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The petitioners' prayer was granted might result in much unnecessary loss of life. He, therefore, declined to grant it. As to the request contained in paragraph 2, His Excellency said that he had nothing to do with the return of the people to their own country. If the authorities in Kwang-tang refused to allow persons from Hongkong to go to Canton or elsewhere, he could not coerce those authorities or interfere with their decision. And as regards the first point of the petition—that the house to house visitation should cease—His Excellency said that he considered such visitation to be absolutely necessary, and he had no intention whatever to relax the regulations in that respect. The morning paper had shown how necessary it was, for they reported that three or four dead bodies had been taken out of one house, which would never have been discovered but for the house to house visitation. His Excellency reminded the deputation that this was an English colony, and said that the Tung Wah Committee should assist him in carrying out the law and persuading others to obey it. Holding up the proclamation, he stated that that was now the law and it would be carried out. He promised that every consideration should be shown to women and children, and that if any unnecessary damage was done on proof thereof, the persons suffering would be recompensed. To show his own opinion of the necessity for visitation, he had asked that all the outbuildings and asylum quarters at Government House should be inspected. His Excellency further said that he intended largely to increase the force of Sanitary Inspectors, and he hoped that in a few weeks' time, all danger would be at an end. He asked the Tung Wah Committee to assist him by getting additional help. His Excellency concluded by saying that he was responsible not only for the health of the Chinese but of the Europeans and the Army and Navy, that his decision was embodied in the proclamation, that this proclamation was now the law, and that any person transgressing it would be arrested and punished. The Registrar-General fluently interpreted His Excellency's remarks, and the deputation withdrew. If not actually satisfied, at any rate fully aware of the determination of the Government to do its best to stamp out and prevent the spread of this insidious disease.
THE PROCLAMATION.
The following is a précis of the proclamation issued by H. E. Sir William Robinson:
Whereas Hongkong is now visited by a plague which is killing off Chinese at the rate of between 30 and 40 a day, and it is understood that the infection is conveyed from the inmates of a house to the neighbours, it is necessary to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease in order to protect the people. All cases of plague should be removed to one place, and those dying of plague should be promptly buried, and the premises disinfected and cleansed. You people are to report cases of plague and of death from plague at once to the nearest authorities and to cleanse and disinfect your houses. Out of consideration for the welfare of the people and to prevent the poor from being neglected, Sanitary Inspectors, &c., have been appointed to make a close house to house visitation, to cleanse and disinfect your houses, and to help in the removal of the sick to hospital for careful treatment. Fatal cases will be buried with due respect. Now, three temporary hospitals have been opened for treating cases, two under European control, the other under the direction of the Tung Wah Hospital Committee. All treatment is gratis. No distinction of nationality will be made. The proclamation is to inform you people to give all assistance and not to obstruct the Sanitary Inspectors, &c., in their house to house visitation and the removal of sick persons and the bodies of the dead, and in disinfecting and cleansing your premises. The loyal and respectable population should assist the Government to wipe out this plague. Let every one obey this command, and refuse to listen to rumours spread by bad characters; and let no one contravene these orders lest he be punished and repentance come too late.
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}
Brown.
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}
Ipotitioners' prayer was granted i might result
in maoh unnecessary loss of life. He therefore, declined to grant it. As to the request contained in paragraph 2, His Excellency said that he had nothing to do with the return of the people to their own country. If the authorities in Kwan- tang refused to allow persons from Hongkong to go to Canton or elsewhere, he could pot coerce those anthorities or interfere with their decision. And as regards the first point of the petition-that the house to house visitation should cease-His Excellener said that he cou sidered anoh visitation to be absolutely necessary, and he had no intention whatever to relax the
regulations is that respect. The morning papor had shown how necessary it was, for they reported that three or four dead bodies had been taken out of one house, which would never have been discovered but for the house to house vizita- tion. His Excellency reminded the d-patation that this was an English colony, and said that; the Tung Wah Committee should assist him in carrying out the lawland ersuading others to obey it. Holding up the proclamation he stated that that was now the law fand it would be car- ried out. He promised that every consideration should be shown to women and children, and that if any unnecessary damage was done oa proof thereof the persons suffering would be recom pensed. To show his own opinion of the neces sity for visitation be had asked that all the ont buildings and asalio quarters at Government House should be inspected. Bis Ex-llency far- ther said that he intended largely to increase the force of Sanitary Inspectors, and he hoped that in a few weeks' timo all fanger would be at an end. He asked the Tung Wah Committee to assist him by getting additional help. His Excellency con cluded by saying that he was responsible not only for the health of the Chinese but of the Europeans and the Army aud Navy, that his decision was ambored in the proclamation, that this pro- clamation was now the law, and that pygona transgressing it would be arrested and pánished, The Registrar-treneral flaently interpreted His Exellenoy's remarks and the deputation withdraw. If ant actually satisfidu, at any ratei fully aware of the determination of the Govern- ment to do its best to stamp out and prevent the spread of this insidious disease.
THE PROCLAMATION. The following is a précis of the proclamation issned by. H. E. Sir William Robinson:
Whereas Hongkong is now visited by a plague which killing off Chinese at the rate of between 30 and 40 a day, and it is understood that the infection is conveyed from the inmates of a house to the neighbours, it is necessary to take messures to prevent the spread of the disease in j order to protect the people. All cases of plague should be romoved to one place, and those dying of plugno should be promptly buried, and the premises disinfected and cleansed. You people.{ are to report cases of plagne and of daith from plague at once to the nearest authorities and to cleanse and disinfect your houses. (at of con- sideration for the welfare of the people and to. prevent the poor from being neglected, Sanitary Inspectors, &c., have been appointed to made a close house to house visitation, to cleanse and disinfeot your honses, and to help in the removal of the sink to hospital for careful treatment. Fatal cases will be buried with due respect Now, three temporary hospitals have been opened for treating cases, two under European control, the other nuder the direction of the Tung Wab Hospital Committee. All treatment is gratis, No distinction of nationality will be made. The proclamation is to inform you people to, give all assistance and not to obstruct the Sani- tary Inspectors, &o., in their bouse to house visi- tation and the removal of sick persons and the bodies of the dead, and in disinfesting and cleans. ing your premises. The loyal and respectable 'population should assist the Government to wipe out this plague. Let every oun obey this com- mand, and refuse to listen to remours spread by bad characters; and let no one contravene these orders lost be be punished and repentance come too late.
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