THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 10, 1988.
Page
PUBLIC HEALTH
AND
SAFETY
"Free Patients' Inadequately Provided For
Mr. M.K.
Lo And
Queen's College
(Continued from Page 7)
The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said:-Your Excellency:
ernment on land for development in Hong Kong, in Shamshuipo, and simi- lar districts, is "about three times higher than those on the outskirts of London where the price of land is notoriously high".
The Sonior Unofficial Member has already expressed our unanimous views on the Budget, and on the Budget pro- | The Report shows clearly that for cedure. It remains for me to offer. a years house-building has not kept pace few remarks on my own account.
with the increase in population, and I have from time to time already some of the reasons for this lag are taken up so much of this Council's indicated or implied in the Report. time in submitting my views on the
UNACCOUNTED FOR
Numerous and persistent complaints
QUO TAI-CHI OFFERED ATHENAEUM MEMBERSHIP
London, To-day.
The Athenaeum Club has invit ed the Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Que Tai-chi, to become a member for the duration of his Ambassa- dorship in England.
The honour is sparingly confer- red and is a sign of high distinc- tion.-Reuter.
1
Queen's College is one of the public works which it is desirable should be undertaken in the near future if funds. permit. In this connection I would like to point out that the building, having stood the elements for present half a century, has long passed its economic life, and that it is situated in surroundings which have become quite unsuitable for a school of this naturo.
When I protested in Select Commit- tee against Queen's College's exclusion [from the Five-Year Plan, I understood from the Honourable the Colonial Secretary that the reason for such eX- clusion was because as yet no ágree- ment as to' a suitable new site could be_reached.
I understand that one of the sites suggested is in the Pokfulum, area. Objections readily come to one's mind against a site so far removed from the centre of the town, having regard to the class of boys for whom the Col-
the "free patients", are still inade-lege exists.. quately provided for. A statement Such objections may, indeed, be de- showing available free beds in Gov-cisive against this particular site. But ernment Hospitals, and the ratio be! hear that all those who have visited tween such free beds and paying it, including many old boys of beds, will clarify the position.
College, are enthusiastic about
Water question that I propose this have reached me against the delay and afternoon to limit myself to only a difficulties of having sites put up for few words on the subject of waste and auction, and of having plans approved prevention of waste, and of licensed and passed. plumbers..
I venture to hope that in so far as It is of course impossible to find out such cause is due to overlapping of the exact figure of consumption per departments, or is traceable to the ad- capita per day because one of the facts ministrative machinery of the Public in calculation, namely, that. of popula-Works Department, this question may tion, is
never exactly ascertainable. be looked into by my Honourable
the But assuming that the average con- friend, the Director of Public Works. And I await with deep interest the situation, and are of the opinion that its sumption per month in respect of the
Another complaint which I have report of the Committee on the hospi-the distance from the town, especially period 1st January to 31st July, 1938 is
often heard has reference to the talisation system recently appointed in view of the possibility of limiting 498.75 million gallons (and tins figure high charges for land and Crown by Your Excellency. is based on the answers given recently
rent, especially in view of the com:
the College. to certain higher classes, to my questions in this Council), and
I am sorry to say that malaria, is not a serious objection and, in any“ paratively short term of tenure un-which seems to be a preventable dis- case, that the objection is not of such assuming that the "population" is
der existing Crown Lenses. 1,050,000 persons minus the floating
complaint would appear to be borne and exacting its toll of illnesses and advantages of the ideal surroundings.
This ease, is still prevalent in Hong Kong, a serious nature as to outweigh the population and those who draw their out by Mr. Owen's observation, which deaths. water from street fountains, estimated
I have quoted above.
afforded by the site. at 250,000, leaving a balance of 800,000
TRIBUTE TO D.M.S. I venture to think that, apart from
However this may be I venture to consumers, then the consumption per any action on the lines indicated by gularly fortunate in having
But I do feel that the Colony is sin- hope that a site acceptable to all in- capita per day works out at 20.78 gal-Your Excellency, Government
as the terested parties will be soon found, so lons.
should Head of this importants department of that a commencement may be made of do its utmost to facilitate building de- Government my Honourable friend' Dr. a new Queen's which shall be worthy velopment in approved areas and, Selwyn-Clarke, above all, that Government should-an-energy, initiative, and courtesy, and Government School, with its
whose knowledge, of the Colony as the premier secondary According to the Public Works De- drainage etc. on pre-marked out roads, deeply impressed all who have been cord of having produced so many wor ticipate development by laying down whose deep concern, for the poor, have historical traditions, and its proud re- unique partment Report, the amount of water so that newly built houses would not privileged to come into contact with thy sons distinguished for their public consumed from the reservoirs for July, have to wait for months, or even years, him. He will, I have no doubt, sec to services both to the Colony and 1938 came to 932.13 million gallons. for their houses to be connected to a it that the Colony gets the utmost China. The water consumed by metered con- Government ingin drain. suimers of 498.75 million gallons there-
value out of every dollar which the fore amounts to only 46% of the total
Colony can afford on public health and water consumed, leaving 54% unac-
medical services. counted for. I do not know the quan-a fundamental issue was raised by the As Your Excellency has pointed out,
Your Excellency stated that this tity of "free" water consumed, but Commissioners' Report relating to the
problem was still to be solved, and that its solution might have to await even allowing for, say, 40 million gul-enormous reservoir of population which Your Excellency for expressing in such these circumstances I realise that this The Chinese are very grateful to the restoration of peace to China: In lons per month, and taking into ac exists at our door, and by the question clear and impressive language our hor-is not the occasion for any lengthy count the fact that the July consump of restricting immigration as a possi-ror and detestation of the heroin argument on the subject. But in view tion may be appreciably higher than ble remedy. My Senior Chinese Un-traffic. As you know, Sir, the Chinese of Your Excellency's observation "but the average monthly consumption, the official colleague has apoken on this leaders have done what they could to the fact must not be forgotten that amount of water unaccounted for still appallingly great. I shall be gala mission's Report observes,
is question which, as the Housing Com-mobolise public opinion against what the practice of food-hawking endangers to be enlightened on this aspect of the "which presents very serious difficul-as "this man-killing industry". Since administration", I desire most respect- is one Your Excellency has so aptly described public health and is a sign of backward Although the water. problem has al-of the Colony when it was ceded to my Chinese colleagues and I have ap
ties". Having regard to the history Your Excellency's inspiring message fully to venture a few remarks. ways been with us, and although the the British Crown, and the public Pro- pealed to the recently formed Chinese trine that food-hawking in itself con- problem of prevention of waste should clamations made in connection
I unhesitatingly admit that the doc- always have been one of great im- such cession, I am quite clear in my tance by launching a persistent cam-health is theoretically sound, but portance, it is a matter of surprise own mind that restricted immigration, paign in
with Reporters' Association for their assis-stitutes a source of danger to public that it was not until last year that the as this word is understood in other leaders and slogans, and I am happy ther or not there is any practical risk question of organising a
Chinese Press, with suggest that the question as to whe- partment for the detection and pre- Chinese, cannot be justified.
