· PAGE 4—HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.
INQUIRY
INTO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1938.
POLICE ALLEGATIONS
Council, While appreciating that that Government obtain an ac-pend upon the support of the situation
tuarlal estimate of the annual sums Government and the public. which will be required for Govern- ment Pensions during the next ten or flfteen years,
the work and dificulties of the Police have been, increased during the last year, it is perhaps not too much to expect" that with a re- adjustment of the Force to its new and more arduous duties this mat- ter will be successfully attacked.
Complaints against the gen- eral efficiency of the Force are few and far between, but the public views with much con- recent cern the
numerous cases of police constables being charged with demanding or ac- cepting bribes." Public opinion has always been that this state of affairs is rife in the Colony and there is a wide- spread belief that rambling houses, sly brothels and those concerned in other illicit trans-.. actions pay large tributes to members of the Force in return for immunity from prosecution. The persistence of this belief
NJ
The annual vote for Pensions as shewn in the statement at-": tached to the Estimates has increased from $796,734 in 1929, to $2,970,000 estimated for 1939. An estimate of the sums requir- ed in the future is highly de- sirable in view of anticipated increased expenditure in other directions.
PIER LEASES
within the tropics, shortage of housing, the presence During the last six complete of a large number of the poor, and years of the Society's existence, Its the consequent overcrowding and income has fallen short of its ex-malnutrition, it is only to be ex- penditure by $15.551, and I learn pected that the incident and death- that a further deficit is expected rate of tuberculosis are higher..
than this year.
usual There is, however. As an example of the existing another factor, which is most Im- poverty, the Society reports that in portant, namely, the almost total 1937, the average monthly income absence of proper preventive men- per head in a family relieved by Bures. the Society was $1.80. In Septem- ber of the present year, the figure has fallen to $1.20, which includes $0.92 for Kowloon North More over, in 1937 there were 255 cases
of subsistence.
ว
HIGH DEATH ROLL
It is estimated "that approxi- mately one death in ten in Hong- kong is due to tuberculosis, while 40 per cent of all causes of deaths
lungs and other respiratory pas- cages. The principle
of death is broncho-Deumonia, while tuberculosis cothes second; but a large number of the pneumonia cases' are really tuber- cular in origin.
cause
I would also refer to your Ex-assisted by the Society, where the cellency's statement in your ad- family was without visible means are ascribed to diseases of the dress to this Council before the presentation of the Budget, viena on December 31, 1949, all exist Ing Pier Leases expire and it is not the present intention of Govern
ment to renew them."
That statement brought im-
I feel that such needy work as the Society had done should have some salutary effect in minimising
the appalling infantile mortality, infanticide, the dumping of the dead, and not the less important.
leads me to suggest that the time mediate enquiries from members street begging and fillet hawking, ! is ripe for a thorough inquiry into of the Chamber of Commerce with the consequent overcrowding the matter and this, I feel certain: Which I have the honour to re- of the prisons. would meet with general approval present and a letter has been ad-
dressed to Government giving à re- | That such investigations. If pro-sume of the views of interests petly carried out, do bear fruit, is which will be affected and express- evidenced by a report in the Hong-ing the opinion of my General kong Telegraph of September 20. Committee that it is essential that 1939, under the heading "Detec- Government should define its policy tives Dismissed in Singapore" that "20 per cent of the Colony's detective force have been dismissed
fellowing investigations into al legations of corruption in connee tion with large-scale gambling."
in this matter at the earliest possible moment,
It is not necessary now to go into
C.
According to the statistics. of 1936
A. "The Infantile Death Rate in Hongkong ห้า 327.42 (21 against 59 in Great Britain). B.The number of deaths of Chi
nese infants under one year was 9,905 and ann-Chinese 19. Of the 1,091 dead bodies dung, ed and found in the streets, the ranjority were infants. ་ ་ The cogent questions are: In the face of starving children, what will be their fate, if the parents cannot and will not steal, and, where else can they look for help, apart from unauthorised begging?
ONLY FOUR CENTRES
:
broncho-
According to the 1936 re- port of the Medical Depart- ment. 2,416 persons during that year died of tuberculosis in Hongkong. I believe the" number afflicted cannot be less than ten times this number.
The actual number of deaths is. however, appreciably in excess of this figure, owing to a large num- ber of hopeless cases having-re- turned to the country to die ac- cording to superstition, in the land of their ancestors. and also amongst members of their familles and relatives.
- A SAD ASPECT
There to however another sad
the questions which have been raised by the statement of Govern- ment's intention as regards the re- PENSIONS AND PASSAGES newal of Pier Leases but it is felt One other matter. Pensions and that the matter is of supreme im- the necessity for providing for portance to the Colony. It is par- passages and leaves of Government ticularly so to shareholders in Com-
aspect of the problem, that is, due personnel constitute an ever-in-panies which depend on their Piers
to its peculiar nature, tuberculosis usually kills after a prolonged il- creasing burden upon this Colony, for the running of their business
I cannot subscribe to the view. rers of months, if not years; it is "burden which could be sub- and have large sums invested stantially lightened in the course therein which may be lost if Gov- that cuch work as performed by therefore disastrous economically the Society, is better or cheaper. and otherwise to the average, of years by the filling of vacancies ernment should dispossess them.
