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Mr Chamberlain
Excuse it
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Rin
consent to
He must
J
leave oneself in his
at The End
the two at
The two days
next week, d
The beginning of
the following week (2, 3, March
3, 4,
6, 7)
could be avoided,
be
anchored
would
or desirable,
Cause Mr Kermick
hi Scotland
Ex
te bed
those days.
Your instant
Rehunden
SIE,
C.O.
4718
Rec Red24Fd.99.
VENEREAL DISEASE IN
HONGKONG.
153
China Association,
159, Cannon Street, E.C.
23rd February, 1899.
On the 31st May and on the 30th August, 1897, this Association had the honour to submit for
your
consideration evidence showing the deplorable consequences which had resulted from the abolition, at the behest of H.M. Government, of ordinances which had been enacted by the Colonial Legislature for the control of venereal disease in Hongkong.
Reports and statistics were adduced, showing the persistent improvement in the sanitary condition of the Colony which followed the enactment of those ordinances in 1858, and the immediate revulsion and deterioration which followed upon their repeal in 1887.
Extracts were quoted from Army Medical Reports to show that, previous to 1858, Hongkong was proverbial for an aggravated form of venereal disease. The enactment of what are known as the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, in that year, produced a steady decrease in the number of cases and in virulence of type till the position was reversed, and the Colony became noted, throughout the services, as one of the healthiest in that respect in the Empire.
The repeal of the ordinances in 1887 was followed by an immediate reversal of those conditions. The ratio of admissions to the Military Hospital in Hongkong—which had fallen to 145 per thousand of strength of the Garrison in 1884—rose to 403 per thousand in 1895, and the character of the disease had undergone similar aggravation.
The evidence of cause and effect was, it is submitted, conclusive; and the Association felt it a duty, under those conditions, to urge the re-enactment of ordinances which had been wholly beneficent while in operation, and whose repeal had been followed by consequences so deplorable.
Mr. Lucas replied, on the 19th February, 1898, that you were opposed to the re-enactment of the ordinances as they stood, but that you were conferring with the Governor of Hongkong as to whether other measures could be taken to check the spread of the evil.
Twelve months having since elapsed, the Association desires again to urge the matter upon your consideration, and to express a hope that you will be good enough to acquaint them with the purport of the opinions elicited from the Colonial Authorities.
The opportunity is taken to adduce further statistics, exhibiting progressive proof of the consequences that have followed the abolition of control. The returns from the Straits are bracketed with those from Hongkong, because the conditions in the two colonies are similar. The necessity for similar ordinances has been shown by local experience in each; and the consequences of repeal—in opposition to the strongly expressed opinion of the Civil and Military Authorities and of the whole body of lay opinion—have been similarly disastrous in each.
That the table for 1884 deals with Hongkong and the Straits combined does not invalidate the comparison, because the ratio of admissions was exactly the same—145 per 1,000—in that year, for each.
The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.,
H.M. Secretary of State for the Colonies.
probably head the deputation,
hr Chamberlain
Excerve it
Connee
ん
Rin
consent to
He must
J
leave onselah in hie
at The End
the two at
The two days
next werk, d
The beginning of
the following week (2.2. March
3, 4,
6.7)
could be avoided,
be
anchored
让
would
or desirable,
Cause MrKermick
hi Scotland
Ex
te bed
those days.
Your instant
Rehunden
SIE,
C.O.
4718
Rec ReD24Fd.99.
VENEREAL DISEASE IN
HONGKONG.
153
China Association,
159, Cannon Street, E.C.
23rd February, 1899.
X
On the 31st May and on the 30th August, 1897, this Association had the honour to submit for
your
consideration evidence showing the deplorable consequences which had resulted from the abolition, at the behest of H.M. Government, of ordinances which had been enacted by the Colonial Legislature for the control of venereal disease in Hongkong.
Reports and statistics were adduced, showing the persistent improvement in the sanitary condition of the Colony which followed the enactment of those ordinances in 1858, and the immediate revulsion and deterioration which followed upon their repeal in 1887.
Extracts were quoted from Army Medical Reports to show that, previous to 1858, Hongkong was proverbial for an aggravated form of venereal disease. The enactment of what are known as the Contagious Diseases Ordinances, in that year, produced a steady decrease in the number of cases and in virulence of type till the position was reversed, and the Colony became noted, throughout the services, as one of the healthiest in that respect in the Empire.
The repeal of the ordinances in 1887 was followed by an immediate reversal of those conditions. The ratio of admissions to the Military Hospital in Hongkong --which had fallen to 145 per thousand of strength of the Garrison in 1884-rose to 403 per thousand in 1895, and the character of the disease had undergone similar aggravation.
The evidence of cause and effect was, it is submitted, conclusive; and the Association felt it a duty, under those conditions, to urge the re-enactment of ordinances which had been wholly beneficent while in operation, and whose repeal had been followed by consequences so deplorable.
Mr. Lucas replied, on the 19th February, 1898, that you were opposed to the re-enactment of the ordinances as they stood, but that you were conferring with the Governor of Hongkong as to whether other measures could be taken to check the spread of the evil.
Twelve months having since elapsed, the Association desires again to urge the matter upon your consideration, and to express a hope that you will be good enough to acquaint them with the purport of the opinions elicited from the Colonial Authorities.
The opportunity is taken to adduce further statistics, exhibiting progressive proof of the cousequences that have followed the abolition of control. The returns from the Straits are bracketed with those from Hongkong, because the conditions in the two colonies are similar. The necessity for similar ordinances has been shown by local experience in each; and the consequences of repeal-in opposition to the strongly expressed opinion of the Civil and Military Authorities and of the whole body of lay opinion have been similarly disastrous in each.
That the table for 1884 deals with Hongkong and the Straits combined does not invalidate the comparison, because the ratio of admissions was exactly the same-- 145 per 1,000-in that year, for each.
The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.,
H.M. Secretary of State for the Colonies.
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