Directory_and_Chronicle_1907 — Page 1071

HONGKONG

taken to cope with the disease, a system of house to house visitation being established by means of which all cases were promptly discovered and at once removed to hospital or, where death had already taken place, buried, and every house in the Chinese quarters was whitewashed and fumigated. Special hospitals were erected and the medical staff was augmented by additions from the Army and Navy and the Coast Ports. The Colony was especially indebted to the Shropshire Light Infantry for the services of about three hundred volunteers from the Regiment, who were engaged in the house to house visitation and cleansing. Captain Vesey, S.L.I., while engaged in this work contracted the disease and died from it, and one sergeant and four privates also suffered from it. The other corps of the Garrison as well as the Navy likewise lent valu- able assistance. Amongst other measures taken to combat the disease, a portion of the Taipingshan district, where the cases were most numerous, was cleared of its inhabit- ants, for whom accommodation was provided elsewhere, and the property in the con- demned arca was subsequently resumed by the Crown, the intention being that it should be reconstructed in accordance with sanitary requirements. The disease reached its climax on the 7th June, when 107 deaths and 69 new cases were reported. After that date its virulence decreased, and on the 3rd September the proclamation declaring the Colony infected was withdrawn. The total number of deaths recorded was 2,547. In the meantime the trade of the Colony had suffered severely. Large numbers of the natives fled, it being estimated that the population was reduced at one time by no less than 89,000, and the usually busy Queen's Road appeared almost deserted. As the disease waned the population returned, business was gradually resumed, and with the withdrawal of the quarantine imposed at the other ports vessels resumed their regular calls at Hongkong. In 1896 the disease again made its appear- ance, but was much less virulent than in 1894, and in 1898 there was another visita- tion, in connection with which two of the sisters of the Government Civil Hospital lost their lives, having contracted the disease while in the discharge of their duties. The year 1899 saw still another visitation, the number of deaths amounting to over 1,400 and it recurred in 1900 and 1901, the outbreak in the latter year giving rise to an agitation for remedial measures. In 1902 only sporadic cases occurred to the number of 540, but in 1993 the number of cases again exceeded 1,400, despite a vigorous policy of sanitation which has been carried out on the advice of special commissioners (Mr. Osbert Chad- wick and Dr. Simpson) sent out from England to advise on the best means of improving the health of the city of Victoria. Their report was presented to the Government in April, 1902. The returns for 1904 were, happily, again light, the cases numbering only 510. In 1905 there were only 304 cases; a diminution which seemed to justify the belief that the labours of the Sanitary Board to exterminate the scourge were at length being crowned with complete success. Unhappily that hope was destroyed by the experience of 1906, when the total number of cases went up to 892 (of which 856 were fatal). The percentage of deaths has never been lower than 88.4.

Sir William Robinson left Hongkong on the 1st February, 1898, and until the arrival of Sir Henry Blake on 25th November, 1898, the Government was administered by Major-General Wilsone Black. In 1900, on the despatch of the China Expeditionary Force from India, Hongkong became the base from which troops and supplies were sent forward. Prior to the arrival of these troops, a force drawn from the Garrison was despatched to the front, and the Hongkong Regiment were retained for service in North China during the whole of the campaign, only returning to the colony in December, 1901. In October, 1902, the Hongkong Regiment were paraded for the last time in the colony, handed over their colours to be placed in St. John's Cathedral, and embarked a few days later for India, where they were disbanded. Sir Henry Blake departed on leave for England at the close of 1901, and during his absence (until September, 1902) Major-General Sir William Gascoigne administered the Govern ment, and earned great popularity. Owing to a very short rainfall in 1901, and a prolonged drought lasting until May, 1902, a serious water famine occurred, reducing the inhabitants to great straits, and forcibly bringing home to the Administration the urgent need for increased water storage, which is now being provided. In November, 1903, Sir Henry Blake left the Colony on appointment to the governorship of Ceylon, and the Hon. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G., was appointed Administrator pending the arrival of Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G., who arrived on the 29th July, 1904, and at once assumed charge of the administration. In his inaugural address His Excellency declared that the construction of the Kowloon to Canton Railway would be one of the foremost objects to be attained, and in the following year the Colony had the satisfac- tion of learning that the work of construction had commenced on the British section of the line, which, starting from Kowloon Point, will have a straight run to Shatin, thence