POLICE
BRIBERY
"Public Views Recent Events
Mr. Leo
D'Almada
Urges Inquiry
that the
THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 10, 1988.
CASES With Concern"
ving of Your Excellancy's due sideration.
con-
of
Speaking of tuberculosis, I desire to call Your Excellency's attention to the THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR unusual prevalence of this disease in THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN the Colony, and the desirability
With reference to the subsidy for adopting proper preventive measures. the Hong Kong Society for the Protec- Due to a combination of factors pe- tion of Children, I regret that the culiar to Hong Kong, such as the situs- Select Committee did not agree to re- tion within the tropics, shortage of Hon. Mr. Leo D'Almada, Jnr. said;— The statement, therefore, Your Excellency:-The very full exam-Superintendent of the Botanical
commend any addition. But, as cer-housing, the presence of a large num- tain aspects of the case were not fully ber of the poor, and the ana ination of this Colony's position, plans Forestry Department has been in-discussed by the Select Committee, I overcrowding and malnutrition, it is consequent and prospects which has taken place structed to report on the possibilities crave leave to commend the case brief- only to be expected that the incident in Committee since the presentation of development in the New Territoriesy as a whole, to of the Budget leaves little to be done is singularly opportune.
Your Excellency's and death-rate of tuberculosis are attention. except to remind Government of mat-
higher than usual. There is however There should be no delay in the mat-
At the Budget Debate of 1932, three another factor, which is most impor- ters requiring its attention in the nearter. With the present rise in prices, strongly for an increase in grant to of proper preventive measures.
members of this Council pleaded tant, namely, the almost total absence the local farmer would naturally be First, with regard to Kowloon, the more amendable than heretofore promise of better street-lighting is at suggestions with regard to large-scale Society has applied. for an increase to to tuberculosis, while 40 per cent. of
the Society, namely from to
$5,000 to It is estimated that approximately $10,000. This year I learn that last in course of fulfilment so far as production of vegetables in lieu of or
the one death in ten in Hong Kong is due Nathan Road is concerned. But im-in addition to rice, and the opportunity
$15,000. provement must not be allowed to end must not be missed.
all causes of deaths are ascribed to While no increase has been made, diseases of the lungs and other respira- there. As soon as funds permit, other
LONG NEGLECTED
and the grant remaining at $5,000 to-tory passages. The principle cause of important thoroughfares should be at- The New Territories have long been day, the work of the Society has in-death is broncho-pneumonia, while tu- tended to, notably Chatham, Waterloo neglected, too, in matters of sanitation, creased steadily during the succeeding berculosis comes second; but a and Prince Edward Roads.
It is pleasing to see that this year's years, the number of cases being 881 number
large MORTUARY AND DRAINAGE
of the broncho-pneumonia Budget provides for the appointment in 1982 and 1,589 in 1997. One case cases are really tubercular in origin. The Kowloon Mortuary has already of a health staff for this area. been mentioned by the Honourable the casual inspection of Taipo and Sheung last complete year, involved the wel- does not necessarily mean one child, and the 1,539 cases in the Society's Senior Unofficial Member. The site of shui Markets and of Un Long reveals the present one is no longer suitable a state of uncleanliness disgraceful in
fare of 3,690 children. - and I am told that the building itsel1 a British Colony. leaves much to be desired. The sooner The increase of crime, particularly
future..
the numerous
A
NO ENDOWMENT
+
of
HOPELESS CASES According to the, 1936 report of the Medical Department, 2,416 persons during that year died of tuberculosis a new one is built, and that in a local-in Kowloon, has been suggested to me no endowment, and that its efficiency afflicted cannot be less than ten times I understand that the Society has in Hong Kong. I believe the number ity chosen with greater foresight than as worthy of mention in this Council and very existence depend upon the this number. The actual number was shown in the choice of the present While appreciating that the work and support of the Government and one, the better.
difficulties of the Police have been in-public.
the deaths is, however, appreciably in ex- The matter of suitable drainage for creased during the last year, it is per-
cess of this figure, owing to a large large areas of Kowloon comes up for haps not too much to expect that of the Society's existence, its income turned to the country to die, according During the last six complete years number of hopeless cases having re- discussion regularly in the Urban with a re-adjustment of the Force to has fallen short of its expenditure by to superstition, in the land of their an- Council as well as at meetings of the its new and more arduous duties this $15,551, and I learn that a further decestors, and also amongst members of Kowloon Residents' Association. seems that for some time to, come, al
It matter will be successfully attacked. ficit is expected this year.
