Hon. Colonial Secretary,
PRINTED FOR USE
239 C.O. 17884 112 TCO #07 MAY 20
When the New Territory was taken over in 1898 a small settlement of lepers was found living on an Island in the midst of a swamp near Au Tau.
A small building, more or less isolated, was erected by Government on dry land near by and the sufferers, twenty-two in number, were housed there.
They are supplied with food and are regularly visited by a Government Medical Officer.
The numbers have gradually diminished by death, so that at the beginning of this year there were only 13 inmates.
With this exception there are no resident lepers in this Colony, any cases that occur are deported by the Police to Canton.
19th April, 1909.
The disease is not a notifiable one here.
(sd.) J. M. Atkinson,
P.C.M.O.