special de- parts of the World, as against the to inform Your Excellency that the to health depends on the kind of food vention of waste was seriously taken gine, however, that. Your Excellency our request. I desire to acknowledge which it is
I ima-Association has readily responded to hawked, and the circumstances under in hand. I would like, however, to has in mind not such restricted immi- our appreciation of the public-spirited manual contact with bank notes and congratulate Government on this step.gration, but some defined policy of ex-assistance rendered by
hawked. Theoretically, the Chinese coins does, I suppose, become a source •
of infection, and yet the practical risk
(Continued on Page 22)...
matter.
IMMIGRATION
the
HEROIN
announce-
been
clusion or repatriation applicable PLUMBING MONOPOLY?
to Press in this matter. only those who have no residential The requirement under the new re- and who cannot be absorbed in the When, in 1936, I had the honour to
qualification and no means of support,
EDUCATION gulations that all plumbers must first available Inbour market. obtain a licence from the Water Au-such a policy presents serious difficul-in this Council, I expressed the view But even participate in the first Budget Debate thority before they can carry out any ties and may involve grave objections. that "there is something wrong with work of construction, alteration or re At this stage I need only say that I the educational policy of the Colony", pair for consumers is of course a valu-feel sure that Your Excellency will and that "a Government able safeguard against incompetent afford the Chinese a proper opportun ment as to its educational policy would workmanship. But I understand that ity of considering any such proposal have been welcome." I then ventured there is a certain amount of apprehen-in a concrete form, and of making re- the view that the provision of primary sion on the part of the public as to presentations thereon, before it is to education by. Government had how far this requirement will have the be carried into effect. effect of subjecting the public to un
totally inadequate, and I was able to reasonably high, in other words, mono polistic charges. I therefore respect-
PUBLIC HEALTH AND
quote in support of my views the high fully invite the Honourable the Direc
PUBLIC SAFETY
authority of Mr. Burney. In July the report of the committee on the train- tor of Public Works to inform
Your Excellency pointed out Council as to the approximate number health and public safety, including and able majority report that it is the this "big increases in the fields of public am glad to find in the very interesting the ing of teachers was published; and I of firms who have been licensed, or who defence", and observed that "much of view of the six out of the seven mem- are likely to possess the qualifications that increased expenditure to be licensed, and as to how far the looked upon not only
must be bers of the committee that Govern Water Authority can exercise any con- but also indicative of greater demands sibility for primary vernacular educa- as permanent, ment should undertake greater respon- trol over exorbitant charges.
of the same nature in the future". tion. I confess that I found it a little ́KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY accept the inevitable with the hope but I console myself with the thought As regards public safety we can only difficult to follow the minority report, I'would very much like to congratu- and prayer that in time to come and that my difficulty might have been late Major R. D. Walker, Manager of may it come before it is too late! our caused by the omission" from that re the Kowloon-Canton Railway, and the financial burden of defence may be port of detailed reasons for differing very efficient staff under him, parti-considerably eased, upon the restora- from the majority's recommendations cularly the
Chinese Engineer-in-tion of sanity to all aggressive nations-an omission which obviously render- Charge, for the miraculously speedy and the realisation by all the futility, od it difficult for a layman like myself way in which the grave damage done cruelty and barbarity of war. In the to appreciate the reasons for to the railway track, caused by the meantime we pay because we must. typhoon of September, 1937 was repair-
differences of opinion. ed, and through communication rea-hygience, the Colony pays without any fication that I listened to Your Excel- But in regard to public, health and It was therefore with much grati- HOUSING COMMISSION'S, REPORT and, indeed, the necessity of a sound report. I am glad that, by Your Ex- feeling of frustration. for the value, lency's observations on the Committee's One of the most important subjects and progressive public health adminis-cellency's direction, some provision in dealt with by Your Excellency as the tration, aiming at the prevention and the Estimates for implementing the Housing, Commission's Report. I cure of human ills, is increasingly ap- Report was referred to, and passed should like to invite the attention of preciated by all, yyukawy the Select. Committee. this Council to paragraph 67 of Mr. Owen's Memorandum, which shows
If I have any uncomfortable feel-
QUEEN'S COLLEGE that the chargés, now: Imposed by Gov. facilities it is that the really - poor, -placed on record our view that,
ing regarding Hong Kong's hospital The Senior Unofficial Member
tored.
such
HAWKER PROBLEM
A true friend-
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