Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 1025

HONGKONG

967

ated Unofficial members into the Executive Council. The year 1894 will be memorable, also, in the annals of the Colony as the most disastrous year of the plague. This disease, which is endemic in Yunnan and some years previously had appeared at Pakhoi, made its appearance that year at Canton, and from there was introduced to Hongkong. The Colony was declared infected on the 10th May, and the mortality rapidly increased until at one time it reached more than a hundred a day. Energetic measures were taken to cope with the discase, 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 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 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 After that date its virulence decreased, and on the 3rd September the proclamation declaring the Colony infected was withdrawn.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 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 every succeeding year there has been a recurrence of the epidemic notwith- standing the expenditure of millions of dollars and the prosecution of a vigorous policy of sanitation carried out on the advice of special commissioners (Mr. Ŏsbert 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 1899 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, 1,847; 1913, 406; 1914, 2,141; 1915, 144; 1916, 39; 1917, 38; 1918, 266; 1919, 464; 1920, 138; 1921, 150. 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. An outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis occurred early in 1918, 1,232 cases being recorded. In consequence of the popular alarm that was felt, the Rockefel- ler Institute of New York was asked to send an expert in the disease to advise on the best methods of prevention and treatment. Dr. Olitsky, Lieutenant, U.S.A. Army, arrived in the Colony on May 5th and he strongly condemned the congestion prevailing in the western part of Victoria. On his advice the systematic manufacture of anti- meningococcie serum was undertaken. The number of cases fell to 269 in 1919, to 158 in 1920, and to 125 in 1921.

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. Owing to a very short rainfall in 1901, and a prolonged drought lasting