For this reason Sir, I have ad- if undertaken by Government. On family and particularly to the with locally-engaged men.
would contrary, it dressed you to-day in order to give the question the fullest publicity. materially to the cost of Govern-
Perhaps you will concede, sir, Until Government policy is known ment. This is not to say that the that the tackling of this grave there can be little development of responsibility should not be wholly problem should be made as soon existing facilities by private enter-shouldered by the Government. It as possible, and that it cannot be prise which has carried on the de- is only where the Government re- indefinitely postponed.
This is the more advisable 'when velopment of this great seaport mains inactive, that the voluntary
society enters.
we are convinced that Slum Clear- since the Colony was founded.
But admirable as the work is ance, and the colution of the the Society has only four centres Housing Problem will not be wholly from which to operate, while vaut realised, until a good number of areas of the poor, such as 8hau- years.
I am aware that this policy has been advocated more than once in the past, but it has never been adopted on a'scale.. nearly commensurate with its advantages.
Whatever might have been the reason for this in the past, none exist to-day. There can be no
suggestion that Hongkong, with its
expensive system of primary education and its University, 'does not provide a' supply, of men suit- able for employment in all but the highest offices in Government.
It was gratifying" to receive in Committee from the Head of one Department the assur- ance that whenever possible. the appointment of local men to vacancies in his Department received bis consideration. But some statement from Government with regard to its policy would be welcome.
15
the
add
poor.
HON. DR. LI SHU-FAN The Hon. Dr. Li Bhu-fan said: Your Excellency.-I wish to in-kiwan, Kowloon City, etc., are left While I an convinced that the vite your attention to a few entirely unprovided for. matters of general policy, which in
establishment of a complete or: I am not a pessionist as regards ganisation for the cure and pre- iny opinion are deserving of Your the Colony's future, but the imvention of tuberculosis including a Excellency's due consideration. mediate outlook is such, that I sanatorium is somewhat expensive SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION tear the children of the poor will at present, yet, there is no reason
OF CHILDREN
be harder hit than ever.
why less expensive measures should It appears to me that as the not be initiated as soon as funda” With reference to the subsidy
Society is non-sectarian and non- permit. for the Hongkong Society for the sectional. It has a very special and
* TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY of Children, I regret
strong case I feel that unless and that the Select Committee did not until some form of Poor Law Ad- By this. I refer to the establish- agree to recommend any addition.ministration is adopted; the in- ment in the first instance, of s But, as certain aspects of the case
Frotection
Colony,
the A further advantage in the were fully discussed by the Belect crease of the subeldy as applied tuberculosis dispensary for
dispensary large-scale employment of local Committée, I crave leave to com- for, is not unreasonable. In view of poor. Such a free
the gigantle nature of the under-would cerve as a centre for men is that this would incidental-mend the case briefly as a whole, taking, and the salutary effect it diagnosis, advice, treatment and ly ensure the expenditure within to Your Excellency's attention. the colony of a considerable pro- At the Budget Debate of 1932. has on the general welfare of the anti-tuberculosis propaganda, as well as a haedquarters for the portion of the sums payable for three members of this Council'
[visiting tuberculous nurses. The pensions, whereas with the present pleaded strongly for an increase in PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS duty of such nurses would be, to system the bulk of the enormous grant to the Society, namely from amount paid out in this connection $5,000 to $10,000. This year I is a drain on Hongkong's re-learn that the Society has applied sources productive of no return for an increase ta. $15,000.0 whatsoever. ·
+1
THE HON. MR. A.L. SHIELDS
The Hon. Mr. A. L. Shields said: Your Excellency.--I would refer to the statement of the Hon. Finan- cial Becretary in his speech Intro- ducing the Budget that it is de- sirable to have an actuarial valua- tion made of the Hability of the Colony for the Widows and Or- phans Fund
I am in complete accord with
While no increase has been made, and the grant remaining at $5,000 to-day, the work of the Society has increased steadily during the succeeding years, the number of cases be- ·· ing 881 in 1932 and 1,539 In 1937. ....One éase does not neces- sarily menu one child, and the 1,539 cases in the Society's last complete year, involved the "welfare of 3,800 "children.
"NO" ENDOWMENT #
I understand that the Society has no endowment, and that Its this and would also request Bir, efficiency and very existence de
The Hon. The Senior Unofficial visit the tuberculosis patients, who Member spoke of the spread of are unable to atend the dis- ¡tuberculosis due to the disease-pensary, at their homes, teaching. disseminating roads and sidewalks, the family. relatives and friends and the necessity of street wash-how to avoid becoming infected.
such useful matters B ing. With this, I am in complete and accord. It is a well-known fact elementary hygiene, etc. that the germ of tuberculosis is conveyed by dust derived from dried spittle, when blown about by wind and traffic.
X-RAY UNIT
As it will be in, the nature of a clearing house, the dispensary should have a small X-ray unit, Speaking of tuberculosis, I whereby patients may be screened desire to call Your Excellency's":
or photographed. The early and attention to the unusual pre-
therefore amendable type of caser valence of this disease in the should be referred to appropriate Colony, and the desirability of
hospitals for treatment if possible, "adopting proper preventive
and the advanced type, which are measures. FACHADAN
usually the incurable and infecti Due to a combination of factors cus cases, should be advised to re- peculiar to Hongkong, such as the turn to the country, where the aff