Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1124

HONGKONG

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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 area 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 cascs 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 After that date its virulence decreased, and on the 3rd September the proclamation declaring the Colony infected was withdrawn.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 80,000, 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. In every succeeding year there has been a recurrence of the epidemic notwithstanding the expenditure of millions of dollars and the prosecution of a vigorous policy of sanitation carried out on the advice of special commissioners (Mr. Osbert Chadwick and Dr. Simpson) sent out from England to advise on the best means of improving the health of the city of Victoria. The annual returns since the year 1889 have been as follows:-1899, 1,486 cases; 1900, 1,087; 1901, 1,651; 1902, 572; 1903, 1,415; 1904, 472; 1905, 304; 1906, 892; 1907, 240; 1908 1,037; 1909, 124; 1910, 23; 1911, 261; 1912, 1,87; 1913, 406;. 1914, 2,141 ; and 1915, 144. The percentage of deaths has never been lower than 88.4, though it is considered probable that the true mortality is not so high, because it is likely that many mild cases at the beginning and end of the epidemic recover without treatment, and are never notified. A feature of these epidemics is that they die out completely in the autumn. Seldom has a case been reported in the last three months of the year, except in 1912 and 1913, when several sporadic cases were reported. No doubt the large member of cases in these two years has been due to the great overcrowding which has taken place owing to the political troubles in China.

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 adrinistered the Govern- ment. 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 has since been met. The total estimated cost of these works slightly exceeded two million dollars, but the actual cost largely exceeded that sum. 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. (now Sir Henry May, K.C.M.G.), was. appointed Administrator pending the arrival of Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G., who reached the Colony on the 29th July, 1904. His regime was distinguished by the commencement of the long-projected railway from Kowloon to Canton. The British section, from Kowloon to the frontier, a distance of 22 miles, was opened on October 1st, 1910, by Sir Henry May, who was then Administering the Government in the absence on leave of H.E. Sir Frederick Lugard. The Chinese section, 89 miles in length, was completed at the end of September, 1911, when through railway communication was established. The year 1906 will be remembered in the history of the Colony by two calamitous events. On September 18th, a typhoon struck the Colony with terrific force and with such disastrous results as to give it. rank as the worst typhoon that the Colony has ever experienced. The Observatory

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