CO129-618-4 University of Hong Kong- conversion of Tung Wah Eastern Hospital into a teaching hospital 17-2-1949 - 27-9-1949 — Page 19

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such a programme of research in Marine Biology as is suggested in the later paragraphs. The Committee also propose the institution of a Department of Biochemistry.

47. In the Faculty of Arts we have advocated a greater establishment ing certain subjects in which the University of Hong Kong can make special con- tributions towards a fuller mutual understanding of Chinese and Western civilizations. It is more difficult in the Faculty of Science to find subjects peculiarly suited to the regional setting of the University that can be developed at moderate cost. The most appropriate, it appears to us, is Marine Biology for which Hong Kong is specially well suited by its geographical position and environment. This has already been recognised through a Colonial Office grant for the building of a Fisheries Research Institute on the South side of the Island, to be directed jointly by the Government and the University. But for the' war, the Institute's laboratories and museums would by now be in use.

A research staff in 1940 and 1941 had already done good work and had established friendly relations with similar institutions which will shortly be revived at Amoy and on the China coast elsewhere. While the possibilities of original work in Botany and in other branches of Zoology are limited, there is hope in the work of this Institute for real contributions to knowledge as well as for practical assistance for the very important but undeveloped fishing industry. It is likely to play no small part in replacing the Japanese by a Chinese deep-sea trawling industry in these waters. The scheme of the Research Institute makes provision for fellowships which it is hoped here- after to increase in numbers, and for vacation courses for Chinese scientific workers.

48. Hitherto bio-chemistry has been a minor subject in the Department of Physiology and has been no more than an ancillary subject in medical studies. Modern developments in the science demand that a separate Depart- ment for this subject should be provided in any university that possesses a Faculty of Medicine.

49. The staff of the Faculty should include:

Professors Readers

Lecturers

Part-time Demon- Lecturers strators

2212

3 OF 4

3 or 4

2

3

Physics

I

I

Chemistry

T

I

Zoology and Botany Biochemistry.

I

I

I

4

3

7

2

9 or II

FACULTY OF MEDICINE.

50. The College of Medicine existed, as a chartered institution, prior to the establishment of the University. It has established a high reputation, and rising standards of education have been maintained throughout its history. Its graduates are in general and specialist practice in Hong Kong, China, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. Its qualification is recognised by the General Medical Council as entitling to registration in Great Britain.

51. In the past the curriculum has conformed very largely to that found in medical schools in the British Isles. With the increased emphasis placed in recent times on prevention of disease, we feel that some modification should

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be made in the curriculum of the Hong Kong Medical School.

In the past

it has had whole-time pre-medical and pre-clinical professors and lecturers, but it has been a recognised practice for the professors and lecturers in clinical subjects to act as government consultants. The Professor of Pathology, also, has had duties in connection with the Queen Mary (Govern- ment) Hospital, which is the chief teaching hospital for University students. In order to achieve a close integration of teaching and practice in public health, it was arranged shortly before the war for the Deputy Director of the Medical Services of the Hong Kong Government to be ex-officio the Professor of Public Health in the University. We recommend the con- tinuance of the arrangement for the clinical and pathological posts, but the teaching of preventive medicine has now become so important a part of the medical curriculum, embracing as it does teaching in social medicine and public health, that we recommend the formation of a University Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, under a full-time Head, who would be a professor, in the University. This Department should be expanded as soon as possible to include a post-graduate course for a diploma in Social Medicine and Public Health, corresponding to the Diploma in Public Health course in Great Britain.

It would then require two sub-sections:—one for epidemiology and one for the practical application of the results of nutritional studies.

52. We are fully aware of the difficulties which may arise in the appoint- ment of professors and lecturers who at the same time hold posts in govern- ment or other teaching hospitals and we suggest, for the consideration of the University, possibility of the establishment of a joint Appointments Board to overcome these difficulties.

53. It is now generally recognised that, in order to maintain freshness of outlook and competence in teaching, it is essential that the staff in the medical school should have adequate opportunities to undertake research, either individually or as part of a team. We recommend that the University should encourage, by the careful selection of its professors, the establishment in all departments in the Medical School of a reputation for original research work. A reputation of this type would make the recruitment of first-class staff easier.

54. One of the weaknesses in the medical school in the past has been that the teaching of physiological chemistry in the Department of Physiology has not been as extensive as is now necessary with the great developments in bio-chemistry. This should be remedied by the establishment of a separate Department of Bio-Chemistry in the Faculty of Science which would release the staff of the Physiological Department for teaching and research in experimental physiology.

55. A scientific study of pharmacology would place it manifestly among the major subjects and would be a matter requiring the establishment of a separate department under its own professor. With the great developments in the treatment of disease by synthetic preparations, the necessity for the study of the pharmacological action of drugs is very great, if treatment of disease is to be on a logical instead of an empirical basis. While we have not included a professor in this subject amongst the staff proposed, we feel that the minimum necessity is a full-time lecturer in the subject and recom- mend, for the consideration of the University, the early establishment of a Department of Pharmacology, in which research as well as teaching can. be undertaken.

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