Hongkong, 24th March, 1904.
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that while Sir Frederick Treves, Sergeant Surgeon to His Majesty the King, was recently my guest here, the subject of the quality of the alcoholic liquor purveyed in the local public houses came under discussion between us.
2. Sir Frederick expressed the opinion that, judging by remarks made to him by Doctors serving on board His Majesty's Ships on this Station and by some Military Doctors, he was inclined to question the soundness of the alcoholic liquor consumed by Soldiers and Sailors on shore at the public houses which they frequent.
3. Thereupon I placed in Sir Frederick Treves' hands a copy of the Report of the Commission which enquired into this question in 1898, a copy of which is now enclosed for facility of reference.
4. The action taken on the Report has been, as indicated in Sir Henry Blake's Despatch No.15 of 20th January, 1899, to subject the alcoholic liquors sold in licensed premises to more frequent analysis. The results have been the same as detailed in the evidence given by the Government Analyst before the Commission. In no case has the presence...
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THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.
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lo./28 Hongkong. Goverment House, C.O. 14668 421 25 4 04
62915 All 26/3- Seme 22m3 14.
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