1841-1886
PAPERS RELATING TO
inquire into the operation of this Ordinance, and the Registrar-General's proceedings in connexion with it. You will also remember that one result of the appointment of that Commission, and the inquiry that began in 1878, was that statements were industriously circulated throughout the Colony to the effect that certain measures which I adopted to put an end to abuses that I found in operation under that Ordinance would cause an increase of contagious diseases amongst the troops. Those who had not an opportunity of knowing the facts circulated these rumours throughout the Colony, and I believe even to this day it is generally understood in some quarters that though it was admitted that the abuses which I put an end to were revolting abuses, though it was admitted that it was impossible any Government could sanction some of the abuses which were detected by the Commission, yet nevertheless putting a stop to them, and especially the abuses caused by the employment of paid informers, it was said would undoubtedly cause an increase in the amount of disease amongst the troops. I need hardly say that the Ordinance was passed at the instance of the Officer Commanding the Troops here many years ago. It had been devised for what was called the protection of the soldiers and sailors. Now, in looking to the result of the changes I felt it my duty to make, I recently asked for a return from the Military Authorities showing the number of soldiers suffering from contagious diseases during the four years past; that is during the time that the reforms which I felt it necessary to introduce had been in operation. Here are the figures which have been furnished to the Colonial Secretary by the Military Authorities on the 23rd of January last. In 1878 the number of soldiers suffering from those diseases amounted to 188, in 1879 to 182, in 1880 to 164, and in 1881 to 136. You therefore see that the abolition of abuses in the management of the Contagious Diseases Ordinance has had a similar effect to that which took place in the more important one of our penal legislation. I will not dwell upon that subject further than to say that in the instructions given by Lord Kimberley to me, important changes are indicated in the existing Ordinance; when that Ordinance has been prepared it will be my duty to submit the draft in the first instance to the Secretary of State, and when it has been sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government, it will be laid before you. I believe I used the words "revolting abuses" in reference to those which I put a stop to. They are in fact the words used by the Earl of Kimberley himself in referring to some abuses I found existing in Hong Kong,
Sanitary Improvements.
Though the military and civil returns indicate a steady improvement in the public health, and in the health of the troops, I am
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