CO129-544-7 Proposal to supply dispensary launch for use of harbour residents 31-5-1933 - 4-8-1933 — Page 7

3- JUL 19.

No. 316.

C. O. REGL

Sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG, 31st May, 1933.

7

6. on 92691/52

Estimates

་་

I have the honour to inform you that this Government

has had under consideration for some time a proposal for the

construction of a launch, to be fitted up as a floating

dispensary, in order that medical facilities may be available

to the very large number of Chinese living on boats and junks

in the harbour, and elsewhere in the Colony, and to villages

on the coast which are inaccessible by road. The total

floating population, as stated in the Census Report of 1931,

is in the neighbourhood of 55,000.

2.

The proposal to provide a dispensary launch was

first put forward by the Director, Medical and Sanitary

Services in 1929, and a sum of $50,000 was inserted in the

Estimates for 1930, to cover the cost of construction.

It was

the intention at that time that the launch should be used for

medical work within harbour limits only. Construction was deferred pending consideration of the possibility of sparing a Government launch for this work, and the vote lapsed.

Subsequently, as no launch could be made available, the matter

was reconsidered in connection with the Estimates for 1931,

1932, and 1933, but on each occasion was postponed, owing to

the financial situation.

3.

As you will be aware from my despatch No. 304 of the 26th May, 1933, with which I forwarded for your approval supplementary estimates of expenditure on Public Works, the

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

SI P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER, G.B.E., M.C., M.P.,

&C.,

&C.,

&c.

financial