AnnualReport-1938

M 2

B. Finance.

Due mainly to the increase in the number of patients admitted to hospitals and to the opening of the Lai Chi Kok Relief Hospital the total expenditure for 1938 exceeded the expenditure for 1937 by $389,210.48. The figures being $2,407,347.92 and $2,018,137.44 for the years 1938 and 1937 respectively. The ordinary (recurrent) expenditure in 1938 was $2,218,236.61 as compared with $1,866,911.97 in 1937. Special expenditure amounted to $189,111.31 in 1938 and $151,225.47 in 1937, but such items as cost of buildings, water supplies, etc., are not included.

The revenue earned by all divisions of the Medical Department during 1938 amounted to $431,034.17 as against $455,232.42 in 1937. The decrease was due to a large drop in the number of medical examinations of emigrants.

In Table 1 the figures include such items as water and drainage works, Urban Council cleansing services, etc.

$ Motor Ambulance Service 34,072.88 Police Department 288.00 Public Works Department 1,510,320.13 Sanitary (Urban Council) Department 1,050,283.55 Subsidies to Charities 449,678.22 Medical Department 2,407,347.92 Total $5,451,990.70

The total revenue for the Colony from all sources in 1938 was $37,175,897.82; hence the expenditure on medical services formed 14.66 per centum of the general revenue as compared with 16.19 per centum in 1937.

C. (a) Ordinances affecting the Public Health.

The following is a list of Ordinances, Rules, Regulations, By-laws and Government Notifications affecting public health or medical matters which were enacted, made or published during 1938:-

1. Ordinances

(a) Vaccination Amendment Ordinance, 1938.

(b) Dentistry Amendment Ordinance, 1938.

(c) Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1938.

(d) Pharmacy and Poisons Amendment Ordinance, 1938.

2. Rules, Regulations and By-laws

(a) Public Health (Food). (New by-laws re reconstituted milk and reconstituted cream.)

(b) Public Health (Food).

(c) Pharmacy and Poisons. (Amendment to schedule to Ordinance).

(d) Pharmacy and Poisons. (Amendment of regulations).

(e) Pharmacy and Poisons. (Amendment of poisons list).

(f) Pharmacy and Poisons. (Amendment of fees).

(g) Emergency. (Amendment re prevention of cholera).

(h) Emergency. (Further amendment re cholera).

(i) Emergency. (Amendment re squatters and destitutes).

(j) Emergency. (Further amendment re squatters and destitutes).