§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, under an order of the Governor of Hong Kong, Chinese plague patients are allowed to remain in their homes for treatment; and, seeing that this practice is opposed by medical opinion in the colony, will he, in view of the 1312 increase in plague, have the order reconsidered, with a view to the removal of all plague patients to isolation hospitals.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI understand that the Hong Kong Government is making the experiment of allowing plague patients to be treated in isolation in their own homes, instead of compelling them in all cases to be removed to hospital. The experiment is being tried because it is believed that many patients, owing to the great dislike of hospital treatment, have concealed their state of health until it was too late for them to be cured. The results of the experiment will be carefully watched.
§ MR. WEIRIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that houses in China usually contain 200 or 300 inhabitants.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware of that fact, but whether it be true or not it does not affect what I have said.