area of these are 81,600 square feet, Crown Rent $376, and the premium $408.

Nineteen Kowloon Inland Lots were granted to squatters at Mong Kok Tsui, no premium being charged. It was necessary to move these squatters owing to the extension of roads and proper laying out of the district. The area these people occupy is 14,296 square feet, and the annual rent $51.00.

328

ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDARIES.

Twenty Inland Lots, one Rural Building Lot, and one Garden Lot in Hongkong; one Marine Lot, four Inland Lots, and Hung Hom Inland Lot at Kowloon have had their boundaries re-adjusted with slight increases in premium and Crown Rent. The total area of these different lots show that 33,235 square feet, annual rental $114, and premium $156.30, have been dealt with. In Kowloon one Marine Lot 48, four Inland Lots, viz.. 394, 910, 911, and 912, and one Lot at Hung Hom 219, bave had their boundaries re-adjusted increasing them by a total of 132,297 square feet, additional Crown Rent $1,984, and additional premium $5,003.70.

Three thousand and eight hundred square feet of Kowloon Marine Lot No. 39 were resumed in order to permit of Reclamation Street, Yau Ma Ti, being widened, to 50 feet, the owners of the lot were compensated to the amount of $2,280, and their Crown Rent reduced by $27.00.

The exclusive right to use a pier at Yau Ma Ti was put up to public competition, and realized a monthly rental of $105.

The number of squatters' licenses on the roll on 1st January, 1900, was 1,112, and the fees recoverable $3,104.98; 89 were written off during the year representing a rent of $388.39 leaving 1,023 licenses on the roll at the close of the year. Out of the 1,023 licenses, 8 have now to be cancelled although paid for 1900, the licensees having been granted Crown Leases. The total number of squatters' licenses for 1901 will be 1,015 paying $2,699.23.

SURVEY BRANCH.

The demand for land, as evidenced by the large sales effected, necessitated an unusual amount of work in the survey branch.

Special surveys were also made, one in connection with extension of water storage in Tytam Valley, a re-survey of Wong Nei Cheong reservoir in order to ascertain the exact storage capacity, and a survey of the Military Reserve North of Austin Road, Kowloon. In all it is estimated that nearly 1,000 acres were surveyed.

WORK UNDER THE BUILDING ORDINANCE.

5. Plans were deposited for 148 European and 752 Chinese houses, and for 1,332 Miscellaneous structures. Certificates were granted under section 52 of Ordinance 15 of 1889 for 368 houses, and permission was given for the erection of 227 Verandahs.

6. Notices relating to structures in a dangerous condition were served in 225 cases, and 1.680 notices and permits of a miscellaneous nature were issued.

miscellaneous nature were issued. 74 permits were granted for the erection or repair of monuments in the Colonial Cemetery, the fees on account of which amounted to $291.16.

7. Private buildings have been going up very rapidly both in Hongkong and in British Kow- loon, there was probably never such activity in the building trade before, and this, in spite of greatly enhanced prices of all materials and of wages. Many new and handsome houses designed for Euro- pean occupation have been completed on MacDonnell Road and elsewhere, but as the wealthier Chinese now purchase and occupy such houses, and are willing to pay enormous prices for them, the scarcity of houses for Europeans increases and rents still go up.

8. Large blocks of land have been sold with the express condition that only European houses should be erected thereon, and a very great number of such buildings were completed and came into use in 1900, while others in the Happy Valley are nearing completion. But there is no law by which such buildings can be reserved for European occupation, so the relief in rents is not felt.

ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

9. Works under this heading, which have been directly under the control of Mr. H. P. TOOKER, Senior Executive Engineer and Acting Assistant Director of Public Works, during Mr. CHATHAM'S absence, are reported on by that Officer as follows:-

MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS.

1. The Public Buildings of the Colony and those in the New Territory, with the exception of some of the Old Cns-

toms Stations, the total number on the list being 151, were maintained in fair order during the year.

2. A portion of Government Llouse was re-coloured and painted internally, and the jalousies re-varnished, the veran-

dah roof was also repaired.

3. The Government Civil Hospital was repainted externally at an expenditure of over $2,000; much defective timber

was also renewed.

4. The Medical Staff Quarters were thoroughly painted, colourwashed and repaired.

5. The Maternity Hospital was painted and colourwashed.

6. Queen's College was colourwashed externally and a quantity of aut-eaten timber renewed.

7. The Harbour Office was thoroughly overhauled, painted and coloured.

8. Shek Tong Tsui Market was thoroughly repainted and colourwashed.

9. The Magistracy was repainted externally and repaired and colourwashed internally.

10. The Western Market received extensive repairs and was limewhited and tarred throughout.

11. No. 8 Police Station was provided with new Cook Houses.

12. The Government Offices were painted externally.

13. Belilios School was thoroughly repaired and painted..

14. Yau Ma Ti and Mount Gough Police Stations were generally repaired and painted.

15. The Observatory, Kowloon, received general repairs.

16. Other buildings which underwent repairs, paiuting, &c., during the year were:-Sai Ying Pun Market, Soo Kun Po Market, Central Police Station, Quarters at Victoria Gaol, Sheep and Swine Depôts, No. 1 Police Station, No.

3 Police Station, Wanchai School, Aberbeen Police Station, Water Police Station, No. 6 Police Station, Peak Signal Station, and Kau Pui Shek Old Customs Station.

329

MAINTENANCE OF TELEGRAPHS.

17. All the Government Telegraph and Telephone lines have been kept in good repair. Considerable expenditure was found to be necessary in the New Territory, where most of the poles are of timber. The Police Station at San Tin was connected by Telephone with Tai Po, (see C.S.O. Extension 51

fo), new switchboards were installed at the Central and Tsim Sha Tsui Police Stations, and a great improvement in efficiency was effected thereby. A Special Telephone line was constructed from Government House to "The Cliffs" (C.S.O. 1768).

MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CEMETERY.

18. The Cemetery grounds were kept in good order, and the usual supply of flower seeds was obtained from England. A portion of the ground was handed over to the Military Authorities under authority of C.S.O. 1357 as a special reserve for the burial of soldiers. The available space for general European burial is now very limited and the question of laying out a New Cemetery will cre long have to be faced.

Sha Tsui.

MAINTENANCE OF PRAYA WALL AND PIERS.

19. General repairs and tarring were executed to the timber pier at Stonecutters' Island and to the Police pier at Tsim

816 Under authority of C.S.O. the Ice House Street Wharf was rented to the "Star" Ferry Co. on the completion of the Blake Pier. The timber pier at Sam Shui Po was washed way by the heavy gale which occurred during the Autumn; it was in a decayed state. No works requiring special mention were exe- cuted to the Praya Wall.

MAINTENANCE OF LIGHTHOUSES.

20. All the Lighthouses were kept in good repair, Gap Rock and Green Island Lighthouses were generally repaired

and painted.

MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN VICTORIA.

21. The Roads, Streets and Bridges generally were kept in good repair. A large portion of Queen's Road was conted with Syenite Macadam broken by the Stone Breaker and rolled in by the Steam Roller, this stone being very hard forms a good road surface, forming less mud in wet and less dust in dry weather, than the softer kinds of granite.

In accordance with the scheme set forth in C. O. Tel, of 6th August, 1897, the work of widening Queen's Road was undertaken by the Naval Authorities, the surfacing, kerbing and channelling, &c. being carried out by this Department at their expense. The portion from the City Hall to Murray Road has been completed with the exception of the strip to be taken off the Cricket Ground opposite Garden Road, which may conveniently be left over until the widening of Murray Road is taken in hand. The widening of Queen's Road East in the neigh- bourhood of Wellington Barracks, was about completed at the close of the year.

MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES OUT OF VICTORIA.

22. With the exception of Pokfulam Road nearly all these roads are surfaced with decomposed granite or such material

as can be found within a reasonable distance, consequently they suffer much in the rainy season.

During the period under review the Road leading from Wanchai Gap to Aberdeen was coated with small broken granite obtained along the roadsides, although the material is soft, yet it makes a sufficiently good sur- face for Bridle Roads.

The old wooden Bridge near the top of this road, baving fallen into decay, was replaced by a brick arch at a considerably higher level, thereby much improving the gradient of the road which was very steep at this place.

MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN KOWLOON.

23. It can hardly be said that the main Roads in Kowloon have been maintained in a satisfactory condition during the year, for they have been very much cut up by the Siege Train connected with the China Expeditionary Force. The roads were not constructed to stand such heavy traffic and consequently a considerable expenditure, not met hy the ordinary maintenance vote, will be necessary before the principal thoroughfares in Kowloon can be thoroughly repaired and I believe the time has arrived to lay down Macadam here, as the Peninsula has grown to such an extent that the requirements of the ordinary traffic must be provided for.

GAS LIGHTING, CITY OF VICTORIA.

24. The number of Public lamps on the 25th of December, 1900, was as follows :-

Lamps with "S" Welsbach Burners,

Do.,

Wharf Lamps with Ordinary Burners,

Do. "C"

Do.

Ordinary Burners,

Do.

do. *S" and "C" Welsbach Burners,

Total,.....

600

146

757

The Gas Company have carried out their contract during the year in a satisfactory mauner.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING, CITY OF VICTORIA.

25. There are 75 Electric lamps lighting Public Streets. The Electric Co. have maintained a satisfactory supply of

Electricity and kept the lamps in good working order.

GAS LIGHTING, Kowloon.

26. The number of Public lamps in Kowloon on the 25th December, 1900, was as follows :-

Lamps using "S" Welsbach burners, Wharf lamp,....

Total,

The Gas Co. fulfilled their obligations satisfactorily.

166

167

330

MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC RECREATION GROUND.

27. The Wongueichong and the Queen's Recreation Grounds have been kept in a good state of repair. On the former a portion of the turf was taken up and relaid (C.S.O. 1373) and this work should be continued as opportunity

offers.

MAINTENANCE OF CLOCK TOWER.

28. The Clock has been kept, cleaned and repaired by Messrs. FALCONER & Co. without any exceptional expenditure.

FORMING AND CURBING STREETS.

29. The principal work done under this vote includes the forming, curbing and channelling of streets in Tai Hang New Village, the curbing and channelling of Austin Road, Kowloon, and the forming, curbing and channelling of Belcher Street from Queen's Road West to Collinson Street.

EXTENSION OF GAS LIGHTING.

30. Under this vote, 12 new lamps were erected in Barker Road, and 6 in Pokfulam Conduit Road.

IMPROVEMENT OF GAS LIGHTING.

31. Nothing was done under this item of expenditure calling for special mention.

SIGNALLING STATION, GREEN ISLAND.

32. In order to improve the method of signalling the approach of vessels, especially those bound from the South, it was considered advisable to construct a Signalling Station on the top of Green Island (C.S.O. 3.) This involved the erection of a flag staff, and matshed quarters for the signalman on Green Island, also the laying of a cable between Kennedy Town and Green Island so as to establish telephonic communication between the New Station and the Harbour Office.

The flag staff was constructed and fixed by the Dock Company, the lower mast and yard being of steel. The cable was laid by this Department, it is of B type, and was purchased from the Joint Telegraph Cos. The total cost of establishing the station was $6,777.99.

CABLE FROM CAPE D'AGUILAR TO WAGLAN ISLAND.

33. In connection with the taking over of the Lighthouse on Waglan Island by the Colonial Government it was con- sidered necessary to lay a cable from Cape D'Aguilar to Waglan so as to bring the Lighthouse into telephonic communication with the Telegraph Cos' Office. The Cable was purchased from the Joint Telegraph Cos. and laid on the 25th of December by the S.S. Sherard Osborn kindly lent by the Great Northern Telegraph Co. for the work. (C.S.O. 2 Extension.)

328 5

PRIVATE STREETS IMPROVEMENT.

34. During the year the important work of improving private streets by concreting, chanuelling, draining and providing them with lighting apparatus at the owners' expense under the authority of sections 9 and 10 of Ordinance 34 of 1899 was begun. Eleven private streets running from Queen's Road Central to Des Voeux Road and imme- Most of these streets were paved with large stone diately West of the Central Market, were taken in hand. slabs which were very uneven and loose, and laid with wide joints through which water found its way and lodged underneath causing a most insanitary state of things. The drainage was inadequate, and the streets were either very badly lighted or not lighted at all. New surfaces were formed by laying on the top of the stone paving from 4 to 6 inches of lime and cement concrete. The Drainage was properly provided for and sufficient gas lamps erected, the total expenditure being $7,491.82 chargeable against the owners of the land abutting on the streets. 10. The following were the principal items carried out under the vote for Miscellaneous Works:-

The extension to the General Post Office authorized in C.S.O. 338 was taken in hand, and completed in November, the total amount expended including extras on the contract being $5,507.62.

11. The approaches to Belilios Reformatory were improved and the slopes turfed at a cost of $800. (C.S.0.72985.)

7-26

12. A public latrine of 40 seats was built in the Taipingshan District at a cost of $2,644.41. 13. A new service reservoir above Glenealy was built at the expenditure of $3,995.

14. The landing pier at Kowloon City, referred to in last year's Annual Report, the timber work of which had become rotten and dangerous, was renewed at a cost of $2,816 additional to the sum spent in 1899.

15. The Treasury was provided with electric light for an expenditure of $407.16.

16. A new Telephone line was constructed between Government house and The Cliffs which cost $77.96.

331

THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE COLONY.

17. The necessity for further storage in Hongkong again became apparent by the necessity which arose on the 1st May of putting the City on an intermittent supply, which, however, owing to the timely commencement of the rains, only had to be continued for 13 days. Wongneicheong reservoir, holding 33,000,000 gallons, was completed in 1899, and the full benefit of it was obtained for the last dry season. The rainfall of 1899 had only reached 72.71 inches, or 16.29 inches below the average, and 1900 was again short, only reaching 73.71 inches. It has been decided to proceed with the construction of three more reservoirs in the Tytam Valley, and one will be commenced in 1901. The transfer of Mr. CROOK to Gibraltar and the delay in filling up the vacancy caused some delay in starting these works. These reservoirs are estimated to contain 70,000,000, 40,000,000 and 20,000,000 gallons respectively, and no doubt in a wet year all will fill and thus 530,000,000 gallons will be he'd up in Tytam Valley alone. Two of them fill at the expense of Tytam, that is they are in the same watershed and above it. It is also intended to raise Pokfulam two feet which will add 4,000,000 gallons to the supply.

18. The extension of building on the higher levels of the city rendered it necessary to construct a new service reservoir, to replace that to the south of Belilios Terrace. This new reservoir was completed at the end of the year, at a cost of $5,440.03 and now supplies all the new houses on the Pokfulam Conduit Road, besides affording greater pressure for Belilios Terrace and the Robinson Road houses. It is filled by the Arbuthnot Road motor, and a new main of larger dimensions has been laid connecting them. Another new service reservoir, to be filled from the Bowen Road filter beds and reservoir, is required above the site of the Military Hospital and was commenced before the end of the year. A hydraulic motor is being fixed at Bowen Road, to pump up water to this reservoir, as well as to a third new reservoir to be built on the summit of Mount Gough.

19. Owing to the large and permanent increase in the population at the Peak, the supply in the summer months was maintained with much difficulty, and not without more than one break down. The engine house at Bonham Road was enlarged during the year, and a new and much larger boiler fitted up. Steps have been taken and the necessary materials obtained from England to duplicate the rising main from Bonham Road to Victoria Peak, but the Peak supply will be in a somewhat pre- carious and unsatisfactory state, until the Mount Gough reservoir is completed, and filled from Bowen Road motor. Particulars as to increased consumption of water, &c., will be found in Mr. HOLLINGS-

WORTH'S report and in the appendices.

20. In Kowloon, during the summer, there was much complaint regarding the water supply and not without reason, owing to irregularity and occasional total stoppage in some localities. This was not due to want of water, but to various other causes, the chief being the quantities of sand which were carried down from the valleys by the rain storm of June to the pumping engines causing great wear and damage to the machinery. The pumps were also in need of a complete overhaul, a work which has been undertaken with satisfactory results.

21. It is however now certain that in a few years Kowloon will have a plentiful supply of good water without any pumping from a reservoir to the North of the hills bounding the barbour, 54 miles from Tsim Sha Tsui below the new road leading to Taipo. Here an excellent site has been found for a large reservoir, intercepting several perennial streams, and having a drainage area of 517 acres. masonry dam is being designed which will eventually be 100 feet high, or equal to the main dam at Tytan. It will impound 310,000,000 gallons of water with a top level of 455 feet above ordnance datum, thus allowing ample head after filtration and to command the highest part of British Kowloon as well as Kowloon City, Sam Shuipo and other places in New Kowloon still dependent on wells. The completion of this work will be a great boon to Kowloon in many ways, and will no doubt enhance the value of property greatly. At the same time the valleys now reserved for the present water supply will be available for sale, and good building sites both for Europeans and Chinese will be opened up by the construction of cross roads between Hunghom and Yaumati, and similar roads traversing the peninsula from East to West. It is not unreasonable to suppose

It is not unreasonable to suppose that before many years British Kowloon will rival Victoria in population and trade. With this in view broad and straight roads are being, and should continue to be laid out, and open spaces for parks and recreation grounds reserved.

The following is Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH's report on Water and Drainage Works :-

WATER WORKS.

A. 1.—Particulars of the quantity of water supplied during 1900 will be found in Appendices A, B & C.

The Total Quantity supplied was 1,279,551,000 filtered and 37,269,000 unfiltered making a total of 1,316,820,000 gallons. The Government Analyst reported monthly that the water was of excellent quality.

2. Intermittent supply had to be resorted to from 1st May to the 13th May inclusive, or 13 days, consequent on the small rainfall during the year 1899 which was 16-29 inches below the average,

3. The water pumped to the High Level District of the City amounted to 23,962,000 gallons over the whole year, equal to a daily consumption of 65,649 gallons, whilst 22,587,000 gallons were pumped to the Hill District giving a daily consumption of 61,882 gallons.

The grand total pumped during the year was 46,279,000 gallons.

332

4. The number of meters in use in the City at the end of 1900 was 407 and 142 in the Hill District.

5. The quantity of water supplied by meters was

Filtered, Trade

Unfiltered

Domestic

Hill District.

145,097,000

86,454,000

19,166,000

37,269,000

Total,... 287,986,000

6. The average consumption of filtered water per day in the City and Hill District was 3,505,630 gallons, which with an estimated population of 206,750 gives a daily consumption of 16.95 per head for all purposes.

7. There has been a steady increase in the consumption of the Hill District and it has been necessary to keep the steam-pumps working night and day.

Bonham Road Pumping Station extension (C.S.O. 8) was completed in November last and a new boiler installed. Unfortunately the old vertical boiler gave out on August 17th and this necessitated a stoppage in the supply to the Hill District for a period of 5 days while the new boiler was being connected up, and the new boiler-house was in an uncompleted state.

The work was carried on as expeditiously as possible, gangs working day and night.

During this unavoidable stoppage, opportunity was taken for thoroughly overhauling the engine and pumps and it was found that the heavy work that had been necessarily put upon it for so many years had told severely upon it, and the follow- ing work had become necessary :-

1. New piston rods,

2. New valve rods,

3. No. 1 new piston to intermediate pressure cylinder,

4. New piston rings throughout,

5. New pump rods (air pump),

6. New pump plungers and levers (air pump).

7. New spindles to air pump valve and all main valves of engine to be faced up.

This work was put in hand at once and before the end of the year good progress was made.

Further investigation shewed that the only main to the Hill District from this station- -a 3′′ wrought iron main was in a very furred condition limiting its capacity to about 23" bore and consequently putting a lot of extra work on the already overworked engine.

Preparations were then made for duplicating this main and good progress was made in the preliminary work-cutting the trench, making anchors for the steep parts, &c.

1900

8. The Bowen Road Motor House, C.S.O. 133, was nearly completed and in a sufficiently advanced state to lay down the new Motor and put in the rising main as far as Barker Road.

The Motor when ready for work will divide the Hill District into two parts: the one supplied from the Bonham Road Station through the Peak Tank, the other from Bowen Road Motor House through a reservoir to be built on the summit of Mount Gough.

The High Level consumption has also increased and more work has fallen in consequence on the various pumping

stations.

The new Motor at Bowen Road is fitted with pumps of two sizes-3′′ pumps for the reservoir to be constructed at Mount Gough and 5" pumps for another reservoir to serve the High Level.

The old tank behind Belilios Terrace has now been done away with and a new tank built higher up the hill, West of the Glenealy ravine (C.S.O. 1997) this reservoir was completed in November last.

Another reservoir has been commenced above the site for the proposed Military Hospital on Bowen Road (C.S.O. 1380) and good progress was made with the excavation. This is the reservoir for the High Levels to be fed from the Bowen Road

Motor.

Appendices D and E give details of the increased consumption in the Hill District and High Levels respectively.

9. During the year new services were constructed or old ones extended in 660 instances and in addition 183 services were inspected and connected to the mains.

10. The services of 1,988 houses were inspected during the year; 1,894 were found in order and 94 were defective. All defects were repaired after the usual notices had been served.

KOWLOON.

B. 1.-During the year there was a total consumption of 101,094,000 gallons or an average consumption of 276,970 per day, which, with an estimated population of 28.250, gives an average of 9.8 gallons per head per day for all purposes.

Details of supply are given in Appendix F.

2. It was not found necessary to resort to the intermittent system of supply during the year, but difficulty was expe- rienced in maintaining the supply to the higher levels of the Peninsula. This arose principally through the injury caused to the pumping machinery by sand carried in suspension by the water passing through the pumps and was largely attribu- table to the heavy rainfall in June, when 26.52 inches were registered.

The repairs of one pumping engine have been completed and it is now capable of maintaining the full supply. It is hoped that the other engine will soon be in equally good condition.

3. At the end of the year there were 143 meters in use in Kowloon.

4. During the year 59 private services were constructed or repaired.

ABERDEEN.

C. 1.-A full supply was maintained to the Village during the year amounting to 4,384,000 gallons or an average of 12,011 gallons per day.

2. Particulars of consumption are given in Appendix G.

333

SHAUKIWAN.

D. 1.--A full supply was maintained to the Village throughout the year amounting to 9,344,000 gallons or an average of 25,600 gallons per day.

2. Particulars of consumption are given in Appendix H.

DRAINAGE Works.

Drainage Works, Miscellaneous.

E. 1.-The principal works under this head were the completion of works commenced in the latter part of 1899, namely:-

Wongueichong Village main sewer, Barker Road sewer and Hunghom sewerage system; added to these were the extension of Wongneichong sewer, Conduit Road sewer, redraining the valley below Stewart Terrace at the Peak-in order to prevent the upper portion of the stream there being rendered foul by the drainage from the sur- rounding property-and numerous small works of diversions, extensions and improvements.

Owing to the large reclamation on the Praya fronts at Yaunati, Mongkoktsui, Hunghom and Hok Ün, it will be neces sary to thoroughly redrain those places and with this object the preparation of the necessary plans has been undertaken.

2.-Maintenance of Sewers.

Consequent on the change in the foreshore at Wanchai blocking up the outlets to some of the large storm drains it has been found necessary to make several extensions.

3. Sewerage of Victoria.

Alterations and diversious have been executed as the old lots are extended or new ones sold. 560 yards of new sewer have been laid in Hongkong, 84 house connections have been made, and 151 traps have been renewed; and in Kowloon 204 yards of new sewer have been laid, 12 new house connections given and 13 traps have been renewed, not taking into consideration the large number of traps inspected and cleared.

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

22. New Law Courts.-The designs for this building were, by direction of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, prepared in England by Messrs. ASTON WEBB & INGRESS BELL Consulting Architects to the Colonial Office. The plans were carefully scrutinized and approved of locally with some slight alterations. The plans for the piled foundations were prepared locally, a satisfactory contract for the work was let in July, and good progress has since been made.

23. The Public Works Department Store at Wanchai was completed early in the year, the total cost being $17,843.96. To it all the stores previously kept at Crosby Store and the rented building on Praya East were removed and then properly arranged and catalogued. The Storekeeper lives in the quarters built on the premises, and the work has proved a great success in every way, except that already more room is required.

24. No. 7 Police Station and Branch at Kennedy Town.-A new Police Station was built on a site selected above the Cattle Depôts on the road leading to the Pokfulam Road. The work was completed on the 1st October at a total cost of $6,737.37. It is said to be a healthy and convenient station. Before work could be commenced on the new No. 7 Station, temporary matshed quarters. had to be erected to accommodate the Police required in this neighbourhood and this was done on the Government Reclamation opposite the Sailors' Home. Good well built sheds including all necessary out-offices and cells were completed and are now occupied.

25. Disinfector Station and Quarters.-Plans and estimates were prepared for this building on a site close below the No. 8 Police Station in the Taipingshan resumed area, and a contract let for the work. It was completed after much delay on the part of the contractor in November at a cost of $11,508.43 after deducting a fine of $810 for delay. The old and unsightly building previously used near the Medical Staff Quarters has since been removed.

26. Chair Shelter at the Peak Tram Station.--This building should have been completed in Nov- ember, but for various causes the contractor is much behind his time, and the work will not be out of hands until February. The masonry is completed and the roof on, so that the coolies can even now obtain shelter from the weather. The building being in an exposed position is built in a very solid and massive way to defy typhoons.

27. Public Latrines.--A contract was let for a large 40-seat latrine at the East end of Wing Lok Street which was completed in August at a cost of $2,522.27.

Plans and estimates were prepared and a contract let for a similar latrine on a site in the resumed area in the Taipingshan district. This work was completed in July at a total cost of $3,167.15.

A third latrine of similar design was commenced on the site of the old Slaughter House at the

extreme end of Queen's Road West, and was nearly completed at the end of the year.

A fourth latrine is under construction at Sookunpo Market.

A fifth latrine was designed by Messrs. DENISON & RAM and carried out under that firm's super- vision in Gough Street. It is situated under the play ground of the Belilios' School and ventilated by a high shaft. The total cost will be $4,331.25.

334

28. Governor's Peak Residence.-The plans for this building, which promises to be the largest and handsomest building at the Peak, were prepared by Messrs. PALMER & TURNER. The site and approach. roads had been formed under special votes at a cost of $5,575.46. A contract for the building was let to Mr. SANG LEE for $97,715.69 and fair progress was made with the work during the year. The kitchens and servants' quarters were nearing completion when the typhoon of 10th November occurred, and, as the masonry of the walls was unset and the roof only partly framed, considerable damage was done. The stone foundations of the main building were well advanced before the close of the year, and the woodwork of the doors and windows was in course of preparation.

29. Pokfulam Conduit Road.-This new road was carried as far as Inland Lot 1,549 during the year at a cost of $9,684.73. The amount of premium from sale of sites for houses on the road has already reached $48,050, with an annual income from Crown Rent of $1,991 besides the rates and taxes. Similar results have followed the opening of all new roads in the Colony. Plans and Esti- mates are ready for the completion as far as a junction with Robinson Road.

30. Harlech Road. The road from the upper Train Station to High West, which has been thus named, was commenced (owing to an arrangement kindly suggested and carried out by His Excellency Major-General GASCOIGNE) by working parties of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The earth cutting and removal of boulders was completed for three-quarters-of-a-mile by the soldiers, at a total cost of $990.61. Owing to the extravagant demands by Chinese contractors, the rock blasting and masonry works have not been commenced. It is now decided that this road should be taken over and completed by the Military Authorities, to give access to sites for batteries on High West and sites for buildings beyond and to the North of the saddle.

31. Gaol Extension.-A new wing containing 78 separate cells was completed during the year, but could not be used owing to the non-arrival from England of the special Gaol locks ordered. They have since been received. The upper yard was surfaced with concrete and covered in. The total expenditure under this heading in the year was $16,959.06.

32. Quarters for Gaol Staff-These quarters should have been completed in the year and avail- able for use from the 1st January, but owing to the dilatoriness of the contractor were unfinished. The brickwork is completed and the roofs are being fixed. The total expenditure in the year was $20,855.93.

33. Swine Depôt, Kennedy Town.-This work which was commenced in the previous year was completed in February, the total cost being $9,115.38. It is a handsome and well built structure. Further accommodation is already required.

34. Police Station, Saikung.-Plans and Estimates were prepared and a contract let for the erec- tion of a Police Station at Saikung. Owing to much sickness among the workmen, probably due to their own careless manner of living rather than the unhealthiness of the site, there has been delay in the progress of the work, but the masonry was well advanced towards completion before the end of

the year.

35. Police Station at Shataukok.--Plans and Estimates were prepared, and a contract let for this work situated on a commanding site near the head of Starling Inlet, close to the Northern boundary of the New Territory. This work was completed and the station occupied before the end of the year. It is hoped that the Police stationed in the New Territory will enjoy better health when housed in these comfortable and well built permanent stations.

36. Taipo Road. This important trunk road, leading through the heart of the New Territory, and eventually to be carried on to Samchun on the Northern boundary, is described in paragraph 41 of the Annual Report for 1899. Early in 1900 the road was completed to the 9th mile from Kowloon Ferry Pier, a point a little beyond Tai-Wai village. Here the first stream of any importance, one drain- ing the Southern and Eastern slopes of the Tai-mo-shan range, has to be crossed. After an examination of the river and flood marks, and consulting the "oldest inhabitants" of Taiwai, the decision to leave 90 feet of waterway and to make the platform of the bridge 16 feet above the bed of the stream was arrived at. One span of 90 feet would have been provided for but for the difficulties of transport of heavy iron work, and, as good stone was fairly plentiful in the vicinity, it was decided to build two piers in the river's bed, and have three spans of 30 feet clear, bridged by rolled steel joists and a con- crete platform. The foundations for both abutments and piers were formed of cement concrete in mass, resting on hard gravel 6 feet below the river-bed. The masonry was completed in 1900, and the iron work shipped from London early in December. The contractor who had constructed the road to the 9th mile, was so exorbitant in his demands for the next section that no terms could be made with him, and after much delay a new contractor was found, but the progress during the year fell far short of that made in 1899, and of what was hoped for. The 10th and 11th miles are perfectly level, and for the most part run on embankments close along the seashore, the slope on the sea side being pitched with stone laid in mortar and jointed in cement. Two more bridges occur in this section, one of 30 feet span and one of 10 feet span. In both cases cement concrete in mass was used for foundations, sand extending to a great depth below the surface. After reaching the large village of Fo-tan, it was decided to carry the road on a causeway direct across the bay a distance of 1,740 feet, rather than hug the coastline and so make a long detour. This proved a somewhat difficult

337

Section No. 6 W.-Work is proceeding fairly well on this section. The whole of the rubble in foundations has been put in by contractor and the diving staff is busy levelling off, laying concrete bed, and setting blocks 650 lineal feet out of a total of 1,221 lineal feet has been finished ready for setting first course of granite masonry.

The principal items of work executed by TSANG KENG during the year were :—

35,482 cubic yards" Pierre Perdue,"

90,556 cubic yards Filling in,

250 cubic yards Portland Cement Concrete,

200 lineal Feet Storm Water Drains completed,

640 lineal feet formed, but left unfinished for settlement.

The whole length of work has been weighted with the usual load of 22 tons per lineal foot.

Sections Nos. 6 E. and 7 W.-The portion of roadway and stone platform-work which was suspended pending erec- tion of Blake Pier-were completed by the middle of November and this work is now finished.

Blake Pier. This work was completed by the contractors for its erection-Messrs. KINGHORN & MACDONALD—and opened for public use in November. Its erection was commenced on the 1st December, 1899, and the somewhat lengthy period occupied was owing to considerable difficulties experienced in screwing the piles home. These difficulties were successfully overcome and the work satisfactorily completed.

His Excellency Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G., inaugurated the Pier on the 29th November.

Block Making.-Contract No. 24-4th Extension. 401 Blocks, equal to 1,773 cubic yards of concrete, were made during the year. This work, with the exception of one or two special blocks required for Section No. 1, is now complete.

Staff and Plant.-The diving staff has been fully employed during the year on Section No. 6, levelling, weighting and laying concrete bed and setting permanent blocks.

The Pontoon Crane and Block Barges were employed 275 days at Section No. 6 W., 48 days at Section No. I W., 12 days at Blake Pier, 15 days at Block Yard, and 3 days at Sections Nos. 4 and 5, although the Pontoon requires docking for cleaning and repairs to hull, &c. The machine itself is in excellent order and has set and reset in weighting and permanent "setting" 6,108 Blocks aggregating 27,245 cubic yards or about 44,000 tons during the year.

The working of Hopper Barges was found to be impracticable except for only a short period in the beginning of the year, they have been laid up in Causeway Bay since. During the time they were at work a quantity of 11,844 cubic yards of red earth was deposited by them into Section No. 6 W.

Dredger.-21,646 cubic yards of material suitable for reclamation was dredged during the year and deposited within area of Section No. 6 W. and 7,907 cubic yards of foul material was dredged from drain mouths and deposited at sea.

The "Praya" was docked in December and is in good working order.

The writer returned from nine months' leave on March

Several changes have taken place in the staff during the year. 24th, and Mr. BOULTON went on a year's leave from 1st May; Mr. LEUNG WING KEE, who had been Draughtsman since the work started, resigned on 1st May, and his successor LEUNG MAN KIN has since died.

DEPARTMENTAL AND PERSONAL.

43. The following Officers were granted leave during the year :-~

W. CHATHAM, Assistant Director of Public Works, for ten months-commencing on the

2nd May.

R. F. DRURY, Assistant Engineer, for eleven-and-a-half months-commencing on 2nd

May.

J. R. CROOK, Executive Engineer, for one month from the 9th August.

J. F. BOULTON, Executive Engineer, for twelve months from the 1st May.

J. WILDEY, Overseer, for eight months from the 17th October.

R. D. ORMSBY, three weeks sick leave' in September.

Of the Subordinate Staff, the following had vacation leave for the period named :-

E. M. HAZELAND, Assistant Engineer, 10 days from 4th January. AH CHEONG, Survey Coolie, 13 days, from 8th January.

J. MILLAR. Overseer, 3 days from 17th January.

A SIN, Gardener, Colonial Cemetery, three weeks from 9th February.

A Fooк, Survey Coolie, two days from 14th February.

WONG A FAT, Tracer, one week from 7th March.

SING QUA, Draftsman, one month from 9th March.

CHAN FO SAU, Survey Coolie, one week from 4th April.

Lo Tsz LAM, Clerk, six days from 30th April.

J. F. ABRAHAM, Foreman, four days from 25th May.

A. SOUZA, Clerk, one week from 2nd June.

J. GOWANLOCK, Overse r. twelve days from 25th June.

R. C. WITCHELL, Water Inspector, one week from 4th September.

HU SZE. Foreman at Cemetery, twenty-four days from 28th September.

A FOOK, Survey Coolie, three weeks from 20th October.

CHEONG KIT, Office Messenger, five days from 2nd November.

NG YEUNG, Office Messenger, one week from 27th November. PANG A FAT, Survey Coolie, 10 days from 8th November. LAM HI, Office Messenger, five days from 6th December.

338

44. The following changes occurred among the Staff during 1900:-

Mr. CROOK was promoted to the office of Colonial Engineer of Gibraltar in September. Mr. DRURY was transferred to the Imperial Service on the 1st September.

Mr. L. GIBBS resigned his appointment as Assistant Engineer on 31st March, and Mr. E. M. HAZELAND, Assistant Engineer, also resigned on 30th April.

Mr. JOHN MOSSOP, A.R.I.B.A., was appointed an Assistant Engineer and joined the staff on the 8th May.

Mr. H. G. C. FISHER, A.K.I B.A., joined as an Assistant Engineer on 22nd May; and Mr. N. S. P. TRIMINGHAM on the 4th December.

Mr. C. H. GALE, for eleven years Chief Draughtsman in the Department, was transfer- red to the class of Assistant Engineers, and acted as Executive Engineer in charge of Public Works Extraordinary.

Mr. I. M. XAVIER, Land Surveyor, was on the 1st May transferred back to the class of Assistant Engineers on the retirement of Mr. HAZELAND.

Mr. T. JACOB, Assistant Draughtsman, was appointed on probation Land Surveyor from the 1st May.

Mr. A. M. PEREIRA was appointed on the 10th November to succeed Mr. JACOB as Assistant Draughtsman.

In the European Overseer class the following changes took place

Mr. J. MILLAR resigned on the 11th March, and was succeeded by Mr. C. LEYKUM on the following day.

Mr. A. W. J. SIMMONS was promoted on the 17th January, and was succeeded as Water Inspector by Mr. R. C. WITCHELL on the 22nd January.

Mr. C. E. WARREN resigned on 1st May on receiving an appointment under the Sani- tary Board.

Mr. F. STAINTON was promoted on the 1st May and was succeeded by Mr. W. M. THOMSON On 1st June.

Mr. J. GOWANLOCK returned to Europe on completion of his three years' engagement on 26th June, a step of promotion through the Staff following.

Mr. W. M. THOMSON relinquished the post of Custodian of the Wongneichong Recrea- tion Grounds on transfer to the class of Overseer and was succeeded by Mr. W. F. CANNING, a pensioned Petty Officer of the Royal Navy, on 14th July.

Mr. P. T. CRISP, Building Overseer, arrived on 7th November.

Mr. JOHN WILDEY died at sea three days after leaving the Colony, much regretted, his death giving a step of promotion throughout the class of Overseers.

The following Overseers were engaged, on probation, during the year:-

Mr. G. W. KYNOCH on 15th January.

Mr. JOHN GRANT on 21st May.

Mr. JOSEPH DELANEY on 1st September.

Mr. AMOS BROALBENT on 1st November.

Mr. GRANT's services were subsequently dispensed with.

R. D. ORMSBY, Director of Public Works.

✔

Appendix A.

CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT WATER WORKS, 1900.

Monthly Consumption, Contents of Reservoirs, &c.

POKFULAM.

TAITAM.

WONGNEICHEONG.

MONTH.

In Reservoir Discharged Discharged

on 1st iuto of Month. Tunnel.

In Reservoir Discharged on 1st

of Month.

into

Tunnel.

In Reservoir Discharged on 1st into of Month. Tunnel.

Collected

from

Streams.

Total

Consumption, (Filtered.)

Supplied

Mint Dam

Pokfulam, (Unfiltered.)

and

Blue Pool.

Rainfall,

(Kowloon Observatory.)

January,

February,

gallons.

44,960,000

gallons.

12,965,000 | 285,190,000 36,340,000 6,240,000 210,880,000 80,090,000

gallons.

83,249,000

gallons.

1,969,000

98,092,000

91,000

2,163,000

0.77

1,183,000

87,401,000

112,000

3,346,000

2.64

March,

34,640,000 5,457,000 142,000,000 84,411,000

207,000

4,450,000

94,200,000

118,000

8,297,000

3.02

April,

May,

37,320,000 23,757,000 74,791,000 71,689,000 1,176,000 23,500,000 22,907,000 23,610,000 57,615,000 1,816,000

1,216,000

96,495,000

167,000

4,659,000

2.78

17,881,000

98,213,000

190,000

6,150,000

9.31

June,

July,.

August,

September,

October,

November,

December,

51,400,000 13,758,000 89,453,000 39,781,000 14,280,000 68,740,000 18,723,000 389,840,000 38,598,000 30,702,000 65,474,000 122,618,000

68,200,000 27,390,000 385,520,000 68,233,000 30,337,000 36,447,000 131,893,000 65,640,000 28,330,000 379,900,000 42,778,000 28,286,000 24,667,000 26,642,000 122,218,000 65,280,000 22,341,000 393,770,000 84,706,000 5,849,000 7,491,000 3,566,000 54,380,000 18,056,000 336,400,000 79,659,000 1,941,000 6,360,000

64,740,000 17,757,000 342,520,000 86,258,000 11,588,000

43,862,000

97,204,000

197,000

5,282,000 26.52

177,000

1,965,000 10.13

177,000

1,890,000

6.69

199,000

3,376,000

4.31

117,954,000

150,000

1,545,000

1.61

103,938,000

137,000

147,000

5.78

5,479,000

109,325,000

169,000

1,565,000

0.15

Total,.....

217,681,000

817,067,000

32,158,000 214,529,000

1,279,551,000

1,884,000

35,385,000

73.71

1,281,435,000

339

Appendix B.

CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT WATER WORKS, 1900.

Water pumped to Hill District and High Levels of City (Theoretical Displacement of Pumps).

340

HILL DISTRICT.

HIGH LEVELS OF THE CITY.

MONTH.

Motor.

Total to

Hill District.

Reservoir South

Engine.

Peak Road

Reservoir.

Belilios Terrace Reservoir.

Total Pumped to High Levels of City.

General Total

Pumped.

of West Point Filter Beds.

gallons.

gallous.

gallons.

gallous.

January......

268,000

1,373,000

1,641,000

573,000

169,000

1,479,000

2,221,000

3,862,000

February,

84,000

1,263,000

1,347,000

427,000

411,000

1,007,000

1,845,000

3,192,000

March,

44,000

1,318,000

1,362,000

449,000

142,000

591,000

1,953,000

April,

518,000

1,095,000

1,613,000

580,000

1,442,000

2,022,000

3,635,000

May,

170,000

1,484,000

1,654,000

574,000

1,113,000

148,000

1,885,000

3.489,000

June,

381,000

1,558,000

1,939,000

530,000

1,422,000

63,000

2,015,000

3,954,000

July,

550,000

1,577,000

2,127,000

619,000

1,320,000

1,939,000

4,066,000

August, .....

700,000

1,623,000

2,323,000

638,000

836,000

846,000

2,320,000

4,643,000

September,...

702,000

1,480,000

2,182,000

649,000

1,524,000

2,173,000

4,355,000

October,

485,000

1,612,000

2,097,000

749,000

1,877,000

257,000

2,383,000

4,480,000

November,.

251,000

1,907,000

2,158,000

711,000

1,447,000,

2,158,000

4,316,000

December,

322,000

1,822,000

2,144,000

757,000

642,000

791,000

2,190,000

4,334,000

TOTAL,

4,475,000

18,112,000

22,587,000

7,256,000

11,845,000

4,591,000

23,692,000

46,279,000

Appendix C.

CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT WATER WORKS, 1900.

Particulars of Metered and Unmetered Supply.

SUPPLY TO CITY AND HILL DISTRICT, (Filtered.)

TOTAL SUPPLY.

Supply

Mint Dam

and

MONTH.

City Metered.

GRAND TOTAL.

City

Unmetered.

Hill District,

Metered.

Pokfulam,

Blue Pool,

Filtered,

Metered.

Unfiltered,

Metered.

Trade.

Domestic.

gallons.

January,

80,165,000

8,418,000

8,170,000

1,339,000

91,000

2,163,000

17,927,000

2,254,000

100,346,000

February,

69,719,000

9,703,000

6,914,000

1,065,000

112,000

3,346,000

17,682,000

3,458,000

90,859,000

March,

73,865,000

12,362,000

6,714,000

1,259,000

118,000

3,297,000

20,335,000

3,415,000

97,615,000

April,......

75,199,000

10,208,000

9,697,000

1,391,000

167,000

4,659,000

21,296,000

4,826,000

101,321,000

May,

75,123,000

15,978,000

5,540,000

1,572,000

190,000

6,150,000

23,090,000

6,340,000

104,553,000

June,

74,855,000

15,587,000

5,194,000

1,568,000

197,000

5,282,000

22,349,000

5,479,000

102,683,000

July,

103,810,000

11,104,000

5,796,090

1,908,000

177,000

1,965,000

18,808,000

2,142,000

124,760,000

August,.

106,809,000

12,759,000

10,197,000

2,128,000

177,000

1,890,000

25,084,000

2,067,000

133,960,000

September,

101,057,000

10,697,000

8,522,000

1,942,000

199,000

3,376,000

21,161,000

3,575,000

125,793,000

October,......

94,264,000

12,563,000

9,450,000

1,677,000

150,000

1,545,000

28,690,000

1,695,000

119,649,000

November,

82,912,000

12,634,000

6,784,000

1,608,000

137,000

147,000

21,026,000

284,000

104,222,000

December,

91,056,000

13,084,000

3,476,000

1,709,000

169,000

1,565,000

18,269,000

1,734,000

111,059,000

Total,..

1,028,884,000

145,097,000

86,454,000

19,166,000

1,884,000

35,385,000

250,717,000

37,269,000

1,316,820,000

341

Appendix D.

CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT WATER WORKS, 1900.

Comparative Table shewing Water Pumped to Hill District (Theoretical Displacement of Pumps) since the Supply commenced.

MONTH.

1892.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

1898.

1899.

1900.

342

gallons.

gallous.

January,

February,

March,

April,...

May,

June,

970,000

933,000

1,051,000

1,022,000

1,115,000

735,000

1,669,000

1,641,000

828,000

862,000

882,000

741,000

873,000

1,434,000

1,553,000

1,347,000

Not measured.

842,000

950,000

951,000

836,000

1,138,000

993,000

1,730,000

1,362,000

726,000

659,000

976,000

992,000

1,093,000

1,373,000

1,542,000

1,613,000

951,000

826,000

1,091,000

1,210,000

1,316,000

1,387,000

1,769,000

1,654,000

1,152,000

1,175,000

1,140,000

1,176,000

1,409,000

1,553,000

1,957,000

1,939,000

July,

1,206,000

1,324,000

1,252,000

1,897,000

1,560,000

1,618,000

1,972,000

2,127,000

August,

1,257,000

1,386,000

1,393,000

1,462,000

1,498,000

1,808,000

2,157,000

2,323,000

September,

1,103,000

1,270,000

1,364,000

1,380,000

1,404,000

1,421,000

1,995,000

2,214,000

2,182,000

October,....

1,475,000

1,082,000

1,353,000

1,172,000

1,346,000

1,297,000

1,926,000

2,185,000

2,097,000

November,....

1,239,000

996,000

1,210,000

953,000

1,136,000

1,134,000

1,659,000

1,760,000

2,158,000

December,

988,000

981,000

1,194,000

976,000

1,030,000

1,464,000

1,699,000

1,800,000

2,144,000

Total,.

6,062,000

12,261,000

13,236,000

13,217,000

13,752,000

15,318,000

18,180,000

22,308,000

22,587,000

Appendix E.

CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT WATER WORKS, 1900.

Comparative Table shewing Water pumped to High Levels (Theoretical Displacement of Pumps) since the Supply commenced.

MONTH.

1892.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

1898.

1899.

1900.

gallons.

January,

February,

March,

April,.....

May,

June,

2,509,000

1,426,000

1,340,000

962,000

1,358,000

1,478,000

1,951,000

2,221,000

1,851,000

1,257,000

1,153,000

820,000

1,100,000

1,135,000

1,644,000

1,843,000

Not measured.

1,084,000

1,301,000

1,372,000

1,009,000

1,352,000

1,404,000

2,091,000

591,000

989,000

945,000

1,164,000

1,203,000

1,436,000

1,355,000

1,097,000

2,022,000

1,839,000

1,526,000

979,000

1,463,000

1,646,000

1,608,000

1,491,000

1,835,000

1,745,000

1,376,000

1,226,000

1,391,000

1,473,000

1,502,000

1,451,000

2,015,000

July,

1,787,000

1,476,000

1,432,000

1,478,000

1,632,000

1,613,000

1,490,000

1,939,000

August,..............

3,692,000

1,755,000

1,552,000

1,496,000

1,543,000

1,638,000

1,578,000

1,569,000

2,320,000

September,

2,845,000

1,708,000

1,584,000

1,585,000

1,449,000

1,600,000

1,701,000

1,704,000

2,173,000

October,......

2,536,000

1,758,000

1,748,000

1,136,000

1,505,000

1,653,000

1,699,000

2,192,000

2,383,000

November,

2,631,000

1,813,000

1,646,000

1,174,000

1,425,000

1,526,000

1,641,000

1,957,000

2,158,000

December,

2,304,000

1,668,000

1,619,000

1,216,000

1,394,000

1,431,000

1,722,000

2,135,000

2,190,000

Total,

14,008,000

20,501,000

17,456,000

15,273,000

15,642,000

17,845,000

18,436,000

20,772,000

23,692,000

343

344

Appendix F.

KOWLOON WATER WORKS, 1900.

Monthly Consumption.

METERED SUPPLY.

MONTH.

Unmetered Supply.

Total.

Trade.

Domestic.

Total.

gallons.

January,

809,000

953,000

1,762,000

6,288,000

8,050,000

February,

902,000

631,000

1,533,000

5,481,000

7,014,000

March,

610,000

1,779,000

2,389,000

3,812,000

6,201,000

April,

1,640,000

981,000

2,621,000

5,414,000

8,035,000

May,

824,000

1,554,000

2,378,000

5,708,000

8,086,000

June,

967,000

965,000

1,932,000

7,258,000

9,190,000

July,

1,313,000

814,000

2,127,000

6,590,000

8,717,000

August,....

974,000

1,101,000

2,075,000

8,706,000

10,781,000

September,

740,000

853,000

1,593,000

6,947,000

8,540,000

October,

1,730,000

1,363,000

3,093,000

4,907,000

8,000,000

November,

1,156,000

1,141,000

2,297,000

6,230,000

8,527,000

December,..

1,063,000

1,466,000

2,529,000

7,424,000

9,953,000

Total,.......

12,728,000

13,601,000

26,329,000

74,765,000 101,094,000

Appendix G.

ABERDEEN WATER WORKS, 1900.

Monthly Consumption.

MONTH.

Metered Supply.

Unmetered Supply. Total Consumption.

gallons.

January,....

38,000

293,000

331,000

February,

49,000

315,000

364,000

March,

60,000

363,000

423,000

April,

86,000

349,000

435,000

May,

44,000

368,000

412,000

June,

50,000

371,000

421,000

July,

35,000

323,000

358,000

August,

34,000

335,000

369,000

September,...

39,000

307,000

346,000

October,

46,000

274,000

320,000

November,

31,000

263,000

294,000

December,

53,000

258,000

311,000

Total,......

565,000

3,819,000

4,384,000

Appendix H.

SHAUKIWAN WATER WORKS, 1900.

345

Monthly Consumption.

MONTH.

Metered Supply.

Unmetered Supply.

Total Consumption.

gallons.

January,...

February,

March,

78,000

651,000

729,000

94,000

515,000

609,000

33,000

711,000

744,000

April,

24,000

744,000

768,000

May,

45,000

736,000

781,000

June,

44,000

707,000

751,000

July,

43,000

781,000

824,000

་

August,

September,..

October,

52,000

613,000

665,000

44,000

906,000

950,000

47,000

812,000

$59,000

November,

December,

36,000

766,000

802,000

35,000

827.000

$62,000

Total,.....

575,000

8,769,000

9,344,000

595

No. 29

1901

HONGKONG.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.

DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT OF PROVIDING A REFUSE DESTRUCTOR, at a Meeting held on the 29th July, 1901.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

A Special Meeting of the Public Works Committee of the Legislative Council, in conjunction with representatives of the Sanitary Board, was held on the 29th July, 1901. Honourable W. Chat- HAM, Acting Director of Public Works, presided, and the other Members present were: Honourables C. P. CHATER, J. THURBURN, Dr. Ho KAI and C. McI. MESSER. Dr. CLARK, Mr. E. OSBORNE and Honourable F. H. MAY were present as representing the Sanitary Board.

The Chairman said His Excellency the Governor had directed that the question of providing a refuse destructor should be considered in conjunction with representatives of the Sanitary Board, as the Board had again recommended that such provision should be made.

The minutes of previous meetings of the Public Works Committee, relating to refuse destructors, dated the 31st August, 1899, 23rd July, 1900, 23rd August, 1900, and 23rd January, 1901, were read. The Chairman pointed out that the estimates given in the minutes of the 23rd July, 1900, appeared to be at variance, as it was stated that the proposed expenditure of $60,000 would provide 4 cells which could only deal with one-third of the refuse. It was obvious that, if 4 cells could only deal with one-third, 12 cells would be required to deal with the whole, and the cost would be somewhere about $180,000 instead of $110,000 as stated.

He then referred to Mr. Crook's elaborate Report on the subject. in which it was recommended that a destructor on the llorsfall systein should be obtained, and read a letter, dated the 25th Febru- ary, 1901, from Messrs. GARLICK & Co. of Bombay, who were themselves the patentees of a refuse destructor, stating that the original members of their firm had introduced Horsfall's Incinerator into Calcutta and, after exhausting every possible means to make it work, had to abandon it and it stands there to-day a perfect failure. The letter went on to state that the rubbish of Europe is vastly different from that of Eastern Cities, and the English type of destructor is not in the least adapted for Eastern refuse, adding that they (Messrs. GARLICK & Co.) had devoted several years to the subject and their furnaces were the only ones, so far as they were aware, that successfully destroyed the rubbish.

With regard to the latter part of Messrs. GARLICK & COMPANY'S letter, an extract was read from a report of the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay stating that a Garlick Incinerator was erected in that City by the Patentees, for which a sum of $15,000 was paid. The consumption of coal was about a ton per day: oil, waste, water, etc. cost about Rs. 500 per annum. There was always smoke (or vapour) during combustion, which was much complained of by the residents in the locality. The Corporation, after considering the various methods of disposing of refuse, finally decided to transport it outside the City for reclamation purposes, and the use of the incinerators has been practically dis- continued.

It appeared, however, from a report received from Singapore that the Garlick Destructor worked successfully there, but very inadequate information was supplied regarding the cost of working it. It was stated that 25 loads were dealt with per cell per day, or 100 loads in all, the Incinerator con- taining 4 cells. The actual quantity of refuse dealt with was not given, the only information being that the carts were of large size, fairly well filled. No fuel was used in the furnaces, but steam for a blower engine was raised from fire-wood. Here again no information was given as to the quantity of fire-wood consumed. The capital outlay was stated to have been from $9,000 to $10,000 per cell, exclusive of land. The labour required at the destructor cost ten cents per load or $2.50 for each cell per day. The baskets and tools were found by the Municipality, but no particulars were given of the cost of these. The sum of $108 per month was paid for the staff required to supervise operations. No details were given as to the cost of repairs or stores of any description.

Taking the figures given, however, and estimating for the items not supplied, the annual cost of working was as follows:

Labour in dealing with rubbish @ $10 per day, Supervising Staff @ $108 per month,

Coals say ton per day @ $10,

Repairs, &c., say,

$3,650.00

1,296.00

912.00

800.00

Total,

..$6,658.00

596

Assuming that the loads were of half a ton each, the quantity dealt with by this destructor was 50 tons per day. Comparing this with the information given by Mr. CROOK with regard to the Horsfall system, it was found that the 4 cells under that system were estimated to deal with only 24 tons per day or half the quantity under the Garlick system. The cost of working a Horsfall destructor of that capacity was estimated to be $8.65 per day, or $3,157 per annum, and the cost per ton was therefore practically the same as under the Garlick system. That is to say that the annual outlay for dealing with the whole of the City refuse, which amounts to about 130 tons daily, would be about $18,000. The capital outlay on plant in the case of the Garlick destructor would be $180,000, based on the information received from Singapore, but for the Horsfall system it would be somewhere about double that amount. It must be noted that the figures given are for dealing with the rubbish from the City only. Kowloon would still remain to be dealt with under the old system, unless they were prepared to go in for further expenditure in order to provide a destructor there.

The Sanitary Board had estimated that a saving of $4,000 would be effected on the scavenging contract by the adoption of the 4-cell destructor recommended by Mr. CROOK. Personally he had grave doubts as to any saving being effected, because the cost of conveying the whole of the refuse in carts, for a long distance, to the destructor would balance any saving in removing it under the present system by junks. Mr. CROOK had proposed to construct the destructor at Kennedy Town, but it transpired that this would not be a suitable site for it on account of its proximity to the Slaughter- house. Trouble would be occasioned by the fine dust from the destructor settling on the meat when it was hung up in the cooling-house which would probably render it unfit for consumption.

The Medical Officer of Health now proposed that the destructor should be erected at Happy Valley. This overcame the trouble so far as the meat was concerned, but it would not get rid of the dust.

They were met to consider the question of providing a Refuse Destructor, but he presumed that in dealing with the subject it was open to them to consider whether some equally efficient and less expensive scheme might not be devised.

Hongkong was exceptionally favourably situated for the disposal of its refuse by conveying it to sea and he would therefore suggest that steam hopper barges should be utilised in order to do away with the objections to the present system. One barge would be capable of dealing with the whole refuse from the City and Kowloon, but, to provide against accidents and admit of repairs, it would be necessary to have two barges. He estimated that these barges would cost about $40,000 each, or $80,000 for the two, and the cost of working them would be about $6.000 each per annum. latter figure was based upon the cost of running the steam tug Praya, including all repairs, &c., and was therefore to be relied upon.

The

He proposed that three piers be erected at different points along the Praya, conveniently situated for the different districts, where the refuse could be taken early in the morning and loaded directly into the barges. He estimated that the cost of these piers would be about $40,000 each, or $120,000 for the three which, added to the cost of the barges, would bring the total capital cost up to $200,000. There would however be a considerable saving effected in the present scavenging contract, which amounted to $44,000 per annum, as the contractor would be entirely relieved of the barging of the refuse in junks. The piers could be made a source of income by letting out a portion of them to ferry companies. Dozens of applications reached him for permission to erect piers for steam ferry services, and a good income could be obtained by letting out a portion of the piers to these people. There might be times when, on account of typhoons, the barges could not go to sea.

To provide for this he proposed that, at the end of each pier there should be erected a shed where the rubbish could be received and stored away from public gaze and public interference, until it could be removed.

Dr. CLARK, Medical Officer of Health, referring to the Chairman's criticism of the estimate given by Mr. CROOK, said that that estimate included the preparation of the site, and the approach road, the erection of a chimney 100 feet high and the erection of quarters for the attendants, and it would not be correct therefore to assume that a twelve-cell destructor would cost three times the estimate for a four-cell destructor. He understood moreover that the Garlick Destructor, now recommended, was considerably cheaper than the Horsfall Destructor recommended by Mr. CROOK. The Chairman had quoted from comments of the patentees of one destructor as against the patentees of another. Well, the one would say as much as they could to deprecate the other, so he did not think that much weight attached to these quotations. One reason which actuated the Board in pressing this matter was to secure the absolute destruction of plague refuse. During a plague epidemic refuse was removed from the houses and had to be burned in any open space of Crown land which might be available in the neighbourhood. These spaces were becoming year by year more limited. Complaints were frequent from people living in their neighbourhood as to the nuisance not only from smoke but also from the street coolies picking over this stuff, and taking away what was worth their while, and it had been found that this could not be prevented unless there was a European Constable on duty at every heap. A second reason was the constant complaints as to the silting up caused by the refuse thrown or spilled from the boats that were engaged to take the rubbish away. Hundreds of tous of the rub- bish found its way overboard, abolishing the deep water frontage, and if this went on year after year, they would eventually have no deep water frontage at all along the New Praya. At low water, this

•

597

}

refuse would be exposed and the smell emanating from it would be unquestionably a danger to the public health. Every one using the harbour knew that a large quantity of this rubbish was also unshipped as soon as the boats got away from the eyes of the Water Police at the back of Stonecutter's Island. That accounted for the quantities of rubbish that came floating back over the harbour at times, making the harbour extremely foul. Some of this was also thrown up on the sandy beaches and foreshores. The refuse of the City of Victoria was about 130 tons a day or 3,900 tons a month. Now, they had a letter from Singapore in which it was distinctly stated that a four-cell destructor consumed 2,743 large cart-loads of refuse in one month. The Hongkong cart-loads could hardly be called large, and yet he believed each of them held about a ton. So that they might assume that if their refuse only amounted to 3,900 tons a month, the probability was that a six-cell destructor would be capable of destroying all the refuse of the City. The Municipal Engineer of Singapore said that the destructor there had been in use for years with the most satisfactory results." He also said that no fuel was used in the furnaces but that fuel was needed to produce steam for the blower engines." The Public Works Committee had been largely influenced by the opinion of Mr. ORMSBY that the destructor would require a large quantity of fuel to consume the refuse. Comparing Hongkong with Singapore, the population was much similar, but in the latter place they had rain every day so that the refuse was bound to get wetter than here, and, if they required no fuel there other than that re- quired to produce forced draught, surely they might reasonably assume that they would require no fuel to burn the refuse of Hongkong. He had it in his mind to suggest to the Committee to send a practical man of the Public Works Department to Singapore to see the actual working of the refuse destructor, and report. Such an Officer would be in an excellent position then to say whether the system would work in Hongkong, and they would get far more information from him than by any amount of documents or correspondence, and he might say, any amount of special pleading. With regard to the Chairman's proposal of hopper barges and piers, he thought that was perhaps equally as good an expedient, provided, of course, that it was properly controlled. He (Dr. CLARK) thought that, everything considered, the Chairman's scheme would probably be found the more expensive of the two.

In speaking of the cost of running the refuse destructor, the Chairman rather pooh-poohed the idea of there being any saving in the cost of the scavenging contract. In discussing the other sug- gestion, he stated that a very considerable saving would be effected by the abolition of the junks. Either scheme would effect practically the same saving.

Mr. THURBURN.-May I ask a question? Is it not the case that a destructor for the destruction of carcases has been already ordered, and is to be available for the destruction of plague refuse?

Dr. CLARK.-The Sanitary Board has pointed out that a destructor designed specially for the destroying of carcases of cattle would not be suitable for the destruction of City refuse.

Mr. CHATER. We had it here that it could destroy plague refuse, but it came out in the Sanitary Board meeting that it could not.

The Chairman.--It could be done, but it is not an economical method.

In reply to a question by the Captain Superintendent of Police, Dr. CLARK said :-If you want to know the most economical way of getting refuse from the various parts of the City to the refuse des- tructor, I think that the proper way to do so is this. You fill the carts at the doors of the houses and the rubbish in these carts should not then be transferred or handled in any way. The carts should be taken to the level of Queen's Road, and put upon bogey trollies (some twelve or eighteen inches high) which would run on the tram lines, and then with ordinary coolie labour could be run along to the refuse destructor. Continuing, Dr. CLARK said that, if they were to have three wharves and only one hopper barge in use, he should be very sorry for the sanitary condition of this City, as while the barges would be loading at one pier, many cart-loads of rubbish would have to lie on the other two piers awaiting shipment.

Mr. OSBORNE said:-The reason given to the Sanitary Board by the Government when refusing the Board's application for a refuse destructor was that the matter had been referred to the Public Works Committee and they had decided not to recommend the expenditure on the grounds that the present system of disposing of Town refuse appeared to work satisfactorily.

Before entering upon a discussion of the relative merits of new schemes, he thought they should first of all come to a decision as to whether the present system was, or was not, a satisfactory one.

Speaking for himself, and he thought other members of the Sanitary Board agreed with him, he considered the existing methods most unsatisfactory and felt sure, if those present were conversant with these methods, they would also not hesitate to think the same.

The refuse was collected in carts drawn by coolies and deposited, not direct into boats, but on the Praya, where it was immediately pounced upon by men, women and children who speedily appropriated every atom of wood, rags and other morsels of the slightest value. These refuse heaps lay sometimes for days on the Praya, a nuisance to passers by and a hindrance to traffic, and he had himself seen, during a Plague epidemic, the Praya literally blocked for a distance of some 200 yards by heaps of rubbish collected from the squalid hovels of a Plague stricken district, awaiting removal by the dust

boats.

598

The Sanitary Board in this question of refuse disposal desired that it should be removed and des- troyed without the possibility of its thus being handled, and for this reason that these heaps of filth must be more or less impregnated with 'lague and it was therefore reasonable to suppose that the people who carried portions back to their homes were at the same time carrying germs of disease, possibly into otherwise healthy dwellings, and thus assisting to further spread the Plague.

The Sanitary Board asked that such scenes as this should be rendered impossible, and whether it were by a destructor or by the method suggested by the Director of Public Works mattered very little. The Chairman's scheme appeared to him an excellent one, but he would suggest that three ordinary hopper barges with one tug to tow them would answer better, because it would allow the barges to be alongside the Pier continuously and thus permit rubbish to be shot into them direct from the carts without the intermediate handling which would be entailed by its having to be stored on the wharf pending the arrival of the steam hopper barge.

The Honourable F. H. MAY said that they were all agreed that the present system was bad. The reason it was bad was that there was no proper supervision over those charged with the remo- val of the refuse. He thought that the scheme of the Director of Public Works if modified in certain particulars would furnish the best solution of the question. But he thought that there should be sufficient points at which to discharge the refuse from the carts into the hopper barges, and that the barges should be sufficient in number, to admit of each cart-load as it reached the Praya being discharged at once into the barges. This he thought might perhaps be arranged without piers or at any rate without more piers than 3 by having wooden shoots arranged by means of which the refuse could be tipped out of the carts over the Praya direct into barges which might, as had been suggested by Mr. OSBORNE, be towed away by a tug.

He thought if refuse was deposited on the piers to await removal the existing objectionable prac- tice of picking over the refuse would recur.

He suggested that perhaps the Director of Public Works might consider the points raised and evolve a revised scheme.

The Chairman, in replying to the remarks of the various speakers, said that, as regarded the piers, he proposed to have a concreted platform at the end, from which a shoot would convey the rubbish into the hopper barge. On this platform a brick shed would be erected, in which the refuse could remain, in cases of emergency, until removed by the barge. It would be out of sight there and protected from the effects of sun and rain. The whole place could be washed down as often as re- quired and could be easily kept clean.

The trouble as to the refuse being thrown into the harbour, as was so largely done at present, would be overcome, because it would be a difficult matter for the men to get it out of the hoppers in order to throw it overboard.

With regard to Dr. CLARK's remarks respecting the estimated cost of the destructor, he quoted a letter from Messrs. GARLICK & Co. to Mr. ORMSBY, dated the 11th January, 1901, in which they said:"We note you require to destroy a total of about 90 tons of street sweepings per day and that "it is desired to place the destructors one at each end of the City." (Apparently such a proposal had been communicated to them.) We presume each destructor would have to consume about an equal quantity (about 45 tons) per 24 hours. We therefore recommend you to erect a 6-cell installation

at each place." According to the information given by the Singapore authorities, this type of destructor cost about $10,000 per cell and, as 18 cells would be required to deal with 130 tons per day, the total cost would be $180,000 as he had already stated. That sum did not include quarters for an Overseer or any special expenditure on the preparation of the site.

With the destructor at Happy Valley, the greater part of the refuse would require to be trundled some miles through the town, whereas, with three piers along the harbour front, it could be run to which- ever of these was within reasonable distance. He therefore maintained that there would be a saving on the scavenging contract under the system he had proposed, which would not be obtained under the destructor system on account of the distance the refuse would have to be conveyed.

The annual cost of disposing of the rubbish under his scheme would be about $12,000 against $18,000 for the destructor, and the former would provide for dealing with a very much greater quan- tity of rubbish than the latter.

Mr. OSBORNE's proposal to have ordinary hopper barges, which would be towed to sea by a steam-tug, would be more expensive than the steam hopper barges as there must be a crew of 2 men to each barge and the system of towing would be more expensive than transporting the material in a vessel which was self-propelling. Steam hopper barges could also go to sea when the weather was too rough to admit of barges being towed.

On the motion of the Honourable C. P. CHATER, seconded by the Honourable Dr. Ho KAI, it was unanimously resolved that the Committee adhere to its former decision with respect to the Refuse Destructor and that the Chairman be requested to put into shape the scheme which he had proposed for the removal of the refuse to sea by means of steam hopper barges, which should then be submitted to the Sanitary Board for its consideration.

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL FOR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His

Excellency the Governor.

347

No. 1901

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 1st March, 1901.

SIR,-I have the honour to make the following Report on the Work of this Department for the year 1900.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.

The revenue collected during the year amounted to $132,729.63 as against $135,248.65 collected in 1899. The decrease of $4,406.32 is again chiefly due to the falling off of receipts under the heading of Certificates of Identity issued to Chinese proceeding to the United States of America, &c." The reasons for this decrease are dealt with elsewhere. Arms Licences are now issued by the Police under Ordinance 9 of 1900, which accounts for the decrease of revenue under this head. There have been increases in respect of most of the other items of revenue, the Markets accounting for the largest, viz., $2,454.97.

The expenditure during the year was $12,219.69 as compared with $13,090.15 in 1899.

PO LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION ORDINANCE.

(No. 18 of 1893.)

WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

(No. 9 of 1897 as amen led by No. 14 of 1900.)

The Report of the Pò Leung Kuk Society for the year 1900 has been forwarded to you. The revenue derived from interest and subscriptions amounted to $6,515.10, while the expenditure was $6,381.74.

The various guilds, which so generously came forward to the assistance of the Society in 1899, continued their support during the year, and the subscriptions amounted to $5,465.10 as compared with $4,006.30 in 1899 and $1,835.95 in 1898, showing an increase in two years of $3,628.05. Owing to the operation of the new "Women and Girls Amendment" Ordinance the number of women. and girls detained by the Registrar General increased considerably, and the accommodation of the Institu- tion was strained to the utmost.

Fifty-seven girls, of whom 17 were eventually found again, were reported to the Society as missing in Hongkong.

Two hundred and ninety-eight women and girls were detained under Part II of Ordinance 9 of 1897 as compared with 248 in 1899. Table II (a) shows what action was taken in each case, and Table II () gives particulars as to girls who have been handed back to their guardians under security.

EMIGRATION.

Nine thousand nine hundred and forty-three female passengers and boys were examined at the Emigration Office in 1900, as compared with 6,307 in 1899. Of this number, 66 women were detained for enquiries, 57 of whom were found to have been persuaded to go abroad under false pretences. The usual arrangements have been made to restore them to their relatives and friends. Emigration to the Straits Settlements was suspended for two of the summer months during the prevalance of plague in this Colony. With regard to the paragraph in my last year's report respecting the large number of kidnapped women and boys who come from the King Shan district of Kwong Tung, 1 regret to say that it has not been found possible to arrange for intending emigrants to be examined by the Customs authorities at the port of Hoihow.

348

CONTRACT CHINESE LABOUR IN BRITISH NORTH BORNEO.

The question of the amount of the advance to be paid to Chinese coolies proceeding to British North Borneo to work on the tea and tobacco plantations has been raised during the year. Coolies had frequently complained that they received only $5 out of a nominal advance of $25, the balance being deducted by the contractor to cover the expense of bringing the labourers to their destination. Negotia- tions are proceeding with the British North Borneo Government, with a view to revising the present form of contract, and placing the whole system on a more satisfactory footing. The root of the trouble appears to be the impossibility of obtaining respectable men as recruiters, owing to the fact that emigration from China is still not recognized by the Government and that all persons connected with emigration are held in very low esteem.

CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY TO CHINESE ENTERING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, &c.

The revenue derived under this head was $11,100 as compared with $17,175 in 1899, showing a a decrease of $6,075.

Considerable inconvenience had been experienced in examining applicants for certificates owing to there being no satisfactory definition of the terms "merchant

merchant" and "student." The whole question was thoroughly gone into in the spring of last year, and in July last an opinion of the Solicitor to the Treasury was obtained from the United States Government, which contained an exhaustive definition of the two words. The result of this communication has been that applications from members of the so-called "merchant" class have practically ceased and the revenue derived from this source has suffered accordingly.

Further precautions instituted by this Department, to preclude attempts at fraud, have also un- doubtedly had the effect of reducing the number of applicants for certificates. 26 certificates were issued to Chinese proceeding to Manila and Honolulu. Of this number, 7 were for Manila, and the remainder for Honolulu.

POPULATION.

The following is the estimate of the population of the Colony on the 30th June, 1900:

British and Foreign Community.

14,778

Chinese.

247,900

Total.

262,678

MARRIAGES.

(Ordinance No. 14 of 1875.)

The number of Marriages solemnized during the year was 125 as compared with 116 in 1899. Mr. P. P. J. WODEHOUSE was appointed a Deputy Registrar on 14th February, 1900.

Table IV

BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

Ordinance No. 16 of 1896.)

gives the number of Births and Deaths registered during the year.

The death-rates at various ages and the causes of death will be found in Table IV B. and IV C. The Births among the British and Foreign Community numbered 261 as compared with 280 in 1899; of this number, 149 were males and 112 females.

The Births registered as having occurred in the Chinese Community were 678 as against 852 in 1899, and 963 in 1898.

There were 6 prosecutions under the Ordinance in 1900 under the following heading :—

Unlawful removal of dead bodies,

.6 cases.

The number of Deaths in the British and Foreign Community was 302 as compared with 241 in 1899. Of these, 14 died from Plague. The number of deaths among the Chinese was 6,471 as com- pared with 5,940 in 1899. 1,007 died from Plague. 279 of the deaths among the British and Foreign Community and 1,862 among the Chinese were certified to by a registered Medical Practitioner or were the subject of a Coroner's Enquiry. The following table shows the number of deaths and the death-rate per 1,000 during the last eight years :-

Estimated Population.

1893

1894

1895

1896

1897 1898

1899 1900 13,700 15,190 15,822 14.778 235,010 239,210 243,490 247,900 248,710 254,400 259,312 262,678

British and Foreign,. 10,686 10,782 10,828 12.709 228,038 235,224 237,670 226,710 .238,724 246,006 248,498 239,419

Chinese,

Total,

Deaths.

5,442 7,407 5,400 5,860

4,688 5,674 6,181 6,773

Death-rate per 1,000.

349

British and Foreign,.

17.97

23.28

17.64 19.91

Chinese,

22.93

30.42

21.92

24.75

Total,

22.71

30.11

21.73

24.48

14.89 19.08 22.50 18.85 22.30

19.15

15.23

20.44

24.4

26.10

23.84

25.78

Seven hundred and thirty-five Certificates were granted by the Police for the removal of dead bodies from the Colony.

EXHUMATIONS.

One hundred and twenty-two permits were issued to exhume human remains for removal to China or for re-burial in the Colony.

HOSPITAL DEATHS.

Table IVD contains a return of the number of deaths in hospital. They amounted to 1,785 or 26.35 per cent. of the total number of deaths registered during the year.

Table IV E gives particulars regarding the Tung Wa Hospital. The number of patients under treatment during the year was 3,135 as compared with 2,690 in the year 1899. Of these, 1,743 were discharged and 1,267 died. The percentage of deaths compared with admissions during the year was 40.41. In 1899 the percentage was 33.52, and in 1898, 35.05.

The number of out-patients during the year was :—

Males, Females,

....66,563

28,192

.94.755

Total,.....

REGISTRATION OF BOOKS.

(Ordinance No. 10 of 1888.)

Thirty-nine books were registered during the year as compared with 47 in 1899. Of these, 23 were published at the Nazareth Printing Press.

REGISTRATION OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

(Ordinance No. 13 of 1888 Chap. III.)

Table V gives particulars regarding the issue of householders' certificates.

PERMITS.

(Ordinance No. 3 of 1888 Chap. V.)

The nature and number of permits issued during the year were as follows:-

To fire crackers,..

To hold processions,

To perform theatricals,

To hold religious ceremonies,

Total,.

SURETIES REFERRED FOR REPORT.

.481

....548

The number of sureties referred to this Department for report during the year amounted approx- imately to 1,364, and were from the following Departments

Botanical and Afforestation Department,

Harbour Department, .

Magistracy,

Police Department,.

Post Office,

1,078

182

Total..

..1,364

350

DISTRICT WATCHMEN.

A full statement of the Revenue and Expenditure for the year is given in Table VI (4), and the state of the Force on the 31st December, and other particulars, will be found in Table VI (B). The District Watchmen were instrumental in bringing 240 cases before the Police Magistrate, and the Committee is again indebted to the Chinese newspapers, the Ts'un Wan Yat Pò and the Wai San Yat Po, for continuing to publish weekly lists of these cases for the information of subscribers.

The contributions to the Fund for the year were $10,598.29 as compared with $8,909.09 in 1899. The actual expenditure was $12,804.12 as compared with $11,510.05 in the preceding year. The balance to the credit of the Fund is $6,223.20.

The allowance of $2 a month to each Watchman, which was first made in April, 1897, on account of the high price of rice, has been continued during the year.

Forty-one applications for admission into the Force were received, as compared with 43 in 1899. The Government has granted a site for a Central Watch-house on the Taipingshan Resumption Area for the Watchmen of Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 Districts and has promised to contribute $1,000 towards the cost of the building, in which quarters for two European Police Sergeants will be provided. It is anticipated that this change will exercise a beneficial effect on the discipline of the Force, and there will be a considerable saving in rent, &c.

CHINESE RECREATION GROUND.

A statement of revenue and expenditure is given in Table VII. The total expenditure for the year was $701.36, whilst the revenue obtained from the rent of the shops, letter-writers' tables, &c., was $1,161.22. There is a balance of $3,319.29 to the credit of the Fund.

CHARITABLE FUNDS.

Tables VIII and IX give statements of account of the two Funds administered by this Office.

TUNG WA Hospital.

The proposal made by last year's Committee to erect a permanent branch hospital for the treat- ment of contagious diseases, has received the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and a free site has been granted on the Western site of Inland Lot No. 1,082. The necessary legislation in connection with this extension is provided in Ordinance 2 of 1900 (The Tung Wa Hospital Extension Ordinance).

The new hospital will take the place of the temporary matsheds, which have hitherto been erected for the reception of infectious cases, and will in every way be a change for the better.

BROTHELS.

During the year all houses of ill-fame, with a few temporary exceptions, have been removed from the Central districts to certain specified areas in the Eastern and Western quarters of the City. This step has been taken in deference to the wishes of both the European and Chinese population of Victoria, and has already had most beneficial results. The houses, thus left vacant, have almost all been occupied by members of the Chinese community, by whom the want of sufficient accommodation in the centre of the town had been severely felt.

TYPHOON.

A disastrous typhoon visited the Colony in November, causing great loss of life and property among the Chinese, more especially the floating population.

A fund for the relief of the sufferers was set on foot, which was most liberally subscribed to by all classes of the community. A sum of nearly $30,000 was collected and entrusted to the hands of an influential Committee, who made the necessary arrangements for its distribution.

LEGISLATION.

The following are the Ordinances passed in 1900 which more particularly affect the Chinese and this Office :-

No. 7 of 1900.-Chinese Certificates (American Possessions) Fees Ordinance.

No. 11 of 1900.-Nuisances Amendment Ordinance.

No. 12 of 1900.-Regulation of Chinese Amendment Ordinance.

No. 14 of 1900.-Protection of Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance.

Ordinance 7 of 1900 provides for the issue of certificates of identity to Chinese proceeding to any Colonial possession of the United States of America, and repeals Ordinance 28 of 1898 (the Chinese Manila Fees Ordinance).

351

Ordinance 11 of 1900 contains further legislation bearing on the game of “ Ch‘ái Mui.” Ordinance 12 of 1900 empowers the Governor in Council to prohibit the beating of gongs and drums in any specified area between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Ordinance 14 of 1900 provides penalties against the keeper or occupier of a brothel who permits any woman suffering from a contagious disease to remain on the premises.

STAFF.

During my absence on leave from the 9th February, to the 27th September, Mr. MAY discharged the duties of Registrar General.

Mr. WONG KAI-MI was appointed 2nd Assistant Clerk and Collector on 1st January, 1900.

I have the honour to be,

His Excellency

THE GOVERNOR.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Registrar General.

Table I.

(A.)—Comparative Statement of the Revenue received in the Registrar General's Department, during the Years 1899 and 1900, respectively.

Ordinance under which received.

Description.

Revenue in 1899.

Revenue in

Increase.

Decrease.

1900.

Hawkers,

9,537.50

10,129.50

Ordinance 21 of 1887,

Chinese Undertakers,

140.00

Ordinance 8 of 1895,

Arms Licences,

381.00

160.00 46.50

592.00 10.00

334.50

Certificates to Chinese enter-

Ordinances 13 and 28 of 1898,.

Regulations under Ordinance No. 8

of 1879,

Ordinance No. 13 of 1888,

Ordinance No. 9 of 1867, Ordinance No. 21 of 1887, Ordinance No. 7 of 1872, Ordinance No. 14 of 1875, Ordinance No. 17 of 1887,

Miscellaneous,..

Marriages, Markets, Laundries, Chinese Gazette, Fruit Licences, Refunds, &c.,.............

17,175.00

11,100.00

6,075.00

ing Manila and the U.S.A.,

Boats,

10,053.30

10,172.55

Cargo Boats,

11,471.20

11,667.30

119.25 196.10

Householders,

438.00

417.00

21.00

Re-registration,

1,396.00

1,790.00

394.00

Removals,

9.25

Extracts,

34.25

29.25 26.00

20.00

Forfeiture of Bonds,

200.00

8.25 200.00

Money Changer,

485.00

560.00

75.00

Births and Deaths,

330.50

319.90

10.60

670.00

1,050.00

80,901.38 1,200.00 34.00 . 315.00 477.27

83,356.35

380.00 2,454.97

1,210.00

10.00

52.00

18.00

452.00

137.00

201.28

275.99

Totals..........

.$ 135,248.65

132,729.63

4,406.32

6,925.34

Deduct Increase,

4,406.32

Total Decrease in 1900,.................

2,519.02

352

(B.)-Fees from Boats.

Cargo boats, Lighters,

Other boats,

Rowing boats,

.$11,667.30

1,005.00

1,663.30

5,811.50

Water boats,

Fish-drying hulks,

480.00

510.00

Cinder boats, bumboats, and hawker boats,

702.75

Total,.....

.$21,839.85

(C.)-Revenue from the Markets and the number of Shops and Stalls Occupied and Unoccupied

at the end of 1900.

Shops and Stalls.

Markets.

Central,

Western,

Revenue.

.$41,275.69

Occupied.

Unoccupied.

292

23,770.32

157

Saiyingpun,

9,188.27

Wanchai,

2,330.60

Sukunpo,

636.50

Shaukiwan,

706.55

Shektongtsui,

326.55

Yaumati,

2,964.63

30 -

Hunghom,

1,354.56

Taikoktsni,

802.68

Total,.....

.$83,356.35

·809

Table II.-(A.)

Return showing how Women and Girls who came under the protection of the Registrar General were provided for during the year 1900.

Permitted to leave,

Restored direct to parents or relatives,

Restored to husbands,

Restored to guardians,

Restored to native place,

Restored to native place or otherwise disposed of through charitable institutions

in China...

Sent to Italian Convent,

]

Sent to Victoria Home and Orphanage,

Sent to Asile de la Sainte Enfance,

Adopted,.

Married,

Died,

Sent to British Consul, Canton, by the Principal Civil Medical Officer, Government

Civil Hospital,

Sent to Japanese Consul to be restored to native place,

Total,..

.298

Table II.-(B.)

Return giving particulars regarding Girls who are required to report themselves

to the Registrar General.

Required to report themselves quarterly,

Required to report themselves less than 4 times a year, Required to report themselves when required,

Required to report themselves when married, Married during the year,...............

Total,..................

སྭ

Men,. Boys,

Men,... Boys,

Men,. Boys,

Table II.-(C.)

Return showing the Number of Persons reported to the Pò Leung Kuk as missing and of those who have been reported as recovered, for the year 1900.

......

Men,..

Boys,

Men,... Boys,

DISAPPEARED IN HONGKONG.

Women, Girls,

RECOVERED.

Women,

Girls,

DISAPPEARED IN CHINA,

2018

353

117

འ།མ

Women, Girls,

RECOVERED.

00 30

Women,

Girls,

DISAPPEARED IN MACAO.

Women, Girls,

RECOVERED.

Men,.....

Women,

Table III.

Return showing the number of Female Passengers and Boys examined and passed at the Emigration Office under "The Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889," during the year 1900.

An Officer from the Registrar General's Office was present at each examination.

Countries.

Women.

Boys.

Girls.

Total.

Honolulu,

Japan Ports,

Mauritius,

San Francisco, U.S.A.,

127

167

Straits Settlements,

7,518

1,546

638

9,702

Vancouver, B.C.,

Victoria, B.C.,

Total,...

7,581

1,707

655

9,943

DISTRICTS.

Table IV. (A.)

RETURN OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS FOR THE YEAR 1900.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

CHINESE.

GRAND TOTAL.

354

Victoria,

125

219

220

Kaulung,

Shaukiwán,

Aberdeen,

BIRTIIS.

DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

DEATHS.

Boys.

Girls.

Total.

Males. Females.

Sex.

Unknown.

Total. Boys.

Girls.

Total.

Males. Females.

Sex

Unknown.

Total.

278

353

191

544

2,996 2,101

:..

501

263

3.1

244

100

139

BIRTHS.

DEATHS.

5,104

763

5,382

764

787

344

345

218

Stanley,

TOTAL,.

149

112

261

239

302

431

247

678 3,903

2,561

6,471

939

6,773

DEATHS.

DEATHS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

ESTIMATED POPULATION.

Annual Birth-Rate Annual Death-Rate per 1,000.

per 1,000.

BRITISH & FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Europeans, exclusive of Portuguese,...151

Of the Deaths in Victoria, Males. Females. there were in the—

Sex.

Unknown.

Total.

British and Foreign Community,...... 14,778

17.66

20.44

Portuguese,

Tung Wa Hospital,..

1,174

288

1,462

Italian Convent,

116

343

459

Chinese,

.247,900

2.73

26.10

Indians, &c.,

Asile de la Ste. Enfance,

360

708

1,068

Whole Population,......

.262,678

3.57

25.78

TOTAL,

.302

TOTAL,..

1,650

1,339

2,989

Table IV. (B.)

Return showing Deuth-Rates in Different Groups of Ages for the year 1900.

Ages.

355

British and Foreign.

Chinese.

Deaths.

Per cent, of whole.

Deaths.

Per cent. of whole.

Under 1 month,

5.30

759

1173

1 month and under 12 months,

5.30

619

9.57

year and under 5 years,.......

4.63

704

10.88

years and under 15 years,

2.98

453

7.00

15 years and under 25 years,

19.54

726

11.22

25 years and under 45 years,

125

41.39

1,724

26.64

45 years and under 60 years, 60 years and over, Age unknown,

13.91

775

11.98

6.29

706

10.91

0.66

0.07

Total,...

302

Table IV. (D.) Hospital Deaths.

Government Civil Hospitals,

Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals,.

Royal Naval Hospital,

Military Hospitals,

Peak Hospital,

Tung Wa Hospital,

Total,..

100.00

6,471

100.00

British and Foreign.

Chinese.

Total.

147

237

13.

1,462

132

1,653

1,785

Table IV. (E.)

Return of the Number of Patients under Treatment and other Statistics concerning the Tung Wa Hospitať

ycar ended 31st December, 1900.

during the

Dead

Male,

Female,

Patients.

Remaining in Hospital on 31st Dec.. 1899.

Remaining

Bodies

Admitted.

Total under treatment.

Dis- charged.

Deaths.

in Hospital Out-Pa- Vaccina-

on 31st Dec., 1900.

brought to Destitutes

tients.

tions.

Hospital sent home.

Mortuary

for burial.

127 2,503 2,630

478

505

1,475

268

1,045

110

222

66,563

28,192

1,055

326

788

1,206

131

Total,...... 154 2,981 3,135 1,743

1,267

125 94,755 2,261

457

788

Table V.

Returns relating to the Registration of Householders under Ordinance 13 of 1888, during the year 1900.

First Registration of Householders,

Re-registration of Householders,

Extract from Householders' Register, Removal of Householders,

Duplicates of Householders' Certificates,

31 129 528

༢༣ ༠ ༠༠

258

District Nos.

Total.

109

385 219 126

༦ལ :

139 1,790 91

117

Total.....

171 627 281

161 462

245 141

2,150

Table IV. (C.)—RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

356

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

I.-General Diseases.

A.-Specific Febrile Diseases.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

a Zymotie.

Small-pox,

Measles,

Diphtheria,

Fever, Typhoid (Enteric),

Simple, Continued,

Cholera,

Diarrhoea,.

Dysentery,

Bubonic Fever (Plague),

Influenza,

5 1

8:3

23 16

383

98 157

68 44

122

2 114 257

35 91

88 180 66

8:3

8 135

B Malarial.

Malarial Fevers,

Beri-beri,

a Go

-12

253

995

583

17 59

12 16 27 35 31

14 26 33 41 22

1 65

12 20

40 26 12 60 76

24 2

- I

X Septic.

Erysipelas,

Pyæmia.

Septicamia,

Puerperal Fever,

:::

& Venereal.

Syphilis (Acquired),

(Congenital),

€ Zoogenous Diseases.

ここ

1 3

2010 13

5 3

4 2

10 00

2 1

...

Rabies,

Total Group A.,...... 48

30 2 143 434

B.-Diseases dependent on Specific

External Agents.

a Parasites.

Worms,

B Poisons. Opium,

Vegetable,

(Suicide),

Gelsemium,

Gaseous-Carbonic Acid Gas,

x Effects of Injuries.

Burns, Sunstroke,

Heat-apoplexy,

Multiple Injuries,

Injury to Right Arm,

Wound of Knee-joint,

NNN

58 126 126 93 120 159 264 128 79

11 213

144 434 59 129 127 93 121 164 267 130 79 11 216

Carried forward.......

Carried forward, ( General Discuses),..

),...

54 31

5 |144

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31sT DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

351

Kow- SHÁUKI- ABER-

STANLEY

LOON DIS-

WÁN Dis-

DEEN

DIS-

Dis-

TRICT.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

07 mad

· 00

う

Under 1

co:

purT

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Non-Chinese.

187 29 60 24 6

129 51 40 18

160

...

དྨེ་

52 45 18 22 14

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

month.

1 month and

Non-Chinese. 1

under 12

months.

year and under 5

心

163

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

60 years

and over.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Age

Unknown.

Chinese.

years.

Non-Chinese.

5 years and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

under 15

years.

15 years and under 25

years.

25 years and under 45

years.

5 years and under 60

years.

...

ཡ ཡ།。

6 2

· 10

3 27

Ou to:

こ

00 10

: 01

- 2

63 1 51 2 12

122

69 2 185 5257 5347 2 97

6:9

...

GRAND TOTAL.

mand the Him 00 00 -T

422

...

1,022

...

69...

1,602

23 2163 2176 3 223 18 287 13 456 6 161...

3 30 2 53 9 106 12 181 1 72 107 1 210...

...

90 ... 42

QL CO

555

364

919

2 24 3 32 2 60 11 213 13 391 1122

* ་ -

...

354

82 107 42

...

357 82 110

...

-1

100 10

་

I 16

12...

3 14...

:18

55...

...

55...

...

26 4242 5233

5287 29 516 30 882 7290 115

...

10 1

1 1

4242

6234

6289 30 523 37894

292

...

212

# 1O 1OT

10 00 00

1-2 10

...

117...

2,707

358

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No..10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

Brought forward, ( General Diseases),... 54 31

5 144 434

59 129 127 93 121 164 267 130 79 11 216

General Diseases.—Continued.

Effects of Injuries,— Continued.

Brought forward,

Drowning,

Fracture of Skull,

1 30 30

of Spine,

of Sternum,

of Pelvis,

of Femur and Humerus,

Rupture of Spleen,

of Liver,

Gunshot wound of Head (Suicide),

from Explosion,

of Chest, (Accident),

Shock,

of Knee (Accident),

Strangulation (Suicide),

Dislocation of Neck,

Hanging (Execution),..

(Suicide),

Suffocation by fall of dwellings,

Exposure,

Starvation,

and neglect,

Errors of Diet.

5 3

6 1

7 1

Alcoholism (Chronic),

(Acute),

00 y

دت

7 3

Total Group B.,... 25 11

7 3 6 2

C.-Developmental Diseases.

Immaturity at Birth,

Debility,

Old Age,

ان ان حكم

Marasmus and Atrophy,

Tabes Mesenterica,

Inanition,

94 62

Hæmorrhage from Umbilicus,

Congenital Absence of Rectum,

•

Total Group C........ 23

22 136 76 13 11

D.—Miscellaneous Diseases.

Rheumatic Fever,

30 11

00 01 10

3 6

1 4 2 1

}

Q-

11 16 23 31 16 9

Cancer in Mouth,

.་

,·

of Jaw,....

of Breast,

(Internal),

of Stomach,

of Liver.

of Mediastinum,

Carried forward,.

Carried forward, (General Diseases),.....|100 45

9 169 576 187 149 146 105 141 213 306 151

co au co

...

92 11 344

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31sT DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,--Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERiods.

Kow- SHÁUKI- ABER-

STANLEY

LOON DIS-

WÁN

DEEN

DIS-

TRICT,

TRICT.

under 15

Unknown.j

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

and over. 60 years

Non-Chinese.

Age

Non-Chinese. 25 years and

Chinese.

under 45

years.

Non-Chinese. 45 years and

Chinese.

under 60

years.

Chinese.

years.

Non-Chinese.

15 years and

under 25

Chinese.

years.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

under 12

months.

1 year and

under 5

years.

Non-Chinese. 5 years and

Non-Chinese.

Under 1

Chinese.

mouth.

Non-Chinese.

1 month and

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

357

82 110

سر

33333

...

26 4242 6234

6289 30523 37894 7292 117

...

- 30

- 00

со

حيم

121

...

A 1 10 2 20 6 30 21 97

...

21 42

359

Chinese.

GRAND

TOTAL.

...

22...

...

•

2,707

ོ་ྲལ

♡ 130 1442 -

со

81...

225

...

со

245

... 2

2 21 8 31 28 102 3 23

3 14

...

་་

29 8

6 16 65 388

442 130 134 70 38

38 47 15

...

716 91

...

27... 71

...

ແ

•

1 15

bod

3 81

4238...

...

∞

4 30

647

...

3 3 31...

7336 6325 7336

7335

37 549 601.002 13 338 7410

3,577

360

CAUSES.

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

Brought forward, ( General Discases),... 100

General Diseases,- Continued.

Miscellaneous Diseases,--Continued.

Cancer of Uterus,

Brought forward,.

of Rectum,

2535

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

9 169576137 149 146 105 141 213 306 |151 92 11 344

Sarcoma of Neck,

Lipoma of Throat,

Scrofula,

of Back (Operation),

General Tuberculosis,

Rickets,.....

Anemia,

Leprosy,

Diabetes,

Enlarged Spleen,

Lymphadenoma,

Gangrene of Leg,.

Total Group D.,................ 14

II.-Local Diseases.

A.-The Nervous System.

Meningitis,

(Tubercular),

Abscess of Brain,

Apoplexy,

...

10 10

- J

10 4

4 1

3 I

Paralysis (Undefined).

a. Hemiplegia,

b. Paraplegia,

Convulsions...

Tetanus,

184 65

IN IN

1 1

Divi

...

(Traumatic),

Trismus,

2441 206

Hydrocephalus,

: 00:

Epilepsy,

Delusional Insanity,

Mania,

Dementia,

Tumour of Brain,

Congestion of Brain,

Softening of Brain,

Cerebro-Spinal Sclerosis,

Encephalitis,

Paralysis of the Iusane,

Myelitis (Acute),

Total Group A.,..............| 19 1

2 697 274

B.-The Circulatory System.

Heart Disease,

2 11

Aneurism,.

(Aortic),

Abdominal, Rupture of,

Pericarditis,

(Purulent),

Embolism, Syncope,

14 15 13

8 9 10 7 19

•

1 1

...

Total Group B., 24

5 13 10 10

12 8 19

110

Carried forward, ( General Diseases),... 153

9 176 1,288 418 191 173 126 174 245

348 170 106 12 368

476 131 165 85

齿

29 15

ཟེ

...

་་་

...

فجر

السر

...

band

♡

...

1657

3159 1209 2 25 1

...

654

...

2109

+ 30

166 ...

Kow- SHAUKI ABER-

LOON

WÁN

DEEN

STANLEY DIS-

DIS-

TRICT.

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,-Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PEriods.

Under 1

442 130 134 70

-J

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

...

24... 31

...

a) 1

6 48 6 32 1 16 ...

913 39

548 4 19

2...

11 15 44

5 52

4 19...

153

19 7

16748 11497 7555

9874 43 579 82 1,109 26428 14484

4,984

...

139

1,175

...

เง

5 11 2 18

4 16

•

-13 3

month.

I month and

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

under 12

months.

under 5

1 year and

years.

5 years and under 15

years.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

15 years and under 25

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

years.

25 years and under 45

years.

45 years and under 60

years.

16 91 7336 6325

7335 37549 60 1,002 13338||

فسر

مز

132

♡

Chinese.

60 years

and over.

Non-Chinese.

Age

Chinese.

Unknown.

7446

ابجد

NHA

3,577

GRAND

TOTAL

361

362

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Brought forward, (General Discases),... 153

Army.

Local Diseases,—Continued.

C.-The Respiratory System.

Bronchitis,

Pneumonia,

6 2 10 3

Phthisis,

Pleurisy,

Empyema,

Asthma,

Total Group C., 42

D.-The Digestive System.

Dentition,

Cancrum Oris,

Enteritis,

Gastro-Enteritis,

Colitis, ...

Hepatic Abscess,..

Cirrhosis of Liver,

Yellow Atrophy of Liver,

Fatty Degeneration of Liver,..

