1938-10-14 — Page 10

PAGE 4-HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1938.

MEASURES FOR PREVENTION OF DISEASES

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forests and at the same time of tightening up conservation me- thods especially in respect of tim-| ber stealing. I understand that i there has already been a notable decrease in this kind of larceny.

ac-

of erection, and will hold some Three camps are now in course 5,000 persons

(2) that competent authorities can safely be left to the future:

be set up for that purpose: it is quite obvious that such generally known that some months Hospitalization. It is, I belleve, (3) that expert advice be sought schemes as may be approved after ago I appointed a committee to

when these preliminary in-the facts have been vestigations have been made, can only be put into execution ontlon system of this Colony with -e- ascertained report on the whole hospitaliza- before remedial expenditure a plan which will extend over a commendations for its improve- The Superintendent of the Bo- is begun on a large scale. tanical and Forestry Department

long period of years; it is also ap-ment. I understand that it is The paragraph which deals with parent that it will be costly though making very thorough and wide has been instructed to report on the requisite surveys is so cogent not necessarily non-zemunerative investigations into its subject. the possibilities of agricultural de-and compréhensive that I quote it in the long run: further considera- velopment of the New Territories here. including the larger islands. An

tlon at the present time of how statement having been made in Refugees and destitutes-A full "Before the actual clearance of the initial costs are to be covered this Council recently of the inten agricultural reconnaissance of Lan alums can be undertaken, it will be would be futile.". Tau will be undertaken shortly necessary to prepare a survey of

tions of Government and if the results are sufficiently local industry and housing, each in Secretary of State for the Colonies population during the winter it is for the My recommendations to the housing at the Colony's surplus promising it will be followed up by relation to the other: to prepare will be on these lines, unless in the unnecessary to dwell on the sub- an agricultural survey. Admitted-a survey of existing buildings, par meantime I am persuaded to the Ject on this occasion. ly, it would. Initially, be rather ticularly houses, in order to and contrary. The whole, subject is ot expensive to make a small-settle-the number and attuation of those arst rate importance and I do not ment scheme attractive to the pea- which do not conform to sant farmer type but I believe that ceptable standards; to prepare upon it: I shall, therefore, not sub- wish to stampede pubite opinion It might prove remunerative in the new plan as a guide to redevelop mit any such recommendations until long run. In this connection it is ments: and to prepare legislation the members of this Council have the camps occupied to the full The capital cost entailed is noteworthy that of the 240 tons of and devise machinery necessary to had time to form and express theit

$545.000 maintenance. costs with fresh vegetables consumed daily in give effect to town planning and own views. On the other hand, Hongkong a little over 30 tons are housing schemes, This prepara- the matter is not one which per-

is put at approximately $1,000 per grown in the Colony, the remain-tory work and eventual construcmits of indefinite postponement:

diem der coming from Kwangtung tional work will take many years hope, therefore, that critics of Province and elsewhere. The and some form of permanent au- figures for fresh meat are equally thority will be necessary to or- tions will deliver themselves with tee appointed to advise upon the

the report and my expressed inten.

Teacher-Training-The commit- striking. Obviously It is undesir-ganize, carry out and control such able that the Colony should be so an undertaking.”

ng long delay.

training of teachers has produced greatly dependent on external To cope with those surveys "and

a very useful report. sources for such essential commo-the measures to be taken in the

I have not PREVENTION OF DISEASES been able to discuss it as yet with dities, Ir such #

scherne also light of the information derived major issues relative to nutrition say on the subject to-day must be Intimately connected with the the Executive Council, so what I succeeded in relieving Victoria and from them the Commission's coun- and housing two other activities regarded as my personal view. Kowloon of some of their unwant-sel is that ed squatters and unemployed the mittee be appointed to advise Gov: if a high standard of public health mittee's advice should be unple- a consultative com- need to be constant and ubiquitous That view is, briefly, that the com- Colony would be benefitted in ย ernment on

4

second direction.

THE SOCIAL SERVICES

I

42

EDUCATION

town planning and is to be attained and maintained; mented as soon as is practicable,

human ill-being, malnutrition TOWN PLANNING -AUTHORITY

!

housing matters and that a per- these are infant welfare and anti. Not all their recommendations are inanent sub-department of the Public Works Department be, an to the root of the matter, viz., the indeed it is clear that some of

epidemical work. The former goes capable of immediate fulfiment::. Living conditions in Hongkong pointed to carry out the actual physical well-being of a human them were put forward as schemes The two principal causes surveys

of

community is in direct ratio to the tion as circumstances allow all Intended for gradual implementa- education in health subjects which of them, however, appear to me to and lum housing conditions, I have not yet had time to ob receives. The injury suffered be acceptable on that understand- dominate, I regret to say, the lives tain the advice of my Executive here and elsewhere by young of very large majority of Hong- Counell on this very important children through the ignorance of ing. kong's population. My predeces-matter: the views I now express, well-intentioned mothers is sp should initiate action upon the re- I consider that Government sors set on foot two lines of inquiry therefore, must be looked upon as palling. I am aware that much which aimed at combatting these my own. Personally I am of the excellent work is being done by the commendations of the report as two, enemies of human health. opinion that it would be better to charitably-inclined and by Govern

follows: Nutrition-The Nutrition Re-set up at once & Town Planning ment to this end; but the position search Committee appointed by Authority, containing technically will not be satisfactory till a net-post-graduate course which is ad- (1) Post-graduate teachers--The Government in 1937 has presented equipped members, whose functions work of adequate welfare-centres vised for Anglo-Chinese school an interim report. The com would be to make these investiga- covers the whole Colony. I hope to teachers would be held at the mittee's main function was foster research into local nutri- for

totions and, subsequently, to submit see a big extension of this bene-Hongkong University and therefore tional problems,, and through its programmes

