1938-11-25 — Page 17

Problems Of Health

OF DEPARTMENTS ADVOCATED BY DIRECTOR

RECONSTRUCTION

The report on the Medical Department for 1037, by the Hon. Dr. P. 8. Selwyn-Clarke, is the most scarching document yet issued on the social and health services of the Colony. Extracts bearing on these subjects aro published below.

The influences of the Sino-Japanese war on the Colony aro dealt with in relation to epidemics and vital statistics,

Schools are criticised for not coming up to hygienic standard, and the ineffective operation of the Urban Council on its present status is also mentioned.

The 'report, which was laid on the, though an approximate estimate of table, at the Legislative Council yes- 260,000-300,000 has been furnished. Based upon the arithmetical increase two terday, states, In part:

in population between the

population

at uld-year Census periods of 1021 and 1931, the of whom estimated

to 1,000,002, 1937 amounted to nearly ninety-eight per centum were Chinese. No account is taken in this estimate of the numbers of refugees now resident in these territories.

Revenue earned by all divisions of the Medical Department during 1837 amounted to $455,232.42 as compared with $338,806.00 in 1938. The total ordinary (recurrent) expenditure was $1,060,011.97, the corresponding ex- penditure for 1930 being $1,574.761.55. Special expenditure amounted to $151,225.47 and $9,505.00 in 1937 and

THE HONGKONG

FORGED BANKNOTES Police Tell of Trap Which Led to Arrest

TELEGRAPH,

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1938.

Hongkong in Darkness

Committal proceedings against Hui TWO-HOUR BLACK-OUT ACCOMPANIES

Chi-ghan, 48, rice broker, on charges

of uttering two forged $50 banknotes of the Chartered Bank, and being In possession of six forged $30 Char- tered Bank notes, were begin before Mr. Q. A. A. Macfadyen at the Kow- loon Magistracy yesterday. Alter ovidence bad been heard, the case was adjourned to 2.30 p.m. on Tues- day, November 29.

Detective Sergeant C. Mottram said that as a result of Information received, contact was made with ac- cused, who was tricked into bringing six forged notes to a cote in You- mat on the night of November 11, to a police ugent. where he sold two of them for $24

Al thie, police under Detective and had arrested accused, who said ho

This obtained them from a woman. Sergeant W. Morrison entered

woman could not be found.

MAKE BELIEVE WAR

Varying views were expressed by observers of Hongkong's fourth black-out last night, but opinion was unanimous, from unofficial scents, that much more could have been done to darken lights, especially on ships in the harbour,

From the Peak the black-out was described as a fallure. compared with the last one but from Kowloon and the city, reports were more satisfactory.

Almost 100 official, observers..were stationed at strategic points in the Colony, but the official view of the proceedings will not be known for several days.

Ula Excellency the Governor, Sir Geoffry Northcote, watched a decontamination squad in netion near the Hongkong Club:

Ayooped low over the harbour and

clothing, and half-an-hour later) the all clear signal was given.

In New Territorica

PEANUT HAWKING

Urban Council Concession To the Aged

..

An observer who travelled from the border to Kowloon during the blackout described the tracery of

archilahts when they first sprang with begging in Wanchal, appeared

Three old men, who were charged

out of the darkness ahead of his car on remand before Mr. RA. D. as a fascinating spectacle.

"One had the impression of being yesterday.

Forrest at the Central

Magistracy

a distant spectator of a real con- Blet," he said. "It was fascinating Inspector A. V. Baker mid that and rather exciting to watch the the Urban Council were prepared to Ught beams patiently fingering the grant the men licences to hawk sky until they touched an attacker. peanuts. The lleences would cost A beam that thus atruck successfully $4 each, he added, was at once supported by the other

Mr. Forrest granted the men sa searchlights, and from far behind each from the Poor Box, to enable

Kowloon they could be seen sweeping

across the sky in quick understanding them to take out a licence and to until they had wrapped the assailant Purchase a stock of peanuts. in a relentless apex of light.