Peritonitis,

(Traumatic),

(Tubercular),

Internal Homorroids,

Appendicitis,

Hernia (Strangulated), Jaundice,

Sprue,

I-

Navy.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

9 176 1,288 418 191 173 126 174 245 348 170 106 12 368

ཁ༤སྶ:::

1 34 58

38 68 68-

22 126 65 47 39

2018-

3 9

RE:

17 16 15

11 8

8850

34 66 31 66 14

3588

17 15

3 62 198 72 73 65

59 104 68 123 41

1 146

33333

Total Group D.,...... 14

3 3 3

E--The Urinary System.

Nephritis, Acute,

Bright's Disease,

Renal Calculus,

Rupture of Bladder, (Extravasation of

Urine),

Surgical Kiduey,

Diabetes Mellitus,

Total Group E.,...... 12

2:2

2 11 8 2 12 9 12

7 10

4 3

co co

3 5

12 4 4 7 5

Bai

:::

F-The Generative System.

Strangulated Ovarian Cyst,

Total Group F.,................

G-Affections connected with Pregnancy.

Abortion,

Extra-Uterine Pregnancy,

Total Group G........ 1

:..

...

Carried forward, ( General Diseases),... 223 59 15 246 1,492 492 282 258 191 294 329 488 223 154

13 522

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,-Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

Kow- SHACKI ABER-

STANLEY

LOON DIS-

WÁN

DEEN

DIS-

Dis-

TRICT.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

476 131 163

3223

82 42 62

انه

...

Boat

Population.

Non-Chinese.

Under 1

Chinese.

month.

Non-Chinese. 1 month and

under 12

Chinese,

months.

Non-Chinese.

1 year and

under 5

Chinese.

years.

85 45

52 19

16748 11497

20 15

21 45 68

...

:..

:།

7 555

Non-Chinese. 5 years and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

under 15

years.

15 years and

under 25

years.

Non-Chinese. [ 25 years and

under 45

Chinese.

years.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

under 60 45 years and

years.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

and over. 60 years

Non-Chinesc.

Age

Chinese.

Unknown.

9374 43579 82 1,109 26 428 14484

H-

2 11

5 1

125

6...

201

175

3108

2115

281

54... 40

GC 00

3 11

5 40

10 10

8 80 16386

4176

...

3 1

...

4...

...

569 173 228 106 92 120 28

1 295 3112...

...

་་་

ය

•

...

52 11111 23510 9295 3200

...

***

...

16751| 16595 14678 16:595

❤

ล

دن

...

2 11 843 4 18...

co ∞

2 19

7 17 3 23

...

2 10

་་

363

GRAND

TOTAL.

4,984

366 171

873

1,428

112

2 10...

1 1 1

9436 577061221,680 42764 19696

6,605

364

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

Civil.

Army.

Navy,

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

Brought forward, (General Diseases),...223 59 15245 1,492 492 282 258 191 294 329 488 223 154

Local Diseases,—Continued.

H.-Affections connected with

Parturition.

13 522

Placenta Provia,...............

Post-Partum Hemorrhage,

Puerperal Eclampsia,

Child-birth,

Total Group ........ 3

I-The Skin.

Carbuncle,

Boils,

Pemphigus,

Ulcer of Foot,

Sloughing Ulcer of Buttocks,

Cellulitis of Leg,.

Total Group I...................

J.-Diseases of Organs of Locomotion.

Hip-joint Disease (Tubercular),.......

Caries of Spine,

Dropsy,.

Total Group J.,

III.-Undefined.

Tumour,

Abscess of Neck,...

of Scrotum,

of Thigh,

•

པ་

3 1 4

Undiagnosed,

Total Undefined & Undiagnosed,... 2

TOTAL, ALL CAUSES, 228

SUMMARY.

CLASSIFICATION OF CAUSES OF DEATHS,

(In Groups).

4 18 1 1

3 1 2 9 1

59 15 253 1502 510 285 262 196 300 332 495 234 155

13 567

I. General Diseases.

Group A.,....

B.,

C., D.,...

3334

30 2 143 25 11

མ ༤ ༷} 21

434

136 76

co The G

58 126 126 3 6 2 8 7 22

13 11 11 3 10 10 6

93 120 159 264 128

5 30 11 6 4 16 23 31 16 7 10 10 1

11 213

II.-Local Diseases.

A.-The Nervous System,..

B.-The Circulatory System,

C.-The Respiratory System,

62 198 72

D.-The Digestive System,

开心850

2697 274 21 9

14 15 13

13 5 13

10 10 12 65

59 104 68 123

4 6 41 33

1 10

1 146

1200x8

E. The Urinary System,

F-The Generative System,...

G.-Affectious connected with Preg-

nancy,

II.-Affections connected with Partu-

rition, I.-The Skin,

J.-Diseases of Organs of Locomotion,......

III.-Undefined & Undiagnosed,.

TOTAL, ALL CAUSES,...... 228

4 18

: උද

15 253 1,502 510 285 262 196 300 332 495 234 155

13 567

365

GRAND

TOTAL.

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,—Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

Kow- SHAUKI- ABER-

STANLEY

LOON DIS-

WÁN DIS-

DEEN

DIS-

TRICT.

Under 1

month.

Laud

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Non-Chinese. Population.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

1 month and

under 12

Chinese.

months.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

under 5

years.

under 45

years.

45 years and

under 60

years.

25 years and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

15 years and under 25

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

and over. | 60 years

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Age

Chinese.

Unknown.

Non-Chinese. 1 year and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese. 5 years and

under 15

years.

569 173 228 106 92

120 28

16751 16 595 14678 9:436 57706122|1,680|| 42764 19696|| 21 2 6,605

4 2

•

...

མཱཎསྶ

1 20

1 241

1 10

2 12

1 2

I 2

...

231

2 2 12

11 3

1 2

انت

5 2 17

110

...

587 177 235

109 93 125 32

16759

16759 16619 14705 9452 597261251,724 42775 19706 21 5 6,773

354

82 107 42 28 17

48:

9 29

18 1

- I

62 21 45

CO 10

26 4242

5233 6 110]

5287 29 516 30882 7290

2 21 8 31 28102

115

2,671

3 23

245

8 6 16 65 3 88

1 2

82... 20

27... 1

1 15 ... 221

7320

647

12 5 11

2 18 5 9

2 61

5 1 5 3

5 4

68 9 2

657

3,159

1209

2 25

•

1 2 95

2 3 3 3

3112

6 48 11 15 44

32 5 52

1. 16 4 19

1,175

153

11111 23510]

9295 3 200

1,428

8 43

4 18... 2

1 4

7 17

3 23 2 10

112 77

2 12

124

201

5 2 17

110

•

9 45 2

16759 16619 14705 9452 597261251,724 42775) 19706 16759

4705

42775

2 5

6,773

...

11 3!

1 .1 2

587 177 235| 109 93 125 32

366

No.

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT OCCURRED IN THE UNDERMENTIONED INSTITUTIONS,

During the Year ended the 31st day of December, 1900.

The Government Civil

Hospitals.

Causes.

The Tung Wa Hospital.

The Tung Wa Hospital,-Cont.

Causes.

No.

Canses.

No.

Small-pox,

Diphtheria, ...

Brought forward,..

Diphtheria,

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),

Malarial Fevers,

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),.

Bubonic Fever (Plague),

306

Beri-beri,

Diarrhoea,

Septicemia,

Dysentery,

Bubonic Fever (Plague),

Cholera,

Puerperal Fever,

Syphilis (Acquired),

Influenza,

Malarial Fevers,

162

Malarial Fevers,

Beri-beri,

214

Rabies,..

Fracture of Skull,

Beri-beri,

Erysipelas,

of Femur and Humerus,

Pyæmia,

Septicemia,

Rupture of Liver,

Puerperal Fever,

Debility,

Syphilis (Acquired),

Immaturity at Birth,.

Burns,

Opium Poisoning (Suicide),.......

Inanition,

Heat Apoplexy,...

Burns,

Tabes Mesenterica,

Multiple Injuries,

Starvation,

Fracture of Skull,

Cancer of Stomach,

of Rectum,

of Pelvis,

of Spine,

Tuberculosis,

Bullet Wound of Knee (Accident), Alcoholism, Acute,

of Pelvis,

Anæmia,

Debility,

Meningitis,

Chronic,.

Old Age,.

Tubercular,

Debility,

Cancer of Stomach,

Apoplexy,

Cancer of Mediastinum,

of Uterus,

Convulsions,

Tuberculosis, General,

Tuberculosis.

Tetanus,

Abdominal,

Anæmia,

(Traumatic),

Meningitis,

Lymphadenoma,.

Trismus,

Apoplexy,

Gangrene of Leg,

Bronchitis,

Tetanus,

Enlarged Spleen,

Pneumonia,

(Traumatic),

Meningitis,

Phthisis,

Trismus,

Tubercular,

Asthma,

Mania,.

Apoplexy,

Heart Disease,

Delusional Insanity,

Paralysis (Undefined),

Dementia,

Hemiplegia,

Aneurism (Thoracic), Internal Hæmorroids,

Acute Myelitis.

Paraplegia,

Strangulated Hernia,.

Cerebro-Spina! Sclerosis,

Tetanus (Traumatic),

Cirrhosis of Liver,.

Heart Disease,

Cerebro-Spinal Sclerosis,

Acute Nephritis,

Embolism,

Heart Disease,

Bright's Disease,

Bronchitis,

Abdominal Aneurism,

Rupture of Bladder-Extravasa-

Pneumonia,

Bronchitis,

tion of Urine,..................

Phthisis,

302

Post Partum Hemorrhage,

Cancrum Oris,

Pneumonia,

Placenta Prævia,

Enteritis,

Pleurisy,

Puerperal Eclampsia,

Gastro-Enteritis....

Empyema,

Caries of Spine,.......

Hepatic Abscess,

Asthma,

Dropsy,

Cirrhosis of Liver,.

Enteritis,

Peritonitis,

Cirrhosis of Liver,....

Total........

427

Sprue,

Fatty Degeneration of Liver,.

Acute Nephritis,

Yellow Atrophy of Liver,

Bright's Disease,

Surgical Kidney,

Parturition........

Peritonitis,

Jaundice,

(Traumatic),

The Italian Convent.

Placenta Prævia,

Bright's Disease,

Gangrene of Leg,

Cellulitis of Leg,

Causes.

No.

Undiagnosed,

Ulcer of Foot,

Diarrhoea,

Sloughing Ulcer of Buttocks,.

Fever (Undefined),

Total,..

237

Abscess of Thigh,

Worms,

Debility,

Total,........

........

1,462

Old Age,

Marasinus and Atrophy,

Scrofula,......

Tuberculosis,

Cancer in Mouth,

Apoplexy,

Tung Wa Hospital

Convulsions,

Mortuary.

Trismus,

206

Heart Disease,

Causes.

Vo.

Bronchitis,

Small-pox,

Phthisis,

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),.

Asthma,

Bubonic Fever (Plague),

Dropsy,

Dysentery,

Tumour,

Diarrhea,

Total,......

459

Carried forward,......

367

RETURN OF DEATHS,-Continued.

L'Asile de la Ste. Enfance.

Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals.

Causes.

No.

Causes.

Diphtheria,

Dysentery,..

Diarrhoea,

Fever (Undefined),

~NOM

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),

Dysentery,

Fever (Undefined),

Beri-beri,

Septicæmia,

Syphilis (Acquired),.

Puerperal Fever,

Congenital,

Heat-Stroke,

Old Age,

Tabes Mesenterica,

No.

Marasmus and Atrophy,

Convulsions,

184

Trismus,

438

Meningitis,

Haemorrhage from Umbilicus,

Congenital Absence of Rectum,

Anæmia,

Meningitis, Tubercular,.

Hydrocephalus,..

Tetanus,

Abscess of Brain,.

Heart Disease,

Tumour of Brain,..

Encephalitis,

Heart Disease,

Aneurism,

Bronchitis,

Pneumonia,

Phthisis,

Peritonitis,

Phthisis,

Enteritis,

Jaundice,

Boils,

Bright's Disease,

Carcinoma of Liver,.

Tubercular Hip Joint Disease,

Lipoma (Operation),..

Total,.......

1,068

Total,......

Registrar General's Office, Hongkong, 24th January, 1901.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Registrar General.

FRANCIS W. CLARK, Superintendent of Statistics.

368

Table VI. (A.)

Statement of the Receipts and Expenditure relative to the Hongkong District Watchmen's Fund for the year 1900.

RECEIPTS.

EXPENDITURE.

To Balance of previous year, ..........

$7,220.05

Disbursements in-

Contributions by different Shops,

10,598.29

Districts Nos. 1 and 2.

Payments of Special Services,

948.50

Wages of Head District Watchman,

288.00

Wages of Watchmen,

856.27

Sale of old lamps,

2.00

Wages of Cook..

70.00

Oil,.

17.61

Fines,

3.35

Rent of Station,

279.37

-$1,541.28

Interest,

255.13

District No. 3.

Wages of Head District Watchman,

264.00

Wages of Watchmen,

1.252.35

Wages of Cook,.

70.00

Oil,

61.80

Rent of Station,

276.00

1,924.15

District No. 4.

Wages of Head District Watchman,

264.00

Wages of Watchmen,

1,417.71

Wages of Cook........................

70.00

Oil,

66.60

Rent of Station,

258.00

2,076.31

District No. 5.

Wages of Head District Watchman,

264.00

Wages of Watchmen,

1,277.09

Wages of Cook,

70.00

Oil,

61.80

Rent of Station,

528.00

2,200.89

District No. 6.

Wages of Head District Watchman,.

264.00

Wages of Watchmen,

1,321.27

Wages of Cook,

70.00

Oil,

66.60

Rent of Station,.

276.00

1,997.87

Districts Nos. 7 and 8.

Wages of Head District Watchman,

264.00

Wages of Watchmen,

645.39

Wages of Cook,

70.00

Oil,

38.01

Rent of Station,

120.00

1,137.43

Miscellaneous Expenses.

Collector's Wages,

204.00

Manager's Wages,

96.00

Chinese Writer's Wages,

60.00

Stationery and Printing,

66.14

Coolie and Jinricksha Hire,....

9.74

Gratuities for the Chinese New Year, and

Mok Kam's Widow,

59.00

Uniforms, Equipment, &c.,

1,093.46

Repairing Watch-houses,

19.30

Premium on Fire Policies for 6 Watch-

houses,

126.16

Loss on Exchange,

134.35

Night Coolies...

36.00

Sundries,

21.74

1,926.19

Total Expenditure,

12,804.12

Balance,

6,223.20

Total,......

$19,027.32

Total,..

.$19,027.32

Disposal of Balance,-

On Fixed Deposit,

..$3,000.00

At Current Account,

3,223.20

$ 6,223.20

Table VI. (B.)

State of District Watchmen Force on 31st December, 1900.

The Force cousists a present of 72 men :-

6 Head Watchmen at.....

5 Assistant Head Watchmen at

3 Watchmen at

2 Watchmen at

56 Watchmen at

$240 a year. $120

.$ 96

.$ 90

$ 84

1 Watchman receives

3 Watchmen receive.....

7 Watchmen resigned.

3 were dismissed.

2 died.

17 entered the Force.

$4.00 a month extra pay. .$2.00 $1.00

وو

Table VII.

Dr. Statement of the Receipts and Expenditure relative to the Chinese Recreation Ground, for the Year 1900.

RECEIPTS.

To Balance,

Rent,.

369

Cr.

2,859.43 By Wages to Collector,

1,161.22

EXPENDITURE.

3 Watchmen, Scavenger,

•

24.00

256.00

72.00

Uniforms for Watchmen,

Rent of Watchmen's Quarters,

Oil,

24.00

120.00

23.52

Water used at the cooking stalls,.

103.00

Extra pay to Watchmen,

72.00

Premium on Fire Insurance Policy,

5.84

Balance in hands of the Colonial Treasurer,.

3,319.29

$4,020.65

$ 4,020.65

Dr.

1900.

Jan. 1

To Amount ou Fixed Deposit,

Table VIII.

Statement of Account of the Market Charitable Fund, for the Year 1900.

Cr.

C. 1900.

at Current Account,

Balance in hand,

Interest,

900.00 Jan. 279.12 28.68 38.60

9 By Miss A. K. Hamper, Victoria

Home and Orphanage,

20.00

Ün Yaŭ, hawker's licence,

0.52

Alice Memorial Hospital,

50.00

Apr. 25 May 3

Li Fat, hawker's licence and photo.,

0.72

Ün Yau, hawker's licence,

0.50

Cheung Chung-hop, howker's licence,

0.50

Aug. 3 Dec. 18

Un Yau, howker's licence,

0.50

Miss A. K. Hamper, Victoria Home

and Orphanage, •

20.00

Cheng Ma-shi, allowance for 12

months,........

60.00

Pang Wa, allowance for 12 months,

36.00

"2"

Ch'an Cheung,

do.,

24.00

,, Kwong Hó,

do.,

24.00

AAA

Ch'an Shap,

do.,

10.00

Balance in hand,.

71.94

Fixed Deposit,

700.00

31 Current Account,

227.72

Total,............$

1,246.40

Total,.. .....$

1,246.40

370

Dr.

1900.

Table IX.

Statement of the Passaye Money Fund, 1900.

$ C. 1900.

铂

Cr.

وو

of Wong Shun,

Mar. 19

of Sin Ying,

Apr.

of Wong I......

وو

دو

of Wong Lin-ts'oi,]

of Wong Yaŭ,

Jan. 1 To Balance in Savings Bank,

Feb. 10

AR ARRA A A

in Collector's hands,

Passage Money of Wong Ngan,

of Leung Yau,

1,964.20 |Jan. 23| By Li Yuk, Chai Mũi, Chan Tsau-

161.50

5.00 May 25 5.00 June 21

yaŭ, on being married,

9.00

7.00 Feb. 14

Ng Siu-ying, on being married,

2.00

9.00 Mar. 2

11.00

Leung Ts'oi-king, on being married, Ch'an Yung, on being married,

2.00

3.00

9.00

Fong Sám-mui, and Leung Yaŭ,

11.00

on being married,

6.00

,,Ng Kam, on being married,..

2.00

of Fung Sai-wa

July 4

and Leung I,...

10.00

May 5

of Ng Mũi,

5.00

of Mak Lin-kwai,

9.00 Aug. 13

وو

of Ch'an I,.........................

5.00

June

Sept.

بي

of Leung Oi and

Ho Yuk,....

of Lam Kam,..

of Yeung San-kam

and Chan I, ... of Ch'an Siŭ-nam,

Li Tai-ngan, Wong Tai, Ch'an Hop-sin,

10.00 5.00

Sept. 4

Ho Sui-shang, on being married.... Wong Hó, on being married, Lai Sui-ngo, on being married, Wong Chun-hó, on being married, Wong Lin-ts'oi, on being married,. Ho Kwai-ying, on being married,. Ng Yik-ho, on being married,... Ts'oi Sui-i, on being married, Cheung-ki, on being married,

2.00

3.00

2.00

Wong Kam, on being married,.

2.00

18.00

وو

Li I, on being married,...

2.00

Oct.

Ch'an Yaŭ and

Tán Mai,

66.00

3=33

of Ch'an Yau,

9.00

17 19

" Wong Yau, on being married,. Laŭ Hi-ts'oi, on being married, Wong Yau, on being married,

Ch'an Loi-hó, on being married, Li Shun, on being married, Ho Yuk, on being married,

2.00

3.00

2.00

3.00

2.00

of Lam Sám,

8.00

of Hung Yaŭ, Laŭ

Nov. 1

Tang Shing-kwai, on being married,, Fung Lai-wa, on being married, Ch'an Yuk-lán, on being married,.

2.00

3.00

Hi-ts'oi, Liŭ

Tsó, Ch'an Yuk- lán, and Ch'an Ngan-ts'oi,

Hung Yau, on being married, ..............

3.00

55.00

Oct. 2

of Sò Ng and Chan

Ngan,..

2223

Laŭ Shiй-ying, on being married,.

2.00

Ch'an Shun, on being married,

2.00

Ch'an Ngan, on being married,

3.00

Li Üt-hò, on being married,..

2.00

18.00 Dec. 7

Liŭ On, on being married,

3.00

of Ch'an Ngan and

Wong Hồ,

Ho Ch'an-shim, Ts'ó I, on being

22222

* A

of Liŭ Ngan,

16.00 5.00

married,

4.00

Leung Shiŭ-hing, on being married,

3.00

of Wai Tai-ngan,

وو

Lui Mũi, on being married,

3.00

and Leung Siŭ- ling,

Savings Bank,

2,283.40

Nov.

14.00 9.00

Amount in Collector's hands,

331.50

1.7

of Li Fung-ngó,

of Wai Mũi-kwai,

Wong Chün,

and Li I.................

15.00

* A

of Wong Mũi,

5.00

of Paug Lin-fung,

Wong Tsó-ngan

and Lam Shing-

chün,

15.00

of Li Kwai-hi.

7.00

of Chan Li, Fung

Tsaŭ, Ch'an

Luk-mui, Liŭ

Sám-mũi, Ip

Mui, and Leung!

Kwai,

66.00

of Chan Mi-ying

and Ho Ho.

18.00

of Ho Hò, and

Chaň Sz-mŭi,...

18.00

of Ho Yaŭ and

Li Yuk,

10.00

Dec. 18

of Clan Hà,

}}

Loung Kam,

Ch'au Mi-ts'oi,

and Chan Ngó

24.00

205

of Li Yaŭ-hó..........

8.00

of Li Mũi,

9.00

Interest,

69.20

Total,..............

.$ 2,708.90

Total,.......

.$ 2,708.90

HONGKONG.

REGISTRATION OF CHINESE PARTNERS.

749

No. 43

1901

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE REGISTRATION OF

CHINESE PARTNERSHIPS.

SIR,

HONGKONG, 24th September, 1901.

The Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor to inquire into the advisability of introducing a Bill for the Registration of Partners in Chinese firms, have the honour to report as follows:-

2. At the preliminary meeting of the Committee on the 5th March last, when Mr. Justice SERCOMBE SMITH was Chairman, it was decided that all the

papers connected with the subject should be read by the members individually so that they might be- come thoroughly conversant with the history of the question under consideration. This was done, and after further meetings, it was decided that some gentlemen of experience should be asked to attend and be questioned as to their opinions on the matter. Ac- cordingly, the papers were passed on to Sir THOMAS JACKSON and Mr. CHATTERTON WIL- cox, respectively, and they, together with Mr. J. F. REECE, were, on the 8th July last, examined before the Committee, so also were Messrs. FUNG WA CHUN, Ho Fook and LAU YAM CHUN on the 22nd July last.

3. After hearing the opinions of the above mentioned gentlemen and after fully considering the question themselves, the members of the Committee unanimously decided (though for different reasons) that it would be inadvisable to introduce such legislation whether penal or disabling. The general ground, however, for such a deci- sion was that it would be impracticable to give due effect to such legislation. Amongst the reasons brought forward to support such a decision were the following:--

1st. That in consequence of the difference between English and Chinese law as to the liabilities of a partner in an insolvent firm, the Chinese would not be inclined to register their true names, and that any such registration would there- fore tend to frand and litigation.

2nd. The enormous expense that would be entailed owing to the difficulty of finding out who the partners in a Chinese firm are.

3rd. That such legislation would tend to drive capital from the Colony and would seriously interfere with trade.

4. The above are shortly the reasons which have induced the Committee to advise ainst the proposed legislation, but in order that the decision should be more perfectly understood, the detailed statements of the members and the gentlemen who came forward, are attached hereto, together with the minutes of some meetings held, taken by the Secretary to the Committee.

5. Mr. SHEWAN, however, does not feel inclined to sign the above report, but has sent in one of his own, which is attached.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servants,

ALFRED G. WISE,

(Chairman.)

Ho KAL

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

LEUNG PUI CHI.

The Honourable

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

&C.,

&c.

Appendix I.

Mr. Shewan's Report.

There seems to be so much doubt as to the legal meaning of the words “ partners in a firm" that it would, if possible, have been well to have first had a clear definition of it. Taking the meaning to be one who shares in the profits or losses in proportion to his share of the capital or interest in the firm-which, I am advised, is by no means admitted in law-I do not see the impracticability of registering such partners, but I am of opinion that it is inadvisable, as I think that the resulting trouble and expense entailed on the Government by such a Registry Office would be too great. The object of such registration, I take it, is to know with whom one is dealing, and this object I suggest might more easily and economically be obtained by inducing Chinese firms to advertise the names of their partners and the changes in their constitution from time to time as is done by foreign firms. This might be arrived at by disabling or debarring any partner not duly advertised, say, in the Government Gazette, from suing as a partner or from claiming any of the assets of the firm. Any time a change is made, ail the full names, aliases, or Tong names and addresses of each and all of the partners to be given and every firm of not less than a certain amount of capital to be compelled under a penalty to display its last advertisement of partners in a prominent place in its shop or office and to produce it whenever required. (This is really nothing more than is required of many limited Companies, so cannot be considered as a greater interference with trade.)

The above is, I submit, a simple way of meeting the difficulty and of doing away with the question of expense to the Colony. As to advertising bogus partners, that can be done equally by foreigners as well as Chinese, and I think the fear of it has been greatly exaggerated. Chinese firms value their good name and standing as much as foreigners do, and I do not believe would ruin their credit in the eyes of the public by advertising only men of straw as sole partners.

Hongkong, 24th September, 1901.

ROBT. SHEWAN.

Appendix II.

Hon. Dr. Ho Kai advocates that registration is desirable and advisable too in any way practicable. He thinks there are many difficulties in the way.

Firstly, in enforcing the law when made, the Chinese who are in the habit of putting down some of their many aliases or Tong names or the names of some relatives

as partners in their businesses, will do the same thing in registration. The reason for this is that they do not wish to be made liable for the whole of the debts of the firm in case of insolvency. The Chinese law and custom allow the partners of an insolvent firm to pay a part of the firm's liabilities in proportion to their respective interest or share in the capital and profits of the firm. Hence, as long as the English law regard- ing the liability of partners remains as it is, the wealthy Chinese will not come forward to register their true names.

Secondly, in making registration evidence of a partnership; if made primâ jacie evidence only, it does not save any trouble or lessen litigation; but if registration be made conclusive evidence of a partnership, then much hardship and mischief will ensue, e.g., capital entrusted to a manager to conduct business---the manager neglects, accidental- ly, wilfully or fraudulently to register his principal-the latter will have no remedy against the manager: this, in the opinion of Dr. Ho Kai, is a direct encouragement to fraud. The manager may also register the name of some other person who is not a partner in the firm. A further difficulty would be the registration of all the widows and orphans of deceased partners.

Thirdly, in requiring the proper persons to register, if the manager only is required to register, he will be liable to abuse his position as before stated. If personal registra- tion of every partner is required, consider the inconvenience and impracticability in many cases, the effect of which would be to prevent capital flowing to the Colony.

Fourthly, the enormous expense and trouble to the Government and the constant consultation of the Register entailed upon the public.

Fifthly, there is great difficulty in determining who and what is a partner in a Chinese firm, as for instance, a guarantor of a Compradore who takes half of the Com- pradore's earnings and commissions-is he to be considered a partner?

Dr. Ho Kai suggests that all Chinese firms who have signed the petition and advocate registration of partnerships, should take steps to advertise voluntarily the names of their partners: after a time, legislation towards that direction may be feasible, but at present he does not agree to legislation. The Honourable Wei Yuk and Mr. Leung Pui Chi concur in the opinions and suggestions of Dr. Ho Kai.

Enclosed is a memorandum from the Honourable J. Thurburn in which he practical- ly agrees with Dr. Ho Kai, and further states that registration would be not only diff- cult and impracticable, but would tend to drive capital away from the Colony.

The Chairman was also of opinion that such legislation was undesirable because impracticable, insomuch as it would lead to fraud, and would not accomplish the end in view, and that the only people who would benefit would be the lawyers.

Appendix III.

We are asked to report on the advisability of introducing a Bill for the Registration of Partners in Chinese firms.

The real object aimed at is to induce or force the Chinese to register or make known the actual partners in their firms.

The Chinese in their partnerships have always wished to limit their liability to the amount of their share in the business, and dislike being liable for unknown amounts. which the manager may contract in the name of the Hong, and, as under British law, and the law of Hongkong, all partners are liable for all the debts of a firm, to avoid this the Chinese have for many years adopted an almost universal custom cf men possessed of means, instead of having their own names put in, in a firm of which they are one of the real partners, they put a relation, who has little money to lose, as a partner, they keep the receipt of partnership made out in the relation's name, in their own possession, but, according to law, and I don't see how it could be arranged other- wise, these moneyless men are the real partners and the only people to be sued.

Without knowing the customs of the Chinese one would naturally say "that is all very well, but how can such poor partner get credit and carry on a fairly large business properly?" Their way of doing it is as follows:-They are all perfectly aware of the custom, they talk among themselves, and those interested find out in that way, that such and such a rich man is partner in the firm they wish to deal with, and they accordingly give the firm credit for certain amounts, but if larger sums are required, they get personal guarantors, for instance, they would advance the firm with the personal guarantee of the rich man whom they believe to be really a partner in it, amounts they would not do without his guarantee. If they advanced the firm itself without that guarantee and it failed, the rich man in question would or could deny being a partner and it is impossible to prove him one: he may be a perfectly honest man, and in their private winding up, no doubt accounts for his own share, but for nothing beyond, except what he has guaranteed. From this it is evident, what strong reasons the Chinese have for adopting this mode of business, and the motive at the bottom of it is not dishonesty, although the custom itself may make it easier itself for some to swindle.

To pass an Ordinance making it compulsory for all Chinese to register their true partners under pain of not being able to sue, &c., and also to set the machinery in motion for carrying it out, would be easy, but probably rather expensive, as the work would be so large that a separate department would have to be created—but, would it have the slightest effect of altering the system as it stands at present? I think not. All the firms would register, but I cannot see what reason they would have for registering any namies except the partners they register among themselves at present, and who are in law here the actual partners. What proof, except perhaps in very rare cases, could be got to prove the other partners? I have already pointed out, how the question of credit is arranged among themselves, and in practice I think it probable that the Register would not be often referred to, and the ultimate result of such a Bill being passed. would be a department with a great deal of work and absolutely no use.

If any heaven-inspired way of forcing the Chinese to really register their actual partners were discovered, I do not think it would be to the advantage of Hongkong, it would tend to drive capital away.

JOHN THURBURN.

Appendix IV.

REGISTRATION OF CHINESE PARTNERSHIPS COMMITTEE.

8th July, 1901,

PRESENT:

His Honour Mr. Justice Wise, Chairman.

The Hon. Dr. Ho Kai.

The Hon. Wei Yuk.

The Hon. J. Thurburn.

R. G. Shewan, Esquire.

Leung Pui Chi, Esquire.

also

Sir Thomas Jackson.

Members.

R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esquire.

J. F. Reece, Esquire.

The Chairman called upon Mr. Reece to give them his opinion from a legal point

of view as to the advisability of introducing the Bill.

འ

Mr. Reece. I am afraid it is a very difficult question to discuss the whole ques- tion for consideration is whether, if the Bill is passed, it would work. It will, no doubt, be an excellent thing if it would work.

Mr. Shewan.-Do you think it is advisable?

Mr. Reece. I cannot say that.

Mr. Thurbarn. Can you tell us, supposing a law is passed enforcing Chinese firms to register their partners, what would be your reason for saying that it is not advisable or that it won't work?

Mr. Reece. They would probably register a man of straw. The more respectable firms will, no doubt, register their partners honestly.

Mr. Shewan. What is your opinion about advertisement?

Mr. Reece. I don't think advertisement would work; registration would be better than that. The Chinese generally think that only the managing partners of firms are liable, but not a dormant partner in their opinion, a dormant partner is only liable to the extent of the amount put into the firm by him. I confess I should like to see the experiment tried-it would, no doubt, further the interests of the legal profession. I think some respectable Chinese firms would register their partners all right, but on the whole, I cannot say that it would be abvisable to introduce the Bill into the legislature as I don't think it would work.

Sir Thomas Jackson, on being called on by the Chairman, said

This is no new question. It has cropped up several times in the history of the Colony. My own impression is that it would be an innovation that the Chinese would not like, and it would not tend to the Chinese bringing their capital here. My idea is that it would be far better to leave things as they are at present. One would rather know what amount the firm is worth than know the names of the partners. From inquiries I have made, I think the greater body of Chinese merchants would not like this registration, and my own opinion is distinctly that it would not be advisable to legislate, nor do I think that advertising the names of the partners would be of any practical value. If registration were made compulsory, I should say that they would put some other names forward instead of their own. I do not think it would be advis- able to make any change.

Mr. Wilcox, on being called on by the Chairman, said :—

After reading the papers connected with the subject, I thought that registration would be advisable and also practicable, but after hearing the evidence and arguments to-day, I am now afraid it would not work. If registration

If registration were made compulsory,

it would be desirable to have it, if it would work. I am inclined to think the majority of the Chinese would register if not made compulsory. Under the circumstances, how- ever, after all I have heard, I do not think it would be advisable to introduce a Bill for the

purpose.

Sir Thomas Jackson made some remarks on the extension of limited liability of firms.

Mr. Leung Pui Chi suggests that the undermentionel gentlemen should also be asked to attend :-Mr. Lan Yam Chin, manager of How Hing shop; Mr. Ho Fook; and Mr. Fung Wa Chun.

The meeting then adjourned to 4 o'clock on Monday, the 15th instant, for these gentlemen to attend.

LEO D'ALMADA E CASTRO. Secretary.

Appendix V.

REGISTRATION OF CHINESE PARTNERSHIPS COMMITTEE.

22nd July, 1901.

PRESENT:-

His Honour Mr. Justice Wise, Chairman.

The Hon. Dr. Ho Kai.

The Hon. Wei Yuk.

The Hon. J. Thurburn. R. G. Shewan, Esquire.

Leung Pui Chi, Esquire.

also

Fung Wa Chin, Esquire.

Ho Fook, Esquire.

Lau Yam Chin, Esquire.

Members.

The Chairman called upon Mr. Fung Wa Chun to give them his opinion as to the advisability of introducing the Bill.

Mr. Fung Wa Chün.--I think it would be a very good thing to register the part- ners in Chinese firms if it could be done. There are very many cases where partners do not come forward when their firms are in debt, especially in the case of women and children who are in the country and are interested in the firms here. My opinion is that it would be very difficult to have this registration.

Dr. Ho Kai.--Do you think the difficulties could be surmounted?

Mr. Fung Wa Chin.-Not in the case of women and children in the country.

Mr. Shewan.-Do you think the Chinese would object to this registration?

Mr. Fung Wa Chiin.-Not in the case of a respectable Chinese firm, who, I think. would not object to register their partners honestly, but in very many cases, the Chinese would register false names-their managers will do so. Of course, a respectable Chinese firm would not register false names.

Mr. Shewan. What is your opinion about advertisement?

Mr. Fung Wa Chin.-The Chinese would object to advertise the names of their partners. I do not think that advertisement is a bad proposal, but it is not advisable to register.

Mr. Ho Fook, on being called on by the Chairman, said:-

I think it is advisable to have this registration if it could be done. There are many difficulties to be overcome, which can be got over. My idea is that the public should be protected by law. I would prefer a penal Ordinance, and not one that would bar the partner from being able to sue. I do not think that advertisement would work. The photographs of all partners should be taken.

Mr. Lau Yam Chün, on being called on by the Chairman, handed in a written state- ment, comprising his opinions and suggestions. Further questioned, he said, through Dr. Ho Kai, that the partners of firms should be registered, if this could be done. The difficulties to be got over are not too great. They should be registered with their real names under a penalty. He agrees to advertisement, but says they should also mention the amount of the partners' respective shares in the firm. Registration would be better than advertisement. There can be no difficulty if every one will act honestly.

The meeting then adjourned.

LEO: D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Secretary.

SIR.

- 7

I beg most respectfully to offer the following suggestions for your consideration, with regard to Chinese partnership business in Hongkong.

1. The true names of the partners and the number of shares they hold in the business and the name of the Manager or Secretary must be registered at the Registrar General's Office within 30 days after the opening of the shop. A penalty may be imposed on the offender for neglecting to do so.

2. The Secretary of the shop may sign for any absent partner or partners who are resident in the interior of China and who may be prevented from coming to Hong- kong through old age or on account of infirmity or serious illness and also for widows and all those who are under age and hold shares in the business by inheritance. The Secretary or Manager who signs for thein must be held responsible for their act as their lawful attorney and bind himself to either produce them or pay whatever may be the proportion of the liabilities against such absent partners for whom he has signed. should the business fail.

3. Should any partners overdraw or embezzle any money from the shop and abscond, the co-partners must share whatever be the loss occasioned thereby. No partners shall be allowed to make the creditors suffer by closing the shop or cansing the business to be wound up under such circumstances.

4. No shop-keeper shall be allowed to file any petition of bankruptcy or place his business in the hands of a lawyer without first giving notice to the creditors of his intention of so doing, and inviting them to examine his account books so that the creditors may judge as to the true position of his affairs and investigate the accounts. Should any account be suspected or be found to have been "cooked ", the creditors shall be at liberty to lay information against the offender, and assist the Government to pro- secute him; in other words, no insolvent shop-keeper shall be allowed to engage any lawyer to file any petition of bankruptcy for him, without having first obtained the general consent of his creditors.

3. Any partners or Secretary who is desirous of withdrawing from the business must report his intention so to do at the Registrar General's Office, and, in conjunction with his co-partners, give notice to the public by advertising in at least two of the local papers for a period of one month, and his liabilities in respect of the business must be cleared before his withdrawal. Should, however, this requirement be not carried out and his debt not cleared off, he shall be still held liable as a partner and being con- cerned in the business.

6. Should the business become insolvent, the respective partners must make compromise with the creditors and pay their respective liabilities to the best of their means and abilities,

7. Excepting public holidays as observed by the Government and Sundays, the register of shop-keeper, etc., shall be open to inspection at all times from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, on payment of a fee of 25 cents for every search.

8. Should any debtor abscond to the interior beyond the reach of the Court, the Government may assist the creditors to trace him out by moving the Chinese authorities, who may also be requested to co-operate with the creditors to prevail on such abscond ing debtor to settle the debt or make such compromises as will satisfy the creditors.

LAU YAM Cr

MEMORANDUM

ON THE

REGISTRATION OF CHINESE PARTNERS

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary.

The question of the registration of partners in Chinese firms, which has just been raised again by the Chamber of Commerce in its letter of the 31st October, 1900, (Appendix W.) is by no means a new one in this Colony.

It was raised as far back as 1874 when the Chinese community presented a Peti- tion, calling attention to the want of a system of registration of Chinese partners, and suggesting that such a system should be introduced, and ever since that year the ques- tion has been re-opened at intervals, but has always been allowed to drop.

Unfortunately the C.S.O. file containing the documents (C.S.O. No. 3008 of 1882) dealing with the subject was lost some years ago, and, though many searches have been made for the missing correspondence, it has never been found.

Fortunately, however, in 1882, when the Chinese community made a second representation on the subject, the Registrar General of that time (Mr., afterwards Sir, James Russell) wrote a letter, in which he reviews at some length the history of the question from 1874 up to the date on which he wrote, the 7th September, 1882.

Taking Sir James Russell's letter as a guide, I have endeavoured, so far as pos- sible, to make a collection of the various documents to which it refers, and I am glad to be able to state that I have succeeded, after considerable difficulty, in forming almost a complete record.

As I have already pointed out, the question was raised in 1874 by the Chinese community in the form of a Petition. I have not been able to discover a copy of that Petition, but I have obtained from the records of the Tung Wa Hospital a copy of the minutes of the meeting, held on the 16th August, 1874, at which the registration of Chinese partners was discussed. The Petition was based on these minutes, which may therefore be regarded as practically containing the gist of what was afterwards embo- died in the Petition. I attach a copy of the minutes and a translation. (See Appen- dix A.)

The Petition presented in 1874, was forwarded by the Registrar General (Mr. Cecil Smith) on the 28th August, 1874, to the Colonial Secretary. (See Appendix B.)

The Governor (Sir Arthur Kennedy) referred the Petition to the Attorney Gene- ral (Mr. Bramston) in the following minute, dated 30th August, 1874:-"Send to "the Attorney General for his consideration. I have had this inatter brought to my

notice on several occasions and I think some legal remedy is obviously needed."

Mr. Bramston replied that the draft Ordinance dealing with the matter was in

The draft Ordinance was gazetted in the Gazette of the 12th December, 1874, under the following title :-

"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, dividing the City of Victoria into Districts and for the "better registration of Householders, Chinese Traders and Servants in the Colony of

Hongkong."

Sections XXII to XXVII inclusive deal with the registration of partners.

For a copy of the draft Ordinance see Appendix C. *

In December, 1874, Mr. Hayllar, a barrister practising in the Colony, wrote a letter to the Colonial Secretary in which he criticises unfavourably the draft Ordinance. (Appendix D.) This letter was published in the press, and on the 14th January, 1875, a leader on the subject appeared in the Daily Press. (Appendix D.)

At the end of December, 1874, a further Petition was presented by the Chinese, but the objections raised in it to the draft Ordinance refer to the clauses dealing with the registration of householders. (Appendix E.)

The Registrar General in reporting on that Petition remarked that fifty-five lead- ing Chinese merchants, acting on behalf of their countrymen, presented the Petition, and after referring to their objections to the householders' registration he states that "not only the Petitioners but all the Chinese whom I have had the opportunity of "consulting about the registration of partners are unanimous in their desire that "the Bill in that respect should become law."

The Petition (Appendix E.) was sent to the Attorney General (Mr. Branston) who in his minute says "that he does not anticipate the mischief which has been foretold; "that it will not effect any great changes in the law that the Petitioners are fully "aware that by English law each partner is responsible for the debts of the firm. The object of the measure is to ascertain for the benefit of their customers the names of "the individuals who are trading in the Colony under the style of impersonal hongs."

In 1875, the Colonial Secretary, who was then administering the Government, Mr. Gardiner Austin, wrote a memorandum giving his reasons why the Government did not propose to proceed further with legislation on the subject.

I have not been able to obtain a copy of this memorandum. It was sent to the Chamber of Commerce by the Acting Colonial Secretary on the 5th October, 1878, but the Secretary of the Chamber (Mr. Wilcox) informs me that he is unable to find any trace of it though he has been good enough to institute a search.

Mr. Russell, however, in his letter of the 7th September, 1892, (Appendix M.) gives a resumé of the grounds on which Mr. Gardiner Austin declined to submit the draft Ordinance to the consideration of the Legislative Council.

The grounds of objection are as follows:-

1.—Because it was doubtful whether the measure would carry out the objects arrived at.

2.-Because Mr. Austin considered the capitalists lived out of the Colony, and that to follow them or their property was impracticable.

3.- Because he considered it would be legislating for a few whose aim is virtually the destruction of competition.

4. The exceptional registration of Chinese merchants would be unjust.

5. Any such espionage would have the effect of checking those combinations amongst the Chinese residing at Canton, Amoy, and elsewhere which are calculated to stimulate and strengthen their trade at Hongkong.

* Not printed; see Government Notification No. 199, 11th December, 1874.

6. That any interference whatever with the freedom of trade would be at variance with our general policy.

Nothing further was done until the 2nd November, 1877, when the Chairman (Hon. W. Keswick) of the Chamber of Commerce wrote to the Colonial Secretary drawing the attention of the Government to the want of some system of registration of the members of Chinese firms trading in Hongkong, pointing out that a Chinese firm may be composed of any number of persons and that each individual may be interested in several other firms at the same time, and offering to give further information on the subject if desired. (Appendix F.)

To his letter the Acting Colonial Secretary replied on the 5th November, 1877, stating that the subject referred to would have the Governor's (Sir John Pope Hen- nessy's) best consideration. (Appendix G.)

On the 26th August, 1878, the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, not having received any further answer to his letter of the 2nd November, 1877, wrote asking for a reply. (Appendix H.)

On the 28th August, 1878, the Acting Colonial Secretary (Mr. J. M. Price) re- plied that he had been directed to state for the information of the Chamber that the question of the registration of members of Chinese firms received the careful con- sideration of Sir Arthur Kennedy who thought it would be very inexpedient to carry out such registration, and that Sir John Pope Hennessy was disposed to take the same view of the matter. He added: "His Excellency will, however, come to no "decision until he has had some further opportunity of studying the details of Chinese "trade in the Colony." (See Appendix I.)

On the 23rd September, 1878, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (Hon. W. Keswick) wrote to the Acting Colonial Secretary (Mr. Charles May) stating that the letter from the Acting Colonial Secretary of the 5th November (Appendix G.) had been considered by the Chamber and it had been "resolved to again revert to the subject and to bring to the attention of His Excellency the Governor that the Com- "mittee are of opinion that the publication and registration of the members of the “Chinese hongs in this Colony is much called for. The members composing foreign "firms are made known and it cannot be requiring too much of the Chinese Mercantile "Community in this Colony to conform to a rule which is voluntarily followed by other nations, but which they decline to observe. The Chinese will not give the necessary "information on account of the responsibility which would be brought home to many "who under the present system evade their liability for losses by not appearing as "interested in concerns in the profits of which they participate, but for the losses con- "nected with which, when they occur, they avoid responsibility by not being known as 'partners in the business. The Chamber desires no interference with the Chinese form "of partnership, but it is much wished that the names of partners in hongs should be "known in the interest of the mercantile public generally. A feeling of security would "be the result from such information being given and the Chamber are of opinion an "Ordinance should be passed making it necessary for hongs to declare who their "members are." (See Appendix J.)

On the 5th October, 1878, the Acting Colonial Secretary (Mr. Charles May) acknowledged the receipt of the letter from the Chamber of the 23rd September, and stated :-

"Before forming any opinion of his own on the subject, His Excellency wishes to place before the Chamber of Commerce for any observations it may think proper to make, the objections recorded in 1875 by the local Government to such an Ordinance. "Their objections are set forth in the following minute of Mr. Administrator Austin." (Appendix K.) For a resumé of Mr. Austin's minute, see above page 2.

The matter appears to have been allowed to drop for a time as there is no further mention of it until 1881, when Sir John Pope Hennessy referred to the subject in his

"I also had the opportunity of consulting the

"Chinese on another proposal. There came to

"me a resolution from the Chamber of Commer-

ce, in which the Chamber proposed that the * Government should adopt a system of register-

"ing all the sleeping partners in Chinese houses

“ of business. They showed that it was exceed-

"ingly difficult to find out who had money in a

"Chinese trading concern, and recommended

"that the natives should be compelled by law,

"and under adequate penalties, to register every

person who had a share, no matter how small,

speech on the Census Returns and the progress of the Colony in the following words,

published in the Gazetle of the 11th June, 1881:

買地此

此詞此在易例更之卽例華所有照應有將提常與貿股華舉

則

有華

邀

分

中難

之稽

易陳

場

例飭將華人貿易塲中所有暗股必要開名報册蓋洋商謂華人。

更有提舉別事陳本部堂謂香港洋商會館議酌定禀求國家

貿易塲中不勝損害且華人之來港者不復如是之盛矣爲此本部地相同所有股分紛連密佈如結網然假如此例頒行則不但華人此之例則華人貿易各法團之倒之矣因香港與各處華人棲止之照常邀集華人之有體面者詢彼以爲此事若何云倘立如

堂不准洋商所請者

((

“in a Chinese business. The Chamber of Com- "merce added that they had no desire to apply

"this system to the European houses, but wished

“it to be confined solely to the Chinese. Acting "on my usual principle, I mentioned it to some “ of the leading Chinese bankers and others, but "they pointed out that the Chinese system of

"trading would be completely upset by it-that “there is an extra ordinary net-work of invest- “ ments in this Colony, as in any other commu-

"nity of Chinese, and that it would interfere

· seriously with Chinese trade, and, in fact, tend

to prevent the influx of Chinese into the Colony.

“ Accordingly, I declined to accede to the pro-

"posal of the Chamber of Commerce."

多

詢專

以

要

商

寡强

開

會

人均華

港此此而要

是例

立開文

堂洋

閱商

本華止立此及華人家

部人之如

謂人貿立

On the 30th Junc, 1882, the Chinese Community presented a Petition, calling atten- tion to the evils arising from the want of a system of registration of Chinese partners

and submitting certain propositions which they prayed might receive legislative sane- tion. (For translation of the Petition see Appendix L.)

On the 7th September, 1882, the Registrar General (Mr. Russell) forwarded the Petition to the Acting Colonial Secretary, with a covering letter in which he traces the history of the question from 1874, when the Chinese Community first petitioned the Government on the subject. (Appendix M.)

Referring to the minutes of Sir John Pope Hennessy quoted above, Mr. Russell states that "it will be necessary for the Government to bear in mind these representa- "tions to the Governor when the present Petition so numerously signed (it was signed by 68 well known Chinese and chopped by 104 hongs or firms) by leading Chinese is "considered. For now they say that the registration under penalties will tranquillize "the merchants and traders and will protect commerce and business. They also at the "end of their Petition state that the above plan will establish mutual good faith and "will be in accordance and harmony with public feeling.

Having "regard, therefore, to the divergence of opinion expressed last year to the Governor from "that expressed in writing in 1874 and again in. 1882, it becomes a question whether "these gentlemen have not prepared both Petitions in panic, in the present instance "arising from the heavy losses in the house speculation of last year, and whether it “would not be as well to let the over-speculation cure itself."

* *

In 1882 a series of articles on Partnership Registration and B:mkruptcy Laws in Hongkong appeared in the China Mail, and were afterwards reprinted in a pamphlet with the title "The Commercial Law Affecting Chinese: with special reference to Partnership Registration and Bankruptcy Laws in Hongkong."

The pamphlet is ably written, and is evidently the work of a person who knew his subject. A copy of the pamphlet is attached. (Appendix_Ma.*)

An interval of many years clapses before anything further is heard of the subject : and it is not until 1891 when the matter is once more brought up by the Chamber of Commerce.

On the 6th February, 1891, the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Fleming) sent to the Chamber of Commerce, for its consideration, a copy of a draft Bill* entitled an Ordinance to amend the law relating to Bankruptcy. (Appendix N.)

On the 22nd April, 1891, the Chamber of Commerce replied that the draft Bill sent to them "promised to be a valuable substitution of the Act it is intended to repeal : but they are strongly of opinion that to render it more completely applicable to local requirements it should be preceded or supplemented by a Bill making compulsory the "registration of individual members of Chinese firms trading in the Colony. In Sin- gapore, where business is largely in the hands of Chinese, registration of partnership in "connection with the administration of the bankruptcy laws has been urgently recom-

mended." (Sec Appendia 0.)

The matter appears to have been allowed to rest until the 20th September, 1894, when the Acting Colonial Secretary (Mr. Stewart Lockhart) wrote to the Colonial Secretary at Singapore requesting to be furnished with copies of the new Ordinance dealing with registration of partnership and of any printed reports or papers connected therewith. (Appendix P.)

The Colonial Secretary at Singapore, in reply, forwarded on the 4th October, 1894, the following documents :--

1. Report of Committee of Inquiry, 1885.*

2. Report of Committee of Legislative Council, 1893.*

3. Report of Official Assignee in Baukruptcy, 1892, paragraph 25.*

4. Debate in Legislative Council, 23-2-1893, pp. 17-22.*

5. Letter of Secretary of Singapore Chamber of Commerce, 20-4-94, and

Report of Special Committee."

6. Bill read for the first time.

The Colonial Secretary added :-

"I may mention that the Bill for the Registration of Partnership has not yet passed its second reading in the Legislative Council." (Appendix Q.)

On the 25th January, 1895, the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Stewart Lockhart) wrote to the Colonial Secretary at Singapore requesting him to furnish him with a copy of the Bill providing for registration of partnerships if it has become law, or, if not, to inform him as to the reasons for postponing the Bill. (Appendix R.)

On the 14th February, 1895, the Acting Colonial Secretary at Singapore (Mr. Talbot) stated in reply that "as the opinion of the Mercantile Community is much "divided on this subject, it has not yet been decided whether the Bill which has been read a second time will be proceeded with or not." A copy of the Bill was enclosed. ( Appendix S.*)

On the 5th March, 1895, the Acting Chief Justice (Mr., now Sir, Edward Ackroyd) addressed a letter to the Governor (Sir William Robinson) which will be found in Appendix T.

* Not printed.

}

On the 5th March, 1895, the Governor referred the letter of the Acting Chief Justice to the Attorney General for report.

On the 6th February, 1896, the Acting Attorney General (Mr. Pollock) reported as follows:-

.66

These papers which were sent down to this office on the 6th of March last. "which was the day, I believe, when Mr. Ackroyd went home, appear to have been "mislaid for a considerable period and to have escaped observation.

"It will be noted from the letter of Mr. Talbot, the Acting Colonial Secretary of "the Straits Settlements, which is dated the 14th of February, 1895, that, at the time "when he wrote, the opinion of the Mercantile Community in the Straits was much "divided upon the question of Registration of Partnerships, and that it had not been “decided whether the Bill (for the Registration of Partnerships), which had been read "a second time, would be proceeded with or not.

"Under the above circumstances, I would suggest that you should re-open com- "munications with the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements upon the subject, "and enquire of him whether the Bill for the Registration of Partnerships has been finally passed in the Straits Settlements, and, if so, to forward to you a copy of it as "finally passed, together with a reference to the Singapore newspapers containing an account of the debates in Council upon the Bill. But, if, on the other hand, the Bill "has been abandoned, to kindly inform you of the reasons for such abandonment, and of any special obstacles or difficulties which obstructed the carrying out of the scheme for "the Registration of Partnerships."

In accordance with the advice of the Acting Attorney General, the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Stewart Lockhart) addressed a letter to the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements inquiring whether the Bill providing for the Registration of Partnerships had become law, and if so, requesting to be provided with copies of the Ordinance as finally passsed together with a copy of the report of the proceedings of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements during the passage of the Bill through its several stages. The Colonial Secretary further asked that if the Bill had not been proceeded with, he might be furnishel with the special reasons for its abandonment. (Appendix U.)

On the 19th February, 1896, the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements (Mr. Swettenham) replied that the Bill to provide for Registration of Partnerships had not been proceeded with since the second reading, and that the question whether it would be proceeded with, had not been decided. He concluded by saying that "the Bill is one on which public opinion has been much divided, and it was thought expedient to postpone passing it so as to accomplish other more pressing legislation and to give public opinion on the subject further time to develop." (Appendix V.)

،،

(

This reply was sent to the Acting Attorney General (Mr. Pollock) who suggested that for the present nothing further be done, a suggestion which the Governor (Sir William Robinson) on the 3rd March, 1896, approved.

So far as I am aware, the Bill has not been proceeded with in the Straits.

The Chamber of Commerce in its letter of the 31st October, 1900, has reopened the question. (Appendix W.)

If Ilis Excellency is of opinion that the matter should be inquired into once more, I recommend that a Committee of Inquiry be appointed, consisting of the Chief Justice or Puisne Judge, as Chairman, the two Chinese members of Council, and two represen- tatives to be nominated by the Chamber of Commerce.

8th January, 1901.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

Appendix A.

滯互

設肆於本港者不能無觀望之處别店而債主莫奈其何故此貿易塲中屢爲窒碍而出之殷商富戶欲一本港行店舖戶邇來報窮或逃匿隱諱紛紛不絕債賬未償則公然又開

如不遵依憲示立即懲究設法辦理新報尙拆股而不報明册房及登新報者該店遇有虧缺則仍作股東論以後如拆股合股新張行店亦要在註冊房報明幷限日內將情由登諸東及正副司事人一概書明某府某某鄉或原籍現居均須註寫自今一請由華民政務司署出示諭令自今以前闔港不詢大小行店均要將股

店報

遇明

虧限

得用堂彩同察之亦難知其確實至於報册則更難全名故以後報册必用人名不一滿内貿易如各行店多有初立合同時不以正名或用某堂等名雖以合

以便稽查有無瞞報之弊一我等街坊宜求華民政務司將以前所誌之册抄出刊印成書使衆咸知

虧空銀市罪重勢有不得已者也一各行店司事初報册時全無別意及至虧空銀兩之際捫心自問有虧東主迫得自認全店是司事人開設寕行賬免累東家何則以報窮罪輕

一段將報之書詳細刋行

作情

滯之虞矣互相檢點則各來港貿易者更樂於深信如此信行相学則生意無阻

頭則生意錢兩安心相信註明司與人里居姓氏者遇有虧:缺亦易稽查

南) 事人及闔貿易大有裨益股東當

1. Cases of

the Masters

TRANSLATION.

firms and shops in Hongkong, declaring themselves bankrupts or absconding.

or using false names in order to avoid detection, have been very frequent of late, not only do they refuse to

pay their debts but boldly open new shops, their creditors being unable to do anything. The result is that trade is much hampered, and wealthy merchants and families from other ports, though wishing to open shops in Hongkong, are deterred from doing so.

2. The Registrar General should be requested to issue a Notification ordering all shops at present in existence in Hongkong whether large or small, to register the names of the partners, the managers and assistant managers, the names of their villages, districts, and prefectures, or their original abode or present residence: the name of any one who withdraws from a partnership or is admitted as a partner: and all shops that are opened. This information should be duly reported to the Registration Office and published in the Press within a fixed time. If any one has withdrawn from a partnership without having made a report to the Registration Office or without having the fact published in the Press, he shall be still regarded as a partner in the event of the shop failing in business. Any person who does not comply with this Notification should be punished and steps should be taken to compel him to comply with it.

3. The Chinese Community should request the Registrar General to have a Register kept for general information of all those who have already registered, so that any evasion of registration may be detected.

4. In Hongkong, when a business partnership is formed, it is a common practice to use some fancy names (family hall names) instead of the personal names of the partners so that it is impossible to ascertain the real names of the partners when examining the partnership agreement.

In registering partners, it will be still more difficult to secure the declaration of the full names of partners. In future, therefore, the registration of personal names and not fancy names should be insisted

upon.

5. When managers of firms and shops register for the first time they have no ulterior motive of any sort, but when they fail in business and are unable to meet their liabilities to their masters, their conscience pricks them, and they are thus forced into declaring themselves to be the owners of the whole concern, preferring to be held responsible for the liabilities incurred rather than involving their employers. The reason why they are driven to act in this way is that to declare themselves bankrupts involves but a slight penalty, whereas the crime of embezzling or misappropriating funds entrusted to them by others, is very

serious.

6. The publication of the names of registered partners will be a great bcou, not only to partners and managers but also to the mercantile community of the whole Colony. If partners are held rosponsible, credit for money and goods will be readily given. The registration of the names and villages of the managers to facilitate enquiry and search in the event of failure will still further increase the confidence of those who come from the various ports to trade with Hongkong. When such general confidence exists, no hindrance to trade need be apprehended.

16th August, 1874.

Appendix B.

Copy of a Letter (No. 75 of 28th August, 1874), addressed to the Colonial Secretary

by Mr. Cecil C. Smith, Registrar General,

[C.S.O. 2338]

SIR,

I am desired by the Board of Directors of the Tung Wa Hospital and other merchants to request that the accompanying paper may be laid before His Excellency the Governor. The object that they have in view is a complete and compulsory registration of all those who carry on any mercantile business in this Colony. But at the same time they wish, what is I expect an alteration in the Law of Bankruptcy, that in the case of any failure, each partner should only be held liable for a share of the losses calculated upon an equal division of the said losses among the whole number of partners.

This, they allege, is the practice in Canton and the absence of such a practice prevents many traders from coming to this Colony.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

CECIL C. SMITH,

Registrar General.

Appendix D.

Mr. Hayllar's Letter.

The following letter has been addressed to the Colonial Secretary on the subject of the Victoria Regis- tration Ordinance :—

HONGKONG, December, 1874.

SIR,

It may not be out of place if, as a practising lawyer having a professional interest in the subject, "The I venture to address through you to the Legislature some few observations on that portion of Victoria Registration Ordinance, 1874," lately published for general information, which refers to the registration of Chinese traders. The matter requires inore consideration than the Title and Preamble of the Draft, or even the wording of the clauses themselves would lead one at first to suppose. The former speaks of the "better registration of householders and Chinese Traders," as though a mere amendment of an existing law were under contemplation (which is not the case); while the latter, in providing for the registration of Chinese shops, hongs and places of business, scarcely discloses the fact that the sections in question must necessarily have a more or less appreciable influence on much of the present law of parnership. The measure is indeed altogether of an experimental character, its principle never having been adopted hitherto either within this Colony or in Eugland, and having been already more than once rejected by the Supreme Council of India. Being moreover intended to confine its operation exclusively to Chinese, into the workings of whose trade customs we seldom gain anything like an accurate insight, the contingencies to be provided for are more than ordinarily obscure.

The Bill too has a penal aspect, its sanction, or, in other words, provision for enforcing its observance being of a criminal or quasi-criminal description.

Thus there are more than the usual reasons why, before this law is passed, the Legislature should be amply satisfied: (1) that sufficient need for it has been made manifest; (2) that there is a reasonable pro- spect of its fulfilling its object; and (3) that it does not in itself tend to originate mischiefs.

As to the first proposition, I must here state that I am cognizant of the Petition recently presented to the Executive by certain influential Chinese merchants, praying for legislation in the direction now proposed, and of their representations as to the lax state of trade morality into which their countrymen have drifted. I am impressed with the importance of yielding to such representations when practicable, but having had the advantage, through the courtesy of the Attorney-General, of perusing the document, I scarcely think that the petitioners have either made out a case for the exceptional legislation they demand, or that they would have asked for it had they fully understood its probable effects. Nor do I think that, even if an ex- ceptional remedy is necessary, the right one has been adopted. I shall say a few words on these points further on.

Turning to the object of the Bill, although it has not, while I write, been disclosed by the Attorney- General in 66

a statement of objects and reasons," I think I shall not err in assuming its main purpose to be the public disclosure, under compulsion of penalties, of the names of all partners in Chinese trading firms, mainly with the view to prevent frauds upon creditors of such firms through secrecy of membership, by means of the evidence to be supplied by the official register.

Sections XXII and XXIII which prescribe the modus operandi are as follows:-

“XXII.—A register of all Chinese shops, hongs, and other places of business in the Colony shall be "kept at the Registrar-General's office in such manner as the Registrar-General shall think most convenient 66 for

easy reference.

"XXIII.--Within thirty days after the commencement of this Ordinance, the master or minager of "every Chinese shop, hong, or place of business in the Colony shall furnish to the Registrar-Generel the "following particulars for entry in the register :-

"(1) The name under which the business is to be conducted.

"(2) The locality, with the name of the street and number of the house where the business is to

"be conducted.

(3) The full names and native places of all partners in the business, with their several places of

"residence in the Colony and elsewhere.

“(4) The full names and native place of the manager, if any, of the business and his place of

"residence.

"Upon any new Chinese shop, hong, or place of business being opened, and upon the re-opening of any shop, hong, or place of business by a new firm of partnership, the master or manager of the business "shall, within thirty days thereafter, furnish to the Registrar-General the foregoing particulars for entry in "the register."

Passing over section XXII with the observation that a scheduled form of the required book would have perhaps been more a satisfatory guide than the direction to the Registrar-General to keep a book “in such manner as he shall think most convenient for easy reference." I come to section XXIII, where I find that the compulsory act of registration is imposed upon the "master or manager of every Chinese shop, hong, or place of business," and not upon the partners personally. It may not, perhaps, be hyper-criti- cism of a penal Ordinance to point out that all the terms comprised in the sentence placed between inverted commas are left without interpretation, as it is obvious that more than one of them may under certain circumstances be difficult to define. Such an omission can no doubt be easily supplied-but what answer can be given to the inquiry which next suggests itself, viz. :-Is the evidence supplied by the register intended to be conclusive or only "primâ facie" evidence of membership in a firm at any given date, and ergo of liability for its debts? I italicise this query, because it goes to the very root of the utility of the Bill, the provisions of which omit to afford any materials for a reply.

It is clear that if, on the one hand, the evidence of the register is meant to be only primû facie, i.e., susceptible of contradiction, the main object of registration must fail, since it would not prevent the raising of issues equally difficult and lengthy with those which have to be tried occasionally under the present system. It is equally clear, on the other, that to make such evidence conclusive is to place it within the power of any "master or manager" fraudulently or mistakenly to register persons as partners without giving them any opportunity of being heard in their defence. The Bill cannot contemplate such an enor- mous injustice. Yet, how is the difficulty to be got over? For even if it were possible to evade the particular phase of it, which lies on the surface of the draft in its present form, by compelling each partner to register personally (a mandate which would be almost equivalent either to decreeing that no persons residing out of the Colony should hold partnership shares in firms within it, or to an attempt to coerce by legislation persons beyond the jurisdiction of the law), you would only remove the difficulty a step lower : for it is impossible to suppose that, whatever the system of registration adopted, there would not arise in

{

the administration of a law so peculiar as this, among a people like the Chinese, circumstances under which it would be tantamount to a denial of justice to prevent parties impeaching the evidence of the register on the ground of fraud or mistake, or for some kindred reason.

In the next place, it is beyond dispute that a register kept with the professed object of preventing the commission of frauds should in itself be in a high degree trustworthy. Otherwise, instead of being re- garded as a safeguard, it would be apt to be looked upon in the light of a snare. Now it seems to me to be a part of the inherent weakness of the scheme that in carrying it out, you have to rely on the integrity of some at least of the very persons against whose assumed lack of integrity the Ordinance is directed. In other words, you must needs assume that persons will faithfully register themselves, or allow themselves to be faithfully registered, who, if not so registered, might hereafter fraudulently seek to evade their liabi- lities. To me, who have had some opportunity of studying that side of Chinese human nature which too frequently displays itself in our Courts of law, this seems to be assuming a good deal. I anticipate that the register books would be honeycombed with inaccuracies ab initio, originating, perhaps, sometimes in mistake but more often in design. But even admitting this conjecture to be too gloomy, and that the register would in its early stages be likely to be reasonably accurate, how long would it probably remain so?

Turning to the Ordinance, we find section XXIV to be as follows:-

"XXIV. Upon any change taking place in the partners or their residence, or in the manager or his residence, or in any other of the foregoing matters, the master or manager of the business shall, within fourteen days thereafter, furnish the Registrar-General with full particulars of such change for entry in the register."

The register is thus made subject to perpetual changes without restriction; such a provision being indeed in the nature of things essential. But what is likely to be its effect upon the trustworthiness of the record? We have only to look to the reports of the liquidation of many a joint-stock company, subject to further calls, to find the too probable answer. The Law Reports teem with cases in which upon the approach of difficulties shareholders' registers have been manipulated for the purposes of shifting ultimate liability from responsible parties to the shoulders of men of straw. As Chinese traders do not enjoy the reputation of being either less astute or more scrupulous than other people, can it be doubted that a similar result would follow ?

It becomes, moreover, obvious that to be of any practical benefit, this register would require, owing to its liability to change, very frequent consultation. But little reflection, I think, is required to shew that it would not and could not be so consulted as a matter of business. How many people, for instance, before purchasing shares in, or doing business with, joint-stock companies, consult the register of shareholders ? How often in daily business life is the register of Bills of Sale consulted? In both cases most valuable information might frequently be given. Nevertheless it is a matter of common experience that reference is but rarely made to them. So long as a business concern was really or apparently successful, parties dealing with it and trusting it would probably never dream of consulting any official document relating to it at all. Once, however, let it approach the border of difficulties, and the chances are that the "register" would display upon reference the unexpected results I have indicated.

I come next to a class of difficulties which arise from the application of the Bill to the law of partner- ship. The term “ 'partners not being defined, a very considerable field of inquiry is left open as to its precise meaning. How, in the first place, is it to be interpreted? According to the law of England simply? or are we to be at liberty to take into consideration the usages and customs of the Chinese traders? These are incorporated without doubt into their dealings with each other, and although they are never formulated they are nevertheless tacitly accepted and acted on, and form a law of partnership possessing an organization of considerable complexity. Suppose some of these customs and usages to be opposed to any leading dogma of the English law, may they be imparted into the contract of partnership, or are they to be rejected in toto?

Ordinance 12 of 1873, section I., following the earlier Ordinances on the same subject, enacts that the law of England shall be in force in the Colony "except in so far as the said laws shall be inapplicable to the local circumstances of the Colony or its inhabitants." In giving their decision in a recent case of appeal (1872) from India on a question of partnership, the Privy Council made some remarks very perti- nent to this difficulty, and having an important bearing on the meaning of the above section. They say, "The case has been argued in the Courts of India and at their Lordships' bar, on the basis that the law of England relating to partnerships should govern the decision of it. Their Lordships agree that in the absence of any law or well-established custom existing in India on the subject, English law may properly be resorted to in mercantile affairs for principles and rules to guide the Court in that country to a right decision. But whilst this is so, it should be observed that in applying them, the usages of trade and habits of business of the people of India, so far as they may be peculiar, and differ from those in England, ought to to be borne in mind." (Mallwo and March v. The Court of Awards-Law Reports 4 Privy Council 433). Are the Colonial Courts, in construing the word "partners," to follow this reasonable rule, or are they to assume that it is used rigidly in its English sense?

Again, the law recognizes partnerships of various descriptions, as, for instance, partnerships in a single transaction, such as arise frequently out of co-contracts to build a house or construct a public work. Partnerships of this description are very frequent here, and are calculated to raise legal inquiries as to the liability of individuals quite as important and difficult as those which have their origin in ordinary trading firms. As the Ordinance stands, I presume it is clear that such partnerships would not be compelled to register unless they possessed "a shop, hong, or place of business."

a shop, hong, or place of business." But suppose, for instance, one of the co-contractors keeps the books, pays the workmen, and transacts the various matters in connection with the contract at his house. Is it intended that it should be regarded as a "place of business within the meaning of the Ordinance, or not?

To turn to another point. It is well known that no portion of the law of partnership is more intricate, or turns upon more subtle distinctions, than that affecting so-called dormant partnerships. If a person has an interest in a firm and receives profits from the working of it, it is oftentimes a matter of extreme nicety to say whether he is liable as a partner or not, so long as his name is not published. In a very celebrated case heard in the House of Lords a few years ago (I refer to Cox v. Hickman, 8 House of Lords case 268). it was decided that "persons who share the profits of a business do not incur the liabilities of partners unless that business is carried on by themselves or by others as their real or ostensible agents." See also Ordin- ance No. 7 of 1867, adapted from an English Act, in which the doctrine receives legislative sanction. Bearing this rule in mind, it becomes obvious that this Draft trenches on ground both delicate and dangerous, for while, on the one hand, it is essential to the vitality of the measure to reach those dormant partners who have such an interest in the concern that they would be held partners with or without publication of their names, it is no less important in the interests of justice to avoid compelling those who are drawing profits from a firm, but who would not but for publication of their names be ranked as partners, to register themselves. The capital of Chinese firms of any position especially in certain lines of business, is generally divided into a large number of shares. The majority of those who subscribe portions of the capital remain, I believe, under the present system dormant, that is to say their names never appear in the business. They do not intend to risk more than the money they have subscribed, and therefore they do not intend to be- come "partners" in the English sense of the term, and they would not under such circumstances, according to Chinese customs, be held to have incurred any such liability as our law imposes. How far our Courts would give validity to considerations of this kind is uncertain, but after the ruling in Mallwo v. the Court of Awards, they would probably have much weight. The incautious registration under compulsion of persons occupying such positions might therefore obviously lead to immense injustice.

I have hitherto considered the register only in connection with creditors; it has, however, another aspect not less serious and intricate in its bearing upon the rights and liabilities of partners inter se, i.e., be- tween each other. Upon this branch of the subject, a class of questions arises too numerous and technical to admit of discussion here. I give an instance. The intentional or unintentional omission of his name from the register would not, as against creditors, I presume, form any bar to an enquiry into a partner's liability, but how is it to be held to affect his rights against, or his liabilities to his co-partners in a suit for a partnership account? On the other hand, how far is the evidence contained in the register to be regarded as settling the mutual relations of the partners? Conclusively, or not? The Bill as it stands gives no clue leading to an answer to these enquiries one way or the other, and judicial authorities being equally wanting, our Courts of law would find them, I fancy, somewhat perplexing.

I might, but for fear of prolixity, point out many other technical difficulties which suggest them- selves to me, but I think I have said enough to show that this Ordinance cannot, if passed at all, be passed without great amplification. If this process, however, were once carefully entered on, it would be soon discovered that the hand of reform was being thrust into the vital parts of a complex system, the adjust- ment of whose constituent elements has been slowly settled during a lengthened period by spontaneous growth, and natural evolution. If a course of re-adjustment of parts, such as in my opinion registration would necessitate, were once initiated, it would I think be found that one re-adjustment logically led to another, and the final product would be something little short of codification, a task of much greater mag- nitude than that contemplated by the Bill.

When regarded under its criminal aspect, the measure seems scarcely more satisfactory.

In the first place, I am struck with the fact for the purpose of detecting and punishing a small fraud- ulent minority, it is intended to bring the whole body of Chinese traders within the grasp of the Criminal law for conduct which in itself is neither criminal nor vicious, a step tending not only to great annoyance and waste of time, but to the weakening of their self-respect. I say "small minority" advisedly, because, since we see that trade still flows on apparently in undiminished volume in the Colony, it is an inevitable inference that the large majority of debtors do honestly fulfil their obligations, trade being under any other conditions impossible, and certain to come to a stand-still.

As a penal statute it also lies open to the charge of great inequality in its possible pressure upon poor and rich. For, while on the one hand it seems absurd to suppose that the prospect of a fine of a hundred dollars would have much effect on the action of a trader about to embark in extensive speculations; on the other the imposition of such a penalty, even in a greatly modified form, might be sufficient to swamp utterly the resources of hundreds of poor traders.

Furthermore, it will be observed that, in order to reach its objects at all, the Ordinance is compelled to resort to that most unphilosophical and harsh expedient, vicarious responsibility. By Section XXVII it is proposed to enact that upon non-payment of the fine inflicted, it may be recovered "by distress, and sale of the goods and chattels of the partnership as well as of the person convicted." Now, since the compulsory registration is imposed upon the "master or manager" alone, it is obvious that the partners may (especially if residing out of the Colony) be wholly innocent of any offence. Yet the seizing of their goods assumes them to be guilty, an assumption which is opposed to the fundamental constitutional prin- ciple that every man is held to be innocent till he has been proved to be guilty. I may here remark that, for my own part, I have always failed to see how the ends of justice can be benefited (whatever may be the effect upon the ends of the legislature) by a departure from this wholesome maxim; and I throw out this observation, because I notice that the draft Ordinance preserves in Section XVII the principles adopted in the earlier Ordinances on this topic.

To return, however, to the proposed legislation on partnership. I have a further objection to it, as opening a new door to extortion by the lower Government emyloyés, such as policemen and the like. The poorer tradesmen, who either from ignorance or possibly extreme poverty, failed to register their firms would, through its means, be exposed to this method of annoyance to a considerable extent, without power of resistance or practical redress.

Finally, I consider an issue of "partnership or not' scarcely a fit one for trial in a Police Court. It belongs to a branch of law in which we can scarcely ask our Magistrates to be well instructed, lying, as it does, entirely out of the routine of their ordinary duties, and being oftentimes of extreme intricacy. An appeal to a higher tribunal would be practically open only to those who could afford to pay for it, and one who had this luxury financially within his reach could equally well afford to pay for not being taken to Court at all. The zeal of informers would indeed, I fear, too often stop short of wealthy offenders, and like the gamblers who every now and again figure before the Magistrates, the prisoners charged would generally he dredged up from very obscure social depths.

I think I have now shewn that however imperative may be the need of improvement in the morality of Chinese trade, to pass the present Bill would be to take a very doubtful step in that direction. matters such as the Bill treats of, I have endeavoured to make it manifest that there is no short cut to the truth, and I think I have succeeded in demonstrating that, so far as it affects the present law of partnership, the measure would add obscurity of law to difficulty of fact. And, finally in its penal aspect, that it is open to grave objections.

It only remains for me to add a word or two upon the subject of its necessity. Assuming that the Chi- nese Petitioners have given a fair and uncoloured picture of their commercial troubles, it is, before deciding upon their remedy, essential to ascertain as far as possible their origin, and in such an investigation one cannot be too cautious in distinguishing cause from effect. Now, if the trick of dei ving partnership liability is so common as to call for special legislation (a conclusion which certainly is no. borne out by the records of our own Courts, where cases of the kind are comparatively few, so far as my experience goes), it must surely be logically regarded as a symptom rather than a source of disease. The roots of the evil lie much deeper, and must be sought for among the conditions under which trade itself is conducted—such as the natural character of the traders, exceptionally bad times, or a prevailing tendency to recklessness and over- speculation. It is indeed of the unrestrained spirit of overtrading that the Petitioners chiefly complain, as I understand them, and to which they look to legislation as a cure.

Now, it may sound somewhat strange, but I think it might be easily shown that if there be any factor among others likely to have been specially active in producing this state of things, it should be sought for in a measure of English legislation. I allude to the application of the Bankruptcy laws to Chinese traders. Their trade had not reached a stage of development suitable to such application, and these laws have thus proved mischievous, not only directly as regards the interests of creditors, but indirectly by offering tempta- tions to over-speculation. If any legislative remedy were then required, it would perhaps be better to seek it rather in the direction of some modification of these laws than in this Bill.

But it is, I believe, a tolerably well established maxim that no evils carry with them their own remedy more certainly or enforce it more effectually, if left alone, than those arising from recklessness or dishonesty in trade. By a pretty obvious process of action and reaction, things must sooner or later right themselves if trade is to go on at all. No statute can form a substitute for business prudence and foresight on the one side, or on the other do much that is effectual to stem the current of fraudulent ingenuity. But it is only a truism to say that legislation may do a great deal to produce confusion and unforeseen mischiefs. Had I not, after consideration, seen too much reason to fear that such would be the too probable result of the present Bill, if passed into law, I would not have troubled you with this letter, which has indeed reached an undue length.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most humble, obedient Servant,

THOS. C. HAYLLAR.

The Hon. J. G. AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

Extract from Daily Press," 14th January, 1875.

We publish in our columns this morning a letter addressed to the Hon. J. GARDINER AUSTIN, the Colonial Secretary, upon the Victoria Registration Ordinance, 1874. When the draft of this Ordinance was first issued we ventured to object to some of its clauses, and maintained that it was a crude and ill-digested measure, and calculated not only to fail most lamentably in effecting the object sought after, but also likely to be prolific of difficulty and injustice. In his very able letter, Mr. HAYLLAR has, at much greater length, exposed the weaknesses and faults of the Bill. With as little reiteration of first objections to this measure as possible, we will briefly notice some fallacies and faults the writer has exposed which were not then dwelt on.

Prefatorily, it should be said there is room for doubt whether the poorer class of Chinese are in favour of any legislation in this direction, and, as Mr. HAYLLAR remarks, the merchants who presented the petition for it would scarcely have done so "had they fully understood its probable effects.”

Legislation of this kind frequently misses its mark, either through the ambiguity of its clauses or by the creation of fresh and unforeseen difficulties. This Bill is certainly of such a character; if it became law it would speedily prove to be unworkable. And unless there is some prospect of a Bill fulfilling the object it was designed for, the sooner it is consigned to oblivion the better. This measure has been framed, it is to be presumed, with a view to prevent frand by making the registration of all the partners in every Chinese hong, shop, or other place of business compulsory. Like Mr. HAYLLAR, we too object to the penal aspect of the Bill, but putting that aside, for the moment, would it be too much to ask how the business of registration is going to be carried out efficiently? A great proportion, probably far the largest, of the Chinese retail shops, and many of the wholesale warehouses, are founded on the co-operative principle-in this sense, at least, that the capital is subscribed by a great number of people, and the business is carried on by a manager, who is also usually a partner. Now it is more than likely that, as these petty capitalists would not feel inclined to make themselves liable for inore than they originally invested, they would in many cases resort to subterfuge to conceal their names, or substitute others for them. At all events, the Bill would act as an incentive to deceit. Not only would it be found to act in the way we have indicated, but it would be utterly impracticable and inefficient, owing to the endless and incessant changes that are constantly neces- sarily occurring in the composition of Chinese firms. Surely it is the acme of folly to attempt to apply English ideas to Chinese practices.

Mr. HAYLLAR shows very plainly that the new Ordinance would raise difficulties from its application to the law of partnership. His utterances on the subject of dormant partners are especially trenchant. He points out distinctly enough the great injustice that would be perpetrated by the "incautious registration under compulsion of persons occupying such positions." According to Chinese customs, he remarks, these persons do not intend to risk more than they have subscribed-it may be a few dollars--they do not mean to become partners in our acceptation of the term, and are not, therefore, held to have incurred any such liability as our law imposes." It will be apparent, then, to any practical mind, that no measure of the sort ought to be devised without special reference to, and study of, the trade customs of the Chinese. Another objection pointed out is worthy of attention. Most of us are aware how readily some of the policemen and other of the lower Government employés avail themselves of opportunities for extortion, and the Bill will infallibly give them too many such. And, again, the poorer class of tradesmen would be the chief sufferers: as, through ignorance or poverty, they would frequently neglect to register.

We referred at some length, on a former occasion, to the power over the trade in Hongkong which would be placed in the hands of the Chinese at Canton and other parts of China by the passing of this Bill. Every firm which had a partner resident in China might be mercilessly squeezed by the mandarins there, without being able to resist or obtain redress. As the Chinese in Hongkong are British subjects, it is the bounden duty of the Government to protect them from foreign exactions. It is none the less so that the interests of the English residents are in no slight degree involved in the matter. Any enactment that strikes a blow at the trade or the interests of the commercial community should be strenuously resisted. But it is to be hoped the Registration Ordinance will not be persevered with. Very truly does Mr. HAYLLAR observe: “No statute can form a substitute for business prudence and foresight on the one side, or on the other do much that is effectual to stem the current of fraudulent ingenuity." It is wise to let well alone: better far to "bear the ills we have than fly to others that we know not of." The real need of such a law has not yet been made out. And, in the meantime, much ought to be left to the discretion of the Judge in cases where Chinese are concerned, and no too rigid enactment can be expected to operate fairly or well. The evils complained of by the Chinese Petitioners are not so urgent that we should be called on to do a great wrong to effect a little right. Fiat justitia, ruat cœlum.

Appendix E.

Petition presented by the Chinese Community in 1874.

Li Tak-ch'eung, Lam King-wan, Ch'an Sui-nam, Kwok Ts'ung, Wong Kw'an-t'ong, Lam Yam-ki, and Yeung Lau Ko, representing the whole Chinese commercial community of Hongkong, present a petition,

humbly praying that, the Bill newly proposed for the registration of householders being too severe, certain moderations and alterations may be made, in order to give peace to the commercial people.

Recently petitioners saw, published in the Government Gazette, a Bill relating to the registration of householders. Petitioners have read it over again and again, and they perceive that there are many good points in it.

They can but reverently admire the great care and thought that must have been taken in drawing it up. At the same time they feel very thankful for the deep love and great kindness that have been bestowed on them. They have no doubt that the Bill owed its origin to the idea of securing peace to the merchants by protecting the good and preventing evil. For this kind consideration they feel exceed- ingly grateful. However, there are some sections in the Bill, the requirements contained in which seem to be too hard on the people and therefore can scarcely be put into force. Petitioners have carefully selected a few of such sections and given them below. They beg that your Worship will condescend to peruse and consider them, and afterwards to make such modifications as your Worship may think proper: that the petitioners' desires may be realised; and the Chinese commercial people of the whole Colony will be infinitely indebted to your Worship for your kindness.

1. Petitioners find that in section 10 of the Bill all householders, who do not live permanently in the Colony, are required to procure agents and to enter into a bond, with two securities, for the sum of $500. Now, as the term "Householder" as employed in the Bill embraces so many interpretations, and as the householders of houses that are used for family dwellings are mostly poor and frequently have to go back to Canton or Macao, we fear that they would have some difficulty in providing the securities. There is yet another difficulty. The nature of business in Hongkong is very varied-it may be large or it may be small; but the families of most of the business men live in the country and therefore these men are obliged to travel to aud fro. It is not infrequent that a few men start a business together with a capital of only $200 or $300, the shareholders of which may each become the manager in turn. Now if only one share- holder should be registered and if it should happen that he has, on some other business, to return to his country for a few months, it would be very inconvenient if, in that case, an agent and securities were required. Petitioners fear that men doing business with a small capital, when this Bill is made known to them, would regard it with dread. Moreover the fee for the registration of the agent is $5.

There may be some men who, doing a small business with but little profit, will find it hard to pay this fee.

If they should secretly (.r., without getting an agent paying the fee, &c.) go back to the country, and be detected, they would invariably be punished. This makes it very hard for business men to know what to do to get a living. Petitioners fear that, should this Bill become law, the commercial prosperity of the Colony would thereby certainly suffer. Again, in section 10 it is laid down that if the agent should be dead or absent from the Colony, another must be found to take his place. Now, during the year Chinese traders in Hong- kong may have to go to the country, or some other place and may be away for one month or more, as it is impossible to be certain beforehand what changes may be necessary in their pursuit of a livelihood. If they have to report every change and to find an agent and a security, it will not only cause them a great deal of trouble but the fees that have to be paid every time a report is made will be found to be too heavy for men doing a small business. In the humble opinion of Petitioners there should be in the registration of house- holders a distinction between houses used as shops and houses used as family dwellings. In the case of houses used as family dwellings if a householder should be temporarily absent from the Colony on business, but his family still resides in Hongkong, he should not be required to procure an agent except in the case of those who have leased their houses and whose absence from Hongkong exceeds oue year.

In the case of houses used for shops each shareholder of a business should be recognised as a “householder" and therefore be entitled to manage the affairs of the business. If the person whose name appears first in order on the register should be absent from Hongkong the person whose name is next on the register should be made responsible, and so on in regular order. This would render it unnecessary to find an agent. If a business should belong to one person only and he has to leave the Colony, Petitioners would suggest that he he allowed to follow the English practice of giving a power of attorney himself to another person to act as his agent. This would render it unnecessary to report at your office, and thus save the poor from embarrass- ment and the rich from trouble, which would indeed be a kindness to the people.

2. It is a common practice for business men to make searches of the registers. However, there are in the Colony small as well as large firms. Now if the fee for every search be from $1 to $5, how can those carrying on a small business afford to pay so large a fee? It would therefore seem right that the question of the amount of the fee should be considered with a view to its being reduced out of regard for those engaged in business.

Petitioners find, in Sections 17, 18 and 19, that if a fine cannot be recovered from the actual offender against the law, it is to be recovered from the householder whose goods and chattels are liable to be distrained and whose rents may be taken to pay the fine. The fine thus paid, however, may, by suit, be again recovered by the householder from the actual offender. Now if the Government with all its severe laws finds it difficult to recover a fine from an obdurate suitor, how much more difficult will it be for ordinary commercial men to recover such fine? A prosecution to recover a fine for an offence against the law is a public prosecution, whereas an action for recovery of a debt is a private suit, and it is clear which is the more serions of the two. Moreover suits for recovery of debts are considered trifling matters in Hongkong. If a man be imprisoned for debt, he is provided with food and other necessaries and he may thus wax fat without having to work. What deterrent effect, then, can this have on men of the incorrigible

class? The creditor, on the other hand, will have to spend a considerable sum on Court and Prison expenses. Thus while men, who have committed offences, get clear of the law, those who have been guilty of no offence are put to endless and unnecessary expenses. Very many people in Hongkong are just able to earn a livelihood by their different callings. Their business may not be worth more than $200 or $300. The occupants of houses in by-lanes and side streets who are generally poor may be easily tempted to break the law; and if they are fined they will require a year or two before they can earn enough to make up the amount of the fine. Further, if an offence of any kind be committed and although it be proved that the offender was not the householder himself, the householder will still have to pay the fine, because the real offender has concealed himself and failed to appear in Court. In this way householders will be caused un- speakable hardships and it will be really too great for them to bear. To the Government it seems only right to make stringent laws so that the people may learn to be careful in the letting of their houses. But it should be borne in mind that whilst every one, when he rents a house, will invariably describe himself as a respectable and peaceful citizen, some may craftily conceal their true character and others may in time change from good to bad. Again the tenants to whom houses have been sub-let, may have no property of any kind, and knowing that the law cannot reach them, will be even more inclined than others to act reck- lessly. If a landlord at the time of renting his house fails to find out the character of his tenants, it will be still more impossible for him to discover it afterwards.

Again, according to Chinese custom, even if a landlord himself should go in person each month to col- lect his rents, he can only make careful examination but cannot enter the sleeping rooms of his tenants: so the tenants may be carrying on all sorts of irregularities without the landlord being able to know anything about them. The people who keep gambling houses and sly brothels and who sell unlicensed spirits are mostly of the incorrigible and lawless class. If these men break the law and be not punished with a severity that will teach them a lesson, and the bouseholders be fined in their stead, they will be encouraged in their wickedness and will prove to be an endless source of evil to the community. Thus honest and law-abiding citizens of Hongkong would, though inuocent, often be involved in trouble by bad characters, which would prevent their carrying on their lawful occupations in peace. It is much to be feared that, when people outside the Colony learn this state of things, they will be discouraged from coming to Hong- kong, and, consequently, the commercial prosperity of the Colony will decline.

or not.

We have seen that the laws that have hitherto been made by the Government are perfect and complete. For instance, special men have been appointed for the suppression of gambling houses, sly brothels and unlawful sale of liquor. Head and other District Watchmen employed to patrol the streets by day and by night, are to be recommended by the Chinese themselves, because they know whether they are trustworthy If these men, however, should fail to maintain their good character and should be found to be unfit for the post by the Chinese residents of the district to which they belong, they should be dismissed at any time, in order that they may have something to fear. If a more efficient patrol should be required, it would seem advisable that additional supervisors should be employed to exercise a closer watch, so that evil-doers may disappear and the well-behaved may live in peace.

Petitioners have lived under the protection of the Government ever since they first came to the Colony, and are much indebted for the kindness which has been bestowed on all alike and for the loving care of the people which has been manifested oven in the smallest matter. But now petitioners find, in Section 3, that the regulations about householders affect only Chinese and have nothing to do with Europeans. They would submit that no line of difference should be drawn between the two, since Hongkong is a place where people of all nationalities congregate and where Chinese and Europeans live together without distinction, and seeing that the Chinese who have come under your jurisdiction are, like the people of other nationalities, your subjects. Petitioners, when they remember that Your Excellency is most benevolent and just and will benefit the people to the fullest extent, have ventured to jointly present this Petition, setting forth truthfully all those points in the law which it will be difficult to put in force, and begging that His Excellency will consider, so that the people may be comforted and their expectations fulfilled.

To the Honourable

THE REGISTRAR GENERAL

for submission to

His Excellency THE GOVERNOR.

Appendix F.

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 2nd November, 1877.

SIR,

The Committee of this Chamber desire to draw the attention of the Government to a want which has long been felt by the European Mercantile Community here of some system of Registration of the members of Chinese firms trading in Hongkong.

It is within the knowledge of the Committee that a Chinese firm or hong may be composod of any number of persons and that each individual may be interested in several other firms at the same time. It will be obvious that under such circumstances it is almost impossible to discover the means of any one firm when the interests of each partner are so varied, and in the opinion of the Committee there do not appear to be any valid objections to an Ordinance being promulgated compelling all Chinese firms to register the names of their partners, while the security and confidence which would be inspired thereby, would be a great boon to the Mercantile Community generally.

Should His Excellency the Governor deem the subject of sufficient importance to call for further in- formation with a view to legislating thereon, I am to add, on behalf of the Committee, that they will be happy at any time to afford such assistance as may be required from them.

The Honourable C. C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

No. 794.

SIR,

&e..

&c.,

&c.

Appendix G.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

W. KESWICK,

Chairman.

COLONIAL Secretary's OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 5th November, 1877.

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, and iu reply I am instructed to say that the subject to which you have referred shall receive the Governor's best consideration.

The Honourable

W. KESWICK,

Chairman of the

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

CECIL C. SMITH, Acting Colonial Secretary.

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Appendix H.

SIR,

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG, 26th August, 1878.

I have the honour to call your attention to the following letter addressed to the Government by this Chamber and to request that you will be good enough to favour me with reply thereto--in order that they may be laid before the Committee which will meet here on Thursday next.

Dated 2nd November, 1877.-Regarding the Registration of members of Chinese firms trading in Hongkong.

The Honourable

J. M. PRICE,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

&c.,

&c.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

E. GEORGE,

Secretary.

Appendix I.

No. 719.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 28th August, 1878.

In reply to your letter of the 26th instant, with reference to the registration of Members of Chinese firms trading in Hongkong, I am to state for the information of the Chamber of Commerce that the question received the careful consideration of Sir Arthur Kennedy who thought it would be very inexpedient to carry out such registration and that Governor Pope Hennessy is disposed to take the same view of the

matter.

2. His Excellency will however come to no decision until he has had some further opportunity of studying the details of Chinese trade in the Colony.

E. GEORGE, Esq.,

Secretary to the

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

J. M. PRICE, Acting Colonial Secretary.

Appendix J.

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 23rd September, 1878.

SIR,

The letter received under date 5th November, 1877, in reply to my letter of the 2nd November, 1877, was considered by the Committee of the Chamber at their last meeting and it was resolved to again revert to the subject and to bring to the attention of His Excellency the Governor that the Committee are of opinion that the publication or registration of the members of the Chinese hongs in this Colony is much called for. The members composing foreign firms are made known and it cannot be requiring too much of the Chinese Mercantile Community in this Colony to conform to a rule which is voluntarily followed by other nations, but which they decline to observe.

The Chinese will not give the necessary information on account of the responsibility which would be brought home to many who, under the present system, evade their liability for losses by not appearing as interested in concerns, in the profits of which they participate, but for the losses connected with which, when they occur, they avoid responsibility by not being known as partners in the business.

The Chamber desires no interference with the Chinese forms of partnership, but it is much wished that the names of partners in hongs should be known in the interest of the mercantile public generally.

A feeling of security would be the result from such information being given, and the Chamber are of opinion an Ordinance should be passed making it necessary for hongs to declare who their members are.

The Honourable

CHARLES MAY,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

No. 866.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

W. KESWICK,

Chairman.

Appendix K,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 5th October, 1878.

SIR,

I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo stating that the Chamber of Commerce desire again to revert to the proposed registration of the Partners of Chinese firms and suggesting that an Ordinance should be passed making it necessary for hongs to declare who their members are.

2. Before forming any opinion of his own on the subject His Excellency wishes to place before the Chamber of Commerce for any observations that it may think proper to make the objections recorded in 1875 by the local Gevernment to such an Ordinance. Their objections are set forth in the following minute of Mr. Administrator Austin.

The Honourable

W. KESWICK,

&C.. &C.,

&c.

Appendix L.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

C. MAY, Acting Colonial Secretary.

Petition presented by Chinese Merchants, 30th June, 1882.

•

Leung On and others, Chinese merchants in Hongkong, present a Petition praying that, in the interests of traders, stringent measures may be adopted in order to put a stop to the using of false names in partner- ships a practice which is injurious to trade. Petitioners beg to submit that there are many firms and shops in Hongkong which use fancy* or false names in carrying on a partnership business. A wealthy merchant, as a precaution against being involved by others, whilst using the names of his kinsmen in a partnership agreement when registering, will openly declare to all his fellow merchants that he himself is master of the shop, so as to inspire their credit. If the business becomes insolvent the law cannot reach him because only the partnership agreement and the registration certificate (which do not contain his name) can be u-ed as evidence. There are even some cases in which a person, previous to the bankruptcy, contrive to get out of the partnership by substituting the name of another for his own, so that no enquiries can be made about him. There are hundreds of ways in which the crafty makes a loophole of escape for himself. Hence the frequent recurrence of bankruptcy, the cause of which is no doubt due to the evil practices mentioned. This state of things has a deleterious effect on trade, the recent gradual decline of which may also be attributed to the same cause. There are numerous instances in which business men become victims of this kind of fraud, as a consequence of which they have lost all their capital. In such trying circum- stances Petitioners felt it their duty to endeavour to save the people from their embarrassment. They, therefore, having carefully considered the matter, came to the conclusion that only one course was open to them, and that was to draw up and present a joiut Petition praying that steps might be taken to suppress these evil practices, in order to arrest the decay of trade. Petitioners submit that though the law may require the registration of all firms and shops for the purposes of inquiry and search, such registration can scarcely be regarded as reliable, as it is a common practice to give false names. Petitioners therefore venture to request that the Registration Department may be directed to issue a notice requiring within a certain date the true names of masters of all shops and firms to be sent in, so that they may be compared with the names in the registers, which may then be corrected; and that if in future any person, on starting a new business, use a false name when registering, he shall be at once fined, so that the people may be taught to keep the law and be afraid to break it. Such a perpetual prohibition against fraud will be a benefit to trade and will save substantial and wealthy Europeans and Chinese from being implicated by others in cases of insolvency. If, in their commercial dealings, the masters of one firm or. shop de re to ascertain the true names of the partners of another firm or shop, they should be permitted to make serches in the registers on payment of a fee, such fee to be paid to Government for the trouble taken in the re-rch. Confidence having been thus established, trade will be carried on in a satisfactory manner, and whether a business prospers or fails, each partner will share in such prosperity or failure as the case may be.

Petitioners accordingly repair to the presence of your Worship and beg that you will submit their petition to His Excellency the Governor who may be graciously pleased to grant its prayer.

Petitioners beg to offer the following eight suggestions for your perusal and pray that such as are practical may be selected and put in force.

1. In China true names are invariably used in partnership agreement because according to Chinese law and custom if a business fails, the partners are liable only to the extent of the amount of their shares in such business. As a consequence of this false names are never used. In Hongkong if a firm becomes bankrupt, the law requires the wealthier of the partners to meet the debts not only on their own acest but also on account of the rest of the shareholders, entirely regardless of the extent of their shares in the busi- ness. Therefore, to avoid being involved, many have recourse to the use of fancy name or names of their kinsmen in partnership agreements. If it be desired that the true names of partners are to be reported,

racters.

*Note. -Literally "family hall name described by Giles as follows: a fancy name usually consisting of two cha-

Petitioners pray that the existing law may be modified so as to allow, in the event of a failure, the partners to pay off the debts due in proportion to the extent of the capital invested in the business by each partner. All traders will then be glad to register their true names.

2. When the true names of partners have been registered, such partners, if the business fails, will of course be required by law to pay off their debts. But if they have no property in Hongkong, the creditors, either European or Chinese, should be allowed to request the Government to move the Chinese authorities to have the debtors' property situated in China distrained so as to liquidate the debts due, in which way deception and fraud will be prevented.

3. According to the law in Hongkong a person is allowed to file a petition in bankruptcy. On this account a crafty person, knowing that his business is not solvent, will transfer his property to the name of another person or remove his goods and chattels to some other place before presenting petition in bank- ruptcy, thus rendering it impossible for his creditors to enquire into and recover the debts due to them. This has a most injurious effect on trade. In future in cases of bankruptcy, Petitioners pray that out of a committee of thirty-two European and Chinese merchants eight may be selected by vote to examine care- fully into all cases of persons who present petitions in bankruptcy and that such petitions be only granted if they are found to be genuine. Thus the evil of making false representations may be prevented.

4. Partners in shops or firms who have not registered their real names, should, after having been duly notified, be allowed from three to five months within which to repair in person to the Registration Depart- ment to have their names in the registers altered and to report their true names, their domicile, village, &c. Those partners who are resident in the country or who have gone to some other port, and consequently, cannot come to Hongkong, should write a letter in their own handwriting to some reliable friend or relative asking him to register for them. Such letter should be filed in the Registrar General's Office as evidence. All those who have hitherto used false names in registration should not be dealt with, so that they may not be deterred through fear of punishment from registering correctly.

5. Persons who wish to withdraw from a partnership should repair in person to the Registration Department to have their names romoved from the Register. If any person is unable to come himself, he he should write a letter in his own handwriting to some trustworthy friend or relative asking him to sign the register. Such letter should also be kept in the Registrar General's Office as future evidence. Further if a person withdraws from a partnership, the fact should be advertised in the Press, so that it may be known to everybody, and credit may not be given by mistake. If the name of a person has been removed from the register but no notice of such removal has been advertised in the Press, such person should not be considered as having withdrawn from the partnership if the business fails. Business transactions are carried on uninterruptedly; and, if the fact of a person's withdrawing from a partnership be not published, disputes will be sure to arise.

6. If a partner desires to withdraw from a partnership, he should first settle with the person to whom he is transferring his share. Both parties should sign an agreement and the arrangement should be duly ad- vertised in the Press. But before this notice is published in the Press, the person who is withdrawing from the partnership, if he owes any money, should first arrange with his creditors that they are willing to recover the debts due to them from the person to whom the partnership is being transferred. Only in this way can it be said that a partnership has been clearly transferred. If the creditors do not consent to the course indicated they should still be allowed to recover their debts from the original partner, who should be held liable for such debts notwithstanding the advertisement in the Press. All advertisement should appear in the Press for three months, so that they may be widely known.

7. If a shop or firm is also used as the place of business of the branch of another firm, the manager of such shop or firm should come in person to the Registration Department and report the names of the partners of the original business represented by such branch firm, and to what places it sends goods. If such agency ceases to do business, this should be reported to the Registration Department and the name of the ageney removed from the register.

8. If any person desires to find out who the masters and the managers of a shop or firm are, he should be permitted to enquire at the Registration Department and search the registers on payment of a Govern- ment fee of, say, 20 or 25 cents, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble. The person wanting to make a search should apply in writing, and his application, which should be chopped with the seal of his firm, should state the name of his own firm and the names of the partners of the firm for which he wishes to search.

(Signed)

Leung On and others.

No. 62.

SIR,

Appendix M.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 7th September, 1882.

I have the honour to forward a very important and influentially signed document which was handed to me by Mr. Wei A Yuk last month for submission to His Excellency the Administrator. I enclose the Chinese text and translation.

2. The paper relates to the registration of Chinese partners, a subject which had been previously under the consideration of the Colonial Government, at the request of the Chinese Community in the first instance and subsequently at the suggestion of the Chamber of Commerce.

3. It will be observed that the Petition commences with a number of well-known names whose posi- tion as leading Chinese entitles them to speak on behalf of the trading community-and that they narrate very succinctly the evils arising from a want of registration of partners-while they submit eight equally succinct propositions for legislative sanction which would, in their opinion, meet the mischief of which they complain.

4. The document has appended to it 68 equally well-known names, while it is also "chopped" by 104 hongs, firms or shops, and it may be truly taken as the expression of opinion of the Chinese traders in the Colony.

5. The want of a system of registration was pointed out by a large number of merchants in 1874, and the directors of the Tung Wa Hospital Committee and a number of other merchants drew up a document, a translation of which was forwarded from this department by Mr. C. C. Smith in his letter No. 75 of the 28th August, 1874. That document is C.S.O. 2538.

6. Mr. C. C. Smith, in covering the statement of the directors which indeed is identical in many respects with the paper now submitted, pointed out to Governor Sir A. E. Kennedy that what Petitioners really wanted was that in case of bankruptcy each partner should only be held responsible for the debts of the concern proportionate to the interest he had in it-" that such was the practice at Canton, and the absence of such a practice prevents many traders from coming into this Colony."

7. This representation from the Chinese community was referred to Mr. Bramston, then Attorney General, in the following minute:--"Send to the Attorney General for his consideration, I have had this matter brought to my notice on several occasions, and I think some legal remedy is obviously needed.

(Signed) A. E. KENNEDY,

August 30th, 1874."

Mr. Bramston minuted that document by saying: the draft Ordinance is in print”—and a reference to the Government Gazette of 1874 will shew the draft of an Ordinance dealing with the subject under the title of "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative "Council thereof dividing the City of Victoria into districts and for the better Registration of Householders "and Chinese Traders and Servants in the Colony of Hongkong."

8. The subject of the Registration of Chinese Shops, &c., is dealt with by sections XXII to XXVII inclusive, and with certain modifications, which I would suggest later on, these proposed sections, if passed into law, would meet the wants of the Chinese community.

9. Cognate to this subject there is also a correspondence with the Government on the question of responsibility of partners in Chinese firms when stamps are used with or without signature of a partner, and I think it is worth referring to for a reason that will bye-and-bye appear, see C.S.O. 2568 of 1874 with Mr. Bramston's opinion.

10. After the publication of the draft Ordinance a printed letter was addressed by Mr. T. C. Hayllar to the Colonial Secretary criticising adversely the proposed legislation, and pointing out what he considered serious objections.

And after a careful perusal of Mr. Hayllar's pamphlet I think that he has set out objections which are weighty but not insurmountable. However, in the consideration of this question, Mr. Hayllar's pam- phlet should be carefully studied.

11. I find that in the end of December, 1874, the Chinese drew up a further petition making observa- tions on the proposed Ordinance, but chiefly objecting to certain provisions for the registration of house- holders.

The Registrar General in reporting on that Petition stated that 55 leading Chinese merchants acting on behalf of their countrymen brought the Petition and after referring to their objections on the house- holder's registration states that "not only the Petitioners but all the Chinese whom I have had the opportu- "nity of consulting about the registration of partners are unanimous in their desire that the Bill in that

respect should become law." C.S.O. 194 of 1875.

12. This document was also sent to Mr. Bramston, Attorney General, who in his minute refers ob- viously to Mr. Hayllar's pamphlet when he says that "he does not anticipate the mischief which has been "foretold; that it will not effect any great changes in the law; and the Petitioners are fully aware that "by English law each partner is responsible for the debts of the firm. The object of the measure is to "ascertain for the benefit of their customers the names of the individuals who are trading in the Colony "under the style of impersonal hongs."

13. Nothing further seems to have been done for some months until Mr. Austin, Colonial Secretary, was administering the Government, 1875. He wrote a long memorandum giving the reasons why the Gov- ernment were not prepared to legislate on the subject. He states "that the Bill would not be proceeded “with has doubtless been long well known to the directors of the Tung Wa Hospital and the other Chinese Merchants who advocated it, but it is due to them that they should know the reasons which have influenced me in declining to submit the draft Ordinance to the consideration of the Council.”

He then proceeds to give them at length, but I must refer to his minute of June 22nd, 1875, on C.S.O. 2538 of 1874 and C.S.O. 194 of 1875,

1st.

It might be convenient, however, to sum up here the grounds of his objection. They are:-

Because it was doubtful whether the measure would carry out the objects aimed at.

2nd.-Because he considered the capitalists lived out of the Colony and that to follow them

or their property was impracticable.

3rd. Because he considered it would be legislating for a few whose aim is virtually the destruc-

tion of competition.

He added other grounds of objections-

"(1) That the exceptional registration of Chinese merchants would be unjust; (2nd) "that any such espionage would have the effect of checking these combinations amongst "the Chinese residing at Canton, Amoy and elsewhere which are calculated to stimulate and strengthen trade at Hongkong; and (3rd) that any interference whatever with the free- “dom of trade would be at variance with our general policy.”

14. On the 24th June, 1875, Mr. Tonnochy, then Acting Registrar General, informed those interested of the decision of the Goverment, and nothing further seems to be done until the 2nd November, 1877, C.S.O. 2514, when the Chamber of Commerce invited Governor Hennessy's attention to the question of Re- gistration of Chinese partners, pointing out that the same person may he partners in several firms at the same time, that the confidence inspired by a Registration Ordinance would be a boon to the whole mercantile community and that the Chamber of Commerce were ready to give the Governor further information on the subject.

15. To that the Governor directed a reply that this matter should have his best consideration (letter 7949, 5th November, 1877). The Chamber not having received any further answer sent another letter on 26th August, 1878, C.S.O. 2038 of 1878, asking for the promised reply and the Governor replied that “the question of registering the members of Chinese firms had been carefully considered by his predecessor *who considered it would be very inexpedient to do so and that he was inclined to take the same view. He went on to say that he would not then finally decide the matter,

16. On the 24th September, 1878, the Chamber of Commerce again urged the necessity for the Registration of Chinese firms in Hongkong and in their letter they point out that "the numbers composing Foreign firms are invariably known, and it cannot be requiring too much of the Chinese mercantile "community in this Colony to conform to a rule which is voluntarily followed by other nations but which

they decline to observe," see C.S.O. 2248.

In answer to that letter, the Governor seems to have sent them Mr. Austin's minute of June, 1875. and asked them to answer the objections, and I can find no further reference to the subject mutil the Governor's census speech of 1831, recorded in the Gazette of 4th June, 1881, in which it is stated, page 391. that he consulted the Chinese on a proposition of the Chamber of Commerce to register sleeping partners in Chinese houses of business. They shewed that it was exceedingly difficult to find out who had money “in a Chinese trading concern and recommended that the natives should be compelled by law and under adequate penalties to register every person who had a share, no matter how small, in a Chinese business. -- The Chamber of Commerce added that they had no desire to apply this system to the European houses, → but wished it to be confined solely to the Chinese. Acting on my usual principle, I mentioned it to some "of the leading Chinese bankers and others, but they pointed out that the Chinese system of trading "would be completely upset by it, that there is an extraordinary network of investments in this Colony, as "in any other community of Chinese, and that it would interfere seriously with Chinese trade and in fact →tend to prevent the influx of Chinese into the. Colony. Accordingly, I declined to accede to the proposal

of the Chamber of Commerce.”

17. In the following Gazette the above is translated into Chinese (see page 427) and I have referred to it and the Chinese translation because it will be necessary for the Government to bear in mind these representations to the Governor when the present Petition so numerously signed by leading Chinese is considered. For now they say that the registration under penalties will "tranquilize the merchants and traders”; “will protect commerce"; and "business will certainly be benefitted by this means." They also at the end of their Petition state that the above plan will establish mutual good faith and will be in accordance and harmony with public feeling."

18. The Petitioners in 1874 said that the "inspection of the registers is a thing necessary to the * commercial circle that "although rich merchants and wealthy persons of other ports are desirous of

carrying on business in this Colony they are afraid to do so,”-for want of such registration.

"They also said by reason of these regulations all the merchants of other ports will gladly place more confidence on the trade of the Colony and business will thenceforth flourish without obstruction."

19. Having regard therefore to the divergence of opinion expressed last year to the Governor from that expressed in writing in 1874, and again in 1882, it became a question whether these gentlemen have not prepared both Petitions in panic, in the present instance arising from the heavy losses in the house speculation of last year, and whether it would not be as well to let the over-speculation cure itself.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) J. RUSSELL,

Registrar General.

P.S.-I wrote the above on the 7th August, and intended going into the discussion of the objections to partnership registering, but as I have been pressed for time, I think it better to send in this letter with the Petition and will defer further remarks.

Appendix N.

No. 217.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Office,

HONGKONG, 6th February, 1891.

In accordance with a recent suggestion made in the Legislative Council, I am directed by His Excel- lency the Governor to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Chamber of Commerce, copy of a Draft Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Bankruptcy, and I am to state that His Excellency would be glad of any observations which the Chamber may desire to offer on the subject.

The Secretary,

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Appendix O.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

F. FLEMING, Colonial Secretary.

SIR,

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG, 22nd April, 1891.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your esteemed communication of 6th February handing for the consideration of the Chamber, copy of a Draft Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the law relating to bankruptcy. I am directed to ask you to be good enough to convey to His Excellency the Governor the thanks of my Committee for his courtesy in allowing them the opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the above Ordinance.

It has had the attentive consideration of my Committee who concur in thinking it has been drafted with a careful regard to the requirements of the Colony and promises to be a valuable substitution of the Act it is intended to repeal; but they are strongly of opinion that to render it more completely applicable to local requirements, it should be preceded or supplemented by a Bill making compulsory the registration of individual members of Chinese firms trading in the Colony.

The question of registration was brought to the notice of the Government as far back as 2nd November, 1877. The suggestion, however, was not entertained and in replying to the Chamber on 28th August, 1878, the opinion was expressed that it would be very inexpedient to “carry out such registration.” The reasons why, in the opinion of the Government, such registration would be inexpedient, were not given.

That the Chinese themselves are not antagonistic to registration is proved by the respresentation in 1882 to the Registrar-General of a Petition very numerously signed by Chinese Traders in Hongkong, praying that "hongs or shops be required to register and to appoint a fixed date within which all shops are to send in without delay the real names and surnames of their masters." This was only a proposal to carry out in Hongkong the customs of trade observed among themselves in China; and is both a means of identification, and a precautionary measure against fraud.

European houses trading in Hongkong and China voluntarily make known the names of the individual partners in their firms; and my Committee do not consider there would be any hardship in requiring like information from the Chinese.

In Singapore, where business is largely in the hands of Chinese, registration of partnerships in conner- tion with the administration of the bankruptcy laws has been urgently recommended.

My Committee strongly incline to the opinion that without registration of Chinese partnerships as an adjunct, the proposed new Bankruptcy Ordinance would lose much in usefulness; and they beg to request that you would be good enough to bring their suggestion to the notice of His Excellency the Governor for his favourable consideration.

The Honourable

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

F. HENDERSON,

Secretary.

W. M. DEANE, M.A., C.M.G.,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Appendix P.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Office,

HONGKONG, 20th September, 1894.

[No. 1866.]

SIR,

I am directed by the Governor of Hongkong to request you to be good enough to move His Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements to cause me to be furnished with copies of the new Ordinance dealing with registration of partnerships, and of any printed reports or papers connected therewith.

I have, &c.,

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

SINGAPORE.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART. Colonial Secretary.

[No. Colonies 8405.]

SIR,

1. Report of Commission of En-

quiry, 1885.

Appendix Q.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Office,

SINGAPORE, 4th October, 1894.

I am directed by the Governor of the Straits Settlements to acknowledge .

2. Report of Committee of Logis- the receipt of your letter No. 1866 of the 20th ultimo, and, in accordance with your

lative Council, 1893.

3. Report of Official Assignee in request, to forward to you the documents noted in the margin.

4. Debate in Legislative Council

Bankruptcy, 1892, para. 25.

23.2.03, p p. 17-22.

2. I may mention that the Bill for the Registration of Partnerships has not

5. Letter of Secretary of Singapore yet passed its second reading in the Legislative Council.

Chamber of Commerce, 29,4.94.

and Report of Special Com- mittee.

6. Bill read for the first time.

I have &c.,

(Signed)

WILLIAM MAXWELL,

Colonial Secretary.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

[No. 189.]

SIR,

HONGKONG.

Appendix R.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 25th January, 1895.

With reference to previous correspondence I am directed by the Governor to request you to be so good as to furnish me with a copy of the Bill providing for the Registration of Partnerships if it has become law, or, if not, to inform me as to the reasons for postponing the Bill.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

SINGAPORE.

I have, &c.,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary.

Appendix T.

SIR,

CHAMBERS, SUPREME COURT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 5th March, 1895.

I have the honour to state that soon after my arrival here in 1882 my attention was naturally attracted to the fact that there was no law or local Ordinance requiring or permitting the registration of partnerships. This struck me all the more as I have been for 28 years working, under the French Code which requires all Partnerships and Companies to be registered and I was not long in discovering that this absence of any provisions to this effect in our law led in the Courts to great difficulty in deciding who were or who were not partners and I have no doubt was the source of a great deal of perjury.

From several facts that came to my knowledge I was of opinion that a system of limited partnership or partnerships in commandite would be of great use here and would readily be adopted.

Seeing that the same subject had been treated of by Sir Frederick Pollock in his work on Partner- ship and that he had at the request of Mr. Sampson Lloyd, then Member for Plymouth, drawn a Bill for the consolidation and amendment of the Law of Partnership and that he had therein provided for the introduction of a system of limited partnerships, I drafted a scheme founded on Sir Frederick Pollock's Bill and after consultation with the late Dr. Stewart, who was then Registrar General, who, being of opinion that the system would be accepted by the Chinese commercial community here, called a meeting of the leading Chinese to whom the draft was submitted and explained. Two or three meetings were held and the principle of the system was approved of, the draft was translated into Chinese and further consideration of the question was adjourned until the Chinese had had time to examine the details and further consider the scheme.

Dr. Stewart was soon after appointed Colonial Secretary, other duties engrossed my attention and the question was allowed to drop.

But I am still convinced of the usefulness and need of some such measure here as I think it would attract capital if a man could put a certain sum into a concern and feel that he incurred no further liabi- lity.

The scheme is altogether permissive, and therefore, were it not availed of, there would be no harm in passing such a measure as I now suggest.

If Your Excellency approves of the scheme and deems it worthy of a trial, the question might be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce, and if they see no objection, the leading Chinese merchants might be consulted.

His Excellency

THE GOVERNOR,

fc.,

&c.,

dc.

SIR,

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

EDW. J. ACKROYD,

Acting Chief Justice.

Appendix U.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFice,

HONGKONG, 7th February, 1896.

Referring to Mr. Talbot's letter No. 1095/95 (Colonies) of the 14th February, 1895, I am directed to enquire whether the Bill providing for Registration of Partnerships has become law in the Straits. Settlements, and, if so, to request that you will be so good as to furnish me with 3 copies of the Ordinance as finally passed together with a copy of the report of the proceedings of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements during the passage of the Bill through its several stages.

If, on the other hand, the Bill was not proceeded with after the second reading, I shall be obliged if you will kindly furnish me with the special reasons for its abandonment.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

I have, &c.,

Straits Settlements.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

Appendix V.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

SINGAPORE, 19th February, 1896.

SIR,

In reply to your letter No. 246 of the 7th instant, I am directe! to inform you that the Bill to provide for Registration of Partnerships has not been proceeded with since the second reading, nor has the question whether it will be proceeded with been decided. The matter remains in exactly the same position as at the date of my previous letter.

2. The Bill is one on which public opinion has been very much divided, and it was thought expedient to postpone passing it so as to accomplish other more pressing legislation and to give public opinion on the subject further time to develop.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

HONGKONG.

Appendix W.

Your obedient servant,

J. A. SWETTENHAM,

Colonial Secretary.

SIR,

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG, 31st October, 1900.

Recent proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court, and more especially a judgment delivered on the 9th July last by His Honour Chief Justice Sir John Carrington in the case Kung Hing Shing Kee ex parte Albert Ah Wee, in which it was laid down that, according to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Ordinance of 1891, Chinese traders or others non-resident in the Colony, although carrying ou business therein under a firm name either by themselves or in co-partnership with others, are beyond the reach of that enactment, have made it apparent that the law as it stands does not afford that protection to creditors which was intended when it was framed. I am therefore instructed to request you to be good enough to bring the question to the attention of His Excellency the Governor with a view to secure amendment of the Ordinance referred to.

2. The result of the case above quoted has convinced all those engaged in commerec in this Colony that it is practically useless for a creditor to institute Bankruptcy proceedings against a Chinese firm, since if it should subsequently appear that any one member of that firm is domiciled in China, and has not ordinarily resided in Hongkong within a year of the presentation of the Bankruptcy petition, such proceedings could be annulled. The Chinese custom of carrying on business under some fancy name, and of the firm consisting of a large number of partners, many of whom may be resident in China, and placing the conduct of the concern in the hands of a manager or of a partner possessing only a small pecuniary interest therein, is well known, and the evils arising from such custom have long been felt and acknowledged alike by British and foreign merchants and by the Chinese themselves.

3. The Committee, in asking the Government to amend the Bankruptcy Ordinance of 1891, do so in the full assurance that they reflect the views and give expression to the wishes of the entire mercantile community, the legal profession, and the judges administering the law. In order to facilitate the end in view, and to indicate the direction they think such amendment should take, the Committee beg respectfully to submit the draft of a short amending Bill (enclosed*) for the consideration of the Government.

4. In forwarding this draft Bill, which the Committee believe will have a most salutary effect in helping to reduce the number of fraudulent bankruptcies, they are not so optimistic as to expect that it will act as a complete check on all frand of the kind. To secure this it will be necessary to establish a system for the compulsory registration of the individual members of Chinese firms or hongs trading in this Colony.

5. This is no new question, nor is it a novel panacea for commercial ills. The advisability of the creation of such a system was considered so far back as 1874, when a Bill entitled the Victoria Registra- tion Ordinance was drafted for the purpose, but did not become law. The question was again urged

* Not printed.

་

upon the the Government in 1877 by this Chamber, but without effect, the reply returned, on the 28th August, 1878, stating that it would be "very inexpedient" to "carry out such registration":

no reason

for the alleged inexpedience, however, being offered. Again, in April, 1891, when considering the draft of the present Bankruptcy Amendment Ordinance, the Committee of this Chamber expressed a strong opinion that, to render the measure more completely applicable to local requirements, it should be pre- ceded or supplemented by a Bill for the compulsory registration of the partners in Chinese firms, and added that without such registration as an adjunct the proposed new Bankruptcy Ordinance would lose much in usefulness. How thoroughly this provision has been fulfillel, the records of the Supreme Court can readily demonstrate,

European 6. No real hardship would be entailed on the Chinese by the passage of such a measure. and American houses trading here or in the Treaty Ports of China voluntarily announce to the public, by means of circulars and by advertisements in the newspapers, the names of the individual partners in their firms, and of all changes in such partnerships, at considerable expense, and certain Chinese firms have voluntarily followed the example. It is not too much to ask, if the mass of the Chinese are used to such methods, that they should register their partnerships with the Registrar General. As a proof that the Chinese themselves are not likely to entertain any objection to such a system, I would remind the Government that in 1882 a Petition very numerously signed by Chinese traders was presented to the Registrar General praying that hongs or shops be required "to register and to appoint a fixed date This within which all shops are to send in without delay the real names and surnames of their masters." was really only a proposal to put into practice here a custom of trade observed among themselves in China, and, as a means of identification and a precautionary measure against fraud, could not excite hosti- lity among reasonable persons.

7. The creation of such a system would of course entail some trouble, and it would probably neces- sitate the employment of one or two additional clerks. It might also require the dissociation of the two offices of Colonial Secretary and Registrar General: but as this is very desirable for other reasons the work of the former having greatly increased within the last three years-the Committee trust that such a consideration would not be allowed to weigh in a matter of so much importance to the trade of the Colony.

8. Trusting that His Excellency the Governor will agree with the Committee that the time has arrived when an carnest attempt should be made to grapple with a question so seriously affecting the conduct of business and the administration of justice in the Colony,-in proof whereof I need only cite the fact that four recent bankruptcy cases heard in the Supreme Court could have been settled in fewer hours than they took days to hear.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,

Secretary.

}

Enclosure No. 1.

Enclosure No. 2. Enclosure No. 3.

Enclosure No. 4.

Enclosure No. 5.

HONGKONG.

603

No. 1901

CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING INCREASE OF SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE COLONY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

No. 440.

(Governor to Secretary of State.)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 3rd October, 1900.

SIR,-I have now the honour to transmit for your consideration the enclosed copy of the Report of the Committee which I appointed to enquire into the salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of this Colony, together with copy of a Memorandum thereon by the Acting Colonial Secretary, and of a Scheme for the classification of certain of the salaries dealt with by the Cominittee, which has been based partly on the scheme approved in Lord Ripon's Des atch No. 270 of the 28th of November, 1892, and partly on the recoinmendations of the Commit ee, also a Summary shewing the increase in expenditure which will result if the increases in salaries recommended by the Committee are approved.

The Shanghai Branch Post Office which is being re-organised, and the Praya Reclamation Office have been excepted from the Summary.

2. Subject to the modifications suggested by the Acting Colonial Secretary, I approve generally of the increases recommended by the Committee, but I regard the Classified Scheme of Salaries, submitted herein, as preferable and I recommend that the rates of pay therein suggested should be now substituted for the Com- mittee's recommendations where practicable, and intro luced in the future as oppor- tunity offers.

The maxima of the salaries in the Classified Scheme amount in the total to $65,880 while the maxima of the same salaries increased as recommended by the Committee aggregate $70,400.

3. The Committee have made special reference in their report to the Post Office in Hongkong and Branch Office in Shanghai.

of a

Their recommendations for increases to the salaries of the Post Office Staff in Hongkong were referred to the Acting Postmaster General. I enclose

copy letter from Mr Lewis on the subject. It will be observed that Mr. Lewis, like the Committee, recommends the engagement of trained Clerks from home; I con- sider that the proposal is worthy of consideration, and would suggest that the Postmaster General who is on leave in England be consulted on the subject.

I have already addressed you in my despatch No. 395 of the 30th of August regarding the extra Clerks and Assistant Marine Officers referred to by Mr. Lewis. I have also recently addressed you on the subject of the Shanghai Post Office, and I am at present awaiting a report upon the working of that office from the Local Auditor who has just returned from Shanghai.

4. With regard to paragraph 10 of the report I have to remark that there is no hour set apart for luncheon in the Government Service, and that no Clerk can claim that office hours are fixed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It rests entirely with Heads of Departments who are responsible for the proper carrying out of the work under them at what hours their respective offices open

and close. In the majority of Departments work begins before 10 a.m. and is carried on considerably after 4 p.m.

As regards Mr. Shewan's rider I do not think the question need be raised. Moreover, Officers who draw exchange compensation do not as a rule do the same work as others.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P..

fc..

&c..

&c.

H. A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

[2]

Enclosure No. 1.

(Chairman, Salaries Committee to Acting Colenial Secretary.)

HONGKONG, 26th July, 1900.

SIR,-On behalf of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor "to enquire into and report on the Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony," I have now the honour to enclose a Report on this matter with Recommendations for a re-adjustment of Salaries.

Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

I have the honour to be.

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

R. M. GRAY,

Chairman of the Committee to enquire into Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony.

REPORT.

We, the Members of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor "to enquire into and report on the alaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony" have accordingly the honour to submit the following Report, together with recommendations for an increase of remuneration in the majority of

cases.

2. In apportioning the amount of increase we have taken into consideration the recent allowance made by the Secretary of State to the higher Officials, and in making our recommendations, although we have to a certain extent allowed the individual merits of the case and length of service to weigh with us, we bave prin- cipally been guided by the enhanced cost of living at the present time.

3. In order to arrive at a fair decision we have given an opportunity to all the subordinate Officers, whose names have been submitted to us by the Govern- ment, to state their cases personally before us, have examined all letters and docu- ments sent to us on the subject, and have interrogated the Heads of each Depart- ment concerning their staffs.

4. The Salaries of the different departments do not appear to have been modelled on any given plan, but to have grown into their present unequal position according to the gradual development of the department, and the pressure brought

to bear in each case for an increase.

5. We are of opinion that it is not only just. but also sound policy for the Government to more adequately remunerate their old and tried servants, and to pay for responsible positions a sufficient salary to attract good men, but where Juniors who have joined the service within the last year are in receipt of $40 per month or more, we have not seen our way to recommend any immediate increase. We think that it should be the object of Government to stimulate the efforts of its servants by promotion according to deserts.

6. In dealing with this matter of Salaries, we have merely made our recom- mendations on each individual case of remuneration in the same shape in which it was put before us.

7. Although it does not come within the scope of our enquiry to remark upon the management of a Department, that enquiry has given us the opportunity of an insight into the working of the various Departments, which we consider has enabled us to form a reasonable judgment on the subject, and we therefore take the liberty of making the following remarks about the management of the Post Office, which

[3]

has been a source of much complaint from the public in the past few years. In this Department, out of a total staff of 38 subordinate officers brought to our notice, no less than 20 are inexperienced juniors engaged within the last 12 months at a salary of $40 ( + about $4 for sorting) per month, and above them there are 9 others with 2 or 3 years' service earning from $45 (+ about $4 for sorting) to $60 (+ about $8 for sorting). Without elaborating a scheme to remodel the Department, we are strongly of the opinion that, in order to secure a really efficient service, it is advisable, in place of such numbers of beginners, to engage the ser- vices of a certain number of experienced sorters from home, who will not only be able to put through their work efficiently, but also to teach by example the junior sorters their proper duties. We are further of opinion that the Shanghai Branch of the Post Office is thoroughly undermanned, and that it should be re-organised on a more liberal scale.

8. We stated in the beginning that we have been chiefly influencel by the fact that the cost of living has greatly increased during the past few years, as well as to a certain extent by the individual merits of each case, so far as we have been able to ascertain them, but our reasons in many cases have been so diverse, and so many points have to be taken into consideration in coming to a conclusion, that we have not attempted to set forth in detail the grounds for each recommendation It will, we trust, be considered sufficient if we say that we have carefully weighed the facts for and against each application, and, while trying to meet the individual necessities of the case, and the claims of long service, we have also endeavoured to do away with some anomalies, and to make salaries in the various departments more consistent. We have not been able to do this as thoroughly as we could have wished, owing to the different customs which obtain in each department as to allowances for free quarters, chair hire, &c., &c.

9. While acknowledging the assistance received at the hands of all Heads of Departments and their subordinates, we feel bound to point out the difficulty that a Commission of this description must necessarily experience in weighing the pros and cons of so many applications, and also the impossibility of obtaining all the facts required to form an absolutely definite opinion of the merits of each case. We have however done our best to get at the truth, and at such points as would enable us to decide whether the salaries at present paid are below the current rate. and we can but express the hope that our suggestions may prove of service to the Government in arriving at such an adjustment as may satisfy all parties concerned.

10. While recommending increased salaries, it appears to us at the same time that office hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including absence for lunch, are altogether too short, and that Government should require from its indoor employés, at least 7 hours' work each day, exclusive of time allowed for meals. Possibly by in- creasing the hours, and also the remuneration, the work might be done in some departments by a smaller staff with greater efficiency and economy.

11. All our recommendations as to salaries are intended to take effect from 1st January, 1900.

Hongkong, 26th July, 1900.

R. M. GRAY,

Chairman.

D. GILLIES.

ROBT. SHEWAN.

I would add to the foregoing that in my opinion a Colony whose revenues are all in silver should not pay any of its wages in gold. It does not seen to me reasonable that two men may be doing the same work but that one should be entil d to draw 25 per cent. more salary (as exchange compensation) than the other merely because the more fortunate one happens to be "domiciled" in a gold country. I think that greater consistency would be secured and a simpler and better system created if all these allowances were commuted for a fixel amount of salary in the currency of the Colony.

26th July, 1900.

ROBT. SHEWAN.

Name.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

[4]

Office.

Date entered Service.

Date present Ap-

Salary

pointment, per month.

P. H. Rozario,....

1st Clerk,

1. 5.74

1. 8.97

$ 160.00

J. M. Gutierres,

2nd

1. 2.82

1.12.90

134.50

J. A. Remedios,

3rd

1. 4.89

1.12.97

110.00

F. F. Remedios,

4th

1. 7.90

1. 8.97

60.00

E. J. Rozario......

Temporary Clerk,

1. 3.97

}

40.00

TREASURY.

E. A. de Carvalho.

J. C. da Cunha.

Cashier and Accountant,

2. 9.81

1. 9.95

200.00

2nd Clerk,......

16. 4.92

1. 1.00

120.00

L. J. Lopes..

Assistant Clerk...

28. 3.94

1. 1.00

120.00

J. Pestonjec,

3rd Clerk,

1. 2.94

22. 2.99

110.00

P. J. M. Rodrigues.

6th

1. 3.90

6.11.99

60.00

A. A. Lopes,

7th

1. 9.99

40.00

E. H. D'Aquino,.

J. M. Placé da Silva,

1st Clerk, Stamp Office...

2nd

1.10.64

30.12.81

17. 8.95

150.00

20. 8.98

90.00

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE.

P. P. J. Wodehouse.

1st Clerk,

1. 5.97

22. 7.97

120.00

BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT.

W. J. Tutcher.

Assistant Superintendent,

14.12.91

1. 1.00

100.00

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

B. W. Grey.

Thomas Jacob......

G. J. W. King,

J. G. Gutierrez,

P. J. Julyan.

A. M. de Souza.

F. M. Franco............

J. B. Gutierrez,

1st Clerk.

Clerk....

Temporary Land Surveyor,

1. 5.99

166.66

Land Surveyor,.

1. 9.98

1. 5.00

125.00

Land Bailiff,

6. 1.81

1. 1.00

166.66

18. 6.77

1. 3.93

120.00

1. 1.95

100.00

13. 7.96

1. 7.99

50.00

28. 1.90

1. 1.91

48.00

9. 5.99

30.00

John Wildey,

Overseer of Roads, City of Victoria..

28. 3.89

1. 6.98

125.00

Increments.

Exchange Compensation.

House Allowance.

: :

[5]

Recommendation.

$185.00.

155.00.

125.00.

70.00.

50.00.

$230.

140.

125.

1901.

1902.

60.

$65

$70

40. 15

175.

105.

:..

...

ཛ

1901.

1902.

1903.

1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904.

Yes

$130

$140

$150

$160 $170

$180 $190

+ Exch. Comp. $200

Yes

House Allowance. $50

Chair.

::.

$24

Yes

$160.00 House Allowance or Quarters.

Understand that this case has been treated by Govt.

$125.00. Chair $24.00.

175 + Exchange Comp. Chair $32. →

175.

140.

150+ Exchange Comp. Chair $24.00.

55.

►

70.

40.

Name.

PUBLIC WOrks, Dept.—Continued.

[6]

Office.

Date entered Service.

Date present Ap-

Salary

pointment, per month.

J. Carroll.

R. H. Mugford.

J. Ross,

I. A. Wheal.

Evan Dougherty.

John Gowanlock,

.......

Overseer,

7.12.91

1. 6.98

$ 125.00

18. 4.97

130.00

22. 3.87

1. 6.98

115.00

of Buildings out of Victoria.

1. 1.94

1. 1.91

115.00

Hongkong Waterworks.......

11. 9.93

100.00

of Drains.

1. 6.95

1. 6.98

100.00

J. Coyle,

of Buildings,

5.11.90

1. 6.98

100.00

F. A. Pearson......

H. W. Wolfe,

F. Stainton........

G. W. Kynoch,

C. Ley Kum,

A. W. J. Simmons,

A. H. Nimmo.......

C. N. Solomon.

Cornelius Grant,...

P. J. D'Almeida........................

J. F. Abraham.

R. C. Witchell,

J. A. Bowen,

J. S. C. Rodrigues......

W. M. Thomson.....

S. M. Thompson....

N. E. Thompson.

Bhola Singh,

Asst. Overseer, H'kong Waterworks,

Foreman of Works, Hill District, ...

Overseer of Waterworks....

Assistant Foreman.

15.12.94

1. 6.98

100.00

28.10.96

21.11.99

100.00

of Buildings.

1.12.96 1. 5.00

100.00

Kowloon Waterworks,

15. 1.00

100.00

Water Inspector.

12. 3.00

50.00

20.11.99 20.11.99

60.00

1. 3.86 16. 6.88

40.00

14. 1.90

30.41

1. 7.86 :

1. 7.86

30.00

1.12.86

1. 9.90

40.00

Foreman.

Water Inspector,

28. 3.98

12.00

22. 1.00

50.00

Watchman, Tytam Reservoir..........

10. 7.96

1. 1.00

50.00

Pokfulam Reservoir.......

7. 1.00

25.00

Custodian. Recreation Ground. .................

1. 4.98

40.00

Caretaker, Shaukiwan Waterworks,

1. 2.98

25.00

Aberdeen Waterworks,

1. 6.97

25.00

Watchman. Laichikok............

30. 1.90

1. 5.97

25.00

PRAYA RECLAMATION,

I. A. Remedios.

Clerk. Accountant and Storekeeper.

20. 5.89

1. 1.95

130.00

W. S. Triscott.

James Baker.

J. W. Harris.

T. Olsen.

Foreman Masen.

11. 6.97

150.00

Assistant Overseer.

2. 5.95

1. 1.00

75.00

15. 2.00

75.00

Master, Government Dredger,

2. 5.95

J. 4.98

80.00

Exchange

Compensation. House

Allowance.

Yes

Increments.

[7]

Yes

Quarters

Recommendation.

$150 + Exchange Compensation.

Resigned.

140 + Exchange Comp. Chair $24.

140 +

24.

Yes

Quarters

Yes

...

120 +

.:.

120 +

Quarters

Yes

70 +

40 +

40.

Quarters

16 Quarters.

16.

24.

20.

16.

24.

36 +

50.

14.

50 Chair $8.

50 Quarters.

48.

16 Quarters.

16.

:: 2

Chair.

$12

$150.

Understand these are leaving.

•

[ 8 ]

Date

Name.

Office.

entered

present Ap-

Salary

Service.

pointment. per month.

POST OFFICE.

A. J. Reed.....

Accountant,

1. 6.88

1. 3.99 S 140.00

H. Dixon.

Supt., Money Order Office,

1. 5.90

1. 1.00

180.00

P. A. V. Remedios,

S. Moosa.....

R. F. Gutierrez.

Supt., Registration Branch.

Clerk.

1. 6.88

1. 1.00

120.00

1. 2.83

1. 3.99

130.00

Marine Officer, ...

29.12.82

1. 3.99

120.00

F. X. P. Silva,

Clerk, Money Order Office,

1. 1.93

1. 3.99

106.00

C. J. Demee,

2nd Marine Officer.

14. 5.89

1. 5.00

100.00

J. Ribeiro.

Deputy Supt.. Registration Branch,

7. 4.96

13. 1.00

80.00

E. Dalieto.

Sirdar Khan.

J. . Remedios.

H. M. Simões.......

J. S. Remedios.

C. T. Silva.

A. Remedios,

P. Roza,

F. Perpetuo,

3rd Marine Officer,

Clerk.......

5.11.96

1. 1.00

60.00

6. 7.98

1. 1.00

60,00

12. 2.97

1. 1.00

60.00

11.12.97

1. 1.00

50.00

1. 4.98

1. 1.00:

50.00

16. 6.98

1. 1.00

50.00

1. 8.98

1. 1.00

45.00

1. 8.98

1. 1.00

45.00

1. 8.98

1. 1.00

45.00

S. Moosa....

9. 3.99

i. 1.00

45.00

J. M. Silva........

8. 3.99

1. 1.00

40.00

F. J. Barretto.

16. 5.99

1. 1.00

40.00

A. F. Castilho.

1. 6.99

1. 1.00

40.00

O. M. Rangel..

27. 6.99

1. 1.00

40.00

J. Victor.........

16. 8.99

1. 1.00.

40.00

P. A. Rozario,.......

22. 8.99

1. 1.00

40.00

J. Barretto...

1. 9.99

1. 1.00

10,00

J. Vardon,

N. M. Manuk....

T. M. Gregory.

G. G. Catchick.

S. M. Joseph,

D. Remedios,

1. 1.00

10.00

1. 1.00

40.00

1. 1.00

40.00

1. 1.00

40.00

1. 1.00

1. 1.00:

40.00

1. 1.00

40.00

M. Mendes,

13. 1.00

40.00

V. Ribeiro,

1. 2.00

40,00

Increments.

Exchange

Compensation. Allowance

for sorting.

[9]

About

$12

Yes

House allow.

$15

Sea allowance

$40

Recommendation.

$160+ about $12.00 for sorting.

Sea allowance

$40

Sea allowance

$40

190 +

12.00

+ Exch. Comp.

150 +

12.00

No house allowance.

140 +

12.00

170 +

12.00

inclusive of sea allowee.

120.

140 +

6.00

80 +

6.00

100 +

4.00

60 rising to $70 by $5 each year+ about $8 for sorting.

to 70 by 5

70 by 5

to 70 by 5

70 by 5

to 70 by 5

40.

to 70 by 5

;

་

to 70 by 5

to 70 by

to 70 by 5

apre

рабрость

་

Name.

POST OFFICE.—Continued.

[ 10 ]

Office.

Date entered Service.

Date

present Ap-

Salary

pointment. Per month.

S. V. Remedios.

Clerk....

18. 3.00

40.00

S. V. M. Houghton,

1. 5.00

40.00

II. Xavier.

1. 5.00

40.00

S. Nunes......

Launch Officer.....

1. 1.00

45.00

J. M. Passos.

1. 1.00

45.00

N.B.—We consider that the allowance for sorting should be abolished and the amount incorporated into salary.

(Shanghai.)

M. A. Pereira.

Acting Postmaster,

23.12.82

1. 1.00 110.00

C. L. Perpetuo,

Clerk......

L. A. Perpetuo.

1. 5.99

1. 4.00

50.00

1. 4.00

1. 1.00

40.00

HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPARTMEMT.

J. L. de S. Alves,

First Clerk,

7. 5.66

1. 8.98

192.00

A. P. Guterres,

Second

3. 4.69

1. 8.98

164.00

A. C. Botelho......

F. A. Cordeiro,

E. Jones...

E. J. Meugens,

M. Melver,

F. C. Collaço.

F. M. Franco.....

Fourth

First Boarding Officer,

Third

26.11.72

1. 8.98

125.00

1. 8.87

1. 8.99

73.33

17. 7.88

1. 1.91

160.00

Second

1. 8.89

1. 1.91

147.50

Inspector of Junks & Cargo-boats.... 30.10.91

1. 6.97

93.00

Asst.

1. 6.76

1. 6.97

86.00

20.11.91

10. 7.99

80.00

and charge of Samshuipo Har- bour Station.

S. Soonderam......

M. Rahfeek..

R. L. Rocha,

C. F. S. Collaço...............

R. Gomes,

W. Robinson,

Indian Interpreter,

1. 9.93

30.00

and Malay Interpreter,

1.12.97

35.00

Signalman at the Peak,

1. 1.96

1. 3.98

61.00

Telegraph Clerk, Cape D'Aguilar, .......

16. 6.97

10.00

Signalman, Blackhead's Hill,

Master of Steam Tender..

1. 3.98

15. 4.99

1. 3.98

40.00

1. 9.99

150.00

R. C. Dixon,

J. Macdonald, Jr.:

John Livesey,

James Sinclair,

J. M. Franco,

Government Marine Surveyor,

16. 8.90

1. 2.92

300.00

Asst.

1. 4.92

200.00

Officer in charge Gunpowder Depot.

4.10.75

1. 1.91

141.00

2nd Lighthouse Keeper.

11. 2.91

102.50

3rd

1. 6.91

46.50

Exchange

Compensation. Allowance

for sorting.

Increments.

[ 11 ]

Recommendation.

40 rising to $70 by $5 each year + about $4 for sorting.

70 by 5

45 + about $4 for sorting.

45 +

$175.00.

1900. 1901.

1902.

100

$220.00.

;

190.

150.

90.

185 House $40+ Exchange Comp.

170

40 +

110 Quarters and Light + Exchange Comp.

100 House $20.

95 Quarters.

Yes

ง

House.

$35

Quarters and light.

Quarters.

Yes

な

Quarters and light. Quarters.

Quarters on

board, fuel

and light.

Quarters,

fuel and light.

45.

75 Quarters and Light.

150+ Exchange Comp.

Informed that this case has been dealt with.

$5 Boat hire

170 + Exchange. Quarters fuel and light.

125 +

Name.

[ 12 ]

Office.

Date entered Service.

Date

present Ap-

Salary

pointment. per month.

HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPT.--Continued.

C. E. Nicholas,:

Lightkeeper, Gap Rock,

25. 4.92

8. 6.95

$135.00

J. Mitchell,

Senr. Asst. Lightkeeper, Gap Rock,

25. 4.92

S. 6.95

130.00

F. A. Coleman,

Junr.

25. 4.92

8. 6.95

125.00

(Imports and Exports Office.)

L. G. D'Almada e Castro, ....

1st Clerk.

1. 2.81

1. 1.91

134.50

A. Loureiro.

A. C. Botelho, Jr..

2nd

3rd

1. 2.00

12. 3.00

60.00

12. 3.00

50.00

SUPREME Court.

C. J. Xavier.

1st Clerk of Court and Clerk to

Chief Justice.

26.10.82

1. 1.98

121.50

L. D'Almada e Castro,

2nd Clerk of Court and Clerk to

Puisne Judge.

1.11.93

1. 1.98

100.00

Abdulla Bin Suffiad,

Vincent A. Sales,

Frederick Howell,

I. F. do Rozario,...

George Thomas,

Clerk to Registrar and Hindustani

Interpreter.

7.11.88

9. 5.98

95.00

Usher,

1st Bailiff,

9. 7.89

80.00

10. 9.80

1. 1.94

125.00

Assistant Bailiff,

16.12.99

40.00

Assistant Clerk and Librarian.

4. 9.93 4. 9.93

40.00

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

E. A. Bateman,

E. Tutcher.

Lizzie Turner.......

Hilda Long,

Kitty Turner.

R. Soonderam,

MAGISTRACY DEPARTMENT.

Head Mistress,

1. 9.91

100.00

First Assistant.

7. 1.93

1. 9.95

60.00

Second

14. 4.92

1.11.95

25.00

Senior Pupil Teacher,

1. 5.94

1. 1.00

20.00

Junior

1.11.94

1. 1.00

15.00

Head Master, Wanchai School,

2. 2.80

1. 1.90

44.00

W. M. B. Arthur.

N. G. Nolan,

First Clerk.

Interpreter,

7. 4.91

4.10.94

100.00

M. Hoosen.

S. Alli Bux,

Chinese and Hindustani Interpreter,

9. 5.98

75.00

Fourth Clerk & Asst.

13.10.79

1. 3.97

54.00

F. E. Danenberg,

Fifth Clerk & Portuguese Interpreter,

1.11.99

36.00

Exchange Compensation.

Increments.

Yes

[13]

Quarters,

fuel & light.

Chair.

$12

Yes

Recommendation.

$150+ Exchange Comp. Quarters, Fuel & Light.

145 +

140 +

$150 Chair $16.

1900. 1901. 1902.

1903.

Yes

House

allowance.

$50

Yes

$145

115

100

145+ Exchange.

1901.

1902.

40 45

1901.

1900. 1901. 1902.

150

165

180+ Exch. Comp. No house allowee.

100

115

130 +

$60 + $6 House allowance or quarters.

$120 + Exchange Compensation.

Name.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

F. H. Kew.....

M. A. Rozack,

OBSERVATORY DEPARTMENT.

Anna Doberck,

E. J. F. Gomes,

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

[14]

Date

Office.

entered Service.

Date present Ap-

Salary

pointment. per month.

Clerk to Attorney General,.

11.12.94

1. 1.99 $ 60.00

to Crown Solicitor.

1.12.96

60.00

Assistant Meteorologist,

1. 5.92

83.33

First Computer,

1.11.90 1.11.96

50.00

Thomas J. Wild..

Robert Chapman,

Asst. Apothecary and Analyst.

Accountant and Storekeeper.

18. 8.99

150.00

1. 4.92

1. 1.98

145.00

Sara E. Barker,

Matron,

4. 4.94

14. 3.99

95.00

Florence M. Barr,

Sister,

26. 2.97

26. 2.99

75.00

Annie E. Todd,

26. 2.97

26. 2.99

75.00

Helen Batchelor,.....

11. 6.98

11. 6.99

65.00

Elizabeth Maker,

Georgina Franklin,.

Clara Watson.......

18. 6.98

18. 6.99

65.00

1.10.98

1.10.99

65.00

13. 1.99

13. 1.00

65.00

Ada Ellen Gorham.

Katharine E. Stollard,

Annie A. Lazenby,

25. 3.99

25. 3.00

65.00

25. 3.99

25. 3.00

65.00

28.10.99

55.00

Isabel Manners,

Elsa Stewart Hogg,

George Tuohy,

Sahab,

T. R. O. Hashi.

J. R. Lee,

Edward Abbott,

C. P. da Silva,

Ann M. T. Millington,

Mary Robins,

Nurse Probationer.

1. 5.99

1. 5.00

20.00

1. 5.99

1. 5.00

20.00

Wardmaster,

5. 9.97

22. 3.00

$2.00

Gatekeeper, Civil Hospital.

1. 9.98

1. 9.99

11.00

Japanese Interpreter.

15.12.96

6.00

Wardmaster Lunatic Asylum,.

1. 5.95

L. 5.95

70.00

Asst.

9. 8.99

60.00

Temp. Asst. Vaccine Institute.

1.12.99

10.00

Sister. Nursing Institute.......

13. 5.98 13. 5.00

85.00

13. 5.98 13. 5.00

85.00

Exchange Compensation.

Increments.

Yes

[ 15 ]

$70.

70.

Recommendation.

$100+ Exchange Compensation.

1900. 1901. 1902.

Light & fuel.

$12

Light and Fuel.

Quarters.

$160 Ex. Comp. $12 Quarters.

170 +

Chair. $12.00

110 +

Chair $16.00.

3.60

85 +

4.80.

3.60

85 +

4.80.

3.60

75 +

4.80.

3.60

75 +

3.60

75 +

4.80.

3.60

75 +

4.80.

3.60

75 +

4.80.

3.60

75 +

4.80.

3.60

65+

4.80.

Ration,

light & fuel.

$15

Yes

Light & fuel.

Yes

Quarters.

Chair.

Yes

Free.

Quarters.

45 and Quarters. No allowances.

Resigned.

14 Quarters.

Light and Fuel.

80 + Ex. Comp. $7 If these posts made interchage-

75 +

Unchanged.

able with other wardmasters.

Name.

VICTORIA Gaol.

E. J. Pierpoint,

H. J. Watson.........

R. A. Craig.

D. Doyle....

J. Sinnot....

J. Aberus,

C. Robertson.

[ 16 ]

Office.

Date entered Service.

Date present Ap- pointment.

per

Salary

month.

Chief Warder,

5.10.95

13. 5.99

$ 120.00

Clerk and Storekeeper...

6. 5.85

1. 1.96

100.00

Clerk.....

1. 3.98

3. 5.98

50.00

Principal Warder.

5.12.95

5. 6.99

80.00

Warder.

11.12.94

24.10.99

80.00

5. 1.95

25. 2.00

G8.00

22. 5.97

13. 7.99

64.00

C. Bains.

W. Wilkinson.

J. Straube.

16. 7.97

60.00

2. 3.94

24.10.99

60.00

7. 2.92

1. 4.96

60.00

T. Souza..

13. 6.87

1. 1.98

60.00

G. Passmore.

11. 8.97 11. 8.97

60.00

C. Parkinson.

14. 7.98

60.00

E. Eurwisle.

14. 7.98 14. 7.98

60.00

F. Owens,

G. Foden.

29. 5.99

60.00

26. 6.99

60.00

E. Oram,

T. Jolms.

A. Ratcliffe.

J. Kelton.

21. 7.99

60.00

3. 8.99

60.00

4.10.99

60.00

9.11.99

60.00

J. Peak.

Hospital Warder,

9. 1.00

60.00 -

A. Morgan.

Warder.

23. 2.00

60.00

J. Tweed.......

1.11.76

6. 5.96

55.00

Lewis,

Matron.

20. 2.97

17. 4.99

50.00

Raptis.

Wardress.

3. 8.99

20.00

Collins...

13. 6.99

20.00

Exchange Compensation.

Increments.

[ 17 ]

Rising by $4 Uniform, fuel Quarters.

Yes

in 5 years

to $140.

and light.

Rising by $4

in 5 years to $100.

Rising by $4 in 5 years to $80.

Yes

Recommendation.

$140 rising by $4 in 5 years to $160+ Exch. Uniform, &c.

120 + Exchange Comp. Uniform fuel and light.

60 +

95 rising by $4 in 5 years to $115+ Exch. Uniform, &c.

Quarters.

by 4 in 5

to 115+

་་

by 4 in 3

90+

by 4 in 4

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

.་

by 4 in 5

90+

་

by 4 in 5

90+

by -4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

by 4 in 5

90+

Rising by $4

for 5 years

to $80.

Yes

for 3

Rising by $2

years to $26.

80+ Exchange Quarters light and fuel, if made inter- changeable with the Medical Department.

70 rising by $4 in 5 years to $90+ Exch. Uniform, &c.

1900.

by 4 in 5 1901.

to 85+

[ 18 ]

Name.

Office.

Date entered Service.

Date present Ap- pointment.

SANITARY DEPARTMENT.

C. W. Duggan,

Secretary,

Salary per month.

1.10.69

7. 3.99

$ 250.00

J. J. Bryan,...

Asst. Sanitary Surveyor,

16. 7.97

200.00

R. Pestonji,.

Clerk,

1.10.98

60.00

M. H. Harteem,

Clerk and Interpreter to Medical

Officer of Health.

1. 4.00

30.00

J. H. Dandy,

Chief Inspector of Nuisances.

6. 7.99

150.00

1st Class

31.10.91

1. 1.99

104.50

J. Reidie,....

F. Fisher,

L. E. Brett..

G. G. Burnett,

W. Fincher,

F. Allen,

H. J. Knight,

E. Rogers,

G. Hoggarth

W. H. Woolley,

D. McKenzie,

A. McVicar,

J. Hood,

C. W. Brett,

J. J. McMichael,

J. Mills,

2nd

3rd

}

;

.་

14. 5.95

1. 1.99

104.50

12. 8.93

1. 1.99

84.00

19.12.92

1. 1.99

84.00

•

21.10.93

1. 1.99

$4.00

1. 3.97

1. 1.99

84.00

6. 1.96

1. 1.99

84.00

10. 1.94

1. 1.99

84.00

15. 1.95

1. 1.99

84.00

6. 3.96

1. 1.99

84.00

31.10.91

1. 1.99

65.00

8.12.90 1. 1.99

65.00

31.10.91

1. 1.99

65.00

1.11.99 1.11.99

60.00

10.11.99

60.00

16.11.99 16.11.99

60.00

Increments.

Exchange Compensation.)

[19]

Recommendation.

1900.

1901.

Yes

Rising to $300

$275

300 + Exchange Comp.

in 5 years.

1900.

1903.

Chair.

1900.

1903.

$225

$250

$24

$250 275+ Ex. Comp. + Chair $32.00. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904.

$60 65 70 75

Yes

1901.

$35

Rising to $200 House allow.

30 35 40

50 Chair $8.

170 180

190

200

$32 House $40+ Exch.

in 5 years.

$35 Teacher $10

Rising to $114

Knowledge of

in 3 years.

Chinese $10

House.

$30

120 125

130 Know. Chinese 15

30+

Teacher $5

120 125 130

30+

啤啤

House.

Knowledge of

Rising to $92

$30

Chinese.

90 95 100

105 110,,

30+:

;

in 3 years.

•*

Rising to $80

in 3 years.

Rising to $80 Quarters.

in 4 years.

$30

90 95 100

105 110 ..

30+

90 95

100 105 110

30+

90 95 100 105 110

30+

95 100

105 110.

30+

90 95 100 105 110

30+

90 95

100

105 110 ..

30+

90 95 100 105 110

30+

80 85 90 95 100

80 85

100

1905.

75 80 85

30+

90 95 100 Quarters +

75 80

85 90 95

100

House $30+

85 90 95

100

30+

Name.

SANITARY DEPARTMENT, Continued.

[ 20 ]

Date

Office.

entered present Ap- Service.

Salary

pointment. per month.

H. E. Willmer,

3rd Class Inspector of Nuisances,

18.12.99 18.12.99

$ 60.00

A. Watson..

Inspector in Charge of Animal Depôt, 28.10.87

19. 3.99

100.00

J. T. Cotton.

Inspector of Markets.

1. 1.95 19. 3.99

84.00

U. A. Johanssen,

Overseer Central Market,

15.11.96

15.11.99

50.00

A. Small..

C. P. da Silva.

Ali Moosden,

F. Malabunda,

Alex. Delgado,

J. R. Castilho........

D. dos Santos..

Abdul Kader.

J. Rocha.....

Mahomed Tipe.

J. G. da Silva,

Mangal Singh,

Drainage Works.

1. 7.97

1. 7.99

50.00

Interpreter to Col. Vet. Surgeon,

1. 6.99

20.00

Foreman of Steeet Cleansers.

1.10.91

30.00

TITO

}

1. 1.95

30.00

1. 1.96

30.00

1. 6.97

30.00

1. 9.97

30.00

19. 5.98

19. 5.99

30.00

17. 6.98

.98

30.00

1.11.96

19. 3.99

30.00

1.11.99

30.00

8.11.99 8.11.99

30.00

E. M. Xavier.

Watchman, Hill District,

1. 7.98

30.00

M. Esmail,

Slaughter House,

12. 8.96

12. 8.99

23.00

H. J. White.

Overseer, Protestant Cemetery,

1. 1.99

40.00

C. E. Warren.................

2nd Class Inspector of Nuisances,

15.11.95

1. 1.99

$4.00

A. Brown,

3rd

17. 2.91

1. 1.99

65.00

Exchange Compensation.

Increments.

Yes

Rising to $80

in 4 years.

Quarters. $30

[21]

Recommendation.

1900. 1901, 1902. 1903. 1904, 1905.

80 85 90 95 100 House $30+ Exch.

Quarters.

120 125

130 Recommend improved quarters +

...

Chair.

Rising to $92

$30

$12

90 95 100 105 110 Chair $16 House 30+

in 3 years.

Quarters.

60+ Exchange Comp. Quarters.

70 f

Chair $8.

1900. 1901. 1902.

Rising to $30

40.

('hair $8.

in 10 years.

::.

...

40.

10.

Quarters.

40.

Yes

Rising to $30

in 7 years.

Also Verger St. John's Cathedral. Rising to $92

in 3 years.

Rising to $80

in 3 years.

House.

$30

40.

45 + Exchange.

1900. 1901. 1902.

1903. 1904.

100

105

110

House $30.

100

105

110

30.

No. 1380.

[ 22 ]

(Acting Colonial Secretary to Chairman, Salaries Committee.)

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 30th July, 1900.

SIR,-I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the valuable Report which you. in conjunction with the other Members of the Committee appointed by His Excellency to enquire into the subject of the salaries of subordinate officers, have drawn up and submitted for the consideration of the Government.

In offering you and the rest of the Committee the thanks of His Excellency for the trouble and care which you have spent in making the investigations which enabled you to draw up so complete a report, I am to inform you that your recom- mendations will receive the close attention of the Government and will he for- warded in due course to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

F. H. MAY.

The Honourable R. M. GRAY.

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Enclosure No. 2.

NOTES ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF SALARIES COMMITTEE.

YOUR EXCELLENCY.-I think this opportunity should be taken to classify the Salaries of the "Portuguese Clerks" at any rate.

Chinese clerks' salaries have been dealt with this year and Interpreters' will come under the Interpretation Scheme. I submit a classification based on that in C.O.D. 270/1895 which has been prepared by the Treasurer and myself.

Colonial Secretary's Office.

The third clerk's salary is already on an incremental scale rising to $1,800. The fourth clerk, besides assisting in the Despatch Branch, is in charge of the Subsidiary Register of documents connected with the New Territory. His work is heavy and I think his salary should be on an incremental scale. I see no rea- son why there should be such a wide difference between the salaries of the 3rd and 4th clerks and I would suggest that the salary be placed on the next vacancy on an incremental scale rising to $1,080 by $60 biennially.

The salaries of the 5th and 6th clerks have been fixed at $480 rising to $600 by $60 biennially. The experience of the past few months shows me that both these clerks are worth rore. Mr. F. Rozario especially is a very smart clerk and a first class typewriter. I think the maxima of their salaries should be fixed at $840 instead of $600. The increases might be $60 biennially. They might begin at $600 from 1st January next. The Committee seems to have left Mr. F. Rozario out by an oversight. The two other clerkships in this Department were vacant at the time of the Committee's enquiry, and at present a temporary typewriter is employed instead of the two clerks.

Treasury.

The post of Cashier in the Treasury is the most responsible clerkship in the Service and I am strongly of opinion that the salary should rise to $3,000 at least.

The salary of the 7th clerk is already $480 to $780.

The 6th and 7th clerks' salaries might be fixed at $660 to $840 by $60 biennially.

Registrar General's Department.

Mr. Wodehouse's increments date from the 22nd of July in each year. He is therefore now drawing $130 a month. He might draw $170 from the 1st of January, 1901.

•

[23]

Public Works Department.

The reason Mr. Franco has been recommended for such a much larger in- crease than Mr. Souza is evidently on account of his longer service.

I think they should be put on the same footing. I have put them in Class V of the Classification.

The Committee recommend that 3 overseers should get $1,800 a year, 2 $1,680, and 7 $1,440. As regards the 3 who appear in the Estimates at $960 two of these appointments were held when the Committee prepared their Schedule at the reduced salaries of $600 and $720 by Messrs. Ley Kum (wrongly described as a Water Inspector) and Simmons, who were appointed on probation on the reduced salaries, while one of the posts was vacant. The salaries of these 3 posts may remain at their present figure. It is necessary to point out that the salaries on the Estimates of the posts held by Messrs. J. F. Abraham (foreman) and R. C. Witchell (Water Inspector) are respectively $240 and $720. They were also appointed on probation on the lower salaries mentioned in the Schedule of the Committee. Mr. Witchell's chair allowance has hitherto been paid out of the vote for Water Works.

The custodian of the Recreation Ground has hitherto been paid out of the vote "Maintenance of Recreation Ground." The salary will be recommended to be increased to $720 in the Estimates for 1901.

The caretakers at Shau-ki-wan and Aberdeen Water Works and watchmen at Lai-chi-kok have hitherto been paid out of the votes for Maintenance of Water Works at Shau-ki-wan and Aberdeen and out of the Miscellaneous vote for New Territory.

Post Office.

The senior clerk has not been mentioned by the Committee. I think the salary (seeing that a house allowance is attached to it, and that, when the new Post Office is built the officer will have free quarters) will do as it stands at present. But if a classification of salaries is adopted he should be put on an incremental scale in Class III. The Acting Postmaster has recommended that the salary should be $1,560 rising to $1,920.

The Acting Postmaster recommends and I strongly endorse his recommenda- tion that the salary of the Accountant be placed on an incremental scale. The post is a very important one and the increments will serve to keep a good clerk in the post. Mr. Lewis recommends that the salary should rise from $1,920 to $2,400 by $60 yearly. For an Accountant the salary is by no means too high. Mr. Reed might begin at $1,920 on 1st January next.

Mr. Lewis also recommends that the salary of the Superintendent of the Money Order Office should rise by the same increments to $2,400 and I agree with him. He only draws house allowance, while assisting in performing the duties of the Assistant Postmaster General. I think Mr. Dixon might draw the max- imum from the 1st January next.

The Superintendent Registration Branch draws $15 house allowance which was attached to the post when filled by a European. His pay is now $1,800 and Mr. Lewis recommends that it should rise to $2,160. I think the house al- lowance should be amalgamated with salary and the salary made $1,800 rising to $2,100 by $60 biennially.

Deputy Superintendent Registration Department.

Mr. Lewis recommends that the salary should rise to $1,440 as the post is an important one. I think if it rises to $1,080 by $60 biennially it should suffice.

Third Marine Officer:

To this officer has been allotted the salary of $900 per annum appearing on the Estimates for the year and which was not drawn by any one. Mr. Lewis recommends that he now draw $960 and sea allowance to make the difference between his salary and that of the other Marine Officers less pronounced. 1 see no reason to disturb the existing salary, unless the Classification is adopted.

The Acting Postmaster recommends that the maximum salary for the re- mainder of the staff be $960 instead of $810 per annum as recommended by the

Committee.

[ 24 ]

I think the rates proposed by the Committee will do, but the Second Clerk in the Money Order Office (Mr. Moosa) might get $900 as a maximum as he does not draw any extra allowance for sorting.

The Committee recommend that the Staff of the Post Office should be strengthened by the addition of a few experienced sorters from home, and Mr. Lewis recommends that two such be obtained at salaries of $1,200 rising to $1,680 per annum. I have always been of opinion that the great weakness of the Post Office is the want c' trained subordinates in the General Office and for that reason I recommended, when the post of Chief Clerk recently became vacant, that it should be filled by a trained officer from England. A recommendation to that effect was made by Your Excellency but not approved by the Secretary of State. I am still of the same opinion. Portuguese Clerks are as a class careless, inaccurate, and inclined to idleness. The Department will never be thoroughly efficient till the Subordinate Staff is leavened with a few trained Englishinen.

I would point to the Gaol as an example of what the assistance of trained subordinate officers can effect. There is no comparison between the discipline. and general management of prisoners maintained in the Gaol to-day, under the immediate supervision of the trained officers obtained some time ago from home, and the arrangements which obtained when the whole staff was recruited locally. The Gaol now will bear comparison with an English Prison. Formerly it certainly would not have done so.

Mr. Lewis is of opinion that the 4 clerks from India can be obtained at the rate of $480 to $840. He derives his information from an Indian Postal Official.

Harbour Office.

The increases to the first, second and third clerks recommended by the Committee are evidently based on the extraordinarily long service of the three officers.

The salaries as they stand seem to me to be sufficient (unless the Classifica- tion is adopted) and I would suggest that the increases recommended by the Committee to these three officers take, in these special cases, the form of personal allowances.

The Acting Harbour Master points out that the house allowances in the Department are inadequate. Unless all house allowances are to be revised through- out the Service I cannot recommend any alteration.

Education Department.

I consider the recommendations made in the case of the first assistant some- what too liberal. A salary of $1,200 per annum including house allowance seems sufficient.

Magistracy.

The salary of the first clerk should I think be at least $2,400. I do not know why no recommendation has been made by the Committee in this case.

The salary of the fourth clerk should in my opinion be fixed at $660 rising to $840 by $60 biennially.

No recommendation was made by the Committee probably because Mr. Alli Bux had just been transferred to the Police Department.

The salary of the 5th clerk has recently been recommended to be fixed at $420 rising to $540 by $60 triennially.

Medical Department.

The salary of the Accountant and Storekeeper is made up as follows:-

Salary, Collecting Bills,

....

Keeping accounts for Venereal Ward,

Keeping accounts for Lunatic Asylum,

Keeping accounts for "Hygeia,".

$1,140

240

180

120

$1,740

[25]

It would be better to abolish all these allowances and fix the salary at $2,040 as proposed.

The ration allowance of the Probationers has been amalgamated with salary on the Estimates for 1901 and the salaries fixed as follows:-

3 Probationers (Europeans) at $360 rising to $480 by $60 yearly.

1 Probationer (Chinese) at $288 rising to $408 by $60 yearly. These salaries seem sufficient.

The Committee evidently intended to increase the salaries of the Sisters by $120 per annuin. The new rate should be fixed at $780 rising to $1,020 by $60 yearly.

The new rate of pay at which Wardmasters have recently been engaged in England ($×66 to $1,046 by $60 yearly) should be a lopted for all Ward masters in the Medical Department including the Assistant Wardmaster at the Lunatic Asylum.

The Wardmasters would then, as recommended by the Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer, be all interchangeable which would render the work of each less

monotonous.

Gaol Department.

The clerk and storekeeper and clerk do not require uniforın.

The pay of the Hospital Warders should be the same as that of the other warders ($840 rising to $1,080).

I agree

lished.

that the class of Warders on $720 with no increment should be abo-

Mrs. Collins is entitled to exchange compensation.

Sanitary Board.

I see no particular reason why the Secretary should reach his maximum salary next year or why the salary of the Assistant Sanitary Surveyor (now Sanitary Surveyor) should be disturbed.

The Committee recommend that the house allowance of the Chief Inspector of Nuisances be increased from $35 to $40 a month. I see no objection to this.

It seems sufficient if the maximum of the Portuguese clerk's salary were fixed at $840

Mr. Harteem may be left to be dealt with under the Interpretation Scheme. The authorised staff of Inspectors of Nuisances is with the addition of 3 First Class Inspectors and 2 Second Class Inspectors made this year as follows:—

8 1st Class Inspectors.

8 2nd do,

do.

6 3rd do.

There were, when the list of Inspectors was drawn up for the consideration of the Committee, 6 vacancies (2 of which had been newly sanctioned) for 1st Class Inspectors.

The Committee practically recommend that the pay of the Inspectors of Nuisances should be as follows:-

1st Class $1,440 rising to 2nd Class 1,00 rising to 3rd Class 900 rising to

$1,560 in 2 years,

1,320 in 4 1,320 in 4 years, 1,200 in 5 years,

and the Board r commen (as already explained in Your Excellency's despatch No. 416 of the 12th instant) that the staff should be reconstituted as follows:-

3 Senior Inspectors at $1.800 rising to $2,040 per annum.

5 1st Class Inspectors

7 2nd do. 6 3rd do.

do. do.

at the rates recommended by the Committee.

Your Excellency has recommended to the Secretary of State that this be done. The Committee recommend that the Inspector in charge of the Animal Depôts (and Slaughter-houses) and the Inspector of Markets should receive the pay of a 1st class and 2nd class Inspector of Nuisances respectively, and I think this should

be done.

[ 26 ]

The Board do not concur in the recommendation that Mr. Brown, apparently on account of his previous services in another department, should be promoted at once to the grade of 2nd class Inspector of Nuisances, and I agree with the Board.

The Committee recommend a uniform rate of $8 a month for each chair coolie. In the Estimates for next year, the rate has been set down at $7.50 a month and I recommend that the latter rate be adopted.

Since the Schedule was prepared by the Committee, various changes have taken place which it seems needless to specify. In a great many cases the date of present appointment" is not correctly given, the date from which the officer concerned began to draw his present rate of salary being entered under that heading.

F. H. MAY,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

20.9.900.

Enclosure No. 3.

SCHEME FOR SALARIES BASED ON C. O. D. 270 of 1895.

CLASS I-$2.400 to $3.000, by $120 biennially.

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended by Committee.

$2,400

$2,760

Cashier, Treasury,..

Accountant, Public Works Department....

...

CLASS II.-$2,160 to $2.400, by $60 biennially.

...

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended by Committee.

First Clerk Magistracy,........

$2,232

First Clerk, Harbour Of.ce.

2,304

$2,640

Acountant, General Post Offic

1,680

1,920

Superintendent, Money Order Office,.

2,160

2,280

CLASS III.—$1,800 to $2,100, by $60 biennially.

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended by Committee.

First Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,

...

Registrar General's Office,

$2.040 $1,375-$1,800

$2,220 $1,560-$4.400

Police Department,

$1,800

Public Works Department,

1,440

$2,100

Senior Clerk, General Post Office,

1,800

Second Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,.

1,612

1,860

Treasury,

1,440

1,6-0

Assistant Clerk, Treasury,

1,440

1,680

Second Clerk, Harbour Office,

1,968

2,280

First Clerk, Stamp Office.....

1,800

2,100

Superintendent. Registration Branch, Ge-

neral Post Office,

1,440

1,800

[ 27 ]

CLASS IV. $1,200 to $1,500 by $60 annually.

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended by Committee.

First Clerk, Supreme Court, Third Clerk, Treasury,

Harbour Office.

Second Clerk, Stamp Office,

First Clerk. Imports and Exports Office,. Third Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,... Clerk. Money Order Office, General Post

Office,

$1.458

$1 740

1,320

1,500

1.800

1.080

1,260

1,614

1.800

$1,200 to $1.800

1,5:0

$1.272

1.440

One Clerk, General Post Office, (on next

vacancy),

1.560

1,680

Second Clerk, Public Works Department, First Marine Officer, General Post Office. First Clerk, Victoria Gaol,

1.200

1.680

1,440

1,560

1.200

1.440)

*Salary to be exclusive of sea allowance.

CLASS V.-$900 to $1,080, by $60 biennially.

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended by Commitee.

Deputy Supt., Registration Branch, Gene-

ral Post Office,

$ 960

Second Marine Officer,

1,200

1.200

Third

900

1,200

Second Clerk, Supreme Court,

Fourth Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,.

Two Clerks in General Post Office,

Fourth Clerk, Harbour Department,

One Clerk, Shanghai Post Office,..

1,200

1,380

720

840

720 each 879.96 $600 to $.60

840

1.080

$960-$1,200

Salary to be exclusive of sea allowance.

CLASS VI.-(Exclusive of Post Office) $660 to $840, by $60 biennially.

Office.

Fifth Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,

Sixth Sixth Seventh

Treasury,

One Clerk, Public Works Dept., (Souza ),

1 Franco),

Second Clerk, Imports and Exports Office,

Third

ཞྭ

Fourth Clerk, Magistracy, .... One Clerk, Gaol Department, One Clerk, Sanitary Board,

Present Salary.

Salary recommended by Committee.

$480-$600 480-600

$600

$720 to $840

$480 to $780

480 to 600

$600

$660

576

$40

720

$720 to $900

600

600 to 780

648

600

$720

720

$720 to $960

[ 28 ]

CLASS VII. $480 to $600, by $60 biennially.

Salary

Office.

Present Salary.

recommended by Committee.

One Clerk, Public Works Dept., (Gutierrez),

$360

$480

One Clerk, Shanghai Post Office, Assistant Bailiff, Supreme Court,... Assistant Clerk and Librarian, Supreme

480

$720 to $960

480

480 to 600

Court,

480

Fifth Clerk, Magistracy,

432

$660 540

Enclosure No. 4.

SUMMARY BY THE COL NIAL TREASURER.

Attached will be found a Summary showing approximately the result if the Committee's Recommendations as to Salaries are approved, but I should be glad if the figures were checked in your office.

$42,000 a year (with say $2,00, more or less, for exchange compensation ) would be required to pay the suggested increases In calculating that amount I have taken the maximum in each case of present and proposed salary but have ignored increases in chair allowances.

These latter should be put on a regular basis throughout the Service say at $7.50 or $8, per mensem for each coolie required.

The amount involved in such cases however is small and may be neglected in the present consideration.

In my opinion this Government can easily afford the extra payments recom- nended. but before advising that any of them be adopted I suggest that a copy of the Schedule be sent confidentially to Heads of Departments for their remarks on such part as concerns their subordinates.

I have ommitted the Praya Reclamation figures as they do not really concern the Government, as also the Shanghai Statement as it obviously depends on a temporary state of affairs.

As regards the Report itself I may make the following remarks:-

Para. 7. The practice of getting out officers in a subordinate capacity

is generally expensive and hazardous.

The question is moreover not strictly relevant.

As regards the Shanghai Post Office I am of opinion that the question as to whether it repays this Colony should be thoroughly gone into. If it does not, there should be no hesitation in moving its abolition as the Settlement has no claim upon Hongkong and th re are now plenty facilities for transit of correspondence specially since the institution of the Chinese Imperial Post Office a few years ago. Besides, the English residents have never properly supported the Hongkong Post Office there, as they were able to send letters cheaper through the French Post Office.

I am of opinion also that the sorting allowance should be kept distinct from salary.

Para. 10.-There is no hour for lunch and as a matter of fact no clerk can claim that the hours are fixed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In my department, and I believe in the Colonial Secretary's Office also, work has to be done very frequently after the above time The suggestion of having smaller staff and larger pay is not practicable in Hongkong where departments are very small as compared with departments at home and in larger colonies.

[ 29 ]

As regards Mr. Shewan's rider I do not think the question need be raised. If it were carried out, and exchange went down much, after fixing salaries afresh. there would be a fresh clamour from officers whose families were in England.

As a rule anyhow officers drawing exchange compensation are not doing the same work as others.

2nd August, 1900.

A. M. THOMSON,

Treasurer.

Confidential.

No. 2.

Enclosure No. 5.

(Acting Postmaster General to Acting Colonial Secretary )

GENERAL POST OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 13th August, 1900.

SIR,In returning the Schedule, shewing the increases of salaries of Officers in the Post Office Department, recommended by the Salaries Commission, which was forwarded to me with your Circular of the 8th instant, (and which subject to one inaccuracy I have found correct in so far as you desired), I would now beg leave most respectfully to make the following remarks thereon in compliance with the wishes of His Excellency the Governor.

2. I have numbered in pencil the Officers whose names appear on the Sche- dule, but before referring to them would like to draw attention to the fact that no mention is made as to the Senior Clerk of the Post Office. The present Officer, as you are aware, was appointed on the 1st July, 1900, at a salary of $120 per month, and $45 house allowance, and under existing conditions he will be entitled after the first year to the annual incremental increases of $120, until the maximum salary of $150 per month is attained. I think, however, that this Officer's case is deserving of consideration with the others, and if I may be allowed, would recommend for consideration, that the salary of Senior Clerk be fixed at $130 per month, rising by the usual annual increments to $160. The house allow- ance, of course, will be drawn by him until such time as the new Post Office is built, and the necessary Quarters for the Senior Clerk provided therein.

3. No. 1.-The Accountant should be a responsible and highly efficient man, and in my opinion, should rank in the Office next to the Senior Clerk. The proposed salary is $160. but I would suggest for consideration. that it should rise by yearly increments to $200 per month, for then it would be the means of keeping a good man in the same place, which is essential.

4. No. 2.-The Superintendent of the Money Order Office should, for the reasons advanced above, likewise be entitled to rise to a maximum salary of $200. The extra allowance mentioned as drawn by this Officer is only drawn so long as he assists in performing the Assistant Postmaster General's duties.

5. No. 3.-The Superintendent of the Registration Office is now entitled (ie. when confirmed by the Secretary of State) to $150 per mouth, and I would recommend that he be granted this salary as from the 1st January, 1900, and that the maximum salary be fixed at $180. I do not see any objection to the withdrawal of the House Allowance of $15 per month, which I may state was recommended when this office was filled by a European, whom the high rentals affected in a manner impossible to the present Superintendent, who is a local man.

6. Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.—None of these Üfficers call for any special remark.

7. No. 8.-The Deputy Superintendent of the Registration Department, I consider should be entitled to rise to $120 per month by annual increments, of $120. The present officer is a good man and deserves to be encouraged to remain in what is a most important branch of the Department, and besides requires past experience.

[ 30 ]

8. No. 9.-This Officer I have recently recommended for the salary of $75 per month on the 1900 Estimates, not previously assigned to any one, and this has been approved of from the 1st July. I however would beg leave to suggest that in the re-casting of the Salaries, the opportunity should be taken to make the difference between the three Marine Officers more evenly graduated, and to do so, I would recommend that the 3rd Marine Officer should receive a salary of $80 per month, plus the usual travelling allowance.

9. The maximum salary for the remainder of the Staff should I respectfully suggest be fixed at $80 per month instead of $70 as proposed.

10. The inaccuracy referred to is to be found in the inclusion of the 2nd clerk in the Money Order Office (No. 18 on the Schedule) with the other clerks who are entitled to draw extra allowance. I have therefore struck that out in pencil.

11. In connection with this subject it may not be out of place if I draw at- tention to and strongly urge upon the Government the very great need of the six extra men previously applied for being granted at an early date, as well as the two Assistant Marine Officers. There is at present no margin allowed for sudden illness of any of the Staff or providing for the efficient carrying on of the work of the Post Office during absences from this or any other cause, and it seems to me that it is essential that the inadequacy of Staff should be remedied.

12. Of the six clerks, I would recommend that at least two should be Englishmen from the General Post Office, London (Foreign Branch), at a salary of $100 per month to start with, rising to $140 per month. House allowance at the rate of $30 per month should be granted also, and a small allowance as an encourage- ment to them to learn Chinese. The other four, I am informed on good authority, I could obtain from India. This recommendation, if approved, would, to a certain extent, meet the difficulty in the Post Office, of being entirely dependent on the local employees. The principal duties that I would assign to the two Englishinen would be to open all mails and to inspect all mails leaving the Office, and to see to their being in proper order and condition.

13. As regards the Assistant Marine Officers, I may mention that in a letter from the Secretary, General Post Office, London, received yesterday, I am in- formed that the P. & O. have generously waived the question of payment and undertakes to convey free of cost the additional officers required to make up the force of two sorters and two stampers. The Secretary of State has also been informed by the London Post Office.

With regard to the suggestion that allowances for extra hours should not be continued but the same merged in the salaries, I would remark that extra allow- ances for the overtime and Sunday duty is universally recognised and paid for apart from salary.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

The Honourable

THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&c.,

&c., &c.

Your obedient Servant,

E. C. C. LEWIS, Acting Postmaster General.

No. 402.

HONGKONG.

(Secretary of State to Governor, Hongkong.)

DOWNING STREET.

21st December, 1900.

SIR,--I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 440 of the 3rd of October last. forwarding a copy of the Report of the Committee appointed to enquire into the Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Hongkong Civil Service.

2. I have to request that you will convey my thanks to the Committee for the useful work which they have done,

[ 31 ]

3. I shall be glad if you will consult the Heads of Departments and the Executive Council, if you have not already done so, and submit a Scheme, which shall to some extent combine the Recommendations of the Committee with those of the Acting Colonial Secretary. Such a scheme should contain a complete Classifi- cation of the whole subordinate service, with salaries attached to grades and offices rather than to individual Officers.

4. I should also be glad if you would submit definite recommendations as to the systematization of their allowances.

5. I concur in the view of the Committee that the Government may reasonably require, say, seven hours' work a day from its clerks.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

SIR H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&c.

&&...

&C.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

No. 160.

(Colonial Secretary to Chairman, Salaries Committee.)

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Office.

HONGKONG, 23rd January, 1901.

SIR,I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to convey to you, as Chairman of the Committee appointed to enquire into the Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Hongkong Civil Service and to the other members of that Commit- tee, the thanks of the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the useful work which has been done by you and them.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

Colonial Secretary.

The Honourable R. M. GRAY.

Enclosure No. 1.

Enclosure No. 2.

No. 202.

(Governor to Secretary of State.)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 3rd June, 1901.

SIR-In reply to paragraph 4 of your despatch No. 402 of the 21st of last December, I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copies of tables drawn up by the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Colonial Treasurer, whom I appointed to form a Committee for that purpose, classifying the salaries of the Subordinate Civil Service, together with a report by Mr. F. H. May for- warding the systematization of allowances.

2. I do not desire that any action should be taken at present on that part of the new scheme which concerns the Colonial Secretary's Office, as the re-organiza- tion of that Department is under my consideration and I await the return of the Colonial Secretary before submitting final recommendations, but I approve of all the other increases proposed and recommend that they should take effect from the 1st January, 1901.

The scheme is viewed favourably by my Executive Council.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&c..

d'e..

$6.

H. A. BLAKE. Governor, &c.

[ 32 ]

Enclosure No. 1.

CLASSIFICATION OF SALARIES OF THE SUBORDINATE CIVIL SERVICE.

Office.

Salary of present Estimated Salary

Holder.

for 1901.

Salary recom- mended by the Committee.

Salary recom- mended to date

as from 1st January,

1901.*

Cashier, Treasury,

CLASS I.—$2,400-$3,000 by $120 biennially.

€£

2,400

2,760

3,000

CLASS II. $2,160-$2,400 by $60 biennially.

Accountant, General Post Office,

1,680

1,920

2,160

Superintendent, Money Order Office,. 1st Clerk, Harbour Office,

2,160

2,280

2,304

2,640

2,400

1st

Magistracy,

2,232

2,280

Ist Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,

CLASS III-$1,800-$2,100 by $60 biennially.

2,040

2,220

2,100

2nd 2nd

1,612

1,860

Treasury,...

1,440

1,680

1,800

Assistant Clerk, Treasury,

1st Clerk, Stamp Office,

1,440

1,680

1,800

2,100

1st

Public Works Department,

1,440

2,100

1,800

Senior Clerk, General Post Office,.

1,440-1,800

1,560

1,920

Supt. Registration Brauch, Genl. Post Office, 2nd Clerk, Harbour Office,

1,800

2,100

1,968

2,280

2,100

1st

Police Departinent, Supreme Court,

1,800

...

1,920

1,458

1,740

1,800

1st Clerk, Post Office, Shanghai,

1,440-1,920

1,440

1,800

1st Bailiff, Supreme Court,

1,500

1,740

1,800

Acet. & Storekeeper, Govt. Civil Hospital,

1,740

2,040

1,920

CLASS IV.-$1,200-$1,500 by $60 biennially.

3rd Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,

1,200-1,800

1,385

1,500

1,440

3rd

Treasury,

1,080-1,320

1,320

1,500

2nd

Public Works Department,

1,200

1,680

1,500

Deputy Supt.. Money Order Office. G.P.O.,... f1st Marine Officer, General Post Office,

1,560

1,680

1,500 (1)

1,440

1,560

1,500

2nd Clerk. Stamp Office,......

960-1,200

1,126

1,260

1,200

3rd

Harbour Office,

1,200-1,500

1,500

1,800

1,500

1st

Import and Export Office,..

1,614

1,800

1,500 (2)

2nd

1st

and Clerk to Puisne Judge, Victoria Gaol,..

1,200

1,380

1,320

1,200

1,440

1.440

2nd Clerk, Post Office, Shanghai..........

1,200

2nd Bailiff, Supreme Court,

720-1,000

1,000

1,200

1,728

1,500 (3)

1st Clerk, Registrar General's Office, 2nd Magistracy,

4th Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office, 6th

Treasury,

CLASS V.-$960-$1,080 by $60 biennially.

Deputy Supt., Registration Branch, G.P.O... 1st Clerk, Money Order Office, G.P.O.,

†2nd Marine Officer, General Post Office,.

†3rd

Two Clerks, General Post Office,

4th Clerk, Harbour Office,

4th Clerk, Treasury,

720

840

960

480-780

780

720-840

960

1,080

960

1,080

1,272

1,440

1,080 (4)

1,200

1.080 (5)

720

960

720 each.

720-840 each.

960 each.

840-1,000

937

1,080

960

1,020

5th

960

1,020

Three Clerks, General Post Office, Four

·600–720 each.

660 each.

600-840 each.

840 each.

Fifteen

540-720 480-720

600

540-840

780

སྭ་

偷情

540

480-840

720

两步

Clerk and Usher, Supreme Court,

Attorney General's Clerk,

3rd Clerk, Magistracy,

600-960 720 840

960

720

1,140 840

1,080 960

840

960

* This applies only to Officers holding their respective appointments on the 1st January, 1901. Promotions or changes

since that date will be considered.

† Salary to be exclusive of Sea Allowance.

(1) Additional salary to present officer. $180.

(2)

114. (4)

Additional salary to present officer, $228. (5) Additional salary to present officer. $120.

192.

[ 33 ]

CLASSIFICATION OF SALARIES OF THE SUBORDINATE CIVIL SERVICE,-

Office.

Salary of present Estimated Salary

Holder.

for 1901.

Salary recom- mended by the Committee.

-Continued.

Salary recom- mended to date

as from 1st January,

1901.*

5th Clerk, Colonial Secretary's Office,

6th 7th

Treasury,

One Clerk, Public Works Department,

CLASS VI.-$660-$840 by $60 biennially.

480-600

480

600

660

480-600

480

660

480-780

560

480-600

660

600

660

One

576

840

780

4th Clerk, Post Office, Shanghai,

720

720-960

720

2nd

Import and Export Office,

720

720-900

840

3rd

600

600-780

720

4th

Magistracy,

648

660

One Clerk, Gaol Department,..

600

720

660

One

Sanitary Department,

720

720-960

840

8th Clerk, Treasury,

480-780

707

720

1st Shroff,

720

Chinese Draftsman, Public Works Dept.,

600

660

Head Storekeeper,

720

2nd

1st Marine Sorter, Shanghai,

960

840 (1)

840

Compradore at Hongkong Genl. Post Office,

720

Three Clerks, General Post Office,

480-720 each.

540 each.

480-840 each.

720 each.

3rd Clerk, Post Office, Shanghai,

720

Signalman at the Peak,

768

900

840

Chinese Clerk and Shroff, Supreme Court,..

720

Crown Solicitor's Clerk,,

720

840

2nd Assistant, Observatory,

840

2nd Clerk, Police Department,

720-840

720

3rd

600-720

600

660

Clerk, Land Office,...

720

Correspondence Clerk, Sanitary Dept.,. One Clerk, General Post Office,

686

720

CLASS VII-$480-$600 by $60 biennially.

5th Clerk, Magistracy,....

420

540

One Clerk, Public Works Department, Assistant Bailiff, Supreme Court,

360

480

480-600

540

Assistant Clerk & Librarian, Supreme Court,.

480

660

600

Shroff for New Territory, Col. Sec.'s Office,

480

2nd Shroff, Treasury,

552

600

Clerk to Assessor,

552

600

Shroff, Stamp Office,

540

480

Clerk, Crown Lands and Survey,

636

600 (2)

Public Works Department,

552

600

6th

Shroff,

Watchman, Tytam Reservoir,

5th Clerk, Post Office, Shanghai,

Two Shroffs, General Post Office,

600

480

420

180

360 each.

480 each.

Registration Clerk, Registrar Genl.'s Office,

552

600

Shroff, Registrar General's Office,

480

5th Clerk, Harbour Office,

480-600

506

600

Indian Interpreter, Harbour Office,

360

540

480

Indian & Malay Interpreter, Harbour Office,

420

540

Telegraph Clerk, Cape D'Aguilar,

480

Signalman, Blackhead's Hill,

480

540

Green Island,

480

Clerk to Government Marine Surveyor,

552

600

1st Computer, Observatory,

600

720-840

600

2nd

600

One Clerk, Government Civil Hospital,

One

Clerk to Inspector of Schools,

Chinese Clerk and Shroff, Magistracy,

Two Assistant Clerks, Sanitary Department,

600

408-552

451

480

408-552

488

540

504

540

552 each.

600 each.

4th Clerk, Police Department,

Clerk, Queen's College,

"..

Shroff, Animal Depôts,

One Clerk, Government Civil Hospital,

420-540

408

480

462

480

432-552

492

540

408-552

427

480

*This applies only to Officers holding their respective appointments on the 1st January, 1901. Promotions or changes

since that date will be considered.

(1) Additional salary to present officer, $120.

(2) Additional salary to present officer, $36.

[34]

CLASSIFICATION OF SALARIES OF THE SUBORDINATE CIVIL SERVICE,—Continued.

Office.

Salary of present Estimated Salary

Holder.

for 1901.

Salary recom- mended by the Committee.

Salary recom- mended to date

as from 1st January,

1901.*

CLASS VIII-$240-$420 by $60 biennially.

Tracer, Public Works Department,

Crown Lands and Surveys,

300

408

420

Clerk, Public Works Department,...

420

Assistant Foreman, Public Works Dept., Chinese Writer, Harbour Office,

348

360

348

360

348

360

Shroff, Harbour Office,

276

300

Copying Clerk, Land Court,

360

Usher, Magistracy,

408

420

Assistant Üsher, Magistracy,

336

360

Shroff & Talyman, Animal Depôt, Kowloon,.

204-304

240

Watchman, Slaughter-house, Kowloon,................

240-360

293

300

* This applies only to Officers holding their respective appointments on the 1st January, 1901. Promotions or changes

since that date will be considered.

९

་

[ 35 ]

SALARIES OF OFFICERS ACCORDING TO THE SCHEME DRAWN UP BY THE COM- MITTEE WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE NEW SCHEME.

NOTE.-Salaries of Officers of the Praya Reclamation and Shanghai Post Office, and Allowances of all Officers, where

separate from their Salaries, have been omitted.

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended.*

BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT,-

Assistant Superintendent,..........

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT,-

Land Surveyor, Land Bailiff,

Overseer,.

Overseer,

2 Overseers,

1,200

1,920

1,500

2,000

2,100

1,800

1.800

1,500

1,800

1,500 each.

1,680 each.

1,380

1.440

1,200

1,440

960

1.200

365

480

Foreman of Works, Hill District,..

480

Assistant Foreman,

360

432

Custodian, Recreation Ground,.

720

Watchman, Lai Chi Kok,

300

Waterworks.

Overseer,....

1,500

Water Inspector,

720

Watchman, Pokfulam,

300

Caretaker, Shaukiwan,

300

Aberdeen,...

300

POST OFFICE,

2 Launch Officers,

HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPARTMENT,-

1st Boarding Officer,....

600-720 each.

600 each.

1,920

2,220

2nd

1,770

2,040

Inspector of Junks and Cargo-boats,

1,116

1,320

Assistant Inspector of Junks and Cargo-boats,

1,032

1,200

at Sam Shui Pó,

960

1,140

Master of Steam Tender,

1,800

Officer-in-charge Gunpowder Depôt,

1,692

2,040

2nd Lighthouse-keeper,..

1,230

1,500

3rd

558

720

Light-keeper, Gap Rock,

1,620

1,800

Senior Assistant Light-keeper, Gap Rock,. Junior

1,560

1,740

1,500

1,680

SUPREME COURT,-

Clerk to Registrar and Hindustani Interpreter,

1,200

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,-

Head-mistress,

1,200

1,800-2,160

1st Assistant,

720

1,200-1,560

2nd

360

360- 420

Senior Pupil Teacher,

Junior

Headmaster, Wanchai,

120-240

300- 360

60-240

240- 300

528

720

MAGISTRACY DEPARTMENT,-

Interpreter,

1,200

1,440

Chinese and Hindustani Interpreter,

900

1,020

OBSERVATORY DEPARTMENT,-

Assistant Meteorologist,

1,000

1,200

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,-

2 Sisters,..

1 Sister,

2 Nurse Probationers,

Assistant Apothecary and Analyst,. Matron,

1,800-1,920

1,020-1,260

1,920

1,320

Gate-keeper, Civil Hospital,.

Japanese Interpreter,...

Wardmaster, Lunatic Asylum,

Assistant Wardmaster, Lunatic Asylum,...

660- 900

360- 480

120- 180

840

729

660- 900 each.

1,020 each.

900

2 Sisters, Nursery Institute, ....

78 -1,020 each. I

This applies only to Officers holding their respective appointments on e est January, 1901. Promotions or changes

since that date will be considered.

780

540 each.

168

960

900

1,020 each.

[36]

SALARIES OF OFFICERS ACCORDING TO THE SCHEME DRAWN UP BY THE COMMITTEE

WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE NEW SCHEME,—Continued.

VICTORIA GAOL,-

Office.

Present Salary.

Salary recommended.*

Chief Warder,..

3 Principal Warders,

9 Warders,

1 Hospital Warder,

15 Warders,

Matron,

2 Wardresses,

SANITARY DEPARTMENT,-

Secretary,

Assistant Sanitary Surveyor,

Clerk and Interpreter to Medical Officer of Health,

Chief Inspector of Nuisances,

7 Inspectors, 1st Class,

2nd 3rd

Inspector-in-charge Animal Depôt,

Inspector of Markets,.....

Overseer, Central Market,..

Drainage Works,

Interpreter to Colonial Veterinary Surgeon,

10 Foremen of Street Cleaners,

Watchman, Hill District,

Slaughter-house,

Overseer, Protestant Cemetery,

1,440-1,680

960-1,200 each.

