420
Contagious Diseases Act which has
been moved
by
the Right Honourable the Secretary of State,
for the Colonies.
I thank Your Excellency
for having given opportunity of expressing
my sincere hope that no
relaxation of
the present law in Hongkong, may be permitted. If the Contagious Disease Act be allowed to lapse, I foresee the
consequences to Her Majesty land and sea Forces, and I cordially approve of the remarks of Deputy Inspector General Gordon.
most deplorable
Your Excellency
will remember
that, even with the present regulation in force, I was compelled to
address you in my dispatch No. 63, of 13 April, 1883) in regard to the damaging
effect of illicit prostitution on the health of the crews
of
Her Majesty's ships visiting Hongkong, at which island most of the vessels under my command pass the winter season; and if the present restrictions be removed, the evil of which I then complained
will be so intensified as seriously to lessen the efficiency
and
to impair the strength of both troops
and seamen.
Jowave