 In May 1894 bubonic plague struck Hong Kong and a permanent committee of the Sanitary Board, comprising three members with Francis as chairman, was set up to cope with the emergency.The Governor paid tribute to Francis's service by saying that the permanent committee acted with extraordinary energy and efficiency and the government was indebted to him and others in a dispatch to the Secretary of State Lord Ripon.In September 1894 a committee was appointed with Edward Ackroyd the chairman to decide on awards to be made for the services during the plague on behalf of the community.