720- 960

720 each. 600 240-360 each.

1,680-1,920

1.140-1,380 each.

840-1,080

960 and Light & Fuel.

840-1,080 each.

660- 720

300- 360 each.

3,000-3,600 2,400-3,000

360- 420 1,800-2,400 1,200-1,368 cachi.

960-1,104 720- 960 1,200 960-1,104

360- 600

་་

480- 600

240- 360

300- 360 each.

360 240- 360

480

3,300-3,600 3,000-3,300

360- 600 2,040-2,400 1,440-1.560 each.

1,080-1,320

900-1,200 1,440-1,560

1.080-1,320

ཝཱ

720

840

360- 480

360- 480 each. 360- 480

360- 480

640

This applies only to Officers holding their respective appointments on the 1st January, 1901. Promotions or changes

since that date will be considered.

[ 37 ]

CLASSIFICATION OF SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE CIVIL SERVICES.

Cost of Salaries of Officers in the New Scheme compared with Cost for same Officers

in the Scheme drawn up by the Committee. The Maximum Salary in every case being taken.

Included in Committee's Scheme.

Not included in Committee's Scheme.

Class.

Present Salary.

Salary under New Scheme.

Salary under Com- mittee's Scheme.

Present Salary.

Salary under New Scheme.

༣..

2,400

3,000

2,760

II.,

6,144

7,200

6,840

2,232

2,400

III.,

18,238

23,100

21,240

5,520

6,300

IV.,

14,034

15,000

15,600

5,128

6,000

V..

25,732

35,640

29,220

2,760

3,240

VI.,

9,564

11,760

11,280

11,834

14,280

VII.,

VIII.,

4,740

6,000

5,820

14,094

16,200

4,216

5,040

Total,

Increase,

80,852

101,700

92,760

45,784

53,460

20,848

11,908

7,676

Cost of Salaries of Officers not mentioned in the New Scheme, compared with the Cost of their Salaries on the basis of the Recommendations of the Committee.

The Maximum Salary in every case being taken.

Department.

Present Salary.

Salary as recommended.*

Botanical and Afforestation Department,

1,200

1,920

Public Works,.

28,945

32,512

General Post Office,.........

1,440

Harbour Master,.

16,758

19,200

Supreme Court,

Educational Department,.

Magistracy,

Observatory,

1,200

3,288

5,520

2,100

2,460

1,000

1,200

Medical Department,

Victoria Gaol,.....................

Sanitary Department,..........

16,092

i6,800

27,000

34,380

40,044

47,160

Total,

Increase,

139,067

* This applies only to Officers holding their respective appointments on the 1st January, 1901.

since that date will be considered.

Additional salaries to present officers.-Class III,

.$522

312

VI.

120

VII.

$990

163,792

24,725

Promotions or changes

[ 38 ]

Enclosure No. 2.

MINUTE BY THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY.

I herewith forward a draft scheme for the classification of the whole subor- dinate service. From the classification have been eliminated,—

All Officers on the Temporary Staff.

All Interpreters, as these will be dealt with under the Interpretation Scheme. And a number of other appointments not of a clerical nature which are set out in the list of Offices excluded attached to the classification.

Appointments which were included in the original classification forwarded in Governor's despatch No. 440 of 1900 are lettered in black.

Those in red have been added in order to make the classification as complete as possible for the whole Service. These include many appointments filled by Chinese, and as the salaries of Chinese Government Servants were revised recently, I may say at once that I see no great advantage in adding so largely to the scheme of classification.

I have not touched the subject of a systematization of allowances of the Subordinate Officers. The principal allowances are: (a) House allowance, and (b) Conveyance allowance.

The question of the rate of house allowances throughout the Service is, I understand, engaging the attention of the Government, and conveyance allowances are already fixed at a uniform rate per coolie throughout the Service.

There are some allowances peculiar to individual Departments as for instance, for sorting at the Post Office, and for fuel and light in the Medical Department. These I think may stand as they are.

The classification herein was approved by the Treasurer and circulated confi- dentially by him to Heads of Departments.

I attach their remarks, and regarding these have to make the following com- ments in which the Treasurer concurred.

Colonial Secretary's Office.

The salaries proposed in the classification are sufficient for the present staff or for any Portuguese staff in the future.

There seems no object therefore in adopting the somewhat extravagant scale proposed by the Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary.

If the staff is re-organised, and Mr. Thomson and I think it requires re-orga- nisation, then new clerks as engaged can be put into whatever class is deemed

necessary.

We are both of opinion that an Officer should be permanently appointed Assistant Colonial Secretary.

My opinion is that the post of Chief Clerk should be revived and that the Officer should also be Clerk of Councils. The Assistant Colonial Secretary has more than enough to do without the latter appointment.

I believe that a clerk from the Registry at the Colonial Office should be the best selection for the post.

He might begin in Class II and be promoted to Class I if he gave satisfaction,

hereafter.

I don't know what Mr. Thomson's views were as to the chief clerkship but he was not in favour of getting a man from home.

Treasury.

Mr. Thomson recommended that Mr. Carvalho, the Cashier, should draw the maximum in his class on account of his long and faithful service. As Mr. Carva- lho fills the most responsible clerkship in the service, I agree in the recommen- dation.

[ 39 ]

Public Works Department.

Mr. Wood, the Accountant, considers that his appointment should be taken out of Class I as long as he holds it, and the Director of Public Works supports him.

I see no reason for making the change. If it were made, the fact that the appointment belongs to Class I should on the next vacancy probably be lost sight

of.

Neither Mr. Thomson nor I agree with the Director of Public Works in his recommendations to change the classes of First and Second clerks in his Depart-

ment.

General Post Office.

We agree that the Deputy Superintendent, Money Order Office, should, on the next vacancy, be placed in Class IV. The Officer now recommended for the post is already drawing $1,560 and is recommended for an increase to $1,680.

The other recommendations of the Acting Postmaster General have been adopted.

Supreme Court.

The First Clerk and Clerk to the Chief Justice has been placed in Class III.

Attorney General's Office.

Mr. Thomson and I consider the salary sufficient.

Police Department.

The 4th clerk is placed in Class VII.

The Acting Treasurer has prepared the enclosed Schedule showing what increased expenditure would be entailed by the original and new scheme of classification.

I am also indebted to Mr. Messer for making the final copy of the scheme of classification at a time when I have been extremely busy.

27th March, 1901.

F. H. MAY.

(Secretary of State to Governor.)

DOWNING STREET,

HONGKONG.

No. 244.

19th July, 1901.

SIR,-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 202 of the 3rd ultimo, forwarding a Classified List of the Subordinate Civil Service of Hongkong, with the increases of Salary recommended and a list of other appoint- ments, not included in the classified scheme.

2. I approve the rates of increase in which you concur in your despatch, but I regret that I am unable to agree to their being given from the 1st January last. It will be more convenient for the new scheme to come into force from 1st January next, and provision should be made accordingly on the Estimate for 1902.

3. I shall be glad to receive spare copies of the printed enclosure to your despatch at your early convenience.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

SIR H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&C.,

*c..

$c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

No. 426.

959

No. 48

HONGKONG,

INCREASE OF SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICER'S.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

1901

Governor to Secretary of State.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 19th October, 1901.

SIR,-When the Estimates were being considered, I found that a very strong feeling existed among the Un-official Members that any increase of salaries granted to the subordinate officers should date from the 1st January of the present year. I undertook to forward their unanimous recommendation to this effect, and I do so now with a strong recommendation that the views expressed by the Un-official Members, and shared by every member of the Legislative Council, may be acceded to. I attach a report of the proceedings, and if you concur in my recommendation I shall be glad to receive a reply by telegram.

I have the honour to be.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor.

The Right Honourable J. CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.

fe..

&&...

(Enclosure.)

&c.

THE SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.

Extracts from Report of Proceedings of the Finance Committee at a Meeting held on 10th October, 1901.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Before proceeding with the consideration of the Supply Bill, I should like to point out that some time ago several of the Heads of Departments were awarded an increase of salary, and when the Unofficial Members of Council voted that increase I think there was a distinct promise or undertaking given that subordinate officers' salaries would be dealt with forthwith. I have not a copy of the Hansard with me, and have not been able to find the newspaper containing the account of the Council proceedings, but I have a recollection that such a promise was given that the increase in the salaries of subordinate officers would be dealt with forthwith. Now I learn that the increase is not to become due till next year.

960

The CHAIRMAN.-That is so. If the Honourable Member had refreshed his memory by reading the correspondence on the subject, he would have seen that H.E. the Governor, in accordance with the recommendations of the committee appointed to enquire into the question of the salaries of subordinate officers, recom- mended to the Secretary of State that the increase should date from the beginning of this year.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.--I have read the correspondence carefully, but I am referring to the promise made in the Council.

The CHAIRMAN.--I am just pointing out that the Governor recommended to the Secretary of State that the increase should begin from the 1st of January this year, but the Secretary of State did not approve that course.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD. The promise I speak of was made about April last year, I think, and in virtue of that promise, when several of the Heads of Departments were awarded an increase in their salaries--I think including the Governor himself

The CHAIRMAN.-Yes.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD. The salaries of subordinate officers were to be dealt with forthwith, and that increase to subordinates would come into opera- tion about the same time as that to the Heads of Departments.

The CHAIRMAN.--I have no recollection of the exact wording of what was said, I presume you mean, by H.E. the Governor.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-1 think it was.

The CHAIRMAN,-However, we are not now dealing with that matter, but if the Honourable Member desires, I shall be very glad to look it up and inform the Honourable Member what the result of my researches has been. At the same time, I don't think that is the question before us now.

Honourable T. II. WHITEHEAD.-It is before us inasmuch as the increase is not to take place before next year. I don't think justice has been done to subor- dinates, and I for one would not have voted for the increase to the Heads if the subordinates were to be left out in the cold.

Honourable HARBOUR MASTER.-This is very interesting, but I don't think it is a matter that should be discussed just now.

The CHAIRMAN.-I don't think so. I may say that H.E. the Governor has the welfare of subordinate officers quite as much at heart as that of higher officials. I don't think there can be any doubt about that.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-I quite understand that.

The CHAIRMAN.-As long as there is no misunderstanding, then, there is no need to discuss the matter further. We will therefore proceed with the considera- tion of the Supply Bill.

•

Extracts from Report of Proceedings of the Legislative Council at a Meeting held on 17th October, 1901.

In connection with this Report the COLONIAL SECRETARY said:-This Report deals with the Supply Bill, and the main suggestions contained in the Report will be considered when this Council goes into Committee on the Supply Bill to-day. In addition to the matters dealt with in that Report, Sir, a question was raised by the Honourable Member who represents the Chamber of Commerce on the Finance Committee, and I promised him that I would enquire into the point raised by him. and let him know the result of my enquiries. The point raised by the Honour-

イ

961

}

able Member was in connection with the salaries of subordinate officials in the Civil Service of the Colony, and he considered that a distinct promise or under- taking had been given that the subordinate officials' salaries should be dealt with forthwith. I have very carefully gone over the pages of the Hansard in which the question was considered, and I have failed to find anything of the nature of a distinct promise. I lay upon the table the memorandum I have been able to find in the Hansard dealing with this subject. At the same time I may mention that all the papers dealing with this subject of the salaries of subordinate officials show very clearly the desire of the Committee appointed to enquire into the salaries of subordinates that any increase that might be recommended should take place with- out any unnecessary delay, and this opinion was shared by Your Excellency, be- cause, in your despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, you recommend- ed that the increase should take place from the 1st of January this year, but the Secretary of State did not see his way to approve of that. Now I think, Sir, that the Supply Bill reveals a very satisfactory state of affairs, so far as the financial position of this Colony is concerned, and I desire to express the hope, which I am sure is shared by every member of Council, that Your Excellency will see your way to make further representations on this subject to the Secretary of State, especially as a number of the representative heads and assistant heads were granted increases while the salaries of subordinates were being enquired into by the Com- mittee. The Chinese employees also had received an increase. In view of these circumstances I trust Your Excellency will see your way to make further repre- sentations in the matter to the Secretary of States for the Colonies. (Applause.)

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Since last meeting of Council I have gone carefully over the Hansard, and looked up all that took place when the question was before the Council. Since then, too, I have consulted the Senior Unofficial Member and one or two others, and I have every reason to believe the Unofficial Members are unanimous in favour of Your Excellency again urging upon the Secretary of State for the Colonies the expediency, upon public grounds--for the benefit of the public and of the public service--that the increase in the salaries of subordinate officers should come into force as from the 1st of January this year. The great increase in the cost of living and the immense rise in the price of the necessaries of life must have been felt more severely by subordinate officials than. by those drawing higher salaries. I heartily concur with the Honourable the Colonial Secretary who has just spoken of the desirability of urging with all Your Excellency's force upon the Secretary of State the necessity of granting the increase from the 1st of January this year.

•

His Excellency the GOVERNOR.--As far as I am concerned, as the Council would see when I sent forward the recommendation of the Committee, I heartily endorsed that recommendation myself. But I can quite well understand the an- swer from the Secretary of State; the Imperial Government possibly wished to see what the finances of the Colony were like. However, if it is desired that I should again bring the matter before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, I shall do so with the greatest pleasure. I will ask the Senior Unofficial Member if all the Unofficial Members are agreed that the increase should be from the 1st of January this year.

Honourable C. P. CHATER.--Sir, I may state that the Unofficial Members are unanimously of opinion that the increase should take place from the 1st of January this year, instead of January, 1902.

His Excellency the GOVERNOR.--Very well, I shall take steps accordingly. (Applause.)

Telegram from Secretary of State to Governor, dated 26th November, 1901. "In reply to your despatch No. 426 of 19th October proposal approved.

CHAMBERLAIN."

395

No. 20

1901

HONGKONG.

REPORTS OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, THE SANITARY SURVEYOR, AND THE COLONIAL VETERINARY SURGEON, FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

SANITARY BOARD.

Members.

Hon. R. D. ORMSBY, Director of Public Works (President).

Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Captain Superintendent of Police (Vice-President). Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G., Registrar General.

FRANCIS W. CLARK, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health.

John Bell, l.r.C.P., M.R.C.S., Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

EDWARD OSBORNE, J.P.

FUNG WA CHün, J.P.

CHÁN A FOOK, J.P.

WILLIAM HARTIGAN, M.D., D.P.H.

JAMES MCKIE, J.P.

Major H. H. BROWN, R.A.M.C.

To the President of the Sanitary Board.

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES, March 19th, 1901.

SIR,I have the honour to submit for the information of the Board the following Report upon the health of the Colony for the

year 1900.

AREA.

At the latter end of the year the Sanitary and Building Ordinances of the Colony were extended by Ordinance No. 30 to that portion of territory between the shore and the first range of the Kowloon Hills, extending from Lyeemoon Pass on the east to Laichikok on the west (having a sea-frontage of some ten miles), thus making the total area of the Kowloon Health Districts about 18 square miles, and bringing within the jurisdiction of the Board that collection of dirty and insanitary dwellings known as Kowloon City.

The island of Hongkong has an area of rather more than 29 square miles and the City of Victoria is situated upon its northern shore, the buildings extending along the sea-front for a distance of four- and-a-half miles and up the hill side almost to the city limit of 600 feet above high-water mark.

The domestic buil ngs of the City of Victoria number 8,600 (exclusive of Barracks and Police Stations) of which 738 are European dwellings, while there are also some 130 European dwellings in the Hill District.

This shows a decrease of 14 Non-Chinese dwellings as compared with the previous year and an increase of 693 Chinese dwellings. The plans of 1,319 new buildings, and of alterations to 3,186 existing buildings have passed through my hands during the year, with a view to seeing that they complied strictly with the Public Health Ordinances of the Colony. During the previous year plans of 634 new buildings, and of alterations to 772 existing buildings were received, so that the records of the past year show great activity in building operations throughout the Colony, which has been occa- sioned in part by the alterations required by Ordinance 34 of 1899.

CLIMATE.

The average monthly temperature throughout the year has been 71.6° F as compared with 71.9° in the previous year and 72.2° in 1898; the maximum monthly temperature was attained in August when it reached $3.1° F and the minimum monthly temperature was recorded in the month of January, being 55.6° F.

The highest recorded temperature during the year was 97° F on August 19th and the lowest was 37.5° F on January 9th.

396

The total rainfall for the year was 73.73 inches as compared with 72.7 inches in the previous year and an average of 83.06 inches during the previous ten years; the wettest month was June with 26.52 inches and the driest was December with only 0.155 inch of rain.

The greatest amount of rain which fell on any one day was 8.45 inches on June 15th while no rain fell on 210 days of the year; the relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 77 per cent. as compared with 75 per cent. in the previous year. It was lowest in December with 66 per cent. and highest in March with 87 per cent. The average daily amount of sunshine throughout the year was 5.03 hours, and on 28 days only was no sunshine recorded.

These figures have been calculated from the monthly Reports issued by the Director of the Hong- kong Observatory; the temperatures are taken at 108 feet above mean sea-level and at 4 feet above the grass.

GENERAL SANITARY CONDITION.

The year has been a very busy one, owing to the enforcement of the provisions of the Insanitary Properties Ordinance of 1899, which was passed on November 28th of that year, and which required, inter alia, the provision of open spaces in the rear of many existing domestic buildings. A large num- ber of old buildings throughout the Colony have now been provided with these backyards, and although they rarely exceed the legal minimum of 50 square feet in area, yet some improvement is already perceptible in the lighting and ventilation of the back part of many of these dwellings. All new domestic buildings must now be provided with backyards, or back lanes, varying from 6 feet to 14 feet in width, in accordance with the depth of the house, and as plans of no less than 1,319 new buildings have been sent in during the year, it will be seen that this provision will gradually have a marked effect upon the general sanitary condition of the Colony. The Sanitary Board are now engaged upon an earnest attempt to secure a reduction in the present excessive height of buildings, for the provisions of the present law in this respect are calculated to stultify, to a great extent, the benefit which should accrue from these open spaces in the rear of buildings. For more than fifty years past, many of the larger cities of Great Britain have prohibited the erection of buildings of a greater height than the width of the streets on which they front, while in this Colony domestic buildings can still be erected, under certain conditions, to a height of 46 feet in lanes of only 14 feet in width, and in streets of just over 20 feet in width buildings can be erected of a height of 45 feet and can have balconies on either side of such street projecting over the footways and reducing the width of such street which is open to the sky to 11 or 12 feet only. Many old houses which were originally designed as two-story buildings have recently been raised to three and four-story buildings under this present law, and the sooner therefore the law is amended in this respect, the better will it be for the general sanitary condi- tion of the Colony.

The question of the resumption of insanitary or obstructive buildings is one which must shortly receive the serious attention of the Government, as there are many private lanes in the City which have been converted into insanitary courts by the erection of dwellings at both ends of the lane, leaving a passage way only below the first floor. Such obstructive buildings should be resumed and demolished and this can now be readily done under the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance of 1900, while legislation is needed to prohibit the further erection of such obstructive buildings.

Several additional latrines were in process of erection at the latter end of the year, but there is still the same urgent need for urinals, especially in the City of Victoria. This need has been pointed out by me since 1897, and it is, I believe, one of the principal causes of the offensive smells which arise from many of the street gullies and the drains, as, in the absence of suitable conveniences, the coolies have no option but to make use of these receptacles for the purpose.

POPULATION.

The population of the Colony at the Census taken in January, 1897, was 248,880 while at the Census taken in January, 1901, it was 283,955, exclusive of the Army and Navy.

The following is the estimated population to the middle of 1900:-

Non-Chinese Population,

City of Victoria including Peak and Stonecutters' Island, Chinese Population, Villages of Hongkong and Kowloon,

Army

Navy,

9,130

.174,910

53,520

Floating Population,

Total Chinese Population,

40,180

.268,610

2,568

3,110

Total Population of the Colony,

.283,418

༢

•

今か

397

Neither the Census returns, nor the estimates given above, include that portion of Kowloon to which the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board was extended at the end of last year.

The total strength of Troops in Garrison on June 30th, 1900, was 53 British Officers and 1,143 British Warrant Officers, N. C. O.'s and men, with 11 Indian Officers and 909 Indian Warrant Officers, N. C. O's and men, making a total of 2,116 as compared with 3,098 in the previous year. There were in addition 81 British women and 150 British children, and also 82 Asiatic women and 139 Asiatic children on the strength. The reduction in the number of troops in the Colony at this period of the year is explained by the fact that a number of them were serving in the North with the China Expeditionary Force. At the Census taken in January, 1901, there were 5,501 officers and men and 2,139 camp followers resident in the Colony, making a total of 7,640.

The total strength of the British Fleet on the China Station on June 30th, 1900, was 6,719 British Officers and men, 390 Chinese servants and 1 Japanese servant, making a total of 7,110 as compared with 7,738 in the previous year. At the census taken in January, 1901, the actual num- ber of Officers and men of His Majesty's Navy present in the Colony was 5,597, and the estimated average number resident here (ashore and afloat) throughout the year 1900 is put at 3,110.

The Chinese boat population of the Colony (including 1,180 Chinese on the merchant ships in the Harbour) numbered 41,280 at the Census taken in January, 1901, and has been estimated at 40,180 to the middle of the

year 1900.

The number of registered boats belonging to the Port in 1900 was as follows :—

Fishing and Trading Junks,

Cargo-boats, Lighters, Sampans, etc.,.......

Total.....

7,434

4,933

.12,367

This represents an average of 3.2 persons per boat, which is precisely the same as the average in 1897, after the previous Census.

The number of boats licensed in 1899 was 10,885 and in 1898 it was 10,150.

The figures for 1900 do not include 1,165 fishing junks licensed for Cheung Chau, 767 for Tai O and 2,154 for Taipo, as these villages in the New Territory do not come within the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Board, nor are they included in the estimates of population.

The population of the Colony is classified primarily into Chinese and Non-Chinese, the former being greatly in the majority. The Non-Chinese comprise a white population of 10,020, of whom 4,342 are civilians and the remainder belong either to the Army or the Navy. The coloured races (Non-Chinese) number 4,788 and include East Indians, Malays, Filipinos, and a few Africans and Japanese, while the coloured Portuguese alone number 1,898.

The civil population is essentially a male adult one, as no less than 72.9 per cent. of the Chi- nese population and 62.6 per cent. of the Non-Chinese civil population are males while more than half the civil population (55.9 per cent. of the Chinese and 47.6 per cent. of the Non-Chinese) are between the ages of 20 and 45. The proportion of the population of Great Britain between these ages is only 33.8 per cent.

The recent Census has revealed the fact that during the past four years-that is to say since the Census taken in January, 1897--the excess of males over females has become more marked, both among the Chinese and the Non-Chinese community, for the previous proportions were 70.9 per cent. of males among the Chinese, and 58.6 per cent. of males among the Non-Chinese. The greatly increased rentals of domestic buildings, during the past four years, are no doubt the cause of this reduction in the female population, for both the Chinese and the Non-Chinese community have found it increasingly difficult to obtain family dwellings at a rental which would bear a just proportion to their earnings. It will be noted that the reduction is even more marked among the Non-Chinese community than among the Chinese, and until cheap and rapid transit is afforded to the outlying dis- tricts of the City, I am afraid that this great disproportion of the sexes will be maintained, or even further accentuated.

The City of Victoria is divided into ten Health Districts with an Inspector of Nuisances in charge of each district; there are also five First-class Inspectors for the City, each of whom has the general supervision of two districts and has in addition certain special duties such as the disinfection of infected premises, the prosecution of offenders, the up-keep of the dust-boats, dust-carts, etc., and the control of the Chinese Cemeteries.

398

The following table gives the number of Chinese houses and floors (i.e., separate Chinese dwellings in most cases) and the number of inmates per house and per floor :

One- HEALTH story story.

story story story story DISTRICT. Dwell-, Dwell- Dwell- Dwell- Dwell-

ings. ings. ings. ings. ings.

Two-Three-Four-

Five-

Total Dwell- ings.

Total Floors.

Dwelling.

Number Average

of Number of Floors per Dwell- Empty

Number Number of Number of

of Empty

Persons per Persons per

Occupied Occupied

Floors.

House.

Floor.

ings.

173

437 114

726

14 429

468

1,397

1.9

14.8

7.8

986

2,576

2.6

23.9

9.2

Most of the Chinese in this Dis.

2.3

trict occupy quarters in Eu- ropean Offices and Dwellings.

474

372

41 945

3.229

3.4

125

26.0

7.7

164

571

220

27 1,000

3,074

3.1

22.7

7.4

6 7 x

485

235

17 847

2,664

3.1

22.7

7.2

522

233

808

2,611

3.2

590

174

830

2,600

3.1

134

18.0

5.6

23.8

7.6

66988

530 429

1,035

2,573

2.5

23.8

9.6

356

213

647

1,456

2.2

126

18.5

8.2

Totals and

349 2,173 3,879 1,370

91 7,862

22,267 2.8

200

730

22.6

8.0

Averages

The following table gives the acreage and total population of each Health District of the City of Victoria and the number of persons per acre :

Built-over

Non-Chinese

Health Total

Area Chinese Non-Chinese District. Acreage. (including Houses. Houses.*

Chinese

Population

Persons per

Population.

(including

acre on built-

streets).

Troops).

over areas.

531

119

726

10,540

620

93.8

243

125

986

1,482 Troops

40†

23,250

205.9

1,006

TO TELO CO7∞ ao

164

124

349

5,410

2,154

61.0

945

159

24,060

1,510

521.8

1,000

22,510

432

$49.7

847

18,720

816.9

808

13,930

500.0

830

نا

19,430

150

515.3

1,035

24,420

120

570.7

252

647

10,980

332

114.3

1,434

675

7,862

738

173,250

7,946

268.4

There are also some 1,660 Chinese servants, etc. resident at the Peak.

From this table it will be seen that Nos. 5 and 6 Health Districts which are situated in the centre of the city show acute surface crowding while Districts 9, 4, 8, and 7 are almost as densely crowded. Owing to the conformation of the island the only possible remedy for this acute congestion is the provision of more ready means of access to the outlying districts of the city, and it is to be hoped that the Government will see their way, at no distant date, to provide, or to encourage the pro- vision of tramways to East Point and the Shaukiwan Road with nominal fares for workmen, thus offering an inducement to the Chinese to reside in these suburbs.

The density of population of the City of Victoria as a whole, that is to say, including all the out- lying vacant lands and the villages in No. 1 Health District, the Public Gardens in No. 3 Health Dis- trict, and all the unoccupied hill-side below the upper limit of the City Health Districts (i.e. about 450 feet above high-water mark) is 126 persons per acre. In 1898 the average density of popu- lation in the administrative County of London was 60 persons per acre, while in Glasgow it was 61, in Liverpool 50, and in Edinburgh 47 persons per acre-Glasgow being the most densely crowded of the thirty-six large towns of the United Kingdom.

*Exclusive of Barracks.

† A number of upper floors of Chinese houses are occupied by Non-Chinese in this District,

BIRTHS.

The births registered during the year were as follows:-

Chinese,

Non-Chinese,. {White,

Coloured,

Males.

Females.

Total.

431

247

678

123

138

582

357

939

399

This is equal to a general birth-rate of 3.3 per 1,000 as compared with 4.3 per 1,000 in 1899 and 4.7 per 1,000 in 1898. The birth-rate among the Non-Chinese community alone was 15.1 per 1,000 as compared with 17.7 per 1,000 in 1899 and 15.9 per 1,000 in 1898.

The nationalities of the Non-Chinese parents were as follows:-British 108, Portuguese 72, Indian and Malay 62, German 12, Japanese 4, French, Italian and Spanish 1 each. The preponder- ance of male births over female births is still very marked, as in former years, being, among the Non- Chinese population, 137 to 100, as compared with 104 to 100 in Great Britain. It appears, moreover, to vary considerably in successive years, as in 1899 it fell to 113 to 100, while in 1898 it was 136 to 100, and 1897 it was 115 to 100.

The number of Chinese births registered does not however give an accurate record of the number of births of Chinese which have occurred in the Colony, for many of the infants that die during the first month or so of life remain unregistered, although their deaths must be registered to obtain the necessary burial orders. It has been customary therefore to add to the registered births the number of infants of one month old and under that die in the various Convents or are found by the Police in the streets or in the harbour. The number during 1900, was 314 males, 492 females, and 1 of which the sex is unrecorded, making a total of 807 and the addition of these figures to the registered Chinese births gives a total of 1,485 births as compared with 1,501 in 1899. The corrected birth-rate is therefore 5.5 per 1,000 among the Chinese population alone, while the general birth-rate becomes 6.2 per 1,000. The above figures indicate in a striking manner the indifference of the Chinese towards female infant lives, for of the births which were registered, the proportion of sexes was 174 males to 100 females, while the total Chinese births as calculated above show a proportion of only 100.8 males to 100 females, and the dead bodies of infants found in the streets or left at the doors of the Convents show 63.8 males to 100 females.

DEATHS.

The total number of deaths registered during the year was 6,773 as compared 6,181 during the previous year.

The death-rate for 1900 was therefore 23.9 per 1,000 as compared with 23.8 per 1,000 in 1899, and an average of 22.2 per 1,000 during the preceding five years. These deaths include 1,022 from Bubonic Fever (Plague).

The following table gives the death-rates during the past twenty years, inclusive and exclusive of deaths from Bubonic Fever, and exclusive in every case of the Naval and Military populations and deaths, as until the last six years, these latter populations were not ascertained :-

1881,

..24.071

1891,

..23.807

1882,

.26.11

1892,

.20.70

1883,

.30.04

1893,

22.70

1884,

26.91

1894,

.30.37

1885,

..32.36

1886,

..31.79

Average 27.84

1895,

21.89

1896.

..24.25

Average 23.40

1887,

.28.59

1897,

..19.13

1888,

..31.72

1898.

22.71

1889,

.23.64

1899,

.24.33

1890,

.23.19

1900,

24.12 J

1894,

1895,

1896,

1897,

1898,

1899,

1900,

Excluding Plague.

•

19.85

21.74

.19.79

19.05 ...17.98

..18.65

21.10

400

It will be seen from the above table that the death-rate of the Colony shows a marked reduction during the past ten years, when compared with the rate for the previous decade, but there can be no question that, with such a young adult population as exists in this Colony, the death-rate can be very much further reduced by improvements in the conditions under which the bulk of the popula- tion are housed.

The total number of deaths among the Chinese community was 6,471 which is equal to a death- rate of 24.1 per 1,000, as compared with 24.4 per 1,000 during the previous year.

The deaths registered among the Non-Chinese numbered 302 of which 228 were from the Civil population, 59 from the Army and 15 from the Navy; this is equal to a death-rate of 20.4 per 1,000.

The nationalities of these deaths were as follows:-British and American 119, Indian and Malay 103, Portuguese 40, Japanese 11, German 11, French 10, Norwegian 5, Italian 2, and Austrian I. The total death-rate among the white races was therefore 15.2 per 1,000 as compared with 12.4 per 1,000 in 1899, and among the coloured races it was 30.2 per 1,000 as compared with 28.3 per 1,000 in the previous year.

The following table gives the causes of the 59 deaths occurring in the Army:

Malarial Fevers,

Pneumonia,

Bronchitis,

Phthisis,

Enteric Fever,.

Dysentery,

Appendicitis,

Alcoholism,

Syphilis,

Acute Nephritis,

Bright's Disease,

Drowning,

Rupture of Liver,

Fracture of Skull,

Heat Stroke,

Mania,

Soldiers.

Wives and Children.

Malarial Fevers,

Bronchitis,

Phthisis,

Gastro-enteritis,

Diarrhoea,

Scrofula,

Debility and Inanition,

Fracture of Skull,

Total,...

..41

Total,...........

The average age at death of these soldiers was 27 years.

The fifteen deaths occurring in the China Squadron which were registered in this Colony were as follows:

Enteric Fever (H.M.S. Argonaut),

19.

(H.M.S. Goliath),

Bronchitis (H.M.S. Centurion),

Phthisis (H.M.S. Argonaut), Peritonitis (H.M.S. Undaunted), Gastro-enteritis (H.M.S. Aurora), Asthma (H.M.S. Undaunted), Heat Apoplexy (H.M.S. Dido), Drowning (H.M.S. Isis),

;)

(H.M.S. Humber),

(H.M.S. Tamar),

Poisoning by CO2 gas (H.M.S. Goliath),

The average age at death was 30 years.

Total,............15

401

Ten deaths occurred in persons, other than Chinese, employed by Foreign Navies, as fol- lows:-

Enteric Fever (U.S.S. Monadnock),

U.S.S. Don Juan d'Austria), (French gunboat Argus), (French cruiser Descartes),

(Dutch cruiser Holland),

Baquedano),

Acute Nephritis (U.S.S. Cuba),

Malarial Fever (S.M.S. Gefion),

General Tuberculosis (Chilian training ship General

Explosion of a saluting charge (U.S.S. Wheeling),. 1

Total,..

.10

Bubonic Fever,

Enteric Fever,..

Small-pox,

Beri-Beri,

Heart Disease,

Phthisis,

Pleurisy,

Apoplexy,

Meningitis,

Cerebral Softening,

Carried forward,

The deaths of Non-Chinese occurring in the Mercantile Marine numbered 10 and were composed as follows:--

...

Alcoholism,

Forward...

.26

Cirrhosis of Liver,

Sprue,

Surgical Kidney,..

Fracture of Skull,

Strangulation (Suicide),

Gunshot Wound of Chest (Accident),

Drowning,

Inanition (Infantile),

.........26

The death from Bubonic Fever occurred in the person of an Indian seaman on board the P. & 0. s.s. Coromandel from Bombay. One of the deaths from Beri-Beri was a German on board the s.s. Alboni, and the other an Indian on board the s.s. Bania.

The total number of deaths therefore which occurred among the Non-Chinese resident civil community was 188; allowing 990 for the Non-Chinese floating population this is equal to a death-rate of 23.1 per 1,000.

The principal causes of death among the Non-Chinese resident civil community, were as follows :--

Phthisis,

.20

Infantile Debility and Inanition, ...16

Heart Disease,

Bubonic Fever,

Accidents,

Malarial Fevers, Enteric Fever,...

.15

General Tuberculosis,

....14

Bright's Disease,................

...10

The nationalities of the 14 persons who died of Bubonic Fever were as follows:-European 1, Portuguese 4, Indian 6, and Japanese 3. The European was a Britisher, employed at the Naval Yard, and he had only arrived in the Colony some six weeks previously.

UNCERTIFIED DEATHS.

During the year there were 533 deaths registered of Chinese who had not been attended by a medical man, as compared with 463 during the previous year, and in every case the relatives of the deceased have been interviewed, and the the dead bodies inspected, and where necessary, sent to the Government Mortuary, with the result that no less than 46 deaths from Bubonic Fever, and one death from Small-pox were thus discovered, and the premises disinfected and cleansed in the usual manner.

AGE DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS.

There seems to be little or no improvement in the alarmingly high death-rate among the infant population of this Colony, and no less than 20.9 per cent. of the total deaths recorded occur in infants under one year of age. The infant death-rate among the Non-Chinese community during the year has been 122.6 per 1,000 as compared with 128 per 1,000 in the previous year, but among the Chinese population that rate was 928 per 1,000 which means that, out of every thousand Chinese infants born in this Colony, only 72 survive for a period of twelve months. Such an enormous mortality can only be the result of the gravest neglect on the part of the parents, and I cannot but think that the system, which has been tacitly permitted for many years past, of allowing moribund infants to be left at the doors of the various Convents, without any enqui- ries being made, conduces largely to this neglect. The Chinese unfortunately do not recognize infan- ticide as a crime, and it can hardly be expected therefore that they will appreciate the criminality of this neglect of our infant population, unless it is occasionally brought home to them by the strong arm of the British law.

402

1896.

745

The following table gives the infant death-rate per 1,000 during the past five years-

1897.

593

1898.

630

1899.

848

1900.

928

It will be observed that the year in which the rate was lowest was the only year of the five in which no epidemic of Bubonic Fever occurred.

It is generally stated that in China the infant death-rate bears a close relationship to the degree of prosperity of the mass of the population, and that when the rice crops are bad and the pinch of poverty is felt, it is the infants who must be the first to go. If we can apply this principle to this Colony it suggests that its present general prosperity does not by any means imply the prosperity of the masses, but that on the contrary high wages are apt to prove a most inadequate compensation for high rentals

and dear food.

The following is a table of the age-periods at which the several deaths occurred:-

Under 1

month.

1-12 months.

1-5 years.

5-15 years.

15-25 years.

25-45 years.

45-60 years.

years

over.

and

Chinese, Non-Chinese,

759

619

705

452

726 1,724

775

706

125

10 21

6,471

302

Totals,

775

635 719

461

7851,849

817

725

6,773

Percentages,

11.5

9.4

10.6

6.8 11.6 27.2 12.1

10.7

0.1

Ages

unknown.

Totals.

DEATHS AMONG THE CHINESE.

CHEST DISEASES.

The total number of deaths among the Chinese from Respiratory diseases was 1,376 or 21.2 per cent. of the total Chinese deaths. This represents a death-rate from these diseases of 5.1 per 1,000 ̊ as compared with 4.7 per 1,000 in 1899 and 5.1 per 1,000 in 1898.

As in former years the death-rate from these causes was far heavier among the boat population than among the land population, being 6.9 per 1,000 among the former as compared with 4.8 per 1,000 among the latter.

The number of deaths of Chinese from Phthisis alone was 845, or 61.4 per cent. of the total deaths from the Respiratory diseases; this disease is intimately associated with overcrowded and insa- nitary dwellings.

NERVOUS DISEASES.

The deaths of Chinese recorded under this heading number 1,155 and no less than 816 of these or 70.6 per cent. occurred in infants under one year of age, the alleged causes of death being Tetanus, Trismus and allied disorders of a convulsive type.

The number of deaths from these diseases during the past five years has been as follows:—

1896, 1897,

1898,

711

655

572

709

816

1899,

1900,

Almost the whole of the infants, whose deaths are recorded as due to these convulsive diseases, are left at one or other of the various Convents, in a moribund condition, and are interred without post-mortem examination, and apart therefore from the question of the induction of these diseases in some cases by starvation and criminal neglect, there is a strong probability that not a few of them have died of Bubonic Fever, Enteric Fever or other Zymotic disease. It would conduce therefore to greater accuracy in the sickness and mortality returns of the Colony, if it could be arranged that all these bodies should be examined post-mortem by a medical mau, and a correct certificate of death issued.

403

MALARIAL FEVERS.

The total number of deaths among the Chinese from the Malarial Fevers was 887, as compared with 532 during the previous year and 506 during 1898; this is equal to a death-rate of 3.3 per 1,000. The death-rate among the boat population alone from this cause was 2.2 per 1,000, less, that is to say, than among the land population, as in 1899.

The Colony has endeavoured to keep pace with the recent researches into the aetiology of Malaria, and in October last submitted the following minute to the Sanitary Board and it was sub- sequently published for general information.

"The modern theory in regard to the transmission of Malaria is that the disease is conveyed from man to man by certain mosquitoes belonging to the genus Anopheles,' of the Dipterous (or two- winged) Family 'Culicidae.'

It has long been known that true Malaria is associated with the presence of certain minute orga- nisms in the blood of the patient and it can readily be understood that when a patient suffering from Malaria is bitten by a mosquito, some of these organisms are taken (with the blood) into the body of the mosquito. The malarial organisms there undergo certain developmental changes and should the same mosquito subsequently bite a healthy person, he becomes inoculated with the disease, and may develop an attack of Malaria.

The Anopheles differs from the ordinary mosquito (genus Culex') in that its approach is not heralded by that noisy 'ping' that characterizes the latter; that its bite is not nearly so irritating to the skin; that it rarely bites except between sunset and sunrise, and that while the 'Culex' will breed in any old flower-pot or tin containing water, the Anopheles" is fortunately more choice in its selection of a breeding ground, and generally requires a small sheltered pool, containing perhaps organic matter in suspension or a small quantity of water weed, and the water of which is neither stagnant nor yet pure spring water. The Anopheles' can travel a distance of some 400-500 yards and can remain alive for a period of several months-that is to say, throughout the whole of the dry

season.

Asiatics, and especially children, suffer more or less constantly from Malaria, as they adopt no means of protection from the bites of mosquitoes, and 'Anopheles' are almost always to be found in the neighbourhood of native dwellings while some 1 to 5 per cent. of them will be found to contain the malarial organism. It follows therefore :-

(1.) That European houses should be distant some 400-500 yards at least from native dwellings.

(2.) That all pools in which Anopheles' can breed should be filled up or drained, for a like distance, around such European houses.

(3.) That all brushwood and rauk vegetation, including grass, should be kept down by frequent cutting.

(4.) That mosquito-nets should be used at night."

A certain amount of work was done during the year in the direction of the treatment of some of the Anopheles pools with paraffin, and of the filling up of others with concrete, but apparently with- out any great success, if we may judge by the number of deaths from Malarial Fevers recorded, which greatly exceeds that of previous years, and I am afraid that nothing but a thorough scheme of training of the Nullahs on the outskirts of the City will have any appreciable effect in reducing the number of mosquitoes capable of carrying infection.

In a recent Report to the Royal Society, Drs. STEPHENS and CHRISTOPHERS, who are working at this subject in Lagos, say that "to stamp out native malaria is at present chimerical, and every effort should rather be turned to the protection of Europeans," and I certainly think that the same principle holds good in this Colony. The Colony has recently acquired a very extensive addition to its terri- tory and every effort should be made to secure and maintain an extensive European reservation in this new territory, before the land becomes too valuable for the Government to be able to resume from the native holders. This reservation should be surrounded by a zone of neutral ground, at least a quarter of a mile wide, on which neither European nor native dwellings should be allowed, but which should be utilized by the Government for the cultivation of trees or laid out in part as a recrea- tion ground. There is no objection to a small number of personal servants residing within the reservation area, but in no case should any native families be allowed, as it is the native children, and especially those under the age of ten years, who are the principal source of infection in Malaria.

In view of the very considerable number of deaths from Malarial Fever among the Troops, it would appear to be especially important that all Barracks should be isolated in this manner from the native population.

404

BERI-BERI.

There were 361 deaths of Chinese from Beri-Beri during the year, as compared with 197 deaths in the previous year. The number of deaths among the floating population alone was 66.

The deaths were evenly distributed throughout the year as will be seen from the following table:-

January,

February,

March,

April,

May, June,

•

July,

August,

September,

October,

November,...

December,

180

181

ACCIDENTS.

Among the accidental deaths of Chinese will be found no less than twenty (together with one Non-Chinese death) as a result of the collapse of buildings, none of which were occasioned by fires. This appears to be a very heavy mortality from an obviously preventible cause, and suggests that a very much greater amount of supervision over the actual work, both of construction and of the repair of dwellings, is needed in this Colony.

In the large Cities of England it is enstoniary for the Municipal authority to employ a number of Inspectors of Buildings, whose sole duty it is to watch the progress of construction, and of repairs to existing buildings, and to report at once any defects observable in the old work thus exposed, or any breaches of the Building laws. In this Colony much of the constructional work is left entirely in the hands of Chinese contractors, without the supervision of the Architects who designed the building or the alteration (except in the case of important European buildings). and it would seem therefore that such a staff is even more urgently needed here than at home. The matter is one which concerns the Sanitary Board only so far as the unnecessary loss of life is concerned, but on these grounds alone the Board would, I think, be justified in making a strong representation to the Government on the subject.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

The total number of cases of infectious disease reportel by registered medical practioners during the year was 1.225, of which no less than 1.086 were Bubonic Fever. As this disease has been dealt with in a special report dated October 31st, 1900, the following table shows only the remaining 139 cases of the other infectious diseases: during the previous year the number of these diseases notified

was 151:-

Infectious Disease.

1st Quarter. 2nd Quarter. | 3rd Quarter.

4th Quarter Total.

European,

Enteric Fever Chinese,

Other Asiatics,

•

European,

Small-pox

Chinese,

Other Asiatics,.

European,

↑

...

Diphtheria

Chinese,

Other Asiatics,.

Puerperal Fever-Chinese,

Scarlet Fever-European,

Cholera-Chinese,

Total,

139

Of these 139 cases, 29 are known to have been imported, while in many other cases the source of infection could not be traced as the bodies were found in the street or in deserted houses. Twenty-one of the imported cases were Enteric Fever and seven were Small-pox, while the only case of Cholera reported during the year was also imported. The question of the medical inspection of all vessels, immediately on their entering the Harbour, is still in abeyance, pending the appointment of an officer who shall devote the whole of his time to this duty. There can be no question that such a provision would protect the Colony from the importation of many cases of infectious disease which are now unrecognized until after landing, or even escape detection altogether.

405

ENTERIC FEVER.

During the ten years 1890-1899 only 51 deaths of Chinese from Enteric Fever were registered as against 65 deaths of Non-Chinese, although the Chinese form 94 per cent. of the total population, and in my Annual Report for 1897, I wrote:--

"It is interesting to note the small number of cases of Enteric Fever which were re- "ported as occurring among the Chinese during the year, an experience which accords with "the apparent immunity of the native population of India from this cause, while the cir- cumstances connected with these cases (at the Berlin Foundling House) appear to suggest that the same explanation of this apparent immunity may apply to both races, namely, "that they are so fully exposed to the infection throughout the whole period of their "existence that they almost always contract the disease in infancy or early childhood, when, if they recover, the disease will have been practically un-noticed (at least so far as scienti- "fic observation goes), while if they succumb the death will be attributed to Diarrhea, "Convulsions or some other symptom. Should they then happen to contract a second "attack in adult life, it will be so modified by the previous one as to be again scarcely "recognizable, or at least to be insufficient to drive the patient to a Hospital under Euro- pean control. Of the seven cases which were reported as occurring among the Chinese last year (1897) one only was an adult, and he had contracted the disease in Saigon, from which port he arrived by steamer, while the other six were children ranging from 6 to 17 years of age, resident in a Home under European management. These children ob- viously contracted the infection from a German Pastor who was brought down to the Home from the Tung Kun Province of China in consequence of illness, and who died of "Enteric Fever a few days after arrival; the children had been carefully protected from

any infection of this nature while in the Home, which means practically from infancy, "Home is a Foundling one, until the arrival of the European case, when they showed that they were equally as liable to contract Enteric Fever as any European children would have been, and it appears to me therefore that we have, in the history of these cases, a very suggestive corroboration of the theory that the Asiatic is not naturally immune to Enteric Fever, but that he is almost invariably protected by an attack in infancy."

These remarks of mine served to draw the attention of Dr. THOMSON, the Officer in charge of the Government Mortuary, to this subject, and in the following year (1898) I was able to report that three deaths from Enteric Fever in Chinese children under the age of ten years had been discovered in the Government Mortuary, while in 1899 seven such deaths were reported.

During 1900, however, the theory has received very strong confirmation, as Dr. THOMSON has fortunately been able to devote more time to this research, and as a result I find that while 15 deaths have been registered as due to this disease among the Non-Chinesc, 39 have been registered among the Chinese, and of these, 6 were infants under one year of age, 5 were between the ages of one and five years, and three between the ages of five and fifteen years. It is necessary to compare deaths rather than cases, as while every European case is notified, practically only those Chinese cases which end in death, are discovered; while moreover these cases have been discovered among the comparatively few bodies that are found in the streets by the Police, and that no post-mortem examination is made of the bodies of the 1,500 or more infants that are taken annually to the French and Italian Convents in a moribund condition, and whose deaths are registered as due either to "Diarrhoea" "Fever (undefined)," "Marasmus or "Convulsions," and that these Convent returns comprise about 75 per cent. of the total deaths in the Colony, under 5 years of age, and 23.6 per cent. of the total deaths of Chinese at all ages.

and

Both the English and the American authorities state that true Enteric Fever is rare among infants young children, and that many of the cases returned at these ages are due to faulty diagnosis, but the cases I have cited have all been detected on post-mortem examination and cannot therefore be questioned, while it is quite possible that the disease may be rare among the infants of the white races, and yet prevail among native infants, whose sanitary surroundings are in every way calculated to encourage the growth of the germs of this disease.

The total number of cases reported during the past year has been 85, as compared with 59 in 1899, but there has been a reduction in the number of European cases, namely, 34 as against 36 in the previous year. The average age of the European cases was 25.5 years, while 16 of the Chinese cases were under ten years of age, seven of them being less than one year old.

Seven cases occurred on board the various British and Foreign Men-of-war in the Harbour, as follows:-II,M.S. Iphigenia 1, U.S.S. Monadnock 1, S.M.S. Gefion 1, French gunboat Argus 2, French cruiser Descartes 1, and U.S.S. Wheeling 1 (a Filipino). Six cases occurred among the British Troops stationed in the Colony.

The case mortality of the Non-Chinese cases was 36.6 per cent., while among the Chinese cases -most of which were not discovered until after death-it was 88.3 per cent.

406

SMALL-POX.

Twenty cases of this disease were reported during the first quarter of the year, 16 of them being Chinese and the remaining 4, Other Asiatics; six Chinese cases were reported during the second quar- ter and one during the fourth quarter. One European case also occurred during the fourth quarter, the patient being an employee of the Kowloon Docks who had contracted the disease in Swatow. The number of deaths from Small-pox was 17, of which one only was Non-Chinese.

The total number of vaccinations recorded last year was 4,406 as compared with 6,529 in 1899, and 7,051 in 1898. This appears to be a most unsatisfactory state of affairs, and I think that more encouragement should be given to this most important means of prophylaxis. In 1897 I recommended that a small bouus should be offered to the Chinese House Surgeons at the Native Hospitals (Tung Wa, Alice Memorial and Nethersole) for all successful vaccinations, the vaccine to be supplied by the Government, with a view to increasing the number of vaccinated persons in the Colony, and thereby reducing the mortality from this disease. This scheme was specially recommended by the Sanitary Board, by resolution, in August, 1898, and has been urged by me in subsequent Annual Reports, but has, I regret to say, not yet been given effect to.

The number of deaths from this disease in 1899 was 35, while in 1898 there were 110 deaths and in 1897 209 deaths, and it is probable therefore that the temporary reduction in the number of deaths from this disease has led to the marked apathy in regard to vaccination.

DIPHTHERIA.

Thirteen cases of Diphtheria were reported during the year, as compared with nine cases during the previous year and five in 1898. Three of the cases occurred in Europeans, namely, a man, aged 43, on board H.M.S. Orlando; a French lad, aged 7 years, in the French Convent; and a boy, 2 years old, residing at the Peak. The lad in the French Convent succumbed to the disease, but the other two patients recovered. One other case of Diphtheria occurred at the French Convent during the year, the patient being a Chinese infant, two years of age. During the fourth quarter of the year an outbreak of Diphtheria occurred among the Chinese children at the Berlin Foundling House, and seven cases were reported, six of them being in girls between the ages of 2 and 3 years, and the seventh a girl 8 years old.

The total number of Chinese cases reported during the year was 9, and of these 7 succumbed, giving a case mortality of over 77 per cent.

PUERPERAL FEVER.

Eleven cases of Puerperal Fever in Chinese were reported during the year, most of which were however discovered post-mortem. It will be seen from the mortality return that no less than forty young Chinese women succumbed to diseases incidental to childbirth during the year. This repre- sents a very serious loss of young adult lives, and is undoubtedly due to want of proper attention and of cleanly surroundings.

In my Annual Report for 1898 I drew attention to the very great need for some maternity charity for the poorer Chinese, preferably in connection with the Tung Wa Hospital, and although the authorities of that institution have taken up the suggestion, and propose to provide some maternity wards in the new extension to the Hospital, I regret to say that that extension is still far from being an accomplished fact. This is a class of work which Licentiates of the Hongkong College of Medicine could well perform, if attached to Dispensaries in various parts of the City, and many valuable lives would no doubt be thus saved.

SCARLET FEVER,

One case of Scarlet Fever was reported during the year, the patient being an English child aged 3 years, residing in the married quarters of the Barracks in Queen's Road East. No history of infec- tion could be obtained, and it is probable that it was conveyed by some clothing brought out from England. This disease appears to be unknown amongst the Chinese, and when occurring occasionally in Europeans, shows no tendency to spread to the native servants. It has recently been suggested that the reason for this exemption is that the Chinese do not partake of raw milk, as an article of diet, as do Europeans, but there are probably other factors to be considered, as the Chinese appear to be equally immune to Measles.

CHOLERA.

One fatal case of Cholera was imported from Saigon by the Steamship Petrarch, the patient being a Chinaman, aged 32 years,

407

INTERMENTS.

The following number of interments in the various Cemeteries of the Colony have been recorded during the year :--

Non-Chinese.-Colonial Cemetery.

Roman Catholic Cemetery

Mohammedan

Jewish

Parsee

Hindoo

Chinese-Mount Caroline Cemetery

Mount Davis

Tung Wa Hospital

Infectious Diseases

Protestant

Eurasian

Roman Catholic

Shaukiwan

Aberdeen

Stanley

Shek-Ŏ

Ma-tau Wai

138

229

434

305

460

2,004

985

1,329

249

186

318

5,923

Ten cremations of the bodies of Hindoos also occurred during the year.

PROSECUTIONS.

The following is a return of the prosecutions that were instituted during the year by myself, or by the Prosecuting Inspector-Inspector L. E. BRETT-acting under my instructions:-

Offence.

Sum-

monses.

Con- victions.

Penalties.

Remarks.

Occupation of Basements,

Illegal Cocklofts,

148

144

Illegal Cubicles,

320

297

Unlicensed Common Lodging-houses, ... Overcrowding Common Lodging-houses,...

54.

Nuisances on Private Premises,

188

Nuisances in Public Streets,.

Failing to cleanse and limewash,

390

350

Sleeping in Common Kitchens,.

Overcrowding Tenements,.

Overcrowding Opium Divans,

Failing to concrete Ground Surfaces,

Breaches of Bye-laws:-

Cattle and Swine,

Bakehouse,

Offensive Trades,

ཁཧྨ¢ ཅཤྰ °

548

3 absconded, 7 withdrawn.

826

2 absconded, 2 withdrawn.

933

224

3 absconded, 19 dismissed, 1 withdrawn. 2 withdrawn, 24 absconded.

447

184

287 2,831

1,184 | 4 withdrawn, 18 Magistrate's orders of

Prohitition.

17 dismissed, 22 withdrawn, 1 absconded.

3 absconded.

142

258

254

252

Verandah,

107

9 withdrawn, 1 absconded.

Matsheds,

481

15 dismissed, 5 absconded.

Latrine,

Public Laundry,

160

Failing to notify Infectious Diseases,

100

Adulteration of Milk...

100

1 absconded.

Obstructing Backyards.....

250

2 dismissed.

Obstructing Windows,

Failing to provide Backyards,

287

257

3,120

1 withdrawn, 1 absconded.

30 withdrawn.

Occupying Premises after Magistrate's

Prohibition Order,

Obstructing an Officer in the Execution of

his Duty,...

Attempting to Bribe Officers,

Contractor's (Scavenging) Coolie refusing to work and behaving in a disorderly manner,

Total,...

180

2 withdrawn.

= 3

2 dismissed, 1 absconded. Bail of $500 estreated. (Police cases at instance of Sanitary Board Officers.)

2,004

1,824

$13,041

408

DISINFECTING STATION.

At the latter end of the year the steam disinfecting apparatus was removed from the temporary building in High Street and installed in the new brick building in Taipingshan.

The system of disinfection of infected buildings has also been re-organized, and a staff of native workers is now being trained by First-class Inspector REIDIE, who has the sole charge of this work and who occupies official quarters at the Disinfecting Station. Perchloride of Mercury sprays have been in use now for some few years for the disinfection of buildings and in the hands of trained men, they have been found to give satisfaction.

The following is a return of the number of articles which have passed through the steam disin- fecting apparatus during the year :-

Articles removed from private houses,

Tung Wa Hospital,

وو

Government Civil Hospital,

Victoria Gaol,.......

Military Barracks,

90,806

2,860

1,114

381

382

Government clothing used by persons who had been exposed to infection,... 3,901

Total,...........

STAFF.

.99,444

During the year Inspectors McVICAR and WILMER left the service, and Inspector BURNETT was transferred to the Department of the Postmaster General. Inspectors BROWN, O'DONNELL and O'KIEFFE were appointed to fill the vacancies, while three additional Inspectors are now expected from England. Inspector REIDIE was on leave in Europe for a period of nine months, and took the opportunity of studying the methods of disinfection in vogue in some of the larger cities and of examining the many forms of apparatus for this purpose which were displayed at the Paris Exhibi-

tion.

The following is a list of the Inspectors of Nuisances in the employ of the Board at the end of the year:

Chief Inspector of Nuisances.

Mr. J. H. DANDY.

First Class Inspectors.

Inspector J. REIDIE.

F. FISHER.

L. BRETT (acting).

Second and Third Class Inspectors.

No. 9 Health District,......Insp. H. BROWN.

No. 1 Health District,.

..Insp. W. FINCHER.

∞ ~ ~ CTIA W N

D. MCKENZIE.

}

D. O'KIEFFE.

J. McMICHAEL.

......

J. MILLS.

....

J. HOOD.

F. ALLEN.

14 15

P. O'DONNELL.

H. KNIGHT.

C. W. BRETT.

E. ROGERS.

Police Insp. W. ROBERTSON.

A. C. LANGLEY.

J. SMITH.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of Health.

No. 1 District.

Address.

Appendix A.

LIST OF LICENSED OPIUM DIVANS.

No. 4 District,--Continued.

Address.

409

No.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

123

Grd.

Irving Street.

1st

Jardine's Bazaar.

Grd.

Wanchai Road.

1st

Victoria Street.

Grd.

Tit Hong Lane. Tung Tak Lane.

Wellington Street.

1st

Do.

No. 2 District.

Do.

Grd.

Do.

1st

Do.

Address.

Graham Street.

No.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

No. 5 District.

Address.

1234OZ ✪

Grd.

Albany Street.

Cross Street.

No.

1st

Do.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Do.

Grd.

MacGregor Street.

Do.

3 9 9

Nullah Lane.

Grd.

Do.

Gage Street.

1st

Aberdeen Street.

Graham Street.

Do.

Grd.

Do.

108

Queen's Road East.

1st

Hollywood Road.

Grd.

1st

116

Do.

Hong Ning Lane.

2nd

124

Do.

Peel Street.

1st

Grd.

167

Do.

2nd

175

Do.

164

1st

175

Do.

Grd.

177

Do.

Queen's Road Central.

No. 6 District.

223

Do.

Tai Wo Street.

1st

Ui Hing Lane.

Address.

Wing Fung Street.

No.

Grd.

Do.

1st

Wanchai Road.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Grd.

Do.

1st

136

Queen's Road East.

Grd.

115

Hollywood Road.

1st

129

Do.

No. 4 District.

2nd & 3rd

134

Do.

1st

135

Do.

Address.

Kwong Yune Street, West.

Do.

No.

Lower Lascar Row.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Mercer Street.

Square Street.

Wing Shing Street.

1234 10 6 14 00

Grd.

Chinese Street.

Ist

Do.

Cochrane Street.

Grd.

Do.

No. 7 District.

Address.

Do.

No.

1st

Gage Street.

Grd.

Do.

Floor.

No.

Graham Street.

Do.

1st

Gutzlaff Street.

Grd.

Do.

1st

Jubilee Street.

00 00 HP 00

124

Queen's Road Central.

Grd.

Stanley Street.

Do.

1st

Do.

Do'

He cr

Street, &c.

1st

East Street.

Do.

2nd

Do.

Grd.

Do.

1st

181

Grd.

181

Hollywood Road.

Do.

Pessession Street.

Pound Lane.

410

LIST OF LICENSED OPIUM DIVANS, Continued.

No. 7 District,-Continued.

Address.

No. 9 District,—Continued.

Address.

No.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

1st

311

Queen's Road Central.

Grd.

348

Queen's Road West.

Grd.

Upper Lascar Row.

1st

Third Street.

Do.

Grd.

Do.

1st

Do.

Torseen Street.

3rd

206

Hollywood Road.

1st

Second Street.

1st

212

Do.

2nd

212

Do.

266

214

Do.

288

1st

218

Do.

West Street.

Do.

Queen's Road West.

Do.

No. 10 District.

Do.

Address.

Do.

Grd.

Do.

No.

1st

204

Hollywood Road.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

No. 8 District.

Address.

No.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Grd.

367

Queen's Road West.

408

Do.

508

Do.

1st

534

Do.

Grd.

372

Do.

Pokfulam Road.

1st

216

Des Voeux Road West.

No. 11 District.

Eastern Street.

Grd.

Do.

1st

Heung Lane.

Address.

246

Hollywood Road.

No.

248

Do.

י !

Queen's Road West.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

Do.

204

Do.

Grd.

Bulkeley Street.

Tsz Mee Alley.

Market Street.

وو

Queen's Road West.

Do.

}}

Ist

Do.

Grd.

To Kwa Wan.

No. 9 District.

No. 12 District.

Address.

No.

Address.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

No.

Floor.

No.

Grd.

Centre Street.

Do.

1st

Do.

294

Des Voeux Road West.

Eastern Street.

Street, &c.

Grd.

Elgin Street.

1st

184

Station Street, North.

Kramer Street.

Reclamation Street.

Grd.

First Street.

Grd.

1st

234

Queen's Road West.

1st

236

Do.

242

Do.

246

Do.

247

Do.

249

Do.

Station Street, South.

Do.

Station Street, Mongkokteni.

Temple Street.

No. 14 District.

Do.

250

Do.

259

Do.

261

Do.

Address.

282

Do.

No.

298

Do.

303

Do.

Floor.

No.

Street, &c.

318

Do.

326

Do.

Grd.

319

Do.

Grd.

Aberdeen.

327

Do.

وو

Date.

Appendix A.,-Continued.

No. 1 District.

Situation of Premises.

1898-January

1900-January

65, Wanchai Road,

149,

Do.,

1, Observation Place,..

Date.

No. 2 District.

Situation of Premises.

1898-January

91 & 93, Queen's Road East,

March

50, Wanchai Road,......

May

19, Wing Fung Street, West,

Date.

No. 4 District.

Situation of Premises.

1899-January 17

31, Cochrane Street,

1900-March

35, Elgin Street,.......

1899-January

1900-May

52, Graham Street,. 15, Hollywood Road,

No. 5 District.

Date.

Situation of Premises.

1900-November 1

70, Hollywood Rood,..........

No. 6 District.

Date.

1898-August

March

1900-January 1898-September

Date.

Situation of Premises.

ཡ2) ུ ་

11,

1, Bonham Strand,.

Do.,

136, Hollywood Road, 157,

Do.,

No. 7 District.

Situation of Premises.

1900-January 1898-March

27, East Street,

107, Jervois Street,

October 24

1900-December 11

28, Lascar Row, Upper, 40, Do..

Do.,

February 15

333, Queen's Road Central,

1898-March

336,

Do.,

1900--

346,

Do.,

1899--November 17

366,

Do..

1898-March

374,

Do..

375,

Do.,

· 380,

Do.,

Tenant of Premises.

Chan Hin Tat.

Hongkong & China Bakery. Dorabjee Nowrojee.

Tenant of Premises.

Ho Hong Fo. Lam Kui.

G. Girault.

Tenant of Premises.

Wong Tung. Lau Yik. Lam To Mui. Lum Woon.

Tenant of Premises.

Lum Shun.

Tenant of Premises.

Wong Fú. Chau Sau.

Chan Tung.

Au Yeung Ping Kwan.

Tenant of Premises.

Lum On.

Lo Sz.

411

Lau Tun.

Hü Hun Chung & Lan Wai To.

Pan & Man Tai.

Wong Wang.

Lum Wing Cheung.

Kwong San Nam & Wong Cheuk. Chan Sau.

412

Date.

No. 8 District.

Situation of Premises.

1898-March

54, Bonham Strand West,.

56,

Do.,

>>>

1899

58a,

Do.,

1898-January

69, Queen's Road West,.

March

80,

Do.,

August

82,

Do.,

Date.

No. 9 District.

Situation of Premises.

1900-July

May

292, Des Vœux Road West,

15, Eastern Street,

1898—August

228, Queen's Road West,

1900-May

14.

230,

Do.,

241,

Do.,

1898 January

244,

Do.,

1900-October 16

286,

Do.,

1898-August 6

291,

Do.,

294,

Do.,

1900-May

302,

Do.,

1898-August

337,

Do.,

Date.

No. 11 District.

Situation of Premises.

1900-March

60, Market Street,

January 25

139.

Do.,

Date.

No. 12 District.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

Fu Chan Chai.

Chan Yik Shan & Lo King Hing. An Koon Hing.

Chan Sau.

Lam Leung Chiu.

Tenant of Premises.

Wong Kwong. Lau Fat.

Li Pang.

Lau Yuk Ü. Woo Yat Cho.

Li Chan.

Wong Kwong,

ong Ying Lun. Wong Kwong. Hung Kam Sang. Wat Fung Tsenug.

Tenant of Premises.

Ma Shing Hop.

Lum Kut.

Tenant of Premises.

1899—August

24. Elgin Road,

H. Ruttonjee.

1900-December 11

3, Reclamation Street,

Kun Cheung & Co.

Do.,

.་

Do.,

1898-August

1900-May

January

1901-April

1900-March

March

1321 132

72,

Do.,

132,

Do.,

148,

Do.,

5, Station Street, North,

25,

65,

Do., Do.,

Sin Hang Chak. Leung Kai. Wong Lee.

Lum Chun Ting. Cheung Hok Chung.

Li Kai Yik.

Date.

Appendix A.,—Continued.

No. 1 District.

Situation of Premises.

1897-May

1 13, Jardine's Bazaar,

Date.

No. 2 District.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

Kom Tsau Ki.

Tenant of Premises.

do., Second Floor,

TAI

Ground -or,

3, Cross Street, First Floor,

1, Kennedy Road, (Government),

1899-March

3, Albany Street, Ground Floor,

1897-May

Do.,

1899-May

Do.,

First Floor,

do.,

1898-August

12,

Do.,

1899-January

22,

Do.,

1897-May

31,

Do.,

1896-June

1897-April

Do.,

do.

1898-Augnst 23

Do.,

do.

1900-September

Do.,

do.

1896 January 1

Do.,

do.

1899-August 1

Do.,

do.

1898-September

Do.,

do.

1897-January 18

Do.,

do.

1900-April

Do.,

do.

1897-May

10,

Do.,

do.

1899-April

1897-May

29,

Do..

do.,

1900-May

1897-May

37, Praya East.

1898-August

40, Do.,

do.,

1900-March

1897-May

199,

Do..

1900-January 30

35, Ship Street,

1899-February

10, St. Francis Street,

do.,

do..

4, Tai Wo Street, Second Floor,

25, MacGregor Street, Ground Floor,

51, Nullah Lane, First Floor,

157, Queen's Road East, Ground Floor,

Li Tui. Wong Ping. Yuen Ip.

Luk Yuk Hi. Lum Kit.

Wo Cheung. Luk Tai.

Sz Yik Ling Kee.

Chan Yau. Pang On. Chan Yau. Luk Chi. Luk Cheung. Lo Kam Wan. Hang Hing. Lo Sam. Lam Tak. Wing Shing. Li Tak. Li Wing Ki. Young Wün.

Tam Cheung. Lai A-Tai. Lai Sang. A Fuk.

Date.

No. 4 District.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

1898-December 22 1897-June

26, Cochrane Street, Ground Floor,.. 35, D'Aguilar Street, do..

42,

Do.,

do.,

1901-April

16 February 28

16, Elgin Street,

do.,

9, Gage Street,

do»,

1897-June

6, Hollywood Road,

do.,

10,

Do.,

do.,

1898–January 28 1897-June 1898-November 20

13,

Do.,

do.,

14,

Do.,

do.,

19,

Do.,

do.,

July

19A,

Do.,

do.,

23,

Do.,

do.,

14, Lyndhurst Terrace,

do.,

9, Stanley Street,

do.,

15,

Do.,

do..

50,

Do.,

do.,

2, Sun Wai Lane,

do.,

15, Wo On Lane,

do.,

16,

Do.,

do.,

1897-June

July

1897-June

- 30

Chin Kam Chi. Lam Sui. Kwong Tat. Yau Yeung. Lai Sui. Lam Hang.

Wong Fat. Cheung Fun. Chan Yau. Liu Lung. Kom Shing. Tsoi Pin.

Tam Chan. Pun Tso Leung. Yik Shui.

Wong Fu. Kong Fat. Wong Nam.

413

414

Date.

No. 5 District.

Situation of Premises.

15, Aberdeen Street, Ground Floor,.

1897-June

9, Elgin Street,

do.,

11,

Do.,

do.,

13,

Do.,

do.,

1899-February 2 1897-July

6, Gough Street,

do.,

19,

Do.,

do.,

17, Graham Street,

do.,

1900-November 1

70A, Hollywood Road,

do.,

1897-June

3, Pak Tsz Lane,

do.,

-July

14, Peel Street,

do.,

1901-April

2, Sam Kai Lane,

do.,

1897-June

55, Staunton Street,

do.,

1898-November 14

6, Staveley Street,

do.,

Tenant of Premises.

Yung Chuen. Wong Cheung. Chan Lam.

Yu Tik. Man Ting. Wong Sang Kee. Chin Fuk Lung. Lam Ning. Lan Sing.

Au Him Kwong. Ü Shing Hang Cheung. Cheung Kwong. Chan In.

Date.

No. 6 District.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

1897-June

8, Bridges Street, Ground Floor,

1899-Marchi

16,

Do.,

do.,

1897-June

22,

Do.,

do.,

40,

Do.,

do.,

1900-January

52,

Do.,

do.,

1898-May

1897-June

15, Upper Lascar Row,

1899-January

1, Shing Wong Street,

do., do.,

4, Kwong Yuen Street West, Ground Floor,

Sit Kan Ki. Lam On.

Li Man. Tam Tim.

Chan Hang.

Chan King Tong. Chan Yik.

Lau Shenng.

No. 7 District.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

Date.

1897-June

September 5

Date.

33, Lascar Row, Lower, Ground Floor, 32,

Upper,

Do.,

do.,

No. 8 District.

Situation of Premises.

Sung Chan. To Chan.

Tenant of Premises.

1897-May

5, Fat Hing Street,

Chui Ki.

No. 9 District.

Date.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

1900— May

I 2, Rienaceker Street, Ground Floor,

Ng Ku.

No. 10 District.

Date.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Premises.

1900-November

144, Second Street,

Tang Kwai.

No. 11 District.

Date.

Situation of Premises.

Tenant of Promises.

1900-October

114, Market Street, Hunghom, Ground Floor,

Lam Sz Yik.

Date.

No. 12 District.

Situation of Premises.

1898-August

1900-Juue

12, Elgin Road, Tsimshatsui, 46, Reclamation Street,

September 28 1901-February 14

111, Station Street, South,

117,

Do..

Year.

Month.

Tenant of Premises.

Mak Fuk Kin. Chan Kwong. Ho Tung Hing. Mak Kwan Lung.

Appendix A.,-Continued.

No. 2 District.

Where Premises Situated.

415

Trade.

Tenant of Premises.

1899. 6th Nov., 9th June,

9, Ship Street, Inland Lot 269,...

4, Wing Fung Street, West, Inland Lot 47 c.,

Soap Boiling,...' Lum Kwong Un.

So On.

No. 6 District.

Year.

Month.

Where Premises Situated.

Trade.

Tenant of Premises.

1900: 16th Jan.,... 22, Circular Pathway, Inland Lot 71, 1897. 30th

4 & 6, U Hing Lane, Inland Lot 48, 26th Feb.,... 8 & 10, Lower Lascar Row, Inland Lot 1254,.

Year.

Mouth.

Fat Boiling,

Leung Chiu & Leung Yau.

Chung Sing Cho.

Chung Sai Ui.

No. 7 District.

Where Premises Situated. ›

Trade.

Tenant of Premises.

1897. 1st Jan.,

Do.,

1, Wa Lane, Inland Lot 205 b., 3,

Fat Boiling,

Tam Kam Kam. Wong Wa.

don

do.,

وو

No. 10 District.

Trade.

Tenant of Premises.

Where Premises Situated.

Year.

Month.

490,

1897. 8th May,... 480, Queen's Road West, Inland Lot 834, 1898. 11th April,

Fat Boiling,

Fung Kee (Kan).

Do.,

do.,

1897. 8th May,... 492,

Do.,

do.,

1898. 28th March, | 498,

Do.,

do.,

1897. 21st May,... 502,

Do.,

do.,

1899.

7th April,

2, Sixth Lane, Inland Lot 671,

Wong Wa.

Sing Kee.

Kwan King Won. Man Ho Chung.

Hoong Lee.

No. 11 District.

Year.

Month.

Where Premises Situated.

Trade.

Tenant of Premises.

1900. 28th May,...

17, Bulkeley Street, Innghom,

Fat Boiling,

Fuk Kee Chan.

1898. 28th March, 1900. 27th Jan.,

80, Market Street, H. H. Inland Lot 89, 173,

Do., Hunghom,

Kwong On.

Man Ming.

No. 12 District.

Year.

Month.

Where Premises Situated.

Trade.

Tenant of Premises.

1899. 30th Nov., 1900. 25th Jan., 1900.

Do.,

21, Fuk Sing Lane, K. Inland Lot 106, 5, Temple Street, K. Inland Lot 40,'. K. Inland Lot 109,

Fat Boiling,

Wong Tai. Shun Hop.

Fuk Hop.

416

Appendix B.-RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

I.-General Diseases.

A-Specific Febrile Diseases.

a Zymotic.

Small-pox,

Measles,

Diphtheria,

Fever, Typhoid (Enteric),

Simple, Continued,

Cholern,

Diarrhoea,

Dysentery,

Bubonie Fever (Plague), Influenza,

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

No. 1.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

69 68

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

:: :: :⇨

TN:

2 114 257

35 91

63 76 88 180

12223

8 135

B Malarial.

Malarial Fevers,

9 20

Beri-beri,

17 59 16 9 13 34 7 23

27 14

26 33

27 35 31 41 22

33333

23 32

40 26 42

76 53

12 20

X Septic.

Erysipelas,

Pyæmia,

Septicemia,

Puerperal Fever,

& Venereal.

Syphilis (Acquired),

(Congenital),

co +

-1

:— ོ ོ ོ

༢༧ །

? :

ཤ:

€ Zoogenous Diseases.

Rabies,

Total Group A, 48 30 2 43 434 58 126 126

93 120 159 264 128

79 11 213

B.-Discases dependent on Specific

External Agents.

a Parasites.

Worms,

B Poisons. Opium,

Vegetable,

(Suicide),

Gelsemium,

Gaseous-Carbonic Acid Gas,

Burus,

Sunstroke,

x Effects of Injuries.

心

Heat-apoplexy,

Multiple Injuries,

Injury to Right Arm,

Wound of Knee-joint,

Carried forward,....... 6

1 1

Carried forward, (General Discuses).... 54 31 5 44 434 59 129 127 93 121 164 267 130 79 11 216

co.

357 82 110 42

26 4242

6234

...

354

82 107 42 28 17

187

129 51

со

ལ

160

52 45

...

-1

...

N W

...

co.

***

...

651

...

Kow- SHÁUKI- ABER-

LOON

Dis-

WÁN Dis-

DEEN

STANLEY DIS-

DIS-

TRICT.

- 19

⠀⠀⠀

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Non-Chinese.

小

...

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

Chinese.

010-

2142

13 1 69

0100

2185 5 257 5 347

23 2163 2 176 3 223 18 287 18 456 6161

...

2 24 3 30 2 53 9 106 12 181|

-[5

72 107 1 210...

2 24 3 32 2 60 11 213 13 391 1122

...

12 9

21...

3 14...

26 4242 5233 5287 29 516 30 882;

7290...115] ...

心

00 10

...

- Į

6289 30 523 37894

7292 117

...

་ ་ ་

...

2,707

10 00 00 -

3 14...

...

90f

32...

45..

Under 1

Non-Chinese.

month.

I month and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

| Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

under 12

months.

1 year and under 5

years.

under 15

years.

5 years and

15 years and

K2~

...

ི

69...

•

...

under 25

years.

under 45

years.

Non-Chinese. | 25 years and

Chinese.

Non-Chinesc. 45 years and'

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

under 60

years.

60 years

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

and over.

Age

Unknown.

Chinese.

-*-**-**3-|3| **|2| ~**=|-|--|-|-|||

GRAND

TOTAL.

417

418

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 5.

Nc. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

Brought forward, ( General Diseases),... 54 31 5 144 434

59 129 127 93 121 164 267 130 79 11 216

General Diseases,-Continued.

Effects of Injuries,— Continued.

Brought forward,. 6

Drowning,

Fracture of Skull,

of Spine,

of Sternum,

of Pelvis,

of Femur and Humerus,

Rupture of Spleen,

of Liver,

Gunshot wound of Head (Suicide),

from Explosion,

of Chest, (Accident),

Shock,

of Knee (Accident),

Strangulation (Suicide),

Dislocation of Neck,

Hanging (Execution),

(Suicide),

Suffocation by fall of dwellings,

Exposure,

Starvation,

and neglect,

- 30.00

...

& Errors of Diet.

Alcoholism (Chronic),

(Acute),

صرون

...

•

5 3 6

co:

121

2 5

Total Group B........ 25 11 7 3 6 2

C.-Developmental Diseases.

7 1

30 11

our-

10 00 00

31 16 9

Immaturity at Birth,

Debility,

Old Age,

Marasmus and Atrophy,

Tabes Mesenterica,

Inanition,

المسمر

01 100 00

Hæmorrhage from Umbilicus,

Congenital Absence of Rectum,.

Total Group ....... 23

22 136

11 16 23

D.-Miscellaneous Diseases.

Rheumatic Fever,

Cancer in Mouth,

of Jaw,...

of Breast,

"'"

(Internal),

of Stomach,

of Liver,

of Mediastinum,

Carried forward,......

Carried forward, ( General Diseases),... 100

1.2 2

...

:::

9169 576 137 149 146 105 141 213 306 151

་

•

11 344

:::

со

442 130 134

381

- ∞

- CO

•

LOON DIS- Kow-

WAN SHÁUKI-

ABER-

STANLEY

DEEN

DIS-

TRICT.

TRICT:

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31st DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,-Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

Non-Chinese.

Under 1

Chinese.

month.

PENI CO

357

82 110

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

...

تن

...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

66...

Qo d

16 65

388...

...

7 16 91

7336

6325

•

...

•

...

under 12

Non-Chinese. 1 month and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

months.

1 year and under 5

years.

5 years and under 15

years.

Non-Chinese.

15 years and

under 25

Chinese.

years.

Non-Chinese. | 25 years and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

under 45

years.

45 years and under 60

years.

4242 6234

6289 30523 37894

7292

110

2 20

6 30 21 971

...

1 10

2 21

8 31 28102

心

Metad

3 12

213 N

•

1 22 ...

...

3 23...

81...

...

3 81

134

4238

242

1 15

7320 ...

اليا

...

心

...

لسير

•

...

33...

3...

7,335 37 549

37549 601,002 13338 7446

13/338

3,577

647

167

...

•

...

เง

...

•

NNN - ∞ ∞ ∞

Non-Chinese.

| Chinese.

Non-Chinese. |

Chinese.

60 years and over.

Age

Un nown.

105

ទី៩៖

2,707

GRAND

TOTAL.

419

420

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

Brought forward, (General Diseases),...100

1 3

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

9169 576 137 149 146 105 141 213 306 151 92 11 344

General Diseases,-Continued.

Miscellaneous Diseases,--Continued.

Brought forward,.. 4

...

Cancer of Uterus,

of Rectum,

...

Sarcoma of Neck,

Lipoma of Throat,

of Back (Operation),

Scrofula,

General Tuberculosis,

Rickets,..

Anæmia,

Leprosy,

Diabetes,

Enlarged Spleen,

Lymphadenoma,

Gangrene of Leg,.....

Total Group D., 14

3 10

II.-Local Diseases.

A-The Nervous System.

Meningitis,

(Tubercular),

Apoplexy,

Abscess of Brain,

Paralysis (Undefined),

a. Hemiplegia,

b. Paraplegia,

Convulsions..

Tetanus,

لان

1 1

184 65

(Traumatic),

Trismus,

441 206

Hydrocephalus,

Epilepsy,

Delusional Insanity,

Mania,

Dementia,

Tumour of Brain,

Congestion of Brain,

Softening of Brain,

Cerebro-Spinal Sclerosis,

Encephalitis,

Paralysis of the Insane,

Myelitis (Acute),

Total Group A.,...... 19 1

B.—The Circulatory System.

IN 2

시

: co:

697 274

21 9

Heart Disease,

Aneurism,..

(Aortic),

دو

Abdominal, Rupture of,

Pericarditis,

(Purulent),

Embolism,

Syncope,

13 8

10 10

101

10 20

...

14 15 13 12

Total Group B........ 24

Carried forward, ( General Diseases),... 153 47

4 13 5 13 10 10 12

४ 19

9 176 1,288 118 191 173 126 174 245 348 170 106

I 10

12 368

29 15

176 131 165 85

-[ :

...

منظر

16748 11497

เง

Kow-

LOON

WÁN SHÁUKI-

ABER-

STANLEY

DEEN

DIS-

TRICT.

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,-Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

442 130 134 70

Lnd

Population

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

...

654

心

124

2109

166

...

3159

1209

2 25

...

9...

Population.

Non-Chinese.

Under 1

Chinese.

month.

16 911

Non-Chinese. 1 mouth and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

under 12

months.

1 year and under 5

years.

years and under 15

years.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

15 years and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

under 25

years.

25 years and

under 45

years.

45 years and under 60

years.

7336

6325

7335 37549 601,002 13338

...

201...

→) -J

[

6 48

6 321

1 16

9 13 39

5 48

419

11 15 44

5 52

4 19

...

9874 43579 821,100 26428] 14484

...

153

1 4,984

...

5 11

2 18

ན

1,175

139

•

31 31

Non-Chinese.

60 years

Chinese.

and over.

Non-Chinese.

Age

Chinese.

Unknown.

7146

3,577

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

ུ ཌ ཿ❁ ུ ⊕ རྞ།ྨ གླུ ➢ཎྞ

GRAND

TOTAL.

421

422

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Navy.

Brought forward, (General Diseases),... 153

Local Diseases.—Continued.

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

9176 1,288 418 191 173 126 174 245 348 170 106

12 368

C.-The Respiratory System.

Bronchitis,

34 58

Pneumonia,

6 13

Phthisis,

17 15 17 16 3 9 11 8 20 126 65 47 39 34 66

17 17

-1 N

14 24 1

Pleurisy,

Empyema,

Asthma,

:::

2183:

Total Group C........ 42

198 72 73

59 104

68 123

41 33

1 146

D-The Digestive System.

Dentition,

Cancrum Oris,

Enteritis,

Gastro-Enteritis,

Colitis,

Hepatic Abscess,.

Cirrhosis of Liver,

Yellow Atrophy of Liver,

Fatty Degeneration of Liver..

Peritonitis,

(Traumatic),

(Tuberenlar),

Internal Hoemorroids,

Appendicitis,

Hernia (Strangulated),

Janudice,

Sprue,

༠::

::?༽

Total Group D.,.............. 14

2 11

2 12

E--The Urinary System.

Nephritis, Acute,.......

Bright's Disease,

Renal Calculus,

Rupture of Bladder, (Extravasation of

Urine),

Surgical Kidney,

Diabetes Mellitus,

♡

Total Group E... 12 2

F-The Generative System.

Strangulated Ovarian Cyst,

Total Group F.,.............. I

G-Affections connected with

Abortion,

Pregnancy,

Extra-Uterine Pregnancy,

Total Group G........ 1

حيم

Carried forward, ( General Diseases),... 223 59 15 245 1,492 492 282 258 191 294 329 488 223 154

13 522

✓

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31sT DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,—Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT Age Periods.

Kow-

LOON DIS-

SHAUKI- ABER-

WAN DIS-

DEEN

STANLEY DIS-

TRICT.

Dis-

TRICT.

Under 1

25 years and under 45

423

GRAND

TOTAL.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

years.

45 years and under 60

years.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

60 years

and over.

Non-Chinese. |

Chinese.

Age

Unknown.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

month.

Non-Chinese.

1 month and

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

under 12

months.

1 year and under 5

years.

5 years and under 15

years.

15 years and under 25

years.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Land

Population.

Boat

Population.

Non-Chinese.

476 131 165 85 45

52 19

16748 11497

34 59

•

82 42

21 45

ગ

:..

་

་ ་ ་

100

9374 43579 82 1,109 26 428 14484

1 4,984

125

54...

6...

CC Co

3 11

175 5401

8 80 16386]

3108 2115 1 9 15 4176... 79

366

171

873

1...

...

[

•••

...

....

...

....

...

2 95

3112...

52 11111 23510 9295|| 3/200

1,428

་་

•

♡

10 H

•

1 33

F-- 8

•

心

- CO 10 2 —

8...

...

2 3 3 3

2 11 8 43 4 18...

112

...

569 173 228 106 92

120 28

...

་

مهر

CO CO

16751 16595 14678 16 595

2 19

2 10

...

7 17

3 23

:..

2 10

9436 577061221,680 42764 19696 21

6,605

424

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER AND CAUSES OF DEATHS REGISTERED

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

CAUSES.

BRITISH

AND

FOREIGN COMMUNITY.

Civil.

Army.

Brought forward, ( General Diseases),... 223

Local Diseases,-Continued.

H.-Affections connected with

Parturition.

Placenta Provia,....

Post-Partum Hemorrhage,

Puerperal Eclampsia,

Child-birth,

Total Group H....... 3

I-The Skin.

Carbuncle,

Boils,

Pemphigus,

Ulcer of Foot,

Sloughing Ulcer of Buttocks,

Cellulitis of Leg,

Total Group I,......

J.-Diseases of Organs of Locomotion.

Hip-joint Disease (Tubercular),.....

Caries of Spine,

Dropsy,

Tumour,

Total Group J.,

III.-Undefined.

Abscess of Neck,..

of Scrotum,

of Thigh,

VICTORIA.

HEALTH DISTRICT.

Navy.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No. 9.

No. 10.

Unknown.

Peak.

Harbour.

15 245 1,492 492 282 258 191 294 329 488 223 154 13 522

Undiagnosed,

Total Undefined & Undiagnosed,....... 2

4 1

TOTAL, ALL CAUSES,...... 228 59

SUMMARY.

CLASSIFICATION OF Causes of Deaths,

(In Groups).

I.-General Diseases.

Group A.,.

B., C., D..

•

...

1.-

4 3

1 3

5 4 18 1 1

1 3 1 2 9 I

15253 1,502 510 285 262 196 300 (332 |495 234 155

13 567

48 30 25 11

ོ༠༥

136

326*

2 143 434 58 126 126 93 120 159 264 128 7 3 6

1 5 30 11

༢ ༤

11 213

13 11 11 16 23 31 16 10 10 6

10 10

сон

24242-

ེ་ ས

2 697 274 21 9 5 14 15

198

13 5 13 73

10 12

2 12

ུ2

65 59 104 68 123

6 12

18497 :

ཋསྶ༥༠

13 12

II.-Local Diseases.

4.-The Nervous System, B. The Circulatory System, C.-The Respiratory System, D.-The Digestive System, E. The Urinary System,

F. The Generative System,. G.-Affectious connected with Preg-

nancy.

H.-Affections connected with Partu-

rition,

I. The Skin,,

J.-Diseases of Organs of Locomotion,.

III.-Undefined & Undiagnosed,..

TOTAL, ALL CAUSES,..

2 1

ات

3 1

4 18

Į I I 3 1 2

228 59 15 253 1,502 510 285 262 196 300 332 495 234 155

910635

13 567

די

DURING THE YEAR ENDED THE 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER, 1900,-Continued.

CHINESE COMMUNITY.

Kow- SHÁUKI- ABER-

TOTAL AT THE DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS.

LOON DIS-

TRICT.

WÁN DIS-

DEEN Dis-

STANLEY DIS-

TRICT.

Under 1

month.

1 month and

under 12

months.

Non-Chinese.

Population.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese. 1 year and

under 5

years.

Chinese.

Non-Chinese. 5 years and

under 15

Chinese.

years.

Non-Chinese,

15 years and

Chinese.

under 25

years.

Non-Chinese.

25 years and

Chinese.

under 45

years.

Non-Chinese. 45 years and

Chinese.

under 60

years.

Non-Chinese.

Chinese.

and over. 60 years

Non-Chinese.

Age

Unknown.

Chinese.

569 173 228 106 92 120 28

9 16751 16 595) 14678) 9436 577061221,680 42764 19696 2 21

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

...

:..

1 2

587 177 235 109 93

1 10

1 20

2 12

1 24

...

•

}

231

2 2 12

25... 15

2 17

न

5)... 10

110

6,773

125 32 9 16759 16619 14705

9452 597261251,724|| 42775 19706 2 5

354

82 107 42 28

70 48: 24 28

9 29

1:00:

26 4242

5233

110

6 16 65 3 88

1. 2

201

•

5287 29516 30882

2 21 8 31 28102}

7290 3 23

115

2,671

245

27... 1 5 11

i 15... 2 18

7 320

647

5 9

2 6

18 1 29 15

657 3,159 1209

2 25

6 48

6 32

1 16

1,175

15 44

5 52

4 19

153

82 42 62

21 45 68 9

2 95

3112

52 11

23510

9295

3 200

1.428

8 43

4 18

112

1 4

3 23 2 10

124

151

2 17...

110

125 82 9 16759 16619 14705 9452 59 7261251,720 42775 19706 2

6,773

587 177 235 109, 93

235 109

425

GRAND

TOTAL.

6,605

}

دن

426

RETURN SHEWING THE NUMBER OF DEATHS THAT OCCURRED IN THE UNDERMENTIONED INSTITUTIONS,

During the Year ended the 31st day of December, 1900.

The Government Civil

Hospitals.

The Tung Wa Hospital.

The Tung Wa Hospital,-Cont.

Causes.

No.

Causes.

No.

Causes.

No.

Small-pox,

Diphtheria,

Brought forward,.....

Diphtheria,

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),..

Malarial Fevers,

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),...

Bubonic Fever (Plague),

306

Beri-beri,

Diarrhoea,

Septicæmia.

Dysentery,

Puerperal Fever,

Bubonic Fever (Plague),

Cholera,

Syphilis (Acquired)....

Influenza,

Malarial Fevers.

162

Rabies,

Malarial Fevers,

Beri-beri,

214

Fracture of Skull,

Beri-beri.

Erysipelas,

of Femur and Humerus,

Præmia,

Septicemia,

Rupture of Liver,

Puerperal Fever,

Syphilis (Acquired), Burus,

Puerperal Fever,

Debility,

Syphilis (Acquired),

Immaturity at Birth,.

Opium Poisoning (Suicide),

Inanition,

Heat Apoplexy,..

Burus,

Tabes Mesenterica,

Multiple Injuries,

Fracture of Skull,

60 10

Starvation,

Cancer of Stomach,

5 Fracture of Skull,

of Rectum,

of Pelvis,

of Spine,.

Tuberculosis,

Bullet Wound of Knee (Accident), Alcoholism, Aente,

of Pelvis,

Anemia,

Debility,

Meningitis,

Chronic,..

Old Age,....

Tubercular,

Debility,

Cancer of Stomach,

Apoplexy,

Cancer of Mediastinum,

of Uterus,

Convulsions,

Tuberculosis, General,

Tuberculosis.

Tetanus,

Abdominal,

Anæmia,

(Traumatic),

Meningitis,

Lymphadenoma,

Trismus,

Apoplexy,

Gangrene of Leg,

Bronchitis,

Tetanus,

Enlarged Spleen,

Pucumonia,

(Traumatic),

Meningitis,

Phthisis,

Trismus,

Tubercular,

Asthma.

Mania,...

Apoplexy,

Heart Disease,

Delusional Insanity,

Paralysis (Undefined),

Aneurism (Thoracic).

Dementia,

Hemiplegia,

Internal Hemorroids,

Acute Myelitis,

Paraplegia,

Strangulated Hernia,

Cerebro-Spina! Sclerosis,

Tetanus (Traumatic),

Cirrhosis of Liver,

Heart Disease,

Cerebro-Spinal Sclerosis,

Acute Nephritis,

Embolism,

Heart Disease,

Bright's Disease.

Bronchitis,

Abdominal Aneurism,

Pneumonia,

Bronchitis,

Phthisis,

302

Canerum Oris,

Pueumonia,.

Enteritis,

Gastro-Enteritis...

Pleurisy, Empyema,

Rupture of Bladder-Extravasa-

tion of Urine,.

Post Partum Haemorrhage,

Placenta Prævia,

Puerperal Eclampsia,

Caries of Spine,.

Hepatic Abscess,

Asthma,

Dropsy,

Cirrhosis of Liver,..

Peritonitis,

Sprue,

Acute Nephritis,

Bright's Disease,

Surgical Kidney,

Parturition,.. Placenta Prævia,

Gangrene of Leg. Undiagnosed,

Enteritis,

Cirrhosis of Liver,..........

Fatty Degeneration of Liver,. Yellow Atrophy of Liver,

Peritonitis,

Jaundice,

(Traumatic),

Total.................

427

2014081000 10

The Italian Convent.

Bright's Disease,

Cellulitis of Leg,

Causes.

Ulcer of Foot,

Diarrhoea,

Sloughing Ulcer of Buttocks,.

Fever (Undefined),

No.

Total....

237

Abscess of Thigh,

Worms,

Debility,

Total,......

1,462

Old Age,

Marasmus and Atrophy,

Scrofula,....

Tuberculosis,

Cancer in Mouth,

Apoplexy,

Tung Wa Hospital Mortuary.

Small-pox,

Causes.

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),.............. Bubonic Fever (Plague),

Dysentery,

No.

ཙམསཆངྐམ|

206

Dropsy,

Tumour,

Diarrhoea,

Total,.................

459

Carried forward......

Convulsions,

Trismus,

Heart Disease,

Bronchitis,

Phthisis, Asthma,

RETURN OF DEATHS,—Continued.

L'Asile de la Ste. Enfance.

427

Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals.

Causes.

No.

Causes.

Diphtheria,

Typhoid Fever (Enteric),

Dysentery,.

Dysentery,

Νο.

Diarrhoea,

Fever (Undefined),

Beri-beri,

Septicemia,

Syphilis (Acquired),.

Puerperal Fever,

20 10 00

Congenital,

Heat-Stroke,.

Old Age,

Tabes Mesenterica,

Marasmus and Atrophy,

Convulsions,

184

Trismus,

438

Anæmia,

Meningitis,

Hemorrhage from Umbilicus,

Congenital Absence of Rectum,

Meningitis, Tubercular, .

Hydrocephalus,...

Tetanus,

Abscess of Brain,..

Heart Disease,

Tumour of Brain,.

Encephalitis,

Heart Disease,

Aneurism,

Bronchitis,

Pueumonia,

Phthisis,

Peritonitis,

Carcinoma of Liver,.

Phthisis,

Enteritis,

Jaundice,

Boils,

Bright's Disease,

Tubercular Hip Joint Disease,

Lipoma (Operation),.

Total,.

Total,.....

1,069

Registrar General's Office, Hongkong, 24th January, 1901.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Registrar General.

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Superintendent of Statistics.

Report of the Sanitary Surveyor for the Year 1900.

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES, HONGKONG, 15th February, 1901.

SIR. I have the honour to forward herewith my annual report for the

NEW HOUSE DRAINS.

year 1900.

1. Plans have been deposited and passed by me during the year for the drainage of 643 houses. The plans of 464 houses were carried forward from 1899, making a total of 1,107 in hand during the year.

2. The drainage of 323 houses has been completed, and the plans for 43 have been cancelled, leaving 741 carried forward to 1901.

3. In addition to the above, notices for repairs or additions to the drainage arrangements of 183 houses were carried forward from 1899, and new notices were received for 352, making a total of 535 for the year. Of these, 388 have been completed, leaving 147 to be carried forward to 1901.

4. A summary of the above is appended in tables A. B. and C.

428

INSPECTION OF PRIVATE DRAINS.

5. The drains of 168 houses have been opened out and reported on; of this number, 5 required re-constructing, 111 amending, and 52 were found to be in order.

Notices have been served on the owners of the above 116 houses calling upon them to execute the necessary work.

As stated by Mr. DRURY in his report last year, the re-drainage of old houses was then practi- cally completed and the 168 houses mentioned above are those of which I have received complaints from the Inspectors of Nuisances, or have, on personal inspection, thought desirable to open out.

In addition to the above, 5,756 houses have been inspected by myself or the Drainage Inspector, with the result that minor drainage defects have been discovered in 1,889 instances. Notices have been served on the owner or occupier in each case to carry out the necessary work. 282 nuisances have been reported to the Medical Officer of Health and 73 to the Director of Public Works, to be dealt with by them.

WATER CLOSETS.

