5
- 3-
1940, a high cost of living allowance of $2 for workers drawing up to $35 per month. Several reputable commercial firms took
the same course.
6.
Hospital accommodation.
Mention has been made already of the over-crowding in hospitals, more particularly in the Chinese group of hospitals which now operate under a joint committee of which the Director of Medical Services is Chairman.
A small relief hospital of one hundred beds was established on the Island after extensive repairs had been effected to some buildings which had been scheduled for demolition.
A second group of buildings which had formerly been occupied by the staff of the old Government Civil Hospital were also renovated and provided accommodation for an additional 107 female mental patients. (The custom of sending Chinese nationals to the Fong Chuen Insane Asylum in Canton was stopped by the Japanese Military Authorities in occupation of Canton).
A very old and dilapidated building was also completely renovated and provided satisfactory transient accommodation for leper patients, most of whom came over the frontier and could no longer be maintained at Government expense in the settlements in Chinese territory owing to Japanese prohibition. The sites for much needed infectious diseases and general hospitals were prepared on the mainland in the Kowloon Medical Centre, but Government was not able to find funds to make a start on the actual buildings.
7. Civilian Medical Defence.
Preparations for taking over and equipping hotels, schools, private houses and the like to serve as auxiliary casualty clearing and relief hospitals, first aid posts, medical stores, etc., and the recruiting of doctors, nurses, stretcher bearers. ambulance and transport personnel were pressed forward by the Director of Medical Services assisted by à special sub- committee of the Local Defence Committee. Several practices were held including the use of the University of Hong Kong as a relief hospital and the large Central British School on the mainland -now empty owing to the evacuation of European children - as a casualty clearing hospital.
8.
8.
Reorganization of Health Division.
The reorganization of the Health Division of the Medical Department, the scheme for which was originally submitted to my predecessor by the Director of Medical Services in 1938, became effective in 1940. This reorganization (which was the result of the close cooperation between the respective heads of the Medical Department and Urban Council assisted by the Deputy Director of Health Services who is Vice-Chairman of the Urban Council) has made for much more effective and smooth-running prosecution of the campaign into the investigation and prevention of disease. For the first time, the Health Officers now have Health Inspectors and other health personnel directly under their control. The consequences should be considerable in course of time.
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