233
SIR,
Enclosure.
The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce to the Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HONGKONG, 19th January, 1885.
In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, requesting us to state what are the Ports which insist on a Bill of Health being produced from Hongkong, I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that Bills of Health from Hongkong are required by the following Ports, viz.:
1. Manila, which at all times insists on the production of a Bill of Health
from Hongkong.
2. All Spanish Ports, speaking generally, require a Bill of Health from
this Port.
3. San Francisco and all United States' Ports likewise insist at all times
on Bills of Health from Hongkong.
4. All Australian Ports.
5. Mauritius. Capetown also would insist on a Bill of Health from Hongkong in the case of a steamer arriving direct from Hongkong without having called at and obtained a Bill of Health from Mauri- tius, but in the case of a steamer having called at Mauritius en route for Capetown, the latter Port is then satisfied with a Bill of Health from Mauritius alone.
6. All vessels proceeding to Europe via the Suez Canal must also be provided with Bills of Health from this Port, in order to avoid "Quarantine," which would otherwise be enforced by Egypt.
I would also state, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, that during the period of enforcement of the Quarantine Regulations here, the produc- tion of a Bill of Health from every Port within ten days' sail of this Colony was insisted upon by the Health Officer of Hongkong.
The Honourable W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
No. 67.
SIR,
I have, &c.,
(Signed),
W. KESWICK, Chairman.
(2.)
The Secretary of State to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET,
20th March, 1885.
I have received your despatch, No. 36, of the 23rd of January, relative to the fees charged for issuing Bills of Health to vessels leaving Hongkong.