was formed in ignorance of the fact that the plague prevailed. The Southern Provinces of China and Hong Kong were affected. But I am assured that a regulation which permits the exportation of plague patients from those parts only certified by the law that they should be beyond forty miles from A and only afford a wide and dangerous disseminating opportunity for the disease, would also tend to it greatly and, from a commercial point of view, dangerously lower the sanitary reputation of the colony and that of sanitation.
7. I am glad to hear reports that the present epidemic of plague in Hong Kong is on the wane. I have generally ...
No. 239 901 Previous Paper. No. 426
DESPATCH C.O. 270.3 No. 24048 (Subject) Plaque Patients Removal to China.
Send copies of representations in favour of being allowed to remove cases for reasons stated that such permission be granted, especially as the Colony (Minutes) is not bound by the Venice Convention.
The results of our policy are certainly very grave. The port and harbour works are apparently becoming centres of wholesale smuggling of people in the first stages of the disease. I doubt very much whether this smuggling would be stopped by the issue of regulations allowing removal. Only three persons embarked under them, when in force, probably owing to the strict regulations.
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