16. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
-
cont'd.
13. Registration and Census Records.
It is
opportune that medical records should be brought up-to-date and it is recommended that some officer who is an acknow- ledged authority should visit the Colony and advise on this question.
As the capacity of the Colony to receive immigrants is not unlimited it is suggested that some means be devised to estirate the figures of the population in the Colony and of persons entering to reside in it.
14. Policy in regard to Immigration. The peculiar position of Hong Kong in regard to immigrants has already been referred to several times. It is pointed out that Victoria is already overcrowded and there is a limit to the capacity of the Colony to absorb immigrants. It is recommended earlier that research be made into the trend of immigration and that the question of housing for the industrial worker should receive urgent consideration.
the
This research should include an analysis of the influences affecting immigration and the likely trend of this in years to come. Hong Kong is very attractive to the Chinese worker and the more attractive it becomes, greater will be the flow of immigration. On Public Healthgrounds, this flow must be bounded by the limits of housing capacity. The policy of permitting free immigration is unalterable. Therefore housing accommoda- tion will have to be provided on the basis of an estimated population, and an attempt made to assess the trend of immigration within a given period of years. Sites for building will have to be made available. The probability is that there will be constant fluctuations within limits but that it will be possible to fix a mean figure that can be accepted as an index to a building programme.
15. Relief and Social Welfare. A note on relief measures instituted after re-entry, and still in force, is given. The present position in regard to former internees is also indicated. Emergency relief will decrease pro- gressively with improvement in employment and social conditions. It is suggested that the Hong Kong Social Welfare Council continue to integrate Social Welfare activities but with wider scope. The Council should have a closer liaison with representatives of Government Departments interested and, at a higher level still, there should be a senior Government officer responsible for Social Welfare Services as a whole. It is understood that a suitable appointment to this latter post is being made.
16. Liaison with the Services. Liaison between the Medical Civil Affairs Administration and the corresponding Service Authorities through an Emergency Vedical Board has been admirable. This is a good augury for the future when this liaison should be fixed on a permanent basis. In the past there has been a Medical Board to coordinate medical activities. A similar Board should be re-constituted, when Military Administration ends, with representation from all the executive Departments concerned.
HJ875-1
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