CO129-594-8 A G H Sment- report on medical activities and problems 16-12-1945 - 18-2-1946 — Page 28

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rather expensive. practically absent. pocket.

Cotton, seed oil has been used a good deal but coconut oil is Pork is available but is still well above the poor man's

When the

There is no Director of Agriculture in Hong Kong and, of course, little ultivation is practised on the Island. Of the mainland there are wide valleys

voted to agriculture. Two crops of padi are raised annually on this long- suffering soil and often ground crops are planted in between the seasons. padi is reaped and the ground lies fallow and ready for ploughing, armies of duck are marched over the fields. Each battalion has its human custodian, who collects his charges at night and surrounds them with a portable, fence carried with him,. together with his own camp gear. The birds cover a few miles cach day picking up the garnering of the fields, at the same time depositing in kind a contribution to future growth. Ultimately they arrive at the market of Kowloon City, having grown from skinny fledglings to succulent birds ready for the table.

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The Chinese follow their age-long cultivation and certainly lose nothing that art or nature can afford. Maybe some of their practices are outworn or unwise and perhaps growth and production can be even better combined with animal husbandry. am no authority on these matters but I cannot help feeling that here there is scope for rendering assistance, which would not only increase and help to coment goodwill, but also secure greater benefits to the people from the resources available. Whether there is a whole-time job for an Agricultural Director I do not know but there seems to be a case for sending someone qualified in these matters to size up the whole situation.

8. PROPAGANDA

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Much first class propaganda has been done in Hong Kong in the past, although this has largely depended on individual effort and has not been centrally integrated. Locally produced posters are first class and some excellent broadcasting material and films have been provided. The Colony is in need of propaganda concerning the social causes of disease and, to secure the best results, its production should be fully organized under an officer with experience of this class of work. These results can only be achieved by dealing with matters on a systematic basis and by viewing public health questions as one aspect of social welfare problems as a whole. The Chinese are particularly susceptible to appropriate and well-directed propaganda and there is a wide field of opportunity in Hong Kong. Much could be done to relieve the burden of ever pressing disease and other social problems by wise and appropoiate education through all the gencies available. Indeed, I know of nó Colony where propaganda could have greater scope, and the ground has already been well prepared.

An officer with the necessary experience should be appointed for this work as a whole-time job. I have had a talk with Commander A. Pollock, at present acting as Public Relations Officer in the Civil Administration, and it is well worth while considering whether he would be suitable for this work after his present duties terminate. His background, which includes local experience and the managing of an advertising agency, as well as his personality, make him suitable for such a post provided he wished to take it; and I am sure such an appointment would have general

local approval.

9. RESEARCH

A good deal of first class medical research has been done in Hong Kong, especially in recent years. There has been the Nutrition Research Committee a combination of Government and University workers. They have published a preliminary report on Nutrition Oedema and made a nutritional survey. Professors Gordon King and Ride have also just published a valuable paper on Pregnancy Toxaemia and Bl deficiency, while Dr. (Mrs.) Fehily has published two recent papers of considerable importance internationally on Infantile Bori-beri. This research should continue and be encouraged in every way possible.

The best way to do this would for the Colony to adopt the ideas embodied in the Secretary of State's Scheme for Colonial Medical Research of which no one here has seen a copy. Research should be a normal function of the teaching staff of the University. Here we have qualified staff with keenness and a scientific outlook and thero is a wide field of problems to furnish material. What is wanted now is the machinery to provide all those facilities essential to the fullest fruition of re- scarch activities undertaken either in or on behalf of the Colony, much of which would have wider significance and application.

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