"There were plenty of lights show- Road, the junction of Ladder Street, Ing in the New Territories, where Whitty Street, junction of Queen's not seem to be Road, Wanchal Market, the Peak

The Blackout did rigidly observed, but down

the

The black-out which was in tho, when three planes in formation of Hongkong, secure Brst glimpse terminus. Belcher Street, Pokfulam, staged at 9.15 p.m. when Hongkong flew parallel to the prayo, presumably the that the city had accepted_e centre of Victoria. The cars will

The

Do I drove Sassoon Road and Sing Wood Road hills into Kowloon, showed and

convergo

towards the seriousness of the manoeuvres.

proceed at the rate of ten miles an scintillating peak of Hongkong, one hour. The sirens will be sounded of the world's greatest night-time for a period of four minutes,

"By this method, I feel that I

in a mock attack on warships at anchorage.

it was not till the planes were spectacles, had given place to what over the duckyurd that they were seemed a badly lit village. Short of

combined efforts of the authorities require more permanent sirens and then they stood out as clear targets and the people had made it a dim in what districts. It in anticipated almost total against д dark back-ground.

Birth registration is still incom- the junka being unable to function the colony rosumed its normal life, pleked up by the searchlights and Enuffing the city out like a candle, the shali be able to ascertain whether I

on year.

special expenditure do not include the cost of buildings, hospitals, water u

very considerable supplies, etc., a item. The total expenditure medical services rose, from $1,584,-: 327.25 in 1936 to $2,018,137,44 in the can total revenue for the Colony from all sources in 1937 was $32,111,- the expenditure on 222.20; kence medical services formed 10.19 per cent. of the general revenue.

year under review,

Influences on Health

Three factors had a profound in fluence on public health in the Colony during 1937. The most important of these was the outbreak of hostilities between China and Japan, Larne

an

10

In the city

aren

Interested spectator

D

At this time the whirring of the target for atrial attack. A familiar atat permanent sirens will be lesinlled

"Driving with shrouded headlights also

*T

Wing-Commander

Steele-Perkins announced that instead

New Terri.

Increase from 27,383 (530 Non-with the effluent passing over aera-distlet hurried to the scene, testing it seemed as though residents had of the roadway, and even then it was) as a signal.

Becommended in 1902

to help.

walking pace,

"Darkness always seems to induce

of

nature of a practice exercise was was theoretically undergoing an air raid. All street lights went out to the tick though no alarm was given. the "air rald" was cribed, there is always a danger of over, lights were switched on, and soil to contractors in the way des-At 11.15 p.m.

to strikes in labour or 1030 respectively. The figures for plete, partly as the result of Ignor- owing to The service was, in fact, blackness was obtained and only one

the disorganised during ante or laziness and partly owing to

ason of 1037. For this or two lights, three or four storeys fire-engino's airen was heard as the eye could only guess at the location at the beginning of the New Year." Chineso custom of postponing the seriously

able toy". through streets unusually quiet, X| Arlng maroons in the geney call "somewhere in the event until the child is in its second typhoon reason

reason, steps are being taken to in-up, could be seen from the streets, crew rushed to answer any emer- of its main buildings.

were In the road separating the Hong- The firemen

in daytime/ound Kowloon ko n city of ghosta. tories, it had been decided to let off vestigate the possibility of drastically

total lack of Hnzy pedestrian figures passed before Chinese crackers and Vercy lights, Against this, a tendency has shown vesti

my car and showed up dimly against i

Hights of creeping have been distributed in buses and Over 300,000 Chinese pamphlets self since the commencement of dis- altering the systein and to arrange kong Club and the Cable and Wire- almost as quickly

decon- traffic in the streets. No rickshas the amoll blus public latrines

the only buses. Except when the reflection trams warning the Chinese popula- were on the streets and turbances in Far Eastern waters to for nightsoll to be dumped at stated less building, the Governor was an owing to y ci deavour to register births in Hong-places-usually

traffle was nn occasional tram, whose from a low-sweeping searchlight kong na a preliminary step towards from which it will be carried away in tamination squad went into action.

At 0.30 a rocket was fred to progress seemed strangely muffled, suddenly illuminated the street ahead tion of the blackout. when no danger to public health can

Otherwise the great

with a green glow, it was possible Railway engines between Fanling when the evidence of local birth is claiming British nationailty, ever. sewers to the deep sea either direct

to drive only by watching the edge and Kowloon will blow their whistles be assured, or after partial purifica simulate the falling of a gas bomb. and taxis. of the most sender.

