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102
Southern District.
Police District.
Population.
Tsun Wan
5,335
Lantau
7,409
Ping Shan
1,713
Cheung Chau
5,477
Lamma Island
1,442
Po T'oi Group & Cheung Kwan O Other Islands
3,086
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Total
24,479
The Villages.
507. The population is grouped into villages situated mostly on the lower levels, the majority being on or near the coast. Some of the people are engaged in agriculture, others in fishing and others in commerce. Some of the villages are easy of access by rail, road or boat, but others are only reached after miles of walking.
508. The layout of the villages varies; in some there are regular streets and lanes, in others the houses are irregularly placed. The houses for the most part are small one-storied structures of brick or stone. In the large villages there are two-storied buildings.
509. The rules and regulations governing village life are nowhere laid down in print but have been handed down from generation to generation. There are no heads of villages ap- pointed by and responsible to Government for the conduct of village affairs, but there are 'Village Elder' who are accepted as arbiters in petty disputes and who have acquired their positions through age, experience, wealth or family rank. These elders have no executive power and are regarded by the villagers and by Government as advisers only.
some
510. From time to time cooperative efforts are made for the good of the community-some contributing money, materials and some labour. In this way the paving of streets or paths, the construction of a bridge or the digging of a village well is brought about.
Public Health Laws.
511. There are practically no public health laws in force in the rural areas of the New Territories. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of the Colony does not apply and there is no power to ensure notification, isolation or disinfection of disease cases. The Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance was made applicable in 1911 but was until this year in most villages a dead letter. The vaccination Ordinance applies but there has never been any compulsory vaccination.
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Sanitary History.
512. With regard to sanitary measures which are the concern of the District Officers, markets were constructed at Taipo, Cheung Chau and Un Long. In Taipo and Cheung Chau sani- tary organisations have been established consis.ing in the case of the former of a sanitary squad under a contractor, in the latter of a squad under the Marke: Committee appointed by the Kai Fong. In the other villages sanitary organisations have not yet been brought into being.
Past Medical History.
513. The history of medical efforts is as follows:-
1898 Territory taken over by the British.
1900-Dispensary established at Taipo and a Chinese M.O.
put in charge.
1901-Huts for lepers erected at Au Tau. 1911-Leper huts discon.inued,
1911-Registration of Births and Deaths Ordinance extended to New Territories and Police Stations declared to be places for registration. The provisions of the Ordin- ance were never enforced.
1914-Government Midwife stationed at Un Long. 1915-Government Midwife stationed at Taipo. 1916 Government Midwife stationed at Tsun Wan. 1917-Government Midwife stationed at Cheung Chau, 1920-A non-Government Chinese Hospital established at Un Long. The Pok Oi as a herbalist treatment cen- tre and dying house.
1925-Un Long Dispensary established with a dresser in
charge.
1928-European M.O. appointed with part-time duties in
the New Territories.
1929-Proposals submitted by the Director of Medical and
Sanitary Services for :-
(a) Motor Travelling Dispensary for Northern District. (b) Dispensary Launch for the Islands the boating population and those villages which can only be reached by water,
1930-Government appointed a Committee to make enquiries into the question of Sanitation and Registration of Births and Deaths in the New Territories,
Periodical visits of medical practitioners to the New Terri- tories arranged by the New Territories Medical Benevolent So- ciety and the St. John Ambulance Brigade.
1931-First Aid Stations established at Kam Tin and Fan
Ling by St. John Ambulance Brigade.
Medical Benevolent Society increases its activities.
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