ENCLOSURE 5.
Petition.
439
C.O 17/5/2/3
3. AJO VIT
The Gentry and Merchants of Hongkong present a petition praying that the plague regulations formerly observed may be adhered to, so the wishes of the Community may be gratified, and the people's minds set at rest.
Petitioners are deeply grateful for the protection which they have received during so many years under British rule. Every year at the meeting of Spring and Summer, when the temperature is most changeable, there are frequent attacks of sickness due to abnormal temperature of the body. Petitioners thank the Government for the rules for controlling the plague in force during the years 1898 to 1900, by which persons suspected of suffering from that disease were permitted to report themselves either to the Sanitary Department or to the nearest Police Station or to the Hospital. If, on examination, the disease was found to be non-infectious the patients were permitted to receive the treatment they preferred, wherever they might wish, if on the other hand it was found to be plague the patient was at liberty to engage a boat or junk to convey him to China, whilst the premises occupied by him were disinfected and limewashed. Should anyone unfortunately die from plague, a permit could be obtained from a doctor, authorizing the corpse to be removed in a double coffin to the man's native place for burial there. There was not one Chinese who was not contented with these regulations, and ever since, the streets have been full of praise of their excellence, whilst all have united in their grateful recognition of the paternal protection and deep love extended to its subjects by the Government.
Petitioners submit that of the Chinese who have come to Hongkong to trade, many are far from their parents, and have been long separated from their wives and children. As soon as they fall sick, they are certain to feel ill at ease, until they have returned home. This is only human nature. The return of plague patients to their native villages has never been prohibited nor viewed with dislike in China. Chinese put the greatest value on human remains, and it is for this reason that these have been sent back to China from San Francisco and other places - without regard to the length of the voyage. For many years, without cessation, human remains have been thus brought back from foreign ports. If plague patients in Hongkong are not to be permitted to be removed to the mainland for treatment or for burial, it will be impossible to pacify people's minds, which will be thrown into a state of perturbation and fear.
Under these circumstances, petitioners cannot remain silent. They have always known that His Excellency the Governor regards the people, as though they were members of his family, and sympathizes...
COPY
ENCLOSURE 5.
Petition.
439
C.O
17/5/2/3
3. AJO VIT
The Gentry and Merchants of hongkong present
a petition praying that the plague regulations formerly observed may be ad- ered to, so the wishes of the Community may be grateful, and the people's winds set at rest.·
Petitioners are deeply grateful for the protection which they have received during so many years under British rule, Every year at the meeting of Spring and Summer, when the temperature is most changeable, there are frequent attacks of sickness due to abnormal temps- rature of the body. Petitioners thank the Government for the rules for con- trolling the plague in force during the years 1898 to 1900, by which persons suspected of suffering from that disease were permitted to report themselves either to the Sanitary Department or to the nearest Police Station or to the Hospital. If, on examination, the disease was found to be non-infections the patients were permitted to receive the treatment they preferred, wherever they night wish, if on the other hand it was found to be plague the patient was at liberty to engage a boat or junk to convey` him to China, whilst the premises occupied by him were disinfected and limewashed. Should any-one un- fortunately die from plague, a pernit could be obtained from a doctor, authorizing the corpse to be removed in a double coffin to the man's native place for burial there. There was not one Chinese who was not contented with these regulations, and ever since, the streets have been full of praise of their excellence, whilst all bave united in their grateful recognition of the paternal protection and deep love extended to its subjects by the Government.
Petitioners submit that of the Chinese
who have come to Hongkong to trade, many are far from their parents, and have been long separated from their wives and children. As soon as they fall sick, they are certain to feel ill at esse, until they have returned home. This is only human nature. The return of plague patients to their native villages has never been prohibited nor viewed with dislike in China. Chinese put the greatest value on human remains, and it is for this reason that these have been sent back to China from San Francisco and other places voyage of some thousands of miles - without regard to the length of the voyage. For many years, without cessation, human remains have been thus brought back from foreign ports. If plague patients in Hongkong are not to be permitted to be removed to the mainland for treatment or for burial, it will be impossible to pacify people's minda, which will be thrown into a state of perturbation and fear.
Under these circumstances, petitioners
cannot remain silent. They have always known that His Excellency the Governor regards the people, as though they were zombers of his family, and sympathiz-
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