§ MR. DUNCOMBE (Cumberland, Egremont)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Contagious Diseases Ordinances which were in force in Hong-kong from 1858 to 1887 were repealed, in opposition to the wish of the colony, and that the repeal has been followed by a serious increase of disease, as alleged by the China Association in their memorial of 30th August, 1897; and whether, in view of the recent augmentation of our forces in Eastern waters, he will reconsider the refusal to sanction the re-enactment of these ordinances conveyed in his letter to the Association of 19th February, 1898?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESI am aware of the 1236 facts referred to by the honourable Member, but I am not prepared to sanction the re-enactment of the Hong-kong Contagious Diseases Ordinances. I am, however, conferring with the Governor as to whether other measures can be adopted to check the spread of venereal diseases in the colony. The correspondence is not yet completed, but when completed it will be laid before the House.