CO129-583-1 Dr. Irma Frommer- appointment as temporary lady medical officer 27-5-1940 - 1-8-1940 — Page 3

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was debily.

This must be the "Jewish emigre" referred to in a letter dated 31.5.40. addressed to Sir Wilson Jameson from Mrs. Fehily, which I have enclosed in her P.

I saw Mrs. Fehily when she was home recently and she did not give me to understand that she had any really serious complaint against the D.M.S., and in fact she told me how the staff held him in respect. In any case, she would be Now unwilling to work under Dr. Selwyn-Clarke under any circumstances.

As Mr. Bickle says Mrs. Fehily was a Russian (on both sides), so that we need hardly take exception to the Hungarian origin of Dr. Frommer so long as she is qualified to practise Hong Kong.

The D.M. S. is satisfied that she is competent to carry out the duties required of her. But they propose to pay her a very low rate of salary and I do not know that this is altogether satisfactory But I suppose we had better agree? and as well to the creation of an additional appointment of a Chinese woman medical officer.

With regard to the letter enclosed in Mrs. Fehily's file this does not seem to call for any definite answer, and now that she is back in Hong Kong she can take the matter up locally if she so desires. But Sir W. Jameson would wish later on to acknowledge her article on infantile beri-beri in Hong Kong.

cant

23.7.40.

If this is the same lady who is referred to in Mrs. Fehily's letter she has apparently already taken up her duties, and presumably has accepted the rate of pay referred to in the despatch. But if we agree to the Governor's recommendation con- cerning her, could we not at the same time write s.o. and point out that the salary offered is exceptionally low and does not seem to be commen- surate with the qualifications of anyone competent to carry out the duties of a Lady Medical Officer, and suggest that they might take an early opportunity of increasing her salary to a rate more appropriate to her duties and qualifications?

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