HC Deb 11 May 1903 vol 122 c298
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state to what cause the recurrence of plague at Hong-Kong is attributed; and how many deaths have resulted from this fresh outbreak.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

The number of deaths from plague in Hong-Kong since January 16 has been 402. There is usually a recrudescence of plague in that colony at this period of the year, and I am not aware of the existence of any special cause for this year's outbreak.

MR. WEIR

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Hong-Kong Council attribute it to rats?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

I believe that in that matter they share the opinion of many scientific men that rats do spread disease.