Births

registered in 1937 showed tion by the activated sludge process An air raid warden on couly insting majority of cars were parked and

by manipulation of his respirator decided that this was the best way possible to go little faster than whether gas was present. Chinese) in 1930 to 32,303 (892 Nonion beds.

uncorrected

protective Police wearing full Finding the area filled with gas, Chinese). The crude, birth-rate for 1037 is calculated as

It is hoped that funds will be the warden flasted a telephone mes-i euthing and respirators carried out! A hush, and nothing was so impress mid-year

to the decontamination squad, 32.1 per thousand of the population. This compares with available shortly to enable Albany which rushed to the scene in a truck of 27.8 for the previous year. Service Reservoir to be covered and with full equipment. They were on of refugees, both white

a space of a few unfiltered and unchlorinated Asintic, fled from the war zones and Some 34,635 deaths were registered the

area to be the spot within

to be minutes, sought a haven in Hongkong,

dealt with. Recom-

The warden met them as they came adequately tion, an increase of 9,255 over the As might have been expected, the in 1937 umongst the civilian popula- water in the. Pokfulam

mendations for the covering of the influx of mostly destitule and unem figure for 1930.

Still-birtha numbered 013 in 1037 Albany Reservoir were put forward on the scene and directed them to which occurred in their districts.

the spot beside the Hongkong Club, by the late Professor Sir William with methodical precision and under ployed persons into an already con-

Kowloon Scenes gested urban area aggravated In-

under Simpson sent out to this Colony by Deals in Chinese intants

mumed instructions, the squad fa

From a vantage point on top of the sanitary conditions and the number and 076 in 1936.

full equipment ran out hose pipes, Peninsula hotel an observer could of deaths leaped up from a monthly

found there average of 2.349 for the first seven one year of age numbered 9.905 in the Secretary of State 38 years ago.

House-to-house inspection formma ufter the leader had 4,070 In 1930 and 11,020 in 1837, the respec- months of The year to

aren stretched before lin. September, giving on average of 3,638 live infant mortality rates being 372

and of 1937. and 376, post-registered births being part of the duties of the Health Om-mustard gas present through use of see the whole of Kowloon residenun!

his chemical detector. Sanitary Inspectorate,

Noticeabla chiefly in the darkness for the last five months

the total Chinese cera Com deducted from

theoretically the Sanitary Inspectera Meanwhile the area was roped off were the undimmed lights of rick- Many of these refugees arrived from ded

There were 692 births (387 male being grouped round the Health Vill-and civilians warned to keep clear aitas, the red-tall lights districts in China where health ser- births in making the calculation.

cers for this and other purposes. In while the work of clearing the gas cars and an occasional top-storey disor- vices had become seriously

the Sanitary Ins-

au efficient window which had not been darken-Put out by several workmen.

Fortable Birens ganised. It was not surprising, there- and 305 female) including late re- fore, that Hongkong suffered from a intrations in this section or 163 more actual practice

the non-Chinese pectors are not under the control of was put in hand in

In discussing the second surprise "The buses were well screened and visitation of cholers. The disease than in 1930 in

the Medical Officers of Health but manner. By 10 p.m. the work of the ed.

the Urban squad was through and the all clear

Signal was given. Respirators were there were very few people in the blackout, which will occur between to-day and Sunday, Wing-Com- appeared towards the end of July in population.

Non-Chinese deaths numbered 236 under the Chairman of which month 13 cases were discover-

half as many people about as during that he would try out a system of the last black-out," summarised this portable strens in addition to the of the Crown) in 1936 riving a death cipal body which functions mainly as rate of 10.9 per thousand living. In cleansing department but which the truck.

Observer on the Peak

In Kowloon, the Are brigades an-ins which are in the Gloucester possesses limited powers and is with- out fiscal nutanmy. The system is

Locking down on the Colony from unsatisfactory from many points of

Many hundreds theoretically bombed. The first en

gine was on the scene shortly after been made to Government to sauction feet above sea-level, the black-out area in Hung Hom, which had been a reorganization on up-to-date lines.

the position of the city, while

shortly afterwards.

their normal night duties in the teatral upper level, Tsimshatsul and Hung Hom districts.

Air raid wardens were on duty on their allotted areas and reported by telephone abnormal circumstances

of motor-

LOCAL MANOEUVRES

Enemy Reported to Be harbour itself seemed to be oppressed. strut the silence with which the usually busy ferry entrance and the The ferries were timid instead of

Resorting to Gag fussy, as is their habit, and seemed to feel their way across the quiet Military Headquarters yesterday that A communique was issued by harbour, gingerly creeping to their "Bludland" invaded Redland" from piers. On board everybody stood the North and is now firmly held up along the rails, watching the mock on the line overlooking Tide Cove battle overhead."

and Tolo Harbour.

