M 39 --
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at a hospital was permissible however slight the symptoms. The Police had at once to be notified and the unhappy victim taken into custody to be expelled from the Colony if he were unable to prove himself a British subject or to be released to hide himself in hopeless isolation if he could so prove.
125. On the 13th of June was passed the Lepers Ordinance 1935 which repealed that of 1910. The new Ordinance looks upon leprosy less harshly than its predecessor. The unfortunate individual who has contracted the loathsome affliction through no fault of his own is now regarded as a human case of disease who has a claim to receive the same sympathetic treatment for his trouble as is accorded to any one suffering from any other disease of a contagious nature such as tuberculosis or venereal disease.
126. It is the intention of Government to establish a proper leper settlement in a suitable situation when the necessary funds are available. Unfortunately the severe financial depression prevented anything being done in 1935 or any provision being entered in the estimates for 1936. The settlement when built will not be solely a place of segregation but in addition a centre for inpatient treatment and retreat for those who are unable to provide for themselves.
127. In May 1935 arrangements were made with the Tung Wah Hospital Committee for the use of the Smallpox Hospital as a refuge for lepers. From then until the end of the year 44 cases were admitted (34 males and 10 females).
128. The subsequent histories of those admitted were:-
Discharged for treatment as outpatients at one or other of the Government Hospitals 8 Transferred to Shek Lung Leper Settlement 8 Discharged at their own request 8 Died 9 Remaining at the end of the year 11 44A European Medical Officer attended twice a week for the purpose of administering treatment.
Rabies.
129. Ten cases of this disease were reported during the year. Three cases occurred in humans the remainder in dogs. The human cases occurred in Kowloon. There were no cases on the Island of Hong Kong.
130. Two of the human cases had been treated with anti-rabic vaccine before the appearance of symptoms. All were fatal.