M(1)65
THE OFFICE OF THE HEALTH OFFICER OF THE PORT
REPORT BY DR. B. H. MELLON, Health Officer of the Port.
I. THE INSPECTION OF SHIPS ARRIVING IN PORT.
During the year 1924 the number of inward-bound ocean-going vessels was 6484 and these were all visited by the Health Officers.
Such particulars of the voyage as the names of ports of call, dates of departure, numbers of passengers and crews, and the incidence of cases of illness or death, etc., were noted on the prescribed forms and attested by the master of the vessel as requested under Table W, section 22(2), of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1899.
Of the steamers arriving, 2650 were on the British register and 3834 on the foreign register. River steamers from Canton, Macao, and West River ports, Junks, and small craft are not visited except in case of sickness or death.
Ships arriving in port with a corpse on board must obtain a permit from the Health Officer before landing it, and before this is granted, enquiries are made to determine the cause of death. If a death occurs within ten hours of a ship's arrival in port or whilst the ship is in harbour, the body is inspected, and the case is investigated. If, for any reason, the cause of death is in doubt, the body is sent to the mortuary for further examination. During the year, 149 special visits were made to ships for these purposes, 137 permits were granted, and 28 bodies were sent to the mortuary. During this period, no death occurred from a quarantinable disease. Bills of Health numbering 2594 were issued during the year.
Three vessels arriving in an insanitary condition were dealt with under Table L, section 23(1), paragraph 13 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1899, as amended by Government Notification No. 7, paragraph 2 of 1924.
II. EMIGRATION.
The total number of emigrants was 130,982, which shows an increase of 10,198 over 1923, 32,592 over 1922, and 71,013 more than for 1919.
More than half of the emigrants proceeded to the Straits Settlements. Approximately equal numbers left for Honolulu, Dutch East Indies, and the United States of America. The numbers and destinations of the emigrants are given in Table I.