The 1894 Plague

Submitted by ianhart on Sun, 07/17/2011 - 04:08

I'm a film maker who lived in Hong Kong for 12 years. Now back in Australia, I'm researching a film script about the tumultuous year of 1894 when bubonic plague struck Hong Kong and Yersin/Kitasato isolated the bacillus. Just managed to get a copy of "The Whitewash Brigade" which is a mine of detailed information. I'm particularly interested in any photographs of this period. I'll be back in town in October to spend time in the medical Museum. Other suggestions welcome.

The government reports of the time contain a lot of information about the plague. eg go to the HKGRO website, then in the first column 'Sessional Papers' click on year 1894, and you'll see a Governor's Despatch on Bubonic Plague. Browse through later years for more on the subject.

There's another book about the plague referenced here.

Contemporary newspapers would also be a good source.

Please let us know if you find any other good sources.

Regards, David