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in the passenger traffic between this port and the ports of the Straits Settlements.
In forwarding this communication, I am directed by the Committee to express their concurrence with the views set forth therein as to the unnecessary interference with trade involved in the action of the Government of the Straits Settlements by prohibiting Chinese immigration into their ports.
There would appear to be no warrant for such a drastic measure in the Venice Convention, and nothing is to be gained by throwing new impediments in the way of this traffic. If quarantine is imposed, that will involve the detention of the steamers for several days, sufficient time to ensure that the immigrants bave not the germs of plague in them, which should be ample precaution against the intro- duction of the disease into the Settlements.
am
I therefore instructed to beg that His Excellency the Governor will be good enough to represent the circumstances to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with a view to securing the withdrawal of this prohibition against the admission of Chinese immigrants into the Straits Settlements.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERton Wilcox,
Secretary.
Hon. Acting COLONIAL SECRETARY.
THE SANITATION OF THE COL NY.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, 7th June, 1991.
SIB,
The present severe epidemic of Bubonic Plague, which seems now to have become an annual visitation, presents so serious a menace to the general prosperity of this port and Colony, that in the interests of trade my Committee deem it their duty to make such representations to the Government as they trust may lead to the adoption of every messure practicable calculated to limit the spread of this disease.
I am therefore directed to point out that although it is now seven years since the disease first appeared in a fatally epidemic form, and notwithstanding all the experience gained, alike of its fatal character and rapid spread and of a serious dislocation of business and special loss to the shipping trade, the authorities are now practically as help less in its presence as they were in the memorable year 1894. The numbers of cases, now as then, are little in excess of the numbers of deaths; the exodus of the Chinese has, now as then, commenced to be on a formidable scale; and the virulence of the pest seems now to be even more marked than in 1894.
THE HONGKÒNG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Thus, with regard to the separate system of drainage, most unhappily introduced into the colony, one of Mr. Chadwick's recommendations was that flushing tanks for sewers to be filled by the flow in the nullahs should be erected. The Committee, while opposed to the sepa- rate system as eminently uusuited to the circumstances of the colony, recognise that, if the system has to be endured, its evils will clearly be mitigated by provision being made through the frequent and copious flushing of the sewers, and they regret that this obvious fact was not also long since recognised by the Government.
❘
[June 22, 1901.
Dr. Clark then enumerated a number of | consideration by those whose professional recommendations made by Mr. Osbert Chadwick knowledge and experience best fitted them in 1882, all of which were necessary, but few of to advise upon them, and some have been dealt which had, up to the present moment, been with by the Legislative Council. His Excel- carried into effect, while in most instances they lency would suggest that as the Chamber of had been simply iguored.
Commerce is directly represented in the Council, it should request its representative to bring its views before that body, where the grounds for assumptions which appear to have been somewhat hastily adopted may be clearly stated and fully answered. His Excellency instructs me to add that nothing could more contribute to the commercial losses pointed out in the fourth paragraph of the letter than reck ess statements, some untrue, and others greatly exaggerated, that have appeared from time to time in the public Press; and the apparent acceptance of these statements by the members of the Committee of the Cham- ber of Commerce, without investigation or adequate knowledge, is not calculated to allay fears that, if continued, may permanently affect the prosperity of this Colony, dependent as it is upon the business incidental to a great shipping port of call. The Governor observes with satisfaction that the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce are prepared to accept cheerfully the increased taxation that will probably be necessary to meet the heavy expenses of contemplated measures for the general improvement of sanitation.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
T. SERCOMBE SMITH,
Ag. Colonial Secretary.
Other recommendations made by Mr. Chad- wick were-(1) The formation of continuous back alleys; (2) the provision of 600 cubic feet of space per head in all rooms sub-divided by cubicles; (2) the formation of a fund to carry out large sanitary schemes; (4) the construc- tion of all roads and drains prior to the sale of the building lots; (5) the acquisition by Government of all existing public latrines, their reconstruction, and the provision of more; (6) the abatement of the nuisance caused by hawkers squatting in the public streets; (7) the increase of the market accom. modation; and (8) the provision of public bath- houses with a good supply of water, (which last suggestion the Committee note with satisfac- The SECRETARY, tion is now being acted upon with good results.) The report in which the foregoing recommenda- tions were embodied concluded with the follow- ing remarks, which, in the light of subsequent “I trust that events, were most prophetic:- even should the suggestions be found undesir- able or impracticable, my report will show the necessity for strong and complete measures of sanitation, and I trust that they will be under- taken for the immediate benefit of the public health without waiting for the necessity to be demonstrated by the irresistible logic of a severe epidemic.
