17.
CONCLUSION
The period of my visit was all too short in which adequately to carry out the wide investigation required under the Secretary of State's terms of reference, and there are necessarily many omissions from this report. But the main Public Heal problems emerge. Many have long existed and remedies have no doubt been suggested before now. The constantly changing situation has almost made some of the references in the report out of date before it was completed, while the lack of factual. documents has been some handicap.
The situation in Hong Kong in regard to Public Health problems has always been complex and war impacts have created additional difficulties. There is no one solution for these problems because public health is bound up with social welfare generally and social welfare with economic stability.
I have merely touched on many of the factors affecting health control in the Colony. The special liability of Hong Kong to the occurrence of epidemic disease, the need for some satisfactory solution of the question of aligning immigration to the capacity of the Colony, the distribution of labour and industry, the siting of Service Departments with their accommodation, the elimination of slums, the pro- vision of adequate housing for an estimated coolie population, the financing of schemes for social welfare and the future of Higher Education in the Colony;' these are some of the particular questions that have to be faced and answered before any real solution can be in sight. Bound up with all this is the place the Colony is going to occupy in the new world orientation in the Far East, in the face of per- sistent American penetration.
..
While adopting certain safeguards, it is inevitable that we continue to make Hong Kong attractive to the Chinese and we must accept this fact and accept it because it spells prosperity for the Colony and, as well, as maintaining the. prestige of our administration and culture.
The war has, without doubt, complicated the position but at the same time the end of the war means the beginning of a phase which affords the opportunity to plan on even better and healthier lines than before, and on a broader basis.
18.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am much indebted to all the Civil Affairs Administration officers and many others who have spared time from their pressing duties to supply me with information and demonstrate their problems. I am particularly indebted to the D.D. M.Ş. (Col. Fehily) and the A.D.M.S. (Lt. Col. Gordon King) for much assistance and kindness. I am full of admiration at the way in which Civil Affairs Administration under Brigadier MacDougall are dealing with their immense problem. of rehabilitation in the face of many handicaps. The progress that has been achieved in three months is its own testimony to the effectiveness of their work.
.4
Hong Kong,
16th December, 1945.
D 42878-1 14 D/a 11 1/46
24
A. G. H. SMART
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