5
both literally
and metaphorically
memorandum stated that "more than a year's trial
The
of the scheme has proved that it cannot possibly be
carried out fully without the appointment of a senior
Health Officer or Deputy Director for Health.
D.M.S. has to spend so much time at the desk dealing
with Urban Council and Sanitary Department Minute
papers that there is little time left for inspection
or for superintending the enforcing of observations
of the various Ordinances relating to Public Health.
The D.M.S. having his whole time occupied with the
clerical side could not assist in the health work.
Since that memorandum was written funds
have been provided for a new infectious disease
hospital and for increased hospital accommodation.
The despatches now received ask for approval of a
much needed extension of the Medical Staff and I
think that a convincing case is made out for this
Hong Kong has many health problems
owing to the normal overcrowding of its urban area
and the "floating"*nature of its population, and
these problems have been rendered much graver by the
very large influx of refugees from Canton and South
China, as any of Japanese bombing, with the
result that the population of Hong Kong has increased
by about 250,000. Throughout the summer there has
been a high weekly total of deaths from cholera,
smallpox and other infectious diseases.
necessity.
Nevertheless
I think the case for the increase of staff now
proposed is justified by the normal circumstances of
Hong Kong apart from the additional justifications
of the present abnormal situation.
The despatch at 5 proposes the creation of
a