6. During the past year water-closets and urinals have been erected in the following buildings by permission of the Board and connected to the sewers :—

Prince's Buildings

Hung Hom Dock Company 5 Queen's Road Central.

Water-closets. 8

Urinals.

...

Water-closets have been removed from the following buildings, by order of the Board, in couse- quence of their having been fixed without permission being obtained :—

3 Arbuthnot Road

NEW BUILDINGS.

7. Certificates have been granted during the year for 320 new houses and 2 additions, certifying that they have been built in accordance with the entire provisions of the Public Health Ordinance,

No. 24 of 1887.

CEMETERIES.

8. An extension has been made to Caroline Hill Cemetery.

PROSECUTIONS.

9. The following is a return of the prosecutions instituted by me during the past year:

Offences.

Drainage nuisances on private premises, Failure to comply with order of Magistrate,.

Breaches of Drainage Bye-laws,

Unauthorized persons carrying out Drainage Works,.

Total,....

To the Secretary of the

SANITARY BOARD.

Summonses.

Convictions.

Penalties.

Remarks.

154

ཛྫིཀྑཱུ སྶ ཨཱ ཧཪྵཱ

$975

Magistrate's Orde

in 53 cases, 4 withdrawn.

460

125

175

118

$1,635

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. J. BRYAN, Sanitary Surveyor.

Table A.

(Drainage and Re-drainage.)

429

Year.

No. of Houses drained.

Cancelled.

Total.

Plans received.

In hand.

1st Quarter,...

2nd

1899,

3rd

3.2

14th

182

225

164

239

1st Quarter,.

166

2nd

201

1900,

3rd

111

4th

165

141

643

502

Total.................

323

366

1,107

741

Table B.

(Drainage and Re-drainage.)

Year.

No. of Plans No. of Houses

received.

Cancelled.

drained.

Houses carried forward.

New Houses granted Certificates.

1889,

1890,

1891,

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

1896,

1897,

1898,

1899,

1900,

799

573

226

175

500

529

190

409

681

643

198

475

693

577

106

208

228

847

699

104

252

219

878

555

267

2,815

1,889

1,449

131

1,786

2,128

1,023

425

803

1,201

590

400

738

768

463

367

416

395

464

310

643

323

741

320

Total.....

11,599

10,280

578

3,505

1899,

1st Quarter,

2nd

1900,

3rd

4th

Table C.

(Repairs and Additions.)

Year.

No. received.

No. completed.

Cancelled.

In haud.

Total,...

183

104

...

294

352

535

388

147

430

Colonial Veterinary Surgeon's Report for the

year 1900.

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES,

HONGKONG, 25th January, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to submit herewith for the information of the Sanitary Board this my Annual Report for the year ending December 31st, 1900.

IMPORTATION OF LIVE STOCK.

The epidemic of Foot and Mouth Disease which made its appearance upon the mainland iu November, 1897, and which was then brought into the Colony for the first time since my appoint- ment in 1887, continued upon its course until the end of 1899 when it appeared to have died out, but during last year it re-appeared in many districts whence cattle are drawn for the Hongkong markets, and cases have been brought into the Government Cattle Depôts at Kennedy Town from time to time. As we are dependent entirely upon the mainland for cattle it would be impossible to prohibit the importation of such animals altogether, or the meat supply of the Colony would be cut off, and as the disease, as I have pointed out above still lingers in many of the districts from whence our cattle are drawn, it naturally follows that occasionally a few infected animals are brought in.

Much of this infection I have no doubt is communicated to the cattle by their being conveyed in infected junks down the river to Canton and elsewhere, and from their being housed in infected sheds at the centres of collection, and as it is impossible to make native cattle owners understand the risk they run by such proceeding, I am afraid odd cases will continue to be brought into Hongkong until the disease runs itself out, upon the mainland.

The supply of cattle for the Hongkong market, although at times intermittent, has generally been equal to the demand, but the quality of the animals has not quite been up to the usual standard.

ANIMAL DEPÔTS.

With the exception of the outbreaks of Rinderpest at the Government Cattle Depôts on September 4th and 17th which were quickly stamped out, and a few cases of Foot and Mouth Disease, the general health of the animals housed therein during the year was good.

The total number of cattle admitted into the depôt at Kennedy Town was 20,801, and at the Hung Hon depôt 5,348.

915 animals were rejected as unfit for slaughtering purposes at Kennedy Town, and 444 were also rejected at Hung Hom for the same reason.

In the swine depôt at Kennedy Town 153,765 animals were admitted.

The number of sheep and goats housed at Kennedy Town during the year was 29,938.

During the year a new shed for the housing of sheep was finished and handel over by the Public Works to this Department. The grading of some of the pen floors in this shed is insufficient, and they are consequently often very wet and uncomfortable for the animals to lie upon, their wool absorb- ing all liquids freely.

SLAUGHTER HOUSES.

Victoria and Hung Hom.-Both these buildings meet all present requirements.

The nonopoly of slaughtering animals in the Colony is still in the hands of a Chinese contractor On July 17th I again iepresented to the Board that the Governinent Animal Depôts and Slaughter House at Kennedy Town could not possibly be efficiently supervised by one Inspector, upon whom devolved the entire responsibility of managing these premises during the whole twenty-four hours of each day, seven days a week, and recommended the appointment of two 2nd class men to assist him.

As the slaughter house is open day and night, work going on therein during the whole twenty- four hours, given three men, one Inspector could then do eight hours' duty daily, including Sundays, instead of one man being practically upon duty during the whole of the twenty-four hours as at present.

I further pointed out that this small additional expenditure could easily be borne, as since the erection of these buildings six years ago at a total cost of $116,316.00 including preparation of site, terracing, building of retaining walls, landing wharf, and Inspector's quarters-they have returned in fees, after paying all working expenses, the handsome nett sum of $233,647.00.

The two additional Inspectors asked for were however not granted.

Shaukiwan and Aberdeen.-No proper slaughter house has yet been provided for either of these two places.

431

The total number of animals slaughtered at Kennedy Town, Hung Hom, Shaukiwan and Aber- deen for the year ending December 31st, 1900, was as follows:---

District of Slaughter House.

Number of Cattle.

Number of Sheep and

Number of

Swine.

Goats.

Kennedy Town,.

Hung Hom,

Shaukiwan..

Aberdeen,

Total,

19,035

15,875

140,202

4,904

2,489

19,262

4,155

2,141

23,939

18,364

165,760

Annual list of Animals slaughtered for the past ten years, from 1891 to 1900.

Year.

Cattle.

Sheep and

Swine.

Goats.

1891.

18.218

9,673

122,942

1892,

18,180

11,571

126,766

1893,

17,866

11,770

131,298

1894,

16,898

10,937

125,725

1895,

19,218

12,592

129,035

1896,

19,546

14,693

129,103

1897,

20,094

14.226

137,748

1898,

21.541

15,956

153,485

1899,

23,582

17,353

156,292

1900,

23,939

18,364

165,760

Total,...

199,082

137,135

1,378,154

DAIRIES.

On January 15th Rinderpest broke out in a shed at the Sassoon's Villa premises of the Dairy Farm Company at Pokfulam, but was fortunately stamped out quickly with but small loss.

Foot and Mouth Disease also appeared upon these premises during the month of November, but was of a very mild type, and did not spread further.

With the exception of these two outbreaks nothing of importance occurred in any of the dairy farms of the Colony during the year.

MARKETS.

Central Market. Owing to increase of trade additional accommodation is required in the poultry section for the killing and plucking of fowls, etc. 1 first reported this matter to the Board on September 7th, 1898.

Nothing has yet been done to improve the lighting of this market, although upon February 11th, 1899, I brought the subject before the Board and pointed out that it could be lighted much better and cheaper by gas.

The cost during the past year for electric light has been $7,186.70, whereas the Gas Company at the time of my report undertook to light the building well with incandescent gas burners at a cost not exceeding $4,000 per annum.

Western Market.-On December 21st the plans of a proposed new Western Market were sent to me by the Board for report, this building being intended, in conjunction with another which it is proposed to erect upon the site of the present Harbour Office, to supersede the old Western Market.

As my report dealing with the matter thoroughly will come before the Board in another form, I will here only remark that the first of these two new buildings as shown upon the plans will only provide about sufficient proper accommodation for the poultry dealers, thus leaving 148 other shops and stalls for the sale of pork, beef, fish, vegetables, and fruit to be provided for elsewhere; and as the second of the two new markets will be smaller than the first, the two buildings combined will apparently not afford as much stall accommodation as already exists in the present old Western Market. As a supplementary market the first new building when completed would fill a long felt want by enabling the Government to clear the streets of the so-called hawkers who now infest the Western district, but as a part substitute for the present Western Market it will I fear be entirely inadequate.

432.

It is a very great pity indeed that the new Western Market is not to be re-constructed upon its present site in accordance with many recommendations to that effect which have been forwarded to the Government by the Board.

Saiyingpoon Market-might be rebuilt and extended with advantage.

Wanchai Market-is too small, and might be easily extended to cover the vacant space fronting upon Queen's Road, which would make room for a good many more stalls.

Shaukiwan Market-also needs extension. In 1889 I recommended that thirty additional stalls be added.

Sokonpoo, Shektongsui, Hung Hom, Yaumati, and Tai-kok-tsui Markets-appear to meet present requirements.

Additional Supervision required.— Upon July 17th I recommended the appointment of an Assistant Inspector of Markets, ranking as a 2nd class Inspector, and pointed out that it was an impossibility that the supervision of these ten markets could be properly carried out by one Inspector, who is the only officer available for such duties at present.

The effectual supervision of the food supply of the Colony appears to me to be one of vital importance to the health and well being of the community. The magnitude of the work may be more readily understood when I mention that the total revenue collected as Market Rents during last

year exceeded $80,000.

My_recommendation was however not approved, hence I am obliged to do the best I can with the one Inspector, viz., Inspector Cotton, and he at present only receives the same pay and rank as the 2nd class Sanitary Inspectors although in my opinion the duties of his office as Inspector of Markets involve even a greater responsibility than do those of the 1st class Sanitary Inspectors.

In connection with this subject I may here mention that after considering the report of a Sub- committee consisting of the Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.. and Mr. Osborne, the Board in a letter to the Government dated December 2nd, 1898, recommended that the salaries of the Inspector at Kennedy Town and the Inspector of Markets should be both increased to $120 per month each, and this at a time when the Senior Sanitary Inspectors were only receiving $80 per month, yet now the Inspector of Markets is in receipt of $20 a month less than is drawn by the 1st class Sanitary Inspectors.

STAFF.

Inspector Watson remains in charge of the Animal Depôts and Slaughter House at Kennedy Town, and Inspector Cotton is still carrying on the duties of Inspector of Markets.

Both these officers performed their duties to my entire satisfaction during the year.

Mr. Johannsen has been unremitting in his efforts to keep the Central Market in a smart and cleanly condition in spite of many obstacles, and much credit is due to him for the manner in which he has performed his duties.

During Inspector Watson's absence from duty through sickness Mr. Johannsen also acted upon several occasions as officer in charge of the Animal Depôts and Slaughter House at Kennedy Town and here again he carried out his duties very satisfactorily.

Inspectors' Quarters at Kennedy Town.--These quarters again proved to be very unhealthy during the greater part of the year, both the Inspector and his family suffering from repeated severe attacks of malarial fever.

In a letter dated October 13th, 1899, the Board recommended the Government to improve the quarters by the addition of an upper story, which is really necessary, apart from the fever question, as at present the accommodation afforded is very inadequate, but the Board's recommendation has not ye been carried out.

Ittbeing now generally accepted that the Anopheles mosquito takes a very active part in the dis- seminat ion of malarial fever, a few remarks on the subject may not be considered out of place.

When in the Spring of 1899 I searched the Kennedy Town District for the Anopheles larvæ I could find them only in a few small pools in the vicinity of the Inspector's Quarters. At that time the ravine running down from the Pokfulam Road in front of the quarters remained in its original state; the brushwood had not been cleared away and the water-courses and streams had not been touched. But at a recent examination of the district, I discovered the larvæ in almost every pool.

The small pools bordering upon one of the largest nullahs have recently been filled up with lime concrete, but this I am afraid will do little towards lessening the number of larvæ of these mosquitos, and will probably only have the effect of compelling the insects to seek other suitable breeding grounds in the district, which it would be out of the question to treat in the same way, except at enormous expense. Indeed what has already been done has not fulfilled its object, as I have since in several instances found Anopheles larvæ re-established in small pools which have formed upon the top of these newly concreted surfaces.

Seeing that the majority of the pools in the Kennedy Town district which are most suitable for Anopheles breeding-places are formed by springs which issue from the hillside, it would appear useless to try to do away with them simply by the process of filling them up, as such a course does not cut off the water supply, or stop the spring, which running on as before very soon forms other small pools which are equally as suitable for breeding-places as were those which have been filled up.

433

Hence it would seem that unless one can cut off, or drain away at once all water which consti- tutes these small springs, to just fill up the pools which they form is but labour in vain, and I am satisfied that it is impossible to effectually drain the whole of the Kennedy Town district, except at considerable cost, although cheap native-made drain-pipes might be laid in a few places with great advantage, nor do I think the training of nullahs would effectually eradicate such breeding-places, as I have recently found Anopheles larvæ swarming upon the floor of a masonry nullah, even although it has a very good fall, viz. 1 in 6.

Down this nullah, in common with most nullahs in the dry season, there is now only a very small trickling stream.

In the rainy season when there is a stream of some volume it would be impossible for these larvæ to exist there.

As however I mentioned in a paper read before the South China Branch of the British Medical Association on April 2nd last, when reporting the discovery of the Anopheles mosquito in the Colony, I think much good might be done by the judicious application during the dry season of various insec- ticides such as Kerosine, Jeyes' Fluid, Gas Tar and the like to the pools which form its breeding-places and this might easily be effected for the district in question by detailing an intelligent coolie for the purpose under the supervision of Inspector Watson, who is well acquainted with this mosquito and its larvæ, he being first associated with me in the discovery of the insect's habitat.

Had this plan been adopted at the commencement of the dry season, and all pools in the district been so treated periodically up to the present time, there would now remain very few of the Anopheles. larvæ in the neighbourhood, and this might have been accomplished at a comparatively small cost.

From continual observation I am satisfied that this, combined with such surface drainage as may be practicable, is the only method which will ever keep down the Anopheles pest in the Kennedy Town district, and I am not at all sure that even this plan would be entirely successful as all kinds of mos- quitos multiply at a prolific rate. It would however go a long way towards having the desired effect.

Native Staff-During the year the Chinese in the department received a substantial increase of pay, although I regret that nothing has so far been done to improve that of the European subordinate

staff.

I have the honour to be,

The Acting Secretary,

SANITARY Board.

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

C. VIVIAN LADDS.

501

CORRESPONDENCE

REGARDING

THE SANITARY CONDITION

HONGKONG.

[Copy sent to the Secretary of State in Governor's Despatch No. 244 of 5th July, 1901, as Enclosure No. 1.

SIR,

Hongkong GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 7th June, 1901.

1. The present severe epidemic of Bubonic Plague, which seems now to have become an annual visitation, presents so serious a menace to the general prosperity of this port and Colony, that in the interest of trade my Committee deem it their duty to make such representations to the Government as they trust may lead to the adoption of every measure practicable calculated to limit the spread of this disease.

2. I am therefore directed to point out that although it is now seven years since the disease first appeared in a fatally epidemic form, and notwithstanding all the experience gained, alike of its fatal character and rapid spread and of a serious dislocation of business and special loss to the shipping trade, the authorities are now practically as helpless in its presence as they were in the memorable year 1894. The numbers of cases, now as then, are little in excess of the numbers of deaths; the exodus of the Chinese has, now as then, commenced to be on a formidable scale; and the virulence of the pest seems now to be even more marked than in 1894.

3. It is unfortunately true that medical science has not yet discovered any means of successfully grappling with the plague, but that fact should not stand in the

way of measures being taken to arrest its spread, or of the adoption of such precautions in the handling of the sick, the cleansing of drains and houses, and the inspection of slums, as might tend to curtail the ravages of this scourge within certain limits.

4. The loss sustained by the suspension of emigration, the imposition of quarantine at neighbouring ports on arrivals from Hongkong, the reduction in imports and exports, and the diversion and restriction of trade generally, constitute a serious drain upon the commercial community, the more disquieting since it threatens to be of annual recurrence.

5. The Committee are loth to intervene in any matters even apparently outside the domain of trade, but this question is so intimately bound up with the welfare of this great port that they feel it would be a grave omission did they fail to point out how, in their opinion, the Government have made themselves largely res- ponsible for the sad state of things prevailing.

6. If this were not a matter of notoriety, it would only be necessary to refer to the speech of the Medical Officer of Health on the drainage system at the last meeting of the Sanitary Board, when proposing the following resolution :-

"That the Board recommend the Government to utilize all the fresh water "which now runs to waste in the trained and untrained nullahs of the city by "building dams and forming tanks for the automatic flushing of the sewers "and storm water drains."

7. Dr. Clark then enumerated a number of recommendations made by Mr. Osbert Chadwick in 1882, all of which were necessary, but few of which had, up to the present moment, been carried into effect, while in most instances they had been simply ignored.

8. Thus, with regard to the separate system of drainage, most unhappily introduced into the Colony, one of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations was that flushing tanks for sewers to be filled by the flow in the nullahs should be erected. The Committee, while opposed to the separate system as eminently unsuited to the circumstances of the Colony, recognize that, if the system has to be endured, its evils will clearly be mitigated by provision being made through the frequent and copious flushing of the sewers, and they regret that this obvious fact was not also long since recognized by the Government.

9. Other recommendations made by Mr. Chadwick were:—

(1) The formation of continuous back-alleys;

(2) The provision of 600 cubic feet of space per head in all rooms sub-

divided by cubicles;

(3) The formation of a fund to carry out large sanitary schemes:

(4) The construction of all roads and drains prior to the sale of the

building lots;

(5) The acquisition by Government of all existing public latrines, their

reconstruction, and the provision of more;

(6) The abatement of the nuisance caused by hawkers squatting in the

public streets;

(7) The increase of the market accommodation; and

(8) The provision of public bath-houses with a good supply of water (which last suggestion the Committee note with satisfaction is now being acted upon with good results).

The report in which the foregoing recommendations were embodied concluded with the following remarks, which, in the light of subsequent events, were most prophetic:-"I trust that even should the suggestions be found undesirable or impracticable, my report will show the necessity for strong and complete measures "of sanitation, and I trust that they will be undertaken for the immediate benefit "of the public health without waiting for the necessity to be demonstrated by the "irresistible logic of a severe epidemic."

10. As Dr. Clark truly remarks:-"The logic came twelve years later, when "the necessity for these reforins was demonstrated by an outbreak of bubonic plague "in epidemic form. Almost all these matters are crying needs in Hongkong nine- "teen years after this report was written."

11. In the opinion of the Committes, the Colony possesses in the Medical Officer of Health a valuable and energetic officer, whose untiring efforts to promote the sanitation of the city merit every encouragement; whereas, his recommenda- tions, like those of Mr. Chadwick, have been frequently ignored, shelved, or pared down when adopted.

12. My Committee desire to draw attention to the folly of allowing the pre- judices of officials, the fear of expense, or the dread of unofficial opposition to stand in the way of the execution of sanitary measures which are known to be necessary and which have been insisted upon time after time by experts. If any doubt be entertained as to the practicability or expedience or otherwise of ch recommenda-

i-p

tions, no time should be lost in referring them to a higher authority for decision. The time has now arrived when vigorous action should be taken to secure the con- tinuance of the progress of the Colony and to adequately protect the great com- mercial interests so adversely affected by these disastrous annual epidemics.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

R. CHATTERTON WILCOX.

Secretary.

Honourable ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.

[Copy sent to the Secretary of State in Governor's Despatch No. 244 of 5th July, 1901, as Enclosure No. 2.]

No. 1400.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONG KONG, 13th June, 1901.

SIR,

I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor joins with the Chamber of Commerce in the regret that here, as in India, the anxious efforts of the Govern- ment have failed to control Bubonic Plague, or to materially check its ravages.

As to the various matters on which the Committee of the Chamber of Com- merce has been good enough to give their views, they have long been subjects of most anxious consideration by those whose professional knowledge and experience best fitted them to advise upon them, and some have been dealt with by the Legislative Council. His Excellency would suggest that as the Chamber of Commerce is directly represented in the Council, it should request its representative to bring its views before that body, where the grounds for assumptions which appear to have been somewhat hastily adopted may be clearly stated and fully answered. His Excellency instructs me to add that nothing could more contribute to the commercial losses pointed out in the 4th paragraph of the letter than reckless statements, some untrue, and others greatly exaggerated, that have appeared from time to time in the public Press; and the apparent acceptance of these statements by the Members of the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce without investiga- tion or adequate knowledge, is not calculated to allay fears that, if continued, may permanently affect the prosperity of this Colony, dependent as it is upon the business incidental to a great shipping port of call. The Governor observes with satisfaction that the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce is prepared to accept cheerfully the increased taxation that will probably be necessary to meet the heavy expenses of contemplated measures for the general improvement of sanitation.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Secretary,

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

{

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

[Copy sent to the Secretary of State in Governor's Despatch No. 244 of 5th July, 1901, as Enclosure No. 3.]

SIR,

HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

HONGKONG, 24th June, 1901.

I beg leave to acknowledge receipt of your letter (No. 1400) of the 13th instant. In

In doing so, I am directed to express the Chamber's regret at finding from its tone that His Excellency took some exception to the attitude adopted by the Committee in their letter of the 7th instant.

I am instructed to ask you to convey to His Excellency the assurance of the Committee that their action was not dictated by any spirit of carping criticism, but arose out of a sincere desire to strengthen the hands of the Government and assist in combating the present serious visitation of plague.

The Chamber do not wish me to enter into controversy, but they wish to put themselves right on one point.

It was stated in your letter that the Chamber had accepted without investiga- tion certain statements made in the local Press and described by you as reckless.

In reply to this statement, I beg to point out that no reference to statements made in the local Press appeared in my letter; the references there given were taken from the public utterances or reports of Government officials and of an expert employed by the Colonial Office to inquire into the sanitation of the Colony. Nor was there anything, in the opinion of the Committee, to justify the assumption on the part of His Excellency the Governor that the members of the Chamber believed in the truth of any "exaggerated statements." On this, however, I will not dwell, for, as stated above, I am instructed to avoid even the appearance of wishing to prolong a quite useless controversy.

In addressing the Government on this subject of sanitation in the first instance, the Chamber had not then, nor has it now, any other object in view than to expedite reform in the sanitary condition of the Colony, and they therefore take this oppor- tunity of expressing gratification at the information contained in the last paragraph of your letter, viz., that important measures having this for their object were being ontemplated by the Colonial Authorities. The Committee would further add that in nging forward any such measures, the Government may rest assured of the loyal support and co-operation of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.

I have the honour to be.

Sir,

Your mont obedient Servant,

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY.

R. CHATTERTON WILCOX.

Secretary.

No. 244.

SIR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 5th July, 1901.

I have the honour to forward for your information particulars of the epidemic of plague with which unhappily this Colony has been visited during the present

year.

2. Last year there were only one or two cases per week down to the end of March, with the exception of the three weeks ending 24th March during which no case was reported. From the 7th April the returns showed from twenty cases to ninety cases per week. The latter figure being for the week ending 30th June, when the disease subsided, the week ending on the 18th August showing 26 cases, and the following week 9. The four weeks of November were the only four con- secutive weeks free from the disease, the two last weeks of the year showing each only one case.

3. As Rinderpest had been prevalent on the mainland and I have observed some mysterious connexion between kinderpest and Plaque which frequently de- velops after Rinderpest has been pronounced, I sent early in January for the Medical Officer of Health and instructed him to send in at once his suggestions for dealing effectively with a possible recurrence of Plague in epidemic form during the year, and on the 28th January I received his suggestions, anticipating that No. 9 district would probably be the worst; he recommended that :-

(a.) Eight European Constables should make a thorough house-to-house visitation once a week, each to speak Chinese or have an Interpreter.

(b.) That to prevent the depositing of dead bodies on the street, the police patrol of that district should be augmented by swearing in fifty Indian soldiers as Special Constables to be controlled by a European Officer, the same system to be extended to other districts should the plague spread.

(c.) That the Light Regulations (Sec. 31 of Ordinance No. 13 of 1888) should be re-enactel in plague districts, and that they should be at once applied to the Western part of the City.

(d.) That in case of deal plague bodies being found in back-lanes, which could not be controlled by the Special Police, every house in the lane should be cleansed and disinfected.

(e.) That a reward of five dollars should be offered for such information as would lead to the conviction of persons depositing dead bodies in the street or public thoroughfare

(f.) That a reward of one dollar should be offered for every living case of plague reported to the Tung Wa Hospital (an excellent Charitable Institution supported entirely by the Chinese) or nearest Police Station, and that in all such cases Government should pay two dollars for each floor disinfected as compensation for small articles that might be destroyed or damaged in the process of disinfection.

(g.) Should disease spread in spite of these precautions, a further European

Staff would be required to assist in disinfection.

4. With the exception of the re-enactment of the regulation made under Ordinance No. 13 of 1888 that all Chinese should carry a lantern, a suggestion of which the Colonial Secretary and the Captain Superintendent of Police disapproved, I approved at once of all these proposals, and, in addition to the Police, the requisite number of men was lent by the Military Authori ies, isolated matshed accommodation being prepared for them at the expense of this Government and extra pay given to them as during the epidemic of 1894.

5. Further suggestions were made by the Sanitary Board for the improvement of the Sanitary staff and were adopted. Unfortunately the health of Mr. Dandy, the Chief Sanitary Inspector, broke down, and on his departure I have recom- mended the appointment of an Assistant Medical Officer of Health.

Enclosures

Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 3A.,

See

pp. 1-4 & 21.

6 From the middle of February the cases began to increase. In the week ending 23rd February there were five cases reported, which increased to fourteen in the second week of March, and to twenty-four in the third week of April, the next week's returns showing sixty-five cases, the first week in May ninety-three, and the following week one hundred and twenty-eight. In the first week of June it reached two hundred and twelve, with two hundred and six deaths. The second, third, and fourth weeks in June the returns were one hundred and fifty-nine, one hundred and forty-five, and one hundred and fifty three, while the last week it sank to sixty.

By this time the people became seriously alarmed. Since the 11th May twenty-five Europeans had been attacked and nine had died.

The public press published letters and articles that increased the alarm, which was intensified among the Chinese by the refusal, under your instructions, to permit the removal to Canton, as in 1854, of any person suffering from plague, even under conditions of regulated precaution. An exodus of the Chinese community ensued, which has had the result of paralysing certain works in the Colony and has caused the gravest inconvenience and loss. I addressed you on this subject by despatch No. 239 of the 29th ultimo. On the 7th ultimo the Chamber of Commerce addressed to the Government the letter of which, with my reply, I enclose a copy, and also of a further letter of 24th June, of which a copy is also enclosed and which I propose to answer, giving them full information as to sanitary matters which is now being collated.

7. From the first I have watched the returns day by day with an anxious endeavour to satisfy myself if the very full facts submitted affordel ground for a workable theory as to the cause of the disease. How does it originate? How is it propagated? Is it a dirt disease, a drain disease, or is it caused by want of light and air? or by some atmospheric condition not yet grasped by scientific research? Is it infectious or contagious? Is it air-borne or propagated by vermin? The last theory holds water to a certain extent. for undoubtedly the advent of plague- stricken rats has been very frequently followed by cases of plague, and patients have been received in hospital with insect bites about the ankles, the serum from which was found to be swarming with plague bacilli. On the other hand a large number of the rats collected, against which vermin we have been waging war for the past eighteen months, have been found by the coolies engaged in collecting the city rubbish for removal, to whom the reward is a matter of great concern. These men, I am informed, carry the rats sometimes about them until counted out to the Inspector, lest their prize should be appropriated by their fellows, yet none of these men have contracted the disease.

Again the plague charts show an invariably rapid fall from the maximum plague rate to normal. The epidemic always ceasing in from three to four weeks. I attach a chart of plague cases in the years 1899, 1900 and 1901 that will show how constant is this condition of rapid recovery. This rather favours the theory that the epidemic is due to atmospheric condition. I have no reason to believe that the Sanitary Staff are not doing their duty faithfully, and if they are, then with the large powers given to the Medical Officer of Health there should not be in Hongkong a house unfit for habitation, nor should any house be permitted to continue in an insanitary state. At present there seems to be a preponderance of opinion among the community that the plague is attributable to overcrowding, insanitary dwellings, and a bad system of drainage. But while all or any of these conditions may contribute to the perpetuation of the disease, the fact remains that one of the worst districts in the Colony this year is at Hunghom, a newly built quarter on Kowloon peninsula of two-storied houses fronting streets 50 feet wide and inhabited by the best paid working men of the Chinese community-the workmen of the Whampoa Dock Company. I was so struck by this fact in apparent opposition to the various

Enclosures Nos. 4, 5 & 6

1899. 1900. 1901.

Enclosure No. 7.

30th May, 1901, and 5th

June, 1901.

theories, that I requested Major-General Gascoigne to permit an Officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps to make an independent report upon it, placing the services of a anitary Officer and an Officer of the Public Works Department at his disposal. I attach his report.

8. The very high percentage of mortality here has also engaged my attention. In the epidemic of 1896 it was 91.12 %. In 1898, 89.45 %. In 1899, 96.10 %. In 1900, 94.56 %. In 1901, 94.86 %. This percentage is higher than that reported from other places and is generally supposed to be much higher than at Macao or Canton, though there are no figures available for the latter, and at Macao local conditions render statistics on this subject unreliable as plague patients go across the harbour to the Chinese hospital in great numbers. I have visited the plague hospital on two occasions and thoroughly inspected it. Nothing could be more entirely satisfactory than its arrangements, and so far as I could see nothing was wanting in the treatment or the surroundings. Yet there must be some cause for the exceptional mortality. On reading the report of the action taken last year in Bombay, I found that patients were allowed to remain in their houses to be nursed by their friends under proper restrictions, and early in May I suggested that the experiment might be tentatively tried here, but the suggestion was not accepted by the Sanitary Board. Personally I have little doubt that with such a regulation th: mortality would not be so high. The plague hospital is at the extreme western extremity of the town, and the carriage of a plague-stricken patient in an am- bulance, which, until I ordered wheeled ambulances with pneumatic tyres, consisted of a cot slung upon a pole, and carried for two or three miles by two coolies could not be conducive to the recovery of the patient.

9. On the 10th May, I authorized the erection of a matshed plague hospital at Yaumati on the Kowloon peninsula and obtained from Major-General Gascoigne the services of Dr. Stewart of the Indian Medical Service to relieve Dr. Thomson from his duties as Medical Officer of the Gaol so that his entire time should be devoted to plague work.

10. On the 20th May, I authorized the employment of a launch and of two junks, in which patients could be taken to the plague hospital from the eastern district, or dead bodies sent for burial, that they might not be carried through the streets. At the same time additional accommodation in the shape of good and airy matsheds was provided at Kennedy Town and two additional nurses were engaged.

11. Feeling that if the disease is propagated by vermin, the Chinese coolies ought to have an opportunity of washing, I directed the Public Works Depart- ment to erect a number of matsheds with arrangements for hot water. It was generally assumed that the Chinese coolie would not avail himself of this means of cleanliness, but the thousands who have since flocked to these bath houses have shown that they are ready to avail themselves of any opportunity for securing personal cleanliness, and the Sanitary Board has requested that more matsheds may be erected, and provision made for permanent baths. I have suggested that the working women shall have like facilities, but the Board reports that they would not use them. I propose, however, that one or two shall be provided as an experiment.

12. I have now given you every information as to the efforts made to combat the disease during the present year, efforts that I regret to say seem to have been unavailing. From one experiment just completed it is possible that good results may be obtained. Seeing in the Bombay reports that where a house was thoroughly disinfected plague did not recur that year, and observing from the full particulars given in our returns of the past three years that more than one case in any house was comparatively rare, I directed the Medical Officer of Health to select the worst centre of the disease and to thoroughly disinfect a given area (hitherto only the

ཏྭཱ

floor on which a case occurred was disinfected). This was carried out on the 21st and 22nd June, and if within that area no more cases occur this year, I think it will afford grounds for taking legal power to disinfect all houses within the City when next year it will be advisable to employ a very large number of men in February and disinfect the entire city quarter by quarter. If that does not succeed, the question will remain what structural changes shall be carried out and what property resumed, destroyed, or rebuilt.

13. In approaching this question it must be remembered that we shall be dealing with property worth from £100,000 to £150,000 per acre, and I do not feel competent to deal with so large a question without first obtaining the advice of an eminent Sanitarian. The letter of the Chamber of Commerce shows that a considerable section of the community consider the drainage to be in a dangerous condition. The Sanitary Board point out that houses are too high and call for an Ordinance restricting houses to once and a half the height of the width of the streets measured from kerb stone to kerb stone, and have on general principles that I cannot gainsay recommended that six private streets at the ends of which are houses erected over archways shall be entirely opened by the removal of the latter which will, the Acting Director of Public Works estimates, cost one hundred and seventeen thousand dollars.

If one or the other assumption of the cause of insanitary conditions be correct it will cost a very large sum indeed. I question if the community quite realize how much, but whatever the sum. if the result be to banish plague, it will be well spent. The letter of the Chamber of Commerce shows that the people of Hongkong will not object to any expenditure within their means, and I am quite certain that in asking you to send out a Sanitary Engineer of such eminence in his profession as will command public confidence, to report upon the general state of Hongkong, -its drainage system, its water system, and the general question of sanitation, I have the support of all classes of the community. May I suggest that yon telegraph to me the expense of such an examination and report when I can lay the matter be- fore the Legislative Council for approval? Mr. Osbert Chadwick's exhaustive and able reports of 1882 and 1889 on the sanitation of Hongkong are now being widely real and considered. By some it is held that his recommendations have been neglected, indeed this appears to be the opinion of the majority. My study of the conditions does not lead me to this conclusion. The matter will be set at rest by such a report as I suggest upon the present necessities of the City of Victoria and the rapidly growing town on Kowloon Peninsula as regards sanitation.

14. I have in this despatch only dealt with the question of Sanitation in rela-' tion to plague; but much has been done and is being done by the Public Works Department in dealing with the Anopheles Mosquito and I see solid ground for hope that with continued effort the curse of malarial fever may ultimately practically disappear from our returns.

15. I enclose for your information three of the returns that are sent to me daily. I have had these returns inde in the hope that one day the accumulated facts might affor some clue to the etiology of the disease; hence I have requested that in the history of the cases, the places where employed, and the places where food was procured, should be noted, as it is possible that mouldy rice might be the orig nal host of the plague bacillus, and if many cases could be traced to the same source of supply a clue might possibly be afforded.

I have the honour to be,

Enclosures Nos. 8, 9 & 10.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE. .

To the Right Honourable

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

Site.

The village.

Houses.

Lodging-houses.

Opium dens.

Public baths.

Ventilation of houses.

Drainage of houses.

Refuse of houses.

Drainage.

Scavenging.

Latrines.

Copy of Enclosure No. 7.

Report of a Sanitary Inspection of the Village of Hunghom, made on 30th May, 1901.

The village is situated on the shore of the Harbour near the Kowloon Docks. In front, the foreshore is covered with a number of matsheds massed together without definite order. These are for the most part workshops and dwellings of the workers combined. Behind the village there are low hills.

The site has been in part prepared by cutting back the hills and in part by reclamation. The soil is decomposed granite.

The site in itself is fairly good, but the matsheds massed in confusion on the foreshore without drainage make sanitary cleanliness impossible. The hills in rear of the village are in places not sufficiently far cut back. The removal in time of the hills will be of benefit to the ventilation

of the site.

The village coinprises 297 houses in well laid out streets which are of good width, with unpaved roadway and concreted footpaths.

The inhabitants are for the most part workers in the Dockyard, and the usual shopkeepers and lodging-house proprietors who provide for the workers. The people are as a body well-to-do.

The houses are some of two and some of three storeys.

Some have, but many have not, a small yard in rear. The basement is on practically the same level as the road. It was tiled on those houses which I visited. The houses are in good order structurally.

These are licensed and under supervision. The regulation space per head, being 30 square feet, is but moderate. Overcrowding should be strictly guarded against.

Overcrowding by day (evening time) appears to occur. The one which I visited was venti- lated in such a way that the closing of a window at the back would practically stop all ventilation. These resorts are à source of danger for the spread of infection. It would be well for the Sanitary Inspector to insist on the window in the rear being always kept open during the day, the time during which overcrowding occurs.

used.

Public baths have been recently opened near the landing stage. They are, I was told, much

The ventilation of the houses has been sufficiently provided for in the structure of the houses, but its efficiency is considerably lessened by the habits of the people themselves who do much to obstruct it by screens, partitions and curtains.

Drains are provided for carrying off the dirty water from house use. These are efficient, but, in one instance which I saw, the pipe from the upper storey discharged over a grating placed in front the cooking place in the basement.

Refuse from food, with the dust and rubbish of the houses, is collected in baskets which are each inorning emptied into dust carts.

Generally speaking the arrangements of the houses are good, but the small space available for a family leads to evils such as the storage in one small space, used as kitchen and wash-house, of the store of drinking water and the urine jar. There are closets only in very few of the houses. The urine is collected in earthenware pots which are emptied only once a day.

Surface gutters run along either side of the streets. The house-drain pipes empty into these, which are daily brushed and washed. They discharge into sewers. These have man-holes for cleaning, but I was unable to find if they are ventilated.

The same carts which collect the house refuse, collect the street rubbish which is eventually taken away by junks.

There are three latrines of twelve seats each situated on the hilly ground behind the village and one of four seats in the market. These are worked on the pail system. The latrine frame is of iron erected on a concrete platform with a gutter to lead off urine to a concrete catch-pit outside the latrine. The night-soil is stored in wooden buckets till taken away each day by coolies through the village street to a landing, stage where they are put on board junks to be taken away by a contractor. These wooden pails are, I am told, covered over when passing through the streets, but when stored in a central compartment of the latrine they are uncovered. I saw nine such pails filled in one of the

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latrines at my inspection at 8 a.ni. The concrete platforms of the latrines are much broken and badly want repair. The catch-pit outside is of concrete and provided with a heavy iron lid. The concrete is badly broken and the lid does not fit tight. As I saw them the pits were full and covered with large bubbles showing that decomposition was proceeding. The catch-pit could not, in my opinion, be at any time properly emptied, and from its position is liable to be flooded during heavy rains and foul the vicinity.

The total number of seats in the latrines is, I should think, much too few. In all, only 40 seats for a village of nearly 300 houses, most of which contain several families. The necessity of increas- ing latrine accommodation is the greater as there are very few latrines in the houses. Storing the night-soil in uncovered buckets is undesirable. Could not iron filth-receptacles with tight fitting lids be provided?

There are no public urinals. Their provision is made more necessary on account of the nature of the soil. I observed that in Canton, Chinese themselves have many public latrines on the dry earth system. This system, if possible here and well carried out, is superior to that in use at present.

There is no attendant constantly present at the latrines.

Their proper

cleanliness without such

an attendant is very improbable.

The water supply is from pipes from the general water supply for Kowloon. I did not examine Water supply. it, but understand that the supply is good, but at times only available at certain hours of the day. There are also two wells in the rear of the village. These are open and the water is drawn from them by standing on a stone slab placed across the mouth of the well and lowering into them the vessel brought for the purpose. This system is bad. It renders the water liable to infection 1st, from the vessel which has been brought from a house in which infectious disease may exist; and 2nd, to contamination by matter brought on the feet of the drawers of the water, which in time must be washed into the well itself.

There is a market under a special market inspection. Food is also sold at street stalls which is cooked in the open street. The arrangements seem good.

There is, I am told, no qualified medical man practising in this village. This must make the detection of infectious cases especially difficult. There is no hospital of any kind.

The only provision, which I learned was made to dispose of rats, was that 3 cents are offered as a reward for each rat collected. When rats are brought in this way they are treated with chloride

of lime and then sent with the dust carts. It would be better to burn them.

When the Sanitary Inspector suspects a case to be one of plague, the case is sent in an ambulance hospital in Hongkong. There are but two such ambulances at his disposal. I was unable to as- certain how these ambulances were disinfected, and understood that infectious diseases of other nature were sent in these same ambulances. After the case has been diagnosed in hospital the clothing and bedding of all people of the house is sent to Hongkong (viû Yaumati) in a basket for disinfection. Other clothing is lent to these people in the meantime by Government. The house is fumigated and the floor and furniture washed with disinfectants (Jeyes' Fluid). The walls and ceiling are washed with lime and chloride of lime. The house is re-occupied as soon as the disinfected clothing has been returned. The principal objection to this course is 1st, that the patient is removed to hospital before his case has been diagnosed by a qualified medical man; 2nd, that the house seems to be too quickly re-occupied : 3rd, that the case is sent to Yaumati first, thence to Hongkong; and 4th, that although the house, furniture, clothing and bedding of people in an infected house are disinfected the people themselves do not seem to be required to bathe or use any disinfectants. Dead bodies of plague cases are similarly sent first to Yaumati and thence to Hongkong. These bodies are placed in India- rubber-lined wooden boxes supposed to be air-tight. They did not seem to me to be so, as the lid of the one I examined was warped and the rubber lining in parts worn away. They are carried by the first two coolies who can be impressed. This does not seem desirable.

Food supply.

Medical attendance.

Rats.

Hospitals.

Plague arrangements.

In conclusion, I would state that I found the sanitary condition of the village good in all respects Conclusion. except 1st, that the existing latrines are not in good order, nor is there, in my opinion, sufficient latrine accommodation; 2nd, that public urinals ought to be provided; 3rd, that the two wells ought to be covered over and hand pumps fixed for drawing the water; 4th, that plague infected bedding and plague corpses be sent as direct as possible to their destination by men retained for the purpose and

་

•

not by impressed coolies: 5th, that a house infected, should not be re-occupied for 10 days: 6th, that a patient should not be sent to a plague hospital till his disease has been diagnosed by a qualified medical man and that, when sent, he should be taken as direct as is possible to that hospital; 7th as people from Canton who become panic-stricken probably visit this place carrying infection with them, it seems desirable that the fresh arrivals be kept under surveillance.

(Sd.)

J. D. DALY, M.B.,

Major, I. M. S.

Camp, KOWLOON,

5th June, 1901.

To the Principal Medical Officer,

SIR,

China and Hongkong.

In continuation of my report on the sanitation of the village of Hunghom, I have the honour to now submit the following report on the drainage system of that village, as on the previous occasion I had not an opportunity to fully examine it. I inspected yesterday, accompanied by a representative of the Public Works Department.

tion.

The house drains are intended for slops, washing water and waste house water only. The slops, &c., run from a sloping floor into a cemented channel along the side of the cook rooms, discharging through the wall of the house over an open hopper head of a down-pipe. There is no direct connec- This down-pipe discharges into a gutter at the roadside being likewise disconnected. The arrangement is so far good. These gutters in turn discharge into the sewers and are trapped at entrance. The smaller sewers discharge into the main sewers which have man-holes for cleaning purposes, traps being formed in connection with the man-holes. These sewers are intended to carry off the house drainage and in part the rain water. When practicable the rain flood water is carried off through open nullahs. The main sewer is provided with overflow connection with nullahs as a provision for floods. The main sewer finally runs out into the sea and discharges in the harbour. There is only one ventilating shaft in connection with the whole system. The system is defective in the following respects:-That 1st, owing to the want of ventilation, the various traps must, during heavy rains, become unsealed by syphon action and sewer gases consequently escape freely into the streets through the man-holes and gullies; 2nd, that as the main sewer opens directly into the sea, there must result, during the time of high tide, what amounts practically to a cessation of the working of the whole drainage system as, owing to the low level of the site of the village, the head or pressure from behind can effect but little in the discharge of the sewer. During this time there must be an accumulation of drainage water, as a considerable portion of the main sewer is then filled by the tide. This accumulation must displace the sewer gases and force them out through the man-holes and gullies into the streets, as the quantity of water in the traps cannot be sufficient to absorb all the sewer gases under such conditions. A third defect in the system is the want of any flushing arrangements. The rainfall suffices during part of the year, but during the dry season sewer gases must be largely generated from decomposition of filth of various kinds which sticks to the walls of the drain. This condition will naturally become worse as drains become older.

I should recommend that the entire system be ventilated, obviating the present escape of sewer gases during high tide and heavy rain; and 2nd, that arrangements be made for flushing during dry weather; and 3rd, that some arrangements be made to allow the continuance of the discharge from the sewers during the time of high tide.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Sd).

J. D. DALY, M.B., Major, I. M. S.

Copy of Enclosure No. 8.

Plague.

Date,-27th June, 1901.

Health District,-9. Address,-9 First Street.

Nationality, Chinese. Age,-30.

Sex, Male.

Depth of House,—27′ 8′′.

Frontage,-13' 9".

Width of Street fronting House,—30′ 1′′. -

Open Area in Rear,-Nil.

If Back to Back or Back to Side,-Lane 12′ 2′′.

Number of Floors in the House, -3 and basement.

Floor on which Case occurred,-Second.

Number of Cubicles in Floor where Case occurred,~2.

Sanitary Condition of Premises,-Fair.

History of Case: Resident 1 year, sick 5 days, ricksha coolie.

Market and cooked on premises.

No previous case recorded.

Copy of Enclosure No. 9.

Date,-27th June, 1901.

Health District,-9.

Address,-63 Third Street.

Nationality, Chinese.

Age,-20.

Plague.

Case No. 1483.

Rice procured from Saiyingpun

Case No. 1484.

Sex,-Male.

Depth of House,-43' 2".

Frontage,-13' 5".

Width of Street fronting House,--31′ 1′′.

Open Area in Rear,-7′ 5′′ × 7′ 3′′.

If Back to Back or Back to Side,-Lane 4′ 1′′.

Number of Floors in the House,-3.

Floor on which Case occurred,-Second.

Number of Cubicles in Floor where Case occurred,-Nil.

Sanitary Condition of Premises,-Fair.

History of Case: Resident 5 months, sick 5 days, unemployed. Rice procured from several shops other food from Saiyingpun Market and cooked on premises.

One previous case recorded in 1900.

Date,-29th June, 1901.

Copy of Enclosure No. 10.

Plague.

Case No. 1485.

Health District,—5.

Address,-9 Wing Wo Street.

Nationality, Chinese.

Age,-17.

Sex,-Female.

Depth of House,-50'.

Frontage,-12′ 11′′.

Width of Street fronting House,-18' 11".

Open Area in Rear,-9′ 4′′ × 6′ 3′′.

Back to Back.

Number of Floors in the House,--3.

Floor on which Case occurred,—Second.

Number of Cubicles in Floor where Case occurred,—3.

Sanitary Condition of Premises,--Fair.

History of Case: Resident 2 months, sick 2 days, unemployed. Rice procured from several shops, other food from Central Market and cooked on premises.

No previous case recorded.

[Copy sent to the Secretary of State in Governor's Despatch No. 244 of 5th July, 1901, as Enclosure No. 3a.

No. 1650.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 6th July, 1901.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor accepts unreservedly the statement contained in the second paragraph of your letter under reply.

His Excellency has further directed that a full report on the sanitary measures taken since the date of Mr. Chadwick's report of 1882 shall be prepared. This report, it is expected, will show that many hundreds of thousands of dollars have been expended in carrying out the recommendations of Mr. Chadwick's report. When prepared the information will be made public. In the first letter of the Chamber of Commerce it is assumed that the drainage system adopted on Mr. Chadwick's recommendation is faulty and that the late epidemic of plague, now happily disappearing, was due in some measure to defective drainage and general insanitary conditions existing in the City. This is a very import- ant question on which His Excellency does not feel himself competent to form an opinion based upon any valid grounds that have come nuder the notice of this Government. If it be so, however large an expenditure may be necessary, it must be faced, and all other projects must yield to imperative sanitary improve. ments as of primary importance. His Excellency has requested the Secretary of State for the Colonies to obtain the services of an expert in Drainage and Sanita- tion to visit and report upon the Sanitary Condition of Hongkong, and until such report has been made His Excellency suggests that it may be well to suspend judgment in the matter.

At the same time it should not be forgotten that even at the height of the epidemic the death rate of Hongkong was less than that of other Eastern Colonies, and eliminating deaths from plague, it is less than that of many Cities of Great Britain and Ireland.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary.

Secretary to

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

HONGKONG, 11th July, 1901.

Colonial Secretary,

HONGKONG.

SIR,

On behalf of the Signatories we have the honour to send you a Petition, addressed to the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain. M P., His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, which we shall be obliged if you will kindly ask His Excellency the Governor to forward at his earliest conveni-

ence.

Spare copies of the Petition are sent herewith.

We have the honour to be,

>ir,

Your obedient Servants,

GEO. W. F. PLAYFAIR,

Chairman, Petition Committee.

ALFRED CUNNINGHAM,

Hon. Secretary, Petition Committee.

To the

Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

the Undersigned

THE HUMBLE PETITION of the

Merchants, Bankers, Professional Men, Traders, Artisans, and others, inhabitants of the Crown Colony of Hongkong.

RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH :-

1-The Colony of Hongkong, comprising the island of that name, and the recently acquired New Territory on the mainland adjoining, is situate near the south-eastern extremity of the vast empire of China. Since the Colony was founded, 60 years ago, it has progressed to such an extent that it now ranks as the third shipping port of the British Empire. It is the most important British Naval and Military Station in Eastern Asia.

2. The population of Hongkong (not including the New Territory), was estimated (from a preliminary report of the Census taken in January last) to the middle of June, 1900, as being 283,955, exclusive of the Army and Navy, the former being estimated at 2,568 and the latter at 3,110. These numbers are considerably augmented by the constant arrival of numerous British and Foreign ships of war. 'The total tonnage which entered and cleared Hongkong during the year 1899 amounted to 18,101,309 tons, being an increase compared with 1898 of 835,529 tons. The trade of the Colony is estimated at $500,000,000 per annum. The total revenue from the Colony in 1899 was $3,610,143.25, against $2,918,159.24 in 1898. During 1899 the Actual Revenue exceeded the Estimated Revenue by $724,006.25 if the amounts from Land Sales and the Water Account be included. The Revenue for 1899 exceeded the expenditure by $447,350.89 It is believed that the surplus for 1900 will show a much greater increase.

3-In his report for 1899 (No. 314) H.E. Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G., the Governor of the Colony, said: "the general condition of the Colony is most flourishing, and with the command of cheap labour, it gives promise of developing into a great manufacturing centre." The Colony has attained to its present prosperous and important position mainly through the enterprise, ability, energy and perseverance of his Majesty's loyal subjects resident here, who have spent millions of dollars in industrial, marine, and commercial undertakings; and also because of its being a free port, offering to all races, Europeans and Asiatics alike, freedom from oppression, security for life and property, and a just and orderly government.

4.-The permanent prosperity of Hongkong, in fact its very existence, depends upon a wise and a just administrative Government, which will ensure the protection and maintain the freedom of its inhabitants. The local Government must secure to an intending colonist a reasonable immunity from preventable disease, and convince and satisfy the existing inhabitants of the Colony, both British and Chinese, on whom its future welfare depends, and who have invested large sums of money in assisting that welfare, that it is doing its utmost to maintain the

public health of the Colony, by providing and maintaining an adequate and suitable system of Public Sanitation and Hygiene, which the revenue is well able to afford. The Imperial Government likewise requires that an adequate and thorough system of sanitation be maintained on account of the health of the troops, naval and military, and the many officers attached to these Services and the Civil Service. The local Government must see that nothing is left undone which can be done, to remedy any defects likely to endanger the public health of the community.

5.-Hitherto the Colonists have been refused and are still denied any effective voice in Municipal and Sanitary affairs. The Sanitary Board has the privilege to make recommendations and has for years continuously transmitted most useful suggestions to the Colonial Government. The Board, however, has never had and does not possess the power to carry into effect its recommendations. The Board is not permitted to exercise any control whatever over the city's Municipal Revenue, or over its own subordinates. Therefore, the Sanitary Board is not in any way responsible for the overcrowded and the insanitary condition of Hongkong. The Colonial Government has always exercised and continues to enjoy full and complete power in respect of Sanitary affairs and over the city's municipal and all other expenditure. Consequently the Colonial Government is in every respect wholly and solely responsible for the insanitary condition of Hongkong.

6. The late Dr. Ph. B C. Ayres, c.M.G., Colonial Surgeon, in his Annual Report for the Year 1873, said :-

But that this type of disease (resembling typhus or typhoid fever) is gradually assuming a severer form and steadily and surely increasing in Hong- kong there is no doubt, as is shown on the inspection of the Tables of previous Annual Reports; this most decidedly indicates a necessity of improvement in the drainage of the town and of regulations concerning the sanitary conditions of the houses of the lower classes whose filthy habits are well known, or in future years these plagues will be endemic in the Colony, and probably end in an epidemic of unenviable renown.

To accentuate Dr. Ayres' prediction his concluding words are printed in italics. The "epidemic of unenviable renown" has been with us since 1894 in the form of Bubonic Flague, and appears likely to rage aruually for an indefinite period unless the present insanitary condition of the Colony is thoroughly reformed.

7 - In 1881 the Colony at considerable expense obtained the appointment of Mr. Osbert Chadwick, as special Sanitary Commissioner, who arrived from tngland to inquire into the sanitation of Hongkong. In his report (dated Nov. 1882) Mr. Chadwick made many valuable recommendations, with the conviction that they would be at once adopted, and it is with great regret your Petitioners have to point out that, with a few exceptions, the whole of his recommendations have been ignored, although since his visit the continued existence of the insanitary evils in the Colony has been repeatedly pointed out by the late Colonial Surgeon and the present Medical Officer of Health. For nineteen years the condition of Hongkong has remained . practically as insanitary as when Mr. Chadwick came and reported on it. To prove this your Petitioners humbly submit the following extracts from the said Report:----

The sanitary condition of Hongkong is defective and calls for energetic remedial measures. The death-rate is high, whilst the average age at death is low. (Page 46, par. 16.)

Public latrines are most valuable means of sanitation. They should be acquired by Government, improved, their number increased, and they should be thrown open to the public gratis. In towns having narrow streets, complete scavenging is of the highest importance. (Page 47, par. 10.)

I would call attention to the indifferent condition of the markets and the want of baths for the poor, also public laundries. The second want was pointed out to me by the Tung-Wa Committee. The provision of a proper water supply for Kowloon Peninsula is recommended, also for some of the larger villages. (Page 48, par. 5.)

I trust that even should these suggestions be found undesirable or impracticable, my report will show the necessity for strong and complete measures of sanitation, and trust that they will be undertaken for the immediate benefit of the public health, without waiting for the necessity to be demonstrated by the irresistible logic of a severe epidemic. (Page 48, par. 7.)

8.-Although Mr. Chadwick's recommendations were written nineteen years ago, and the necessity for "strong and complete measures of sanitation" has been demonstrated by the outbreak of Bubonic Plague, which has claimed some thousands of victims since 1894, the Sanitary Condition of the Colony is so defective and the measures of reform initiated by the local Government have been so inadequate that your Petitioners are compelled to memorialise you direct. Mr. Chadwick further said:

121. I think that the foregoing facts clearly show that the health of the population is not so good as to make it presumptuous to attempt to reform time- honoured abuses; on the contrary: to my mind they prove that reform is urgently required.

9. Mr. Chadwick also recommended the formation of an Improvement Fund, in the following terms:-

180.-To effect larger improvements, which would involve the expenditure of a serious proportion of the year's rent, especially when it is a question of remedying defects in original construction, rather than those arising from defects or misusage, the Government should, on the recommendation of the sanitary authority, carry out the necessary works themselves, paying for the work out of an improvement fund set aside for the purpose, and recovering the expenditure by means of a rate on the property, repaying both principal and interest in, say, 30 years, at the end of which time it would cease. The work would be well and cheaply done, and the annual cost to the landlord

would be insignificant.

In this matter nothing has ever been done, and at the meeting of the Hong- kong Sanitary Board on May 30th 1901, Dr. Francis lark. the Medical Officer of Health, drew attention to this omission. Dr. Clark spoke as follows:—-

What the Sanitary Board must do was to importune for these sanitary reforms, which had been pointed out over and over again during these past five and twenty years. As an illustration of what he meant, he might tell the "Board that Mr. Chadwick, who was sent as Sanitary Commissioner to consider the Sanitary Condition of the Colony, made the following recommendations. He recommended that continuous back alieys should be insisted upon. They had not got these yet in this Colony. He recommended that six hundred cubic feet of air space per head should be required in all rooms sub-divided by cubicles. The present law only required four hundred. He recommended that the ground surfaces of all dwellings should be concreted. This was not required until after the great epidemic of 1894. He recommended the forma- tion of an Improvement Fund to carry out larger sanitary schemes, such as the purchase of insanitary properties and their demolition, and the acquisition of all privately owned public latrines. A similar scheme was recommended by the Board, on the initiation of the Vice-President a year or two years ago. He recommended the erection of model dwellings. The Beard had this matter again before them now. He recommended that all roads and drains should be prepared before any building los were sold.

10. Mr. Chadwick, referring to Model Dwellings, recommended :----

182.-To demonstrate the advantages which may be derived from good

construction, and to show that they may be secured without any considerable additional cost, it will be well to construct some model dwellings.

The Sanitary Board in November, 1899, asked the Government to give a premium for the best design of a Chinese house, and also asked the Government to erect model dwellings at Taipingshan. Both requests were refused.

11.-In Paragraph 217, Mr. Chadwick recommended the construction of flushing tanks for sewers, remarking "that the perennial flow of the Nullahs will, in most cases, suffice." These tanks have not been constructed and filtered water is used for the little flushing that is done.

12.-In Paragraph 263, Mr. Chadwick pointed out the need of Urinals. There are still only but four very inadequate one-man public Urinals in the whole city of Victoria.

13.-In Paragraphs 270 and 271 Mr. Chadwick referred to the native hawker nuisance. This nuisance yet prevails and was reported several times by the Sanitary Board to the Government within the last twelve months. The only reply the Board obtained was that the nuisance did not exist.

14-Mr. Chadwick also referred in Paragraph 272 to the need of Public Bathhouses for the use of Chinese labourers, and recommended their erection. This proposal was again urged by the Sanitary Board, and in May 1901, after an interval of nineteen years, a number of matsheds were erected on the orders of H.E. the Governor as temporary Bathhouses.

15.-Mr. Chadwick in his Report called attention to the defective drainage, and Mr. Cooper some years ago introduced the Separate System of Sewerage, but the benefits anticipated from it have not followed. That Separate System is without the safeguards Mr. Chadwick recommended; viz., abundant water supply; flushing tanks at the head of each drainage valley; pumping stations at each end of the city to relieve the intercepting main drain and throw the sewage into the sea well clear of the city. On October 19th, 1894, the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce brought the question before the Governor of the Colony, in the hope of having the system altered, and pointed out that "with regard to the drainage of the city, there is a wide-spread belief-but the "Chamber has no means of verifying it-that the scheme, as drawn up by "Mr. Osbert Chadwick, endorsed by Mr. J. M. I rice, the late Surveyor-General, "and approved by the Government, has not been carried out on the original lines, "and that the separate system has been more generally applied than was intended." The Chamber was also of opinion that "the neglect of all effective Sanitary "measures throughout a period of years, and in the face of continuous and repeated protests, makes it abundantly mani:est that there has been no effective administrative Sanitary System in this Colony." It has been shown in Official Reports that the contents of the storm water drains are nearly as foul as those of the sewers, yet the inlets to the storm drains from the public streets are mostly untrapped; and the emanations therefrom are thus necessarily discharged direct into the streets. In lieu of an adequate flushing by the rains it has been found necessary to prevent choking to cleanse the sewers of this Colony by means of an elaborate system of chains and drags, gangs of coolies being kept constantly employed on this duty, which indicates either that the sewers have not a sufficient fall or that they are insufficiently flushed.

16.-The late 'r. Ph. B. C. Ayres, C.M.G., Colonial Surgeon, in his Annual Report for 1882, said :—

78. This year the Report of Mr. Chadwick, the Sanitary Commissioner

sent out from England to report on the sanitary condition of Hongkong, has been received in the form of a Blue Book, and fully confirms all I have said in my reports from 1874 till now, and proves that if I have appeared to act the part of an alarmist it has not been without good and sufficient grounds. It can only be with regret that any Colonist can look back on the past nine years that have been wasted, and the many great and valuable opportunities afforded for improved sanitation that in the last five years have not only been thrown away, but absolutely availed of to increase the number and size of the unwholesome dwellings so graphically described in Mr. Chadwick's report.

79. In the report he begins by a general description of Hongkong, in which he states that, "like the Europeans, few of the Chinese are permanent "settlers, but only residents coming to Hongkong to avail themselves of the "facilities offered by British rule for earning money with which they propose "to return to their own country to end their days amongst their own people." Seeing the benefit that it is acknowledged they receive from British rule, is it too much to expect that they should be required to conform to British laws, instead of the British laws, against the interest of the British people, being made to conform to Chinese ideas? They do not come here with philanthropic ideas of benefitting the Colony any more than the Europeans, but with the same desire of realising a competence and clearing out as soon as possible. One would think, to hear the sympathy that has been wasted on the native population, that we had come here as conquerors of a populous place, instead of having converted a barren island into a prosperous Colony, in which every resident of every nationality is more or less a bird of passage, from the wealthiest merchant whether European or Chinese to the poorest coolie. It ought not therefore to be permissible for one section or the other of the community to convert the Colony into a pest-house for the purpose of realising possession of the Almighty Dollar more speedily than legitimately."

81. Now what has been argued of late years is that the unwholesome style of building in Hongkong is peculiar to the Chinese, and therefore, though bad enough as one storied buildings, they have been permitted to make them three and four storied, and even then to subdivide each storey by cock lofts. For whose sake? Not for the sakes of the Chinese population, but for the sake of the prosperity of the Colony, when it is a well known fact that crowds were procured by the speculators to fill these houses free of rent, in order that they might represent them to purchasers as being tenanted, and to this as much as anything we owe such an increase of the population living from hand to mouth as has appeared in the last few years, and the consequent overcrowding. In 1874, the houses that were more than two stories high could be easily counted. Now it would be much easier to reckon up those that are not more than two stories high.

82. These, among the numerous other defects in these buildings are what for years the Surveyor General and myself have been protesting against, and which in defiance of our protests Chinese petitioners have received sanction from Government to perpetuate.

85. That this class of cases which may arise from filth poison should be steadily increasing year after year is proof enough that there is something radically wrong somewhere, and Mr. Chadwick's and my own reports of the state of the Chinese houses in this city give sufficient evidence that there is every reason to believe much of it is caused by the foul and unwholesome state of these dwellings.

88. Table XVII shews the work done by the Inspectors of Nuisances. Now that a cleanliness amendment Ordinance has been passed, and a board appointed with a fair staff of officers to look after the sanitation of the Colony, it is to be hoped that in future years we may have to record an improved state of things. It has been a hard fight for the Surveyor General and myself for many years to prove that the state of things so well described in Mr. Chadwick's report existed at all except in our imaginations, and it was not until he was sent out as Sanitary Commissioner and sent in his report that we were thought anything but alarmists, exaggerating greatly what we have described

to exist in the way of overcrowding, filth, and general uncleanliness in quarters of the town seldom visited by Europeans.

17. The late Colonial Surgeon, in his Annual Report for 18S3, said:-

60. Those that think sanitary work in Hongkong is being overdone are evidently ignorant of the want of it, and are unaware of the mine that has been forming of late years, that some day may be sprung with most disastrous results. The Report made by Mr. Chadwick seems hardly to be appreciated by the general public.

During the Cholera scare, an order for a general clear-out of rubbish and filth in houses was made, and in eight days 54,800 piculs of filth were removed, most of which was of the most disgusting description, and raised quite an outery of indignation in the Public Papers, when it appeared in the street, verifying the old proverb "What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve for." To shew how quickly this removal was made, in one day 11,000 piculs of this filth were cleared out of the Colony, and an average removal of 6,450 piculs made on each of the eight days.

61. During 1883 Cholera appeared to a great extent in the neighbouring ports of Swatow and Foochow, and many ships were in quarantine in this harbour that had deaths on board from this disease. A slight revival of the previous years' epidemic appeared in the Philippines. It may again appear this year, and as this Port remains in many respects in the same unsanitary state as reported by Mr. Chadwick and myself in previous years, it behoves the Government to take every precaution possible to prevent its appearance here.

63. As we have now a Sanitary Board composed of the Heads of the Public Works, Registrar General's, Police and Medical Departments, the responsibility of settling most questions of sanitation in the Colony does not rest chiefly with me, I am thankful to say, as it did in former years, for as I got very little credit for exposing the filthy state of things existing in this City, and was pretty much looked upon as a causeless alarmist, until my reports were verified by a Commission sent from home, so most of the blame would have fallen on my shoulders if an epidemic had appeared in these years, and then only these discoveries I reported had been made.

18. Since 1883, as the late Dr. Ayres repeatedly pointed out, the recommenda- tions of Mr. Chadwick were for the most part left in abeyance, or ignored, and so far as anything practically resulting the Sanitary Commission of 1881 might never have been appointed. In 1897 a Commission was appointed to inquire into the existence of Insanitary Properties in the Colony. Paragraph 4 of that Report is as follows:-

We regret to have to report that there are many insanitary properties in the Colony, and dwellings, which, in their present condition, are unfit for human habitation. The back portions of a number of the houses visited by us are dark, ill ventilated, extremely dirty, and in some cases mere dens of filth. The interior of the cubicles or sub-divisions of the living rooms was such that in the great majority of cases their contents could be seen only by the aid of an artificial light.

19. Crown Lands have been repeatedly sold in the City of Victoria without any regard whatever to sanitary needs, such as Markets, Bath-houses, Urinals, Latrines, Depôts for Cattle and Poultry, etc. The Sanitary Board has repeatedly urged the adoption of these reforms which have not been carried out. Dr. Francis Clark, the Medical Officer of Health, speaking at a meeting of the Sanitary Board on May 30th, 1901, said :-

The Board would admit that it was a most unfortunate thing for the colony that Crown land had been sold, which, had the Sanitary Board been consulted, would never have been placed under a hammer. The object of this resolution was to prevent in future the sale of Crown Lands which were required for municipal purposes. As an illustration he recalled to the minds

of the members that, in March of last year, a site of Crown Land in the centre of the City, namely at corner of Wing Lok Street and Old Praya was sold, and less than two months later the Acting Coloni. 1 Secretary wrote in reference to a recommendation from the Board for additional latrines and urinals-" It is easy to recommend the erection of urinals and latrines, but not easy to find sites for them." Dr. Clark admitted that a latrine was erected upon this particular site, but submitted that if the remainder of the site had been retained, it would have been of great value for the erection of a market, bath- houses, or some other municipal building. Again he called their attention to the road leading from Hunghom to Kowloon City. This had been laid out as a 50 foot road and verandahs were being made on both sides of this road, which would reduce its effective width to about 30 feet. He was of opinion that this would become a very important highway, and that a 30 feet road would be quite insufficient to serve the purposes of the traffic in the neighbourhood.

20. On the authority of the minutes of the Sanitary Board, as published in the Government Gazette, we are able to point out that a Latrine in Shektongtsui, situate in the west end of the city, recommended by the Board at the end of 1896 is only now being completed. The Board also recommended a Public Latrine for Kowloon Point in 1896, but so far without result. Further Latrine accommodation was urged upon the Government in April 1897, May 1898, and April 1899, but nothing was done in the matter until 1900.

21. The Sanitary Board in 1898 recommended the erection of a Crematorium for incinerating carcases of diseased cattle which die at the depôts instead of burying them as at present. It is found that these diseased carcases after burial are frequently disinterred by coolies and used as food. Nothing has yet been done in this matter.

22. The Sanitary Board in 1898 strongly urged a reduction in the Height of Buildings and the Board has repeatedly recommended such reduction since. It is absolutely impossible for districts to be healthy where streets are only a few feet wide with five-storey buildings on either side. Nothing has been done in the direction indicated.

23. One of the greatest evils the Colony suffers from is Surface Crowding. Dr. Francis Clark, the Medical Officer of Health, dealt fully with this question at a meeting of the Sanitary Board on June 1st, 1899. He then said :-

This "surface crowding" is a matter which has been brought to the attention of the Government at intervals during the past 25 years. In 1874 the late Colonial Surgeon, Dr. Ayres, directed attention to the matter; in 1882 and again in 1890 Mr. Osbert Chadwick spoke most forcibly, in his Reports on the sanitary condition of this colony, of this very matter. In 1889 Sir William Des Voeux reported to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that one of the principal objects of the Praya Reclamation scheme was “to afford an opening for relief from the present overcrowding of the population," but unhappily this object has not been attained to any great extent, for almost the whole of the Reclamation bids fair to be occupied by large godowns and blocks of offices. In 1894 both the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary Board and the "Committee on the Housing of the Chinese" directed attention to the amount of surface crowding which existed in this city, while in my Annual Reports I have reiterated their statements and endeavoured to show by statistics that the surface crowding here is greater by far than in the most densely populated metropolitan districts of the City of London. Again, the Insanitary Properties Commission appointed in 1897 dealt largely with this matter and recommended further legislation-hopelessly inadequate I admit- on the subject. The Sanitary Board, at the request of the Government, deliberated upon the Report of this Commission and submitted a report of its own, dated June 9th, 1898, dealing fully with the various points raised by

the evidence taken before the Commission and making a number of suggestions which, if adopted, would unquestionably tend largely to abate this surface- crowding. As a result of all this, a Bill was read for the first time in the Legislative Council on the 22nd day of November, 1898, but this Bill has not yet become law.

This Bill in an emasculated form eventually became law (Ordinance 34 of 1899) the more drastic remedies recommended by the Sanitary Board with a view to the betterment of the Sanitary Condition of the Colony having been deleted therefrom.

The Medical fficer of Health, in his Annual Report for 1900, again referred to Surface Crowding as follows:--

Nos. 5 and 6 Health District, which are situated in the centre of the city, show acute surface crowding, while Districts 9, 4, 8, and 7 are almost as densely crowded. Owing to the conformation of the island, the only possible remedy for this acute congestion is the provision of more ready means of access to the outlying districts of the city, and it is to be hoped that the Government will see their way, at no distant date, to provide. or to encourage the provision of tramways to East Point and the Shaukiwan Road with nominal fares for work- men, thus offering an inducement to the Chinese to reside in these suburbs.

The density of population of the City of Victoria as a whole, that is to say, including all the outlying vacant lands and the villages in No. 1 Health District, the Public Gardens in No. 3 Health District, and all the unoccupied hill-side below the upper limit of the City Health Districts (ie about 450 feet above high-water mark) is 126 persons per acre. In 1898 the average density of population in the administrative County of London was 60 persons per acre, while in Glasgow it was 61, in Liverpool 50, and in Edinburgh 47 persous per acre - Glasgow being the most densely crowded of the thirty-six large towns of the United Kingdom.

24-In November 1900, the Sanitary Board recommended the Limewashing of the houses of the rural villages, to ensure cleanliness and thereby act as a precau- tionary measure against Plague. The proposed bye-law was, however, unanimously rejected by the Legislative Council sixteen cases of plague have occurred during the present epidemic amongst the limited population of three of these villages.

25.--One lamentable result of the long continued insanitary condition of long- kong was the outbreak of Bubonic Plague in 1894. The prediction of the late Dr. Ayres, made in 1873, and reiterated by him since, was fulfilled, twenty-one years later, and the disease has never been eradicated, and may not disappear until the most drastic sanitary reforms are effected. Mr. Chadwick likewise foretold a severe epidemic if the sanitation of the Colony was not improved, and his prophesy, so long unheeded by the Government, has come to pass. Since 1894, when most heroic efforts were made by members of the community to stamp out the disease, there have been up to the present nine thousand reported cases of Bubonic Plague with a mortality averaging trem 89 to 96 per cent. It is believed on adequate grounds that the number of cases and deaths has been far in excess of these numbers. There is good reason to believe that had due heed been given to the warnings offered these epidemics might not have occurred. The daily medical returns show that the epidemic is increasing in its ravages and residents are confronted with the fact that the practical immunity which the Europeans appeared to possess from plague has passed away. The Government might not have been able to prevent the annual re- appearance of the disease, but your Petitioners believe, on good medical authority, that the recurring epidemics would have lessened in virulence and duration had the Government seriously applied itself to this very responsible task and not trifled with proposed measures of Sanitary Reform. In his very able report on

the Plague Epidemic of 1894, Dr. James A. Lowson, Medical Officer in charge of the Epidemic Hospital and Acting Superintendent of Government Civil Hospital and Lunatic Asylum, said "If proper sanitary precautions are taken, no civilised country should ever be the seat of an epidemic of plague. I am bound to "admit that if ever any place was ripe for such an epidemic, certain parts of

Hongkong in May 1894 were.

It is

፡፡

"satisfactory to know that attempts are being made by those in authority to remedy faults which have been accumulating for years, and which have been "pointed out but without result." Since 1894, with the exception of manfully fighting the epidemic as it annually occurred, with a grievously undermanned Medical and Nursing Staff, practically nothing has been done on the lines of recognised prophylactic measures against Plague, or to improve the Sanitary Con- ditions of the Colony.

26.—In forwarding Dr. Lowson's report to the Government, the late Colonial Surgeon, on 2nd March, 1895, wrote as follows:-

གང་

The necessity for remedying the results of faulty construction of the houses in the Chinese quarters, the want of ventilation, light and air in them, the impossibility of keeping them clean and wholesome, the inadequate water supply, the want of proper drainage, the overcrowded condition of the houses, the filthy condition of wells, the necessity for proper latrine accommodation, and the enormous amount of filth collected in the houses have now been fully revealed. I first called the attention of Government to the state of things I have mentioned in my report dated the 15th April, 1874, within six months of my arrival in this Colony. In this report I mentioned by name the streets and lanes, and the position of many gullies without a name in that portion of Taipingshan which has now been walled in, and the condition of filth in which I found the houses, also streets and alleys in other portions of the town; almost the same state of things was found in 1894. Yet a further special report was sent in by a Commission appointed to verify the statements made in my report which was sent in in May 1875. In 1880 Mr. Chadwick arrived with a Royal Commisssion to investigate the condition of things described, and his full report to the Secretary of State appeared in a Blue Book. Six years afterwards he again visited the Colony and expressed his surprise at finding how little had been done to remedy the state of things he had described, and again reported on them. Many laws have been made in the twenty years previous to 1894 to remedy the insanitary state of the Colony, but most have remained dead letters owing to the difficulties of enforcing them and the prejudices of the Chinese especially and other sections of the community.

Since 1874 the divisions of the City of Victoria inhabited by Chinese have increased more then three fold in size, and the new portions are in nearly as bad a condition as the old.

The labours of Hercules in cleansing the Augean stables were a trifle. compared with that which the Government has to contend with in the near future in cleansing the City of Victoria and other inhabited portions of the

Colony.

27.--Dr. J. A. Lowson attributed the predisposing causes of plague to "be "insanitary conditions, of these, filth and overcrowding must be reckoned as two of "the most important factors." The main causes of the spread of the disease he attributed to the following:-

1) Want of means for the isolation of people who were almost

certainly incubating the disease.

(2) The grossly insanitary condition of the latrines.

(3) Overcrowding.

(4) Want of efficient house scavenging and the filthy habits of the

inhabitants.

}

These were the most potent factors in the spread of the epidemic; and these simple but urgent matters should be put right forthwith. While I write this, the houses in First Street and several other streets not far from the Go- vernment Civil Hospital are in as bad a condition as— -if not worse than-they were in April 1894.

There is but

28. In the same Report (page 386, Government Gazette, 1895) Dr. Lowson said: "I am convinced that an epidemic of plague in Hongkong could be tackled and got under rapidly if men in sufficient number could be got to do the work.' Yet with the experience of recurring epidemics of Plague since 1894 we find a completely undermanned Medical Staff endeavouring to grapple with it in the present year; in which from January to June, there have been over 1,400 reported cases. At the height of the epidemic there was one Medical Officer on duty at the Infectious Hospitals for European and Asiatics at Kennedy Town, who was compelled through want of accommodation to reside a mile from the hospitals, and whose duties also included attendance on the Prisons and the Police. A civil practitioner was not appointed to relieve the official doctor of a portion of his duties until the matter had been ventilated in the Public Press. one Medical Officer of Health, who is assisted by one Sanitary twenty Inspectors of Nuisances, who are without special training. Public Health staff to look after a community of over 280,000 persons, the lower classes of whom are most careless and insanitary in their habits. A Sanitary Inspector takes two months to visit thoroughly his health district, a duty which should be done daily, and there is only one Inspector for the whole of the markets in the Colony. In the city of Liverpool with its population of 668,645, against that of Hongkong of 283,418, there are no less than 97 sanitary inspectors, 52 of whom hold the certificate of the Sanitary Institute, and whose previous training and occupation have been such as to fit them for the special duties they are called upon to discharge. With a population approximating to half that of Liverpool we have but twenty Inspectors without training or certificates to deal with an Asiatic population requiring more than ordinary supervision.

Surveyor and This is the

29.--Attention might also be called to the fact that the appointment of the important post of Boarding Health Officer of this great shipping centre has hitherto been given to local practitioners, whose private practice naturally interferes with their Harbour duties, with the result that Mail and other steamers have been sub- jected at various times to vexatious and unnecessary detentions. In consequence of the strong representations which have recently been made by the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce to the effect that the Port Health Officer should give his undivided attention to his shipping duties, the Government has given assurances that the Medical inspection of shipping visiting the Colony shall be placed on a more satisfactory footing, still the present system is so radically faulty that we deem it advisable to invite attention to the subject.

30. So serious has the position become that the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce addressed the Government on the 7th June, 1901, and a copy of such letter and H.E. the Governor's reply are attached :---

[Already printed. See Pages 1-3.]

31.-The foregoing statements prove that the local Government has failed to give effect, save in a very qualified form, to the measures so frequently urged upon it by its own Medical Officers and other experts; its efforts, so far, have met with so little result, indeed, that the Colony is now suffering severely from the annually recurring visitations of plague and, in a lesser

degree, of enteric fever and small-pox. The inadequacy of the measures adopted by the local Government in dealing with so grave a crisis may, we submit, be regarded as equivalent to a tacit admission on its part that it is beyond its power, of its own initiative, to undertake the gigantic task which a thorough and efficient reform of the Sanitary conditions of the Colony, with the heavy expendi- ture and sacrifices attending it, would involve The conviction has consequently been forced upon us that no really effectual measures will be taken to grapple with the Sanitary problems of the Colony and to arrest the progress of disease until an appeal is made to the responsible Minister of State for his intervention. These annual epidemics are pressing acutely on the Commerce and Industries of the Colony, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain labour, whether European or Chinese. This year the lague has again produced a cessation of migration, and the loss to the Shipping and Trade generally through quarantine restrictions and other delays has been very great. Native workmen are leaving Hongkong in thousands, and there is not an important industry or commercial undertaking in the Colony, employing and dependent on Chinese labour, that has not suffered.

Under the circumstances hereinbefore referred to your Petitioners most humbly Pray that you will be pleased

1.-To appoint a Commission consisting of a person or persons wholly unconnected with the Colony to proceed forthwith to Hongkong to investigate and report

(a) On the Sanitary Condition of the Colony ;

(b) On the measures to be adopted for the im- provement of the City of Victoria and of the Colony as it at present exists.

2.-That you will be pleased to attach to the said Com- mission some independent Sanitary Expert to advise. 3. That after receiving and considering the eport of such Commission, you will give directions for the Recommendations of that i ommission to be forthwith carried into effect.

Dated this 25th day of June, 1901.

T. H. WHITEHEAD, J.P. (Mem. Legislative Council) J. C. VICTORIA (Rt. Rev. Bishop f Victoria) L. M. PIAZZOLI (Rt. Rev. R.C. Bishop of S. China) JNO. J. FRANCIS, K.C.

EDWARD OSBORNE, J.P. (Mem. Sanitary Board) C. GERLACH, M.D.

WILLIAM HARTIGAN, J.P., M.D., n.S.M.

F. OSMUND STEDMAN, J.P., M.D., B.S. (Lond.)

J. W. NOBLE, D.D.8.

FREDERIC H. BOWERS, D.D.S.

B. PROTHERTON HARKER, C.E. W. H. WICKHAM, A.M.I.E.E., A.M.I.C,E. R. K. LEIGH, JP., M.I.C.E.

ED. ROBINSON, j.p.

H. W. SLADE, J.P.

H. A. RITCHIE, J.P.

W. HUTTON POTTS, J.P.

J. ORANGE, J.P., M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E., M.AM.S.C.E.

CLEMENT PALMER, J.P., F.R.I.B.A.

AGOSTINHO G. ROMANO (Consul-General for Portugal)

G. MONTAGU HARSTON, J.P., M.R.C.C., L.R.C.P. (LOND.) J. J. LEIRIA (Vice-Consul for Brazil)

R. MACBEAN GIBSON, M.D., C.M. (EDIN.)

L. R. BELL, D.D.S.

ROBERT LAMORT, M.D. *

G. APACIBLE, M.D., B.A.

F. P. SOARES, P.M.

HERBERT W. BIRD, A.R.I.B.A.

CHRI-. B. THOMAS, A.R.I.B.A. WM. DANBY, J.P., M.1.C.E. A. DENISON, J.P., A.M.I.C.E. L. GIBBS, A.M.F.C.E.

W. D. BRAIDWOOD, M.A.

J. A. SWANN, 1..R.C.S., L.M., L.R.C.P., L.M.

F. MAITLAND, J.P.

J. H. COX, J.P.

W. J. McLOUGHLIN, PH., CHI.

B. BYRAMJEE, J.P.

M. S. SASSOON, J.P.

E. SHELLIM, J.P.

A. J. RAYMOND, J.P.

C. S. GUBBAY, J.P.

D. E. BROWN, J.P.

R. SHEWAN, J.P.

R. L. RICHARDSON, J.P.

J. A. MCKAY, J.P.

G. W. F. PLAYFAIR, J.P.

CHAN A FOOK, J.P. (Mem. Sanitary Board)

D. MACDONALD, C.E.

A. E. GRIFFIN, A.M.I.C.E.

W. G. CLARKE, A.M.I.E.E. W. POATE, J.P.

D. GILLIES, J.P.

C. S. SHARP, J.P.

T. H. REID, J.P.

A. S. GOMES, M.D., M.R.C.S. W. H. SHIRRIFF, M.B., C.M.L.S.A. B. FITZALAN HOWARD, A.B. R. CHATTERTON WILCOX, J.P. FRAMJEE H. ARJANEE, j.p. C. W. DICKSON, J.P.

B. LAYTON, J.P. F. HENDERSON, J.P.

G. C. ANDERSON, J.P.

C. C. COHEN, j.p.

DR. K. ROHRMANN

WM. A. CRUICKSHANK

E. BRUCE SHEPHERD A. H. RENNIE

ALFRED CUNNINGHAM H. T. WILGREES

PHILIP W. SERGEANT T. COCHRANE

J. A. LEE

J. J. JUDAH

GODFREY C. C. MASTER

THOS. ARNOLD

A. CAMPBELL MACMILLAN

HENRY HUMPHREYS

E. NIEDHARDT

F. W. R. LEMM

E. D. HASKELL

W. H. RAY

A. TURNER

G. H. MEDHURST

J. D. AULD

G. R. EDWARDS

A. ELLIS

S. FULCHER

R. T. HEAD

W. PARFITT

H. P. WHITE

L. S. LEWIS

P. A. COX

A. A. SKELTON

T. HALL

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J. GALT

J. KIRKWOOD

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H. JEWITT

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F. P. DE V. SOARES

A. MCINTYRE

J. DOUGLAS

E. JOHANNSEN

C. BELL

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H. K. HOLMES

F. H. YEATS

E. F. GROS

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T. G. WORCESTER F. R. SMITH R. FLINT GEO, ECKLEY E. A. KATSCH E. G. BARRETT E. J. LIBEAUD

A. E. WHEELEY

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T. McHAY

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A. NILSSON

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J BURGESS

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R. MITCHELL

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E. T. HODGKINSON

T S. MORTON

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W. WILSON

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S. J. R. PERRETT T. M. DEVILBISS H. BERKLEY H. SHOOLBRED H. S. KENNETT T. G. HUGHES

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W. MOORE

G. B. ADAIR J. W. HARRIS J. W. HAMMOND

C. LESBIREL J. B. PATERSON D. CHELLARAM

T. M. ARNOTT J. HENDERSON

C WILCOCKSON

F. A. PEARSON

R. A. COLLINS

E. MORRISON

J. A. ROSS

J. KEENAN

H. M. S. MAN

H. W. FORTESQUIEU

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C. E. NEILSON

R. L. THRELFELL

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D. T. HELMS

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N. L. MARTIN

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A. WOOD

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W. D. SUTTON

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G. F. WILLIAMS

J. S. HAGEN

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J. McIVER

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P. KOHN

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KAVASHI EDULJI

DINSHAW NOW ROJI

E. MIROW

S. P. JOSEPH

C. N. YOUNG

E. H. JOSEPH

A. G. DOS REMEDIOS

J. J. V. Dos REMEDIOS

W M. WATSON

A. SCHMIDTBORN

H. SUTER

M. A. JOSEPH

E. EZRA

S. E. MOSES

J. M. ROZARIO

A. L. ALVES

C. B. LA ROZA E A. DA SILVA

E. ABRAHIM J. P. XAVIER

H. REMEDIOS

J. C. GUTERRES

J. M. R. PEREIRA

C. F. OZORIO

L. D'A. ROZA

F. M. BARROS

J. M. GOMES

F. M. P. DE GRACA

V. F. V. RIBEIRO

A. F. REMEDIOS

L. A. DE GRACA

J. M. DE GRACA

F. DOS REMEDIOS

B. L. DE CARVALHO

J. J. DE L. MONTEIRO

A. E. S. ALVES

A. H. M. DA SILVA

F. X. V. RIBEIRO

S. E. DA LUZ

L. E. Dos REMEDIOS

A. B. CASTRO

C. A. S. REMEDIOS

A. A. DOS REMEDIOS

J. D. OSMUND

J. ASSUMPCAO

J. O. REMEDIOS

F. MEDINA C. MARQUES O. ROZARIO E. M. OZORIO F. RIBEIRO

F. M. XAVIER

A. A. CRESTEGO

S. J. GUTIERREZ

E. J. DE FIGUEIREDO H. L. NORONHA

A A. DA ROZA

J. T. D'A. E CASTRO

H. M. BASTO

F. A. GOMEZ

J. D. BARROS

F. M. REMEDIOS

C. A. DA ROZA P. M. N. DA SILVA C. P. REMEDIOS G. A. YVANOVICH E. E. DA SILVA J. A. BARRETTO

J. F. C DA ROZA

L. C. DO ROZARIO

G. V. OSMUND

C. F. DE CARVALHO

M. DA SILVA GUIMARAES

M. A. DS REMEDIOS

A. J. M. GOMES

J. A. REMEDIOS

J. J. COELHO

J. J. REMEDIOS

V. L. DOS REMEDIOS

E F. X. DOS REME IOS

L. F. DE CARVALHO

J. M. Ds REMEDIOS

F. A. PINTOS

F. F. D'AZEVEDO

E. A. DOS REMEDIOS

L. M. XAVIER

F. M. F. LUZ

D. M. SILVA

A. A. RODRIGUES

L. J. XAVIER

M. J. MARQUES

F. M. R PEREIRA

F. D. GUEDES

C. PASCUALL

E. E. OSMUND

A. M. R. PEREIRA

A. D. BARRETTO

A. CATTANEO

J. M. V. REMEDIOS

C. A. M. DE JESUS

W. FERNANDES

O. BAPTISTA

R R. ROBARTS

P. LOUREIRO F. GOMEZ

A. G. DA ROCHA

R. J. REMEDIOS

L. A. OZORIO

A. E. DA SILVA

F. M. SILVA

F. X. BOTELHO

J. P. NORONHA

P. NICOLAU

F. X. P. FERREIRA

M. F. PASSOS

T. GRACIAS

A. NUNES

J. J. GOMES

C. E. OSMUND

J. T. DA SILVA

0. A. KOCHA

J. A. M. DE GRACA

M. S. LIMA

J. J. GUTIERREZ J. BAGGARIDGE S. A. AHMED

A. ISMAIL

FR ESROM

PH. MOELLER P. .KUNZE

A. W. MILLAR

A. D. BILIMORIA C. B. BHATTIENA

J. G. BERNEDO B. MARINHO

C. MARINHO M. FERRARRA J. R. MARQUIS L. E. OZORIO D. A. CORTDEROY J. H. RUTONJEE

POHOOMULL BROTHERS

W. ASSOULMJ R. BEJONEEL

F. N. MEHTA

H. RUTTONJEE

JAFFER GULAM HUSAIN FAZAL HAJEEBHOY D. S. DADY BURJOR

P. F. TALATI

M M. MEHTA

R. D. VANIA

M. D. VANIA

B. D. TATA

J. M. MASTER

F. K. TATA

C. B MOWRAWALLA

DINSHAW MUNCHERJI MISTRY DADABHAI D. TALATI

M. H. KATRAK

H K. ERANI

J. M. SETHNA

C. J. BHESANIA

D. J. PETIGURAH

S. D. MOONSHEE

ABDOOLCADER A. EBRAHIM DAWOODBHOY ABDOOLA FEIZULLABHOY E. EBRAHIM A. S ABDOOL CADER FAKERALLY A. HOOSIN CURRIMBHOY TYEBALLY S. H. COM MISSARIATVALA

ESSOOFALLI M. ABDULKYOOM P. D. GOTLA

E. J. DIGARIA

D. S. SIGANPORIA

P. C. MOURAWALA

B. P. TAVARIA

K. A. CHINOY

J. A. CHINOY

D. H. VASANIA

D. D. GAZDAR

E. F. SKERTCHLY

FAIZALLY F. CASSIMALLY

R. ABRAHAM

A. R. SAMY

I. P. MADAR

W FARMER

W. HASSAM

A. FUCKEERA

G. F. EBERIUS

DORABJEE NOWROJEE

J. PESTONJEE

H. M. H. NEMAZEE

T. KAWAGUCHI

I. TAJIMA

JIRO ITAMI

M. KUBOKAWA

T. MATSUDANA

G. FUJIYAMA

B. MORI

T. ARIMA

T. HIROSE

A. S. MIHARA

N. F. MITHIAWARA

TO YING FAN, L.M.S.H.

CHUNG KING-WE, DIP., I.M.C. (TIENTSIN) KWAN KING LEUNG, L.M.S. H.

WANTUN, M.D., D.I.M.C. (TIENTSIN.) WEI ON

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No. 254.

SIR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 13th July, 1901.

I have the honour to forward a Memorial banded to the Colonial Secretary on the 11th instant to which over 1,000 signatures are appended.

2 As certain statements in the Memorial require examination I have request- ed the Colonial Secretary, the Director of Public Works, and the Captain Superin- tendent of Police to look into the matter and report. I shall forward their report for your information. In the meantime the Memorial, which I had not seen before writing my despatch No. 244 of the 5th instant, supports my statement as to the public anxiety that an expert report should be obtained upon the general question of the sanitation of the Colony.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

1 and 2

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&c., &c., &c.

No. 1764.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFfice,

HONGKONG, 18th July, 1901.

In continuation of my letter of the 6th instant, and in pursuance of the state- ment made in paragraph 2 thereof, viz., that directions have been given that a full report as to the action taken by this Government since 1882 in connexion with sanitation should be prepared and made public, I am now directed by His Excellency the Governor to forward for the information of your Committee the attached two reports, one by the Honourable F. H. May, Captain Superintendent of Police, on Sani- tary legislation, and the other by the Honourable W. Chatham, Acting Director of Public Works, on the Public Works carried out in pursuance of sanitary measures.

2. As was to be expected, experience has modified the views of some who in 1887 opposed Government proposals on Sanitation, but His Excellency thinks the two reports will satisfy the community that the Government has not lagged behind but has rather been in advance of local public opinion in this important matter.

3. However, much remains to be done, and in the meantime a large mass of facts as to the incidence of disease is being accummulated that may assist the Ex- pert, for whose services application has been made, in his investigation into the Sanitary condition of Hongkong.

The Secretary,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Enclosure No. 1.

MEASURES TO GIVE EFFECT TO MR. CHADWICK'S

RECOMMENDATIONS OF 1882.

WORKS. Water Supply.

Mr. Chadwick in his Report of the 19th July, 1832, statel that the most serious sanitary defect of all was the miserably inadequate supply of water and alluded to the proposal to construct new works for largely increasing it. This allusion referred to the Tytam Reservoir, aqueduct, filter beds and service reservoir, which were begun in 1883 and brought to a successful conclusion in 1889, at a cost of $1,257,474.

Very soon after the completion of these works, the distribution-system was taken in hand and practically reconstructel at a cost of $201,454, filter beds and a service reservoir for dealing with the supply derived from Pokfulam being carried out at the same time.

Since then 4 large service reservoirs have been constructed in various parts of the City, addi- tional filter bels have been provided for dealing with the water from Tytam and numerous mains and motors have been laid down for the supply of the higher levels and growing outlying districts.

The dam at Tytam has been raisel by 19 feet, a new imponading reservoir has been built at Wong-nei-chong Gap, and 44 miles of catch waters have been constructed.

A water supply has been made available over the whole of the leak and Hill Districts, ranging from about 1,85) to 93) feet above sea level, with the necessary pamping machinery and service

reservoirs.

Waterworks have been establishe:1 at a cost of $125,678, which supply nearly the whole of the Kowloon Peninsula and a large new scheme, estimated to cost about $400,000, is on the eve of being

undertaken.

Complete works have also been established for the important villages of Aberdeen and Shau-

kiwan.

These numerous works have been carried on consistently with the funds at the disposal of the Government having regard to the demands for other necessary works.

In addition to the large scheme for Kowloon, already mentioned, another reservoir at Tytam is

about to be constructed.

The total expenditure from 1883 to the end of 1900, on the item of Water Supply alone amounts to $2,130,983.

Another of Mr. Chadwick's recommen lations under this head was the necessity of a Water- works Ordinance giving power to check waste, &c. This was passed in 1895) and has since been steadily enforced.

Drainage.

His next recommendation in order of importance was the necessity for a proper drainage system.

This also has been carried out, a completely new sewerage system having been constructed for the whole of the City at a cost of $234,742. Not only so, but extensive works have been carried ont at the Peak, in the Kowloon Peninsula, embracing all the principal villages there, and in Aberdeen, Shau-ki-wan and Wong-nei-chong.

With this part of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations, the Chamber of Commerce appears to disagree, though its letter of the 7th June last opeus by charging the Government with not having carried out his proposals. It refrains however from giving any reasons whatever for the condem- nation of the separate system and confines itself merely to the general statement that it is eminently unsuited to the circumstances of the Colony. What opportunities or qualifications the Members of the Chamber possess for forming such a conclusion are not stated in the letter.

It may however be pointed out that, in the course of his report, Mr. Chadwick stated “loud complaints are male of the stenches which proceed from the ventilating grating." From this it will be seen that loud complaints were common even in 1882, long before the separate system. existed.

With regard to the flushing of the sewers and the allegations made that Mr. Chadwick's re- commendations on this subject have not been carried out, a reference to C.O.D. 193 of 1889 will show that in that year Mr. Chadwick returned to the Colony to initiate, on his own responsibility, the drainage and water distribution works then proposed.

In his Report on the Sewerage of the High-Level District of the City, after stating that "as "far as sewerage is concerned, matters are now very much in the same condition as they were in "1882,” he went on to say :-"Having thus described the principles, which should be observed in "the design of a system of sewerage, not only for the High-Level District but generally, I will now "proceed to the examination of the plans, prepared by Mr. Cooper, for the sewerage of this district. "I find that the design is in strict accordance with the principles laid down in the previous para-

'graphs of this report, which were fixed before the examination of the plans was undertaken.”

It is therefore obvious that Mr. Chadwick's proposals were fully provided for and, in the Annual Report for 1891 on Water and Drainage Works, Mr. Cooper stated that the sewerage works in the High Level District had been completed, with manholes, ventilators and flushing arrangements.

It is well also to note that, in the report just quote.l, Mr. Chadwick stated how he had proposed, in his original report on the Sanitary Condition of Hongkong, to divert the sewage proper and dry-weather flow from the combined sewer and storm-water channel at the point where it entered the flat region and to conduct it by a separate pipe of small diameter to the sea and then went on to state that he now proposed to effect the separation at an earlier period, adding that "all recent experience shows that a channel, suitable for the conveyance of a tropical rainfall, is not a suitable conduit for sewage in dry weather" and that "the practice of converting storm- "water channels into sewers has, not only here, but everywhere, been weighed in the balance and "found wanting.”

