156
(2.)
Secretary of State to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET, 13th February, 1885.
SIR,.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 19th December last, on the subject of Quarantine regulations.
2. The views expressed in the Foreign Office instructions to Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, quoted in your Despatch, are those entertained by Her Majesty's Government on the subject of Quarantine against Cholera, and these views have been put in practice in the United Kingdom, where Quarantine is no longer enforced except against plague and yellow fever.
3. Her Majesty's Government have not, however, throught it necessary to press for the adoption of a similar course in Colonies where public opinion is strongly in favour of the enforcement of strict Quarantine regulations; but, if it is probable that the Legislature of Hongkong would be willing to adopt the English practice, I should approve of your introducing the necessary legislation.
4. If Quarantine were abolished, it would be necessary to give the Governor in Council power of making regulations similar to that possessed by the Local Government Board under Section 130 of the Public Health Act, 1875; and it would be necessary for the Governor in Council to make regulations for the detention and examination of ships suspected of being infected with Cholera, or coming, from places infected with Cholera; for the medical examination of the passengers and crew, and for the removal from the ship and the detention and treatment in proper isolated places of the sick persons on board; for the disinfec- tion of the ship, and for the disinfection or destruction of all infected articles on board similar to those made by the Local Government Board in their Order of 12th July, 1883. A copy of that Order is enclosed for your information, with copies of the accompanying letter to the Sanitary Authorities, and of a Memorandum by the Medical Officer of the Board on Precautions against Infection of Cholera.
I have, &c.,
(Signed),
DERBY.
Governor
Sir G. F. BOWEN, G.C.M.G.,
&c.,
&C..
&.c.