4. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Captain Drake and the owners of the "Gregory Apcar" steamship, sailing from Calcutta, on which a large number of deaths of Chinese passengers have recently occurred, have been summoned by the authorities of Singapore for not carrying a properly licensed medical practitioner; whether he is aware that it was stated in the Court that although the doctor's qualifications satisfied the Calcutta regulations they did not conform with the Straits regulations; and whether he will state in what respect the Calcutta regulations differ from the Straits regulations?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second and third parts, the Secretary of State is informed that under the Chinese Immigrants Ordinance of the Straits Settlements, ships bringing more than twenty Chinese immigrants must carry a qualified medical practitioner as defined by Government order. On the return of the vessel to India a full inquiry is to be or has been made, and until the report is received the Secretary of State is not in a position to furnish the information which the hon. Member asks for.