Much more use should be made of the New Territories, in the years to come. The scenery there is magnificent. There is a large area under padi and other cultivation in the wide valleys. The value of these territories should be great in providing a recreational outlet for city-ridden folk. Hong Kong has its own pleasure resorts and so has Kowloon, but they have nothing to equal the mountain scenery in the New Territories. In past times it has been the custom for certain classes to live on the Island, to a considerable extent on the Peak but, with relatively cheap air-conditioning of buildings, it is no longer necessary to climb up hills to get coolness. The Peak has not a good réputation because of the seasonal low clouds and mist that are prevalent, and it seems unlikely that it will be pa
tronized in the future to quite the same extent as it has been in the past. No doubt, too, social divisions generally will be broken down a good deal under post-war reorientation, The policy in this case would be broadly for the urban area, with established industries, to expand on the Island, leaving Kowloon and the New Territories to provide residential sites and further areas for industrial development.
The existing course for the medical degroo, as well as that for the Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene should be retained. It is eminently suitable that the Hong Kong University should furnish a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, because it was here that Patrick Manson, the father of tropical medicine, made his classic studies on filaria and other tropical diseases. The first course for the Diploma had only been started when the invasion took place and no one has yet acquired it. Teaching and material for the course are adequate and teaching will be improved later if further interchange with other University teaching staff is secured. The question of a Diploma in Public Health should be one for consideration. Concentration should be meantime on the two existing medical courses.
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In addition, there should be established a Dental School of moderate capacity. Dentistry has not been sufficiently encouraged by the Government in the past and there is great scope for a dental service amongst the large school child population. A Dental School was well established at the Singapore College of Medicine some years before the outbreak of war and its output of graduates was of increasing benefit to the Colony and the Malay Stutes. I have already suggested the appoint- ment of a Dental Surgeon fully qualified to organize a School dental service. He might also be lecturer on dental surgery at the University and, with the assis- tance he would require, could organize a teaching course for local dental students.
With regard to recruitment of teaching staff, while it would be desirable to approach the United Kingdom authorities about possibilities of exchange or loan of staff, especially for pre-clinical teaching, a permanent staff will always be necessary. Recruitment of teaching staff should be thrown much more open, and any persons with the requisite teaching experience and ability, including Government staff both in Hong Kong and Malaya, should have the chance of being considered for these posts.
This should apply equally in the reverse direction. In addition, there should be frequent exchange of staff between the University and Chinese Universities, and the College of Medicine at Singapore, and indeed, with the staff of any other Colonial Medical Teaching schools.
Reciprocity of titles is confined at present to the M.B., B.S. (Hong Kong); holders of this title are included in the Colonial List of the British Medical Register. It will be a matter for consideration whether the Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene can be given a corresponding status to that of similar diplomas granted at other British teaching schools.
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Training of Nurses and Midwives. Training of both these groups in Hong Kong is on an up-to-date basis and the course for nurses with its qualifications, is recognized by the Councils in the United Kingdom for registration there. Similarly, the training of midwives is up-to-date. The course of study for locally appointed nurses is indicated in the Wellington Review on pages 33 and 34. The training of both these groups should now be brought into line with any recom- mendations made by the Rushcliffe Committee which considered appropriate training of nurses and midwives for the Colonies.
Training of Sanitary Inspectors is carried out Departmentally and eventually they secure the Certificate of the Royal Sanitary Institute, I am not satisfied however that the latter is sufficiently knowledgable about requirements of teaching for the Colonies. They rarely have any personal contact with conditions in the
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