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Lack of transport, tools and oil were the main difficulties. As tools became available, labour was engaged and stream and swamp drainage was undertaken. Applica- tion was quickly made for oil and knapsack sprayers, but these sprayers have not yet been supplied, although the R.N. Dockyard has come to the rescue by manufacturing a less satisfactory type of sprayer with stirrup pump.
As ground control would, inevitably, be slow and as we were approaching the height of the malaria season, a request was made for the serial spraying of the Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon to some measure of control quickly. Unfortunately, this aerial spraying has not been carried out as the "Vengeance" aircraft, sent to the Col- ony for this purpose, developed a series of defects.
With the arrival of Service Malaria Units, it was decided to split ground control work. The Naval Malaria Unit took over control from Pokfulam to Tytam Pumping Station and also became responsible for the supply of oil and tools on the Island.
In Kowloon the R.A.F. assumed responsibility for the area from the Kai Tak to the western edge of Rifle Range and the Army from there to Lai Chi Kok each area to supply its own working tools and oil.
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On the Kowloon side a large labour force has been employed, and, at the end of three months, larval control is almost back to pre-war standard. Progress is slower on the Island but the position in the Central, Pokfulam, Tai Hang and Happy Valley areas is fairly satisfactory.
Approval has been obtained for the prohibitionof "wet cultivation" on the Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon.
The various Units work extremely well and there is every reason for gratification at the excellent co-operation between Service and C.A.A. Malariologists.
Social Hygiene
The medical staff consists of one Chinese M.0.' two European (Refugee) M.O.s and two Chinese Lady M.0.8. At present there are 2 clinics for males and 2 for females but two additional clinics (1 male and 1 female) are to be opened this week. These clinics are short of medicines, apparatus and instruments.
The Naval and Military Authorities have been assisting by providing urgently needed arsenical preparations and a signal to Sac Sea requested supplies of penicillin for the treatment of these venereal diseases.
Amending legislation is being sought to make V.D. notifiable and to give the Health Authorities greater powers over infected persons.
A serious feature at present is that the proportion of syphilis cases has risen sharply in comparison with pre-war experience. To-day, approximately one third of the cases are gonorrhoea, one third syphilis and one third mixed infections. The venereal rate is very high, and the fact that about 66% of the cases have syphilis is apparently a legacy from the Japanese.
A scheme to secure more beds for the hospitalisation of V.D. cases was under con- sideration but, in view of instructions received from H.E., the Commander-in-Chief, the position will have to be reviewed and a more ambitious scheme will shortly be forwarded.
It is hoped that the European V.D. Specialist, recently requested for our W.E.› will be available before long, so that more energetic measures may be taken. It is generally believed that the indidence of those diseases is extremely high and a dis- quieting feature is that prostitution is now practised by a class of girl, which would not have followed this profession in normal times. Unfortunately, the "enthu- siastic amateurs"are also aiding in the spread of these diseases.
Water Supplies
The Water Authority is to be complimented on the excellent progress made with supplies of good drinking water, after years of neglect by the occupying forces.