M 85
Annexe R.
OFFICE OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE PORT.
REPORT BY DR. G. P. JORDAN, Health Officer of the Port.
During the year the work of this department was carried on by Dr. Jordan and Dr. Keyt.
Dr. Keyt returned to the Colony on February 22nd after being absent on leave for six months.
The work of this department may be described under three headings viz:----
(a.) The daily inspection of ships arriving in port. (b.) The medical inspection of emigrants.
(c.) Quarantine duty.
(a.)--DAILY INSPECTION OF SHIPS ARRIVING IN PORT.
All vessels entering the port are boarded and particulars are obtained as to any illness or death during the voyage, and the number of the passengers and crew, and a certificate to this effect is signed by the master of the ship.
Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1899, Section 23, Table L, all passengers and crews of ships arriving from ports which are declared to be infected are examined, and in the event of any disease of an infectious type having occurred during the voyage, such ships are detained in quarantine and are dealt with under the provisions of the Ordinance. Healthy vessels receive pratique as soon as the medical inspection is over.
During the year there were 4,807 arrivals in port of which 2,090 were of British register and 2,717 Foreign.
These figures do not include the Canton and Macao River Steamers. Junks and smaller craft are not boarded, except in the event of any epidemic disease occurring in them.
(b.)-INSPECTION OF EMIGRANTS.
During the year there was a marked increase in emigration, viz:-105,258 as compared with 59,969 for the previous year, a difference of 45,289. As usual the greatest number were for the Straits Settlements and Calcutta viz :-45,579, next come the Java Ports with 18,175 and British Columbia with 13,832.
Table I gives the numbers of emigrants passed and rejected, while Table II gives the monthly figures, the number of rejections.