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HONG KONG
GENERAL REPORT.
370
The Commissioners beg to submit a Report of their enquiries during their stay in Hong Kong from 20th December to 12th January, as to the conditions affecting the prevention and cure of venereal disease, together with certain recommendations as to the directions in which these might be increased.
The Governor was not in sympathy with the aims of the Commission. He received us the day after our arrival and informed us that Chinese opinion was opposed to the subject being raised at all, and that the Chinese members of the Legislative Council had refused to meet the members of the Commission.
After considerable discussion His Excellency consented to convene a small private conference at which the Army and Navy as well as the Colonial Government representa- tives were present. The feeling of the meeting was distinctly in favour of the public health aspect of the problem of venereal disease receiving consideration, but His Excellency still felt that Chinese opinion would be adversely aroused.
We were requested not to make use of the Press, and forbidden to hold any public meetings, but had permission to hold any invitation meetings for the European community.
The Commission visited the principal local Institutions, conferred with representatives of various Organisations, and endeavoured to secure the co-operation of leading European and Chinese opinion in favour of a progressive policy with reference to the diagnosis and treatment of venereal disease in the Colony.
They found no opposition to this suggestion among either the Europeans or Chinese. The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce met on Friday, January 4th, and passed a unanimous resolution in favour of the provision of facilities for free treatment, and of a careful educational campaign. They also registered their inten- tion to support the Government in any such progressive policy.
We understand that the medical facilities provided in the Colony fall under two headings Those that serve the European community, and those that serve the Chinese. Those that serve the European community are based on the Government Civil Hospital. Those that serve the Chinese are divided between the Tung Wah and the Kwong Wah Hospitals, and the eight Chinese Dispensaries. We have had an opportunity of meeting the Chinese governing bodies of these Institutions, and believe that they will favour arrangements that will provide free treatment facilities for the Chinese community.
We feel it is useless to consider dealing with the problem of Venereal Disease unless both the European and Chinese community are given equal facilities for treatment. The Chinese community being by far the most