This shows clearly that it was Mr. Chadwick who orignated the idea of the separate system and that Mr. Cooper merely carried out that idea.

Mr. Chadwick also laid stress on the necessity for preventing the moisture in the subsoil from rising to within a certain depth below the surface of the ground. Numerous trained channels and nullahs have been constructed in various parts of the City to aid in effecting this.

Re-drainage of Houses.

Next in order of importance Mr. Chadwick placed the re-drainage of the houses. mendation has also been carried into effect and the work completed.

This recom-

The cost of the re-drainage has rightly fallen upon the property owners, the Government under- taking only the connection of the drain from the boundary of the property to the main sewer.

9,957 houses have been re-drained.

The total expenditure by the Government under the heading of Drainage and Sewerage Work from 1889 to 1900 has been $542,869.

From 1883 to 1838 a sum of $485,000 was expended under the heading of “Sanitary Works."

Food Supply.

The works which come under this heading include an extension of the Market at Yaumati iu 1884, the Hunghom Market erected in 1887, and the Central Market, completed in 1895 at a cost of $269,537, exclusive of the site, which entailed a further outlay of $153,053. A full description of the building appears in the Annual Report on Public Works for 1895.

•

The Slaughter Houses and Animal Depôts have an important bearing on this subject and come under the category of Sanitary Works. The miserably inadequate accommodation for the slaugh- tering of animals for food, existing prior to 1895, gave place in that year to an establishment which, for its method of construction and arrangements, is unsurpassed anywhere. Up to that date also the live pigs and sheep destined for slaughter, had been kept in the ground floors of a number of the houses in the West en:1 of the City. Now they are housed in large and airy sheds which are fitted with every appliance sanitation can require. The cost of these important works has been $116,555.

Additions have been male, as found necessary, to the Cattle Depôt; a Slaughter House and Animal Depôt have been erected in Kowloon and a Market at Tai-kok-tsui.

A commencement has been made with the construction of the new Western Market in the City and various other works of an analogous nature to the above will be undertaken at an early date.

The expenditure under this heading from 1883 to 1900 has been $583,137.

Public Latrines.

The provision of these conveniences has not been entirely neglected, but great difficulty has been experienced in finding suitable sites which were at the same time in proximity to the more populɔus portions of the City or large villages. The difficulties arising out of the possibility of actions being brought against the Government in consequence of the establishment of such places were only overcome by the passing of the Latrines Ordinance in 1897. This Ordinance has not done away with the difficulty of finding sites but merely protects the Government in the manner indicated when the latrines have been built. Should strong opposition be raised to any site selected,

it may be found necessary to abandon it as was done in the case of one in the Tai-ping-shan District in consequence of the objections raisel by the Directors of the Po Leung Kuk.

During 1884-89, a number of latrines, some of a permanent and some of a temporary character were erected in the City and Villages.

In 1899-91, two permanent latrines were built in the City and ten iron structures were erected in the principal villages of Hongkong and Kowloon,

More recently five permanent latrines, containing from 20-40 seats each, have been built in the City and another has been extended, whilst an iron latrine has been erected at Happy Valley.

Two large permanent latrines, containing 40 seats each, are in progress in the City and Yaumati and two more, of the same capacity, are about to be undertaken.

In addition to the above, latrine accommodation has been providel at the Central Market, Slaughter Hoses and other places, where large numbers of men are employel.

The total expenditure under this heading for the period under consideration amounts to $42,479.

Construction of Roads and Drains prior to Sale of Building Lots.

Rods are almost universally formed, where practicable, before land is sold adjoining them. d reference to Mr. Chadwick's Report will show that the object of this recommendation was to ensure the erection of the houses at a suitable level to admit of their being properly drained and, in cases where it is impracticable or inexpedient to form the roads in advance, care is taken to see that this condition is complied with.

The cases referred to are those occurring in connection with the reclamation of foreshores or the levelling of hills to form building sites, where it would obviously be imprudent and a gross waste of public funds to attempt to construct the roads by themselves in the first instance.

Miscellaneous Sanitary Works.

In addition to the works alrealy described, several others of minor importance have been carried out. They include 10 public laundries, 20 tanks for washermen to carry on their operations in, under sanitary conditions, a Vaccine Institute and a Disinfecting Station, the combined cost of which amounts to $38,031.

Any one acquainted with the villages of Tai-kok-tsui, Mong-kok-tsui and Fun Tsun Heung as they existed 6 or 7 years ago, would find difficulty in recognizing them again to-day. It may safely be asserte i that a revolution has been wrought in these and other villages.

Back Alleys and the Formation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary Schemes.

It will scarcely create surprise that these recommendations have not been given effect to when it is borne in mind that, so recently as the end of 1892, when discussing the Estimates for the following year, the Member for the Chamber of Commerce stated "That our revenue is not of an "elastic nature is, I think, palpable, and it is more likely to shrink further in the future than even to "remain at its present figure."

Fortunately for the Colony, this evil prognostication has not been fulfilled but it appears to have been forgotten by the Chamber that such a statement was made by its representative only 8

years ago.

The foregoing summary of works accomplished shows clearly that large Sanitary Schemes have not been delayed on account of the non-existence of such a fund nor is it obvious how a fund could have been established in any other way than by raising a loan, seeing that it was necessary to obtain a loan in 1893 for the purpose of carrying on the large public works then in progress.

In all recent laying out of building lots for the erection of houses care has been taken to provide public lanes and, in this way, the Government has done what was in its power to give effect to the recommendation.

The accompanying statement on Sanitary Legislation shows that the clause in the original draft of the Public Health Ordinance for the provision of back-yards, in which form an endeavour was made to embody Mr. Chadwick's proposal, was so violently opposed by the Un-official Members and the Public generally that it was abandoned,

Taipingshan Resumption.

Any description of the sanitary schemes carried into effect during recent years would be incom- plete without a reference to the large resumption of insanitary properties in the District of Tai-ping- shan. Here an

area of 64 acres of private property was resumed at an outlay of $818,098, the whole of the houses were pulled down and the area was laid out afresh with roads, lanes, sewers, storm-water drains and other necessary works at a cost of $107,875.

A list of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations is prefixed, from which it will be seen that only two items in the shape of works to be initiated by the Government-namely Public Baths and Model Dwellings have not yet been undertaken. The other items not given effect to include the Form- ation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary schemes; acquisition of Latrines; and Resumptions to admit of forming Continuous Back Alleys. These are practically questions of finance only and enough has been said to show that the Colony has not been in a position to undertake the enormous expenditure involved in these proposals in support of which the opinion of the Honourable T. H. Whiteheal, Member for the Chamber of Commerce in 1892, has been quoted.

In conclusion it will be well to summarize the expenditure on the works mentioned during the past 18 years:-

Waterworks,

Drainage and Sewerage Works,

Markets, &c.,

Public Latrines,

Miscellaneous minor Works,

Tai-ping-shan Resumption and Improvements,

2,130,983

1,027,869

533,137

42,479

33,031

925,973

Total $4,748,522

W. CHATHAM.

13.7.1901.

2940

C. S. O. &

1886

Enclosure No. 2.

MEASURES TO GIVE EFFECT TO MR. CHADWICK'S RECOMMENDATIONS OF 1882.

LEGISLATION.

The Public Health Ordinance, 1887.

Under date of the 22nd December, 1886, the then Sanitary Board which consisted of Mr. J. M. Price, Surveyor General, Dr. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon, Mr. Stewart Lockhart, Registrar General, Major T. C. Dempster, Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, Dr. Manson, Mr. A. P. McEwen, Mr. N. J. Ede and Dr. Ho Kai, forwarded to Government the draft of a proposed Public Health Ordinance with Bye-laws to be made thereunder, accompanied by a memorandum by Dr. Ho Kai, protesting against the measure.

This memorandum opens with the following words:-"By this Ordinance and the Bye-laws made thereunler landed property in this Colony to the extent of millions of dollars will be sacrificed, vested interests greatly interfered with, and public confidence shaken to its foundations. This Ordinance together with its Bye-laws coutains nearly all the important provisions of a Building Ordinance sought to be introduced last year into the Legislative Council and which, as soon as it was known, created quite a sensation in this Colony."

He went on to write:-" From an economical point of view the idea of sacrificing the millions of square feet at an average price of $6 or $7 per square foot is even more ridiculous. What is this enforced sacrifice for? Simply for the sake of a theory that the Chinese public require all such sanitary improvements to promote their health and welfare. But I challenge the soundness of that theory, I say the Chinese in general do not require this sacrifice or even desire it.

It is not for the welfare of the poor to have the valuable space occupied by their small rooms narrowed in order to provide for a model privy, a superb kitchen and sumptuous back-yard of 10 feet wide while at the same time the wicked landlords continue to charge the same rent or even a higher one for improvements and increased capital necessary to effect such improvements.

Just fancy the position of the poor tenant if this Bill becomes law. He will be forced to pay an enormous rent for less space than before plus all sorts of sanitary improvements which however good in themselves from a European standpoint, they do not care for and which they think at least their constitutions do not require. They may say that they are habituated to such cities like Canton, Kowloon City, &c. : compared to which Hongkong as it now stands is a paradise, a model of clean- liness, a perfect sanitarium, and that if more improvements are required let those who advocate

for them and not they."

them pay

The Bill as drafted by the Sanitary Board was remodelled by embodying in it the principal provisions of the more important Bye-laws proposed to be made under it, and on the 6th of May, 1887, the Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of it in the Legislative Council quoting in support of the Bill the report of Mr. Chadwick referred to by the Chamber of Commerce, and urging Mr. Chadwick's remarks as a justification for a drastic Sanitary measure. Among the most important provisions of the Bill were the following:-

Open Spaces around Dwellings.

(a.) That in any new building a basement intended for human habitation should not be allowed to abut on the hillside, but should have a space of 4 feet clear between it and the hillside.

(b.) That, subject to an appeal to the Governor in Council, in any new domestic building a clear space forming a back-yard of at least 10 feet in width along the entire back of such building and kept at all times open to the sky, should be provided.

Overcrowding.

(c.) That every domestic building or portion thereof found to be inhabited in excess of a propor- tion of one a lult to every 300 cubic feet of clear internal space should be considered to be in an

overcrowded condition.

It was mentioned by the mover of the Bill that this latter provision was calculated to displace 20,000 of the population.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Bill excited as was foreshadowed by Dr. Ho Kai's memo- randum a stɔrm of opposition.

Bill.

The first reading was followed by a series of leading articles in the "Daily Press

against the

On the 11th of Nay, a deputatiou of Chinese waited on the Acting Governor and addressed His Excellency on the subject of the Bill.

They pointed out that the provision of 10 feet backyards, kitchens and privies would cost from 10 to 20 million dollars. That the power classes would suffer by the curtailment of accommoda- tion; that the privies for common use were against Chinese social habits; and that no compensation was offered.

On the 23rd of June a memorial praying for the postponement of the consideration of the measure and signed by all the Un-official Members, the representatives of all the leading Euro- pean or American Firms in the Colony and by a very large number of Chinese, was presented in the Council Chamber to His Excellency Major-General Cameron, the Acting Governor.

The memorial contained a statement that the signatories "had great doubts as to the foundation for the deplorable picture drawn of the Sanitary Condition and prospects of Hongkong based upon statements made 13 years ago" (referring to Dr. Ayres' report of 1874), and the then Senior Un- official Member of the Legislative Council (Honourable P. Ryrie) said that while the memorialists had no objection to such Sanitary measures as were necessary to preserve the health of those who occupied tenements in the Colony, they objected to several clauses of the Bill which interfered with their property. He indicated specially the clanse requiring 10 feet back-yards.

"China Mail" of 12th May, 1887,

The late Mr. Granville Sharp in the course of some remarks adverse to the Bill stated that the Supplement to " Daily

Press" of 7th July, 1887. memorial had been signed "by the whole community."

On the 3rd of July a large meeting of Chinese was held at the Tung Wa Hospital against the

Bill.

ance 24 of 1887.

The Bill was read a second time on the 21st of July, and on the 20th September the Honour- able A. P. McEwen (a member of the Sanitary Board who had therefore assisted in drafting the original Bill) and the representative on the Council of the Chamber of Commerce, moved that instead of 300 cubic feet of air-space being provided for each adult in a domestic building only 200 feet be provided.

After much discussion the Honourable J. Bell-Irving moved by way of a compromise and the Honourable C. P. Chater seconded that 250 feet only be provided.

The amendment was supported by all the Un-official Members but lost.

On the 23rd of September the Bill was read a third time against a unanimous Un-official vote and passed against a similar vote.

The Bill which from first to last was strenuously opposed both in and out of Council underwent numerous modifications during its passage through the Council with the following effect on the provisions (a.) and (5.) mentioned above. (a.) was applied only to buildings (intended for human Vide section 59 of Ordin- habitation) erected on land obtained from the Crown after the passing of the Ordinance.

In cases

of land obtained from the Crown before the passing of the Ordinance it was applied with a number of exemptions which rendered the provision practically nugatory as far as the object it was originally intented to effect was concerned. (b.) was relegated to the proposed new Building Ordinance in which it never found a place and this all important provision was therefore lost. (c.) was forced through the Council by the official vote in the teeth of the strongest opposition on the part of all the Un-official Members including the representative of the Chamber of Commerce which body now complains that Government has not exacted an allowance of 600 cubic feet, or three times what its representative and the other Un-official Members considered sufficient.

In the Daily Press" (which had strongly opposed the Bill all through its passage) of the 26th September, 1887, we find the following remarks in a leading article :—

"One of the chief grievances of residents in this Colony, Chinese and Europeans alike, is the great scarcity of house accommodation and the consequent high rents

This grievous state of things the Government proposes to make worse and worse by enforcing laws against overcrowding. Every person is to have 300 cubic feet of space to sleep in although even supposing the house accommodation were amply sufficient to afford this space many of the Chinese would probably prefer more company and less room.

Less

than 300 feet is not dangerous in a climate like Hongkong when people keep the doors and windows open all the year round.

On this point the Government has shewn itself absolutely impervious to reason."

The Building Ordinance, 1889.

To this Bill had been relegated various provisions which had excited opposition in the original

Public Health Bill.

Among them were the provisions relating to 10 feet back-yards which had perhaps been more strongly opposed than any other clause of the Public Health Bill. This provision as already men- tioned found no place in the new Bill, doubtless owing to the strong opposition to it already expressed by the memorialists and Chinese deputation referred to in the foregoing notes on the Public Health Ordinance, and to the plea for compensation for the area that would be taken from house property if the provision were made law. Other provisions were those relating to the restric- tion of mezzanine floors, the provision of sufficient windows, and of privies in domestic buildings.

The latter subject had called forth strong opposition when it appeared in the Public Health

Bill.

The Building Bill was read a first time on the 17th January, 1889, and a second time on the succeeding 1st of March.

In committee a number of clauses and among them those relating to the matters above mentioned were postponed for further consideration.

The Honourable C. P. Chater expressed himself as opposed to the general introduction of privies and advocated the provision of more latrines instead.

The clause in the original Bill relating to mezzanine floors prohibited such floors with less spaces than 9 vertical feet above and below them, and provided that when any mezzanine floors existed which had not the above spaces above and below and which appeared to the Sanitary Board to be injurious to health, they might be removed to such extent as might be approved by the Governor in Council.

In the result the clause regarding mezzanine floors was modified so as to exact the 9 vertical feet of space above and below only in the case of a mezzanine which extended over more than two

thirds of a room.

Where the mezzanine extended over two thirds or less of the room 6 vertical feet above and below were only required.

This provision remained in force till it was repealed by Ordinance 15 of 1894 which prohibited mezzanines altogether except under regulations framed by the Sanitary Board. These regulations, which are very stringent, are to be found in the Schedule to Ordinance 13 of 1901.

Section 48 of the Bill, which required in every habitable room in a new domestic building a window opening directly into the air and equal to one tenth of the floor area of the room, was

eliminated.

Privies which were made compulsory by the original Bill in all new domestic building were made optional only, His Excellency the Governor expressing the opinion that if they were made compulsory it would be impossible to ensure that they were kept clean.

The Bill, which like all other sanitary measures, was of the nature of a compromise, was read a third time and passed on the 18th April, 1889.

The Closed Houses and Insanitary Dwellings Ordinance 1894 (No. 15 of 1894).

The Bill was read a first time on the 15th September, 1894. It was based on the recommenda- tions of the Permanent Committee of the Sanitary Board coupled with those of the Housing Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor.

The Permanent Committee had drawn special attention to overcrowding and section 9 of the Bill accordingly required for each occupant of a house 30 square feet of floor space and 400 cubic fect of air space.

On the 22nd December the Bill was read a second time, and in Committee the Honouranie E. R. Belilios moved as an amendment, and the Honourable Dr. Ho Kai seconded, that the floor space should be 21 square feet and the air space 300 cubic feet.

The whole of the Un-official Members including the Honourable A. McConachie, the represen- tative of the Chamber of Commerce, voted for the amendment and the Official Members against it,

and the amendment was therefore lost.

Section 10 giving power of inspection to ascertain breaches of the sections against overcrowd- ing, was also opposed by the whole of the Un-official Members, but their amendment limiting the inspection to coolie-houses and common lodging-houses was lost.

Section 12 of the Bill limited the height of buildings to be erected in the future, and the

Honourable E. R. Belilios moved that the section be deleted from the Bill. He contended that in

cities in the United States and in Verona and Venice there were high buildings, and that the section would retard and prevent the progress of the Colony.

The Honourable C. P. Chater seconded.

The whole of the Un-officials voted in favour of the amendment and the Officials against it and

the amendment was lost.

The Honourable C. P. Chater then proposed as a second amendment that where the width of of a lanc is 15 feet and does not exceed 25 feet the limit of height of buildings should be 46 feet.

He remarked that if the clause as it stood were passed there would, he thought, be “ in the Colony the like of which has never been known before."

an uproar

The section was left over for further discussion, and on the 24th of December the Director of

Public Works to meet the objection of the Honourable C. P. Chater moved as an amendment clause 12 as it now stands. The amendment was accepted with a slight modification and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Insanitary Properties Ordinance 1899.

By a Commission dated the 29th July, 1896, His Excellency Sir William Robinson appointed a Commission consisting of the Colonial Secretary, the Honourable C. P. Chater, the Honourable T. H. Whithead, Mr. N. J. Ede and Mr. (now Sir Thomas) Jackson" to enquire into the existence of Insanitary properties in the Colony and the means to be adopted to improve such properties and to abate overcrowding."

The Commission held various sittings between August, 1896, and June, 1897, and examined the Medical Officer of Health, the Director of Public Works, and Messrs. Danby, Leigh and Palmer, Architects and Civil Engineers in the Colony.

The Commission submitted their report on the 9th of March, 1898.

In it they stated that there were many insanitary properties in the Colony and dwellings which in their opinion were unfit for human habitation.

The Commission recommended the provision of (a.) certain open spaces in the rear of dwellings, as follows:-

In houses over 26 feet in depth by opening out one half of the space between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls at the back of the premises, and where there was no such space by providing an open space at the back of not less than 40 square feet.

(b.) Certain measures for the greater restriction of cubicles.

(c.) The surfacing, channelling and lighting of private streets and lanes at the owners' expense.

The Commission, which it may be noted included among its members the representative on the Legislative Council of the Chamber of Commerce, recorded its opinion that the existing provisions of section 9 of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894 (by which 30 square feet of floor area and 400 cubic feet of air space were required for each occupant of a house) were sufficient for the purpose of abating overcrowding "; and made no recommendation on the subject of latrine accommodation.

Two of the members of the Commission-Messrs. Whitehead and Ede-added a separate recom- mendation of their own to the report aimed at preventing the re-erection on land already sold by the Crown of back-to-back houses where the depth of the houses exceeded 30 feet.

The report of the Commission was referred to the Sanitary Board who in a report dated the 9th of June, 1898, urged more drastic measures on all points touched on by the Commission, and in addition that the height of buildings provided for by section 12 of Ordinance 15 of 1894 should be further restricted by enacting that no domestic buikling to be erected in future should exceed in height one and a half times the width of the street upon which the building fronts.

A Bill embodying the most of the recommendations of the Sanitary Board was read a first time in November, 1898. In October, 1899, a new Bill was substituted for it and read a first time and on the 26th October in the same year the Bill was read a second time.

Its principal provisions were :--

(a.) The restriction of cubicles to top floors in houses fronting streets of less than 15 feet

in width. (Clause 4 sub-section (a.).)

(b.) Prohibition of cubicles on ground floors whatever the width of the street. (Same

clause sub-section (b.).)

(c.) Restriction of height of cubicles to 7 feet when there are two in one floor and to 6

feet when there are more than two.

(d.) Prohibition of mezzanine floors except under regulations to be framed by the Sanitary

Board. (Clause 5.)

(e.) Restriction of height of buildings to 13 times the width of the street in cases of land acquired from the Crown after the passing of the Ordinance. (Clause 6.) The Sanitary Board had recommended that this latter restriction should apply to all houses erected in the future, but owing to the strong opposition on the part of those interested in house property the Board agreed to limiting the application to land acquired from the Crown in the future.

(f) The provision of open spaces in rear of (1.) existing dwellings by opening out on each floor one half of the space between the principal room and the main wall at the back unless the building is already provided with an open back-yard of 50 square feet (Clause 7); (2.) dwellings erected after the passing of the Ordinance accord- ing to the following scale :-

Houses not exceeding 40 feet in depth for each foot of

width,........

Exceeding 40 but not over 50 in depth,

..8 square feet.

Over 50 and under 60,

Over 60,

...10

12 "}

with a proviso that when the owners of a block of buildings make a lane opening at either end on a public street the open spaces might be reduced as follows:-

For houses not exceecing 40 feet in depth a lane 6 feet wide.

Over 40 feet but under 50 feet

Over 50

Over 60

وو

(Clause 8.)

(g.) The concreting, channelling and lighting of private streets.

(Clause 9.)

as in many similar cases

The Director of Public Works in seconding the Bill remarked that the Bill as it now stands is somewhat of a compromise. Some of those connected with its drafting have wished to go much further in the provisions for admitting light and air to the crowded houses in the city, in providing for larger open spaces and consequent less overcrowling; others have been inclined to make less change in the existing order of things, which proves the aphorism that there is no relation between Hygiene and money getting."

He went on to say that "one of the most eminent of modern writers on sanitary subjects states "all sanitarians are agreed that mortality and density of population are directly proportional” and he quoted Dr. Vivian Poore who wrote "we have been long accustomed to hear that one chief sanitary necessity in this world is pure water. This would be quite true if we were fish, but it is obvious that the purity of the air we breathe is of far greater importance than the purity of the water we drink, seeing that we must take a draught of air about twenty times a minute while many of us don't take a draught of pure water from week's end to week's end."

In Committee His Excellency the Governor suggested that with a view to diminishing over- crowding the area of the cubicles should be increased, and the further discussion of the Bill was postponed.

On the 31st of October the Council resumed the consideration of the Bill in Committee and the Captain Superintendent of Police suggested on behalf of the Sanitary Board that clause 4 sub-section (g.) should be amended so as to provide that a space of 6 feet (as originally recommended by the Board) instead of 4 feet be left between a cubicle and any window the area of which is included in calcul- ating the required window area of one-tenth of the floor area.

The Director of Public Works, Honourable E. R. Belilios and the Honourable Dr. Ho Kai were in favour of not increasing the four feet of space and the Council decided to leave the clause as it

stood.

The Honourable T. H. Whitehead suggested that clause 6 be amended by deleting words so as to make it apply to all buildings erected after the passing of the Ordinance unless the building had a lane of a width at least one-fourth of the height of the building along one of its lateral sides aud throughout its whole depth,

The Colonial Treasurer and the Director of Public Works pointed out that such a provision would probably involve compensation on the part of the Government to the owners of property acquired before the passing of the Ordinance and the amendment was not pressed.

Clauses 7 and 8 relating to open spaces in rear of buildings were left over for further discussion and on the 20th November the clauses were adopted with some verbal alterations.

On the 23rd November the Bill was read a third time and passed.

F. H. MAY.

13.7.1901.

No. 262.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

SIR,

HONGKONG, 18th July, 1901.

I have the honour, in reference to my despatch No. 254 of the 13th instant, to forward for your information the Memoranda drawn up by the Colonial Secretary, the Acting Director of Public Works, and the Captain Superintendent of Police on the various statements in the petition.

2. I fear that the signatories to the petition were not acquainted with the facts and that it was largely signed on the simple issue that the sanitation of the town required thorough examination by an Expert of eminence. I observe that some of the signatures are those of aliens. The few Chinese whose signatures were obtained are, I am informed, men of small consideration among the Chinese community, but, apart from this, the petition is influentially signed.

3. The Memoranda show that the Government has not been neglectful. It appears that the Sanitary Ordinances introduced since the year 1887 were carried by the Government against the opposition of the Unofficial Members. and that during the past 18 years the sum of $4,748,522 has been spent in works of Sanitation.

4. Still the fact remains that the expenditure of this money has had apparently no effect upon the recurrence or severity of Bubonic Plague, a disease as mysterious and as fatal now as it was in 1894.

5. In my despatch No. 244 of the 5th instant, I mentioned the experiment of thoroughly disinfecting a small district. That disinfection took place on the 21st and 22nd of last June. I regret to find that in the short time that has since elapsed, and with a rapidly decreasing plague return, there have been reported eight cases from this small disinfected area. This does not promise much hope of success from the extensive and expensive experiment of disinfecting the entire town next Spring as suggested by me. We might possibly reduce the death rate by producing an exodus, but this places us no nearer to a solution of this terrible difficulty.

I have the honour to be,

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&c.,

&c.

Sir

Your most obedient Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

MEMORANDUM

PETITION DATED 25TH JUNE, 1901.

A careful perusal of the Petition shows that it may be briefly epitomised as follows:-

That the late Dr. Ayres pointed out in 1873 that there was necessity for Sani- tary improvements: that in 1881 a Special Sanitary Commissioner in the person of Mr. Osbert Chadwick visited Hongkong and, in a report dated 1882, made many valuable recommendations: and that with few exceptions those recommendations have been ignored.

The Petitioners further assert that for 19 years the condition of Hongkong has remained practically as insanitary as when Mr. Chadwick made his report, and they add (in paragraph 18) that "so far as anything practically resulting the Sanitary Commission of 1881 might never have been appointed."

In support of their contention, the Petitioners quote a number, but by no means all, of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations and instance several of them either catego- rically or by implication which have not been carried out.

2. In order to facilitate a fair and impartial consideration of the various allega- tions contained in the Petition, we beg to invite attention to the following statements which are attached to this Memorandum :-

(7.) A summary of the recommendations of Mr. Chadwick in his report

to which the Petitioners refer.

(b.) A statement of the Public Works that have been undertaken in fur- therance of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations, including an account

of the expenditure incurred on account of those works showing an outlay of nearly Five Million Dollars.

(c.) A brief review of the legislation dealing with sanitation that has been

enacted between the years 1887 and 1899 inclusive.

3. Any one who reads these statements cannot fail to see that whilst the Gov- ernment of this Colony has realized how important and necessary it is that the sanitation of Hongkong should be placed in a satisfactory state and has spent large sums of money with a view to improve its sanitary condition, it has had to contend against many difficulties, not the least of which has been that opposition to Sanitary Legislation which is described in the review referred to above.

As regards Mr. Chadwick's recommendations, of the various Public Works recommended by him, only two that might have been undertaken earlier, viz.:-the erection of public baths and model dwelling houses-have been postponed, but they are both now to be carried out.

Three other recommendations of Mr. Chadwick, viz.:-the formation of an improvement fund; the acquisition of private latrines, and the resumption of land required for the formation of back-alleys-the two latter of which involve enor- mous expenditure—have not been embarked upon for reasons that will be indicated further on.

Enclosure A,

Enclosure B.

4. The statements B. and C. furnish an answer to the allegations implied or expressed by the Petitioners regarding the neglect to provide private latrines, mar- kets, public laundries, a water supply for the Kowloon Peninsula and for some of the larger villages, and the preparation of roads and drains before building lots are sold. (Vide paragraphs 7, 8, and 9.) They explain how it came to pass that Government was unable to give effect to the proposal to require back-yards (which were intended to take the place of the back-alleys recommended by Mr. Chadwick doubtless because it was thought easier to obtain yards than continuous alleys) or to exact 600 cubic feet of air-space in rooms sub-divided by cubicles. (Paragraph 9.) They prove that the statement made in paragraph 11 to the effect that no flushing tanks for sewers have been constructed is without foundation; and that paragraph 15 is entirely misleading and in parts untrue.

Enclosure C.

system of drainage in (Vide paragraph 9 of

It was Mr. Chadwick who first suggested the separate part and finally endorsed its adoption for the whole City. this Memorandum.) The supply of water is sufficient for the purposes of that system and the necessary flushing tanks have been provided. The original scheme of having sewer outfalls at North Point and Kennedy Town and the pumping system in connection with those outfalls were abandoned owing to the making of

the Praya Reclamation and the probability of a Reclamation in front of Praya East. The question of outfalls is fully discussed in Mr. Chadwick's reports of 1890 refer- red to below. In these reports the outfalls for the Central and Western parts of the City are mentioned, and it is stated that in the Eastern District "it is proposed to discharge the sewage by means of numerous outfalls into the harbour in front of the district" pending future developments as to reclamation or otherwise.

Mr. Chadwick concluded these reports with the statement that "the most essential difference between the project now submitted and that prepared by Mr. Cooper is in the number and position of the outfalls but at the time of the prepa- ration of Mr. Cooper's report the Praya Reclamation was not projected."

It is worth noting that Mr. R. K. Leigh, one of the signatories of the Petition, in a criticism he wrote on Mr. Cooper's proposed scheme of drainage actually condemned the proposed intercepting main drain and pumping stations, but now in common with the other Petitioners he for some inexplicable reason complains that they have not been constructed.

The enclosures B. and C. also show that the statement made in paragraph 19 that among other works no Depôts for Cattle have been provided; that nothing has been done since 1898 to limit the height of buildings (paragraph 22); that Ordinance 34 of 1899 was enacted "in an emasculated form, the more drastic re- medies recommended by the Sanitary Board with a view to the betterment of the Sanitary condition of the Colony having been deleted therefrom" (paragraph 23); and that nothing has been done since 1894 to improve the Sanitary condition of the Colony (paragraph 25), are without exception contrary to fact.

As regards Ordinance 34 of 1899 the only important modifications of the recommendations of the Sanitary Board were in respect of the open spaces required in rear of existing buildings and of the restriction of the height of buildings.

The Board's original recommendations on the first point went far beyond what Mr. Cooper and Dr. Clark himself had suggested to the Commissioners.

Dr. Clark, whose remarks are quoted and who has a seat on the Sanitary Board, agreed to the alterations, by which the requirement for spaces in rear of existing buildings were modified and the restriction as to height of buildings made to apply only to houses erected on land sold after the passing of the Ordi-

nance.

It should be remembered that the difficulty which confronted the Government in these particular matters was the structural difficulty in providing large spaces except on re-construction of the houses and the question of compensation to owners of property if the law relating to the height of buildings were made retrospective.

5. Having briefly dealt with the facts which the statements B. and C. serve to elucidate, we now propose to examine shortly those points in the Petition which we have not yet touched upon.

In paragraph 7 the Petitioners complain by implication of the want of public baths.

We would point out that in comparatively few cities are public baths provided. In many, as in Shanghai for example, they are provided by private enterprise. It is true that Public Bath Houses have not been built here till the current year when they were undertaken on the Governor's own initiative.

It is not a matter of great surprise that among the larger and more pressing works carried out in the Colony this item did not find a place earlier.

6. The statement quoted in paragraph 9 that Mr. Chadwick had recommended that the ground surfaces of all dwellings should be concreted and that such con-

creting was not required till 1894 is inaccurate. What Mr. Chadwick recom- mended was that earthen floors should be prohibited and this recommendation was given effect to by Section 62 of the Public Health Ordinance 1887 which provided that "the floor of every area and of every basement storey shall be properly asphalted, paved or covered over with a layer of good concrete at least 9 inches. thick."

The ground floors of a majority of houses were accordingly paved with tiles till the law of 1894 male an absolutely impervious material compulsory.

In the same paragraph the Petitioners refer to the want of an Improvement Fund and complain that one has not been established. In this connection we would invite attention to the enclosed statement marked D. which shows the total revenue and expenditure and separately the expenditure on Public Works Extraordinary for each year from 1883 to 1900 inclusive, together with the expen liture of the second of the two loans raised by the Colony during that period.

It should also be borne in mind that in 1894 the financial condition of the Colony appeared to the Un-official Members of Council to be in such an unsatisfac- tory state that they asked for and obtained the appointment of a Retrenchment Committee with a view to effecting retrenchments in the public expenditure.

The financial returns in enclosure D. show that the ordinary revenue of the Colony was not sufficient to meet the expenditure on account of public works ex- traordinary, without having recourse to two loans amounting in all to £400,000. It is difficult therefore to see how an Improvement Fund could have been created except by a further loan or by increased taxation. It would have been undesirable for many reasons to increase the public debt of the Colony and any rise in taxation would most certainly have been unacceptable.

7. With regard to paragraph 10 it may be noted that there was no necessity to offer a premium for the best design of Chinese hous, because several designs have been gratuitously offered. A recommendation was made that a block of model Chinese houses should be built in Taipingshan but the enterprise did not commend itself to the Government who had spent over $800,000 of Public Funds in resuming and laying out the property.

Enclosure D.

See Ordinance 11 of 1886. See Ordinance 2 of 1893.

8. In paragraph 13 the Petitioners touch on the question of hawking in the public streets.

By means of hawkers the poorer classes can obtain food cheaper than they can in the markets. One of the predisposing causes of Plague is want of nutrition, and various Committees which have examined this subject have advocated the retention of the system under a certain control. This control is exercised by the Police, and officers are especially told off to prevent nuisances being created by the hawkers.

The complaints referred to were made by an individual member of the Sanitary Board, and on investigation were found as far as any actual nuisance was concerned to be exaggerated.

9. In paragraph 15 an extract is quoted from a letter of the Chamber of Com- merce in 1894 in which the Chamber stated that there existed a widespread belief that Mr. Chadwick's scheme of drainage had not been carried out on the original lines, and that the separate system had been more generally applied than was intended.

It will be remembered that in 1889 questions having arisen as to the system of sewerage to be adopted, Mr. Chadwick re-visited the Colony to initiate upon his own responsibility a scheme of drainage. Mr. Chadwick made three reports dated the 1st of July, 1890, and published in the Government Gazelte of the 27th September, 1890. To the extract from the report on the sewerage of the High

Level district quoted in the enclosure B. we would add the following extract from the report on the drainage of the Lower, Western and Central Districts of Victoria:-

"In the report on the sewerage of the high level district the objections to the use of storm-water channels for the conveyance of sewage were fully set forth. These objections apply with even greater force in the case of the low level district, where, in many places, the storm-water channels are nearly level and accumulate not only sewer tainted air but also sewage deposit.

The methods for the improvement of the drainage of this, and other districts, suggested in my report of 1882 have not been tried. This is fortunate, for my subsequent experience leads to the conclusion that they would not have remedied completely the evils which existed then and which still exist

It will now be necessary to re-sewer the whole district with earthenware pipes; and to divert the sewage proper, or dry-weather-flow of the sewers from the storm- water channels, which are not and cannot be made suitable for its reception. The existing stone channels therefore should revert to their legitimate use, the con- veyance of storm-water from the surface of the district and from the hills above it.' In his report on the drainage of the Eastern District Mr. Chadwick wrote: "The principles as to self-cleansing sewers, admission of rain-fall and ventilation which have been laid down in previous reports apply to this district with equal

force."

He concluded this series of exhaustive reports with the following remarks: “In conclusion I beg to record my obligation to Mr. Cooper

We have discussed together every essential feature of these projects and are of one mind on every point of importance; so much so indeed that the documents sub- mitted may be fairly looked upon as joint reports.' (Government Gazette of 1890 page 980.)

The projects were carried out under the direct supervision of Mr. Cooper and a reference to the plans of the sewerage of the City will show that there is no foundation for the widespread belief mentioned by the Chainber.

The statement contained in the same paragraph that the contents of the storm- water drains are nearly as foul as those of the sewers is true, and the only remedy appears to be a more efficient method of removal of night-soil and the more effective control of the hawking of vegetables, sugar-cane and fruit in the streets.

It is also true that the inlets to the storm-water drains in the streets are mostly untrapped, but it may be pointed out that Mr. Chadwick advocated ventilat- ing orifices in the streets for the sewers, and that the escape of gas in the streets is comparatively harmless owing to the excessive diffusion.

The Petitioners take exception in the same paragraph to the practice of pass- ing chains through sewers, and draw the deduction that the sewers must have insufficient fall or be inadequately flushed.

The practice is merely a precautionary measure adopted in most well ordered cities to ensure that no stoppage takes place without being detected and remedied

at once.

10. In paragraph 20 the Petitioners make certain allegations regarding delay in providing latrines.

Regarding the latrine at Shektongtsui it was not an entirely new latrine (as might be inferred from the Petitioners' remarks) that was recommended in the end of 1896, but an enlargement of the already existing latrine at that spot.

At the time the recommendation was made an Ordinance was being prepared to protect Public Latrines.

The question of making the addition to the latrine was postponed till the passing of the Ordinance, which became law in June, 1897.

After the Ordinance had been passed it appears that by an oversight the Board failed to comply with the formalities required by the Ordinance before a latrine can be built on a particular site.

When the Board finally made the necessary formal application in 1898 funds. were not available for this particular work, which was accordingly postponed.

The necessity for a latrine at Kowloon Point was largely due to the fact that insufficient conveniences were provided by the Wharf and Godown Company for the large number of coolies employed by them in this locality.

The Sanitary Board asked the Government in December, 1896, to put up a latrine at this spot and in January, 1897, addressed the Wharf and Golown Com- pany on the subject of providing increased latrine accommodation for their em- ployees. That Company made the increase required by the Board.

The question of erecting a Government latrine was postponed pending the passing of the Ordinance referred to. Since the passing of the Ordinance the Sanitary Board has not made any formal application under the Ordinance for a site in this locality to be set aside for a latrine, perhaps because the existence of a. privately owned latrine rendered the necessity less urgent.

In 1897 the Board made formal application that sites for 13 latrines be re- served in the resumed area of Tai-ping-shan in accordance with the approved plan for the laying out of the area.

These sites are still reserved, but owing to the fact that very little of the re- sumed area has been taken up for building purposes only one of the latrines has

been built.

The Board asked at the same time for a latrine to be erected at Leighton Hill. It was erected in 1899. They also asked for a latrine near Ship Street and for one at Tai-k k-tsni. The former was built (after the necessary formalities had been complied with) in 1899 and the latter, which took the form of a matshed structure, pending the further development of the village, in 1893.

In 1898 the Board recommended the erection of 2 latrines. Provision was made in the Estimates for 1899 for two latrines and two were erected during the laiter

year as shewn above.

In June, 199, the erection of 4 latrines was sanctioned by the Governor. The sites were duly published and the latrines, together with one additional one making 5 in all, were completed in 1900.

The statement that nothing was done in the matter of building latrines in the years 1897-1899 inclusive is, therefore, incorrect.

We would point out here that had not the provision in the Building Ordinance for making privies in domestic buildings compulsory been waived in the face of the strong opposition it evoked from Ut-official Members, the necessity for so many- Public Latrines would not have been felt.

As to the want of urinal accommolation referred to in paragraph 12, steps have been taken this year to further increase the accommodation.

11. The question of the provision of an incinerator for carcases of diseased cattle has been delayed owing to the mistaken idea on the part of some members of the Sanitary Board that such an incinerator could be combined in a retuse de- structor. The desirability or otherwise of a destructor has been, we need hardly!

remark, and is still a vexed question, the Public Works Committee of the Legisla- tive Council having unanimously rejected the proposal to purchase a destructor.

It is not the case, however, that nothing has been done towards obtaining an incinerator. The necessary apparatus has been ordered and should shortly arrive in the Colony.

The statement that diseased carcases are frequently disinterred and used as food is misleading. In the first place no such disinterments have taken place ex- cept in the case of freshly buried pigs, and the disinterments have not been fre- quent for the reason that a dead pig is not easily smuggled through the streets.

The officers in charge of the Animal Depôts and the Police in the neighbour- hood exercise special precautions to prevent such disinterments.

12. The recommendation regarding limewashing in the villages referred to in paragraph 24 was only made by a majority of the Board.

In the Legislative Council the Bye-law was almost unanimously rejected, only one member speaking in favour of it.

It must not be forgotten that under the existing law a householder whose dwelling is found to be in a dirty condition can be required to cleanse and limewash it within a week. This provision of the law seems sufficient to ensure cleanliness in villages, where owing to the small number of houses inspection is not difficult by the Police officers on the spot who are also Sanitary Inspectors, without sub- jecting householders to the half-yearly compulsory limewashing which is enforced in the City.

13. In paragraph 25 the Petitioners state their belief" on good Medical au- thority" that the recurring epidemics of Plague would have lessened in virulence and duration had the Government seriously applied itself to the task and not trifled with proposed measures of Sanitary Reform;" they quote an opinion of Dr. Low- son recorded immediately after the first visitation of Plague in 1894 that "if pro- per sanitary precautions are taken no civilized country should ever be the seat of an epidemic of Plague ;" and they state that since 1894 practically nothing has been done on the lines of recognised prophylactic measures against Plague or to improve the Sanitary Conditions of the Colony.'

That measures of Sanitary Reform and the improvement of the Sanitary Con-. dition of the Colony have not been neglected the enclosures B. and C. conclusively prove. But they do not contain by any means an exhaustive statement of the measures taken. They were only drawn up in answer to the particular allegations made in the letter of the Chamber of Commerce of the 7th of June last.

In 1894 upon the outbreak of Plague the Sanitary Board nominated a Perma- nent Committee consisting of Dr. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon, so often quoted in the Petition. Mr. J. J. Francis, K.C., and the Captain Superintendent of Police as a working Committee to deal with the epidemic and with those gentlemen were associated later Major H. E. R. James, a very able officer of the Army Medical Staff, and Mr. R. K. Leigh, the well known local engineer and architect.

These gentlemen under the energetic and able direction of Mr. J. J. Francis, who was Chairman of the Committee. adopted extremely drastic measures—so drastic that their action undoubtedly contributed to the enormous exodus of Chi- nese which took place and brought much of the business and trade of the Port temporarily to a standstill.

After the epidemic was over Ordinance No. 15 of 1894 referred to in enclosure C. was passed, and besides making provision for the structural and other improve- ments therein referred to it enacted that the ground surface of every domestic

building in the Colony should be covered with impervious material to the satisfac- tion of the Sanitary Board, and it gave the Board power to make bye-laws in amplification of those it already had power to make under the Public Health Ordinance No. 24 of 1887 in regard to the following matters :-

(Section 13 of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894, sub-section 1.)

13. (1) The Sanitary Board are hereby empowered to make, vary and repeal bye-laws for or in regard to all or any of the following matters (that is to say):-

(1.) For prescribing the material and the nature and thickness thereof to be used for covering over the ground surface of all buildings and of any cook-houses, latrines, or open surfaces connected therewith, such as back-yards, court-yards, or other spaces on which slops may be thrown or from which foul waters flow.

(2.) For fixing from time to time the number of persons who may occupy a domestic building or any part thereof and for marking on the exterior or interior of such buildings the number of persons permitted to occupy the same or any part thereof.

(3.) For prescribing the material to be used for enclosing the space to be left above any partitions in connection with section 8 of this Ordinance.

(4.) For the periodical entry and inspection of all buildings and curtilages-- (a.) For the purpose of ascertaining whether the same is in an overcrowd-

ed condition.

(b.) For the purpose of ascertaining the sanitary condition, cleanliness and good order thereof or any part thereof and of any mezzanine floors, storeys or cocklofts therein or the condition of any drains therein or in connection therewith.

(5.) (a.) For promoting cleanliness and ventilation in domestic buildings.

(b.) For the cleansing and removal of refuse and all objectionable matter

at stated times from domestic buildings.

(6.) For prescribing the conditions under which alone it shall be lawful to live in, occupy or use, or to let or sub-let, or to suffer or permit to be used for habitation or for occupation as a shop, any cellar, vault, underground room, base- ment or room any side of which abuts on or against the earth or soil.

(7.) For the prevention as far as possible or mitigation of any epidemic, endemic, or contagious disease including inter alia provisions—

(a.) For the removal of persons suffering from any such disease.

(b.) For the speedy and safe disposal of the dead.

(c.) For house-to-house visitation.

(.) For the destruction of infected bedding, clothing or other articles.

(e.) For the compulsory vacating of houses.

(f.) For such other matters or things as may to the Board appear

advisable for preventing or mitigating such disease.

Bye-laws were duly made and published in the Gazette of the 3rd March, 1895, and those passed under clause vii for the prevention or mitigation of Plague (and other contagious diseases) were based upon and almost identical with the bye-laws. made and used during the epidemic by the Permanent Committee.

It is under these bye-laws, with some additions made in 1897 to give the Board's officers legal power to take certain action which they had illegally taken in 1894 and 1896, that the Board have worked ever since.

Enclosure E.

The method of dealing with outbreaks of Plague which is set out in the enclosed statement E. is based upon and is practically the same as, that adopted in 1894 with the recent addition of the destruction of rats, 104,097 of which have been destroyed up to date.

Since these bye-laws were made up to the time of the receipt of the Petition there has been no intimation from any quarter that these powers were not con- sidered sufficient, and it is difficult to see what further powers (except in one or two particulars indicated at the last meeting of the Sanitary Board: could be given or used without seriously interfering with the business of the Port.

We are unaware what are the recognised prophylactic measures referred to by the Petitioners as neglected, unless perchance they mean inoculation which it is obvious could not be successfully applied to a conservative people like the Chinese, the majority of which is filled with prejudice against all forms of Western Medical Science. The Sanitary legislation that has been passed since the Epidemic of 1394 has had for its object the closing of insanitary dwellings; the covering of the ground surface with impervious material; the enforcement of greater cleanliness; the provision of increased open-spaces around dwellings; the prevention of overcrowding; the abatement of surface crowding; and the improvement of ventilation by increase of window space, reduction of cubicles, and restriction of mezzanine floors. Past experience seeins to show that light and air are the best prophylactic against Plague, and it is more light and air that special efforts have been made to obtain. While on the subject of the power of the Sanitary Board to deal with an epidemic we would venture to point out that although the Board has no spending power, the statement in paragraph 5 that "it is not in any way responsible for the overcrowded and insanitary condition of Hongkong", and that "it is not permitted to exercise any control whatever over its subordinates," is not correct. The Board has the same control over its subordinate officers as any other Government Department has. It has power to make and enforce Bye-laws (subject to the approval of the Legislative Council) on almost every conceivable subject in connection with public health, and its officers can institute proceedings before a Magistrate for closing buildings unfit for human habitation, and for the prevention of overcrowding.

Some of the powers it possesses in the matter of framing bye-laws are alluded to above, and a full statement of all its powers is contained in the Consolidated Public Health Ordinance No. 13 of 1901.

It is worth noting that from the 6th May, 1899, up to the 9th August, 1900, no fewer than 31 houses have been closed either in whole or in part as unfit for human habitation at the instance of the Medical Officer of Health under the powers referred to, but that that officer had not previously taken any action in this direction till reminded of those powers by His Excellency the Governor.

14. In paragraphs 16, 17 and 26 the Petitioners again quote extracts from some reports of the late Colonial Surgeon. We would rather have not been compelled to pass a criticism on the work of one who was for many years a devoted servant of the Colony, and who is no longer here to answer our remarks. Nevertheless we deem it right to point out that under Ordinance No. 9 of 1867 section 14 Dr. Ayres had very considerable powers which we cannot find any record of his having ever utilised.

The section reads as follows:-

"Whenever the Colonial Surgeon, the Medical Inspector (the appointment of a Medical Inspector was provided for by the preceding section), or any two resident medical practitioners shall certify to any Justice of the Peace that any house occupied by more than one family is so overcrowded or in such a filthy or unwholesome state as to be dangerous or prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, it shall be lawful for the said Justice, and he is hereby

required to issue a summons against the householder or his agent within the meaning of the Victoria Registration Ordinance 1866 by notice affixed to the house to appear before the said Justice who shall thereupon make such order as he may think fit; and in case any order so made shall not be complied with by such house- holder or agent as aforesaid within seven days from the making thereof the said Justice may thereupon impose on the person so refusing or neglecting to obey the said order a fine not exceeding $50 and not less than $10, and in default of pay- ment the person so refusing or neglecting to obey the said order may be imprisoned for any term not exceeding three months."

The next section of the Ordinance gave the Medical Inspector power to enter and inspect. These sections were repealed by Ordinance No. 7 of 1883 under which a Sanitary Board was established, and section 3 of that Ordinance gave to any member of the Board or any two resident Medical Practitioners" the same

powers.

Dr. Ayres was a member of the Sanitary Board established under the Ordi- nance, but we cannot find any record of any prosecutions under the section.

It is stated in the same extract that Mr. Chadwick visited the Colony in 1886, and expressed his surprise at finding that so little had been done since his first visit and report.

It was in 1889 that Mr. Chadwick's second visit was made and we have failed to find any record of the expression of surprise attributed to him.

15. With regard to the remarks of Dr. Lowson quoted in paragraph 27 the isolation of contacts was in a measure carried out in 1894 by the Permanent Com- mittee who removel over 4.000 persons from Tai-ping--han and isolated them in unoccupied houses in the Western part of the City. They found it impossible to carry the system further.

In 1895 isolation of contacts in large boats was adopted. This was feasible owing to the small number of cases occurring, the total for the year being only 44. In 1896 it was adopted in similar boats during the first two months of the Plague (January and February) when it had to be abandoned owing to the large increase in the number of cases from 49 in January to 168 in March. It has not been adopted since as it has not been found possible to carry it out when the number of cases became at all large.

The latrines in 1894 were constantly disinfected an 1 that precaution has been adoptel in every epidemic since.

The measures taken to abate overcrowding and improve cleanliness have already been described.

16. In paragraph 28 the Petitioners quote Dr. Lowson that "an epidemic in Hongkong could be tackled and got under rapidly if men in sufficient number could be got to do the work."

We regret to say that the experience of 1894 does not justify Dr. Lowson's opinion.

The Permanent Committee had an unlimited supply of men in that year, comprising Police, Soldiers and Civilian Volunteers. for business, as has been mentioned, was brought to a standstill by the exodus of Chinese.

In spite of the many workers and of the most drastic measures the epi lemic though undoubtedly confined within narrower limits was not "got under" one day sooner than it ceased of its own accord in the neighbouring City of Canton where no steps whatever were taken to combat the Plague.

Enclosure F.

The measures that have been adopted since 1894 are those which were recom- mended by the principal workers in the epidemic of 184, by the Sanitary Board, by the Medical Advisers of the Government, and which commended themselves to the Community as represented in the Legislative Council As to the Medical Staff available to help in carrying out those measures, we would point out that in 1895 a Committee consisting of Deputy Inspector General Knott, R.N., Surgeon Colonel Preston, A M.S., Mr. McConachie, Mr. Thurburn & Dr. Cautlie was appointed to enquire into the Medical Department, and that the Medical Staff is coustituted in accordance with their recommendations with the exception that the Health Officer of the Port retains his private practice.

It must however be borne in mind that the latter officer employs an Assistant to do the work in the Harbour.

The statements that "at the height of the epidemic there was one Medical Officer on duty at the Infectious Hospitals for Europeans and Asiatics at Kennedy Town who was compelled through want of accommodation to re-ide a mile from the Hospitals and whose duties also included attendance on the Prisons and the Police" and that a Civil practitioner was not appointed to relieve the official doctor of a portion of his duties until the matter had been ventilated in the Public Press are misleading.

In the first place one (and the largest) of the Plague Hospitals at Kennedy Town is a brauch of the Tang Wa Hospital and is open to Chinese only who are attended by their own native doctors. The European Medical Officer only visits daily to exercise a general supervision.

The greatest number of cases under treatment at one and the same time in the Kennedy Town Hospital during the recent epidemic was 22. To assist him in attending on these cases the Medical Officer had 2 European Wardmasters, 2 trained. European Nurses and 1 trained Chinese Wardmaster-a medical student in his fifth year of study. The Medical Officer has never resided in the Kennedy Town Hospital-not even in 1894. He is in telephonic communication with it. The Medical Officer's duties at the Gaol occupy about one hour a day. The Police (except women-and these go to Hospital for confinement-and children of whom there are not many) go into Hospital when sick. Practically the only Police work is in connection with Post Mortem cases at the mortuary. The Medical Officer was relieved of that work on the 13th of May. At the height of the epidemic (215 cases in one week) he was relieved of the Gaol work on the recom- mendation of the Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer.

In answer to an inquiry whether the Medical Officer should be in constant attendance at Kennedy Town Hospital, the Acting Principal Civil Medi advised that it was not necessary as ample trained assistance was on the any European.

Officer pot for

draw

Regarding the alleged insufficiency of the Sanitary Staff, we wo attention to the fact that it was in consequence of a recommendation made in 1899 by a Select Committee of the Sanitary Board consisting of the Principal Civil Medical Officer, the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Clark) and Mr. Osborne (one of the Petitioners) based on a report by Dr. Clark himself, that the number of Sanitary Inspectors was fixed at twenty.

We append a copy of the report marked enclosure F. as it shows on what calculations the number was arrived at, and would point out that when Dr. Clark made that report he was himself satified, and Mr. Osborne, a Member of the Sanitary Board then and now must have been also satisi d. that an Inspector's visit at least once in two months to each floor of his district was reasonably

sufficient.

The Petitioners omit to mention the fact that the 20 Inspectors were exclusive of a highly trained Chief Inspector of Nuisances obtained from England in the early part of 1899 and who has left recently owing to ill health, or that he is being replaced by an Assistant Medical Officer of Health.

As for the want of training of the Inspectors the Chief Inspector was engaged principally to train them. Application was however made early in this year for three trained Inspectors from home and two more have recently been asked for.

The Petitioners compare the Sanitary Staff here with that of Liverpool.

The Medical Officer of Health we are given to understand based his calcula- tions in some measure on the Sanitary Staff of Newcastle, where he received his training as a Health Officer, which had a population of 228,000 persons in 1839, and a staff of from 14 to 18 Sanitary Inspectors and 1 Chief Inspector in 1891.

The population of Victoria, Kowloon and the Hill District (which are the the districts in which the Sanitary Inspectors work in this Colony) is :-

Victoria,

Kowloon,

...

Hill District,

...

181,918 43,871

...

2,224

Total,

...

228,013

17. With regard to the statements contained in the letter of the Chamber of Commerce of the 7th of June, (Para. 30 of the Petition), we have only to point to the enclosures B. and C. hereto to show upon what slender foundations those state- ments rest.

18. In conclusion we cannot refrain from expressing our regret that the Peti- tion as drafted is calculated to mislead. Any one who reads it, without local knowledge and unacquainted with the real facts of the case, could not but receive the erroneous impression that in Hongkong sanitation has been at a standstill for the last twenty years and that nothing has been done or attempted to improve the sanitary condition of the Colony. That such an impression would be entirely erroneous is shown by the facts we have adduced. It is unfortunate that the Peti- tion as worded is not more worthy of the good cause-the improved sanitation of Hongkong-it purports to serve. Every resident who has the true welfare of the Colony at heart must be in favour of that cause, and it would indeed be a benighted Government that refused to do all in its power to advance it. But the sanitary improvement of the Colony in the future is not likely to be secured by misrepre- senting its sanitary history in the past.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary.

W. CHATHAM, M.I.C.E.,

Acting Director of Public Works and President of the Sanitary Board.

F. H. MAY,

Captain Superintendent of Police and Vice-President of the Sanitary Board,

HONGKONG, 18th July, 1901.

Enclosure A.

LIST OF MR. CHADWICK'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN REPORT OF 1882.

1. Increased Water Supply.

2. Drainage, including Flushing, &c.

3. Re-drainage of Houses.

4. Increased Market Accommodation.

5. Public Latrines.

6. Acquisition by Government of all Public Latrines (privately-owned).

7. Construction of Roads and Drains prior to Sale of Building Lots.

8. Continuous Back Alleys and removal of obstructions from alleys and lanes.

9. Public Bath Houses.

IO. Formation of a Fund to carry out large Sanitary Schemes.

11. Provision of 400 Cubic Feet per head, when room is open, and 600 Cubic Feet when divided

into cubicles.

12. Window Space for Habitable Rooms to be at least one-tenth of floor area.

13. Earthen Floors to be prohibited.

14. Building of some Model Dwellings.

Enclosure B.

[See Enclosure No. 1, page 42.]

Enclosure C.

[See Enclosure No 2, paye 46.]

Enclosure D.

Year.

Gross

Gross Revenue. Expenditure.

Gross Expenditure on P. W. Ex.

Expenditure

for Loan Account.

1883,

1884,

$ 1,289,448.29 1,342,299.24 1,173,071.48 1,595,399.39

180,052.10

337,298.98

1885,

1,251,889.70

1,621,250.39

475,147.24

1886,

1,367,977.74

2,020,861.65

825,624.84

1887,

1,427,485.79 2,023,002.06

744,820.38

1888,

1,557,300.03 1,992,329.67

530,870.03

1889,

1,823,549.13 1.833.718.79

374,551.63

1890,

1,995,220.47 1,915,350.47

397,507.42

1891,

2,025,302.51 2,449,086.26

581,013.00

1892,

1893,

1894,

1895,

1896,

2,236,933.37 2,342,837.26 2,078,135.26 2,278,528.25 2,299,096.00 2,486,228.89 2,972,373.01 2,609,878.94 2,474,910.37

460,362.77

223,983.32

1,920,523.56

355,591.84

338.762.85

249,313.37

236,810.02

1,024,812.92

183,186.27

300,130.30

230,619.32

1897,

2,686,914.70 2,641,409.71

449,422.27

321,705.89

1898,

2,918,159.24 2,841,805.20

370,226.90

135,845.85

1899, 1900,

3,610,143.25 3,162,792.36

252,900.86

121,240.10

4,202,587.40 3,628,447.13

473,205.89

Grand Totals,......$ 39,018,754.44

41,077,491.52

8,382,852.74

1,792,153.62

It is not possible to give particulars of the First Loan amounting to £201,479.1.9 which was raised to meet Expenditure on account of Fortifications, Water-works and other Public Works as the amount expended on Public Works Extraordinary was given as a total sum and not divided into works chargeable and works not chargeable against the loan.

C. McI. MESSER, Acting Colonial Treasurer.

Enclosure E.

;

METHOD OF DEALING WITH OUTBREAKS OF BUBONIC

FEVER (PLAGUE).

1. Notification.-All cases of infectious disease should be reported at once to the nearest Police Station or to the Sanitary Board (Telephone No. 257), or to the Medical Officer of Health (Telepone No. 120). This is compulsory on "all persons knowing or having reason to believe that any person has been attacked by or is suffering from" Bubonic Plague, Cholera or Small-pox (Bye-law 17, Ordinance 15 of 1894); but it is universally evaded by the Chinese and even by the Chinese "Doctors." The penalty for its evasion is $25.

2. Detection of the Sick.--In the absence of notification this can only be effected by means of house-to-house visits. The Sanitary Board has power to institute such house-to-house visits in any district in which the disease may prevail and must define the limits of such district (Bye-law 25, Ordinance 15 of 1894).

3. Removal of the Sick.-Ambulances for the removal of the sick are kept at the various Police Stations, at the Canton Wharf, and at the Board's matsheds at Praya East, Taipingshan, Yaumati and Hunghom, and sick persons are removed in these ambulances to the Tung Wah Hospital on application to the Sanitary Board, the Medical Officer of Health, or the Police, and are there examined by a Chinese Doctor trained in Western medicine and are either drafted at once by him to the Plague Hospital or detained under observation in case of doubt. In making any such application care should be taken to state distinctly whether the patient is alive or dead, for in the case of dead bodies, a dead-box is forwarded for the removal. The ambulance is attended by a Chinese constable who conveys the details concerning the case to the Hospital Authorities.

Heavy wooden boxes, with rubber washers fitted to the lids are used for the removal of dead bodies to the Government Mortuary; these are kept at the various Police Stations and at the Board's matsheds, and information concerning the death is forwarded on a card attached to the body.

4. Treatment of the Sick.-This is entirely in the hands of the Medical Department. The Government Hospital at Kennedy Town is supplemented by a series of Matsbed Hospitals, also at Kennedy Town, which are managed by the authorities of the Tung Wah Hospital but are under the supervision of the Medical Department.

5. Disinfection of infected Premises.-This is carried out by a European officer assisted by eight coloured foremen, a Chinese foreman and a varying number of coolies. As soon as it is known that a case of the disease has occurred at any house, a Chinese constable is sent from the nearest Police Station to detain all persons found therein (Bye-law 22, Ordinance 15 of 1894), and the officer in charge of the disinfection proceeds to the house to ascertain how many persons are detained there. He then procures, either from the matshed at Praya East or from the Disinfect- ing Station, as many suits of Government clothing as are needed for the persons so detained, and having thus provided these persons with clothing he removes their own clothing, bedding, curtains, and carpets, to the Steam Disinfecting Station, the clothing being tied up in sheets dipped in a solution of Jeyes' fluid and conveyed through the streets in baskets; persons who are able to obtain new or clean clothing from some uninfected premises are however not detained after they have discarded their infected clothing and handed it to the Inspector for disinfection. New goods, silk clothing which has not been recently worn, furs aud leather goods are not removed to the Steam Disinfector, but must as a general rule remain on the premises until they have been fumigated. When the clothing, etc. is returned (in the course of some two hours) from the Disinfecting Station, the persons who have been detained are required to put on their own clothing and must then leave the premises for some 5 or 6 hours while it is disinfected and cleansed. The Government clothing is returned to the Disinfecting Station to be steamed before it is again used. The people so displaced from their homes are at liberty to make use of the Board's matshed shelters until the processes of disinfection of the premises are complete.

The disinfection of the premises consists in the spraying of the walls with a solution of perchloride of mercury (1 in 1,000) or fumigation with free chlorine obtained by the addition of diluted sulphuric acid to chlorinated lime (1 quart of a 1 in 8 solution of the acid to each lb. of

the chlorinated lime). Floors and furniture are then scrubbed with solution of Jeyes' fluid and the walls are then lime-washed, chlorinated lime being added to the lime-wash in the proportion of lb. to the gallon.

6. Burial of the Dead.—This is carried out under the superintendence of one of the Board's Officers, all bodies being buried at the Kennedytown Plague Cemetery, unless a special permit has been granted for burial elsewhere.

7. General Sanitary Precautions.-Chlorinated lime is supplied to all the public latrines for use in the buckets, and the officers of the Board are instructed to see that it is freely used.

A reward of 2 cents per head has been offered since January 16th for every rat brought to an officer of the Board, and some 25,000 rats have by this means been collected and destroyed.

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

SIR,

HONGKONG, June, 1900.

Medical Officer of Health.

Enclosure F.

SANITARY BOARD OFFICES,

HONGKONG, 21st July, 1899.

I have the honour to submit the following report for the information of the Select Committee of of the Sanitary Board, appointed to consider the question of the adequacy of the present Staff.

The City of Victoria is divided into ten Health Districts, the smallest of which has a built-over arca of 23 acres and the largest of 531 acres; Kowloon Peninsula is similarly divided into two

Health Districts.

The average population of each of the City Health Districts is 16,425 and the average number of domestic buildings is 768 or about 2,000 floors to each district, each floor being a separate dwell- ing for one or more families.

Each Health District is in charge of an Inspector of Nuisances whose duties comprise the su- pervision of the scavenging and conservancy of that district; the scavenging work is performed by coolies, who are supplied with Dust Carts and baskets, and who work under the supervision of a Fortuguese, or Indian Foreman in each of the City Health Districts. Each District Inspector is re- quired to be about his District between the hours 5.30 a.m. to 8.00 a.m. in the summer and 6.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. in the winter, to see that the scavenging work is properly carried out.

During the forenoon the District Inspectors are required to visit the Bakeries, Lodging Houses, Opium Divaus, Offensive business premises, Laundries, Cattlesheds, Latrines and Urinals in their District and during the afternoon a systematic inspection has to be made of the District, in such a manner that evey floor of every house in the District is visited at least once in every two months. It is as much as the District Inspectors can manage to get this house-to-house visitation work into the two months' limit and they are required to send in a daily report showing the houses so visited by them and a record of all the nuisances and illegal structures observed in those buildings.

There are five first class Inspectors of Nuisances in the City of Victoria each of whom has the supervision of two Health Districts, and the daily reports of the District Inspectors which contain mention of nuisances or of illegal structures, are referred to them to deal with the nuisances and see that they are at once abated. The First Class Inspectors also have to supervise the six-monthly cleansing and limewashing of all tenement houses, the investigation of all uncertified deaths, the supervision of the Chinese and non-Chinese cemeteries, the supervision of the Rubbish Depôt at Tsun Wan Bay, the supervision of the Peak Sanitary District, and the institution of all prosecutions.

The duties of the Chief Inspector of Nuisances will be mainly supervisory and I have already arranged that he should accompany the various District Inspectors on their rounds of house-to-house

visitation.

I beg now to direct the attention of the Committee to the following matters which in my opinion cannot be adequately dealt with by the present Staff and which, it may well be argued, are entitled to receive more attention in the future than it has been possible to give them in the past.

I. Overcrowding.-The abatement of overcrowding necessarily involves night-visits, ¿e., domi- ciliary visits between the hours of 11.00 p.m. 5.00 a.m. (Vide S. 9 of Ord. 15*of 1894) and this work is at present done by one of the First Class Inspectors, but in order to be effective and to have any appreciable result, such visits should be made every night, and this can hardly be done by an Inspector who has in addition the supervision of two Health Districts, of several cemeteries and of the limewashing of tenement dwellings. Night visits frequently involve prosecution and I have found it most convenient therefore to place both these matters in the hands of the same man, with also the service of all Sanitary Board Notices as evidence of such service is required when prosecut- ing, and I consider that at least two additional Inspectors could well devote the whole of their time to night visitations and prosecutions and that their services are necessary if any systematic attempt is to be made to deal with the question of overcrowding.

Adulteration of Food and Drugs.

2. Early in 1896, the Government, at the instigation of the Sanitary Board, passed an Ordi- nance dealing with the question of the Adulteration of Food and Drugs, but this Ordinance has practically remained a dead letter since it was passed, owing to the absence of any Staff to administer it. During 1898 only 35 samples were analysed in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance, and of these no less than 27 were specimens of wines and spirits mostly forwarded by the Police; nine of these specimens were found to be adulterated, while of six samples of milk submitted during the year no less than 4 were found adulterated and in view of the many cases of Typhoid Fever which are traceable to the adulterated milk, I consider that it behoves the Sanitary Board to recom- mend the appointment of one Inspector who shall devote the whole of his time to the administration of this Ordinance, with a view to the protection of the Community from such diseases as arise from adulterated or decomposed food.

House Drainage.

3. During the past two or three years great progress has been made with the re-drainage of the domestic buildings of the Colony in accordance with the scheme of separate drainage inaugurated by Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Cooper and as a natural consequence in dealing with Chinese who have Eo practical knowledge of under-ground drains and traps, the number of choked drains and broken traps on private premises which are reported daily is becoming very large indeed and I think that the time has now arrived for the Board to recommend the appointment of one or more Inspectors to devote the whole of their time to the abatement of drainage nuisances.

There is little doubt that at no very distant date at least three such Inspectors will be required, but it is possible that at first two would suffice although I must point out that this is a class of work which is most important to the preservation of health and that we are as yet by no means sure that Bubonic Plague does not bear an intimate relationship to a sewage contaminated soil.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

The Secretary,

SANITARY BOARD.

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

Medical Officer of Health.

HONGKONG.

741

No. 40

TELEGRAMS REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF SANITARY EXPERTS.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

TRANSCRIPTION

of a Telegram from the Secretary of State to His Excellency the Governor, dated 31st August, 1901.

1901

"After full consideration of your despatch of 5th July, experts strongly recommend Professor Simpson who has superintended Plague measures Cape Colony as best man for inquiry Hongkong, but he cannot reach Hongkong till about the end of year. If you concur propose to accept his

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES."

services.

TRANSCRIPTION

of a Telegram from the Governor to the Secretary of State, dated 5th September, 1901.

"I have considered your Telegram of 31st August in Executive Council. I concur with Council that immediate examination by Sanitary Engineer and report on general system of drainage and improvements is of paramount importance. Council does not consider employment of Professor Simpson would be satisfactory as he is not Sanitary Engineer.

BLAKE."

TRANSCRIPTION

of a Telegram from the Secretary of State to His Excellency the Governor, dated 5th September, 1901.

"Referring to your Telegram of 5th September if Sanitary Engineer sent as soon as possible will Colonial Government agree to additional expense of Simpson.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES."

TRANSCRIPTION

of a Telegram from the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 10th September, 1901. Referring to your Telegram of 5th September, yes. Telegraph estimated cost of both officers.

No. 360.

SIR,

(From the Governor of Hongkong to the Secretary of State.)

BLAKE."

GOVERNMENT House, HONGKONG, 11th September, 1901.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegrams of the 31st ultimo and the 5th instant, and in continuation of my telegraphic reply of the 10th instant, I have to inform you that the Executive Council, which I summoned in order to consider your second telegram, expressed a strong opinion that Professor Simpson should if possible remain in this Colony for five or six months to assist in the study of the Plague problem during the period of its now annual recurrence.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor &c.

TRANSCRIPTION

of a Telegram from the Secretary of State to His Excellency the Governor, dated 19th September, 1901.

"Governor, Hongkong, your Telegram of 10th September Chadwick could start not earlier than December. Terms £150 per month inclusive for say 6 months. Do you agree? Simpson's terms prohibitive. Further enquiry being made.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.'

HONGKONG. No. 341.

SIR,

801

No. 46

1901

HONGKONG.

CONTINUATION OF CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF SANITARY EXPERTS.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Secretary of State to Governor.

DOWNING STREET,

9th October, 1901.

Mr. Chadwick, 13th

September, 1901.

To C. A., 30th September, 1901.

In continuation of my despatch No. 303 of the 13th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you copies of correspondence, noted in the margin, on the subject of the visit of Mr. CHADWICK to Hongkong to report on the sanitary condition of the Colony.

2. On receipt from the Crown Agents of Mr. CHADWICK'S letter of the 13th ultimo, I telegraphed to you stating the terms on which he was willing to under- take this duty and asking you whether you agreed to them. I also informed you that Professor SIMPSON's terms were prohibitive, but that further enquiry was being made. Professor SIMPSON, in answer to an enquiry as to his terms, tele- graphed as follows from the Cape :-

:-"My terms for visiting Hongkong would be "£350 per month and travelling expenses: visit would probably necessitate absence "from England of between 5 and 6 months."

3. On the 28th ultimo, I received your telegram stating that you agreed to Mr. CHADWICK's terms and I accordingly, in the letter, a copy of which is enclosed, desired the Crown Agents to inform him that his terms were accepted and to ask him to leave for the Colony at an early date.

4. In view of the expense which would probably be entailed I propose to take no further action at present in regard to sending out a medical expert on plague.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

Sir H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&C.,

&c.,

&c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

Telegram from Secretary of State to Governor.

4th November.

Referring to my telegram 19th September misunderstanding as to SIMPSON's terms he has accepted 250 per month with travelling expenses. Will start end of this month.

}

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

SUBJECT:

H. K. V. CORPS.

From the General Officer Commanding in China and Hongkong

to His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong.

&c.,

&c.

381

No. 1901

HEAD QUARTERS,

HONGKONG, 2nd May, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to forward the Commandant's Report on the training of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps for the past year.

I am glad to see that the numerical strength of the Corps has attained the highly creditable total of 366 of all ranks; a strength that I hope may be maintained, but, I think, need not be increased.

"E", the Engineer Company, has done specially useful work in assisting the Royal Engineers in working the Electric Light Installations. Major MOULD, R.E., speaks very highly of the attain- ments of some of the men, but of others he says they have put in very few attendances and require more training. As very highly trained men are required for these duties, I hope that the company will make a point of maintaining a superior standard of efficiency in this branch of technical military training.

In para. 33 the Commandant states that no Rifle Range was at the disposal of the Corps. No application for a range was made, and I may say that, if made, a range would have been allotted to him, for I hold that volunteers should be proficients in rifle shooting.

Para. 35.-A Revolver Range is situated near the Racquet Court, and could very easily have been made available if an application had been made for it.

Para. 44.—I hope that next autumnn Stonecutters' may be at the service of the Corps for its Annual Camp of Instruction.

At the parade for my Annual Inspection, I am glad to say that the numbers attending were good, an increase over that of last year, although I had again to call attention to the fact that there were too many "Absent without leave." I understand that the majority of these absentees had left the Colony, either permanently or for a few months. In either case leave should have been applied

for.

The parade itself was good. The men were steady in the ranks; the arms clean; the clothing of uniform pattern; and the movements executed showed a marked improvement over the two previous occasions when I have inspected this Corps. I am satisfied that the Corps has taken itself seriously and is anxious to show that it is a reliable factor in the defence of the Colony.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

W. J. GASCOigne,

Major General,

Commanding in China and Hongkong.

382

HONGKONG-REPORT OF THE HONGKONG

VOLUNTEER CORPS,

TRAINING, 1900-1901.

From the Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (A) and Chief Staff Officer, China.

50 - 10

Do.

1 Nominal Roll of Efficients, Field Battery. "A" Machine

Do.

1789

"C"

Do.

VOLUNTEER HEAD QUARTERS,

VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 24th April, 1901.

SIR, I have the honour to forward herewith the documents Gun Company. mentioned in the margin relating to the training, etc., of the Hong- kong Volunteer Corps for the season 1900-1901 for the information of His Excellency the Major-General Commanding and for favour of transmission to His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in- Chief.

Do.

"D" Infantry

Company. "E" Engineer

Company.

Band.

8 Report on Gun Practice, Field Battery.

"A" "B" and “C”

Do.

10 Copy of Inspection State.

Machine Gun Companies.

11 State of Corps, 31st March, 1901.

2. It will be seen from enclosure No. 11, with the correspond- ing document for the training season 1899-1900, that the total strength of the Corps is now 366 of all ranks as against 311 of all ranks at the former date.

3. During the past season, 2 members have died, 56 members have resigned-30 in the Colony and 26 on leaving the Colony-3 have been discharged on medical certificate, 7 struck off as absent from the Colony without leave, and 1 rejoined the Colours.

4. One hundred and twenty-four new members have been enrolled.

5. The unusually large number of resignations marks to some extent the decline of interest brought about in those who had no real love for soldiering by the abatement of the war fever. I trust that we have now reached the end of resignations on this head.

6. The Staff, Field Battery, "A," "B," and "C" Machine Gun Companies, "D" Infantry Com- pany, "E" Engineer Company, and the Band now number 8, 95, 71, 42, 53, 57, 31, and 9 respec- tively, as compared with establishments of 7, 110, 41, 41, 41, 57, 30, and 24 respectively.

EQUIPMENT.

7. Six 0.45" Maxim Guns have been returned to the Ordnance Department and six .303" Maxims have been received to replace them, making a total of twelve .303" Maxim Guns in the possession of the three Machine Gun Companies.

8. Twenty-four service-pattern Webley Revolvers have been received for the use of the Staff and Officers of the Corps to complete establishment.

9. The equipment required and ordered as shown in paragraph 10 of last year's Report has been received.

APPOINTMENT, ETC., OF OFFICERS.

10. The changes, etc., among the Officers of the Corps during the season have been as under :-

Staff.

11. Major A. CHAPMAN, Second in Command and Officer Commanding Field Battery, was granted leave out of the Colony for 12 months from 26th July, 1900, to 25th July, 1901.

12. Captain W. ST. C. BLAND, Royal Artillery, Adjutant of the Corps, proceeded to North China with the China Expeditionary Force in June, 1900, and on his return in November, 1900, resigned his appointment.

13. Lieutenant A. H. STEWART, "C" Machine Gun Company, performed the duties of Acting Adjutant from the 16th June, 1900, to the 31st December, 1900, including the period when the Corps was undergoing training in Camp.

14. Captain C. G. PRITCHARD, Royal Artillery, took over the duties of Adjutant of the Corps from the 1st January, 1901.

15. Surgeon Captain J. A. Lowson was granted leave of absence during the year, on account of ill health.

383

16. Sergeant Major G. W. WATLING died on the 11th July, 1900.

17. Sergeant Major J. POWER, from 25 Company Eastern Division, Royal Garrison Artillery, took over the duties of Corps Sergeant Major from the 1st September, 1900.

Field Battery.

18. Captain D. MACDONALD was granted leave out of the Colony for 12 months from 31st March, 1900, to 30th March, 1901. He returned, however, and resumed his duties on the 24th November, 1900.

19. Lieutenant M. W. SLADE was promoted Supernumerary Captain, dated 31st July, 1900.

20. Lieutenant W. MACHELL resigned his commission on his leaving the Colony, dated 30th July, 1900.

21. J. Mossor, Esq., was appointed Lieutenant, dated 30th July, 1900.

22. Captain M. W. SLADE was granted leave out of the Colony for seven months from 20th March, 1901, to 19th October, 1901.

"A" Machine Gun Company.

23. Lieutenant F. MAITLAND resigned his commission with a view to joining the Reserve, dated 15th September, 1900.

24. Company Sergeant Major F. SMYTH was appointed Lieutenant, vice Maitland resigned, dated 28th September, 1900.

"B" Machine Gun Company.

25. Lieutenant J. H. AITKEN was granted leave out of the Colony for 12 months from 31st January, 1901, to 30th January, 1902.

"C" Machine Gun Company.

26. Captain G. H. POTTS was granted leave out of the Colony to serve with the North China Expeditionary Force from 13th June, 1900, to 12th March, 1901.

27. Lieutenant G. L. DUNCAN was granted leave out of the Colony for 12 months from 16th May, 1900, to 15th May, 1901.

28. Lieutenant A. H. STEWART was granted leave out of the Colony for six months from 15th March, 1901, to 14th September, 1901.

"D" Infantry Company.

29. A. R. GRIEVE, Esq., was appointed Lieutenant, dated 31st May, 1900.

"E" Engineer Company.

30. Lieutenant R. MITCHELL was granted leave out of the Colony for 12 months from 1st March, 1901, to 28th February, 1902.

31. Sergeant J. W. GRAHAM was appointed Lieutenant, dated 25th February, 1901.

DISCIPLINE, TRAINING, ETC.

32. The discipline of the Corps has been exceedingly good throughout the season.

33. The usual squad, carbine, rifle, company, and gun drills and practices have been performed and have been well attended. Musketry drills have been performed, but no musketry practices have been carried out in consequence of no Rifle Range being at the disposal of the Corps. Several rifle and carbine competitions have, however, been held by the several Units during the season on the Association Range at Kowloon, with good success.

34. Gun practices have taken place, both over land and sea ranges, as shown in Enclosures Nos. 8 and 9.

35. Revolver practice has not been carried out in consequence of no range being available. 36. The new Rifle Range for the Corps and the Police Force, situated on the hills above Causeway Bay, was reported as ready for use in November, 1900. On inspection, however, several defects were discovered in it and consequently it was not taken over. These defects are now being made good, and it is hoped that in a few weeks' time the Range will be ready for use.

384

37. Under the head of Drills the figures are as follows:-

FIELD BATTERY.

"B"

"C" M.G.Cos.

Have become efficient with more than 30 drills, .........61 Have become efficient with less than 30 drills, Are non-efficient,

.17

.13

Total,

.91

"D" INFY. Co.

"E" ENG. Co. BAND.

Have become efficient with more than 30 drills, Have become efficient with less than 30 drills,. Are non-efficient,....

....38 ..........10

Total,

.54

29*

38. Of the 63 non-efficients, 6 are absent from the Colony on leave, 7 are absent from the Colony without leave, 9 have not had time to complete the necessary drills, and 41 have not completed the requisite number of drills, and will be called upon to show cause why they failed to become efficient. Many of these are out of the Colony, but have failed to notify their departure to Headquarters and will now be struck off the strength accordingly.

CAMP OF INSTRUCTION.

39. From the 22nd to the 29th October, 1900, a Camp of Instruction was held under canvas at Kowloon.

40. The Corps was much indebted to the Honourable C. P. CHATER, C.M.G., and Mr. J. H. Cox, for their generous kindness in allowing the Corps to have the use of the site.

41. The use of the Rifle Association Range was kindly placed at the disposal of the Corps during the holding of the Camp.

42. The Camp was fairly well attended and much practical work was performed, including batta- lion, company, carbine, and rifle drill, extended order practice, outpost duties, musketry instruction, fire discipline, gun drill, belt filling, and lectures and instruction in gun-laying and fuze-horing. Gun practice took place over sea and land ranges.

43. The General Officer Commanding inspected the Corps on parade on the 28th October, 1900. On that occasion there were present 224 of all ranks.

44. While there can be no doubt that the holding of the Camp conduced materially to the effi- ciency of the Corps, I am yet of opinion that in several respects Kowloon did not prove so good a site for it as Stonecutters' Island.

SERVICES.

45. Captain C. G. PRITCHARD, Royal Artillery, before assuming his duties as Adjutant had acted as Special Instructor in Gunnery while the Corps was in Camp. In both capacities he has shown the greatest interest in and devotion to his work, has proved himself a most zealous and efficient instructor, and has succeeded in winning in a very high degree the confidence, respect, and liking of all ranks of the Corps.

46. During the absence of Major A. CHAPMAN, Captain E. D. SANDERS, Honorary Aide-de-Camp, Officer Commanding "A" Machine Gun Company, has readily afforded me much valuable assistance as the next Senior Officer of the Corps.

47. I am glad to be able to speak in very high terms of Lieutenant A. H. STEWART's services as Acting Adjutant. He devoted much time and attention to his duties and performed them in a very satisfactory manner.

48. The other Officers of the Corps have, with perhaps one or two exceptions, maintained the high standard of interest and efficiency to which I have referred in previous reports. They have set an excellent example in every way to the Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Corps, and their good feeling for one another and for those under their command and their esprit de corps are alike worthy of most favourable remark.

49. I have already on more than one occasion expressed my deep sense of the faithful and effi- cient service which Sergeant Major G. W. WATLING, during a period of several years, rendered to the Corps. It may be added that the regret felt in the Corps at his untimely death was both general and sincere.

335

50. Sergeant Major J. POWER came to the Corps with a very high reputation and he has entirely sustained it. He has shown great zeal and capacity in Camp, on the field, and in the Orderly Room. I consider that the Corps was most fortunate in securing his services in the important post of Sergeant Major.

51. The Instructors of the Corps have performed their responsible duties in an efficient manner and to the satisfaction of the Commandant and the Adjutant.

52. The Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Corps have for the most part shown much interest in the performance of their duties and have endeavoured to make themselves proficient and efficient. The percentage of non-efficients is higher than one likes to see it, but it is only fair to recognize that there are many causes at work which conduce to this result. There is a great deal more steadiness on parade and attention at drills than there used to be a few years ago.

REGULATIONS.

53. A draft of new Regulations for the Corps was made and printed some months ago. The draft has been submitted to the Officers of the Corps and also to the Committee of the proposed Rifle Club, the majority of whose members expressed a willingness to form a Veteran Company of the Corps. The suggestions made by the Officers and the Committee have been for the most part embodied in the draft, which is now ready for submission to the Military Authorities and the Government. But it is held over for the present until some questions which have been raised with reference to the re-armament and re-organization of the Corps are settled.

54. When these questions are settled, it is hoped that the result will be that the Corps will be armed with more modern and powerful weapons than those which it now possesses, and further that it will become a still more valuable and efficient factor in the defence of the Colony.

MISCELLANEOUS.

55. The annual inspection of the Corps by His Excellency the General Officer Commanding was held on the 23rd ultimo. It will be seen from the parade state (Enclosure No. 10) that there was a considerably larger number of members present than at any previous inspection.

56. During the year the question of a New Headquarters was under consideration, and it was decided by a large majority of members that the new building and parade ground should be on a site in the Happy Valley. Plans have been settled and a vote has been taken for the purpose, but I regret to say the work has not yet been begun. It is much to be hoped that so important an undertaking will be commenced without further delay.

57. During the year His Excellency the Governor, who is Honorary Colonel of the Corps, gene- rously presented to the Corps a handsome silver and bronze Challenge Shield to be competed for by musketry by the several Units of the Corps. The first competition for it will take place at a Prize Meeting which it is proposed to hold by way of inaugurating the new Rifle Range when it is com- pleted. No effort will be spared to make up a good Prize List for the occasion, and I confidently trust that the friends of the Corps will assist us to this end.

58. The silver Challenge Shield which His Excellency the General Officer Commanding was kind enough to present some time ago to the Corps, to be competed for by the Machine Gun Companies, was won by "C" Company at a competition which took place on the 19th February, 1901-Chinese New Year's Day-at Repulse Bay. It was handed by His Excellency to the winners at the conclusion of the annual inspection.

59. In the early months of the present year an Ambulance Class was conducted by Surgeon Captain F. O. STEDMAN, M.D. The original number of the class was 27, of whom 24 were Volunteers. Of these, 12 presented themselves for the examination for the certificate of the St. John Ambulance Association, all of them being Volunteers. Of this number again, 10 were successful in the examina- tion. The examination was held by Major S. F. CLARKE, R.A.M.C.

60. Requisitions for the capitation and proficiency grants have been sent direct to the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer.

61. I have to request that the Chief Ordnance Officer, China, may be asked to keep up a supply of 2.5" R.M.L. Gun and .303′′ Cordite Small Arm Ammunition for the use of the Corps, to be indented for as required on re-payment.

62. It will, I think, be seen that the record of the year shows distinct progress in the general well-being and efficiency of the Corps. It is a pleasing duty for me again to make acknowledgment of the liberal recognition and assistance which the Corps receives from the Government and the Legis- lature. Nor would it be right to omit an expression of our grateful thanks to His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, the Headquarter Staff, and the Military Authorities generally for the

386

friendly help and encouragement which the Corps always receives at their hands. I trust the Corps will continue to show itself worthy of this course of conduct, and that in the coming season the whole of its members will strive earnestly after a still higher standard of efficiency.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel,

Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Enclosure No. 1.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

FIELD BATTERY.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

STAFF.

473 Gunner

Bain, F. D.

254

P Surgeon-Captain Stedman, F. O.

P Lieutenant-Colonel Carrington, Sir J. W.,

Commandant.

P Captain Pritchard, C. G.; R.G.A.

Adjutant and Quarter-Master.

P Surgeon-Lieutenant Swan, J. H.

P Sergeant-Major Power, J.,

Corps Sergeant-Major.

P Lance Corporal Mortimer, J., R.W.F.,

Orderly Room Clerk.

198

435

Barker, J. E. Brett, L. E.

Baldwin, D.

286

Craig, R. H.

300

Chunnett, F. G.

297

Chunnett, A. E.

562

Claridge, F. H.

243

Dean, J. T.

462

551

Duncan, R.

Duncan, G.

578

Drury, J.

P Captain Macdonald, D.

P Lieutenant Armstrong, J. H. W.

Mossop, J.

24P By.-Sergeant-Major Kennett, H. W.

213 P By.-Quarter-Master Sergeant Cotton, J. T.

34 P Sergeant Purcell, W. H.

Total of Staff (6).

FIELD BATTERY.

Slade, M. W.

238

Donaldson, T. D.

Ellis, O. J.

394

Earby, E. A.

267

467

272

398

577

༥ས་

275

269

321

127 P

4 P

Meek, T.

304

Ellis, D. E.

Fisher, F.

Herbst, C. E. Hawkes, F.

Horton, E. R. Howarth, H. C. Humphreys, A. Hunter, T.

Kenuett, H. S.

Bamsey, W. F.

251

Kennedy, D. F.

107 P

Rutter, R. V.

484

Leykum, C.

Stopani, W. A.

470

106 P

Stewart, W.

278

132

Acting-Sergeant Bridger, H. B.

283

150

Corporal Henderson, R.

369

ง

149

Hance, C. E. A.

240

204

Nobbs, A. P.

210

101

Gow, D.

318

་

105

White, G.

306

159

Lammert, H. A.

568

Bombardier

Craddock, H. E.

580

455

Grey, B. W.

301

187

Uphill, A.

570

186

Hance, J. H. R.

429

100

Deas, W. N.

440

557

Trumpeter Baird, H.O.

317

264

Moore, S. G.

192

396

Gunner Alves, A. E.

256

596

Andrews, T.

565

564

Asger, M. E.

276

Lauriero, A. Lapsley, R.

Logan, J. C.

McKinlay, J. McIver, M. Mackie, A. J.

Millar, J. Olson, J.

Pattenden, W. L.

Pestonji, R.

Pidgeon, J. H.

Rostron, E. Rattey, W. J. Sutton, H. Spittles, B. J.

Seth, S. A.

Seth, H. A.

Squair, A. C.

Taylor, W. C.

305

Abraham, E.

201

Thomson, W. M.

397

Alves, A. A.

547

Witchell, J. H.

315

Baker, F. H. R.

460

478

Bain, H. M.

236

Williams, G. F. Watson, W.

"P" against name denotes Proficient.

Total-82 Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Enclosure No. 2.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

"A" MACHINE GUN COMPANY.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name,

P Captain Sanders, E. D., A.D.C.

P Lieutenant Fullerton, G. C.

539

Gunner Hayes, J.

549

Smyth, F.

457

122 P Company Sergeant-Major Lammert, G. P. 230 P Sergeant Northcote, M. S.

522

294

173 P

Nicholson, W.

367

237 P 137 P

Barrett, E. G.

449

Bowley, F. B. L.

560

Love, A. R.

170

Corporal Plummer, J. A. T.

476

227

King, W.

553

281

Wodehouse, P. P. G.

523

وو

244

Bombardier Danby, J. D.

233

461

Gunner Black, W. M.

459

Hanson, B. E. Jenkins, S. L.

Johnston, B. C. M. Keenan, J.

Libeaud, E.

Leggatt, E. A.

Maligny, C. E. Piercy, R. S.

Rutherford, N. H. Smith, E. I. G. Smith, F. R.

309

Brown, W. S.

550

Smith, E. G.

528

Bonner, J. W.

162

537

319

373

Blason, C. H.

Cox, P. A. Drew, W. C.

526

372

524

486

Danby, C. G.

530

235

Ellis, A.

533

323

Emmett, E. C.

228

521

Edwards, R. C.

299

310

Forbes, A.

296

289

Holmes, H. S.

245

139

Holmes, H. K.

483

139

Hooper, J.

534

262

Hursthouse, H.

542

535

Harley, W. F.

552

541

Hughes, J. O.

563

"P" against name denotes Proficient.

Stevens, G. R.

Sherrington, C. W. Somerville, A. G. J.

Sargeant, E. A.

Sims, W. A.

Thomson, O. D.

Touzaline, A. R.

Tarrant, J. A.

Woodgates, J. A.

Wild, T. J.

Wilcox, H. C.

Ardron, G. H.

Total-58 Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Stevens, S. S.

Watson, M.

Wolfe, E. D.

Enclosure No. 3.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

"B" MACHINE GUN COMPANY.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

Aitken, J. H.

332

P Captain Ordish, O.

P Lieutenant Sayer, G. J. B.

339 P Company Sergeant-Major Hooper, W. F.

Sergeant Marshall, J.

153

Gunner Brown, A.

341

Benning, C.

257

Burgess, J. R.

427

Cameron, D. A.

585

200 P

Hart, W.

586

334 P 344

Vincent, T.

591

Abbass, S.

472

326

Corporal Penning, F.

482

336

Bombardier Brand, W.

347

338.

Raslibrook, G.

432

340

Chapman, E.

350

Cameron, D. A.

Cummiskey, J. Fishlock, F. Hamet, A. H.

King, E. R.

Mahommed, S.

Ormsby, C.

Rahmau, A.

353

West, E. J.

342

Sayer, H. W.

335

Gunner Allen, F. G.

348

592

Adnams, J. W.

584

Sahmet, S. W. Whibley, A. R.

346

Ackber, S.

"P" against name denotes Proficient.

Total-31 Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lient.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

387

388

Enclosure No. 4.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

"C" MACHINE GUN COMPANY.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the year ending 31st March,

1901.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

Stewart, A. H.

412 P

P Captain Potts, G. H.

P Lieut Underwood, J. H.

355 P Company Sergeant-Major Rodger, J.

Sergeant King, G. J. W.

487

359

453

463

559

357 P

Smillie, D.

556

166 P 409 P

Bevan, H. S.

362

Sherwin, E.

401

364

Corporal Baillie, J. M.

556

438

Terill, W. J.

575

414

Rumford, H.

465

361

Gloyn, J. W.

360

יי

363

Bombardier Adams, R.

405

436

Gubbay, J. S.

538

Mills, J.

446

Berkley, H.

411

Potts, J.

447

Shoolbred, II.

490

531

Gunner Brett, C. W.

514

403

Coleman, F. A.

413

474

Cameron, A. M.

489

491

Diss, G. A.

571

464

Ellis, C. E.

492

Guuner Gidley, S.

Galbreath, J. Gegg, G. W. Haskell, E. D. Hasson, W. Hughes, T. E. Lee J.

Livingstone, J. Lambert, J.

Livesay, W. J. Michael, S. J.

McCorquodale, J. Millar, E. R.

Robinson, A. E.

Richards, A.

Rose, L. A.

Reynolds, A. V. Russell, W. H.

Shillington, L.

475

Gidley, H.

Corps Number.

"P" against name denotes Proficient.

Total-43 Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

Enclosure No. 5.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

"D" INFANTRY COMPANY.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the year ending 31st March, 1901.

Rank and Name.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

P Captain Forbes, J. McG.

Lieutenant Skinner, T.

Grieve, A. R.

384 p Colour Sergeant Mackenzie, D. J.

543

513

529

380

495

Sergeant Blake, J.

385

379

Corporal Logan, J. D.

297

386

Ritchie, A.

505

496

504

485

Buckland, G. A.

Private Andrews, J. I.

506

Lochead, J.

507

508

581

Auld, J. D.

518

493

Bowley, C. A.

532

593

Burke, E. G.

387

Ross, J.

376

Clarke, D.

395

497

Dickie, J.

509

498

Dickson, R.

466

377

Everall, W. M.

421

400

Ewing, A.

510

Private Kynoch, G. W.

Langley, P.

Letton, C. T.

Mackenzie, A.

Mather, H. L.

McPherson, W. C.

McNeill, D.

McLaughlin, J.

McKirdy, A. McKay, T. Petrie, T.

Reidie, J.

Ramsey, J. A. Steinton, F.

Sibbit, J. J.

Shuster, F. E.

May, G. H.

499

Ferguson, R. W.

544

Simmons, A. W.

488

500

554

443

501

502

༦༦༦༦༦

Gillings, P. J.

390

Woollens, J. J.

Grimshaw, T.

280

Wynne, H. S.

503

Graham, D. M.

Harley, H. Harron, H. L. Hardwick, W.

Harvie, J. N.

468

Watson, A.

511

Wright, J. S.

512

White, F. W.

555

Witchell, R. C.

"P" against name denotes Proficient.

Total-51 Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Corps Number.

Enclosure No. 6.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

"E" ENGINEER COMPANY.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Bank and Name.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

P Lieutenant Mitchell, R.

540

Sapper Gray, J.

PSergeant Graham, J. W.

302

Hubbard, A.

418

Corporal Warwick, T.

425

Lindberg, A.

424

Second Corporal Gordon, E. B.

223

Lysaught, J.

469

Collins, R. A.

520

McGlashan, J.

574

Sapper Aitken, R. R.

442

Pullen, A. A.

519

Carpenter, E. W.

572

وو

Pullen, D. H.

516

Compton, J.

517

Shaw, H. L.

573

Crane, C. G.

546

Varcoe, J. H.

576

Dadson, II.

426

Wholters, C.

481

Edwards, L. A. M.

Corps Number.

389

"P" against name denotes Proficient.

Total-21 Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Enclosure No. 7.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

BAND.

Nominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Rank and Name.

249 r Sergeant Drummer Baker, J.

Corporal Toppin, J.

155

Warren, C. E.

415

Drummer Caesar, A. A.

Corps Number.

Rank and Name.

433

Drummer Ford, S. S.

277

Benning, T.

252

Lammert, L. E.

451

Simoes, A.

*P" against name denotes Proficient.

Total-8 Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieur.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Enclosure No. 8.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Report on Gun Practice carried out during the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Nature of Practice.

Date on which Practice was

carried out.

Number present on Parade.

Number of

Rounds fired.

Range.

General Idea of Practice,

-390

Practice at Barrel Targets with flags, anchored off Lai-chi-kok.

1,500 to 1,900 Yards. | Practice at Barrel Targets with flags, anchored in Repulse Bay, to represent an imaginary enemy attempting to land in boats.

