228
MEDICAL INSPECTION VERSUS QUARANTINE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
vigorously against any quarantine re- "strictions being imposed at Singapore on "arrivals from this colony now and here-
own
[March 26, 1898.
SUPREME COURT.
*18th March.
CRIMINAL Sessions.
BEFORE SIR JOHN Carrington (Chief JUSTICE).
BOLTED.
$30.60 to W. 8. Triscott, overseer on the Prays Reclamation works, did not answer to his name when called, and the sum of $1,000, which had been deposited as bail, was ordered to be for- feited. A warrant for the man's apprehension
Li Yi Hing, charged with offering a bribe of
was issued.
Seven Chinamen were charged with the rob». bery, with violence, of $107 and a considerable quantity of jewellery and other articles from a householder at Mongkok. The first and fourth prisoners pleaded guilty to all the counts.
Hon. W. M. Goodman, Attorney-General (instructed by Mr. H. L. Donnys, Crown Soli- citor), prosecuted.
tried by the following jury-Messrs. G. W. The five men who pleaded not guilty were Binder, C. A. Plumb. E. A. Hill, A. F. Os- mund, A. D. Death, W. M. Watson, and G. Sequeira.
On the 7th March six n'en entered the prosé-
threatening them with a revolver and knives. 'They then ransacked the place of all Fortunately, however, the prisoners were ar- the valuables they could find and cleared off.
rested and on all of them was found some of the stolen property.
Two of the prisoners who denied their guilt were found guilty on all four counts and the remaining three were convicted of being in ̧· unlawful possession of stolen property.
Twelve months ago the Secretary of State
after, unless, of course, there should be issued a circular despatch transmitting a
"ample reason for it." Since the signato- copy of the regulations made by the Local ries Iny such stress on principle it would Government Board for dealing with cholera, have been convenient if they had defined yellow fever, and plague in the United what principle they themselves hold. They Kingdom, and stating that the Local Go- have disavowed the principle of the British vernment Board had drawn his attention to regulations, and from the above extract it the fact that these regulations shewed that would appear that they approve of the a wide divergence existed between the imposition of quarantine under certain con- practice as regards quarantine followed in ditions, but what those conditious are they certain colonies and the principles which do not state. If the old and semi-barbarous the Board regarded as suitable for effective system of quarantine is to be maintained, dealing with the diseases referred to, with and every colony to be allowed to frame its a view to preventing their spread, both on regulations on principles evolved land and water. The regulations in ques- out of its own inner consciousness, and tion provide for systematic medical inspec- regardless of scientific opinion, the respective tion, quarantine being reduced to such a fine colonies must be left to decide for them- point that it may practically be said to be selves when quarantine is to be imposed; in abolished. The question whether a system the absence of any uniform and generally of medical inspection should be established accepted principle it is not to be expected in Hongkong was referred by the Govern- that oue colony would consent to be dictated ment to the Chamber of Commerce and by to by another; it is therefore not within the Chamber to a special Committee repre- the province of Hongkong to dictate sentative of the shipping interests. The
to Singapore when quarantine shall be decision of that Committee was adverse to imposed, any more than it is within the pro- medical inspection. At present plague is vince of Singapore to dictate to Hongkong.cator's house and tied up the inmates, after present in the colony to a slight extent, and Aud if the principle of quarantine be ad although the cases ocurring are extremely mitted-and the Hongkong shipping com- few neighbouring ports have taken alarm,munity does admit it-no impartial judge and are imposing quarantine against us. could hold that Singapore was without war- Whether a system of medical inspection, rant for the course that has been adopted. had such been in force, would have saved If quarantine is to be enforced at all it is the colony from the present visitation, with desirable that it should be enforced at the its consequent injury to commercial in first moment danger is recognised, and the terests by the imposition of quarantine, it occurrence of forty-six cases of plague in would be rash to say, but there is Hongkong in one week was reasonably cul- some reason to believe that such culated to cause alarm in neighbouring might have been the case. In a letter ports, lest it should mark the commencement addressed by the shipping firms to the of an epidemic that might become virulent; Chamber of Commerce protesting against the circumstances, indeed, caused some alarm the imposition of quarantine at Singapore in Hongkong itself. Seeing, however, that the signatories say: "The total number of the reason for alarm has disappeared with cases up to the 12th February amounted the marked diminution in the number of only to 16. For the week ending 19th cases, we hope the Straits Government will February 9 cases were recorded, then for recognise the expediency of promptly "the week ending 26th February the total removing the quarantine that has been 'jumped to 46, and it may be assumed it imposed. For our own part, we think was on account of this increase that the Singapore would protect itself more effec- "Straits Government became alarmed. The tively by the adoption of the system of reason, however, for this sudden augmenta- medical inspection in force in Great Britain, "tion is not far to seek.. The Races occurred but since Hongkong has declined to adopt during the week in question, when it that system it hardly lies with Hongkong "will be remembered that unusually large to reproach its neighbour for not doing so. "numbers of Chinese poured to the colony Further experience of the injurious effects "from Canton." Here, then, we have an of quarantine and more careful consideration admission that the, plague did not originate of the principle of medical inspection may in the colony, but was introduced, and in perhaps lead to a revision of the opinion ex- view of the grave injury to the trade of the pressed by the shipping community last port, as well as of the danger to the public year upon the subject. If Hongkong health, prudence would seem to dictate the adopted regulations analagous to those in desirability of taking steps to prevent the force in the United Kingdom the Straits introduction of the disease, even if it in- Settlements might be led to follow her ex- volved some considerable inconvenience and ample, instead of setting the example to cost. We believe, however, that the other ports, as she now does, of imposing possible inconvenience has been considerably quarantine against Hongkong whenever a magnified by the fears of those whose interests might be affected.
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64
The shipping firms in their letter to the Chamber say it is to be feared that sporadic cases of plague will continue to occur at this season of the year, for at least some time to come, and the question arises whether the infliction of quarantine on arrivals from the colony is to be of annual recurrence. That is an unpleasant prospect truly, but it is to be feared it must be contemplated as possible if not indeed highly probable. Medical inspection would reduce if not remove the danger, but medical inspection the shipping community do not wish to have. In their letter to the Chamber they ask that the Acting Governor should be requested as a matter of principle-(the word is italicised in the original)-to protest
scare arises.
Inspector Macdonald made a successful raid on base coiners late on Monday night. He entered 161, Praya West and caught two men and one woman with several counterfeit dollars and smaller coins and also a unmber of moulds and explained to the Magistrate that she did not tools in their possession. On Tuesday the woman
know how the bad coins got there, but she had a purse containing good coins. One of the men said he received some bad coins from ships in the harbour in payment for goods he had sold, while the other man rather complainingly remarked that the base coins were the ouly remains of money he brought recently from Canton. Commander Hastings placed no faith in any one of these stories and fined the woman $150 or three months' imprisonment and the two men $50 each or two months' imprisonment.
His Lordship, in passing sentence, said that that they could not commit such robberies in ruffians who came up from Canton must learn this colony at any rate, they must learn that whenever the crime was brought home to them they would be severely punished. His Lordship then passed sentence of eight years' imprison- ment with hard labour on one prisoner, seven ears on a second, six on two others, and two years on the three convicted of receiving the property.
UNLAWFUL WOUNDING,
Pedro Billitais pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding a man in Bridges Street by stabbing1. him.
The prisoner was sent to gaol for six months with hard labour.
A DISHONEST SERVANT,
Lam On pleaded guilty to stealing a ring belonging to his master, Lieutenant Randall, R.E. The prisoner was sent to gaol for eight months with hard labour.
21st March.
KEEPING HIS LORDSHIP WAITING,
It was about ten past ten when His Lordship, who had been waiting in his room, entered the court, and on taking his sent he enquired: What is the cause of the Court being late?
The Registrar-I do not know, my Lord. We have been waiting for your Lordship.
His Lordship-Waiting for me? I am al- ways ready to come on when the olock strikes.
Mr. Robinso: apologised for detaining the Court, as he found at the last moment that he had some other business to attend to.
His Lordship said the custom there had been for the Chief Justice to wait until he is told to enter the Court.
The Registrar I must apologise. I did not. Robinson. know Your Lordship was waiting for Mr.
The Attorney-General-I have been here since ten o'clock.
His Lordship intimated that he was always prepared to sit when the clock strikes.
ALLEGED FRAUD. John Mahomed, a tailor, was charged with obtaining money by false pretences.
man), instructed by Mr. H. L. Dennys, Crown The Attorney-General (the Hon. Wm. Good- Solicitor, appeared for the prosecution, a Mr. E. Robinson defended the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty.
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