April 25, 1895.j
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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303
And whereas the Governorin Council issatisfied that the bubonic plague is at present prevalent in the neighbouring colony of Macao and in the island of Hainan, and that there is danger of the introduction of the same into this colony unless measures are taken to prevent the influx of Chinese from the said colony of Macao and the said island of Hainan,
upon the shipping. The publication of the pro- ago the members of the Board, with the excep clamation now, when the only statement in it | tion of Mr. Francis, advised that some stringent will be that the colony is threatened with an measures should be taken to prevent immigra- epidemic will have no consequences upon trade, tion from Macao, and a letter was addressed to and it will invest this Board with all the neces the Government on the subject. No reply had sary powers and anthorities. It seems to me yet been received. He (the Vice-President) that the reports we have had from Hoihow, held to the view he had always expressed if Macso, and various other places along the Cau- the plague came to this colony-the only safe ton river, and especially this last report of In.guard is to stop Chinese who are likely to bring Now, therefore, I, Sir William Robinson, sphotor Quincey, show that the colony is distinctly the plague from coming to Hongkong. They Knight Commander of the Most Distinguisbed threatened with the advent of the plague, and had heard a good deal of what was done at home. | Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Gov- that it has been brought as near to pur port But Hongkong was not London. The circa-ernor and Commander-in-Chief of the colony of Is it can be without actually making its stances varied considerably, and he was perfectly | Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice- ppearance, so that we must now ask for couvinced that if one got 3) or 4) or even only Admiral of the same, in pursuince of the powers Poper precautions to be taken. The effect 10 cases of plague introduced in this colony vested in me iu Council by the said section, do of the proclamation would be to invest this there would be as severe an epidemic as there by this proclamation under my hand in Council Bard. or
some authorised person, with the was last year. Therefore he begged to move prohibit from this date and until further notice fullest possible powers in case the epidemic should that the Board again urge the Government the immigration or importation into this colony arise. Mr. Francis then read sections 32, 33. to take steps, or if they like to authorise the | of all Chinese from the said port of Macao and 34, and 35 of the Ordinance, and continued-It Board to take steps to prevent the spread of the the said island of tainan.-By His Excellency's was in virtue of section 35 that the Permanent disease by enforcing the sections of the Ordin-Command, Committee suggested that we are unable to do ance Mr. Francis had referred to, and preventing everything that was done last year to provide the immigration of Chinese from Macao aud officers and assistance of every description, to other ports. The stoppage of immigration from engage doctors from different ports. to provide those places would not be really so difficult as hospitals and disinfectants, and I am decidedly would at first sight appear. of opinion and I think members of this Mr. FRANCIS Soconded the resolution. He Board will agree with -me-that if the throught t..at the best measures for keeping the epidemic of plague is coming here this year, plague out of the colony was to keep persons the Board ought now to possess the same out of Hongkong who came from places where powers and authorities that we had last year, the plague existed. Simply to prohibit immi- not for the purposes of legislation, but for gration fron Macao would be inadvisable, be orrying out the duties of this Board! I move cause the people could simply slip down to other that a letter be addressed to the Governor stating ports. In reference to Canton and Hoihow the that the plague is threatening us, and asking strict exmination of every person coming here, him to put in force sections 32 and 37 of the Oraud the isolation of every person who was sos- dinance. I have had no opportunity of consult pected of having plague, would do more to ing the members of the Board and I do not frighten the Chinese than any Ordinance stop- know whether any member will be inclined to ping immigration. second the proposal.
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Dr. HARTIGAN-I have great pleasure in se. couding Mr. Francis's motion. I certainly think that if, after that letter, we stood by and did nothing, we should be grievously neglecting our duties. It is much better to try to keep out the disease than try to stamp it out afterwards-a course we may have to adopt if the proclamation is not issued.
Dr. HARTIGAN — We have a report that cer- tain girls have come into this colony from au ju- fected house or room. We have no means of keeping them away, and the only thing to do is to stop immigration. Some people would slip Chinese are affected through. but here is a case. and yet we have no means of dealing with the cases.
Mr. FRANCIS said the serious difficulty was Ir. HKAI-I think the issue of the pro- they did not know who was authorised to take clamation may be necessary. I think the best action. The Board had no power at the present thing we can do at present is to advise the Go.moment to do anything, because sections of the vernment to keep the plague out of the colony Ordinance are not in force. by appointing a medical man to keep a strict. watch on the people coming from Macao, and tak. ing such measures as may be necessary to isolate or to keep in order such people who had,
The Vice-President's resolution was carried. On the motion of Dr. Ho KAI the following resolution was then carried- That in addition to the prevention of immigration of Chinese
J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of Councils. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. Given at the Council Chamber, Victoria, Hongkong, this 23rd day of April, 1895.
