C.O
21230
&
10 JUN 01 43
Copy of Medical Officer's Minute of 12th June, 1901.
The Regulation permitting persons suffering from plague to leave Hong Kong for the mainland or elsewhere is, I consider, in direct conflict with the spirit of the Venice Convention, an important principle of which is that persons found to be suffering from plague shall be at once isolated, and be retained in isolation until recovered or dead.
I agree with Mr Chamberlain that authorisation of export of sufferers by plague from Hong Kong would arouse prejudice against the Colony and against the British Empire generally, and I have no doubt that such action would be seized on by Foreign Governments as an excuse for placing injurious restrictions on British Trade.
In this way probably much more mischief would be done to Hong Kong itself than is likely to be affected by cancelling the permissive regulation which is in question.
(Sd)
W. H. Power.
12 June, 1901.