POLICE BRIBERY CASES
their families and relatives. least, nothing can be done to improve | Complaints
As an example of the existing po- There is however another sad aspect the lot of residents of Ho Mun Tin efficiency of the Force are few and far the average monthly income per head culiar nature, tuberculosis usually kills against the general erty, the Society reports that in 1937, of the problem, that is, due to its pe- and other like areas, but it should be between, but the public views the policy of Government in future to much concern
with in a family relieved by the Society was after a prolonged illness of months, if provide new districts with facilities cases of police constables being charg-year, the figure has fallen to $1.29, economically and otherwise to the aver- recent $1.80. In September of the present not, years; it is therefore disastrous for this very essential feature before ed with demanding or accepting bribes, which includes $0.92 for Kowloon age family and particularly to the poor. they are opened for development. Public opinion has always been that North. Moreover, in 1937 there were
N.T. AGRICULTURE
this state of affairs is rife in the Co-1285 cases assisted by
Perhaps you will concede Sir, that the Nothing could more clearly empha- Iony and there is a widespread belief where the family was without visible be made as soon as possible, and that.
the Society, tackling of this grave problem should sise the desirability of fostering agri-that gamb`ing' houses, sly brothels and means of subsistence. culture in the New Territories than those concerned in other illicit transac-
it cannot be indefinitely postponed... the striking figures mentioned by Your tions pay large tributes to members of Society had done should have some are convinced that Slum Clearance and
I feel that such needy work as the
This is the more advisable when we Excellency in dealing with Forestry the Force in return for immunity from salutary effect in minimising the ap- the solution of the Housing Problem and Agriculture in your speech October 13th, and recent events have
o prosecution. made it even more obvious, if that me to suggest that the time is ripe less important, street begging and il-
The persistence of this belief leads the dumping of the dead, and not the number of years.
palling infantile mortality, infanticide, will not be wholly realised, until a good were possible.
for a through inquiry into the matter licit hawking, with the consequent over-
T. B. DISPENSARY and this, I feel certain,
While I am convinced that the es- would meet crowding of the prisons.
tablishment of a complete organisation for the cure and prevention. of tuber- culosis including a sanatorium is some- what expensive at present, yet, there is no reason why less expensive mea- sures should not be initiated as soon as funds permit.
MR. M.K. LO'S SPEECH
(Continued from Page 9)
is not such as to deter people from handling them on that account. Per haps I may also observe that hawking of certain kinds of food is a prevalen practice even in the Metropolis England.
of
A
MEMORANDUM TO GOVT. In March this year I. submitted Memorandum to Government, and paragraph 20 sets out my views 01. as this aspect of the subject I beg leav to quote it here:-
"20. It should be remembered that
with general approval. That such in- vestigations, if properly carried out, do bear fruit, is evidenced by a report under the heading "Detectives Dismiss- ed in Singapore" that "20 per cent. of that Colony's detective force have been dismissed following investigations into allegations of corruption in connection with large-scale gambling".
passages
.
.
in
VITAL STATISTICS According to the statistics of 1936, A. The Infantile Death Rate
Hong Kong was 327.42 (as against 69 in Great Britain). B. The number of deaths of Chinese infants under one year was 9,905 and non-Chinese 19.
a
By this, I refer to the establishment in the first. instance, of a tuberculosis LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
C. Of the 1,091 dead bodies dumped dispensary for the poor. Such a free- necessity for providing for
One other matter. Pensions and the
and found in the streets, the dispensary would serve as a centre for and leave of
majority were infants.
diagnosis, advice, treatment and anti- constitute an ever-increasing burden their fate, if the parents cannot and culosis nurses.
The cogent questions are: In the cuberculosis propaganda, as well as an Government personnel face of starving children, what will be head-quarters for the visiting tuber- upon this Colony, a burden which could will not steal, and where else can they nurses would be, to visit the tubercu- The duty of such be substantially lightened in the course look for help, apart from unauthorised losis patients, who are unable to at- of years by the filling of vacancies with begging? locally-engaged men.
tend the dispensary, at their homes, I am aware that this policy has been
GOVT. RESPONSIBILITY teaching the family, relatives and but it has never been adopted on a is better or cheaper, if undertaken by tary hygiene, etc. advocated more than once in the past, such work as performed by the Society ed, and such useful matters as elemen- I cannot subscribe to the view, that friends how to avoid becoming infect scale nearly commensurate with its | Government. advantages.
