No. 307.
Hongkong.
MO 18660
Sir,
C. O.
31531
Government House,
Hongkong, 2nd August, 1904.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 182 dated the 13th June, 1904, transmitting for consideration and report a letter dated the 25th May, 1904, from the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom on the subject of a complaint by the Master of the British S.S. "Lothian" with regard to the fumigation of Asiatics and their effects, which is imposed by the American Consular Authorities at this port as a condition of the issue of a Health Certificate by those Authorities, without which certificate vessels are detained in quarantine in Ports of the United States.
2. The existence of this system was brought to Mr. Chamberlain's notice in Sir Henry Blake's Despatch No. 237, dated the 28th June, 1901, and its details are further explained in a statement of 4th July, 1902, by the Assistant Harbour Master, of which a copy is annexed. Undoubtedly it entails inconvenience and expense on the Masters of vessels as an alternative to the greater inconvenience (the risk of which it is open to them to incur) of being placed in quarantine at their destination.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
&c. &c. &c.