Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 1003

944

HONGKONG

of Constitutional Reform resulted, in 1894, in the addition of a second Chinese member the Legislative Couneil, in return for an increase in the Official element by the inclusi of the General Officer Commanding the Troops, and the introduction of two nom ated Unofficial members into the Executive Council. The year 1894 will be memorab also, in the annals of the Colony as the most disastrous year of the plague. The Colo was declared infected on the 10th May, and the mortality rapidly increased until one time it reached more than a hundred a day. Energetic measures were take to cope with the disease, a system of house to house visitation being establish by means of which all cases were promptly discovered and at once removed to hospit or, where death had already taken place, buried, and every house in the Chine quarters was whitewashed and fumigated. Special hospitals were erected and t medical staff was augmented by additions from the Ariny and Navy and the Coa Ports. Amongst other measures taken to combat the disease, a portion of the Ta pingshan district, where the cases were most numerous, was cleared of its inhabi ants, for whom accommodation was provided elsewhere, and the property in the co demned area was subsequently resumed by the Crown, the intention being that it shou be reconstructed in accordance with sanitary requirements. The disease reached i climax on the 7th June, when 107 deaths and 69 new cases were reported. After th date its virulence decreased, and on the 3rd September the proclamation declaring th Colony infected was withdrawn. The total number of deaths recorded was 2,54 In the meantime the trade of the Colony had suffered severely. Large numbers of th natives fled, it being estimated that the population was reduced at one time by no le than 80,000, and the usually busy Queen's Road appeared almost deserted. As th disease waned the population returned, business was gradually resumed, an with the withdrawal of the quarantine imposed at the other ports vesse resumed their regular calls at Hongkong. In 1896 the disease again made its appea ance, but was much less virulent than in 1894, and in 1898 there was another visite 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 vigorou policy of sanitation carried out on the advice of special commissioners (Mr. Ösber Chadwick and Dr. Simpson) sent out from England to advise on the best means improving the health of the city of Victoria. The annual returns since the year 189 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; 1922, 1,181; 1923, 148; 1924, none; this being the first year of complet freedom for thirty years. 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 i likely that many mild cases at the beginning and end of the epidemic recover withou 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 Rockefeller Institute of New York was asked to send an expert in the disease to advise on the best methods of prevention and treatment. Dr. Ölitsky, 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-meningococcic seruin was undertaken.

Sir William Robinson left Hongkong on the 1st February, 1898, and unti the arrival of Sir Henry Blake on 25th November, 1898, the Governinent 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 until May, 1902, a serious water famine oeeurred, 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.