CO129-404 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [10-12] — Page 25

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by him which deal with the appointment of Medical men as Intelli- -gence Officer at certain ports outside of India, the institution of scientific inquiries under the auspices of the Royal Society, the establishment of a Central Intelligence Bureau and of a modern Quarantine Station at Hongkong are of Imperial interest, and should be dealt with as matters common to the British Empire as a whole, and that it is possible that a contribution will be given from Indian revenues towards these objects. The cost of a properly equipped Quarantine Station of sufficient magnitude to act as an efficient preventive measure in all possible contingencies for the Straits Settlements, India and Ceylon could hardly be provided by

this Colony without substantial assistance.

4.

I enclose a copy of a report by the Principal Civil Medical Officer in which he gives his views as to the best method of carrying out the recommendations made by liajor James, which have reference to Hongkong. I agree generally with what Dr. Johnson has written, and I may remark that his proposals are based on the fact that liongkong is the first British outpost on the

possible route of infection from the endemic areas, and that it is

now, and will probably continue to be, the terminal point of the

main lines of steamships coming from those areas. If, therefore,

effectual measures can be taken in Hongkong to prevent the spread of Yellow Rever further West, the authorities at Singapore would be relieved from the necessity of taking special measures of pro-

-tection as is pointed out in the last paragraph of the report of

Major James on page 26 of the print.

5.

Major James recommends that an intelligence

officer should be appointed in an area of which Hongkong would be

the centre, who would occasionally visit Manila and possibly

Shanghai. It will, I think, be found desirable to have a somewhat stronger staff than that sugested, but this can be considered later on. I concur, however, with Dr. Johnson that any officers appointed for this duty should be attached to the Medical Depart- -ment of the Colony and be available for general duty if required.

6.