M 23
116. Attendances at the school clinics during the year were as follows:-
Table IX.
Ellis Kadoorie School Clinic 1,479 Violet Peel Health Centre 525 Yaumati General Clinic 617 Special Clinic for ophthalmic diseases 382 Special Clinic for ear, nose and throat diseases 262117. The nurses attached to the schools made 205 visits to the homes of children during the year to give advice about minor ailments.
118. Fifty-four cases of infectious disease were recorded among school children in 1938. 4,818 anti-cholera inoculations and 509 vaccinations against smallpox were carried out by the school medical staff during the year.
119. 432 visits of inspection of school premises were made in 1938, compared with 614 in 1937. No regular inspection of registered schools has yet been instituted but should be practicable in 1939 when the School Health Staff will be augmented by the appointment of a sanitary inspector.
120. The hygienic condition of many of the private schools is poor. They are overcrowded, poorly lit, inadequately ventilated, lacking in furniture, deficient in latrine accommodation and defective as regards water supply and means of disposal of refuse.
121. The legislation relating to school hygiene is imperfect and has been the subject of much adverse criticism, but a new health code has been drawn up in consultation with the Director of Education and it is anticipated that the necessary amendments will come into force in 1939.
122. It is abundantly clear that the only way of teaching hygiene is to see that hygienic standards are adopted and hygienic methods practised by those being taught. It is impossible to practise modern surgery in a cowbyre; in the same way it is impossible to inculcate modern standards of hygiene in a hovel. The repetition of a sentence or a set of sentences daily is not enough.
(IV) Labour Conditions.
123. Generally speaking, labour conditions in Hong Kong are unsatisfactory, and it is not likely that they will improve until a labour code is introduced fixing a minimum wage and ensuring adequate housing. This state of affairs was fully appreciated by the Governor who took steps in 1938 to appoint a special labour officer to investigate conditions and to advise on legislation.
124. The legislation enacted in 1937 which enabled the health authorities to require employers of labour in the New Territories to provide suitable housing for their labourers has already proved of considerable value - agreement having been reached between the Military Authorities of the China Command and the Public Works and Medical Departments towards the end of the year.
125. The deterioration in labour conditions which was noted in 1937 has been aggravated during 1938 by the continued arrival of refugees from China. Many of the male refugees sought work in the Colony with the result that the existing surplus of labour was augmented, and wages dropped still lower. The rate of pay for casual male labour is now about 40-60 cents a day and is even lower for casual female labour. Investigations made during the year have shown that the average wage paid for different types of labour is as given in Table X-
M 23
116. Attendances at the school clinics during the year were as follows:-
Table IX.
Ellis Kadoorie School Clinic
Violet Peel Health Centre
Yaumati General Clinic
Special Clinic for ophthalmic diseases
Special Clinic for ear, nose and throat diseases
1,479
525
617
382
262
117. The nurses attached to the schools made 205 visits to the homes of children during the year to give advice about minor ailments.
118. Fifty-four cases of infectious disease were recorded among school children in 1938. 4,818 anti-cholera inoculations and 509 vaccinations against smallpox were carried out by the school medical staff during the year.
119. 432 visits of inspection of school premises were made in 1938, compared with 614 in 1937. No regular inspection of registered schools has yet been instituted but should be practicable in 1939 when the School Health Staff will be augmented by the appointment of a sanitary inspector.
120. The hygienic condition of many of the private schools is poor. They are overcrowded, poorly lit, inadequately ventilated, lacking in furniture, deficient in latrine accommodation and defective as regards water supply and means of dis- posal of refuse.
121. The legislation relating to school hygiene is imperfect and has been the subject of much adverse criticism, but a new health code has been drawn up in consultation with the director of education and it is anticipated that the necessary amendments will come into force in 1939.
122. It is abundantly clear that the only way of teaching hygiene is to see that hygienic standards are adopted and hygienic methods practised by those being taught. It is impossible to practise modern surgery in a cowbyre; in the same way it is impossible to inculcate modern standards of hygiene in a hovel. The repetition of a sentence or a set of sentences daily is not enough.
(IV) Labour Conditions.
123. Generally speaking, labour conditions in Hong Kong are unsatisfactory, and it is not likely that they will improve until a labour code is introduced fixing a minimum wage and ensuring adequate housing. This state of affairs was fully appreciated by the Governor who took steps in 1938 to appoint a special labour officer to investigate conditions and to advise on legislation.
124. The legislation enacted in 1937 which enabled the health authorities to require employers of labour in the New Territories to provide suitable housing for their labourers has already proved of considerable value-agreement having been reached between the Military Authorities of the China Command and the Public Works and Medical Departments towards the end of the year.
125. The deterioration in labour conditions which was noted in 1937 has been aggravated during 1938 by the continued arrival of refugees from China. Many of the male refugees sought work in the Colony with the result that the existing surplus of labour was augmented, and wages dropped still lower. The rate of pay for casual male labour is now about 40-60 cents a day and is even lower for casual female labour. Investigations made during the year have shown that the average wage paid for different types of labour is as given in Table X-
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