384-
25. The problem before us is, then, not simply the prevention of introduction of plague from without, a precaution taken singly that, considering the wide infec- tion of the city must be futile, but the elimination of the media of infection in our midst, and the building up of the power of resistance to plague invasion by im- provement in the general health of the population that may result from improved sanitary conditions. The first can only be accomplished by constant, unremitting attention to cleanliness of person, furniture and premises, and to be effectual it is of cardinal importance that the co-operation of the people be secured. With pro- per facilities afforded, I am of opinion that, while in Hongkong, as elsewhere, the residuum might be difficult to deal with at first, the difficulties are not insur- mountable, and practical co-operation might be secured by enlisting the sympathies and services of the large class of respectable Chinese in a determined effort to combat the recurring epidemic, the evils of which they fully realize.
Beyond the cleansing of premises there is no way by which a large number of Chinese tenement houses can be made sanitary. Each floor of these houses is a tunnel thirteen feet wide, nine feet high and of varying length, from thirty to sixty feet, with a window in front and rear. Into a large number of these floors direct sunlight never enters, and in the centre even diffused light is practically absent. When to these conditions is added a surface population so dense as it is in our congested districts--being in one district over 990 persons to the acre-it will be recognized that a population so circumstanced must necessarily be deficient in vitality.
The only remedy for this is the reconstruction of Chinese tenement houses on improved plans, and the rigid observance of the provisions of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance in relation to overcrowding. The removal and reconstruction of Chinese tenement houses will be very costly and will necessarily be a slow process, but it must be faced if we desire to prevent the devitalising of the working population to such a point that they fall ready victims to the invasion of every passing disease.
26. I attach, in Appendix I, an interesting report just received from the Government Bacteriologist relating to the question of exterminating plague bacilli in vermin.
This experiment shows that the mere washing of furniture with a solution of Jeyes' Fluid will not destroy the vermin that infest it.
Government House, Hongkong, 3rd August, 1903.
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor.