Shanghai, 14th June, 1899.
Gexremes,—On the 10th instant a Chinese steerage passenger was landed at the Chung Pao Sha Sanitary Station from the Empress ut China as a suspect."
On the 12th the patient died of bubonic plague.
The deceased was one of 268 Chinese steerage passengers booked from Hou kong to Japan.
Tam bringing this matter to your not! with the object of showing the great risk of delay and expense which vessels carrying native passengers from infected ports will be likely to incur in the future; and this whether such passengers are bound to this port or merely passing through.
Tt has been the object of those responsible for the sanitary measures taken to avoid as far as. possible the harassment and delay of shipping, and the instructions given to the Deputy' Port Health Officer eniphasised this point. But with the increase of plague in the infected ports, with its nearer approach, and now with an actual ease of plague on our borders, which, were it not for the sanitary precautions taken, would certainly have led to a serious outbreak on board a mail steamer, it has become evident, not only that we shall be justified in being more stringent in our restrictions, but that that duty devolves upon us.
A suspicious case on board a vessel will now mean the detention of that vessel until the case declares itself; and, should it declare itself plague, the precautions which would have to be taken for safeguarding the interests of the public would undoubtedly fall heavily on those immediately concen Under these circumstances I would ask you to take into serious consideration Whether it would not be well, both from the point of view of your own interests those of the community at large, to discontinue entirely the carriage of ative steerage passengers from infected ports.
Tam, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, L. Rocuei, Commissioner of Customs, Shanghi General Clrunber of Commerce.
Shanghai, 21st June, 189:
St,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of Lith instant, enclosing copy of a circular letter addressed to the Shipp'ng Firms of this port re monding to their consideration the risks that may occur by carrying native passengers from ports affected by plague, and also copy of the Tariff of Fees at the Sanitary Station.
The Committee wich appreciate your energetic endeavours event the introduction of plague to SI hanghai, and fe that the recommendation you made to the Shipping Firms will meet with that careful attention which the serious niture of the case d nds.
The tariff of fees levied at the Sanitary Station will, the Committee trast, be accepted as 'a matter ©" expediency, being understood that such will he abolished when the spe i cased. The submission to the pr levy must not be taken as a precedent.
Thave the hynout to be, Your obedient so Tarr L. Rocuer, Esq, Commissioner of Customs, Shanghai
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.