Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 984

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HONGKONG

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 with- drawal of the quarantine imposed at the other ports, vessels resumed their regular calls at Hongkong. În 1896 the disease again made its appearance, but was much less virulent than in 1894, and in 1898 there was another visitation. In every succeeding year there was 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 com- missioners (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 1899 have been as follows: 1899, 1,486 cascs; 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; from 1924 to 1929 there were no cases reported. An outbreak of cerebro spinal meningitis occurred early in 1918, 1,232 cases being recorded. In con- sequence 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. Olitsky, Lieutenant, U.S.A. Army, arrived in the Colony on May 5th and he strongly condemned the congestion pre- vailing in the western part of Victoria. On his advice the systematic manu- facture of anti-meningococcic serum was undertaken.

Sir William Robinson left Hongkong on the 1st February, 1898, and until the arrival of Sir Heney 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 fron 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 ad- ministered the Government. 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. Large reser- voirs have since been built on the island and a big scheme for securing water from the Shing Mun valley on the mainland first mooted in 1924 has now been completed.

In November, 1903, Sir Henry Blake left the Colony on appointment to the Governorship of Ceylor, and the Hon. Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G. (later Sir Henry May, G.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. Sir Matthew's régime was distinguished by the commencement of the long- projected railway from Kowloon to Canton. The British section, from Kow- loon 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 the typhoon which struck the Colony on September 18th with terrific force and with such disastrous results as top give it rank as the worst typhoon that the Colony had ever experienced. The