REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 8

REFUGEES IN HONG KONG.

AN UNWELCOME INFLUX.

The Government of Hong .Koug are seriously concerned over the question of the great influx of ChhtoSo . mto, t.b:6 colony," Over SO,OOO ' refugees from Canton have svarmod oowii upon, too place, and the .thought of such a largo and sudden increase in the population lms Riven rise, to raUior :6ombre. reflo.Ctions. . Of 'cburso,; many of tho nowcomers will tad their way back to Can,ton when tho present troublo lias .6ubsided; but maiij' will remain, . and among these will be found.a large proportion of undesirables. It was so in. 1911, iiiid the, authorities espeet that it will bo so this time. Tho effect upon house rents of the influx of 1011 was considerable, and it. is feared that a further increase will now. bo imposed,' Which will place an unduo burden upon many who already find it'no easy matter to make ends rrteot. Another matter which is engaging the attention of the authorities is tlio fear of an outbreak of plague. Hie medical and sawtary reports show . • that last year's severe epidemic of plague lias been traced directly to (ho influx of Chinese during 1911, and to the ovorerowdmc of native dwellings which followed. Human overcrowding leads to more waste food,. and refuse ..ill near and near tho bouses, and, as a tesult, to an incroase iu the number of rats, which act as diseaso carriers. ' /: