20469
Coo
-731
30300
.278.
Government House,
Hongkong, 30th July, 1901.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 209 of 21st June, in answer to my telegram requesting authority to permit persons suffering from plague to be removed to Canton or to their homes in the Province of Kwang Tung.
2.
In this matter, I have nothing to add to my Despatch No. 239 of 29th June, 1901, but it appears to me that the meaning of my application has not been fully appreciated. The letters from the Foreign Office and the Local Government Board mention generally the cancelled regulation as one permitting persons suffering from plague "to leave the Colony", while the Medical Officer, Dr. Power, mentions the regulation as permitting persons so suffering to leave Hongkong for the mainland, or elsewhere".
3.
The proposal made by this Government was simply to effect such removals to the Province of Kwang Tung. Such transfer to Chinese territory has always been permitted in Macao, and with good effect. I have no doubt whatever that the result of the withdrawal of the regulation has been to
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN,
M.P.,
&c. &c. &c.
&c. *
send