CO129-553-10 Urban Council- re-organisation of the medical and sanitary services 8-3-1935 - 31-7-1935 — Page 18

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health systems of other places which he had studied. analogy with Malaya cannot be complete as there are sound reasons against the introduction into this Colony of anything in the nature of a real municipality. At the same time, the local community looks with peculiar affection on the Sanitary Board as one of the few quasi-representative and democratic

institutions in Hong Kong.

One of the first results when

the fact became known that an organisation on a large scale was in contemplation, was an anxious enquiry from that body as to its own future. In this connection reference is invited to His Excellency's Confidential telegram No.175

14.5-32

of 29th April, 1932. At a conference convened by His Excellency to discuss the position of the Sanitary Board the conclusions embraced the following :-

"That bodies such as the Sanitary Board serve a

useful purpose in stimulating local interest,

in promoting self-help, and in acting as a

channel of communication between the public

and the authorities."

As the methods of the Sanitary Department which have been justified in practice in Hong Kong touch very closely on Chinese domestic life, it is particularly desirable that a vehicle should exist whereby those intimately concerned may express their views on such questions and guide the adminis- trative service. His Excellency therefore noted on 1st August, 1930, that of the two possible lines of reorganisation, to extend the powers of the so called Sanitary Department and make it more in the nature of a municipality, while still retaining it as a Government department with an advisory council, or to transfer much of the work now done by the