3.
housing schemes, one either side of the harbour, would perhaps serve as a useful experiment.
In answer to a question from the chair as to whether any enquiries had been made, the Honourable D. M. S. said that he believed that an application was made last year for a sum of something like £100,000 which had not borne fruit. Since then certain people in close contact with the Lord Mayor had visited Hong Kong including Lady Cripps and Sir Leslie Boyce, and he wondered whether, in view of the fact that he would be in London shortly, he could make enquiries on behalf of the Committee.
The Chairman in putting this to the meeting said that much money would be required as there is so much to be done, and he welcomed the D.M.S.'s proposal which was unanimously accepted by the meeting. It was agreed that a letter should be given to the D.M.S. asking him to make enquiries on behalf of the Committec.
The Chairman asked the Honourable D. M. S. whether he oould give his opinion on the desirability of a separate infeo- tious diseases hospital rather than wards in general hospitals set apart for cases of infectious diseases. In his reply the Honourable D. M. S. said that the main body of opinion was that a separate hospital with a separate staff was preferable and for that reason the original committee in 1938 recommended a new hos- pital in the Kowloon Medical centre, an area of very considerable extent. He said that there were two opinions on this matter and that he had seen hospitals in other parts of the world where infectious diseases wards were part of a general hospital for example, in Chicago where such is combined with a maternity hos- pital, but the bulk of his committee favoured separation. He added that provision is made in general hospitals for cases of infectious diseases which would require isolation as it might happen that a case of appendicitis might be suffering at the same time from small pox.
B
The Director of Education raised the question in connection with the size of "units" for the purpose of educational facilities, and mentioned that from his point of view a number of 500 children made a convenient unit. The Honourable D. M. S. replied that this particular detail had not been discussed but it would be governed by the size of site. He emphasised that one of the advantages of these units was that they provided internal and safe recreational facilities.
The Honourable D. M. S. raised the question of the Pathological Institute and Animal Houses and said that apart from the fact that the present building had been condemned six years ago, having been built in 1905 when the population was about one- fifth of what it is now, it had been very adversely criticised by some recent distinguished visitors including Dr. Kauntze, Chief Medical Adviser to the Secretary of State, and Dr. Lucius Nicholls, Nutrition Adviser to Lord Killearn. He asked whether it might be possible to finance a new building in part from the central fund set aside for Research. In his reply the Chairman said that a grant from the Research fund would be possible for such proportion of the building and its equipment that dealt with Research. It would be for the Honourable D. M. S.'s successor to suggest that proportion for which a grant from this Central Fund could be applied.
The Chairman suggested that the Honourable D. M. S. on his visit to London should make contact with Mr. Caine and tell him what we were doing as he felt that a personal visit was so much better than a written report. This was approved by the Committee.
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