Government House, Hong Kong, 5th July, 1901.
Referring to my despatch No.58B of the 22nd ultimo, I now have the honour to forward for your information particulars of the Epidemic of Plague with which unhappily this Colony has been visited during the present year.
Last year there were only one or two cases per week down to the end of March, with the exception of the three weeks ending 24th March during which no case was reported. From the 9th April the returns showed from twenty cases to ninety cases per week, the latter figure being for the week ending 15th June, when the disease subsided. The week ending on the 1st August showing 8 cases, and the following week nine. The four weeks of November were the only four consecutive weeks free from the disease. The two last weeks of the year showing each only one case.
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., &c.