Je not my good the Wither without the formes.
Sin H. Blake does not reply to par 4 of un despatch on 12978 except by the statement that the Colony cannot afford it.
The question is then, if Hay Kong can afford it having to be expanded into something more.
What is wanted is investigation on plague.
We know perfectly well what conditions favour plague - dirt, overcrowding and rats.
Efficient protection in Hongkong would do much to guard the utilisation of our knowledge.
Posters are already being used to endeavour to get the message across, but they will probably not be used.
I would also invite attention to kunwedge, which is a matter of some importance.
I submit that in such circumstances, decentralisation is simply a waste of money.
Better results would be obtained at less expense by contributing to some research in India.
Elaborate work is already being done in other places where circumstances are different, such as in Japan, practically systematic work was being done on Beri-beri.
I submit further that if marked advances were made in the therapy of plague, the life history of the bacillus, or in the knowledge of the bacilles, it would be of great value.
I refer to Dr Manson, and am sending a copy of an despatch (12978) saying that for the reasons already stated, Mr Chamberlain does not think that this would be the most profitable way of using spare funds in Hongkong.
It appears that Sir H. Blake wants an institute similar to the Malay one. He only speaks of paying for the salary of the Director and does not propose any further sum for the heavy initial cost of Establishing the institute. I am not at all clear even now that this is a good idea.
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