Sessional_Paper_1892 — Page 479

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There is now an almost constant supply of water from Tytam and Pokfulam, and the then absence of such supply and the insanitary state of the Chinese portion of Victoria were the chief reasons which influenced the Government in 1886 in not adopting the regulations in force in England in regard to vessels arriving from infected ports or with actual disease on board.

15. In England, the system adopted is medical inspection, segregation and detention of the sick, a short period of observation for suspected cases, and the letting free of the healthy. The sanitary state of the Colony is not quite equal to that of English ports; but the medical commissioners and gentlemen examined are unanimously of opinion that the immediate release of healthy persons arriving from an infected port or in a vessel on which cholera or small-pox had occurred would involve no danger to this community.

16. The Commission after discussion and full consideration are of opinion,-

(1.) That cases of cholera on board a ship arriving in the waters of the Colony should be at once removed to the hospital ship Hygeia, and that cases of small-pox should be similarly dealt with when there are no cases of cholera on board the Hygeia. But in the possible contingency of their being both cholera and small-pox in the harbour at the same time then, the small-pox cases should in such emergency be removed at once to the small-pox wards situated in the grounds of the Government Civil Hospital. (2.) That passengers arriving from an infected port-even if there are on board cases of cholera, small-pox, or other virulent communicable disease-should be allowed to land at once, if in the opinion of the Health Officer they show no symptoms of suffering from such disease.

(3.) That such persons as the Health Officer may certify in writing he suspects to be suffering from cholera, small-pox or other virulent communicable disease should either be sent to the observ- ation wards of some hospital or be detained on board under observation, as is the case in England, for a period not exceeding 48 hours from the time that the Health Officer completes his examination of the passengers and crew.

(4.) That the healthy passengers having been landed, the sick removed, and the suspected provided for, the infected vessel should be disinfected and released. This release should be effected, even where the suspected are kept on board, in about 48 hours. Provision could be made that the cost of the maintenance of such persons as may be sent to the Hygeia or other hospital should be borne by the agents of the vessel (see Singapore Regulations No. 20).

17. To give effect to the opinions herein expressed, it will be necessary to amend that part of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1891 which deals with quarantine.

J. RUSSELL, Chairman. W. C. H. HASTINGS.

J. J. KESWICK.

HO KAI.*

PH. B. C. AYRES.

G. P. JORDAN.

Hongkong, 20th February, 1892.

* I have signed this Report because I agree in everything except that portion of paragraph 13 which states that refusal to be re-vaccinated would hardly constitute sufficient ground for detention. In my opinion persons who have not been vaccinated and those who would not submit to re-vaccination should not be allowed to land without undergoing a period of observation of at least three days.

20th February, 1892.

HO KAL.