The Governor is in a very difficult position and I think that we should do all that is possible to give him a definite reply as soon as possible. Perhaps "Yes" with an immediate reply.
I have been over to Foreign Office and to L.G.B. At F.O. I saw Sir E. Barrington and, at L.G.B., Sir T. Morant. They say that [though Lord Lansdowne has not yet approved the answer] it will certainly be that the transportation should not on any account be permitted. At L.G.B. Dr. Power feels very strongly that this Regulation should not be permitted, as it would in the long run do more harm than good to Hongkong commerce.
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Till 1900 a regulation was in force in Hongkong by which Chinese plague patients might, at their own expense and with certain precautions, be transported to any part of China beyond 40 miles from Hongkong. When this regulation was brought to our notice, I gave instructions for it to be rescinded on the ground of the immorality of allowing infection to be spread in this way.
We are now strongly urged to permit it to be again in force on the ground that the wealthy Chinese will quit Hongkong unless it is allowed & that the Chinese Viceroy at Canton also urges it.
We still think it is impossible to allow it, as it is to refuse. The F.O. & Local Govt Board take the same view.
↑ Telegram accordingly.
C.Pd. 14 June Lord Lansdowne agrees.
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the rewritten response in HTML format is as follows:The Governor is in a very difficult position and I think that we should do all that is possible to give him a definite reply as soon as possible. Perhaps "Yes" with an immediate reply.
I have been over to Foreign Office and to L.G.B. At F.O. I saw Sir E. Barrington and, at L.G.B., Sir T. Morant. They say that [though Lord Lansdowne has not yet approved the answer] it will certainly be that the transportation should not on any account be permitted. At L.G.B. Dr. Power feels very strongly that this Regulation should not be permitted, as it would in the long run do more harm than good to Hongkong commerce.
Till 1900 a regulation was in force in Hongkong by which Chinese plague patients might, at their own expense and with certain precautions, be transported to any part of China beyond 40 miles from Hongkong. When this regulation was brought to our notice, I gave instructions for it to be rescinded on the ground of the immorality of allowing infection to be spread in this way.
We are now strongly urged to permit it to be again in force on the ground that the wealthy Chinese will quit Hongkong unless it is allowed & that the Chinese Viceroy at Canton also urges it.
We still think it is impossible to allow it, as it is to refuse. The F.O. & Local Govt Board take the same view.
↑ Telegram accordingly.
C.Pd. 14 June Lord Lansdowne agrees.
Page 363
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