CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 72

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47.

The attendance at Out-Patient Dispensaries and

Health Centres from the time of the re-occupation up to

the present totals 91,000 patients. Four Centres for maternal and child welfare have been established and medical facilities for the rural dispensaries have been provided

by Service personnel.

48.

The Administration has assumed full financial responsibility for the Tung Wah group of hospitals and for the Chinese Public Dispensaries. Both the Tung Wah and the Kwong Wah Hospitals are now working to capacity.

49.

The Bateriological Institute is intact and has sufficient equipment to carry out routine examinations for hospitals and clinics.

EDUCATION.

50.

The resumption of education in the Colony has been seriously impeded owing to the considerable damage suffered by the larger Government schools and the requisitioning by the Military authorities of such other schools as are habitable. School furniture and equipment is almost unobtainable but steps are being taken to meet these needs as early as possible from local resources.

51.

Of Government schools only one, a small district school in Wanchai, is habitable and available, and was re-opened on 12th October. Two other habitable Govern- ment schools have been requisitioned by the military authorities and their return is being pressed for. The remainder of Government schools are either completely destroyed or seriously looted.

52.

Private school premises have been requisitioned to take the place of the Government schools and four of these are now open in Hong Kong and two in Kowloon, with a total enrolment of 1,200.

53.

Of the 1941 total of 18 grant-in-aid schools, 12 have already re-opened with a total enrolment of 6,000. Buildings and equipment are for the most part intact since they were in continuous occupation during the period of Japanese control.

54.

Of the private schools, six subsidized schools and 63 others which receive no subsidies have re-opened with a total enrolment of over 6,000.

55.

The total number of children attending schools in Hong Kong at the present time is 13,000 and some 60% of the pre-war total of masters and 50% of mistresses have reported for duty up to the present.

56.

In addition 750 students are attending Government's English Classes.

57.

The derequisitioning of school buildings at present occupied by the Services presents an outstanding problem. No fewer than eight of the finest schools in the Colony are at present occupied by one or the other of the three Services.