As Dr. Clark truly remarks:-"The logic came twelve years later, when the necessity for these reforms was demonstrated by an outbreak of bubonic plague in epidemic form. Almost all these matters are crying needs in Hongkong nineteen years after this report was written."
In the opinion of the Committee, the colony possesses in the Medical Officer of Health a valuable and energetic officer, whose untiring efforts to promote the sanitation of the city merit every encouragement; whereas, his re- commendations, like those of Mr. Chadwick, have been frequently ignored, shelved, or pared down when adopted.
It is unfortunately true that medical science has not yet discovered any means of successfully
My Committee desire to draw attention to grappling with the plague, but that fact should the folly of allowing the prejudices of officials, not stand in the way of measures being taken to the fear of expense, or the dread of unofficial arrest its spread, or of the adoption of such pre-opposition to stand in the way of the execution cautions in the handling of the sick, the cleansing of drains and houses, and the inspection of slums, as might tend to curtail the ravages of this Bcourge within certain limits.
The loss sustained by the suspension of emigration, the imposition of quarantine at neighbouring ports on arrivals from Hongkong, the reduction in imports and exports, and the diversion and restriction of trade generally, constitute a serious drain upon the commercial community, the more disquieting since threatens to be of annual recurreno ›.
of sanitary measures which are known to be necessary and which have been insisted upon time after time by experts. If any doubt be entertained as to the practicability or expedience or otherwise of such recommendations, no time should be lost in referring them to a higher authority for decision.
The time has now
arrived when vigorous action should be taken to secure the continuance of the progress of the Colony, and to adequately protect the great com- itmercial interests so adversely affected by these
disastrous annual epidemics.
The Committee are loth to intervene iu any matters even apparently outside the domain of trade, but this question is so intimately bound up with the welfare of this great port that they feel it would be a grave omission did they fail to point out how, in their opinion, the Govern- ment have made themselves largely responsible for the sad state of things prevailing.
If this were not matter of notoriety, it would only be necessary to refer to the speech of the Medical Officer of Health on the drainage system at the last meeting of the Sanitary Board, when proposing the following resolution :---
That the Board recommend the Govern ment to utilise all the fresh water which now runs to waste in the trained and untrained nullahs of the city by building dams and form. ing tanks for the automatic flushing of the sewers and storm-water drains.”
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 13th June, 1901.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor joins with the Chamber of Commerce in the regret that here, as in India, the anxious efforts of the Government have failed to control Bubonic Plague, or to materially check its ravages.
As to the various matters on which the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce have been good enough to give their views, they have long been subjects of most anxious
Chamber of Commerce.
CHINESE TARIFF QUESTION.
ondon Chamber of Commerce,
Botolph House, Eastcheap,
London, E.C
3rd May, 1901.
DEAR SIE,
I beg to acknowledge, with thanks, re- ceipt of your telegram of even date, which has been forwarded to the Chairman of the East India and China Trade Section of this Cham- ber, by whose instructions a letter (copy enclosed) has to-day been forwarded to the Under Secre- tary of State for Foreign Affairs. I trust this will meet with the approval of your Chamber, and remain,
Yours faithfully, (8d.) KENBIC B. MURRAY.
Secretary.
Sir THOMAS Jackson,
Chairman, Hongkong General:
Chamber of Commerce.
SIR,
(Enclosure).
The London Chamber of Commerce,
Botolph House, Eastcheap,
London, E.C.,
3rd May, 1901.
I have the honour to append copy of a telegram received from the Chamber of Com- merce of Hongkong. It gives the opinion of that important Chamber on a point most seriously affecting the commercial interests of this country in China, and the China Trade Section of the London Chamber recognising the magnitude of the trade of Great Britain as compared with that of other nations with China, beg that the subject may receive the attention to which its vast importance entitles it.
I am, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
KENRIC B. MURBAT.
Bebe Secretary.
The Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Office, Whitehall, S.W.
(Copy of Telegram)
3rd May, 1901. Referring Chinese Indemnity it is proposed by certain Powers to raise guaranteed loan secured by doubling tariff. This Chamber most earnestly submit Government should on no acount agree any incresse existing tariff unless accompanied by substantial redress- grievances connected lekin and other internal taxation and satisfactory settlement question inland waters navigation.
T. JACKSON, Chairman, Hongkong Chamber Commerce.
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