So far we have enjoyed complete immunity from plague this year, and I sincerely trast we may continue to do so. The few cases in the Italian convent at Macao have been removed to Green Island, and precautions are being taken by the authorities to prevent the dissemination of the disease, which it is hoped has been practically stopped. The Hongkong Go-¥ernment on the 20th inst, proclaimed Swatow and Formosa as infected with the bubonic plague, and vessels now arriving from thence are quarantined.
Hongkong, 24th April.
ELE. Sir Claude Macdonald, British Minister, who returned from Canton in the Fudshan on Sunday morning, the 18th inst., Was a guest at Government House during his stay in Hongkong. On Monday mornin; he had an interview with the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce in the Chamber Room, which is believed to have been very satisfactory. It was quite of an informal character. On Tuesday morning the Committee of the China Association met Sir Claude by appointment, also at the City Hall, and the Chairman (Mr. J. J. Francis, QC) presented H.E. with an address from the members expressive of their appreciation of his services, and the Minister briefly replied, after which he touched on several questions of interest, and then took leave of Committee. Sir Claude visited Macao on the 2ist inst. in the torpedo destroyer Handy. He stayed at the Boa Vista Hotel, but received attentions from the Govern-mont, and the baud played during dinner at the Boa Vista, He returned to Hong-Kong on the 22nd, and went on board the store-ship Hinber which sailed for Shanghai on the morning of the 23rd inst.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.