THE SANITARY BOARD AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The following latter by the Chamber of Com. merce to the Government and the reply of the Colonial Secretary are published as an appendix. to the annual report to the Chamber's Com- mittee:-
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce,
Hoogkong, 19th October, 1894. Sir, The Committee of this Chamber, in their capacity as representatives of the commercial interests of this colony, deem it their duty as well as their privilege to address to your Excel- lency some observations on the recent terrible visitation of disease, which bad such alarmingly fatal results, and which for some months so extensively disorganized the normal trade of the port.
The Committee gladly recognize the promp- titude and the energy with which the Govern- ment, when the presence of the epidemic had once been fully demonstrated, set to work to repress the outbreak, and gratefully acknowledge the devotion and self-sacrifice of the Military. Navy, and Volunteers, who lent their valuable aid in this important work. It is with no little satisfaction the Committee express their belief that these gallant efforts have at length been
out the plague, which they sincerely hope may not appear again.
in the opinion of a medical man, contracted the from Macao, a strict medical examination of pass crowned with a complete success in stamping
disease. If the motion proposed by Mr. Francis covered the whole of the ground I think there would be no two opinions that we should support it at once. But I think we should advise the Government to fake measures to watch immigration, and also to take measures to prevent the outbreak amongst as here.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK-I think the Sanitary Board recommended the Govern- inent to prevent immigration from Macao and Hoihow.
Mr. FRANCIS said that the Government replied to the Permanent Committee that it was not intended to apply quarantine in reference to Haihow or Macho. The subject of immigration was impracticable. It was a totally different question altogether, and passengers could easily Fet to Hongkong without being examined by proceeding to other ports, and the delay would be very short indeed. The whole of the ground was covered in his resolution, as when the Board was once vested with the powers contained in sections 32 and 37, it could make such by-laws as would deal effectively with immigration of Chinese into the colony, and would enforce the examination of all persons coming into the colony. He thought that the Board onght to have the necessary executive powers to do what the Committee did last year, and suggested that the Government should be asked to put in force these Sections of the Ordinance, and thus the direct and immediate responsibility of saying who was to provide for the carrying out of the by-laws in case of plague would be thrown upon the Government. At present it was not known who was to put into execution the by- laws if the disense made its appeara ce in the colony.
Mr. Francis's resolution was then put and carried.
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The VICE-PRESIDENT said that about a week
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sengers coming into this colony from Canton and all places south and south-west of this co- lony be instituted and maintained."
It was intimated that the resolutions would be sent to the Government without delay.
THE PLAGUP.
PROHIBITION OF IMMIGRATION FROM
AND HAINAN.
MACAO
In view, however. of the lamentable loss of life, the utter derangement of the business of the port, involving enormous loss and inconvenience to those engaged therein, and the serious set- back to the prosperity of the colory not yet re- covered from the severe financial blows dealt it by the dislocation of ex hauge, and the long period of depression following the unsonad spe- culative policy of a few years ago, it now becomes important to enquiro how far this last and orowning disaster was due to preventible causes, and, if so, to whom should be apportioned the blame and the responsibility.
A Gazette Extraordinary was issued on Tues- day containing the foll wing proclamation:
By His Excellency Sir William Robinson, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the colony
In embarking on such an enquiry the Com- of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-mittee are actuated by a desire to bring to your Admiral of the same.
Excellency's notice and attention some facts and suggestions thereon that may serve to prevent the perpetuation of a faulty and prefunctory system, repetition of past errors or possible perseverance in a policy of "drift
and pro- crastination.
Whereas by section of Ordinance No. 5 of 1895, entitled an Ordinance to enable the Go- vernor in Council to restrict the immigration of Chinese into the colony and for other pur- poses in connection therewith, it is enacted as follows:--
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The fact that the sanitation of the city of Whenever the Governor in Conncil shall be Victoria was far from satisfactory was officially
satisfied that the bubonic plague, cholera, recognized some fifteen years ago.
It is only small-pox, or such other diseas as may from just to say that, long prior to such recognition. time to time be notified in the Gazette, is attention had been earnestly called by the prevalent or exists in any other port or Colonial Surgeon, Dr. Ayres, to the ever-increas- place, and that there is danger of the intro- ing saturation of the soil by sewage, owing to duction of the same into the colony unless bad drainage, and he predicted the calamity measures are taken to prevent the influx of which has now taken place, if the evil were not Chinese, the Governor in Council may from abated. It was not, however, until 1881 that time to time by proclamation under his hand, the official recognition of the impending danger published in the Gazette, prohibit or regu took any concrete form, when Mr. Osbert late the immigration or importation into Chadwick was commissioned to make a report on the colony of any Chinese from any such the sanitation of the colony, and in the follow. port or place for such time as he shall thinking year the conclusions of this expert were given fit, and may from time to time by notifica- tion in the Gazette renew or revoke such proclamation.”
to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in some exhaustive reports. Lord Kimberley, when forwarding these reports early in 1858 to the
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