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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
matter of supreme regret that so much dissatisfaction should have been expressed regarding the way in which inoculations were done by Government during the epidemic. Amahs and boys who attended to be inoculated expressed their determination never to do so again. It would appear that the doctor in charge, hopelessly overworked, and finding it physically impossible to cope with the numbers who attended, had to perform the inoculations without using a freshly sterilised needle for each patient, and had to content himself with merely wiping the needle with a piece of cotton wool dipped in alcohol after each case. However little actual risk there might have been in such process, those who attended could not but feel a sense of repugnance in seeing the same needle being used on so many persons. I realize that it must have been difficult to arrange for more Government doctors to be available for conducting the public innoculations. And yet I feel that, with better organisation, the objection alluded to above could have been overcome. And, with all the diffidence and humility which an ignorant layman should feel, I do wonder whether it was really necessary to utilise the services of a medical officer to await the arrival of trains, in order to watch for cholera cases. Surely a doctor, by looking at a man, cannot say whether that person has incipient cholera in him!
In the Honourable the Colonial Secretary's speech dealing with the Head "Secretariat for Chinese Affairs", he referred to certain appointments as having been made "in accordance with the recommenda- tions of the Mui Tsai Commission and with resolutions adopted by the League of Nations Conference at Bandoeng in 1937." My Honourable friend the Senior Unofficial Member has already expressed our approval of these appointments. But I feel the Colony would welcome an announcement by Government as to its policy in regard to the Mui Tsai question, especially on the point whether Government has definitely accepted the Majority Report. Is Government aware that a petition has been sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in regard to extended registration of transferred females?
I now desire to take up a few moments of this Council's time on the Rents question in the Colony.
It is conceded that, on account of the trade depression of the past few years, rentals have fallen below the normal, and reasonable increases in rent may be justified in many cases. But to eject a tenant, in spite of his willingness to pay a reasonable increase in existing circumstances cannot, in my submission, be justified.
Whilst a substantial proportion of the landlords, or even an overwhelming majority of the landlords, may be scrupulously abstaining from exploiting the existing situation, there is no reason why any landlord should be permitted to profiteer at the unfortunate fellow-men.
expense of his
I therefore venture respectfully to submit the following proposal for consideration of Government:-
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