SINGAPORE
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439
CONFIDENTIAL
Advisory Committee, no arrangements having been included in the preliminary programme for any conference with re- presentatives of Chinese or Native opinion.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES.
At the medical conferences the question was raised as to the advisability of the Commission visiting Kuala Lumpur, and holding conferences of the Planters' and Medical Committees. We consulted Sir William Kurison on this point. H.M.S. "Halaya" was visiting Port Swettenham during that week; itwas difficult therefore to make arrangements. Our local programme made it impossible to suggest to the Kuala Lumpur authorities any day except Sunday as at that time we expected our boat to sail on Tuesday, the 25th. Sir William Murison cabled to the Government representative at Kuala Lumpur advising then that a Sunday visit would be possible. The authorities there found that it was impracticable; other efforts were made later during our stay but the visit was not able to be arranged without giving to them the only day on which the Governor could convene a Con- ference for the formation of a Singapore Branch. We therefore left work in the Federated Malay States to be undertaken by the representatives of the local Branch in the future. Fortunately, however, we have had opportunities of discussing possible forms of medical and educational organisation for the Federated Malay States, both with the Principal Civil Medical Officer and with His Excellency the Governor, and with one of the provincial residents. It is intended by all that the principle of free diagnosis and treatment should be extended to the Federated Malay States, and that post- graduate teaching should be given to the medical practi- tionera in charge of the travelling dispensaries that carry out most of the Western medicine undertaken in the Federated Malay Statee. The prevalence of Venereal Disease among the Malays is reported as extremely high.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.
Through Sir William Murison interviews were arranged with Dr. Lim Boon Keng, leader of the Chinese community and Chinese member of the Legislative Council; and with Mr. Gibbons, Chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce. The latter undertook to have notices of the film showings distributed to all members of the Chamber of Commerce with a covering letter signed by himself asking them to invite all the European members of their staffs. Dr. Lim Boon Keng had already taken part in the Venereal Disease controversy which had arisen in the local Medical Association with reference to the formation of a Federated Malay States Branch of the A Society for the Prevention of Venereal Disea009. year ago considerable correspondence had arisen in the press in which the Bishop and various laymen had attacked the Society for the Prevention of Venereal Diseases, and the latter Society had been supported by various members of the medical fraternity. Dr. Lim Boon Keng delivered A paper to the Medical Association advising unity between the two groups.
He promised support to the policy of the Council and advised our laying our proposals before the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, He gave me an intro- duction to the President of the Chinese Chamber whom I saw.
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