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Paragraph 7.-The catering for all Government hospitals, including
including Victoria Hospital, is by contract. Government is satisfied that this is the cheapest method.
Paragraph 8.-Fees in Government hospitals for operations and treatments have recently been raised. It is not considered desirable to raise the fees for medical attendance; these were increased in 1929.
Paragraph 9. The building of a new Government Civil Hospital will be undertaken as soon as funds can be made available.
SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
Paragraph 1.-Government does not consider it desirable to have street cleansing done by a contractor. The system was tried before, and the results were not satisfac- tory. Street cleansing is most important from the health point of view.
Paragraph 2. Government is prepared to give the scheme a thorough trial as re- commended by the Retrenchment Commission, and has given instructions to the Head
of the Sanitary Department accordingly. The replacement of Europeans by Asiatics will have to be gradual, and the experiment carefully watched, if it is to prove the success which Government hopes it will be.
Paragraph 4. It is very necessary to limit the number of hawkers-13,748 licences were issued in 1929,—and to control those who are licensed.
No comments.
FIRE BRIGADE.
DISTRICT OFFICES.
No comments.
BOTANICAL AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT.
No comments.
ROYAL OBSERVATORY,
Paragraph 2.-It is impossible to serve shipping adequately without doing a certain amount of work beyond the sending out of storm warnings and weather reports. The Government is not prepared to admit that the work of the Observatory has been unduly extended.
Paragraph 3.- Government is in agreement with the Commission regarding the desirability of filling the posts of assistants with Chinese if efficiency can be ensured. Enquiries have been made at Siccawei and the University of Hong Kong, and it has been found that a trained Chinese Observatory Assistant is unobtainable. The question of training up a school or university graduate, with an aptitude for the work, is being explored. It may be stated however that past experience in other places shows that it has been difficult to obtain Chinese sufficiently reliable in this class of work.
POST OFFICE.
The recommendation contained in the last two sentences will be borne in mind when a new Post Office has been built in Kowloon. This desirable work will, however, have to wait for more prosperous times.
SECRETARIAT FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS.
The reduction recommended in paragraph 1 has been effected. Very little time is spent on the censoring of responsible Chinese newspapers. So far as Government is aware no monetary or other valuable consideration is given for "fung shui" (lit. wind and water. In Chinese religion a favourable influence attaching to certain objects or localities).