Government's consideration ficent activity during the next few presents no immediate problem. own efforts as well as through glum clearance and housing, which,

of town planniz. years.

The average number in the class existing social welfare organiza- when approved, the

Epidemiological work here ia on six with and six without scholar

probably would be about, twelve, tions to make available to the would carry out. In order to en-serious objection on the part of at any rate, its cost would be un- Authority the increase and, happily without ships, and, for the first year or two people of Hongkong the advanture liaison between the ages of "the modern knowledge of Council and

Urban those subjected to its discipline.likely largely to exceed that of the nutrition,

the Town Planning During the first six months of this existing system, The Committee made two re-chairman of the Urban Council vaccinated against small-pox under and Vernacular School Teachers. Authority I consider that the year over 820,000 persons were commendations its interim should preside over the Authority. the powers recently conferred upon (a) The nursing sisters quarters (2) -Non-graduate Anglo-Chinese report, (1), the creation of a whole hope that voluntary heipers will the Medical Department, very little belonging to the old Govern- time Nutritional Research student he forthcoming for the conduct of difficulty being encountered by the ment Civil Hospital are being ship, and (2), the enlargement of the social surveys which are neces-operators. The incursion of cholers examined with a view to convert- the Committee with a view to sary for this purpose: these will this year folloing on the serious ing them into hostel accommoda- increased activities on its part.provide a The former of these, although it students" would find plenty of measures were necessary to com for the students taking the

field" where University epidemic of 1937 proved that strong tion and lecture and other rooms has my full approval in principlé, scope and I trust that it would ap-bat it. Quarantine was declared two-year courses. If that proves has not been carried into effect in peal especially to them,

the draft estimates a3 I am

advised that it is doubtful whether

a suitable officer will be available

NO ESCAPE FROM EVILS"

4.

two

against the-infected parts in South to be impracticable. It would be China and was accepted by the necessary to make some temporary

A fundamental issue is raised by Authorities there in a spirit of loyal arrangement and to give further in the near future: the latter has the Commission's obesrvation that co-operation which this Govern consideration to the whole question been carried out and the re- there is no escape from the socialment appreciates highly. inforced committee is continuing evils resulting from excessive pogu. ita functions.

lation-excessive, that is, relatively

SALE OF FOOD

of housing the Training Institute.

(b) The teacher-training - staff should be drawn as far as is pos-

On the other hand, it will be

Housing. The actual report of to the number of people who could

Two useful measures aimed at sible from the staff of the Educa- the Housing Commission, which subsist themselves property upon the prevention of diseases were tion Department, they being re- will shortly be in the hands of the wage-fund available in Hong-passed by the Urban Council re- placed by the engagement of members, is short but pregnant kang-in the words of the com-cently. One made compulsory the University graduates as masters on and there is appended to it a mission "so long as an enormous pasteurisation of all milk sold to the department's stad,* thoughtful and informative study reservoir of population exists at the public: this will come into of the principal features of Hong- our door, unless it is a remedy effect on January 1 next. The advisable to proceed tentatively kcag's problems of this nature, which presents very serious dif- other controlled the manufacture with whatever scheme is ultimate- made in the light of the past ex-culties, namely restriction of im- and sale of reconstituted milk and ly approved and it is not possible. perience of other countries. The migration Buch a polley of res- cream. The problem of how to therefore, to make any firm report brings out the essential in-triction would, I agree, be a mo- deal with food-hawking, licensed estimate of expenditure: but the terdependence between stum clear-mentous innovation as far as and otherwise, is still to be solved following gives a reasonable fore- ance, hygienic housing of the Hongkong's history goes though it It is closely bound up with the very cast of what the recurrent cost to Doorer classes and town planning is commonplace in other parts of difficult problem of excessive popu the taxpayer would be if action and, wisely, it makes no pretence the world: nevertheless I hold that lation to which I have already were to be taken in accordance of being final: Its main recommen- it is our duty to face facts and to alluded and may have to wait for with my ideas on the subject,

dations, trieny summarised are

do right accordingly.

(1) That surveys of many differ-

ant kinds should be put in hand at once. In order to

* TOWN PLANNING, FINANCE,

How the reform

solution until peace returns to formed as they are, in consultation China But the fact must not be with the Vice-Chancellor of the forgotten that the practice of food-University and the Acting Director Establish the facts of the and town planning is to be and is a sign of backward admin. The assumptions on which the

of housing hawking endangers public health of Education.

inanced

#matter which istration.

Icaleniation is based are that---

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