On the contrary, it
ANTI-T.B. PROPAGANDA people who buy articles from hawker son for this in the past, none exists the responsibility should not be wholly have a small 'X-ray unit, whereby pa- Whatever might have been the rea-Government. This is not to say that clearing house, the dispensary should.
would add materially to the cost of As it will be in the nature of generally belong to classes of persons to-day. who occupy such houses, cubicles, bed hat Hong Kong, with its expensive only where the Government remains ed. The early and therefore amendablo There can be no suggestion shouldered by the Government. It is tients may be screened or photograph- spaces, and in surroundings that the system of primary education and its inactive, that the voluntary society en- type of cases, should be referred to hygienic ideal aimed at by the Urban University, does not provide a supply ters. Council cannot be achieved. What of men suitable for employment in all matters that the food is bought from but the highest offices in Government. Society has only four centres
appropriate hospitals for treatment if But admirable as the work is, the possible, and the advanced type, which a clean shop if it is cooked, kept and It was gratifying to receive in Com- which to operate, while vast areas of cases, should be advised to return to from are usually the incurable and infectious eaten in a place in which dust, dirt mittes from the Head of one Depart-the poor, such as Shaukiwan, Kowloon the country, where the air and the sur- and flies etc, abound? The prohibited ment the assurance that whenever City, etc., are left entirely unprovided roundings are better than the city; class 7 contains "congee, tea and cakes, possible the appointment of local men for. puddings, beancurd." Is there really to vacancies in his Department receiv- substantial danger to public health by ed his consideration.
while borderline cases between the the sale of such articles to the partí: KEEP MONEY IN COLONY
I am not a pessimist as regards the two types can be observed and attend- Colony's future, but the immediate out-ed to, at the dispensary. cular class of buyers who patronisc
look is such, that I fear the children hawkers? Some 3,871 persons have ment with regard to its policy would ever.
But some statement from Govern of the poor will be harder hit than dispensary, if possible should also be The medical officer in charge of the presumably made their living by the be welcome. A further advantage in
in charge of the anti-tuberculosis pro- sale of these articles, and there are to the large-scale employment of local is non-sectarian and non-sectional, It be very usefully supplemented by co- It appears to me that as the Society paganda. Such propaganda work could be no renewals of the existing licences men is that this would incidentally en has a very special and strong case.operating with existing humanitarian What would be the result? the number is gradually reduced to of a considerable proportion, of the form of Poor Law Administration is balance Association, etc., especially in Suppose sure-the expenditure within the Colony I feel that unless, and until some organisations, such as the St. John Am- 2,000 If the demand for this class of sums payable for pensions, whereas adopted, the increase of the subsidy as delivering public lectures, distribution hawkers can absorb say 4,000 sellers with the present system the bulk of applied for, is not unreasonable, 2,000 more hawkers will inevitably the enormous amount paid out in this view of the gigantic nature of the un- and the conducting of anti-tuberculosis make their appearance, only of course connection is a drain on Hong Kong's dertaking, and the salutary effect it campaigns.
in of literature, giving health exhibitions they will be unlicensed,"
resources productive of no return what has on the teneral welfare of the Co- PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS
I have ventured the above remarks. in the hope, Sir, that if and when this problem is tackled, a realistic solution
will be found, having regard to the DR. LI SHU-FAN
AND S.P.C.
lony
There can be little doubt that such measures, when adopted, would be im- mensely beneficial to the people.
The Hon. The Senior Unofficial Mem. should have some effect in miš
fact that hawking, properly regulated does afford to the aged and infirm whe have otherwise no means of support
due to the disease-disseminating roads hitherto practically uncontrolled. and sidewalks, and the necessity of and whố, by reason of their residential
CLOSURE OF ROADS TO DOCTORS street washing. With this, I am in While I am on the subject of public qualification, would be entitled to Poor Law Relief if it were available in Your Excellency, I wish to invite your convoyed by dust derived from dried ment given to medical practitioner's, The Hon. Mr. Dr. Li. Shu-fan said:fact that the germ of tuberculosis is lency's attention to the peculiar trent complete accord. It is a well-known health, I wish to draw Your Excel Hong Kong, an alternative to starva-attention to a few matters of general spittle, when blown about by wind and with reference to certain motor traffic tion.
policy, which in my opihión áre deser- tra
(Continued an Page 2).