M (1) 54
THE OFFICE OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE PORT.
REPORT BY DR. F.T. KEYT, Health Officer of the Port,
I. BOARDING SHIPS AND QUARANTINE.
During the year inward-bound sea-going vessels to the number of 5,318 were visited, from each of these a certificate was obtained, signed by the master, giving particulars as to sickness, or deaths, during the voyage, the dates of leaving ports, and the number of passengers and crews, under sect: 22 (2) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1899.
286 ships arrived in quarantine from infected ports, the passengers and crews numbering 27,900 and 22,503 respectively, were examined before pratique was granted, under Table L. Sec. 23 of the same ordinance.
Eleven vessels were detained in quarantine, of these, eight were for small-pox, two for bubonic plague, and one for cholera.
The ports declared infected during the year were:—
1. Manila, for cholera, 12th January to 1st April. 2. Shanghai, for small-pox, 1st January to 3rd June, 3. Saigon, for cholera, 15th June to 7th September.
It is interesting to note that although cholera prevailed in epidemic form at Manila and Saigon, no cases were imported by ships arriving from these ports. Only one ship, the S.S. "Glymont", was detained in quarantine for observation and disinfection; a doubtful case was landed at Saigon before proceeding on her voyage, and when a definite diagnosis was made, a cable to this effect was sent to Hongkong. There were no fresh cases.
Shanghai supplied four cases of small-pox, two in January and two in March and April; the ships were dealt with under the quarantine regulations, the passengers and crews were vaccinated, and the ships were fumigated with Clayton gas.
The S.S. "Haiching" from Chefoo and the S.S. "Kwei Yang" from Singapore were placed in quarantine for plague for the full period of five days and were fumigated before being released.
II. EMIGRATION.
The total number of emigrants was 98,410, showing a decrease of 57,594 on the total for the previous year.
Under sections 25-28 of the Asiatic Emigration Ordinance, all Asiatic steerage passengers embarking on outward-bound vessels and their crews were required to be examined by the Port Health Officer, and those who were medically unfit were rejected and sent ashore. There were 1,036 rejections, of these 475 were for fevers, 395 for trachoma, 91 for scabies, and 75 for other causes.