No. 16
Hongkong, 20th April, 1904.
You 35303
03
573
10238
Goverment House,
Hongkong, 20th April, 1904.
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit for your information the enclosed copy of a Report by the Acting Medical Officer of Health regarding the cleansing operations which have taken place in the City of Victoria during the past Winter.
It is interesting to observe that on this occasion the whole of the washing and cleansing has practically been done by the people themselves. The co-operation of the Chinese in this work has undoubtedly been to a great extent induced by the object-lesson provided by Sir Henry Blake in the experiment carried out by him last year, which formed the subject of his Despatch No.403 of the 21st August, 1903.
I may mention that up to the present the Colony has been remarkably free from Plague this year. Only sporadic cases, sixteen in all, have occurred since the 1st January last. At the same time the fact must not be lost sight of that Canton and the neighbouring towns and villages have so far also enjoyed an equal immunity from Plague this year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
Humble servant,
[Am...]
Officer Administering the Government.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,