CO129-505-12 Estimates of expenditure 1928 1-9-1927 - 12-1-1928 — Page 89

14

the Police are one launch short for harbour duty, which

means that the remaining launches have to be run almost

continuously night and day without adequate provision for

overhaul and repair or actual breakdown. The cruising

launch is to replace the present No.3 Launch formerly the

"Shun Lee" which was only bought as a stop gap. The

Government Marine Surveyor has reported that she is quite

uns caworthy in anything but the most sheltered waters,

consequently she is to all intents and purposes uscless

as a cruising launch. The new launch will be fitted with

wireless and a 3 pounder gun. The Indian beds, subhead 44,

are for increased number of Indian Police.

Head 25 Medical Department.

As a result of the investigations and recommend-

ations of the Naval Malaria Preventive Officer, Singapore,

who visited Hong Kong, in conjunction with the Mcdical and Sanitary Departments, it has been decided that the only

really effective way, and at the same time the most economical

way, of tackling the malaria problem in the Colony is to

appoint a specially trained malarial research officer, with

a small staff to assist him, to investigate and advise on

the work to be undertaken. At present the incidence of

malarial fever in some parts of the Island and in the New

Territories is very high; and it is largely due to the

provalence of malaria that districts such as Taipo, Stanley

and Shek 0 have not been developed as residential areas.

In view of the great progress which is being made in other

parts of the world in combatting the ravages of malaria it is a standing reproach to this Colony that so little

improvement has been made here. In spite of the need for

economy we can no longer afford to neglect this all important

problem

100