2.5" R. M. L. Gun,

27th October,

1900.

119

900 to 1,350 Yards.

19th February,

1901.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps,

Nature of Practice.

Date on which Practice was carried out.

Enclosure No. 9.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS

Report on Gun Practice carried out during the Year ending 31st March, 1901.

Unit.

Number

present on

Parade.

Number

Guns.

Number

Rounds fired.

Range.

General Idea of Practice.

0.45" Maxim Gun,

20th June, 1900,

"A" M.G. Company,

20 Yards.

Instructional Practice in "Jams," back of Ord- nance Store.

Do.,

.303′′ and 0.45" Maxim Gun,..

27th June, 1900,

"A"

Do.,

125

12th Sept., 1900,

“A” & “C” M.G. Cos.,

1,000

24th Oct., 1900,

“B” & “C” M.G. Cos.,.

3,301

550 to 700 Yds.

Do.

do.

Do.

Practice at screens on hillside at Yaumati, re- presenting enemy in sections and in column.

Practice at floating targets and anchored barrels with flags at Lai-chi-kok.

900 to 1,300 Yds. Practice at screens on hillside at Repulse Bay. Competitive practice for His Excellency the G. O. C.'s challenge shield.

J, W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Do.,

27th Oct., 1900,

“A

"B" & "C" M.G. Cos.,.]

100

3,030

850 to 1,350 Yds.

.303" Maxim Gun,

19th Feb., 1901,

99 66

"B"

" & "C" M.G. Cos.,.

3,000

391

State of Corps.

Enclosure No. 10.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Inspection State, 23rd March, 1901.

"A"

B "}

Staff.

Company.

Field Battery. Machine Gun Machine Gun Machine Gun

"C"

"D"

"E"

Company.

Infantry

Company.

Engineer Band. Company.

Present on Parade,.

Absent

with leave in Colony,

with leave out of Colony,

on Medical Certificate,

without leave,

Officers.

N.C. Officers.

Total of Corps,..........................

Copies to

Total.

Remarks.

212223

45 .

*292

Officers.

N.C. Officers

and Men.

Officers.

N.C. Officers

and Men,

Officers.

N.C. Officers

and Men.

Officers.

N.C. Officers

and Men.

Officers.

N.C. Officers

and Men.

Officers.

N.C. Officers

and Men.

N.C. Officers and Men.

His Excellency the General Officer Commanding.

(Inspecting Officer), D.A.A.G., (A.), and Chief Staff Officer.

نت

سلم

حت

:..

حت

}

:..

392

6 2.5" R.M.L. Guns.

12 .303 Maxims.

*This total does not include 8 un- enrolled Boy Drummers on pa- rade.

†Of this number 8 are absent out of Colony and 11 unavoidably ab- sent through work.

†40

867

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

(True Copy),

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lient.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

Enclosure No. 11.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

State of Corps, 31st March, 1901.

FIELD BATTERY.

"A "B" & "C" MACHINE GUN

COMPANIES.

"D" INFANTRY

COMPANY.

E " ENGINEER

COMPANY.

BAND,

کیا

351

Present,

Absent

on Leave,

without Leave,

Total...

111 31 1 2

2 1

2:3

3 13

112

❤

119

Commandant.

DISTRIBUTION.

Major, 2nd in Com-

Adjutant.

mand.

Surgeons.

Corps Sergt.-Major.

Orderly Room Clerk.

Captain.

Lieutenants.

By. Sergt.-Major.

By. Qr.-Mr. Sergt.

Sergeants.

Corporals.

Trumpeters.

Bombardiers.

Wheeler.

Carriage-smith.

Gunners.

Captains.

Lieutenants.

Coy. Sergt.-Majors.

Sergeants. Corporals.

Trumpeters.

Bombardiers.

Gunners.

Captain.

Lieutenants.

Sergeants.

Corporals.

...

Hi a

342

366

Privates.

Lieutenants.

Sergeants.

Corporals.

Sappers.

Sergt.-Drummer.

Corporals.

Drummers and Fifers.

Total.

Wanting to complete,

Establishments,

Supernumerary,

Joined,.

Promoted,

STAFF.

Total,..

Resigned, left Colony, Do., in Colony..

To Promotion,

Died,

3 3

3 12 72

:|-

...

47.

2 | 1 | 1

7 6

11113

☺

16 6 2

...

Total,

...

INCREASE.

DECREASE.

...

J. W. CARRINGTON, Lieut.-Colonel, Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

393

No. 24

1901

HONGKONG.

STATEMENT OF WATER ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

STATEMENT OF WATER ACCOUNT, FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

Treasury in account with Water Account.

Receipts.

Expenditure.

To Maintenance of Water Works, City and Hill District,

Kowloon,

Shaukiwan,

Aberdeen,

Water Supply, Kowloon,

City of Victoria and Hill District Water Works,

Water Account (Meters, &c.),

Water Works Miscellaneous,

Tytam Water Works Extension,

of $151,034.87,

Balance,

Military Contribution on revenue as follows-173 % on 1900 Revenue

20,496.50 11,995.03 1,186.45 578.96 3,988.33 39,028.42

10,987.64

1.730.99

80.50

26,431.10 6,476.96

By Amounts rendered to Treasury :—

Victoria,

Peak,

Pokfulam,

Shaukiwan,

..$ 36,997.93

2,739.74 323.83

88.50

69.25

Aberdeen,

Kowloon,

4,658.09

$44,877.34

Less amounts written off,

overcharged,

$ 9.50 839.70

balance outstanding on 31st December,

1900,

835.91

Plus amounts rendered in 1899, but paid in 1900, Add amount undercharged as per memorandum to Trea-

sury, 17th January, 1901,

By Water Rates on:-

Victoria,

Hongkong Villages,

Hill District,

Mongkoktsui,

Kowloon Point, Yaumati and Hunghom,

Hok Un,

}

Balance,

1,685.11

$ 43,192.23

50.68

10.00

43,252.91

..$ 94,831.68

1,670.65

3,136.08

7.266.98

448.22

428.35

107,781.96

28,053.09

151,034.87

DAVID WOOD,

Superintendent of Accounts, Correspondence and Stores.

W. CHATHAM,

Acting Director of Public Works.

•

No. & M.

963

No. 1901'

SIR,

HONGKONG.

INTERMITTENT SYSTEM OF WATER SUPPLY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Registrar General to Colonial Secretary.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 19th November, 1901.

The cutting off of the water supply for the greater part of the day causes, as His Excellency is no doubt aware, serious inconvenience to very many persons.

2. From 1897 to 1900 I lived in Caine Road, and the crowds of Chinese who obtained water from a hydrant placed at the corner of Peel Street and Caine Road shewed that the inhabitants of the houses in the neighbourhood did not receive enough water through the pipes laid on to their houses. When there was no water to be obtained from the hydrant the Chinese used to draw it from the drain which runs down Peel Street. I do not know where the water in the drain came from, but it was very dirty.

3. On one occasion no water reached the house in which I was living for 48 hours, and a house in the near neighbourhood was frequently without water for longer periods.

4. There are many four-storeyed houses inhabited by Chinese in which the water never reaches the top storey, and the people living there are dependent upon the complaisance of their neighbours for water.

5. It is hardly to be expected that the improvement in the water supply will keep pace with the increase of population, and I submit that the inconvenience caused by these recurrent water-famines, which may reasonably be regarded as in- evitable, is so great and so wide-spread that permanent measures should be taken to reduce it as far as possible.

6. I venture to suggest, but with all deference as I have no expert knowledge of the subject, that an increase in the number of street hydrants would be of some effect in procuring a fairer distribution of the water available.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&C.,

&c.

Minute by the Colonial Secretary.

Honourable DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS,

For consideration and report.

22-11-01.

A. W. BREWIN,

Registrar General.

J. H. S. L.

964

Minute by the Director of Public Works.

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

It is undoubtedly the case that many top floors of houses do not obtain a supply of water under the intermittent system, being deprived of it by their neigh- bours on the lower floors, who draw it all off before it can rise to the top floors. The same thing happens as regards the houses situated on the upper levels being. deprived of water by those on the lower levels, and it is well-nigh impossible to prevent this.

To provide street fountains in considerable numbers, in addition to having water laid on to the houses, would mean a greater consumption and waste, and would almost inevitably cause a more frequent or more prolonged application of the intermittent system than at present.

Given the rainfall, our waterworks are about adequate for the wants of the City.

The rainfalls of the past four years have formed an exceptionally low series :-

1838.

1899.

1900.

1901 to date.

inches 57

7230

732

but, notwithstanding this, the intermittent supply has only been in force for 52 days in 1899 and 13 days in 1900. The rainfall this year is no less than 30 inches below the average and but little has fallen since August 19th.

I do not, therefore, consider it advisable to adopt extensive temporary measures such as are proposed by the Honourable Registrar General.

22-11-01.

Minute by the Colonial Secretary.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

Submitted for information. So inform the Registrar General?

23-11-01.

Minute by the Governor.

Wг. c.

J. H. S. L.

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

I should like to know from the D. P. W. if there are any means by which the grave inconveniences caused by the intermittent supply can be lessened, without unduly increasing the danger of exhausting our water supply before the next rainy

season.

26-11-01.

Minute by the Colonial Secretary.

Honourable DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS,

To note and report.

26-11-01.

H. A. B.

J. H. S. L.

Minute by the Director of Public Works.

965

Honourable COLONIAL SECRETARY,

In reply to His Excellency's query, I would point out that the difficulties in the way of ensuring a supply of water to all houses in a City such as this, under the intermittent system, are very great.

To begin with, the houses in the City vary in level to the extent of 600 feet and at the Peak 800 feet. The mains are of comparatively small diameter, being designed for a constant supply, and the result is that the houses on a lower level are able to draw off the whole supply and thus prevent water reaching those on a higher level.

The water, in passing to the low-level zone of the City is employed in work- ing motors to pump up the supply to the high-level zone. When the constant system of supply is in force, practically the whole of the water supplied to the lower level zone. is used in working the motors, but, when the intermittent system is in force, the bulk of the water has to be allowed to flow through bye-passes, without working the motors, which are too slow in their action to allow the large quantity required to pass through them. Consequently, the motors can only · pump a very limited quantity under existing conditions.

Fortunately, the steam pumping engine, which is used for the Peak supply, can be utilized instead, otherwise the High Levels would be practically without

water.

From what I have stated, it will be gathered that the intermittent system involves much arrangement and trouble to get it into proper working order, and this has been the greater on this occasion on account of the personnel of the staff employed in connection with waterworks having been entirely changed within the past two years. There is also the fact that enormous extensions of the City have recently been made both on the high and low levels.

Every endeavour has been made to ensure a supply to all houses, with, I believe, large, though evidently not complete, success.

The case of Mr. C. S. SHARP, which recently appeared in the newspapers, well illustrates the difficulties I have represented, as a neighbour of his, whose house is closely adjoining and at a higher level, has, I am inform, received a share of water daily.

•

With regard to Belilios and other Terraces, from which complaints have also appeared in the papers, the difficulties I have referred to are aggravated by the fact that, in most cases, all the houses are supplied through one service, the result being that those served first obtain all the available supply and prevent it reaching their neighbours. I have given instructions for a fountain to be fixed in this case in order to enable the upper houses to obtain some water.

In the case of tenement houses, the landlords should insist upon the ground- floor tenants contenting themselves with a reasonable allowance of water s› that the upper-floor tenants inay stand a chance of obtaining some.

Judging from the diminution in the number of complaints reaching me, I infer that the arrangements are now working well. I regret that I should have appeared to treat complaints with indifference or discourtesy, but it would have been impossible for me to reply to them without almost entirely neglecting my numerous other duties.

28-11-01.

W. C.

121

No. 1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY, KOWLOON,

LAWRENCE GIBBS, A.M.I.C.E.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

SIR, I have the honour to submit the following report on the subject of providing an adequate water supply for the Kowloon Peninsula

EXISTING WORKS.

The existing waterworks were carried out on the recommendation of Mr. COOPER (vide his report on Kowloon Water Supply dated 30th June, 1892), with some additions suggested by Mr. CHADWICK. The following is a brief description of them

---

Three valleys at the back of the Rifle Ranges, having a joint area of 220 acres, are reserved as a collecting area, the water in the flat sandy bottoins of these valleys being intercepted by collecting pipes and led to shallow wells, below which dams are built across the valleys to prevent the escape of water underground. The wells are connected by iron pipes to a tank having a capacity of 150,000 gallons at Yau-Ma-Ti, whence the water is pumped into the distributing mains, the supply being regulated by two small service reservoirs, one near Yau-Ma-Ti 215 feet above sea level and of 160,000 gallons capacity, and the other near Hung Hom 160 feet above sea level and of 90,000 gallons capacity.

The minimum supply obtainable was estimated to be 232,000 gallons a day, and the population of the district to be supplied was, according to the census of 1891, 13,200.

The works were completed in 1895 at a cost of $116,000, the regular supply being established on the 24th December, 1895. Small extensions of mains have since been undertaken at various times, and in the beginning of the present year the dam in the principal valley was raised 5 feet. Including these additions, the total expenditure under Mr. COOPER'S Scheme has been $128,000.

In 1898 the consumption was found to be rapidly overtaking the available sources of supply, and authority was obtained (C.S.O. 2312) to construct works for the collection of an additional supply from the hills in the New Territory. These works are now in progress, but they can only be regarded as a temporary means of augmenting the supply until the more extensive scheme, about to be de- scribed, can be carried out. They will bring the minimum dry weather supply up to 300,000 gallons a day, which is sufficient to meet the present requirements of the district now supplied.

Before proceeding to enter into details with regard to the new scheme, it may be pointed out that, with an ample gravitation supply and sufficient storage, fire hydrants can be provided throughout the district, there being no provision whatever of this nature at present, and further a great saving would be effected in maintenance, the cost of pumping alone for a supply of 200,000 gallons a day being above $5,000 a year.

QUANTITY OF WATER REQUIRED.

The census of 20th January, 1897, gives the following information for British Kowloon:-

Civil Non-Chinese land population

Do. Chinese

Floating population

do.

716

.26,442 7,624

Of the 26,442 Chinese in British Kowloon. some are in outlying villages, which are beyond the range of any reasonable distribution system. These, however, form a very small proportion of the whole and may be neglected.

The Military and Naval population, allowing for the barracks in course of erection at Gun Club Hill, may be estimated to be:-

European,

Asiatics,

300 ....1,200

In the New Territory, Kowloon City and Sham-Shui-Po, with estimated populations of 2,000 and 1,500 respectively, should be included in the scheme.

122

With the above data, taking into account the increase which has occurred in the two years which have elapsed since the census was taken, the present population and water supply required may be estimated as follows:-

Total gallons

Gallons

Kowloon Peninsula.

Civil European, land,

Population.

1,000

Do. Chinese, do.,

Do. do., floating,

Naval and Military, European,.

...

.30,000

X X

per head. 20

per day.

20,000

300,000

8,000

40,000

300

6,000

Do.,

Asiatic,

1,200 X

12,000

New Territory,. . . . . .

3,500

35,000

Total,.........44,000

413,000

Taking the average, this will give about 9 gallons a head, which cannot be considered an excessive supply for domestic purposes alone, and it must be borne in mind that the Dock Company's Hung Hom Establishment takes 20,000, and the Wharf and Godown Company's 15,000 gallons a day. In fact, the supply can only be kept within these limits by strict supervision, by metering all private services, and by allowing no private services in Chinese houses. In proof of this it may be stated that during 1898 the domestic supply in Victoria, where water is laid into Chinese houses, amounted to 13.5 gallons per head, while in Kowloon, where it is not, the supply during the same period was at the rate of 6.1 gallons. This latter amount will, no doubt, be exceeded when the distributory system is made equal to the requirements and an ample and constant supply ensured.

It is impossible to estimate the probable increase of a population of this sort-according to the census returns of 1891 and 1897 it increased 33 per cent. in 6 years--and in view of the fact that the works will probably take 3 or 4 years to complete, it is proposed to provide a fair margin over present requirements and to lay out the works in such a way that they may be extended without stoppage of the supply.

Taking all things into consideration it appears advisable to provide at once for a supply of not less than 500,000 gallons a day.

The existing supply amounts to between 200,000 and 300,000 gallons a day.

SUPPLY OBTAINABLE FROM A CATCHMENT AREA.

In Mr. COOPER's report on the Water Supply of Victoria, 1896, the following figures are given as a basis for calculating the yield of a catchment area :-

Rainfall from May to August, 44 inches, of which 50 per cent. is available. Rainfall from September to April, 20 inches, of which 33 per cent. is available.

These figures are the results of the experience gained in working the Tytam and Pokfulam reservoirs.

The gathering grounds on the hills at the back of Kowloon Peninsula are very similar to those at Tytam and Pokfulam, and as the rainfall is not likely to differ largely, the above figures may safely be taken as a basis of calculation. By doing so it will be found that to supply 500,000 gallons a day a collecting area of about 300 acres is necessary.

AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY.

An examination of the country from Li-Chi-Kok to the Peninsula east of Kowloon Bay bas resulted in 5 available sources of supply being found, in two of which good reservoir sites exist. These are shown on drawing No. 1, and details of the Reservoir Sites from surveys by Mr. XAVIER on drawings Nos. 2, 3 and 4.

Source No. 1--Contains a reservoir site commanding a drainage area of 152 acres, which can be increased by means of a short catchwater to 333 acres. To equalize the rainfall on this area a reservoir of not less than 93,000,000 gallons capacity should be provided. The site surveyed will give, with a damn 65 feet in height, a storage capacity of 120,000,000 gallons. The lowest draw off would be 390 feet above Ordnance datum, and the supply obtainable from the drainage area of 333 acres would be 590,000 gallons a day. This can be further increased by additional catchwaters to the east on both sides of the Shatin Valley.

Source No. 2-Also contains a reservoir site which commands a drainage area of 219 acres. equalize the rainfall on this area, storage would be required for 62,000,000 gallons, but a reservoir capable of containing 106.000,000 gallons can be constructed with a dam of only 50 feet in height. In order to utilize the site to its full extent, therefore, a catchwater should be constructed to intercept a large stream to the westward, thus considerably increasing the drainage area. Disregarding this, the natural drainage area of 219 acres will yield a supply of 390,000 gallons a day.

123

Source No. 3.-The streams above Cheung Sha Wan, now being intercepted for a temporary supply, can be picked up and connected to the main, but there is no possibility of constructing a reservoir to impound water. The supply in winter would probably be about 50,000 gallons a day, and in summer 200.000 to 300,000 gallons, making a valuable addition to the supply in a dry year.

Source No. 4.—A considerable stream flows down the valley to the north-east of Kowloon Bay, but here again there is unfortunately no site for a reservoir. The stream, however, might be intercepted in a similar manner to that proposed for the streams behind Cheung Sha Wan.

Source No. 5.-Immediately below the Sai-kung road near the point where it crosses the water- parting between the valleys draining to east and west is a small reservoir site with a catchment area of 100 to 200 acres. This may be reckoned to yield a supply of about 200,000 gallons a day.

Summarizing these, the total supply available from all sources is as follows:-

No. 1,

1 (extension to east),..

2 (extension to west),

•

Gallons per day.

590,000

.200,000

.390,000

.100,000

100,000

150,000

.200,000

Total,......... 1,730,000

PROPOSED WORKS.

To meet present requirements, Source No. 1 should be utilized and a storage reservoir constructed there, all cultivation being stopped within the drainage area. As already shown this will yield a supply of 590,000 gallons a day. The reservoir should be connected by a cast iron main to Filter Beds to be constructed at a suitable elevation on the ridge above Cheung Sha Wan and from there a cast iron main laid in the new Táipó Road would convey the water to a Service Reservoir to be con- structed on the hill to the north of the village of Kowloon Tong. This service reservoir would be connected to the existing distributing system which should be extended to Kowloon City on the east and to Tai-Kok-Tsui and Sham-Shui-Po on the west. At Kowloon City a small service reservoir would be required to maintain the supply in case of a breakdown on the 2 miles of main between there and Hung Hom, where a service reservoir already exists.

The present collecting area and pumping machinery should be dispensed with, and the buildings. used as a workshop, space for which is now much needed. Probably one half of the syphon pipes (7′′ and 6") might be taken up and used again. Full advantage would be taken of the existing distribution system and service reservoirs, the only works to be dispensed with being those in the collecting area and the pumping machinery. The economy to be effected in annual expenditure by saving the cost of pumping will fully justify this, even if the machinery cannot be used for other purposes.

As the demand for water increases, collecting area No. (1) should be extended by catchwaters to the east, and collecting areas Nos. (2) and (3) on drawing No. 1 should be utilized. The total estimated supply available when these additions have been made will be 1,380,000 gallons a day. Before this consumption is reached, however, it will probably be advisable to seek for a new source of supply on the hills to the north-east of collecting area No. (1), crossing if necessary to the eastern slopes of Tai Mo Shan. The supply obtainable from sources Nos. (4) and (5) on drawing No. 1 is so limited that, if it appears at all probable that the consumption of Kowloon will eventually exceed these, it would be better policy to at once adopt a larger scheme, reserving these small areas for any industrial enter- prises that may be started in Kowloon Bay.

PARTICULARS OF WORKS PROPOSED TO BE CARRIED OUT TO MEET PRESENT REQUIREMENTS.

Storage Reservoir.-As good building stone does not appear to be abundant on the site of Reser- voir No. 1, it is proposed to construct an earthen dam with central puddle wall on the lines of that at Pokfulam, a work which has proved very satisfactory and required little or no repairs. An earthen dam would probably be completed more quickly than one of masonry, and, the natural drainage area being small, there need be no fear of injury fro:n rainstorms during construction.

The dam will be 65 feet in height from top water level to the present stream bed. Its top will be 10 feet above overflow level and 10 feet wide, the inside slope will be 3 to 1, protected by stone pitching, and outside slope 2 to 1, turfed. The puddle wall will be carried down in a trench to a solid foundation, and up to 3 feet above overflow level.

The overflow will be constructed of masonry and situated at the northern end of the dam. It will be so designed that, with a depth of three feet overflow it will discharge a rainfall of four inches an hour on the natural drainage area (152 acres) and 11⁄2 inch an hour on the area (400 acres)

124

which it is proposed should eventually be intercepted by catchwaters. A masonry channel will conduct the overflow water clear of the toe of the dam and of the gauge basin. On the overflow provision will be inade for inserting planks, by means of which an additional two feet of water may be impounded in favourable seasons, as is now done at Tytam and Pokfulam. The hill road, which crosses the valley in the neighbourhood, will be diverted and carried across the overflow by means of a bridge.

The outlet works will consist of a culvert built in a trench excavated in the solid ground at the northern end of the dam, this will be connected to a valve tower containing the usual stand pipe and three outlet valves at different levels. A small bridge above top water level will give access to the valve tower.

The lowest draw off will be 395 feet above Ordnance datum, top water level at the existing Yau-Ma-Ti service reservoir is 215 feet. Advantage will be taken of the ample head thus available to construct the gauge basin at such a distance below the dam as to intercept all probable leakage.

Catchwater. The catchwater will be constructed to carry a rainfall of 11⁄2 inch an hour on the drainage area intercepted by it. This amount is seldom exceeded in dry years, and in wet years, when the rainfall is excessive, the surplus will be carried away by suitable overflows. The bottom will be pitched with stone and a small cemented channel left at one side to carry the dry weather flow and prevent its loss by evaporation and leakage. The bank alongside the catchwater will be raised a foot above the level of the overflows on straight lengths, and two feet where sand pits overflows or sharp bends occur. A connection will be provided from the catchwater to the gauge basin below the dam by means of a cast iron pipe, so that it may serve as a clearwater cannel after times of heavy rain.

Main to Filter Beds.-From the gauge basin below the dam the water will be conveyed to the Filter Beds by means of a 12-inch cast iron pipe laid along the hill side. This pipe when new will be capable of carrying 1.600,000 gallons a day, and will therefore serve for delivering the entire supply estimated to be obtainable when the whole of the sources described in the first portion of this report are made available. Near the Filter Beds a branch will be left for a future connection to Reservoir No. 2. All available streams will be intercepted en route.

Filter Beds. The only suitable site for Filter Beds appears to be on a comparatively level spot north of the point where the new Táipó Road passes behind the hills above Cheung Sha Wan.

To filter 590,000 gallons a day-making the usual allowance for cleaning beds--an area of about 1,300 square yards will be necessary, and in order to take advantage of the site in an economical manner the beds will be arranged at different levels, which can be done without undue loss of head, owing to the comparatively high level of the storage reservoir. A caretaker's bungalow will be required alongside the beds. If, on detailed surveys being made, the site is found to be large enough, it will be laid out with a view to the addition of further filter beds to deal with the water from the proposed reservoir on site No. 2. Should this, however, be found impracticable, a suitable site for this purpose must be found elsewhere.

Main to Service Reservoir.-From the Filter Beds either a short tunnel will be driven through the ridge, or a pipe carried round it, as may be found the more economical when detailed surveys are made, and a 12′′ main will then be laid partly below and partly along the new Táipó Road and up the hill to the large service reservoir about to be described.

Service Reservoirs.-The existing service reservoirs are capable of containing only 250.000 gallons, a quantity which has on several occasions been found inadequate to tide over a breakdown, and provision on a much more extensive scale for the storage of water after filtration is urgently required. There is no suitable site for a large service reservoir near the centre of the district to be served, and it has therefore been found necessary to select one on a hill to the north of the village of Kowloon Tong. The reservoir will be circular, 150 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep having a capacity of about 2,000,000 gallons.

At Kowloon City a small reservoir only, say 150,000 gallons capacity, will be required; it will be similar to the existing ones and situated on the hill above the walled city.

Connection to existing Distribution System.-From the Kowloon Tong service reservoir a 12′′ main will be laid through Mong-Kok-Tsui to connect with the existing 7" main at Yau-Ma-Ti, and a 5′′ main with 3" and 4" branches will supply Tai-Kok-Tsui and Sham-Shui-Po. On the eastern side of the Peninsula a 6′′ main will be carried along the new road to Kowloon City with 3′′ and 4′′ branch mains to the large villages of Too-Kwa-Wan and Ma-Tau-Wai. All new mains will have hydrant- branches at distances of 300 feet apart where building is at all probable, and hydrants will be fixed

in all built districts.

Fire Hydrants on existing System.In the original waterworks scheme fire hydrants were omitted, partly on account of the limited supply and partly because most of the houses were situated near the harbour. When the proposed new supply is obtained fire hydrants should be fixed at intervals of

125

about 300 feet on all mains in the built districts. Owing to reclamation works at Yau-Ma-Ti and Mong-Kok-Tsui the houses will soon be at such a distance from the harbour that little help could be obtained from it in case of fire.

ESTIMATE.

The following is an approximate estimate of the cost of the works described :--

Catchwater,

Storage Reservoir,

$150,000

6,000

Main to Filter Beds,

16,000

Filter Beds and Bungalow,

20,000

Main from Filter Beds to Service Reservoir,

72,000

Service Reservoir at Kowloon Tong,

60,000

Connection to and extension of existing distributing system,

55,000

Service Reservoir at Kowloon City,

6,000

Fire hydrants on existing system,

3,000

Purchase of cultivated ground,

5,000

393,000

Allow for value of machinery and pipes to be dispensed with,.....

13,000

Total,

$380,000

To make a fair comparison between the cost of this and the cost of a pumping scheme such as that hitherto existing, the annual expenditure on maintenance must be taken into account. If this be capitalized at 5 per cent. we arrive at the following results :-

Supply, Original cost,

.....

Capitalized cost of maintenance,

Cost of supply per million gallons, per day,

Existing Works.

232,000 gallons a day.

$ 128,000 $ 120,000 $1,070,000

Proposed Gravitation Scheme.

Supply,

590,000 gallons a day.

Cost of existing works to be utilized,

$ 90,000

Estimated cost of new works,......

Estimated cost of maintenance (capitalized),

Cost of supply per million gallons, per day,

$380,000

$ 40,000 $860,000

The Service Reservoir, Main and Distribution works, though necessary at once, have been designed to meet the requirements of a much larger supply, and it will consequently be found that when the proposed Reservoir on site No. 2 is constructed and the whole of the sources of supply mentioned in this Report are made available, bringing the total supply up to 1,380,000 gallons a day, the cost per million gallons per day will be considerably more favourable.

The total cost for this supply is estimated as followṣ :—

Cost of existing work to be utilized,

Estimated cost of works proposed to be constructed immediately,

$ 90,000 .$380,000

Estimated cost of future works,--

Storage Reservoir,

$150,000

Catchwater, &c.,

20,000

Main to connect to existing system,

10,000

Filter Beds,

20,000

Extension of distributing system,

30,000

Capitalized cost of maintenance,

Cost of supply per million gallons, per day,

$230,000 .$ 80,000

Total,...$780,000

$570,000

}

126

The following drawings accompany this report :-

No. 1. General Plan showing sources of supply, distribution areas and proposed works. No. 2. General Plan of sources Nos. 1 and 2, Scale 5000, showing drainage areas and reser-

voir sites.

No. 3. Reservoir Site No. 1, Scale 1 inch 50 feet, showing proposed dam.

No. 4. Reservoir Site No. 2.

I have the honour to be,

Your obedient Servant,

LAWRENCE GIBBS, A.M.I.C.E.

8th January, 1900.

The Honourable

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

HONGKONG. No. 297.

SIR,

(Secretary of State to Governor.)

DOWNING STREET,

6th September, 1900.

With reference to Major-General GASCOIGNE'S despatch No. 223 of the 18th of May last, I have the honour to transmit to you for your information a copy of a letter from Mr. (). CHADWICK to the Crown Agents for the Colonies, enclosing a Report on the proposed scheme for a water supply for Kowloon.

2. The financial aspect of this scheme must be considered in connection with the Estimates for 1901.

I have the honour to be,

Governor

SIR HENRY A. BLAKE, G C.M.G.,

&c., &c.,

&c.

Sir, Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Mr. Chadwick to Crown Agents.)

No. 7, CARTERET STREET, WESTMINSTER,

22nd August, 1900.

GENTLEMEN,

Re Hongkong-Water Supply of Kowloon.

In accordance with instructions contained in your letter of 29th June, 1900, I beg to submit a report upon a proposed scheme of water supply for Kowloon.

I am of opinion that the scheme is sound in principle and is one that should be carried out forth- with. There are, however, some minor matters of detail to which I refer in my report, which require reconsideration. They are, however, matters which require for decision more local knowledge than I possess at present. My remarks must therefore be regarded as suggestions rather than instructions.

I have, &c.,

OSBERT CHADWICK,

* Not printed.

per

W. J. HARRISON.

127

REPORT ON WATER SUPPLY OF KOWLOON.

OSBERT CHADWICK.

Existing Works.

1.-The existing works were projected by myself whilst in Hongkong in 1889-90. The main feature of their design was to obtain a supply, from sources within the then limits of British territory. Now that the hills, inland, have been annexed, it is but reasonable that an auginented supply should be obtained fron them by gravitation.

Feasibility of Proposed Works.

2.-The proposed works are quite feasible, and may safely be sanctioned, as regards the first instalment, providing 590,000 gallons a day. The gathering grounds of sources 1 and 2 should be forthwith expropriated, and no buildings should be permitted upon them, so No. 2 will be available for future extensions.

As regards the other sources, the Government should acquire a lien upon them, so that they may be acquired on reasonable terms if required in future.

Probable Supply.

3. The probable supply is correctly estimated, according to the data obtained by actual experience in Hongkong, on the assumption that the rainfall is the same in amount and distribution on the main- land, as it is in Hongkong. It is probable that such is the case, but not absolutely certain. Short of actual measurements, made over a number of years, there is no means of predicting, with certainty, the actual quantity of water which will flow off from a given gathering ground. To make such prolonged measurements would unduly postpone the construction of the works. The only plan is to base the calculation upon the Hongkong data. In my report of 17th September, 1896, I analysed these data using a train of reasoning somewhat different to that adopted by Mr. COOPER, in his report of 1896, and arrived at the following conclusions. They agree closely with Mr. COOPER'S conclusions.

(a.) That the minimum annual available rainfall amounts to 30 inches.

(b.) Therefore a gathering ground of 1,000 acres will afford 1,860,000 gallons per diem in

the year of minimum rainfall.

(c.) That to provide this quantity 200 days' storage will be required.

The gathering ground of proposed source No. 1 is 333 acres, or one-third of 1,000. A supply of 1,860,000 620,000 gallons a day may, therefore, be expected, and to secure it, a reservoir capacity of 124 millions of gallons will be required. The desired immediate supply is only 413,000 gallons, and the proposed reservoir contains 120,000,000 gallons. According therefore to Hongkong data there is a liberal margin; and there can be little doubt that a bountiful supply will be obtained. The actual amount must remain in uncertainty until the works are completed. It is desirable that rain gauges should be forthwith erected on each of the proposed sites. Observations should be commenced Comparison of the first year's observations with present and past observations at the Observatory, will afford a means of correcting the estimate of probable yield."

at once.

Material of Reservoir Dam.

4. It is proposed to make an earthen dam with a puddle wall in the centre in the ordinary manner, at sources Nos. 1 and 2, on account of apparent scarcity of good building stone.

i must, however, record my opinion that a masonry or concrete dam, like that at Tytam, will be far preferable, even if it cost somewhat more. With a masonry dam, a leakage merely amounts to a loss of water. With an earthen dam, it may result in destruction. I therefore recommend that careful examination be made for building stone, before earth is decided upon as a material. I have never visited the mainland, beyond the former frontier; but I presume that the geological formation is similar to that of Hongkong, where solid masses of granite are found imbedded in decomposed granite; but not visible at the surface. If I remember rightly, in the Tytam Valley, in its original condition, very little rock appeared at the surface; yet plenty of stone was obtained. It must be clearly understood that, with care, a thoroughly efficient and safe reservoir can be constructed. I merely assert that, if stone can be obtained, masonry or concrete is a preferable material.

128

5.-I an of opinion that, unless the stop wall is preferable to a puddle wall. below ground with concrete, using puddle

Puddle Trench.

most excellent puddle clay is readily obtainable, a concrete At any rate it is good practice to fill in the puddle trench only in the bank, thus :-

Clay Puddlo

Naturnl

Cround

-Concrete

Valve Well and outlet arrangements.

6. The proposed arrangement of the outlet culvert and valve well does not entirely commend itself to my judgment. It would be more in accordance with modern practice to remove it from beneath the bank, constructing it as a tunnel. In determining its section, provision should be made for carrying off the perennial flow of the streams, and even of considerable floods, during construction. It will scarcely be possible to complete the dam during one dry season. If it be not carried up to the full height before the first monsoon so that the permanent bywash can come into play, then during the monsoon the incomplete dam may be overtopped, and if earth be the constructive material, con- siderable damage will result. One of the advantages of concrete is that if an incomplete dam is over- topped, no serious damage ensues. If a masonry damn is adopted, the arrangement at Tytam may be followed.

Size of By-wash.

7. The size of overflow should be proportioned to the area of gathering ground in the ratio which obtains at Tytam. This sufficed to carry off the extraordinary flood of 1889, one that is not likely to be exceeded. According to the figures given in the report, the area of overflow will probably

suffice.

my d

Filtration, Service Reservoirs, and Distributary-system.

8. The proposed arrangement of filter beds and service reservoirs is, as far as can be seen from the plans, thoroughly sound; also the proposed distributary-system.

Abandonment of old works.

9.--The existing works will doubtless be abandoned ultimately, if for no other reason, because the gathering ground will be wanted for occupation. Mr. GIBBS in his report lays stress upon the saving that will be effected by the substitution of gravitation for pumping. I think he has scarcely made enough provision for the cost of filtration which is required in the case of the gravitation sup- ply, but not in the case of the existing works. I do not think that it would be prudent to dismantle the old works until the new works have been in operation for some years, so that their actual yield will have been ascertained experimentally. It is to be remembered that all calculations of supply are based on the assumption that the rainfall and flow-off is identical with that which obtains in Hongkong-an assumption that is probable, but not certain.

By-pass Channel.

10. In the description of the Reservoir, I see no mention of a by-pass

see no mention of a by-pass channel or pipe for carry- ing the water of the tributary streams direct to the filter beds, without passing through the body of the reservoir. This arrangement was found to be necessary in the case of the Pokfulam reservoir, and afforded the means of maintaining a supply of filtered water during heavy rain.

heavy rain. It was found that after a flood the reservoir remained for a long time so turbid as to render the water unfilterable, whilst the tributary streams cleared rapidly after the cessation of rain.

Conclusion.

129

11. In conclusion, I would state that, in my opinion, the project is one that should be carried out at an early date. Some of the details of the design require re-consideration. The principal point to be decided is the feasibility of substituting a masonry for an earthen dam. To determine this some trial pits might be sunk, both on the site of the proposed reservoir and in the body of the reservoir.

17th August, 1900.

Public Works Department.

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 12th December, 1900.

KOWLOON WATER SUPPLY.

SIR, Referring to C.O.D. 29, I have the honour to report further on the proposed New Water Supply for Kowloon with special reference to Mr. O. CHADWICK's report.

2. Care will be taken to prevent the opening for cultivation of any more land in the gathering grounds, and early next year the area under cultivation will be surveyed and purchased from the natives. There are no buildings in the drainage areas, and none will be permitted. The uncultivated land will probably turn out to be Crown property, so far I am not aware that any claim to it has been put forward.

3. There is every reason to believe that the rainfall in this valley is quite as much as in British Kowloon. Being nearer the Tai- Mo-Shan range, which is the highest land in the New Territory and has peaks over 3,000 feet high, it is probably greater. As soon as a bungalow is built for the officer who will have charge of the work, a rain gauge will be established and steps will be taken to gauge the streams in the driest weather next year.

4. I entirely concur with Mr. CHADWICK as to the advantages a masonry or concrete dam possesses over an earthen one, and after a further careful examination of the ground, have found an excellent site for a masonry dam 600 feet lower down the stream than the site proposed by Mr. GIBBS for the earthen dam and 30 feet below it in level. At the site I now recommend adopting, two other considerable streams have joined that intercepted by Mr. GIBBS' dam, the combined waters passing through a narrow cleft over solid hard rock. It is evident that sufficient good stone for the dam can be obtained in the vicinity. The geological formation is similar to Hongkong and granite boulders in decomposed granite are plentiful.

5. By placing the dam at this lower site, the necessity for a catchwater is done away with for some years to come, as the drainage area is increased from 333 acres to 417 acres. With a minimum rainfall of 30 inches on this area, we may expect to obtain a supply of 775,620 gallons daily. I pro- pose at first to construct at this site a dam 80 feet high with a top water level of 73 feet; this will impound 152,000,000 gallons. As the demand increases the dam can be raised 20 feet, thereby increasing the storage to 310,000,000 gallons, while 100 acres can be, when necessary, brought into the drainage area by a catch water from No. 2 Reservoir site, increasing the collecting ground to 517 acres and the supply to 961,620 gallons daily. There is reason to expect from the rapid growth of British Kowloon that in ten years' time all this will be required.

6. A very great advantage connected with this lower site is the fact that a natural spill or bye- wash exists at the point marked on plan "overflow" which is 437 feet O.D. or 82 above the B.M. in the bed of stream at the new site for the dam. In this narrow saddle there is abundance of rock visible on the surface, and a rapid fall to the valley on the west, a better

on the west, a better position in every way for a spill water could not be found.

7. By raising the masonry dam to the same level as the originally proposed earthen dam, I esti- mate that the reservoir would contain 310,000,000 gallons, but while designing the dam with a view to its ultimately being raised to that level, I would at first only provide for a height of 80 feet, or to O.D. 432. At the same time the site of the bye-wash would be cleared and levelled and the founda- tions laid of the waste weir, to be hereafter raised.

8. The level of the bottom of the stream at the point selected for the centre of the dam is 355 feet above O.D., but owing to the rapidness of the fall for a short distance above, very little storage will be lost by making the solid concrete foundations for the dam up to 10 feet above this B.M. `I would propose cutting out all fissured, soft, or doubtful looking material, from the bottom of the stream, and doing a certain amount of benching in the bottom and sides, so as to form a good key for the concrete, and then filling up to 365 O.D., with good cement concrete in mass for the full width.

130

and some feet over of the base of the dam. On this base I would construct the base of the Valve Tower and out-let culvert in ashlar masonry in cement, carrying up the dam as far as practicable during the dry months of the year before the rains set in in April or May, when the stream in flood could pass over the work without causing any damage.

9. When this scheme is carried to completion, and the dam raised to its full height, Kowloon will have a storage reservoir containing 310,000,000 gallons of water, with ample head after passing through the filter beds, to command the highest points in the peninsula, and the laying out of building areas and encouragement to Chinese to build and settle on British soil can go on with confidence as to the supply of water.

10. I forward a tracing for transmission to Mr. CHADWICK shewing position of proposed new site for dam and spill, and contour of drainage area.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

R. D. ORMSBY, Director of Public Works.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

▼

967

No. 1901

No. 454.

SIR,

HONGKONG.

KOWLOON WATERWORKS GRAVITATION SCHEME.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Governor to Secretary of State.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 31st October, 1901.

In continuation of my despatch No. 325 of the 23rd of last August, I have the honour to transmit for your consideration the enclosed copy of letter from the Acting Director of Public Works, submitting a complete estimate of the cost of the new Kowloon Waterworks Gravitation Scheme, and to recommend for your approval the improved scheme which seems absolutely necessary if a proper water supply for Kowloon is to be secured.

2. In the Estimates for 1902 a sum of $60,000 has been inserted for this purpose, and a sum of $100,000 has been placed in the Estimates of this year: but, as the latter sum has scarcely been drawn upon, there will be available for 1902 a sum of about $160,000.

3. Mr. CHATHAM estimates that a sum of $200,000 a year will be required until the work is completed, as the Acting Director of Public Works hopes it may be in four years' time.

4. In view of the urgency of this matter, I shall be glad to learn by telegram whether you approve of the scheme now subinitted.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

The Right Honourable

No. 926.

J. CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.

HENRY A. Blake,

Governor.

(Enclosure.)

Acting Director of Public Works to Colonial Secretary.

SIR,

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE, HONGKONG, 24th October, 1901.

I have the honour to report that Messrs. DENISON & RAM have now, in accordance with my request, submitted a complete estimate of the cost of the new Kowloon Waterworks Gravitation Scheme.

2. In forwarding to you their letter of the 14th instant, which contains the estimate referred to, I desire to point out the following essential points of difference

{

968

between the scheme now proposed and that contained in Mr. GIBBS's original Report of the 8th January, 1900.

(i). The dam is of masonry and cement concrete as recommended by Mr. CHADWICK, instead of an earthen bank with clay puddle

core.

(ii). The site of the dam has been altered as proposed by Mr. ORMSBY, being now located 30 feet lower in level in the bed of the valley. (iii). The height of the dam bas consequently been increased from 65 feet to 95 feet, top-water being maintained at the same level as formerly.

(iv). The capacity of the reservoir has likewise been increased from 120

million to 310 million gallons.

(v). The estimated available supply has been increased from 590,000 to

1,575,000 gallons per day.

3. Before comparing the original and present estimates, it is well that I should lay before you the figures showing the enormous increase in population which had occurred in Kowloon arising out of a development which had far exceeded all expectations. merely stating that the scheme is designed to supply the entire Peninsula, with the exception of a few small straggling villages, from Kowloon City on the East to Sham Shui Po on the West and will include these two populous places, which are situated in the New Territory..

4. According to the Census of 1897, the Civil land population of British Kowloon numbered 27,158, to which must be added the Military and Naval forces stationed there, numbering, say, 900, and the population of the important villages of Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po in the New Territory, as given in the Com- missioner's Report, amounting to 3,500. The floating population in the adjoining portion of the Harbour was given as 7,624, making a grand total of 39,182.

5. Taking the Census of this year, which has just been published, the cor- responding figures are found to be as follows:-

Civil population of British Kowloon,

Military and Naval Forces,

Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po,

....

43,644

2,950

8,092

11,558

Grand total,......

66,244

Floating population near the Kowloon shore,

or an increase of nearly 70 per ceut.

6. From the foregoing statement, it will be gathered that, not only is a much. larger scheme proposed than that originally contemplated, but such a scheme is absolutely necessary. The interval between the Census of 1897 and that of 1901 is about 4 years and an equal period will elapse before the proposed works have been completed. Should the same rate of increase continue, the population to be provided for in 1905, when the works will have reached completion, will be about 112,000.

Taking the very moderate allowance of 10 gallons per head per day, the daily supply required will be about 1,120,000 gallons. That is to say, the original scheme would only have given about half the supply required whilst the new scheme will have a reasonable margin to carry on with whilst further works are being constructed. That further works will have to be undertaken soon after the completion of this scheme there can be little doubt.

8. Mr. ORMSBY suggested in his Report that the dam should only be carried to a height of 80 feet in the first instance, leaving to a future date the raising of it to the full height. With the experience gained in Hongkong and the facts stated above, before me, I strongly deprecate such a course and recommend that the dam be carried to its full height forthwith.

9. There is no doubt whatever that, had the Tytam dam been originally built to its full height, Hongkong would have been spared some of the water famines from which it has suffered.

969

10. Turning now to the estimate, I give below the relative cost of the origi- nal and present schemes.

Item.

Original Present

Scheme.

(1.) Storage Reservoir,.

$150,000

$489,000

(2.) Catchwater,

6,000

40,000

(3.) Main to Filter Beds,

16,000

24,000

4.) Filter Beds and Bungalow,

20,000

31,000

(5.) Main from Filter Beds to Service Reservoir,

72,000

100,000

(6.) Service Reservoir at Kowloon Tong,

60,000

70,000

(7.) Connection to and Extension of Distributing

System,

55,000

70,000

(8.) Service Reservoir at Kowloon City,...

6,000

7,000

(9.) Fire Hydrants on existing system,

3,000

4,000

(10.) Purchase of cultivated ground,

5,000

8,000

(11.) Road diversions,

5,000

393,000

848,000

Allow for value of machinery, &c. to be dispensed

with

13,000

Total,..

380,000

835,000

11. In comparing these two estimates, it must be borne in mind that nearly two years have elapsed since the original scheme was prepared, and that during that period there has been a great increase in the cost of labour and materials in the Colony, an increase which I estimate at 35 per cent.

12. I have already indicated the great changes which have been made in the scheme, but will recapitulate them here with reference to the various items of the estimate which have been affected by them.

Item (1). An alteration has been made in the site of the dam causing an

increase of 30 feet in the height of it, and masonry and cement concrete have been substituted for earth and clay puddle in its

construction.

Item (2). The original proposal provided only for intercepting a stream from a side-valley below the dam; the present scheme provides for a large catch water along the Northern slopes of the Kowloon range of hills, intercepting the drainage from an area of 400 acres.

Item (3). Owing to the reduction in head, resulting from constructing the dam lower down the valley, the main to the Filter Beds has had to be increased in size.

Item (4). Filter Beds of more than double the area originally proposed are required to deal with the increased supply which is contemplated under the new scheme.

Items (5) to (9). The increases are required to cover the enhanced cost of ma-

terials and labour only.

Item (10). The amount originally stated was merely assumed, that now stated is based upon actual survey and measurement.

Item (11). The road diversion is rendered necessary by the altered position of the dam which will interfere with the old path leading to Tái Pó and other villages. The original site of the dam caused no interference with this path.

13. With regard to (10) "Purchase of cultivated ground" I may mention that compensation was paid for cultivated land required for the construction of the Tái Pó Road generally at the rate of 1 cent per square foot or $436 per acre. I consider this amount altogether excessive and have taken a rate of $225 per acre or about cent per square foot in the estimate now submitted.

970

14. To summarize the matter, the scheme now proposed will give a supply of over 1 million gallons per day, which it is anticipated will be fully required within a few years after the works have been completed.

15. I therefore submit that the entire scheme be now undertaken and that I be authorized to call for tenders for the dam and contingent works, the estimated cost of which, including materials to be supplied by the Government, is $505,000. The balance of the estimated cost is absorbed by the mains, service, reservoirs, &c., which will form separate contracts. It is imperative that the works should be undertaken without delay and that the present dry season should be availed of to the greatest extent possible,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

W. CHATHAM,

Acting Director of Public Works.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

131

No. 1901

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSION FUND, FOR THE YEAR 1900.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

THE WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' FUND, HONGKONG, 24th January, 1901.

SIR,-We have the honour to submit the following report on the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund, for the year 1900.

The amount to the credit of the Fund on the 31st December last was $88,793.24 which included $4,625.96 for interest paid by Government for the past year, as per Statement appended.

The average monthly contributions amount now to about $1,200.

On the 31st December, 1899, the number of contributors on the books was 246, and on the 31st December, 1900, 318 (being an increase of 72), of whom 139 are bachelors, 171 are married men, and 8 are widowers.

During the period under review, 111 Officers joined the Fund, 36 left, and 4 died.

イ

The total number of children on the books is 271.

There are in the list 14 pensioners, whose pensions aggregate $1,341.94 per annum as follows:-

Mrs. Beavin,

•

$ 14.45

.....

Moosdeen,

Leung Chi-wan,

Moore,

Chan Tai,

63.67

30.09

239.85

54.85

Alarakia,

195.54

Chu Tsan,

81.62

;;

Wong Yan Hin,

5.12

Chow Hung Shi,

46.53

Lo Lai Shi,

113.26

Wildey,

247.63

Ho Yow Tsoi,

187.51

Miss Jenny Madar,

30.91

Jalikar Madar,

30.91

A. W. BREWIN,

We have the honour to be,

FRANCIS W. CLARK,

E. H. D'AQUINO,

E. CORNEWALL LEWIS,

Directors.

The Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.,

Colonial Secretary,

&C.,

&c.,

Sir,

Your obedient Servants,

&c.

A. M. THOMSON,

Chairman.

132

STATEMENT OF THE WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSION FUND

UP TO 31ST DECEMBER, 1900.

Total up to December, 1899,

During 1900,

Refund of Amounts erroneously levied,

Working Expenses,

Pensions paid,

'Half Contributions refunded,

Receipts.

Expenditure.

Balance.

80,780.38

9,772.99

71,007.39

19,000.08

1,214.23

17,785.85

99,780.46

10,987.22

88,793.24

During 1900.

Total up to

31st Dec., 1900.

2.40

3,561.67

369.80

2,683.35

791.85

3,331.96

50.18

1,410.24

1,214.23

10,987.22

PAPERS

LAID BEFORE THE

COUNCIL

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

HONGKONG

LEUM

1901

HONGKONG:

PRINTED BY NORONHA & Co., GOVERNMENT PRINTERS

1902

し

CONTENTS.

ACCESSION OF KING EDWARD

VII

BLUE BOOK FOR 1900

Despatch respecting Proclamation of, Despatch on,......

BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION Report for 1900,

BUILDING WORKS

Professional Supervision of,

.....

BUILDINGS WHICH COLLAPSED... Particulars of,

CENSUS FOR 1901 ..................

Report on,

CHAIR AND JINRICKSHA COOLIES Report of Commission on,

COLLAPSE OF HOUSES IN Co-

CHRANE STREET...

CRIMINAL STATISTICS

D'AGUILAR Light

Depositions and Finding,.... For 1900,

Pages.

155

743

303

683 *

707

715*

803

687

141, 439 &

Removal of, to Green Island,

275

DEATH OF H. I. M. EMPRESS

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: PLAGUE

FREDERICK

MORTALITY..

EDUCATION

EDUCATION--QUEEN'S COLLEGE Report for 1900,

Telegram of Condolence on,

747

Despatch on,

783

Report for 1900,

481

311

FINANCIAL RETURNS............... For 1900,

283

Do.

Assets and Liabilities for 1900, ....................

705

FIRE BRIGADE

Report for 1900, ...........................

291

FOOD SUPPLY

... Report of Commission on,

173

GAOL

Report for 1900,

133

HARBOUR MASTER................ Report for 1900,

453

AND COURT

Report for 1900,

371

ALARIA.....................

EDICAL................

OSQUITOES

Clinical Report on,

493

Report for 1900,

247

Report on Examinations of,

791

¿W TERRITORY

Report for 1900,

565

Do.

Statement of Revenue and Expenditure,

599

Do.

Report on Survey of,

601

Do.

Return of Fishermen taking Coral and Shell from Sea adjoining,

685

BSERVATORY

Report for 1900;

145

LAGUE (BUBONIC FEVER)

Report on Epidemic of,

643

LÓ LÉUNG Kuk ........

Report for 1900,

435

'OLICE

Report for 1900,

157

POST OFFICE

Report for 1900,

319

POST OFFICES IN CHINA, BRITISH Revenue and Expenditure of,

279

PUBLIC WORKS

Report for 1900,

325

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE......

Discussion on Refuse Destructor, ......

595

REGISTRAR GENERAL ....

Report for 1900,

347

REGISTRATION OF CHINESE

PARTNERS.

SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OF-

FICERS

SANITARY

Report of Committee on,

749

Correspondence respecting Increase of,

603 & 959

Reports for 1900,

395

SANITARY CONDITION OF HONG-

KONG.

Correspondence, &c. on,

501

SANITARY EXPERTS

..... Telegrams regarding Appointment of,

741

Do.

Continuation of Correspondence regarding Appointment of,

801

Volunteer CoRPS, HONGKONG Report for 1900,

381

WATER ACCOUNT

.TATER SUPPLY, HONGKONG...

WATER SUPPLY, KOWLOON WATERWORKS (Kowloon) Gra-

VITATION SCHEME 'IDOWS AND ORPHANS' PEN-

SION: FUND

............ Correspondence regarding,

Report for 1900,

Statement of, for 1900,.................

451

Correspondence regarding Intermittent System of, Report on,.

963

121

967

131

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 1.

THURSDAY, 24TH JANUARY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G, General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, Q.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th December, 1900, were read and confirmed.

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council as follows:-

Honourable Members of the Legislative Council,--I have summoned you to-day to make to you formally the saddest announcement that has ever been made during the exist- ence of this Colony-to announce to you that our revered and beloved Queen is dead. During a long reign begun before any Member of this Council was born, Her Majesty Queen VICTORIA, the purest and greatest monarch of historic times, devoted her life to the welfare of her country. Never was monarch more faithful, never was monarch more beloved. In her letter of the 27th January, 1892, when acknowledging in touching and noble words the expression of loyal and loving sympathy from all classes of the empire on the occasion of the death of the Duke of Clarence, the Queen wrote:-"My bereavements, during the last 30 years of reign, have indeed been heavy. Though the labours, anxieties, and responsibilities inseparable from my position have been great, yet it is my earnest prayer that God may continue to give me health and strength to work for the good and happiness of my dear country and empire while life lasts.' And God has granted her prayer, for to the last the Queen preserved those marvellous powers and royal gifts of wisdom and foresight which were always exercised in the interests of the peace and progress of the world. "And now the gracious monarch of the atest nation on earth; the perfect Queen, the stainless wife, the devoted mother has entered into her rest crowned with the triple diadem of strength and truth and purity, and enveloped in the loving veneration not alone of all the peoples of her world-wide empire but of the great mass of the thinking people of the world. Within the last hour I have received the following two telegrams:-

"In the name of the people of Portuguese India and mine, I present to your Excellency the respects of our heartfelt grief for the great loss which the noble British nation has sustained by the demise of the Queen Empress, Victoria of everlasting

memory.

GALHARDO, Governor."

"With the greatest regret I present to your Excellency the expressions of my deep grief, and in the name of this Colony I accompany all the English people in their dolour by the death of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen Empress.

GOVERNOR of Macao."

For us as representing this Colony it but remains humbly to lay at the feet of their Majes- ties, whom God protect, our expressions of loyal condolence, and for that purpose I propose the following resolution :-

"That the Members of this Council have heard with profound sorrow the sad announcement of the death of Her Majesty the Queen, and desire humbly to express their most heartfelt, loyal, and respectful sympathy with their Majesties and the Royal Family in their bereavement.'"

The Honourable C. P. CHATER addressed the Council as follows:-

Your Excellency,-As the Senior Unofficial Member of the Council, the sad task lies upon me to formally second the humble expression of our grief which your Excellency has proposed. Little could we have thought but one short week ago that so dire a blow was falling on her late Majesty's subjects, or foreseen that her nation was losing its august and beloved Queen. It is not for us now to dwell upon her royal worth as a monarch, her thoughtfulness, her care, her solicitude for her people. These things the past has verified to all, and the history of the future can only prove yet more and more the immensity of our. loss. To their Majesties the King and Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and the Royal Family we tender, in the words of the resolution, our most heartfelt, loyal, and respectful sympathy, and if what we say to-day can lighten, though but for a moment, their burden of sorrow, we, Sir, may venture to hope that we shall not have spoken altogether in vain. I beg to second your Excellency's resolution.

The Honourable Dr. Ho KAI addressed the Council as follows:-

Sir,As the representative on this Council of the British Chinese subjects and the Chinese community of this Colony, I and my colleague desire to express, on their behalf and on behalf of ourselves, our entire concurrence with the sentiments which have been expressed by your Excellency and by the Honourable the Senior Unofficial Member. In the sad death of our well-beloved and much-respected Queen, we have sustained a great and irrepar- able loss. We feel that we have not only lost a just, august, and mighty Sovereign, but also a kind and affectionate Mother, whose parental care has for more than half a century cast a mantle of protection and peace over us and our island home. No part of the British Empire could feel the dreadful loss we have just sustained more than this Far Eastern Colony, and none in this isle could mourn her loss more than her loyal Chinese subjects inhabiting its shores, seeing that this Colony was born as it were in Her Majesty's reign, and brought up through the successive stages of infancy and childhood under her fostering and watchful care, and that we, Her Majesty's Chinese subjects, owe our liberty, security, wealth, and happiness, and indeed our all, to her wise and beneficent rule. Truly, to us the loss is woefully great, and our sorrow and grief are proportionately profound. I regret, Sir, that in a great national calamity and affliction of this nature, our hearts are too full and overwhelmed to give appropriate expression to our sorrow, or to convey to those who, on account of natural ties, are even more afflicted than we are, an adequate sense of our heart- felt sympathy and sincere condolence. We can only say that we sincerely mourn with those that mourn and weep with those that weep, and that our united and earnest prayer will ever be "May God bless and comfort Their Majesties and Members of the Royal Family in their sore distress and bereavement."

His Excellency asked every member who sympathised with the Resolution to rise.

All rose, and the Resolution was carried unanimously.

The Council then adjourned sine die.

€

Read and confirmed, this 31st day of January, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTton,

Acting Clerk of Councils,

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor.

[

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 2.

THURSDAY, 31ST JANUARY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, Q.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOIN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 24th January, 1901, were read and confirmed. Dr. Ho KAI and Messrs. J. THURBURN, R. M. GRAY and WEI YUK, took the oath of allegiance to His Majesty King EDWARD VII.

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council as follows:-

Before we proceed to business, I desire to propose for the acceptance of this Council a Resolution expressing our heartfelt loyalty and devotion to His Majesty King Edward VII. Two days ago, joined by many of the principal inhabitants of this colony, we proclaimed His Majesty as our rightful Sovereign Lord. We did so according to the form prescribed by the ancient custom of England and in the nearest available centre of the population, and we did so solemnly, and with hearts full, believing that a worthy King, instinct in every fibre with the best feelings of an Englishman, had been called by the grace of God to reign over us, but feeling that we proclaimed and acclaimed His Majesty in the presence of the yet unburied remains of His Majesty's incomparable Queen Mother, of Her whose name we have all lisped in our earliest childhood and who throughout our lives has been to us the embodi- ment of everything that was great and good and noble and queenly. His Majesty's life has long been public property. We all know him and we love him as a man for personal qua- lities which will brighten kingly virtues. He has never in his past life been found wanting in his public duties, and only those whose good fortune has placed them in close connection with His Majesty can realize how anxiously as Prince of Wales he devoted himself to the furtherance of all good works in the public interest. I enjoyed the high honour of His Majesty's notice, and I feel how true is the instinct of the British people that the crown of our best-beloved and venerated Queer has descended upon a successor who will be a great and worthy Sovereign Lord over this vast Empire. I beg to propose

beg to propose to you the following Resolution:-

We, the members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, beg with profound respect to express to Your Majesty, on the occasion of your accession to the Throne of Your Majesty's ancestors, our sentiments of devotion and loyalty to Your Majesty. We pray that God's blessing may rest upon the successor of the revered and noble Queen whose memory is so lovingly enshrined in the hearts of her people, and we pray that to Your Majesty there may be granted a happy and glorious reign over a united and prosperous people."

The Honourable C. P. CHAPTER addressed the Council as follows:

Your Excellency, it is with very great pleasure that I rise to second the Resolution just proposed, which will, I am sure, be carried with acclamation in this Council and be fervently endorsed by all His Majesty's loyal subjects in this colony. For I venture to say that, though one of the most distant dependencies of the great Empire over which King Edward VII. has been suddenly called to rule, there is no more loyal community than this, of which I am proud to be one of the representatives. In no British colony is the late Queen more. sincerely mourned, and in no part of his vast dominions will His Majesty the King find readier sympathy in the regal duties which he is so eminently fitted to discharge, but which

nevertheless entail such weighty responsibilities. In the midst of our gloom and while keenly feeling the great loss the Empire has suffered in the death of our venerated Queen and Empress, it is no small consolation to know that she has left for her successor one whose mature judgment, ripened experience, and ready tact will be sure to carry him through difficulties and guide him to safe conclusions in great crises, should such come. That His Majesty King Edward may enjoy a happy, peaceful and prosperous reign, not less glorious than that of his illustrious predecessor, is indeed the prayer of his subjects of whatever race or creed. I beg to second the Resolution.

The Honourable Dr. Ho KAI addressed the Council as follows:-

Sir, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, and those whom we have the honour to represent on this Council, I have much pleasure in supporting most cordially the resolution that has been so eloquently proposed by Your Excellency and seconded by the Honourable the Senior Unofficial Meiber. In the deep and universal gloom into which we have all been plunged by the sad death of our beloved Queen, the accession of His Most Gracious Majesty Edward VII. to the throne has been the one bright spot, the silver lining, as it were, of the black cloud overhanging the whole Empire. In His Majesty we have a most worthy successor to our glorious and noble Queen, and on him we may confidently rest our hopes of the future and the continued greatness, prosperity and happiness of the vast British Empire. May His Majesty have a long, happy, and glorious reign" is the humble wish and fervent prayer of all His Majesty's loyal and devoted Chinese subjects in this colony of Hongkong.

His Excellency asked Members who were prepared to assent to the Resolution to rise.

All rose, and the Resolution was carried unanimously.

PAPER. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report dealing with the Water Supply at Kowloon.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 1 to 5), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:-

C.S.O.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

2627 of 1900.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Fourteen thousand Four hundred and Twenty-nine Dollars and Sixty-three Cents ($14,429.63) to meet the cost of repairing the damages done by the recent typhoon.

Medical Department,—

To replace bamboo sun blinds,

ABSTRACT.

To replace stores, medicines and sundries destroyed at

Taipo,

Police Department,-

Repairs to two Police Launches,.

Botanic and Afforestation Department,

Public Works Department,-

Praya Road West,

Hospital Sheds, Kennedy Town,...

Telephones,

Sheds at Taipo,

Lighthouse repairs, &c.,..

Miscellaneous,..

.....

$ 207.50

81.00

$ 288.50

7,740.00

481.13

....

.$1,000.00 850.00

700.00

1,500.00

370.00

5,920.00

Total,....

..$14,429.63

C.S.O.

535 of 1900.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand Four hundred and Forty Dollars ($1,440) to cover, during the current year, the cost of increases of salaries of Mr. MOORE and Mr. MACKIE, Student Interpreters.

Government House, Hongkong, 10th January, 1901.

c.s.o.

114 of 1901.

C.S.O. 173 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) to provide additional support for boats' davits in the Lighthouse Steam Tender Stanley.

Government House, Hongkong, 16th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the following sums being unexpended balances of the votes for 1900 under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary

Completion Improvement Wongneichong Recreation Ground, Expenses in the New Territory,

Yaumati Nullah,

Chair Shelter at Peak,

Disinfector Station and Quarters,

Starling Inlet Police Station,

...

Causeway and Pier in Deep Water, Taipo,

Sookuppo Latrine,

Public Latrines,

Sewerage of Victoria,

•

$3,132.10 609.28 1,263.32

900.00

1,957.79

1,371.83

2,969.28

2,155.34

2,709.35

1,644.48

Total,.

$18,712.77

C.S.O.

2627 of 1900.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand One hundred and Forty-five Dollars ($1,145) to cover the losses of houses and furniture done by the fire at Tai O on the 2nd instant.

Government House, Hongkong, 25th January, 1901.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excel- lency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 17th December, 1900, (No. 20), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Director of Public Works laid on the table the Report of the Public Works Committee dated the 23rd January, 1901, (No. 1), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Public Health in the Colony of Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

RATING BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Rating.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Criminal Law as regards certain indecent outrages and assaults.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

TRUSTEE BILL.--The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Trustees.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

;

LAW AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and declare in certain respects the Law to be administercl in the Supreme Court.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to:

Bill read a first time.

CIVIL PROCEDURE (STATUTES REPEAL) BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal various Statutes relating to Civil Procedure or Matters connected therewith.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to establish a Code of Procedure for the Regulation of the Process, Practice, and Mode of Pleading in the Civil Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Colony.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION BILL.-The Attorney General 'moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal and re-enact with amendments The Defence Contribution Ordinance, 1896.

The Colonial Treasurer addressed the Council, and seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BANKRUPTCY AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Bankruptcy Ordinance, 1891.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported with amendments.

The third reading of the Bill postponed to a subsequent meeting.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 7th February, 1901, at 3 p.m.

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 7th day of February, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTton, Acting Clerk of Councils,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 3.

THURSDAY, 7TH FEBRUARY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBurn.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 31st January, 1901, were read and confirmed. FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor. laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 6 and 7), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:-

C.S.O.

2799 of 1900.

C.S.O.

23 of 1901.

HENRY A. Blake.

The Governor. recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of One hundred and Twenty Dollars ($120) in aid of the vote "Government Medical Scholarship."

Government House, Hongkong, 30th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKĖ,

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of Five thousand Eight (Extension.) hundred and Twenty-nine Dollars and Eighty-two Cents ($5,829.82) to cover the cost of construction ($4,875) and chartering of Steam-launches ($954.82) for the use of the New Territory.

Government House, Hongkong, 1st February, 1901.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated the 31st January, 1901, (No. 1), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal and re-enact with amendments The Defence Contribution Ordinance, 1896.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

BANKRUPTCY AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Bankruptcy Ordinance, 1891.

Mr. THURBURN seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Public Health in the Colony of Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

RATING BILL.The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Rating.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Criminal Law as regards certain inde- cent outrages and assaults.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

TRUSTEE BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Trustees.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee. The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

LAW AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and declare in certain respects the Law to be administered in the Supreme Court.

The Colonial Secretary seconded. Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to establish a Code of Procedure for the Regulation of the Process, Practice, and Mode of Pleading in the Civil Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Colony.

The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council, and seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee. The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

CIVIL PROCEDURE (STATUTES REPEAL) BILL.-The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal various Statutes relating to Civil Procedure or Matters connected therewith.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, the 13th February, 1901, at 3

p.m.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 14th day of February, 1901..

R. F. JOHNSton, Acting Clerk of Councils.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 4.

THURSDAY, 14TH FEBRUARY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGI GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (Robert Daly ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 7th February, 1901, were read and confirmed. PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers:-

1. Report on the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund, for the year 1900.

2. Report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol, for the year 1900.

FINANCIAL MINUTE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minute, (No. 8), and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee:-

C.S.O.

24 of 1901. ·

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) to cover the (Extension) cost of the construction of a water-boiler for the use of the New Territory Police Stations.

Government House, Hongkong, 8th February, 1901.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 7th February, 1901, (No. 2), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

TRUSTEE BILL.--The Attorney General laid on the table the report of the Standing Law Com- mittee as to the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Trustees, and gave notice that, at the next meeting of the Council, he would move that the Bill be read a third

time.

SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.-Mr. GRAY, pursuant to notice, asked the following question:-

I should like to know what, if any, reply has been received from the Secretary of State with regard to the recommendations of the Committee appointed to enquire into and report on the salaries of subordinate officers in the Civil Service of the Colony?

The Colonial Secretary in reply, laid on the table the reply of the Secretary of State, and informed the Council that the instructions contained therein were being carried out.

NATURALIZED PERSONS BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal all Ordinances for the Naturalization of Persons as British Subjects within this Colony and to make provision for the Preservation of the Rights of such Persons.

The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council, and seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

LAW OF LIBEL AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Law of Libel and Slander.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

LAW AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and declare in certain respects the Law to be administered in the Supreme Court. He added that he had submitted to the Clerk of Councils the Report of the Standing Law Committee on the Bill, who had made no alterations in it.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE BILL.-The Attorney General informed the Council that the Standing Law Committee have been through the Bill entitled An Ordinance to establish a Code of Procedure for the Regulation of the Process, Practice, and Mode of Pleading in the Civil Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Colony, and moved its third reading.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Dill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

CIVIL PROCEDURE (STATUTES REPEAL) BILL.-The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal various Statutes relating to Civil Procedure or Matters connected therewith.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 25th February, 1901, at 3 p.m.

Read and confirmed, this 25th day of February, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 5.

MONDAY, 25TH FEBRUARY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

-the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBurn.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 14th February, 1901, were read and confirmed. PAPER.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper :-

Returns of the Superior Court, for the year 1900.

FINANCIAL MINUTE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minute, (No. 9), and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.5.0.

36 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and Sixty Dollars (Extension) and Forty-two Cents ($260.42) to defray a portion of the cost of extra provisions supplied to

the New Territory Police Stations during the disturbances in June last.

Government House, Hongkong, 16th February, 1901.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated the 14th February, 1901, (No. 3), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

FLOGGING BILL.The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Laws relating to the Punishment of Flogging.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

TRUSTEE BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Trustees.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

14.

RATING BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved that the Bill entitled An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Rating be re-committed.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported with amendments.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

LAW OF LIBEL AMENDMENT BILL.-The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Law of Libel and Slander.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

NATURALIZED PERSONS BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal all Ordinances for the Naturalization of Persons as British Subjects within this Colony and to make provision for the Preservation of the Rights of such Persons.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Council then proceeded to consider the Jury List for 1901 in private.

ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 11th March, 1901, at 3 p.m. -

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Read and confirmed, this 11th day of March, 1901.

R. F. JonsSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

'Governor.

Ľ.

}

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, NO. 6.

MONDAY, 11TH MARCH, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

་་

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

NEW MEMBER.-Mr. MESSER, Acting Colonial Treasurer, took his seat as an Official Member of the Council, after having taken the Oath prescribed by Ordinance No. 4 of 1869.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th February, 1901, were real and confirmed. PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :—

1. Report of the Director of the Observatory, for the year 1900,

2. Report of the Captain Superintendent of Police, for the year 1900.

3. Despatch from the Secretary of State respecting the Proclamation in Hongkong of the

Accession of King Edward VII.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes (Nos. 10 to 16), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.S.O.

198 of 1901.

C.O.D.

29 of 1901.

C.5.0. 568 of 1901.

C.S.O. 237 of 1901.

C.S.0. 2514 of 1900.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand and Twenty Dollars ($2,020) for the construction of a Cattle Crematorium.

Government House, Hongkong, 28th February, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine thousand Dollars ($9,000) for the building of a School at Yaumati.

Government House. Hongkong, 28th February, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and Thirty-five Dollars ($235) for the purchase of a new Typewriter for the use of the Colonial Secretary's Office.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and Sixty-five Dollars ($265) to cover the cost of repairing No. 1 Police Launch.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE..

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of Six hundred and Twenty Dollars ($620) for the construction of an Armoury for the Police.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th March, 1901.

C.S.O.

456 of 1901,

C.S.O.

200 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand Nine hundred and Forty-three Dollars and Sixty Cents ($2,943.60) to defray the cost of purchasing certain furniture and sundry appurtenances, &c., in use at the Waglan Light Station, which was taken over by the Government on the 2nd instant.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred Dollars ($300) to meet the increase in the pay of the Junior Assistants in the Belilios Public School.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th March, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.--The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 25th February, 1901, (No. 4), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Director of Public Works laid on the table the Report of the Proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a meeting held on the 25th February, 1901, (No. 2).

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and stated that he was unable to lay on the table a unanimous Report of the Standing Law Committee on the Bill, as there were a few matters upon which the Committee were not quite agreed. He gave notice that, at the next meeting of Council, the matters not agreed to by the Law Committee be considered in Committee of the whole Council.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

SANITARY BYE-LAW (CLEANSING AND LIMEWHITING).—The Director of Public Works addressed the Council, and brought for the approval of the Council a Bye-Law made by the Sanitary Board under sub-section 4 of section 13 of Ordinance No. 24 of 1887.

Mr. CHATER asked that the consideration of the Bye-Law be postponed until the arrival of the two Chinese Members of Council.

The suggestion was adopted.

On the conclusion of the business, Dr. Ho KAI had not appeared, but Mr. WEI YUK had arrived. Mr. CHATER suggested that the consideration of the matter be postponed till the next meeting of Council.

The suggestion was agreed to.

SANITARY BYE-LAW (HOUSE-DRAINING).---The Director of Public Works moved that the Council adopt the Amendment to the House-draining Bye-Law made by the Sanitary Board on the 1st August, 1890.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

NEW TERRITORIES REGULATION ORDINANCE.--The Attorney General moved the following Reso- lution as to Ordinance No. 12 of 1899:-

Whereas, by section 6 of The New Territories Regulation Ordinance (No. 12 of 1899), it

·was enacted that the said Ordinance should remain in force for the period of one year from the date of its coming into operation, and for such further period or periods as might, from time to time, be determined by resolution of the Legislative Council:

And whereas, by resolution of the said Legislative Council dated the 15th of March, 1500, it was resolved that the said Ordinance should be continued in force for a further period of one year:

It is hereby resolved by this Council that The New Territories Regulation Ordinance, 1899, shall be again continued in force for the further period of one year from the 18th day of April, 1901 (inclusive).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

THE CIVIL MEDICAL STAFF DISCIPLINE BILL.-The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the better enforcement of discipline among the subordi- nate staff in the Civil Medical Department.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

FLOGGING BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Laws relating to the Punishment of Flogging.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

NATURALIZED PERSONS BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal all Ordinances for the Natu- ralization of Persons as British Subjects within this Colony and to make provision for the Preservation of the Rights of such Persons.

The Colonial Secretary seconded. Question-put and agreed to.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed.

Bill reported with amendments.

The Attorney General gave notice that, at the next meeting of the Council, he would move the third reading of the Bill.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 14th March, 1901, at 3 p.m.

HENRY A. Blake,

Read and confirmed, this 14th day of March, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 7.

THURSDAY, 14TH MARCH, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAine Messer).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Director of Public Works, (Robert Daly Ormsby).

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 11th March, 1901, were read and confirmed.

PAPER.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table correspondence respecting the proposed removal of the Cape d'Aguilar Light to Green Island, and addressed the Council.

SANITARY BYE-LAW (CLEANSING AND LIMEWHITING).-His Excellency the Governor said that, at the previous meeting of Council, the Director of Public Works brought for the approval of the Council a Bye-Law made by the Sanitary Board under sub-section 4 of section 13 of Ordinance No. 24 of 1887, but the motion was not seconded.

The Colonial Secretary then seconded the motion, in order that the Members might offer sugges- tions with regard to the matter.

Dr. Ho KAI addressed the Council, and moved that the Bye-Law be not approved.

Mr. THURBURN seconded the motion.

Mr. WEI YUK addressed the Council.

On the matter being put to the vote, it was unanimously decided not to approve the Bye-Law.

THE CIVIL MEDICAL STAFF DISCIPLINE BILL.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the better enforcement of discipline among the subordinate staff in the Civil Medical Department.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill

Council resumed.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill,

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do Bill passed.

pass.

NATURALIZED PERSONS BILL.-The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to repeal all Ordinances for the Naturalization of Persóns as British Subjects within this Colony and to make provision for the Preservation of the Rights of such Persons.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.--The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved that the Council go formally into Committee on the Bill.

Agreed to.

Council resumed.

Bill reported without amendment.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned sine die.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

Read and confirmed, this 23rd day of April, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 8.

TUESDAY, 23RD APRIL, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 14th March, 1901, were read and confirmed. FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Gov- ernor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 17 to 25), and moved that they be

referred to the Finance Committee:--

C.S.O.

2711 of 1900.

C.S.O.

849 of 1901.

C.S.O

2531 of 1900.

C.5.0.

1017 of 1901.

C.S.0.

456 of 1901.

C.S.0.

1130 of 1901,

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand three hundred and twenty Dollars ($3,320) to provide new moorings, &c., for the Hospital Hulk Hygeia.

Government House, Hongkong, 21st March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and seventy Dollars ($170) for the erection of a Coal Store at Starling Inlet Police Station.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine thousand and thirty-six Dollars and Twenty-five Cents ($9,036.25) to meet the expenses incurred by the Government of the Federated Malay States in respect of the Cadets Messrs. E. D. C. WOLFE and S. B. C. Ross.

Government House, Hongkong, 26th March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine hundred and ninety Dollars ($990), being Rent of Quarters for Gaol Officers for nine months at $110 per month, for the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and eighty-eight Dollars ($288) to cover the cost of certain articles required for the use of the Waglan Light Station.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th April, 1901. HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of Eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-one Dollars and Ninety-five Cents ($8,871.95) being unexpended balance of the votes for 1900 under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary" for the construction of a Police Station at Saikung.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th April, 1901.

C.S.O.

1130 of 1901.

C.S.O. 2627 of 1900.

C.S.O.

56 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and four Dollars ($1,204) in aid of the vote under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary" for the construction of a Police Station at Saikung.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred and fifty-three Dollars and Fifty-two Cents ($553.52) to meet the cost of the repairs of certain damages done by the typhoon in November last.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand one hundred and (Extension.) fourteen Dollars and nine Cents ($1,114.09) in aid of the vote "Maintenance of Buildings in New Territory" to meet the cost of repairing and effecting certain alterations, &c., to the Government Matsheds at Taipo.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd April, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Acting Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated the 11th March, 1901, (No. 5), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

PAPERS. The Acting Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :-

1. Report of the Food Supply Commission.

2. Report of the Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer, for the year 1900.

3. Report by the Harbour Master as to the removal of Cape D'Aguilar Light to Green Island.

4. Report on the Revenue and Expenditure of the British Post Offices in China.

5. Financial Returns for the year 1900.

6. Report of the Superintendent of Fire Brigade, for the year 1900.

7. Report on the Botanical and Afforestation Department, for the year 1900.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 15th day of July, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

イ

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 9.

MONDAY, 15TH JULY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

;)

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD,

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 23rd April, 1901, were read and confirmed.

MEMBERS SWORN IN.-Mr. T. H. WHITEHEAD was sworn in on resuming his seat as an Unofficial Member of Council. Mr. J. THURBURN, having been appointed an Unofficial Member of Council, also took the Oath and his seat.

PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers:---

1. The Blue Book for 1900.

2. Report of the Acting Postmaster General, for 1900.

3. Report of the Director of Public Works, for 1900.

4. Report of the Registrar General, for 1900.

5. Report on the Land Court, for 1900.

6. Report on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, for 1900.

7. Reports of the Medical Officer of Health, the Sanitary Surveyor, and the Colonial

Veterinary Surgeon, for 1900.

8. Report on the Pó Léung Kuk Society, for 1900.

9. Returns of the Supreme Court, for 1900.

10. Returns of the Subordinate Court, for 1900.

11. Statement of Water Account, for 1900.

12. Report of the Acting Harbour Master, for 1900.

13. Report of the Inspector of Schools, for 1900.

14. Report of the Acting Head Master of Queen's College and of the Examiners appointed

by the Governing Body for 1900.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes (Nos. 26 to 43), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:-

C.S.O.

34 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

,000)

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand Dollars ($1,( Extension) in aid of the vote under the heading "Public Works, Annually Recurrent Expenditure" for

the Maintenance of Buildings in New Territory.

C.S.0.

380 of 1900.

€.8.0.

869 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 22nd April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and thirty-five Dollars ($1,235) as a grant-in-aid to the London Missionary Society for the buildings used for purposes of a school in the Training Home for Chinese girls.

Government House. Hongkong, 23rd April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand Dollars ($4,000) for the erection of a Public Bath House for the use of the Chinese.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th April, 1901.

C.S.O.

1202 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine hundred and fifty Dollars ($950) to defray, during the current year, the salary of an Additional Accounting Clerk in the Public Works Department :-

Salary for nine months from 1st April to 31st December, 1901, at $100 per

month,

$900.00

Clerical assistance rendered during the month of March pending the appointment

of the above mentioned Clerk,

50.00

Total,....

$950.00

Government House, Hongkong, 24th April, 1901.

C.S.O.

1255 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Eighty thousand Dollars ($80,000) in aid of the vote Other Miscellaneous Services under the heading "Miscellaneous Services."

Government House, Hongkong, 8th May, 1901.

MISCELLANEOUS-“OTHER.”

VOTES.

EXPENDITURE.

Voted by 1901 Estimates,...... 10,000.00

Expenditure to June 30th, Plague,| 25,886.88

10,000.00

Financial Minute No. 3,

200.00

Other, 24,674.51

50,061,39

No. 5,

1,145.00

دو

Estimated Plague Expenditure,-

❤

No. 7,

5,829.82

No. 9,

260.42

(ii.)

No. 12,

235.00

No. 13,

265.00

No. 15,

2,943.60

Balance,

(i.) Sanitary Board for June, 15,000.00

July, August and September,... 25,000.00

(iii) Police (Special Police) and

other Departments,

10,878.84 Estimated for Expenses other 79,182.55 than Plague to December 31st,

$100,061.39

5,000.00

45,000.00

5,000.00

100,061.39

C.S.O. 843 of 1901.

C.S.O.

162 of 1901.

[In the above is included Financial Minute No. 36, which has since been cancelled.] HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred Dollars ($100) for the opening of a Stores Account under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary ".

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Eight thousand six hundred and (Extension.) fifty-nine Dollars and forty-one Cents ($8,659.41) to meet the cost of laying a telegraph cable

to Waglan Lighthouse.

ABSTRACT.

Joint Telegraph Company for supplying and laying cable,. Yau Kung Cheung for labour, &c., Incidental Expenses,

..$8,160.00

463.41

36.00

Total,....

.$8,659.41

C.S.O.

1036 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th May, 1901. HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand and one hundred Dollars ($3,100) in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Works under the heading "Public Works, Annually Recurrent Expenditure" to meet the cost of increasing the height of the windows on ground floor of the Central Market in order to improve the natural lighting.

Government House, Hongkong, 17th May, 1901.

C.S.O.

106 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and eighty-three (Extension.) Dollars and forty-one Cents (£28.11.3 at 2/0 $283.41), being amount due to the Crown Agents for expenses incurred in connection with the selection of the three Lightkeepers for Waglan Island Lighthouse.

C.S.O.

1691 of 1901.

C.S.O.

142 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 16th May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and ten Dollars ($210) to defray, during the current year, the salary of an additional Quartermaster and a Seaman for the Steam Tender "Stanley":—

Salary of Quartermaster from 1st June to 31st December, 1901, at $16

per month,

Salary of Seaman from 1st June to 31st December, 1901, at $14 per month,

Government House, Hongkong, 1st June, 1901. HENRY A. BLAKE.

Total,.........

.$ 112.00

98.00

...S 210.00

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Seven thousand one hundred and twenty Dollars ($7,120) for the erection of a derrick, &c., on a new site at Gap Rock :—

(1) Formation of site for new derrick, new path and improvement of site

of existing derrick,

(2) Dock Company's tender for new jib for existing derrick and for

removal of existing derrick to new site,

Total,.............

.$6,500.00.

620.00

$7,120.00

C.S.O.

121 of 1891.

Government House, Hongkong, 31st May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and fifty-six Dollars (Extension.) ($156) to cover the wages of two Chinese Watchmen for Waglan Island Lighthouse from

16th June to 31st December, 1901, at $12 per month cach.

C. O. Desp.

12 of 1901.

C.S.O.

514 of 1900.

C.S.O. 1659 of 1901.

C.S.O.

960 of 1901.

C.S.O. 2480 of 1900.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six thousand Dollars ($6,000) to cover the cost of the improvement in lighting the approaches to the Harbour of Hongkong, during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 24th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and one Dollars and one Cent ($101.01) in aid of the vote for the construction of an Armoury for the Police.

Government House, Hongkong, 1st July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred and fifty Dollars ($650) to cover the salary of an additional Overseer for the Public Works Departinent from 16th June to 31st December, 1901, at $100 per mensem.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand and seven hundred Dollars ($4,700) to cover the cost of training and diverting the Nullah in the vicinity of the Tram Station.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

729

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) in aid of the vote Re, airs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia

Government House, Hongkong, 19th June, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded. Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 23rd April, 1901, (No. 6), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

SANITARY BOARD BYE-LAWS.-The Acting Director of Public Works laid on the table the Bye- laws made by the Sanitary Board on the 18th April, 1901, under section 13 sub-section 16 of The Public Health Ordinance, 1901 (No. 13 of 1901), and moved that it be approved by the Council.

The Acting Attorney General seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

FORESHORES AND SEA BED BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to validate Crown leases heretofore made of Foreshore and submerged Lands within the territorial waters of the Colony for reclamation and other purposes and to legalize and facilitate the making of such leases hereafter.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law relating to Reformatory Schools.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

NATURALIZATION OF LAU YAT TS'ÜN BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first read- ing of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Naturalization of LAU YAT TS'ÜN, alias LAU NG, alias LAU MAN KWONG, alias LAU NG Wo, alias LAU HOK WAI.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

TRAMWAY BILL.-Mr. CHATER moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for authorizing the Construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

STAMP BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordi- nance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps and Stamp Duty in the Colony of Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

FINAL SUPPLY BILL.-The Acting Colonial Treasurer moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Five hundred and Fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one Dollars and seventy-eight Cents, to defray the Charges of the Year 1900.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 29th July, 1901, at 3 p.m.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Read and confirmed, this 29th day of July, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

Governor.

{

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 10.

MONDAY, 29TH JULY, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel Louis FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

})

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBurn.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 15th July, 1901, were read and confirmed.

MEMBER SWORN IN.--Colonel LOUIS FAULKNER BROWN, R.E., having been appointed an Official Member of Council, during the absence of Major-General W. J. GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., took the Oath and his seat.

THE LAW COMMITTEE.-On the proposal of His Excellency the Governor, the Honourable J. J. BELL-IRVING and the Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD were elected Members of the Law Committee, vice the Honourable J. J. KESWICK and the Honourable R. M. GRAY, resigned.

PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :-

1. A Clinical Report on Malaria by Dr. J. BELL, Acting Principal Civil Medical Officer,

and Mr. G. STEWART (Lieut., I.M.S.), Acting Assistant Superintendent.

2. A Blue-book containing Correspondence regarding the Sanitary Condition of Hongkong,

including the Public Petition dated 25th June, 1901, and a Memorandum thereon.

The Colonial Secretary said, with regard to the Blue-book, that there were three diagrams which had not yet been completed, and which would be circulated to Members with fresh copies of the Blue- book in the course of a few days.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 44 to 47), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee :--

C.5.0.

1867 of 1900.

C.S.0.

40 of 1901.

C.S.O.

1919 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand and one hundred Dollars ($4,100) to meet the cost of railing in the openings round the Cattle Depôts at Kennedy Town.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Ten thousand Dollars ($10,000) to meet the estimated cost of two self-inking embossing presses and dies, &c., for a new series of Stamps, &c., for the use of the Stamp and Post Offices.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five thousand Dollars ($5,000) to meet the cost to be incurred on account of the erection of a Market at Kowloon Point during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th July, 1901.

C.5.0.

2750 of 1900.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand seven hundred and twenty Dollars ($1,720) in aid of the vote "Watering Streets" to cover the cost of four water carts and pumps for the use of the Sanitary Department.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th July, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated the 15th July, 1901, (No. 7), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and-agreed to.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Acting Director of Public Works, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of Proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a meeting held on the 15th July, 1901, (No. 3), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.-Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that, at the next meeting of Council, he would ask the following Questions:-

LAND REGISTRATION IN THE NEW TERRITORY.

(1.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary lay upon the Council table a return showing (1) the number of claims to land in the New Territory sent in up to 30th June, 1901, and (2) the number of claims which had been finally disposed of by the Land Court up to that date? Also will the Honourable member inform the Council what progress has been made with the survey of the New Territory?

EXPENDITURE AND REVENUE IN THE COLONY'S NEW TERRITORY.

(2.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer lay upon the Council table a statement showing the total expenditure incurred in connection with the New Territory from the date of the lease thereof, viz., 9th June, 1898, to 30th June, 1901, and the total revenue collected from the said New Territory during the same period, the principal items under both heads to be shown separately?

DISCONTENT AMONG THE EUROPEAN MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE

AND THE GAOL STAFF.

(3.) Has the attention of the Honourable the Captain Superintendent of Police been directed to paragraphs and leaderettes which appeared in the "China Mail” of 23rd, 25th and 26th instant, in the "Telegraph" of 27th, and in the "Daily Press" of 24th and 27th idem in respect of discontent among the European members of the police force and the gaol staff, and will the Honourable member inform the Council as to the correctness or otherwise of the allegations and statements therein made?

JERRY-BUILDINGS.

(4.) Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works lay upon the Council table a statement showing the number of buildings in the Colony which have fallen down from 1st January, 1900, to 30th June, 1901, the names of the owners of said buildings, and the number of deaths caused by the tumbling down of said premises, and will the Honourable member state the causes, so far as known, which have contributed to each accident, and, if they have resulted from defective construction, what precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent the erection of such buildings in the future?

NATURALIZATION OF SIU YÜN-FAI BILL.--The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Naturalization of SIU YÜN-FAI, alias Síú YÜN-HUNG, alias Sio KWOK-YEUNG, alias Síú Kú-MING, alias Síú YING-P'ING.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

TRAMWAYS AMENDMENT BILL.-Mr. CHATER moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordi- nance to amend the Scope of The Tramways Ordinance, 1883, (No. 6 of 1883), and the Tramways Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1853, (No. 18 of 1883).

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

FORESHORES AND SEA BED BILL.-The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and asked leave to discharge from the Orders of the Day the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordi- nance to validate Crown leases heretofore made of Foreshore, and submerged Lands within the territo- rial waters of the Colony for reclamation and other purposes and to legalize and facilitate the making of such leases hereafter.

Leave was granted, and the item discharged.

REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.-The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law relating to Reformatory Schools.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill,

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

NATURALIZATION OF LAU YAT TS'ÜN BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Naturalization of LAU YAT TS'ÜN, alias LAU NG, alias LAU MAN KWONG, alias LAU NG Wo, alias LAU HOK WAI.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

STAMP BILL.--The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps and Stamp Duty in the Colony of Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Acting Attorney General moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee. The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

TRAMWAY BILL.--Mr. CHATER addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance for authorizing the Construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

His Excellency the Governor, Dr. Ho KAI and Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Mr. CHATER moved that the Bill be referred to the Standing Law Committee.

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

It was suggested that Messrs. SHEWAN, TOMES & Co., the representatives of the promoters, should be consulted as to a reduction of fares for the labouring classes if the Government were willing to surrender its royalties in whole or in part. It was also suggested that the Senior Unofficial Member should attend the meetings of the Law Committee to discuss the Bill.

The suggestions were agreed to.

SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY BILL.--The Acting Colonial Treasurer moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Five hundred and Fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one Dollars and Seventy-eight Cents, to defray the Charges of the Year 1900.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 13th day of August, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

TUESDAY, 13TH AUGUST, 1901.

No. 11.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel LouIS FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 29th July, 1901, were read and confirmed.

RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE ON THE DEATH OF H. I. H. EMPRESS FREDERICK. PRINCESS ROYAL.-The Governor addressed the Council as follows:

Honourable Members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong,-I have summoned you to-day that I may propose to you as representing this community a resolution expressing our respectful sympathy with His Majesty the King and His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor on the death of the Dowager Empress FREDERICK of Germany, Princess Royal of England. When in those sad days in January the son and grandson met at Osborne to mingle their tears over the deathbed of our great Queen, we did not expect that within eight months the two august monarchs would once more find themselves involved in a common sorrow at the death of a beloved mother and sister-a bereavement that has placed two nations in mourning and has touched millions of German and British hearts with a common sentiment of sympathy. England has not forgotten the infinite charm of the Princess Royal with her far-reaching sympathies, and history will do justice to the great abilities and admirable qualities of the Dowager Empress FREDERICK and to the gentle fortitude with which Her Majesty bore in her later years afflictions and sufferings from which no human being, however exalted, is exempt. To us the melancholy duty presents itself of tendering to His Majesty the King and His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor our respectful condolences, and I beg to propose for your acceptance the following resolution :-

"That the Members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong desire humbly to express to His Majesty the King and His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor the sorrow with which they have received the intelligence of the death of the Dowager Empress FREDERICK of Germany, Princess Royal of England, and their deep sympathy with their Majesties in their bereavement."

Mr. CHATER in seconding said:-

Your Excellency,-I beg to second the resolution, and in doing so, I am convinced that I represent the wishes of the community in general, including the Chinese. The loss sustained by His Majesty the King is a severe one, and that by the Emperor WILLIAM still more so. The King has lost a dear sister, and the Emperor his beloved mother. The death of the Empress FREDERICK has been felt deeply in both Great Britain and Germany. As Princess Royal of England she made herself very popular, and in the Fatherland she very soon earned the esteem and affection of the people. In this Colony, Sir, we have a large German community, and we unite with them in condoling with the Sovereigns of the two

countries in their great loss. This is the second time within the present year that the two nations have been drawn together by calamity. Let us hope that the feeling of sympathy and friendship will go on, deepening and broadening, not by losses of this kind, but by a forward movement of growing mutual regard, the result of better acquaitance. With these remarks, Sir, I beg to second the resolution.

The Resolution was unanimously accepted.

ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 29th day of August, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI, Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 12.

THURSDAY, 29TH AUGUST, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel Louis FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

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21.

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer. (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM)

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 13th August, 1901, were read and confirmed. PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :-

1. Report on the New Territory during the second year of British Administration.

2. Correspondence regarding increase of Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service

of the Colony.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 48 to 56), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:-

C.S.O. 1465 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Eleven thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven Dollars ($11,967) to meet the cost of the erection of certain matsheds, &c., to be used as Public Baths.

ABSTRACT.

Matsheds, including tubs, &c., &c.,..........

Firewood, wages of attendants, &c., up to 31st May,

$ 3,585.00 1,390.00

Subsequent expenditure up to 31st August, namely 92 days, at $76 per day, 6,992.00

Government House, Hongkong, 25th July, 1901.

Total,.........

$11,967.00

C.S.O.

2283 of 1901,

C.S.O. 2300 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred Dollars ($600) in aid of the vote" Repairs to Government House Furniture and Incidental Expenses."

Government House, Hongkong, 29th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Twenty-one thousand Dollars ($21,000) in aid of the following votes :--

PUBLIC WORKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPenditure.

1. Maintenance of Telegraphs,

Do.

Praya Wall and Piers,

•

Do.

Waterworks, Kowloon,

•

Do.

Macadamized Roads in Victoria, Concreted Roads in Victoria,

6. Water Account,

$3,000.00

2,000.00

6,000.00

5,000.00

2,000.00

3,000.00

Total,...........

.$21,000.00

Government House, Hongkong, 29th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

C.S.O.

2284 of 1901.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand seven hundred and fifty Dollars ($2,750) in aid of the following votes in the Post Office :-

Incidental Expenses at the Agencies,

Commission on Money Orders,

Total,

$1,500.00,

1,250.00

$2,750.00

C.S.0.

2297 of 1900.

C.5.0. 2297 of 19J0.

C.S.O. 2192 of 1901.

C.S.O. 2494 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 30th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Twelve thousand Dollars ($12,000) to meet the cost to be incurred on account of the erection of two Temporary Markets, one opposite the Sailors' Home and one adjoining the new Harbour Office, during the current

year.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand Dollars ($3,000) to meet the cost to be incurred on account of the extension of Wanchai Market, during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred Dollars ($600) in aid of the vote of $1,000 for the erection of a Home for Quarantined Dogs under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary."

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty-six thousand one hundred and seventy-seven Dollars and seven Cents ($36,177.07) in aid of the following votes:--

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

(1.) Yaumati Nullah,

(2.) Gaol Extension,

(3.) Taipo Road,

..$ 250.00 927.07 35,000.00

Total,.........

..$36,177.07

C.5.0.

