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I have frequently visited the cleansing gangs at work from the time of the institution of this method of plague prevention up to the present time, and I have never seen the slightest sign of such fear or hostility on the part of the population.
Disinfection is carried out by the same gangs. But in this case the gangs themselves do the work in the houses. They are, however, closely supervised by the Inspector. Two members of the "Kai Fong" or Street Committee of Chinese in the district are present for the purpose of assessing any damage done to property for purposes of compensation under 1 of the Byelaws for Prevention and Mitigation of Epidemic, Endemic or Contagious Disease; and the clerk of the Dispensary in the District is allowed to watch the process of disinfection.
I submit that the absence of specific complaints prove that the work is on the whole done with the minimum of friction. It may, however, be possible to adopt measures which may be less irksome as all disinfection must be to the Chinese population, and I need hardly say that any proposals in that behalf will be carefully and sympathetically considered by this Government.
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