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The staff of the Malaria Bureau did a considerable amount of investigation, making mosquito surveys, taking spleen census and making blood examinations for the presence of parasites. The reception given to the members of the staff demonstrated that there is no opposition to scientific investigation, provided the people understand the objects aimed at and are treated with ordinary tact and civility. Almost invariably they showed themselves interested in the proceedings and offered their co- operation.
The Position during 1932.
514. During the year medical relief continued to be dis- tributed by the Medical Department, the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the New Territories Medical Benevolent Society.
515. The Medical Department staff was as follows:-
1 European M.O. resident at Kowloon,
1 Chinese M.O. resident at Taipo.
1 Dresser resident at Un Long.
1 Midwife resident at Tai Po.
1 Midwife resident at Un Long.
1 Midwife resident at Tsun Wan.
1 Midwife resident at Cheung Chau.
516. There is dispensary at Taipo and another at Un Long in the Northern District. There are no dispensaries in the Southern District.
517. The Government Motor Travelling Dispensary com- menced working in June.
518. Early in the year the Government accepted from Sir Robert and Lady Ho Tung the generous gift of a plot of land near Ko Tung and a sum of $100,000 for the erection and upkeep of a welfare centre.
519. The generous offer of Mr. Ruttonjee to erect a dispen. sary at Sham Tseng and to hand it over when finished to the Governinent was also accepted.
520. Recommendations had been made by the D.M.S.S. for the establishment of Government dispensaries at Tsun Wan and Cheung Chau and provision had been entered for the same in the draft estimates. The provisions were deleted by the Esti- mates Committee on the ground that the Medical Benevolent Association had opened a dispensary and hospital in Tsun Wan and the St. John Ambulance Brigade a similar institution at Cheung Chau.
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521. When the new dispensaries are completed the Medical Department will have centres situated respectively in the east, north, west and south sections of the fifty mile road which circles the main portion of the New Territories mainland. These with the motor travelling dispensary should afford a good and sufficient medical service for those parts of the territory which are within walking distances of the road and railway. The provision of motor dispensary launch next year will give medical relief to the islands and those parts of the mainland coast which are only readily accessible by sea.
Medical Officers visits.
522. During the year the Medical Officer visited all the villages of any size both in the Northern and Southern Districts to investigate the position obtaining in each and to form an opinion as to the need for medical attention. He was struck by the amount of malaria in some sections and its comparative absence in others. It is very prevalent in the hilly districts opposite the middle section of the Fanling Sha-Tau Kok Road and in those south of Un Long.
528. Tai 0.-Tai O, a fishing village of 5,000 inhabitants on the extreme north-west of Lantau Island, was visited once a week where all seeking treatmen: were treated at the local hall. A village elder was always present to see that the patients followed each other quickly and quietly. On an average 30-40 cases were seen each time. Malaria appears to be absent but venereal disease is prevalent.
524. Towards the end of the year a Government midwife was stationed in this village.
525. Sai Kung-As far as possible weekly visits were paid to Sai Kung, a village on the east coast of the mainland and only easily accessible by sea. The regularity of visits depended on the police launch on which the M.O. was given passage.
526. Cheung Chau.-Cheung Chau was visited once a week where the M.O. cooperated with the St. John Ambulance Brigade seeing patients at the dispensary which had been established there by the Brigade. There was an average attendance of
35-40.
Births and Deaths Registration.
527. Early in the year arrangements were made whereby the Police Stations became the registry offices for Births and Deaths. It was decided to avoid prosecutions at first and to rely on
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