291
36
By 1921 the males had increased by 52,585 and the females by 42,989.
There is every reason to believe that this improvement in the sex ratio is being more than maintained. It is interesting to note that Hylam female immigrants numbered 29 in 1923, 379 in 1924, and 900 in the first 8 months of 1925,
(a) (ii) Housing.
There is little to be added to the information conveyed in Straits Settlements despatch 652 of the 28th September, 1925.*
The question is receiving the constant attention of the Government and of the Municipality.
(a) (iii) Education, and
(a) (iv) Recreational Facilities.
These questions have received the close attention of the Government for many years. Much has been done already and efforts in this direction will not be relaxed.
(b) Appointment of Mixed Commission.
The
The appointment of this Committee is not thought to be necessary. ground has been covered in the reportst of the Housing Commission of 1917, the Venereal Diseases Committee of 1923 and the Tuberculosis Committee of 1923. The Government has full information regarding the social and economic conditions of the poorer classes in Singapore.
Medical Measures.
(a) Organization of the Medical Service. The proposals of the Government are
despatch 537 of the 25th August, 1925.‡
set forth in Straits Settlements
It will necessarily be some time before the full effect of these proposals is felt but the proposals have received general approval and action is being taken to bring them into effect.
(b) Free diagnosis and treatment.
Action has already been taken on these lines.
Free diagnosis and treatment
are available at seven Government out-door dispensaries; and free in-patient treat- ment is given to males at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital and to females at the General Hospital. It is intended to increase the accommodation for free treatment at an early date.
Legal and Administrative Measures.
(a) The policy of the Government.
The immediate closing of all the known brothels in Singapore is recognized by the Committee to be impracticable. The end to which the policy of the Government is directed is the disappearance of the brothel but it should be clearly understood that progress must be gradual. In carrying out this policy careful consideration will be given to the suggestions and recommendation of the Committee.
(b) Increase of personnel and extension of the powers of the Chinese Protectorate. This question is receiving the close attention of the Government and provision will be made for such increases of staff as may from time to time be necessary.
I have. &c.,
E. S. HOSE, Officer Administering the Government.
57765
No. 24.
37
It is suggested that the scheme of the Straits Settlements Association and that of the Principal Civil Medical Officer are both inadequate from the point of view of the treatment of infected persons of whom there are admittedly very large numbers in Singapore. For the efficient treatment of gonorrhea in large numbers, it would seem to be necessary to provide at least one thoroughly well-equipped out-patient centre, open for a considerable mumber of hours each day, at which any person suffering from or suspected to be suffering from venereal diseases, or who had run the risk of infection from these diseases, could attend for advice and any necessary treatment, and in which detailed examinations could be made. such as could not be carried out without great loss of time per case in a small inadequately staffed centre. Moreover, with an adequate provision of out-patient treatment facilities, the requirement for in-patient beds should be consitlerably less than is suggested in the schemes. I am to point out that in proportion to its expense in-patient treatment is of less advantage to the community than out-patient treat- ment since it can benefit only a comparatively small proportion of infected persons. The question of the provision of prophylactic stations and of the most suitable methods of propaganda in the circumstances existing in Singapore are not matters on which the Minister is in a position to offer any useful comments.
As regards the question of a levy on shipping to help to defray the cost of the scheme, it seems to be desirable to consider whether, if such levy were made, the Shipping Authorities would endeavour to recover from individual seamen the whole or part of the expenditure to which these Authorities would be put.
I am to draw attention to Circular 634* issued on the 17th November last by this Department, copies of which were sent to the Colonial Office, in which it is pointed out that the contracting parties to the recent International Agreement have undertaken that facilities shall be available at each of their chief ports for the gratuitous treatment of merchant seamen suffering from venereal diseases, without distinction of nationality. The Minister is advised that the provision of such facilities throughout the world should materially assist in the problem of dealing with venereal diseases, and he would suggest that the steps now to be taken at Singapore should contemplate the extension of the International Agreement to that country in due course.
The Report* of the Straits Settlements Association Sub-Committee is returned as requested.
63916
SIR,
No. 25.
I am, &c.,
A. B. MACLACHLAN,
Assistant Secretary.
COLONIAL OFFICE to MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
Downing Street, 28th December, 1925. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 31st of October,† I am directed by Mr. Secretary Amery to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks the accompanying copy of a despatch‡ from the Officer Administering the Government of the Straits Settlements regarding the measures already taken or proposed in regard to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Social Hygiene.
SIR,
MINISTRY OF HEALTH to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Whitehall, 23rd December, 1925.
I AM directed by the Minister of Health to refer to Sir Gilbert Grindle's letter of the 31st October last§ on the subject of the measures to be taken to combat venereal disease in Singapore.
It is recognized that conditions in Singapore are very different from those existing in this country, and that consequently the measures which experience has shown to be best adapted to the conditions in this country may not prove to be as successful in Singapore. For this reason the following comments, particularly those relating to accommodation for in-patients, are made with some hesitation.
$42806/25: not printed.
~ 40487 '25 : not printed. ! Not printed here. 42690/25: not printed.
I am, &c.,
G. GRINDLE.
*Not reprinted, + 42896/25: not printed. ‡ No. 29.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference !---
EPERIC.O. 882/11
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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