2487 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred Dollars ($100) in aid of the vote of $700 for Furniture and Incidental Expenses ", Registrar General's Depart

ment.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th August, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee dated the 29th July, 1901, (No. 8), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORTS OF THE STANDING LAW COMMITTEE.--The Acting Attorney General, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Reports of the Standing Law Committee,

viz. :-

(1.) On a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps

and Stamp Duties in the Colony of Hongkong;

(2.) On a Bill entitled An Ordinance for authorizing the Construction of a Tramway within

the Colony of Hongkong;

and moved their adoption.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

SANITARY BOARD BYE-LAWS.-The Acting Director of Public Works addressed the Council, and laid on the table Additional Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board with reference to the prevention of epidemic, endemic or contagious disease, and moved that they be approved by the Council.

The Acting Attorney General seconded.

The Colonial Secretary enquired as to how the expense that will be incurred in carrying out the Bye-laws is to be met.

The Acting Director of Public Works replied.

A discussion ensued in which His Excellency the Governor and the Acting Attorney General

took part.

Dr. Ho KAI then addressed the Council, and proposed the adjournment of the discussion until the next meeting of Council.

Mr. WHITEHEAD Seconded the proposal.

The Captain Superintendent of Police addressed the Council.

The proposal for postponement was then put and carried.

OTHER SANITARY BOARD BYE-LAWS.-The Acting Director of Public Works laid on the table Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board for the disinfection of infected premises, and suggested that these Bye-laws be also allowed to stand over.

Agreed to.

NOTICE OF QUESTION. Mr. WHITEHEAD gave notice that, at the next meeting of Council, he would ask the following question :—

Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary inform the Council of the approximate number of

fishermen employed in taking coral and shell from the sea adjoining the New Territory, and the names of the places where and about the extent of ground over which such fishing is carried on?

QUESTIONS. Mr. WHITEHEAD, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-

(1.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary lay upon the Council table a return showing.

(1) the number of claims to land in the New Territory sent in up to 30th June, 1901; and (2) the number of claims which had been finally disposed of by the Land Court up to that date? Also will the Honourable Member inform the Council what progress has been made with the survey of the New Territory?

The Colonial Secretary, in reply, laid on the table the Return asked for and a Report on the Progress made with the Survey in the New Territory.

(2.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer lay upon the Council table a statement showing the total expenditure incurred in connection with the New Territory from the date of the Lease thereof, viz., 9th June, 1898, to 30th June, 1901, and the total revenue collected from the said New Territory during the same period, the principal items under both heads to be shown separately?

The Acting Colonial Treasurer, in reply, laid on the table a Statement shewing the Revenue and Expenditure at the New Territory, from June, 1898, to 30th June, 1901.

(3.) Has the attention of the Ionourable the Captain Superintendent of Police been directed to paragraphs and leaderettes which appeared in the "China Mail" of 23rd, 25th and 26th instant, in the "Telegraph" of 27th, and in the "Daily Press" of 24th and 27th idem, in respect of discontent among the European members of the Police Force and the Gaol Staff, and will the Honourable Member inform the Council as to the correctness or otherwise of the allegations and statements therein made?

The Captain Superintendent of Police replied.

(4.) Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works lay upon the Council table a statement

showing:-

(1.) The number of buildings in the Colony, which have fallen down, from 1st

January, 1895, to 16th instant.

(2.) The names of the owners of the said buildings.

(3.) The number of deaths caused thereby.

(4.) The number of Coroner's enquiries held in connection with such deaths.

(5.) The number of prosecutions, if any, instituted as the result of the said enquiries;

and

(6.) The causes, so far as ascertained, which have contributed to the tumbling down in each case, and, if the collapse of any or all of the buildings in question have resulted from defective construction, will the Honourable Member inform the Council:-

(1.) What precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent the erection

of such buildings in the future; and

(2.) What precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent a recur- rence of a like calamity attended with such heavy loss of life as that which occurred in Cochrane Street on 14th instant in connection with buildings already in existence?

The Acting Director of Public Works replied that time had not permitted the preparation of the Statement asked for, but that, as soon as it is ready, it will be laid on the Council table, and all avail- able information given on the subject.

(5.) Will the Honourable the Attorney General inform the Council whether the “ Venice Plague

Convention of 1897" applies to the Colony of Hongkong?

The Acting Attorney General replied that the Convention does not apply to the Colony of Hongkong.

(6.) If the "Venice Plague Convention of 1897" does not apply to the Colony of Hongkong, will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary inform the Council whether the Government will direct the Sanitary Board to take into consideration at an early date the question whether in the event of an epidemic of Plague occurring during 1902, sick Chinese will, as during the 1894 epidemic, be permitted to leave the Colony for their homes on the mainland—provided the Chinese "Government offers no objection—and if so, to determine under what conditions they will be allowed to do so?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

(7.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary lay upon the Council table a copy of the detailed statement already prepared by the Medical Officer of Health and the Secretary of the Sani- tary Board, by direction of its President, asked for by Mr. Edward Osborne at the Sanitary Board meeting held on the 8th instant, showing what recommendations the Board and its Officers have made during the past ten years in respect of additional Markets, additional Fublic Latrines, and additional Public Urinals, and how far such recommendations had been carried out?

The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Return asked for.

(8.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary inform the Council, whether the Government have telegraphed urging on the Colonial Office the imperative necessity, in the interests of the trade and the shipping of the port, of selecting and appointing a thoroughly experienced officer, first class in every respect, and of considerable professional standing, to take charge of the Public Works Department (in succession to Mr. R. D. Ormsby), and of the ever increasing duties devolving on that Department in respect of roads, streets, buildings, drainage, water-works, reclamations, and the many important public works now in pro- gress and in contemplation directly connected with the sanitation of the Colony?

The Colonial Secretary replied in the negative.

JURY CONSOLIDATION AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Jury Consolidation Ordinance, 1887.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

PROBATES AMENDMENT BILL.--The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to ainend The Probates Ordinance, 1897, (No. 3 of 1897).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1899, (No. 36 of 1899).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

GUNPOWDER AND FIREWORKS BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the law relating to the manufacture of gunpowder and of fire- works, and to regulate the sale and conveyance of gunpowder.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

NATURALIZATION OF SÍÚ YÜN-FAI BILL.--The Acting Attorney General moved the second read- ing of the Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Naturalization of Siú YÜN-FAI, alias Síú YÜN-HANG, alias Síú Kwok-YEUNG, alias Síú KU-MING, alias Síú YING-P'ING.

•

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do

Bill passed.

pass.

FORESHORES AND SEA BED BILL.--The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to validate Crown leases heretofore made of Foreshore, and submerged Lands within the territorial waters of the Colony for reclamation and other purposes and to legalize and facilitate the making of such leases hereafter; and addressed the Council.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council, and moved :-

That the second reading of this Bill be postponed until a translation of the Bill in the Chinese language shall have been published by Proclamation in all the towns and villages within the New Territory together with a notice calling upon all persons whose rights or interests of property may be affected by it, to bring their objections before the Council by petition within one month from the date of the issue of such notice.

Dr. Ho KAI seconded.

Council divided, and Members voted as follows:-

For the amendment.

Mr. WEI YUK.

Dr. Ho KAI.

Mr. WHITEHEAD.

The motion was lost.

Against.

Mr. THURBURN.

Mr. BELL-IRVING.

Mr. CHATER.

The Captain Superintendent of Police.

The Acting Director of Public Works.

The Harbour Master.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer.

The Acting Attorney General.

The Colonial Secretary.

The Officer Commanding the Troops.

The motion for the second reading of the Bill was then put and carried, Mr. WEI YUK, Dr. Ho KAI and Mr. WHITEHEAD Voting against it.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill, and the amendments proposed by the Acting Attorney General were agreed to.

Mr. WHITEHEAD moved that the following words be added after the wordCouncil" (the last word in paragraph 2 of clause 3):-"and his decision thereon shall be notified in writing to the objectors; and if within one month from the date of such notice no application has been made to the Supreme Court in its Summary Jurisdiction for leave to appeal from such decision, such decision shall be final and binding."

The amendment was lost.

Council resumed.

Further progress with the Bill was deferred.

TRAMWAYS AMENDMENT BILL.-Mr. CHATER addressed the Council, and moved the second read- ing of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Scope of The Tramways Ordinance, 1883, (No. 6 of 1883), and the Tramways Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1883, (No. 18 of 1883).

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment.

Council resumed.

STAMP BILL.--The Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps and Stamp Duty in the Colony of Hongkong.

The Acting Attorney General moved that the three amendments recommended by the Standing Law Committee on the Bill be adopted, and they were agreed to.

Council resumed.

TRAMWAY BILL.--Mr. CHATER moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance for authorizing the Construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

The Acting Attorney General read the Report of the Standing Law Committee on the Bill. Colonel BROWN enquired whether clause 19 of the Bill covered the case of the Tramway Com- pany laying return wires.

The Acting Attorney General replied.

With regard to the charging by the Tramway Company of any special high rate if the services of the tramway should be required for defensive purposes, Colonel BROWN moved that it be provided that in no such case shall the amount charged exceed the tramway fares.

The amendment was agreed to.

The Bill was then considered section by section, and the amendments recommended by the Law Committee were agreed to.

Council resumed.

SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY BILL--The Acting Colonial Treasurer moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Five hundred and Fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one Dollars and Seventy-eight Cents, to defray the Charges of the Year 1900.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass. Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 17th day of September, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

طورية

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 13.

TUESDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel Louis Faulkner Brown, R.E.).

the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING,

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

The Honourable ARTHUR WIMBOLT BREWIN

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 29th August, 1901, were read and confirmed. His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council as follows:-

HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,-I have called you together to- day simply for the purpose of giving formal expression to the feelings that I know animated every breast in this community when it was heard here on Saturday night that the mis- creant's bullet fired at President MCKINLEY had done its bloody work but too well, and that for the third time within the last half-century the President of the great nation of kinsmen across the Pacific had fallen at the hands of an assassin. It would not be seemly for me to say anything either in praise or disparagement of the policy of the late President MCKINLEY, but we can all acknowledge the great qualities that led that gallant young soldier of the Civil War through all the struggles of his professional and political life, until at last he had been chosen by one of the greatest nations of this earth to fill the position of its President- one of the most tremendous responsibilities known to the world. Like LINCOLN, he has fallen just after he had led his country through a great crisis, and for us nothing remains nów but to express our horror and detestation of the crime, to convey our sympathy with the great American nation and our condolences in her bereavement with Mrs. McKINLEY, who has herself within the last few months been so nearly behind the veil, and to whom will remain as a consolation in her great suffering the loving remembrance of a good life well lived and of a good work faithfully performed. I ask you, gentlemen, to accept from me the following resolution :-

"The members of the Legislative Council, on behalf of the people of this Colony, desire to express their horror at the atrocious crime which has deprived the American nation of a great President, and to convey through His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington the expression of their deep sympathy with the American nation and of their condolences with Mrs. McKINLEY in her bereavement."

I will ask the Honourable Senior Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council to kindly second.

Mr. CHATER addressed the Council as follows:-

YOUR EXCELLENCY,-I beg to second the resolution just proposed. I feel assured that I am giving expression to the sentiments of the whole community-British and Foreign. At the same time, it is only natural that in the British Empire the feeling of sympathy with the bereaved widow and the mourning American nation should be keenest. On such an occasion the kinship of the two great Anglo-Saxon nations makes itself most strongly felt. It is but a few months ago since the warm-hearted American people were condoling with us

on the loss of our late beloved Queen and Empress, and the late President was swift to flash across the wires a message of sympathy to our King, who is now condoling with Mrs. MCKINLEY. Mere words are a poor vehicle with which to convey our grief and horror at a crime that has shocked the civilised world; but it will, I hope. be some comfort to the widow and some consolation to the people of the United States to know that wherever our common tongue is spoken, their mourning and regret are shared.

The Resolution was carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 26th day of September, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

...

Read and confirmed, this 26th day of September, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

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ปี

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 14.

THURSDAY, 26TH SEPTEMBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel LOUIS FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer. (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER ).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM). ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho Kai, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD,

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th September, 1901, were real and confirmed.

NEW MEMBER-Mr. A. W. BREWIN took his seat as a Member of the Council, after having taken the Oath prescribed by Ordinance No. 4 of 1869.

His Excellency the Governor then addressed the Council as follows:-

As is usual when laying the Estimates before you, it is well to take some account of the incidents of the past year affecting the Colony, to consider our position generally, and to render to you as far as can be done in a short statement an account of our stewardship. It is needless to say that the sad event that touched all our hearts most deeply was the death of our great and dearly loved Queen, for whom all the world has mourned, and to whose memory a great memorial, worthy I hope of the greatest among the great, is projected in London. Towards the cost of that memorial all the Colonies are contributing. Our people of Hongkong have with their usual liberality subscribed $77,860, to which sum I propose that this Council shall add $50,000-a proposal that I am certain will meet the approval of every member of the Council.

The war in South Africa, waged under circumstances of exceptional difficulty, and extending over an area nearly as large as the whole of South China East of Yunnan has cost us many thousands of the flower of our people, who have laid down their lives in the most sacred of all duties-that of upholding the honour of their country. But their sacrifice has not been in vain, for the war, with all its tedious and trying incidents, has shown that the qualities of high courage and patient determination that have built up our Empire are as strong and dominant as at any period of our history, and it has demonstrated that the British Empire is not, as some have thought, a conglomeration of loosely bound protected countries, of Colonies restless under a centralized Government, and of subject nations yield- ing a sullen submission; but that wherever our flag floats, when the tocsin of war had sounded, the swords of free peoples leaped from their scabbards and the British Empire stood forth solid and compact with the fervour of patriotism throbbing as strongly at the extre- mities as in the heart of England.

The serious troubles in the North of China have affected this Colony less than might have been expected. These troubles are yet too recent to enable us to form a fair estimate of their cause, and it may be that history will show that there have been grave faults and mistakes on both sides, but happily in the South we have been spared the horrors that have deluged some of the Northern provinces with blood, and I am glad to say that the relations of this Colony with Canton have never been more cordial.

During the past year the amount of shipping entering and clearing from the port was greater than at any period of its history, and the returns show that the financial position of the Colony is satisfactory. A grave local misfortune was experienced on the 9th November, when the Colony was visited by a typhoon the disastrous result of which must be fresh in

your memory. In that terrible night 10 launches and over 110 junks were sunk in the harbour, and it is calculated that between Hongkong and Tai Ô over two hundred lives were lost. I wish to express here my admiration of the ready and abundant charity with which the inhabitants of every nationality relieved the distress of the sufferers.

I regret deeply that, notwithstanding the precautions taken in the early part of this year, plague re-appeared in the spring in epidemic form and raged with great violence during the summer months. The Medical Officer of Health and the Sanitary staff spared no exertions to check its ravages, but so far I fear that we cannot claim to have discovered either the prevention, or the cure. It is, however, our plain duty to leave nothing untried that science can suggest to save the Colony from the recurring visitations of this disease, and I have no doubt that you will cheerfully grant the necessary funds to carry out any recom- mendations that may be made after examination by responsible experts. I have approached the Secretary of State for the Colonies on this subject, and have received an intimation that Mr. Osbert Chadwick, an eminent Sanitary Engineer, will come out at the end of the year to examine and report upon the sanitary condition of the Colony. I have no doubt, that this will be agreeable to the people of Hongkong, who are naturally in a state of great anxiety on the subject of sanitation. It has also been intimated to me that a medical man with expe- rience of the plague epidemic elsewhere will be sent to consult with the Medical Officers of the Colony. I hope most earnestly that the result of these visits may throw some light upon the causes of this annual visitation of plague and enable us to combat its attacks with a greater measure of success. The telegrams that have passed on this subject will be laid on the table to-day. Outside the plague mortality, the death-rate of the Colony compares fa- vourably with that of any Colony in the East, or any port in China. During the continuance of the epidemic the business of the port was seriously interfered with by the withdrawal from the Colony of many thousands of Chinese who feared that in the event of their con- tracting the disease they could not, if they so desired, return to their homes. Representations were made on the subject by the Chamber of Commerce and by the inhabitants generally— representations to which I gave my strongest support--but His Majesty's Government did not feel justified in assenting to any regulation under which plague patients could return to their homes. I hope, however, to be able to come to an arrangement with the Viceroy of the two Kwangs that will admit of the transfer under proper precautions of Chinese suffer- ing from the disease who may desire to proceed to Canton for treatment, and thus relieve the anxiety that impelled so many of the Chinese to abandon for a time their occupations in this Colony.

Next to plague our most dangerous disease is malarial fever, which observation proves to be the result of inoculation by Anopheles Mosquito. I have determined to enter upon the heavy task of training the nullahs flowing into the City of Victoria, and there have been for several months about 200 coolies employed in cutting the bush and filling the pools that harbour mosquitoes in the Western Nullahs.

The expenses of the New Territory are still very heavy, and so far the revenue has not nearly come up to the estimate. The reason of this is that the land revenue cannot be satisfactorily collected until the cadastral survey has been made and the lands demarcated. The difficulty will then disappear. The expenditure has been for the construction of the Taipo Road now approaching completion to Taipo Hu, for police stations, for police launches to patrol the two hundred miles of coast, for the survey, and for the Land Court in whose hands the settlement of land claims is placed. These expenses could not have been avoided, and when the country begins to develop the expenses will be amply repaid.

The present financial position of the Colony is satisfactory. On the 31st December, 1900, the Assets of the Colony showed a balance over Liabilities of $1,100,785.69, which does not include the value of silver at the Mint amounting to $40,415.82. This balance it is antici- pated will be still further increased by $358,295.94, the estimated balance of Revenue over Expenditure in 1901, which will thus increase the Assets to $1,499,497.45.

The Loan Account of £341,799.15.1 to be paid off in 1943, had £16,485.13.2 to the credit of the Sinking Fund.

The Revenue for 1900 was $4,202,587.40, and the Expenditure was $3,628.447.13. Taking the Revenue of five years ago at $2,609,878.94 and the Expenditure exclusive of the Interest and Sinking Fund of the Loan at $2,244,291.05, these figures show that in five years the Revenue has increased by 61 per cent. and the Expenditure by 563 per cent.

Turning to the Estimates now placed before you, it will be seen that the estimated Revenue amounts to $4,605,965, and the estimated Expenditure including Public Works the for 1902 explains in detail the reasons for the anticipated increases and decreases in the various items of Revenue, 1/11 has been taken as the rate of exchange for Sterling payments.

Extraordinary to $4,560,505.26. The memorandum accompany eluding Public Works

The Land Revenue of the New Territory is estimated at $30,000. It is expected that this sum will be realized, but, as I have already explained, the true Revenue of that portion of the Colony cannot be hoped for until the survey has been completed and the land claims decided. As to the details of Expenditure, every department shows an increase on its estab- lishment. This is due to the increase in the pay of subordinate officers of the service as recommended by the Committee appointed last year, and to addition to the staff of certain departments. There seems to be a general impression that certain departments-the Public Works, the Post Office, the Medical Department, and the Sanitary Department-are being unduly curtailed as regards funds, or personnel, or both. It may therefore be interesting to contrast the Annual Expenditure on these departments in 1896, in 1900, and in present Estimates.

1896, 1900,

Public Works.

.$ 85,694.10

123,306.00

1901.

...

138,701.00

Post Office. $188,201.17

269.480.00

285,294.00

Medical.. $109,763.19

130,134.00 146,666.00

Sanitary. $ 94,818.45 152,993.00

190,083.00

As regards the Public Works Department, the Acting Director of Public Works reports that the staff is not sufficiently strong to carry out the various works and duties entrusted to it. Provision has therefore been made in the Estimates for two additional Engineers. It is my intention to appoint a Commission to report upon the staff and working of the Public Works Department, which is the chief spending department of the Colony.

With respect to the Post Office, every effort is being made to render that institution worthy of the Colony. It must be evident that here there are exceptional difficulties to con- tend against, but it is hoped that the comparatively few complaints received of late may an indication that matters are working more smoothly. The Postmaster General, Commander Hastings, has just returned from leave, during which time he has devoted himself to inquiry into the working of the department in England, and he will, I am certain, be ably seconded by Mr. Lewis, who has discharged the duties of Acting Postmaster General very satisfac- torily during the absence of Commander Hastings.

I have also considered the state of the Medical Department and have decided to increase the staff at once by making provision in the Estimates for two Assistant Surgeons, one of whom will be employed as Second Health Officer of the Port in accordance with the recom- mendation of the Chamber of Commerce. Should it be found that any further addition to the Sanitary staff is necessary, I shall appeal to you with confidence for the necessary funds. Apart from the staff, it is not improbable that very large sums will have to be expended in the near future in the Sanitary improvement of the City-sums that will absorb our balance and probably involve increased taxation. Happily the taxation of the Colony is compara- tively light, and in a matter of such moment I feel that I can depend upon you to supply the necessary funds. The estimate for Public Works Extraordinary amounts to the large sum of $802,316.68; of this sum $146,000 is for Waterworks and $82,000 for extension of Markets, while $79,000 is for the improved accommodation for the Police, which will tend to improve the comfort and efficiency of the Force.

BILLS.

The following Bills will be submitted to you :--

A Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-nine thousand Three hundred and Twelve Dollars and Twenty-six Cents to the Public Service of the Year 1902.

A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend An Ordinance entitled The Weights and

Measures Ordinance, 1885, (No. 8 of 1885).

A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The New Territories Land Court Ordinance,

1900, (No. 18 of 1900).

A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Public Health Ordinance, 1901, (No.

13 of 1901).

A Bill entitled An Ordinance relating to Copywright in Works of the Fine Arts, and for repressing the Commission of Fraud in the Production and Sale of such Works.

A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend Ordinance 15 of 1887, and to remove any

doubts as to the validity of any matters done under it.

From my experience I know that these and all other measures laid before you will receive conscientious and careful consideration.

PAPERS.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :-

1. Report by the Medical Officer of Health on the Epidemic of Bubonic Fever (Plague)

during the half-year ended 30th June, 1901.

2. Letter from Civil Engineers, Architects, &c., as to Professional Supervision of Building

Works.

3. Financial Statement for 1900.

4. Report on the Census of the Colony for 1901.

5. Telegrams regarding the Appointment of Sanitary Experts.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 57 to 59), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.S.O.

2571 of 1901.

C.S.0.

234 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred Dollars ($600) to cover the half salary of a Second Assistant Marine Surveyor for six months from the 17th August, 1901, at $100 per month.

Government House, Hongkong, 28th August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred Dollars ($500) in (Extension) aid of the vote of $500 for "Medicines supplied to the New Territory."

C.S.0. 2861 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 6th September, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Twenty-six thousand and five hundred Dollars ($26,500) in aid of the following votes:-

PUBLIC WOKKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

1. Maintenance of Buildings,

2. Miscellaneous Services,

$9,000.00

2,500.00

15,000.00

Total.....

.$26,500.00

PUBLIC WORKS, EXTRAORDINARY.

3. Survey of New Territory,.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th September, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded,

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 29th August, 1901, (No. 9), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL FUND.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minute No. 60:--

C. O. Tele- gram of 21st

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Fifty thousand Dollars ($50,000) September being a Government Grant in aid of the Queen VICTORIA Memorial Fund.

1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd September, 1901.

The Colonial Secretary moved that "This Council vote a sum of Fifty thousand Dollars ($50,000) in aid of the Memorial to Her late Majesty Queen VICTORIA" and said :-

No words of mine are necessary to commend this vote to Honourable Members. Hong- kong was founded and flourished during the glorious reign of the late Queen, and it is there- fore only natural, Sir, that this Colony should desire to contribute towards a memorial intended to perpetuate the memory of one of the greatest Queens in British history,-VICTORIA the Great and Good.

Mr. CHATER in seconding the motion said :-

Your Excellency, I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution just proposed, that the Colony should contribute out of its revenue the sum of $50,000 toward the erection of the proposed memorial in London to the late Queen VICTORIA. I do so with the more satisfaction because I was unfortunately prevented by indisposition from being present at the meeting held here on the 14th ultimo, and seconding the resolution in reference to the starting of the public subscription, which I am glad to see has reached such a creditable sum. As has already been remarked, it is most fitting that Hongkong, the first Colony acquired during the long and glorious reign of Queen VICTORIA of illustrious memory, should be worthily represented in any memorial of that reign. This city, if I mistake not, was the first to be named after Her late Majesty, and it is right that it should respond most liberally to the invitation extended to it. We have prospered much and grown into com- mercial greatness during the sixty odd years of Queen VICTORIA's beneficent rule, and I am sure we are only too happy to be permitted the opportunity of giving some, if inadequate, expression to that feeling of gratitude and veneration to a great and good Sovereign which is now afforded to us. I trust, Sir, that the monument about to be erected will in every way be worthy of the late Queen. I see that it has been placed in good hands. The sub- ject, however, is one of unusual difficulty, but we hope that the sculptors and designers will rise to the unique occasion and create a memorial of beauty that shall impress coming generations and show them how this great Empire loved and honoured a wise ruler and noble Queen.

The vote was unanimously agreed to.

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excel- lency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of Proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a meeting held on the 29th August, 1901, (No. 5), and said that the matters dealt with in that Report, and in the communication from the Civil Engineers and Architects, were under the consideration of the Government and that it was the intention of the Government to shortly introduce legislation deal- ing with those matters.

SANITARY BOARD BYE-LAWS.-The Acting Director of Public Works addressed the Council, and moved the adoption of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board regarding the Prevention of Epidemic, Eudemic or Contagious Disease.

The Acting Attorney General seconded.

The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council.

Dr. Ho Kai put a question as to compensation for damages to furniture.

The Colonial Secretary replied.

The motion was then put to the Council, and carried.

OTHER SANITARY BOARD BYE-LAWS.-The Acting Director of Public Works addressed the Council, and moved the adoption of the Bye-laws made by the Sanitary Board regarding the Disinfec- tion of Infected Premises.

The Acting Attorney General seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTIONS.-Mr. WHITEHEAD, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-

(1.) Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works lay upon the Council table a statement

showing:-

(1.) The number of buildings in the Colony, which have fallen down, from 1st

January, 1895, to 16th instant (August);

(2.) The names of the owners of the said buildings ;

(3.) The number of deaths caused thereby;

(4.) The number of Coroner's enquiries held in connection with such deaths;

(5.) The number of prosecutions, if any, instituted as the result of the said enquiries;

and

(1.) Wha precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent the erection

of such buildings in the future? and

(2.) What precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent a recur-

rence of a like calamity attended with such heary loss of life as that which occurred in Cochrane Street on 14th instant in connection with buildings already in existence?

The Acting Director of Public Works, in reply, laid on the table a List of Buildings in the Colony which collapsed between the 30th May, 1895, and the 14th August, 1901, and said, with regard to the second portion of Question No. 6, that the matters therein referred to were under the consideration of the Government.

(2.) Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary inform the Council of the approximate number of fishermen employed in taking coral and shell from the sea adjoining the New Territory, and the names of the places where and about the extent of ground over which such fishing is carried on?

The Colonial Secretary, in reply, laid on the table a Return of the Approximate Number of Fishermen employed in taking Coral and Shell from the Sea adjoining the New Territory.

(3.) Will the Honourable the Attorney General lay upon the table a copy of the depositions taken by the Magistrate at the enquiry, held at the Magistracy on 30th August last under Ordi- nance No. 7 of 1889, into the death of forty-three persons consequent upon the collapse or tumbling down of houses Nos. 32 and 34, Cochrane Street, on the night of 14th idem, together with a copy of the Magistrate's decision or finding thereon?

The Colonial Secretary, in reply, laid on the table the Depositions taken by the Magistrate sitting as Coroner.

SUPPLY FOR 1902 BILL.-The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council, and moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-nine thousand Three hundred and Twelve Dollars and Twenty-six Cents to the Public Service of the Year 1902.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend An Ordinance entitled The Weights and Measures Ordinance, 1885, (No. 8 of 1885).

The Colonial Secretary seconded. Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

NEW TERRITORIES LAND COURT AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The New Territories Land Court Ordinance, 1900, (No. 18 of 1900).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

PUBLIC HEALTH AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Public Health Ordinance, 1901, (No. 13 of 1901).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

COPYRIGHT BILL.--The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance relating to Copyright in Works of the Fine Arts, and for repressing the Commission of Fraud in the Production and Sale of such Works.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

AMENDMENT OF ORDINANCE 15 OF 1887 BILL.-Mr. BELL-IRVING moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend Ordinance 15 of 1887, and to remove any doubts as to the validity of any matters done under it.

Mr. CHATER seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

JURY CONSOLIDATION ÂMENDMENT BILL.--The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Jury Consolida- tion Ordinance, 1887.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question—put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do

Bill passed.

pass.

PROBATES AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Probates Ordinance, 1897, (No. 3 of 1897).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1899, (No. 36 of 1899).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

GUNPOWDER AND FIREWORKS BILL.-The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the law relating to the manu- facture of gunpowder and of fireworks, and to regulate the sale and conveyance of gunpowder.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

FORESHORES AND SEA BED BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to validate Crown leases heretofore made of Foreshore and submerged Lands within the territorial waters of the Colony for reclamation and other purposes and to legalize and facilitate the making of such leases hereafter.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Mr. WHITEHEAD moved as an amendment that the Bill be read that day six months.

The Acting Attorney General's motion was put to the Council, and carried.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

STAMP BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps and Stamp Duty in the Colony of Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 3rd October, 1901.

Read and confirmed, this 3rd day of October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 15.

THURSDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).•

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM). ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 26th September, 1901, were read and confirmed.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 26th September, 1901, (No. 10), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

PAPER. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper :-

1. Despatch from His Excellency the Governor covering the Blue Book for 1900. QUESTION. Mr. WHITEHEAD, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :-

Will the Honourable the Attorney General lay upon the table a copy of the Depositions taken by the Magistrate sitting as Corner in the second enquiry into the deaths of 43 persons which occurred in the collapsed houses Nos. 32 and 34 Cochrane Street on the night of the 14th August ultimo, a copy of the Crown Solicitor's opening remarks and closing speech, and a copy of the Magistrate's decisions or finding in respect of the first as well as the second enquiries held in connection with that disaster?·

The Acting Attorney General, in reply, laid on the table the papers asked for.

PEACE AND QUIET OF THE INHABITANTS BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled Au Ordinance to amend An Ordinance for the better securing the Peace and Quiet of the Inhabitants of the Town of Victoria and its vicinity during the night time, (No. 17 of 1844).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AMENDMENT BILL.—The Acting Attorney General addressed the Coun- cil, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend An Ordinance entitled The Weights and Measures Ordinance, 1885, (No 8 of 1885).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

The Acting Attorney General moved that the Bill be re-committed.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Council in Committee again on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with an amendment.

NEW TERRITORIES LAND COURT AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General addressed the

Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The New Terri- tories Land Court Ordinance, 1900, (No. 18 of 1900).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

PUBLIC HEALTH AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Public Health Ordinance, 1901, (No. 13 of 1901).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do

Bill passed.

pass.

COPYRIGHT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance relating to Copyright in Works of the Fine Arts, and for repressing the Commission of Fraud in the Production and Sale of such Works.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendinent.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

AMENDMENT OF ORDINANCE 15 OF 1887 BILL.-Mr. BELL-IRVING moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend Ordinance 15 of 1887, and to remove any doubts as to the validity of any matters done under it.

Mr. CHATER seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

Mr. BELL-IRVING moved the third reading of the Bill.

Mr. CHATER seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 10th day of October, 1901.

Read and confirmed, this 10th day of October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

፦

-4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

COUNCIL, No. 16.

THURSDAY, 10TH OCTOBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.). the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING. JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 3rd October, 1901, were read and confirmed. FINANCIAL MINUTE.-The_Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minute, (No. 61), and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee:--

C.S.O. 2948 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand six hundred and thirty Dollars ($2,630) in aid of the following votes:-

VICTORIA GAOL.

Provisions for Prisoners,

Rent of Quarters for Warders,

Fuel and Soap,

$ 2,000.00

180.00. 450.00

Total,...................

.$ 2,630.00

Government House, Hongkong, 3rd October, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for promoting the Revision of the Statute Law by repealing enactments which have ceased to be in force or have become unnecessary and by making amendments in various Ordi-

nances.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Law relating to Buildings.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

SUPPLY FOR 1902 BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-nine thousand Three hundred and Twelve Dollars and Twenty-six Cents to the Public Service of the Year 1902.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

The Colonial Secretary moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee. The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

PEACE AND QUIET OF THE INHABITANTS BILL.-The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend An Ordinance for the better securing the Peace and Quiet of the Inhabitants of the Town of Victoria and its vicinity during the night time, (No. 17 of 1844).

The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council, and seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

The Acting Attorney General moved the suspension of the Standing Orders. ·

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

There having been material alterations in the Bill, the third reading was held over.

MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General said that he did not propose to proceed with the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Merchant Shipping Consolida- tion Ordinance, 1899, (No. 36 of 1899).

Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council.

Bill held over until the next meeting of the Council.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend An Ordinance entitled The Weights and Measures Ordinance, 1885, (No. 8 of 1885).

The Colonial Secretary secouded. Question-put and agreed to. Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

NEW TERRITORIES LAND COURT AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The New Territories Land Court Ordi- nance, 1900, (No. 18 of 1900).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 17th October, 1901.

Read and confirmed, this 17th day of October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 17.

THURSDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER). the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM Chatham). ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 10th October, 1901, were read and confirmed. PAPER.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper :-

Telegram of Condolence on the death of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Frederick of

Germany, and acknowledgment by His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor.

FINANCIAL MINUTE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minute, (No. 62), and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.S.O. 3024 of 1901,

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand and five hundred Dollars ($1,500) to cover the cost of repairing and effecting certain alterations to the Govern- ment Pavilions at the Peak.

Government House, Hongkong, 11th October, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 10th October, 1901, (No. 11), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.-The Colonial Secretary, in connection with the Report on the Supply Bill, addressed the Council on the subject of the salaries of subordinate officers.

Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council.

His Excellency the Governor agreed to recommend once more to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the increase in the salaries of the subordinate staff of the civil service should take effect from the 1st January, 1901.

STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance for promoting the Revision of the Statute Law by repealing enactments which have ceased to be in force or have become unnecessary and by making amendments in various Ordinances.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Law relating to Buildings.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Mr. WHITEHEAD referred to a recent Imperial Act dealing with the erection of buildings. The Colonial Secretary stated that steps were being taken to obtain a copy of the Act. Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1899, (No. 36 of 1899).

The Colonial Secretary seconded. Question-put and agreed to.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Mr. WHITEHEAD proposed an amendment having for its effect that the owners of steamers should not be made responsible for expenses incurred through the reinoval and treatment ashore of who may be taken ill on board.

The Committee divided on the amendment, when Members voted as follows:-

For the amendment.

Mr. THURBURN.

Against the amendment.

Dr. Ho. KAI.

passengers

Mr. BELL-IRVING.

Mr. WEI YUK.

Mr. WHITEHEAD.

The amendment was passed in the negative.

Mr. CHATER.

Mr. BREWIN.

The Acting Director of Public Works.

The Harbour Master.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer.

The Acting Attorney General.

The Colonial Secretary.

The Officer Commanding the Troops.

The amendments proposed by the Acting Attorney General were then agreed to. Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

SUPPLY FOR 1902 BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved that the Council resolve itself into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-nine thousand Three hundred and Twelve Dollars and Twenty-six Cents to the Public Service of the Year 1902.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Governor and Legislature.-Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council, and moved that the vote be reduced by $100.

The Colonial Secretary replied.

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council.

Mr. WHITEHEAD withdrew his amendment, and the vote was agreed to.

Colonial Secretary's Department.--Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council, and moved that the

vote be reduced by $100.

The Colonial Secretary replied.

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council.

The amendment was withdrawn, and the vote was agreed to.

Audit Department.-The Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be increased from $10,540.00 to $10,670.00. Agreed to.

Public Works Department.-Mr. WHITEHEAD enquired of the Director of Public Works as to the unsatisfactory state of the roads, and moved that the vote be reduced by $100.

The Colonial Secretary replied.

The amendment was withdrawn, and the vote was agreed to.

Post Office-The Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be increased from $285,294.00 to $290,116.00. Agreed to.

Harbour Master's Department.-The Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be increased from $115,353.00 to $115,521.00.

Agreed to.

Botanical and Afforestation Department.-The Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be increased from $40,526.24 to $40,726.24. Agreed to.

Legal Departments. Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Council with reference to the second magis- terial enquiry into the collapse of houses in Cochrane Street, and asked the Acting Attorney General to inform the Council whether any further proceedings were to be taken in connection with the disaster.

The Acting Attorney General replied.

Police. The Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be increased from $539,021.00 to $539,261.00. Agreed to.

Sanitary Department.-The Colonial Secretary moved that this vote be reduced from $190,083.00 to $187,973 00. Agree to.

Public Works Extraordinary.-The Colonial Secretary moved that the words "at Lai-chi-kok be deleted after the words "Quarantine and Segregation Camps". Agreed to.

The Colonial Secretary moved that the words "Resumption of Property to provide Indian Married Quarters for the Police" be amended to read "Resumption of Property to provide Married Quarters for the Indian Police." Agreed to.

The Colonial Secretary moved that the vote of $10,000 for Park in Western District of the City be reduced to $5,000. Agreed to.

Title. The Colonial Secretary moved that, wherever the words "Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-nine thousand Thres hundred and Twelve Dollars" occur in the Bill, these words be amended to read "Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-seven thousand Seven hundred and Sixty-two Dollars." Agreed to.

The other items of the Supply were agreed to.

The Council then resumed.

PEACE AND QUIET OF THE INHABITANTS BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend An Ordinance for the better securing the Peace and Quiet of the Inhabitants of the Town of Victoria and its vicinity during the night time, (No. 17 of 1844).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned till Monday, the 21st day of October, 1901.

Read and confirmed, this 21st day of October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 18.

MONDAY, 21ST OCTOBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

}

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th October, 1901, were read and confirmed. PAPER.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper :-

Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the Registration of Chinese Partnerships,

and Memorandum by the Colonial Secretary on the subject.

FINANCIAL MINUTE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minute, (No. 63), and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee:--

C.S.O. 3094 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand and three hundred Dollars ($3,300) in aid of the following votes:--

Incidental Expenses,

Watering Streets,

SANITARY DEPARTMENT.

$1,500.00

1,800.00

Total,..

$3,300.00

Government House, Hongkong, 15th October, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 17th October, 1901, (No. 12), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance for promoting the Revision of the Statute Law by repealing enactments which have ceased to be in force or have become unnecessary and by making amendments in various Ordi-

nances.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Law relating to Buildings.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1899, (No. 36 of 1899).

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

SUPPLY FOR 1902 BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Three million Seven hundred and Thirty-seven thousand Seven hundred and Sixty-two Dollars and Twenty-six Cents to the Public Service of the Year 1902.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 25th day of November, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

•

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 19.

MONDAY, 25TH NOVEMBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 21st October, 1901, were real and confirmed. PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :—

1. Report on the Examination of Mosquitoes in the Colony.

2. Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into and report on the question of the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable chair and jinricksha coolies for private chairs and jinrickshas.

3. Continuation of Correspondence regarding appointment of Sanitary Experts.

4. Despatch on Drainage Systems: Plague Mortality.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor. laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 64 to 68), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:-

C.S.O.

3219 of 1901.

C.S.O.

3224 of 1901,

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Forty thousand Dollars ($40,000) in aid of the vote of $50,000 for "the Governor's Peak Residence" under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary.”

Government House, Hongkong, 30th October, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sun of Thirty-two thousand Dollars and 2002 ($32,000) in aid of the following votes:—

Extension

of 1901.

C.N.O.

3366 of 1901.

PUBLIC WORKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

1. Maintenance of Sewers,

.$ 2,000.00

Do.,

Do. of Waterworks, City and Hill District, Do.

4. Gas Lighting, City of Victoria,

5. Miscellaneous Works,

6. Waterworks, Miscellaneous,

7. Maintenance of Buildings in the New Territory,

3,000.00

Kowloon,

2,500.00

10,000.00

2,000.00

Total,.........

$32,000.00

Government House, Hongkong, 30th October, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the 'Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) in aid of the vote "Incidental Expenses, Government House ".

Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1901.

C.S.O. 287 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred Dollars ($500) in Extension.) aid of the vote of $1,000 for "Incidentals," Land Court, New Territory.

C.S.O.

102 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th November, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred and sixty-one (Extension.) Dollars and Sixty-two Cents ($661.62) to meet the deficiency in the rate of exchange between 1/11 and 2/1 on £850, being the amount agreed upon for the laying of the Waglan cable in December last.

£850 at 1/11 per dollar,

£850 at 2/1

.$8,821.62 8,160.00

$ 661.62

Government House, Hongkong, 18th November, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.--The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 21st October, 1901, (No. 13), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Director of Public Works, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Public Works Committee dated the 26th September, 1901, (No. 6).

AMENDMENT OF STANDING RULES AND ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.-This item was discharged from the Orders of the Day.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Births aud Deaths Registration Ordinance, 1896.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

DANGEROUS GOODS AMENDMENT BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Law relating to Dangerous Goods.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded..

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

TRUSTEE INVESTMENT IN HONGKONG GOVERNMENT SECURITIES BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the investment of Trust and other funds in the United Kingdom, in Hongkong Government securities.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

THE ROPE COMPANY'S TRAMWAY BILL.-The Colonial Secretary moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize The Hongkong Rope Manufacturing Company, Limited, to construct a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.

The The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

CHINESE EMIGRATION AMENDMENT BILL.--The Colonial Secretary moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned till Thursday, the 5th day of December, 1901.

Read and confirmed, this 5th day of December, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 20.

THURSDAY, 5TH DECEMBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM). ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

ཐོ་ལ༢

The Honourable JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th November, 1901, were read and confirmed. PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers :-

1. Correspondence on Increase of Salaries of Subordinate Officers.

2. Correspondence relating to the Intermittent System of Water Supply.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 69 and 70), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.S.0.

514 of 1901.

C.S.O. 2191 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and forty-four Dollars and sixty Cents. ($1,244.60) in aid of the vote of $1,000 for "Repairs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia."

Government House, Hongkong, 28th November, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand five hundred and forty-five Dollars ($2,545) to cover the cost of two new Propellers for the Steam Tender Stanley.

Government House, Hongkong, 30th November, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 25th November, 1901, (No. 14), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Director of Public Works, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Public Works Committee dated the 25th November, 1901, (No. 7).

MOTION. STANDING RULES AND ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved :-

That the Standing Rules and Orders of this Council made in pursuance of Article XIX of the Royal Instructions of the 19th day of January, 1888, and dated the 9th day of June, 1890, and amended by the Legislative Council on the 11th day of June, 1900, be further amended as follows:

(a.) That the present Rules and Orders 1 and 2 of the said Rules and Orders be omitted and that the following Rule be substituted therefor to be numbered 1 :— "The meetings of the Legislative Council shall be held on such day and hour as shall from time to time be ordered by the Governor ; and that the subsequent Standing Rules and Orders be renumbered accordingly.

(b.) That the present Rule and Order 3 be amended by deleting the word "special"

before the word “meeting”.

(c.) That the present Rule and Order 9 be amended by deleting the words “ After which

the orders of the day shall be read by the Clerk”.

(d.) That paragraph 5 of the present Rule and Order 10 be amended by inserting the words "on receipt" between the word shall" and the word "be", and by

substituting the words, " of the Council", for the words, "on receipt", after the word, "Clerk”.

STATUTE LAW REVISION AMENDMENT BILL.--The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Statute Law Revision Ordinance, 1301.

The Colonial Secretary seconded,

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

The Acting Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the suspension of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Council to enable the Bill to be carried through all its stages at this meeting of the Council.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

The Acting Attorney General moved that the Bill be read a second time.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill..

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put--that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL.-This item was discharged from the Orders of the Day.

DANGEROUS GOODS AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Law relating to Dangerous Goods.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed. and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill 'passed.

TRUSTEE INVESTMENT IN HONGKONG GOVERNMENT SECURITIES BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the investment of Trust and other funds in the United Kingdom, in Hongkong Government securities.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Cominittee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendinent.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

THE ROPE COMPANY'S TRAMWAY BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize The Hongkong Rope Manufacturing Company, Limited, to construct a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendment.

The Acting Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

CHINESE EMIGRATION AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Council in Committee on the Bill.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

ADJOURNMENT.-The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 27th day of December, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor.

No. 21.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

FRIDAY, 27TH DECEMBER, 1901.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

(Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.).

ཡ

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOIN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 5th December, 1901, were read and confirined. FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 71 to 74), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee :-

C.S.O.

3546 of 1901.

C.S.0. 2134 of 1961.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred and thirty-nine Dollars ($339) in aid of the vote of $15,200 for "Coals, Repairs, &c., to Steam-launches " Harbour Master's Department.

Government House, Hongkong, 6th December, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and fifty-two Dollars and Fifty Cents ($1,252.50) to cover the cost of:-

13 pairs of wheels and axles complete at $22.50 per pair, 24 pairs of cushion tyres at $40 per pair,

$292.50

960.00

Total,.....

$1,252.50

C.S.O. 3324 of 1901.

for the use of the Sanitary and Police Departments.

Government House, Hongkong, 9th December, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nineteen thousand and two hundred Dollars ($19,200) in aid of the following votes :--

PUBLIC WORKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

1. Maintenance of Buildings,

ai as ti

of Macadamized Roads in Victoria,

...$ 2,700.00

10,000.00

of Praya Wall and Piers,

}}

of Waterworks, City and Hill District,

500.00 2,000.00

5. Drainage Works, Miscellaneous,................

4,000.00

Total,..

$19,200.00

Government House, Hongkong, 13th December, 1901.

โ

C. O. Tele- grams of 26th

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty thousand seven hundred "Nov. & 10th and twenty-eight Dollars and Twenty-seven Cents ($30,728.27) to meet the cost of increases

of salaries of the Subordinates in the Civil Service during the current year.

Dec., 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 24th December, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 5th December, 1901, (No. 15), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

PAPER. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper :-

Correspondence regarding Kowloon Waterworks Gravitation Scheme,

and informed the Council that a telegrain had been received from the Secretary of State to the effect that the Scheme had been referred to Mr. CHADWICK for report.

MOTION. SUMMONING OF CHINESE ORDINANCE.-The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved:-

Whereas by section 5 of The Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, 1899 (No. 40 of 1899), it was enacted that the said Ordinance should only continue in operation for the period of two years from the coming into operation of the said Ordinance and for such further period or periods as might from time to time be determined by Revolution of the Legislative Council:

It is hereby resolved by this Council that The Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, 1839, shall be continued in operation for the further period of three months from the 30th day of December, 1901 (inclusive).

Mr. BREWIN seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS.-His Excellency the GOVERNOR addressed the Council as follows:-

"Before we proceed to the orders of the day, gentlemen, there is a matter I wish to say a word or two about—namely, a telegram I have received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In October last the estimates of expenditure went home and at that time we were aware that in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States an increase had been granted in the salaries and emoluments of the Officials. However there was no provision made for any increase here further than that recommended at the time by the Committee. A short time afterwards I received from the Secretary of State a copy of the despatch that had been sent to the Straits Settlements in answer to the representations made by the Straits Settlements and Malay States. The Secretary of State had determined that in future all appointments the emoluments of which were over $1,200 a year shall be paid in sterling, as also the salaries of the European Police, Prison Warders and other subordinate positions occupied by Europeans appointed from home, but as regards the present holders of these there were certain exceptional advantages at present, such as the advantage of officials receiving when they are on leave their half-pay at 3/8 a dollar, and pension at the same rate. [The COLONIAL SECRETARY-4/- on leave and 3/8 on pension.] Yes. Well, the Secretary of State felt that he could hardly interfere with these advantages enjoyed by the present holders. So, as far as the present holders of these were con- cerned, they received the option whether they would have their salaries in future paid in sterling at what the practical valuation of the sterling was, taking into consideration the possible advantage to pension pay, but that they would have the alternative of an increase not on the pay but that while actually serving in the Colony the compensation allowance for exchange should be given on the whole instead of the half salary. That increase was not to be calculated in either their leave or their pension, but was to be a purely local increase. while they continued to serve in the Colony, during the lifetime of the present holders. Well, when that came before me, in that despatch the Secretary of State informed me that he did not at present propose to increase the salaries of the officials in Hongkong until he

was satisfied as to the financial position of Hongkong. When I received that despatch I saw at once the position in which this Colony would be placed if the officials in the Straits were to be paid better than the corresponding positions were worth in Hongkong. Both Colonies are recruited, and will be recruited in the future, by Cadets who go through the same examinations, and in accordance with their positions on the list these Cadets have the option of choosing where they go. Naturally, if we are the worst paid Colony in the East, we must expect to get simply the remainder. The most successful will naturally choose the best paid position. I wrote in answer to that and I pointed out this to the Secretary of State and also that we find it extremely difficult to get recruits for our Police, Water Police, and Warders, or any position for which we want Europeans in this Colony. I pointed out further the position in which this would place Hongkong. Furthermore, I went into the question of the financial position of the Colony, and-I am speaking entirely to the unofficial members of this Council-I think it is unnecessary for me to say anything upon that matter. Anybody who has seen the list of public companies, shares, and other matters which are within the cognisance of anybody who chooses to take the trouble to inquire, must see that the operations in this Colony are very much larger than in Singapore; and I think as far as I, after nearly three years' experience, can gather, the financial position. of this Colony is as sound as that of any in the British Empire. I pointed out that, and in answer to that I received this telegram from the Secretary of State on the 12th :-' Referring to Despatch 443, I agree to proposed grant to Government officials additional exchange compensation, to begin the first of next month, on condition laid down in the case of the Straits, and subject to consent by the Legislative Council, who must be warned that more revenue may be required.' He pointed out in his despatch that possibly very large votes would have to be taken as a consequence of a possible revisitation of the plague, also possi- bly as the result of the visits from the two experts coming out, and that it was right to put this before you. But that being so, I place the matter before you. Every official member except myself is interested in this and it is, I need hardly say, a matter upon which they can neither speak nor vote. The following are the number of people who would be affected. There would be on the whole a total of 311 public officials affected by this-135 in the Police, 26 in the Gaol, 17 in the Harbour Master's office, 27 under the Sanitary Board, 32 in the Public Works Department, 9 in the Colonial Secretary's Office, 10 in Queen's College, 24 in the Medical Department, etc.-and the amount that will be necessary to pay that increased exchange compensation during their service in the Colony would be about $120,000 a year, as far as I can see. These are the facts-the only facts—I have and am able to place before you. My own view is that it would be very injurious to this Colony, if it were placed upon a basis of inferiority to the Straits Settlements and the Malay States, and further I may tell you that we have the greatest difficulty at the present moment with our present salaries in procuring men for the Gaol, the Police, the Water Police and those small appointments for which Europeans are required. The Colonial Secretary has placed in my hands a letter from the senior unofficial member, Mr. Chater. He states that he is sorry at being unable to be present and adds:-'I am very strongly of opinion that our Civil Service here should not be placed in a worse position than in Singapore, and I feel sure that the community would be of the same opinion.' That is all I have to say upon the subject, and I place it before you."

Honourable Dr. Ho KAI.--"I understand, Sir, the unofficial members are chiefly con- cerned in this matter and that the official members will neither dicuss nor vote."

His Excellency the GOVERNOR.-"No, they will not.”

Dr. Ho KAI then addressed the Council, and moved the following resolution :-

"That the decision of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies regarding the further grant of exchange compensation to Civil servants of this Colony, subject to the approval of the Legislative Council, be approved by this Council."

Mr. BELL-IRVING seconded.

Mr. WEI YUK supported the resolution.

Mr. WHITEHEAD expressed his sympathies with the Civil servants, but asked for a postponement of the motion until the next meeting of Council.

His Excellency the Governor replied.

Mr. THURBURN supported the resolution.

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council.

Mr. WHITEHEAD withdrew his motion.

The resolution was put to the Council, and carrie unanimously by the Unofficial Members. The Official Members did not vote.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL-This item was discharged from the Orders of the Day.

CHINESE EMIGRATION AMENDMENT BILL.-The Bill entitled An Ordinance to further amend the Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889, was recommitted.

Council resumed, and Bill reported with amendments.

The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a third time.

Question put-that this Bill do pass.

Bill passed.

ADJOURNMENT.--The Council then adjourned sine die.

Read and confirmed, this 27th day of February, 1902.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

W. J. GASCOIGNE,

Officer Administering the Government.

Νο. 1.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 31st January, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman ̧ His Excellency Major-General.WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, Q.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD Thomson).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY)

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

C.S.O.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURburn.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th December, 1900, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :—

2627 of 1900.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Medical Department,

ABSTRACT.

To replace bamboo sun blinds,

To replace stores, medicines and sundries destroyed at

Taipo,

Police Department,-

Repairs to two Police Launches,

Botanic and Afforestation Department,

Public Works Department,-

Praya Road West,

$ 207.50

81.00

$ 288.50

7,740.00

481.13

.$1,000.00

Hospital Sheds, Kennedy Town,.

Telephones,

850.00 700.00

Sheds at Taipo,

1,500.00

Lighthouse repairs, &c.,..........

1,500.00

Miscellaneous,..

370.00

5,920.00

Total,.............

.$14,429.63

Government House, Hongkong, 7th January, 1901.

C.S.0.

#35 of 1900.

C.S.O.

114 of 1901.

C.S.0.

173 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 10th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) to provide additional support for boats' davits in the Lighthouse Steam Tender Stanley.

Government House, Hongkong, 16th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the following sums being unexpended balances of the votes for 1900 under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary":-

Completion Improvement Wongneichong Recreation Ground,

Expenses in the New Territory,

Yaumati Nullah,

Chair Shelter at Peak,

Disinfector Station and Quarters,

Starling Inlet Police Station,

•

.....

Causeway and Pier in Deep Water, Taipo,

Sookunpo Latrine,

Public Latrines,

Sewerage of Victoria,

.$3,132.10

609.28 1,263.32

900.00

1,957.79

1,371.83

2,969.28

2,155.34

2,709.35

1,644.48

Total,....

..$18,712.77

C.S.O.

2627 of 1900.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand One hundred and Forty-five Dollars ($1,145) to cover the losses of houses and furniture done by the fire at Tai O on the 2nd instant.

Government House, Hongkong, 25th January, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above vote be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 7th February, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 7th February, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Aeting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 2.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 7th February, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman, His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURburn.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 31st January, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

C.S.O. 3799 of 1900.

C.S.O.

23 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of One hundred and Twenty Dollars ($120) in aid of the vote "Governinent Medical Scholarship."

Government House, Hongkong, 30th January, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 1st February, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 14th February, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 14th February, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Aeting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 3.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 14th February, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C. M.G.), Chairman. His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (Robert Daly Ormsby).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBurn.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 7th February, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Governor-

C.S.O. 24 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) to cover the (Extension.) cost of the construction of a water-boiler for the use of the New Territory Police Stations.

Government House, Hongkong, 8th February, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above vote be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 25th February, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 25th February, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTon, Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 4.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 25th February, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman.

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding.

C.S.O.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 14th February, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

36 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and Sixty Dollars (Extension) and Forty-two Cents ($260.42) to defray a portion of the cost of extra provisions supplied to

the New Territory Police Stations during the disturbances in June last.

Government House, Hongkong, 16th February, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above vote be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 11th March, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 11th March, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTton, Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

Νο. 5.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 11th March, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman.

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Director of Public Works, (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

JAMES JOHNStone Keswick.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

RODERICK MACKENZIE GRAY.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 25th February, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

C.S.O. 198 of 1901.

C.O.D. 29 of 1901.

C.S.O. 568 of 1901.

.C.S.O. 237 of 1901.

C.S.0). 2514 of 1900.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand and Twenty Dollars ($2,020) for the construction of a Cattle Crematorium.

Government House, Hongkong, 28th February, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine thousand Dollars ($9,000) for the building of a School at Yaumati.

Government House, Hongkong, 28th February, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and Thirty-five Dollars ($235) for the purchase of a new Typewriter for the use of the Colonial Secretary's Office.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and Sixty-five- Dollars ($265) to cover the cost of repairing No. 1 Police Launch.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to re-vote the sum of Six hundred and Twenty Dollars ($620) for the construction of an Armoury for the Police.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th March, 1901.

C.S.O.

456 of 1901.

C.S.O.

200 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred Dollars ($300) to meet the increase in the pay of the Junior Assistants in the Belilios Public School.

Government House, Hongkong, 7th March, 1901.

The Chairman addressed the Committee with reference to the first Minute (Construction of a Cattle Crematorium).

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that all the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 23rd April, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 23rd April, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSton,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

T. SERCOMBE SMITH,

Chairman.

འ.

No. 6.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 23rd April, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH, Chairman).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAine Messer).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

BASIL TAYLOR, (Acting Harbour Master).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

C.S.0.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

The Committee met at the request of the Acting Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 11th March, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

HENRY A. BLAKE.

2711 of 1900.

C.S.O.

SIP of 1901.

C.S.0. 2531 of 1900.

C.5.0.

1017 of 1901.

C.8.0.

456 of 1901.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand three hundred and twenty Dollars ($3,320) to provide new moorings, &c., for the Hospital Hulk Hygeia.

Government House, Hongkong, 21st March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and seventy Dollars ($170) for the erection of a Coal Store at Starling Inlet Police Station.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd March, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 26th March, 1901. HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine hundred and ninety Dollars ($990), being Rent of Quarters for Gaol Officers for nine months at $110 per month, for the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and eighty-eight Dollars ($288) to cover the cost of certain articles required for the use of the Waglan Light Station.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th April, 1901.

C.S.O.

1130 of 1901.

(.5.0.

1130 of 1901.

C.S.O.

2627 of 1900,

C.S.0.

56 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

"Public Works Extraordinary" for the construction of a Police Station at Saikung.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and four Dollars ($1,204) in aid of the vote under the heading

"Public Works Extraordinary' for the construction of a Police Station at Saikung.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd April, 1901.

Mr. CHATER put a question respecting the third Minute (No. 19).

The Chairman replied.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that all the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 15th July, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 15th July, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. II. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman,

No. 7.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 15th July, 1901.

81.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALdane Stewart LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman. His Excellency Major-General WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 23rd April, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

C.S.O. 84 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand Dollars ($1,000) (Extension.) in aid of the vote under the heading "Public Works, Annually Recurrent Expenditure" for

the Maintenance of Buildings in New Territory.

C.S.O.

380 of 1900.

C.S.O.

669 of 1901,

C.S.O. 1202 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 22nd April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 23rd April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand Dollars ($4,000) for the erection of a Public Bath House for the use of the Chinese.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th April, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Salary for nine months from 1st April to 31st December, 1901, at $100 per

month,

Clerical assistance rendered during the month of March pending the appointment

of the above mentioned Clerk.

Total,.

.$900.00

50.00

$950.00

Government House, Hongkong, 24th April, 1901.

C.S.O.

1255 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Eighty thousand Dollars ($80,000) in aid of the vote Other Miscellaneous Services under the heading "Miscellaneous Services."

Government House, Hongkong, 8th May, 1901.

MISCELLANEOUS—“ OTHER.”

VOTES.

EXPENDITURE.

Voted by 1901 Estimates,...... 10,000.00

Expenditure to June 30th, Plague, 25,386.88

10,000.00

Financial Minute No. 3,

200.00

Other, 24,674.51

50,061.39

No. 5,

1,145.00

Estimated Plague Expenditure,-

No. 7,

5,829.82

(i.) Sanitary Board for June, ↑ 15,000.00

No. 9,

260.42

(ii.)

July,

No. 12,

235.00

No. 13,

265.00

August and September.... 25,000.00

(iii) Police (Special Police) and! other Departments,

5,000.00

ور

ང་

No. 15, ..... 2,943.60

45,000.00

Balance,

10,878.84 Estimated for Expenses other 79,182.55 than Plague to December 31st,

5,000.00

100,061.39

100,061,39

C.S.O.

843 of 1901.

C.S.0. 102 of 1901.

[In the above is included Financial Minute No. 36, which has since been cancelled.] HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recoinmends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred Dollars ($100) for the opening of a Stores Account under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Eight thousand six hundred and Extension) fifty-nine Dollars and forty-one Cents ($8,659.41) to meet the cost of laying a telegraph cable

to Waglan Lighthouse.

C.8.0.

1036 of 1901.

U.S.O.

106 of 1901.

ABSTRACT.

Joint Telegraph Company for supplying and laying cable,. Yau Kung Cheung for labour, &c., Incidental Expenses,

Government House, Hongkong, 13th May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Total,..

$8,160.00

463.41

36.00

$8,659.41

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand and one hundred Dollars ($3,100) in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Works under the heading Public Works. Annually Recurrent Expenditure" to meet the cost of increasing the height of the windows on ground floor of the Central Market in order to improve the natural lighting.

Government House. Hongkong, 17th May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and eighty-three (Extension) Dollars and forty-one Cents (£28.11.3 at 2/03 $283.41), being amount due to the Crown Agents for expenses incurred in connection with the selection of the three Lightkeepers for Waglan Island Lighthouse.

C.5.0.

1691 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong. 16th May, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and ten Dollars ($210 to defray, during the current year, the salary of an additional Quartermaster and a Seaman for the Steam Tender "Stanley"

Salary of Quartermaster from 1st June to 31st December. 1901, at $16

per month, ..

Salary of Seaman from 1st June to 31st December, 1901. at $14

per month.

..S 112.00 98.00

Total.............

$ 210.00

Government House, Hongkong, 1st June, 1901.

C.S.O.

142 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Seven thousand one hundred and twenty Dollars ($7,120) for the erection of a derrick, &c., on a new site at Gap Rock :-

(1) Formation of site for new derrick, new path and improvement of site

of existing derrick,

(2) Dock Company's tender for new jib for existing derrick and for

removal of existing derrick to new site,

Total,........

...$6,500.00

620.00

$7,120.00

Government House, Hongkong, 31st May, 1901.

C.5.0.

121 of 1891.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and fifty-six Dollars (Extension.) ($156) to cover the wages of two Chinese Watchmen for Waglan Island Lighthouse from

16th June to 31st December, 1901, at $12 per month each.

C. O. Desp. 42 of 1901.

C.S.0.

514 of 1900.

C.S.0. J659 of 1901.

C.5.0. 960 of 1901.

U.S.O. 2430 of 1900.

Government House, Hongkong, 4th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six thousand Dollars ($6,000) to cover the cost of the improvement in lighting the approaches to the Harbour of Hongkong, during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 24th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and one Dollars and one Cent ($101.01) in aid of the vote for the construction of an Armoury for the Police.

Government House, Hongkong, 1st July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred and fifty Dollars ($650) to cover the salary of an additional Overseer for the Public Works Department from 16th June to 31st December, 1901, at $100 per mensem.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand and seven hundred Dollars ($4,700) to cover the cost of training and diverting the Nullah in the vicinity of the Tram Station.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th June, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) in aid of the vote "Repairs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia

Government House, Hongkong, 19th June, 1901.

Some enquiries were made regarding some of the Financial Minutes.

The Chairman and the Acting Director of Public Works replied.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that all the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned,

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 29th July, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 29th July, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 8.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 29th July, 19014

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman,

the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel LOUIS FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

C.S.O.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 15th July, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

1867 of 1900.

0.5.0.

40 of 1901.

€.5,0.

1919 of 1901.

C.S.0.

2750 of 1900.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand and one hundred Dollars ($4,100) to meet the cost of railing in the openings round the Cattle Depôts at Kennedy Town.

Government House, Hongkong, 18th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five thousand Dollars ($5,000) to meet the cost to be incurred on account of the erection of a Market at Kowloon Point during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand seven hundred and twenty Dollars ($1,720) in aid of the vote Watering Streets" to cover the cost of four water carts and pumps for the use of the Sanitary Department.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th July, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that all the above votes be passed.

The Committee then considered the Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Five hundred and fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one Dollars and seventy-eight Cents, to defray the Charges of the Year 1900.

The various items in the Bill were considered separately, and all were agreed to.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 29th August, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 29th August, 1901.

(. CLEMENTI, Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

پڈیر

No. 9.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 29th August, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman,

the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel LOUIS FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

C.8.0.

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

the Captain Superintendent of Police, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 29th July, 1901, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :---

1465 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE. ·

ABSTRACT.

Matsheds, including tubs, &c., &c.,..

Firewood, wages of attendants, &c., up to 31st May,

.$ 3,585.00

1,390.00

Subsequent expenditure up to 31st August, namely 92 days, at $76 per day, 6,992.00

Government House, Hongkong, 25th July, 1901.

Total,...............

$11,967.00

C.S.O.

1283 of 1901.

C.S.O. 2300 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred Dollars ($600) in aid of the vote" Repairs to Government House Furniture and Incidental Expenses."

Government House, Hongkong, 29th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Twenty-one thousand Dollars ($21,000) in aid of the following votes:-

PUBLIC WORKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

1. Maintenance of Telegraphs,

$3,000.00

Do.

Praya Wall and Piers,

Waterworks, Kowloon,.

2,000.00

6,000.00

6. Water Account,

Macadamized Roads in Victoria, Concreted Roads in Victoria,

5,000.00

2,000.00

3,000.00

Total,.......

.$21,000.00

Government House, Hongkong, 29th July, 1901.

C.S.O.

2284 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand seven hundred and fifty Dollars ($2,750) in aid of the following votes in the Post Office:

Incidental Expenses at the Agencies,

Commission on Money Orders,

$1,500.00

1,250.00

Total,.

.$2,750.00

C.S.0.

2297 of 1900.

C.S.O.

2297 of 1900.

C.S.O. 2192 of 1901.

C.S.O. 2494 of 1991.

Government House, Hongkong, 30th July, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand Dollars ($3,000) to meet the cost to be incurred on account of the extension of Wanchai Market, during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 2nd August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty-six thousand one hundred and seventy-seven Dollars and seven Cents ($36,177.07) in aid of the following votes:--

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

(1.) Yaumati Nullah,

(2.) Gaol Extension,

(3.) Taipo Road,

$ 250.00

927.07

35,000.00

Total,......

.$36,177.07

C.S.O.

2487 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred Dollars ($100) in aid of the vote of $700 for "Furniture and Incidental Expenses", Registrar General's Depart-

ment.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th August, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that all the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 26th September, 1901.

Read and confirmed on the 26th September, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

་

No. 10.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 26th September, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman.

the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel Louis FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.).

C.S.O.

the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE Messer). the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM). ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

HENRY A. BLAKE.

2574 of 1901.

C.5.0. 234 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 28th August, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred Dollars ($500) in (Extension.) aid of the vote of $500 for "Medicines supplied to the New Territory."

C.5.0. 2861 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 6th September, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Twenty-six thousand and five hundred Dollars ($26,500) in aid of the following votes:-

PUBLIC WOKKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

1. Maintenance of Buildings,

2. Miscellaneous Services,

$9,000.00

2,500.00

PUBLIC WORKS, EXTRAORDINARY.

3. Survey of New Territory,.....

Total,.

Government House, Hongkong, 20th September, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that all the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 3rd October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

15,000.00

.$26,500.00

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 11.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 10th October, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman. His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE. K.C.M.G., General Oficer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE Messer).

ཏྭཱ

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM). ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

C.S.O.

2948 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand six hundred and thirty Dollars ($2,630) in aid of the following votes:-

VICTORIA GAOL.

Provisions for Prisoners,

Kent of Quarters for Warders,

Fuel and Soap,

$ 2,000.00 180.00 450.00

Total,........

..$ 2,630.00

Government House, Hongkong, 3rd October, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above vote be passed.

SUPPLY BILL FOR 1902.-Before proceeding with the consideration of this Bill, Mr. WHITEHEAD addressed the Committee regarding the salaries of subordinate officers.

The Chairman replied.

The Supply Bill was then considered item by item.

Post Office.—The Committee concurred in the recommendation that a sum of $180 be added for the payment of a Chinese Teacher for Clerks. The total vote was thereby increased to a sum of $285,474.00.

Botanical and Afforestation Department.-The Committee concurred in the following changes:-

Title "Assistant Superintendent, New Territory" to be altered to "Assistant, New

Territory."

Vote for Maintenance of Botanic Gardens and Grounds allotted to Government House and

Mountain Lodge to be increased from $4,800 to $6,000.

Name of the vote "Conservation of Trees and Tree Planting, New Territory" to be altered to "Forestry, New Territory" and the amount decreased from $8,000 to $3.000. Vote for Laying out Mountain Lodge Grounds to be increased from $2,500 to $3,000, and

the word "re-vote" in the foot-note deleted.

Vote for laying out of Public Recreation Ground, Kowloon, to be increased from $2,000 to

$5,000.

The total vote for the Botanical and Afforestation Department was thereby increased from $40,526.24 to $40,726.24.

Police (Sub-Department Gaol).-The Committee concurred in the recommendation that the item 3 Principal Warders at $960 each, be amended to read 3 Principal Warders at $1,140 each, and that the estimate on their account should be increased from $3,392 to $3,632, involving an increase in the total estimate of the Police Department from $539,021.00 to $539,261.00.

Public Works Extraordinary.-The Committee concurred in the recommendation that in item 14 the words "at Lai-chi-kok "should be deleted, and that the estimate for item 48 should be decreased from $10,000 to $5,000.

All the other items were agreed to without alteration.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 17th October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

い

•

No. 12.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 17th October, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman. His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENderson WhitEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURburn,

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

C.S.O. 5024 of 1201.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Government House, Hongkong, 11th October, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above vote be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 21st October, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 13.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 21st October, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman,

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

}}

the Acting Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

HO KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDine Bell-Irving.

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).`

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

C.5.0. 3094 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three thousand and three hundred Dollars ($3,300) in aid of the following votes:

Incidental Expenses,

Watering Streets,

SANITARY DEPARTMENT.

$1,500.00

1,800.00

Total,.............

.$3,300.00

Government House, Hongkong, 15th October, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above vote be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 25th November, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman,

No. 14.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 25th November, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.), Chairman.

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBurn.

ABSENT:

His Excellency Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G., General Officer Commanding. The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.).

C.S.O.

JAMES JARDine Bell-Irving.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

HENRY A. BLAKE.

3219 of 1901.

C.S.O.

3224 of 1901,

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Forty thousand Dollars ($40,000) in aid of the vote of $50,000 for the Governor's Peak Residence" under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary."

Government House, Hongkong, 30th October, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty-two thousand Dollars and 202 ($32,000) in aid of the following votes:-

Extension

of 1901.

C.8.0.

3366 of 1901.

PUBLIC WORKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPEnditure.

1. Maintenance of Sewers,

...$ 2,000.00

20 10

Do.,

Do. of Waterworks, City and Hill District, Do.

4. Gas Lighting, City of Victoria,

3,000.00

Kowloon,

2,500.00

5. Miscellaneous Works,

10,000.00

6. Waterworks, Miscellaneous,

7. Maintenance of Buildings in the New Territory,

10,000.00

2,000.00

Total,......

$32,000.00

Government House, Hongkong, 30th October, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) in aid of the vote "Incidental Expenses, Government House".

Government House, Hongkong, 12th November, 1901.

C.S.O. 287 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred Dollars ($500) in Extension) aid of the vote of $1,000 for "Incidentals," Land Court, New Territory.

C.S.O. 102 of 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 13th November, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

£850 at 1/11 per dollar,

£850 at 2/1

$8,821.62 8,160.00

$ 661.62

Government House, Hongkong, 18th November, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 5th December, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

イ

No. 15.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 5th December, 1901.

PRESENT:

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD. WEI YUK.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Honourable JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

C.S.O.

ABSENT:

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

514 of 1901.

C.S.0. 2491 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and forty-four Dollars and sixty Cents ($1,244.60) in aid of the vote of $1,000 for Repairs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia."

Government House, Hongkong, 28th November, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand five hundred and forty-five Dollars ($2,545) to cover the cost of two new Propellers for the Steam Tender Stanley.

Government House, Hongkong, 30th November, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 27th December, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

}

No. 16.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 27th December, 1901.

101

ና

PRESENT:

the Acting Colonial Treasurer, (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

THOMAS HENDERSON WHITEHEAD.

WEI YUK.

JAMES JARDINE BELL-IRVING.

JOHN THURBURN.

ABSENT:

The Honourable CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

C.S.O.

The Committee met at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

3516 of 1901.

C.S.O. 3184 of 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred and thirty-nine Dollars ($339) in aid of the vote of $15,200 for "Coals, Repairs, &c., to Steam-launches," Harbour Master's Department.

Government House, Hongkong, 6th December, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand two hundred and fifty-two Dollars and Fifty Cents ($1,252.50) to cover the cost of:-

C.S.O. 3324 of 1901.

13 pairs of wheels and axles complete at $22.50 per pair,. 24 pairs of cushion tyres at $40 per pair,

$292.50

....

960.00

Total,.................

$1,252.50

for the use of the Sanitary and Police Departments.

Government House, Hongkong, 9th December, 1901.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nineteen thousand and two hundred Dollars ($19,200) in aid of the following votes :--

PUBLIC WORKS, ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

1. Maintenance of Buildings,

of Macadamized Roads in Victoria,

}}

of Praya Wall and Piers,

of Waterworks, City and Hill District,

•

5. Drainage Works, Miscellaneous,.....

Government House, Hongkong, 13th December, 1901.

$ 2,700.00

10,000.00

500.00 2,000.00

4,000.00

Total,.....

$19,200.00

102

C. O. Tele-

grams of 26th

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty thousand seven hundred Doc., 1001. and twenty-eight Dollars and Twenty-seven Cents ($30,728.27) to meet the cost of increases

of salaries of the Subordinates in the Civil Service during the current year.

Government House, Hongkong, 24th December, 1901.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above votes be passed.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council and adopted on the 27th February, 1902.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.

No. 1.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

At a Meeting held on the 23rd January, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Director of Public Works (ROBERT DALY ORMSBY), Chairman.

the Colonial Treasurer (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBurn.

103

1. The Chairman, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid before the Committee papers connected with the proposed Refuse Destructor in Hongkong with voluminous reports from India and elsewhere on the working of Incinerators in various cities and town, which were read. (C.S.O. 2387 and others.)

The Committee, having fully considered the matter, are of opinion that no case has been made out for abandoning the present system, which seems to work well and to be a satisfactory one for Hong- kong, or for incurring the great expenditure required in establishing and working such a Refuse Destructor as has been asked for by the Sanitary Board.

2. The Committee considered a proposal to build a public urinal in Queen's Road under Battery Path in order that the one on Battery Path may be closed, the estimated cost being $1,700. (C.S.O. 238.)

The Committee object to the proposed site, but recommend that this new urinal be built under the bank in Ice House Lane as near Queen's Road as possible.

They also approve of the closing of the Battery Path urinal when the new one is opened.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 31st day of January, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

R. D. ORMSBY,

Chairman.

No. 2.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

At a Meeting held on the 25th February, 1901.

105

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Director of Public Works (Robert Daly ORMSBY), Chairman.

the Colonial Treasurer (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBurn.

The Chairman laid before the Committee a plan and estimate amounting to $2,020 for a Crema- torium suitable for burning carcases, infected clothing, furniture, hospital refuse, &c. proposed to be erected near the Cattle Depôt at Kennedy Town. It was unanimously agreed to recommend that a vote be taken for this work in the Supplementary Estimates for this year, in order that the work may be proceeded with at once. (C.S.O. 1988.)

The Chairman, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid before the Committee, for their opinion, papers connected with a proposal to entrust the Engineering of the Kowloon Water Supply scheme to Messrs. DENISON, RAM and GIBBS. The Committee, after reading the correspondence, strongly recommend the acceptance of Messrs. DENISON, RAM and GIBBS' offer and that they be urged to proceed with the work, for which the necessary funds have been voted, as soon as possible. They consider this will prove more economical and satisfactory than waiting for the appointment of a special Engineer from England, and likely to lead to the work being more quickly proceeded with. (C.S.O..)

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 11th day of March, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.

R. D. ORMSBY,

Chairman.

No. 3.

107

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 15th July, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works (WILLIAM CHATHAM), Chairman.

the Acting Colonial Treasurer (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER. C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBURN.

The Chairman, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, laid before the Committee the proposed works enumerated under which were considered and the following recommendations made. regarding them :--

(1.) Pier at West end of Wing Lok Street.

(C.S.O.

226

It was unanimously agreed that the sum of $15,000 be provided in next year's Estimates for this work.

(2.) Railings in Openings round Sheds in Pig and Sheep Depôts. (C.S.O. 1987). It was unanimously agreed that a financial minute for the sum of $4,100 be taken in order to enable this work to be proceeded with at once.

1476

(3.) Shed in Gaol Compound along South Boundary Wall. (C.S.O. 179). It was unanimously agreed that the sum of $2,000 be provided in next year's Estimates for this work.

(4.) Market at Kowloon Point.

(C.S.O. 1333).

Estimated cost $81,000. It was unanimously agreed that this work be taken in hand at once and a financial minute be obtained to cover the estimated expenditure this year; further provision to the extent required to be made in next year's Estimates.

(5.) Ten Urinals. (C.S.O. If).

It was unanimously agreed that the sum of $10,000 be provided in next year's Estimates for this item.

1919

(6.) Four Latrines. (C.S.O. 1907).

It was unanimously agreed that the sum of $12,000 be provided in next year's Estimates for

this item.

(7.) Quarters for Sanitary Inspectors.

The Chairman submitted a plan showing three houses which it was proposed to erect on a site within the Taipingshan Resumed Area, immediately below No. 2 Tank, the estimated cost being $18,000.

The Committee were of opinion that a complete scheme for the housing of the whole staff of Inspectors, showing the accommodation proposed to be allotted to each, should be submitted by the Sanitary Board. If such a scheme received the approval of the Government, the Committee would be prepared to consider it further.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 29th day of July, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

W. CHATHAM,

Chairman.

No. 4.

109

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 29th July, 1901.

PRESENT :

The Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works (WILLIAM CHATHAM), Chairman.

the Acting Colonial Treasurer (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBURN.

(1.) Refuse Destructor.

The Chairman, by direction of His Excellency the Governor in Council (C.S.O. 11), laid before the Committee the proposal to provide a Refuse Destructor, which had been recommended by. the Sanitary Board. To aid in the discussion of the subject, the following Members of the Sanitary Board were present, the Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Vice-President, Dr. CLARK, Medical Officer of Health, and Mr. EDWARD OSBORNE, and, with a view to the publication of the discussion the representatives of the Press were present by request.

The minutes of previous meetings of the Public Works Committee relating to Refuse Destructors, dated 31st August, 1899, 23rd July, 1900, 23rd August, 1900, and 23rd January, 1901, were read.

A full account of the discussion has been printed in Sessional Paper No. 1901.

On the motion of the Honourable C. P. CHATER, seconded by the Honourable Dr. Ho Kai, it was unanimously resolved that the Committee adhere to its former decision with respect to the Refuse Destructor and that the Chairman be requested to put into shape the scheme which he had proposed for the removal of the refuse to sea by means of steam hopper barges, which should then be submitted to the Sanitary Board for its consideration.

The Members of the Sanitary Board and the representatives of the Press then withdrew.

(2.) Home for Quarantined Dogs. (C.S.O. 87).

The Chairman explained that this matter had previously been before the Committee, and a sum of $1,000 had been provided in this year's Estimates to cover the cost of the building. A plan and estimate had now been prepared which showed that the cost would be $1,600.

It was unanimously agreed to recommend that a supplementary vote be taken for the sum of $600 and that the work be proceeded with at once.

2297

(3.) Increased Market Accommodation. (C.S.O. 1385).

The Chairman submitted plans and estimates for the erection of two temporary markets and an extension of Wanchai Market, as follows:-

(1.) Temporary market opposite Sailors' Home,

do. adjacent to new Harbour Office site,

(2.) Do.

(3.) Extension of Wanchai Market,

Total,........

.$ 8,500.00

6,500.00

7,000.00

.$22,000.00

He explained that a Committee had been appointed, consisting of the Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Dr. CLARK, Mr. BREWIN, the Honourable C. P. CHATER and himself, to consider the question of providing increased market accommodation and, as the result of that Committee's recommendations, the plans and estimates submitted had been prepared.

It was unanimously agreed to recommend that a Financial Minute be obtained to cover the estimated expenditure this year and that the works be put in hand at once.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 29th day of August, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

W. CHATHAM,

Chairman.

No. 5.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 27th August, 1901.

111

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works (WILLIAM CHATHAM), Chairman.

the Acting Colonial Treasurer (CHARLES MCILVAINE MESSER). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBURN.

2193

1. Supervision of Building Operations in the Colony. (C.S.O. 18).

The Chairman explained that this question, which had arisen out of the collapse of houses in Cochrane Street, had been referred to the Committee by direction of His Excellency the Governor in Council. He then read a report by Mr. TOOKER, dated 23rd July, on the subject of the recent collapse, and a lengthy minute by the Honourable Acting Attorney General on the same subject, which was contained in C.S.O. 251.

The following recommendations were unanimously adopted by the Committee:-

(1.) The duties of the Public Works Department to be confined to general supervision as regards the construction of new buildings, the staff being increased in order to render such general supervision effective.

(2.) In the case of alterations or additions to existing buildings, the duty of inspection in order to ascertain the structural capability of such buildings to undergo such alterations or additions to devolve upon the Public Works Department.

(3.) The Director of Public Works to have full discretion in the matter of sanctioning or refusing to sanction any alterations or additions to existing buildings. His decision shall, however, be subject to appeal to the Governor in Council as provided by Section 87 of Ordinance 15 of 1889.

(4.) The staff of the Public Works Department for the supervision of work under the Building Ordinances to consist of at least one Assistant Engineer at a commencing salary of £300 and travel- ling allowance of $360 per annum, and four thoroughly competent Overseers at commencing salaries of £200 each with travelling allowances of $270 each per annum.

(5.) All Architects or Engineers, in order to be admitted as competent to submit plans or proposals under the Building Ordinances, must hold the certificate of some Body or Incorporated Society, recognized by the Government, as a guarantee of their fitness to practise as Architects or Engineers. This stipulation to come into force upon the passing of the Ordinance.

(6.) All works carried out under the Building Ordinances to be supervised until their completion by an Architect or Engineer of the standing specified in clause (5.), who must have power to employ, at the expense of the party on whose behalf the work is being executed, such amount of skilled super- vision as he may consider necessary.

(7.) Any party not possessed of the qualification specified in clause (5.), who may attempt to submit plans or carry out work, falling within the scope of the Building Ordinances, to be punishable by law.

(8.) All buildings hereafter erected of the type known as Chinese tenement houses to have courses of hoop iron bond built into the walls at the level of the foundations, each floor and the eaves of roof. The hoop iron to measure 11" wide by 34′′ thick and to consist of two bonds in each course in 14" walls and three bonds in each course in 18" walls and foundations. The bonds to be contin- uous, whenever practicable, and to be lap-jointed. Where continuous bonds are impracticable such bonds to be arranged as required by the Director of Public Works.

2041

2. Surface Overcrowding. (C.S.O. 11.)

The Chairman mentioned that this matter had also been referred to the Committee by His Excellency the Governor in Council. He then read a letter from the Secretary of the Sanitary Board, dated the 28th June, 1901, forwarding certain resolutions with regard to the height of buildings and other matters, and a minute by himself arising out of the letter referred to.

112

The following recommendations were unanimously adopted by the Committee:-

(1.) No building shall be hereafter erected, or raised, to a height exceeding one-and-a-half times the width of the street upon which it fronts. Provided always that no domestic building shall be of more than four storeys in height including a ground floor and three upper floors. For the

purposes of

this section, the width of street and height of building shall be measured in accordance with Section 6 of Ordinance 34 of 1899. This section shall not apply, however, to the re-erection of buildings which have already been erected in excess of the height specified.

Exceptions to the above rule may be granted by the Governor in Council.

(2.) No balcony shall, except with the sauction of the Governor in Council, hereafter be permit- ted in any street, whether public or private, which measures less than 25 feet in width.

(3.) No verandah şhall, except with the sanction of the Governor in Council, hereafter be per- mitted in any street, whether public or private, which measures less than 50 feet in width.

(4.) No verandah shall, except with the sanction of the Governor in Council, hereafter exceed three storeys in height, including a ground floor and two upper floors, except in streets of 60 feet in width and upwards.

The Committee strongly recommend the immediate enactment of their recommendations under the heading "Surface Overcrowding", as some time will probably elapse before the new Building Ordinance can be passed.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 26th day of September, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

W. CHATHAM,

Chairman.

No. 6.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 26th September, 1901.

113

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Acting Director of Public Works (WILLIAM CHATHAM), Chairman.

the Acting Colonial Treasurer (CHARLES MCILVAine Messer).

22:

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBURN.

4. Provision of Skylights and Well-holes in Houses exceeding 40 feet

2167

in depth. (C.S.O. 17).

The Chairman mentioned that a recommendation had been made to Government by the Sanitary Board that, in the case of all houses exceeding 40 feet in depth not adequately lit by windows opening into a side street or other open space, skylights should be provided in the roofs and well- holes in all the upper floors, to the extent of th of the floor area.

The Committee were unanimously of opinion that the recommendation was open to grave object- ions on account of the interference with privacy which would be caused in the occupation of all except the top floor, the difficulty of making skylights watertight, the difficulty of preventing access by thieves from one floor to another and the waste of

space.

On these grounds they were opposed to the recommendations of the Sanitary Board.

2. Prohibition of Ceilings and Lath and Plaster Walls in all Tenement Houses outside the European Reservation Area, (C.S.O. #87).

The Chairman explained that this was also a recommendation made to Government by the Sanitary Board, the object being to do away with places which were capable of harbouring rats.

Mr. CHATER stated that many of the lower-paid Europeans in the Colony were obliged to live in houses of the class covered by the proposal, and it would inflict a hardship on these people if it were made compulsory that no ceilings should be allowed in such houses. The ceilings gave the houses an appearance of greater comfort and rendered them more in accordance with European ideas and assisted in preventing the passage of sound.

The Committee were unanimously opposed to these recommendations also.

1960

3. Restriction of Depth and Height of Houses. (C.S.O. 1981).

The Chairman mentioned that this question arose out of a letter addressed to Government by the Medical Officer of Health calling attention to the great depth of some houses, the plans for which had recently come under his notice.

The Committee agreed that it was advisable that adequate provision for the admission of light and air should be made in the case of all houses by introducing, or increasing the size of, back-yards, where houses are of excessive depth, but considered that, as Sanitary Experts were to visit the Colony at an early date, the question should be allowed to stand over in order to obtain their recom- mendations on the subject.

With regard to the restriction of the height of buildings, recommendations have already been submitted in the Report of the Committee's last meeting.

2493

4. Provision of Means of Escape from Houses in case of Fire. (C.S.O. 81). The Chairman read a letter from the Honourable Registrar General referring to some recom- mendations which had appeared in the "Chung Ngoi San Po" to the effect that means of escape in case of fire should be provided by leaving openings in the party walls of houses, which should be filled in with boarding or a thin division of brickwork, capable of being easily demolished. Minutes on the paper were also read stating that such an arrangement would facilitate the spread of fire, which the provisions of the present Building Ordinance were designed to prevent.

114

The Committee unanimously agreed that the best way of meeting the requirement was to provide a sufficient number of fire escapes throughout the City, which should be stationed in the flat portion and also on the upper levels, at suitable points. They recommended that such provision should be made as early as possible.

5. Provision of Yard-space in relation to Houses. (C.S.O. ##).

The Chairman explained that, under the Public Health Ordinance, back-yards of 10 or 15 feet in width were compulsory in the case of all domestic buildings erected on land sold by Government. since the 30th May, 1888. The provision of public lanes, 15 feet in width, along the backs of houses in the laying out of lots for sale, had hitherto been treated as fulfilling the requirement referred to, but the Honourable Acting Attorney General had recently advised that this was not in compliance with the provisions of the Ordinance, which required a back-yard to be provided by the owner of the lot on his own land. The consequence was that the space had to be provided at the back of the house where it would be of little benefit as there was already a good lane in that position. In the plan for an improved type of house which he himself had designed, the space was much more beneficially dis- posed by providing it along the side of the house and as, in this way, the yards belonging to two houses were contiguous, each house reaped the benefit of a double or combined yard-space.

Mr. CHATER referred to an improved type of house which he had under consideration in which the space would be more beneficially disposed than as required by the existing law.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the stipulation as to back-yards, already referred to, be amended by specifying that a yard-space bearing a certain proportion to the area built over should be provided by the owner of the lot in addition to the scavenging lane provided by the Government.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 25th day of November, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSton, Acting Clerk of Councils.

W. CHATHAM, Chairman.

}

No. 7.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

at a Meeting held on the 25th November, 1901.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Director of Public Works (WILLIAM CHATHAM), Chairman.

the Acting Colonial Treasurer (CHARLES MOILVAINE MESSER).

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, C.M.G.

Dr. Ho KAI.

JOHN THURBURN.

115

1. Refuse Destructor. (C.S.O. 2857).

The Chairman read a letter from Dr. ATKINSON, President of the Sanitary Board, to the Honour- able Colonial Secretary as to the success of the destructor in use at Singapore. He also read the application which had been made to the Singapore Government for information, together with the reply which had been received, and pointed out that, as the Commissioners had requested the patentee to visit Singapore and advise upon certain details, it appeared to indicate that the destructor was not working entirely satisfactorily.

He then read an advertisement from "Engineering," in which the Corporation of Calcutta invit- ed tenders for the erection of two incinerators, one of the conditions being that, should the incinerators fail to consume the refuse satisfactorily and to work without causing a nuisance, the Contractor was to refund to the Corporation whatever money he had received and remove the incinerators at his own cost. This appeared to indicate that the success of incinerators in Eastern Cities was still prob- lematic. He stated that plans were being prepared for a crematorium for the destruction of the car- casses of cattle dying from disease, and it was proposed to erect one chamber in conjunction with it for the destruction of plague refuse.

The Committee were unanimously of opinion that these structures would meet the requirements of the case, and adhered to their former opinion as to the disposal of the ordinary daily refuse of the City.

2. Precautions against the Harbouring of Rats. (C.S.O. 289)

1901

The Chairman read the correspondence contained in the above paper, including a minute by the Medical Officer of Health, in which he advocated covering the concrete of ground floor surfaces with a layer of tiles in order to prevent the access of rats to dwellings.

The Committee considered it unlikely that rats would penetrate through the layer of concrete with which all ground surfaces have now to be covered, and there was no evidence before them to show that such a thing had occurred. They deprecated any change being made at present as owners have so recently been compelled to carry out the concreting of surfaces at great trouble and expense, and considered that, if a change has to be made, a layer of cement rendering would be preferable to tiles, which speedily become hollow and are thus apt to retain moisture and dirt.

The Committee then adjourned.

Laid before the Legislative Council this 5th day of December, 1901.

R. F. JOHNSton,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

W. CHATHAM,

Chairman.

REPORT OF

OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

STANDING LAW COMMITTEE

ON A BILL

117

ENTITLED

An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps and Stamp Duty in the Colony of Hongkong.

PRESENT:-

The Honourable the Acting Attorney General (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK), Chairman.

Dr. Ho KAI.

T. H. WHITEHEAD.

J. J. BELL-IRVING.

WEI YUK.

I, HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, Acting Attorney General, Chairman of the Standing Law Committee, do hereby certify that meetings of the Standing Law Committee on a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Stamps and Stamp Duty in the Colony of Hongkong, were held on the 1st and 14th days of August, 1901, and that at such meetings the said Bill was con- sidered clause by clause in the presence of all the Members of such Standing Law Committee, and that, in the opinion of such Standing Law Committee, such Bill may be dealt with by the Council in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a Committee of the whole Council ;

And I do also hereby certify that, at the aforesaid meetings of the said Standing Law Committee, the following amendments to the said Bill were unanimously agreed to by the Standing Law Com- mittee, namely :—

1. In Article 2 of the First Schedule, that "oath" be substituted for "oatk".

•

2. In paragraph (a) of Article 43 of the First Schedule that "two hundred and fifty" be

substituted for "five hundred ".

3. In the Second Schedule that the figures "44" (to be followed by a comma) be inserted

before the figures "46".

The Committee also unanimously recommended that steps should be taken, by means of procla- mations and leaflets, to inform the Chinese of the necessity for taking out representation to the estates of deceased persons and also of the provisions of section 22 of this Bill which impose a penalty for default in taking out Probate or Administration.

H. E. POLLOCK, Acting Attorney General, Chairman of the Standing Law Committee.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 29th day of August, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

STANDING LAW COMMITTEE

ON A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance for authorizing the Construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.

PRESENT:--

The Honourable the Acting Attorney General (HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK), Chairman.

Dr. Ho KAI.

T. H. WHITEHEAD.

J. J. BELL-IRVING.

WEI YUK.

119

I, HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, Acting Attorney General. Chairman of the Standing Law Committee, do hereby certify that meetings of the Standing Law Committee on a Bill entitled An Ordinance for authorizing the Construction of a Tramway within the Colony of Hongkong, were held on the 31st day of July and the 1st and 14th days of August, 1901, and that at such meetings the said Bill was considered clause by clause in the presence of all the Members of such Standing Law Committee, and that, in the opinion of such Standing Law Committee, such Bill may be dealt with by the Council in the same manner as a Bill reported on by a Cominittee of the whole Council ;

1. That paragraph 3 of clause 11 be omitted.

2. That in clause 13 the word "to" after the word "intended" be omitted.

3. That clause 14 of the Bill be amended, so as to read as follows:-

"14. After and so soon as the said Tramway has been constructed and laid down the Company shall, at their own expense, at all times maintain and keep in good condition and repair, with such materials and in such manner as the Director of Public Works shall direct and to his satisfaction, so much of any road whereon any tramway belonging to the Company is laid as lies between the rails of the tramway and (where two tramways are laid by the Company in any road at a distance of not more than four feet from each other) the portion of the road between the tramways, and in every case so much of the road as extends eighteen inches beyond the rails of and on each side of any such tramway. Except as aforesaid the Company shall not be liable to pay for the cost of the maintenance or repair of any road whereon the tramway is laid."

4. That in sub-section (2) of clause 19 the words from "and all alterations to be made"

down the end of the sub-section be omitted.

5. That in clause 19 the following new sub-section be inserted after sub-section (3) to be

numbered (4), namely:

(4.) All alterations to be made under this section shall be made with as little detriment and inconvenience to such Department, Company, persons or person as the circumstances will admit of and under the superintendence of such Department, Company, persons or person, or of their or his surveyor or engineer.

6. That the present sub-sections (4), (5) and (6) of clause 19 be renumbered (5), (6) and (7). 7. That for the words "be settled y a specialb case" at the end of clause 24 the words "be

settled by a special case" be substituted.

8. That for the word "purpose" in clause 25, the word "purpose" be substituted.

9. That clause 42 of the Bill be amended by substituting a comma for a full stop at the end of the clause, and by adding at the end of the clause the words "when practicable."

120

10. That for sub-section 1 of clause (47) of the Bill the following clause be substituted,

namely:-

"47. (1.) The Company shall not be required to pay any Royalty for ten years after the Tramway has been opened for public traffic as provided by section 25 of this Ordinance, but in consideration of the rights, powers and authorities hereby granted to or conferred upon the Company. the Company thereafter shall pay to the Government the following Royalties, that is to say :-

(a.) From and after the expiration of the said ten years, for the period of twenty-five years. a Royalty amounting to five per cent. per annum of the profits of the Company.

(b.) After the said period of twenty-five years has expired and for so long as the Company shall exercise their said rights, powers and authorities a Royalty amounting to twenty-five per cent. per annum of the profits of the Company.

For the purposes of this section profits shall be the gross takings of the Company less working expenses, and such working expenses shall not be deemed to include any interest or dividends upon any moneys borrowed for the purposes of the Company.

11. That in clause 48 there be substituted for the words "the fares following" the words

"fares not exceeding the following rates ".

12. That clause 49 be amended in the following respects, namely

(i.) By substituting for the words "at least two cars the following words, namely, "such number of cars as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Legislative Council"; and

(ii.) By substituting for the words "three cents per journey" the words "two

cents for the single journey and three cents for the return journey ".

13. That in clause 50 the words "Separate cars or separate accommodation" be substituted

for the words “A. separate car

14. That in clause 56 a comma be inserted after the words "was or were laid ".

15. That in Schedule B to the Bill after the words "For every calf, pig, sheep," the word

dog" be inserted.

The Committee desire to add that their reason for making the amendment in clause 47 of the Bill depriving the Government of all Royalty during the first ten years is that the Committee's Amendments in clause 49-

(a.) Reduce the maximum fares for workmen below the rate suggested by the Tramway

Company; and

(b.) Leave the number of workmen's trams liable to indefinite increase by the Legislative

Council.

It should be understood, therefore, that the Committee would not desire their amendments in clause 47 to be adopted unless their amendments in clause 49 are also adopted.

H. E. POLLOCK, Acting Attorney General, Chairman of the Standing Law Committee.

Laid before the Legislative Council on the 29th day of August, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI,

Acting Clerk of Councils.

Sessional Papers - 1901