Colonies and if their certificate is to continue to be the stamp of adequate train- ing the Institute should bring it more up to modern requirements for the Colonies. Other Colonies have established Schools of Hygiene and, no doubt, here also the Sanitary Inspector's course will eventually be merged into the set-up of an integrated School of Hygiene, which could afford the fullest facilities for the best possible training. An incidental advantage resulting from this would be a
oser joining up between the University and Government medical staff.
13.
RECRUITMENT OF MEDICAL STAFF
In the past Hong Kong United Kingdom recruited staff have suffered from isolation. Medical Officers complain with truth that their senior posts are largely filled from outside the Colony, and that staff origimlly appointed to Hong Kong rarely have a chance of promotion or transfer to another territory, Thus a policy of stagnation occurs, which is good for no one; many of the present staff in Hong Kong have spent all their service in this Colony. This has been due largely to two factors, one being that in the past transfer of individuals on the time scale was less thought of than it is at present and, secondly, that even now transfer on the time scale is unusual. Thus there is limited opportunity for trying out potential candidates for higher posts, and their particular bent and abilities remain obscured. The longer they remain with the Colony the more difficult it becomes to transfer them elsewhere.
It might avoid stagnation in the Far East if a more freedom of transfer on the time scale were made possible by recognizing Far Eastern territories, including British North Borneo and Sarawak, not as a number of entities but as one group for this purpose.
Without prejudice to wider transfers of staff or actual promotions, this would help not only to remove a real grievance but would provide also a means for the better observation of the capabilities of Medical staff, as well as pre- scrving keenness and initiative. I suggest that in the case of United Kingdom recruitment of both doctors and nurses, the F.E. Group should be reckoned as one territory for the purpose of routine relief and transfers.
For locally engaged staff the Colony would, as in the past, depend for doctors mainly on graduates of the Hong Kong University. Very few Chinese licentiates from the Singapore College of Medicine come to Hong Kong to practice; usually it is the other way about, and many Singapore Chinese come from Malaya to qualify at Hong Kong.
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As local candidates become available and get qualified it is assumed that an increase in the number of posts available to them will be made and that a proportion of these posts will be of the same status as that normally filled by the United Kingdom recruited officer, At present there is a fair ratio of such appointments both for doctors and nurses, but a scheme should be published so as to let staff know. in advance what are their prospects. This would apply not only to Medical Officers but to nursing staff who should have similar scope for advancement. In a small territory such as Hong Kong it would be desirable to recruit doctors who would be capable of undertaking teaching at the University in an emergency or on relief.
Medical aids or dressers are essential and are carrying out a useful function. They, too, should be on an adequate scheme parallel with the nursing scheme, with an addition for any special qualification in dispensing. A number of these posts by grade should be based on an estimate of the numbers in relation to patient beds, and the requirements of clinics and dispensaries.
14.
REGISTRATION AND CENSUS RECORDS
These records are compiled on the usual lines prevailing in the Colonies. It is opportune that medical records, including registration of births and deaths, were brought up-to-date so that the fullest information will be afforded, and comparison with analagous records in other countries may be practicable. It is recommended that some officer who is an acknowledged authority on vital statistics should visit the Colony and advise on this question.
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