CO129-571-17 Hong Kong Eugenics League 14-4-1938 - 8-7-1938 — Page 2

CID E.

1. Sir J. Northcote

Desires observations on advertisement

14.4.38

2

x

p.62 on

1938 estimates.

From

Mr.McDougall.

It appears to me that the answer to this defends question beams very largely on the exact status of

the Health Centre concerned, and I fear that on

this point I have been unable to trace any precise

information. In the report of the Medical

Department, the Health Centre comes under the

Section headed "Government Infant Welfare Centres"

while in the estimates provision was made for 3

coolies and a boy under this Head, and it is possible

that an allowance was made to the Centre under

Head XXII Sub-Head 21 (Infant Welfare Centre).

?

At the same time it does not appear that the Centre

is a purely Government institution, but rather a

private one, which receives assistance from the

Government. I understand also that Government

doctors attend at the Centre.

If, therefore, it is an unofficial

organisation, it appears to me that it is no

concern of the Colonial Government whether or not

the Eugenics League advertise that advice is given

on birth control there or not. If, however, it is

considered that Government aid to the institution

involves them in some responsibility for its

advertisements, then I think that not only the

propriety of the advertisement but of the institution

being used at all by the Eugenics League would have

to be raised. It appears that in any case the

used

Centre is being) by the League, and my own feeling

is that the Government should raise no objection to

their advertisement, i.e., not even omitting the

last few words, as proposed by Sir G. Northcote.

It