# M 11
Influence of traditional beliefs.
24. The traditional beliefs of the uneducated Chinese as to the cause of diseases, the means of spread and the factors which affect its course are so at variance with modern teaching that there is little chance of promoting voluntary co-operation between them and the authorities in the matter of the prevention and control of disease until they can be brought to understand the true nature of the problems and are conscious of the usefulness of the measures advocated. The proximity of China and the constant intercourse make it harder to overcome prejudices than is the case in countries further afield. The greatest hope lies in propaganda and education brought to the homes through public health nurses working as district visitors or in infant welfare centres and school welfare centres.
Propaganda which does not arouse the interest of the mother and her children has little practical value. However, leaders of opinion in China and leaders of Chinese thought in Hong Kong are making vigorous efforts to promote public health and public welfare along lines which have proved successful in the Occident, and the outlook is far more hopeful than was the case a few years ago when Chinese thought on matters of health was unduly swayed by old traditions and theories.
Quarantine impractical between Hong Kong and the River Ports.
25. So closely related are Hong Kong, Canton, Macao and the River Ports, in the matter of trade, and such is the amount of traffic both human and goods which passes between them that up to date it has been found impossible to devise any system of quarantine which would effectually safeguard one city against introduction of disease from the other and at the same time preserve that freedom of commercial movements on which these cities depend for prosperity. It has been deemed best to treat them as forming one unit, as suburbs the one of the other, and to strive for a working agreement between the various health organisations to the end that some means, other than imposing restrictions against a whole port, may be found to prevent the spread of infection.
The Government Organisation for the promotion and maintenance of the Public Health.
26. The Colony has no municipality in the ordinary accepted sense of the term, the Governor himself being head of the city and head of the port. The functions of a Municipal Council are included in the functions of the Legislative Council. The Colonial Heads of Department perform the duties which in a municipality would be performed by Municipal Heads of Department.
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Page 376
- M 11
Influence of traditional beliefs.
24. The traditional beliefs of the uneducated Chinese as to the cause of diseases, the means of spread and the factors which affect its course are so at variance with modern teaching that there is little chance of promoting voluntary co-operation between them and the authorities in the matter of the prevention and control of disease until they can be brought to understand the true nature of the problems and are conscious of the usefulness of the measures advocated. The proximity of China and the con- stant intercourse make it harder to overcome prejudices than is the case in countries further afield. The greatest hope lies in propaganda and education brought to the homes through public health nurses working as district visitors or in infant welfare centres and school welfare centres.
Propaganda which does not arouse the interest of the mother and her children has little practical value. However, leaders of opinion in China and leaders of Chinese thought in Hong Kong are making vigorous efforts to promote public health and public welfare along lines which have proved successful in the Occident, and the outlook is far more hopeful than was the case a few years ago when Chinese thought on matters of health was unduly swayed by old traditions and theories.
Quarantine impractical between Hong Kong and the River Ports.
25. So closely related are Hong Kong, Canton, Macao and the River Ports, in the matter of trade, and such is the amount of traffic both human and goods which passes between them that up to date it has been found impossible to devise any system of quarantine which would effectually safeguard one city against introduction of disease from the other and at the same time pre- serve that freedom of commercial movements on which these cities depend for prosperity. It has been deemed best to treat them as forming one unit, as suburbs the one of the other, and to strive for a working agreement between the various health organisations to the end that some means, other than imposing restrictions against a whole port, may be found to prevent the spread of infection.
The Government Organisation for the promotion and maintenance of the Public Health.
26. The Colony has no municipality' in the ordinary accept- ed sense of the term, the Governor himself being head of the city and head of the port. The functions of a Municipal Council are included in the functions of the Legislative Council. The Colonial Heads of Department perform the duties which in a municipality would be performed by Municipal Heads of De- partment.
Page 375Page 376
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