Enclosure Nr. 4. to our Despatch No. 345/01
# COPI.
351 35232 TECT
Report on Quarantine as applied to Hongkong and the Port/
Health Officer.
Quarantine.
The primary idea of quarantine is to prevent the Colony being infected from outside by certain epidemic diseases and on the probability of their being imported and the possibility of detecting them quarantine must stand or fall. The only diseases we have to deal with are Small Pox, Cholera and Plague.
Small Pox.
In view of the fact that this disease is a well recognised one of Eastern countries and is, as you are aware, endemic in most of the neighbouring countries it is remarkable that we have never had any serious epidemic here. I say we have never had any epidemic here for I do not consider that the few cases we have had from time to time and which have made somewhat of a sensation can possibly be called an epidemic in a population of over 250,000. Small Pox is an absolutely preventible disease by vaccination and revaccination and any "quarantine of inspection" against places where it is epidemic seems to me useless for this form of quarantine has never been applied from the impossibility of carrying it out to Canton and the numberless villages on the mainland where the disease is endemic and yet we have, as I maintain, never had anything worthy of the name of an epidemic.
Cholera.
During my 14 years experience of this Colony there has never been an epidemic of this disease here although it has frequently been prevalent in Singapore, Siam and Shanghai. Holding the view that it is a water borne disease I think that the reason it has not spread although we have had so called quarantine for years, is simply owing to the fact that ever since my arrival in 1897 and still more so now, the water supply of the Colony is one of the very best anywhere. To maintain that we have kept every single case out, with no detention of passengers under observation, by simply inspecting ships as they arrive is to claim for quarantine very much more than is justified. It is almost impossible not to believe that some few cases must have landed unknown to us and it is to the water supply and that alone that I attribute our freedom from this disease.
Plague.
There can be no question that this disease was introduced here most probably from Canton or the mainland. In view, however, of the constant intercourse we are obliged to have with China and the extremely short distance of some of the places I do not see how any proper quarantine inspection could ever be undertaken or if undertaken would ever prevent the disease coming in. I venture to think that no member of the Venice Convention had ever heard of or contemplated the position of a Colony such as this, situated within a stone's throw of the Chinese Empire and depending for labour and food upon a bi-daily, at least, communication with the surrounding country. I have frequently
t
Enclosure Nr. 4. to our Deghalth No. 345/01
#
COPI.
351
35232
TECT
Report on Quarantine as applied to Rongkong and the pest of Fort/
Health Officer.
Quarantine.
The primary idea of quarantine is to prevent the Colony being infected from outside by certain epidemic diseases and on the probability of their being imported and the possibility of detecting them quarantine must stand or fall. The only diseases we have to deal with are Small Pox, Cholera and Plague.
Small Pox.
In view of the fact that this disease is a well re- cognised one of Eastern countries and is, as you are aware, andemic in most of the neighbouring countries it is remarkable that we have never had any serious epidemic here. I say we have never had any epidemio here for I do not consider that the few cases we have bad from time to time and which bave made somewhat of a sensation can possibly be called an epidemic in a population of over 250,000. Small Pax is an absolutely preventible disease by vaccination and revaccina- tion and any "quarantine of inspection" against places where it is epidemic seems to me useless for this form of quarantine has never baen applied from the impossibility of carrying it out to Canton and the numberless villages on the mainland where the disease is endemic and yet we have, as I maintain, never had anything worthy of the name of an epidemic.
Sholera.
During my 14 years experience of this Colony there has never been an epidemic of this disease here although it has frequently been prevalent in Singapore, Siam and Shanghai. Holding the view that it is a water borne disease I think that the reason it has not spread although we have bad so called quarantine for years, is simply owing to the fact that ever since my arrival in 1897 and still more so now, the water supply of the Colony is one of the very best anywhere. To maintain that we bave kept every single case out, with no detention of passengers under observation, by simply inspecting ships as they arrive is to claim for quarantine very much more than is justified. It is almost impossible not to believe that some few cases must have landed unknown to us and it is to the water supply and that alone that I attribute our freedom from this disease.
Plaque..
There can be no question that this disease was intro- duced here most probably from Canton or the mainland. In view, however, of the constant intercourse we are obliged to have with China and the extremely short distance of some of the places I do not see how any proper quarantine inspection could ever be undertaken or if undertaken would ever prevent the disease coming in. I venture to think that no member of the Venice Convention had ever heard of or contemplated the position of a Colony such as this, situated within a stone's throw of the Chinese Empire and depending for labour and food upon a bi- daily, at least, communication with the surrounding country. I bave
frequently
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