+

Beal Fire Thril

In the early hours of yesterday Dry grass and part of a matshed morning, "Blueland" navel forces a destroyer attack on the at Morrison Hill caught fire shortly made before a Dam. and when all lights entrances of the harbour, the one ca were extinguished, the blaze seemed the East being costly repulsed. The to be a big bon-Are. The fire was attack on the West was launched with great determination and suc- ceeded in doing some damage to the ships in the harbour...

Two destroyers were sunk and one disabled, before the attack WAS

ed. By the time the last victim come! (apart from 17 deaths in the Forces Council of Hongkong, a quasi-munl- { removed and the men plied back in streets. I do not think there were mander Steel-Perkins said yesterday driven of.

under observation in December, some 1,082 persons had lost their lives.

A particularly severe typhoon de- vastated the Colony on September, 2. No accurate estimate of the actual loss of life is possible. Suffice it to say that some 400 bodies of persons who had been drowned or killed were picked up mainly on the foreshore at the eastern entrance to the harbour.

Controlling Disease

Since the organisation of anti- malarial work under the auspices of

the year under review the figures were 244, excluding 11 deaths in the Forces, with

death rate of

of 11.

observer.

The Commander of the "Bluelund'

Deaths in infants of Non-Chinese view and strong representations have | Lugard Road, come fourteen hundredwered a call from the radio station # Building and the Gough Hill Police the enemy are using gas. The facts

nationality amounted to thirty as compared with 19 in 1036-an infant mortality rate of 46, the rate for the previous year being 37.

Malaria and Cholera

was unsuccessful,

Station

"Six electric portable sirens will be installed in cars manned by the

sald. "They will start at Hollywood

forces on the mainland reports that

are being communicated to the League of Nations."

There is nothing to report from kong.

It is estimated that, apart from [of lights were visible, clearly reveal 0 p.m. and two other crews arrived Police Emergency Unit Reserve," he the defenders of the Island of Hong-

ол mony

occasions,

motor

the Malaria Bureau, a branch of the Increased during the last two years. these are of three storeys or floors. Mooring lights were clearly seen, ¡ flares caused by "incendiary bomby."

Laboratory Division, malarla has be come a relatively unimportant disease in the urban areas. The infection certain rural rate

remains high in areas where lack of funds and local agricultural customs make remedial mensares impracticable.

to

ferries

premises occupied by Europeans and

there pairs of blue lights were observed

As the street hydrants had been the larger banks, stores, etc., are about 23,347 Chinese-type houses vehicles threaded their way through damaged in the "rald", the firemen

which they

skilfully put out the The number of malaria cases ad- in the Urban Council Area of Hong-the streets. Some lights were even went to the sea for their water, with mitted to Government hospitals has kong and Kowloon. The majority of bright enough to cutline buildings.

The water was pumped up by a A not inconsiderable amount of Some 220,713 Boors were subjected

were hasilly rigged emergency apparatus orea was cordoned breeding of the unopheline vectors cleansing with kerosene oil emulsion although the vehicle takes place in paddy-fields and in during the year. Each Sanitary Ins- better screened than on the lost occa-and the whole

off by a gas decontamination squad Planes Attack Ships

which was soon on the scene. trapping

of rats was pector is responsible for supervising ston.

a district containing 30,000 or more

Streets and area were hosed down land under wet cultivation.

out throughout the year, inhabitants, the majority of

In the Central district a dramatic Sarmatie

given touch was

the proceedings by the men. In full protective some 221,652 being trapped of which live under lamentably overcrowded

conditions. Cases of small-pox were notified in 10,375 were caught alive.

the report Hongkong during every month of

Speaking of cholera,

sanitary staff is in- The atates: 1937 except October. The largest

organisation has number for any single month were

A second adequate and encountered in April. fastigium occurred in December and been the subject of considerable for years past by those best

this heralded what proved Jater 10wed to speak There is little

outbreak within the most serious

The yearly total was iving memory. 129 cases notified of which 94 died. There can be little doubt that many cases missed detection owing to suc cessful concealment and to a quite Ineffective system of house-to-house visits.

Sporadic cases of cerebro-spinal fever were discovered throughout the year, 44 out of a total of 157 being notified in March. Eighty-eight or fifty-six per cent. of the patients led.

three per

wonder that the epidemie broke with such cuddenness upon the Colony

prevailing. under the conditions

On the prevention of epidemics the a view to report states: Legislation was drawn up during the year with bringing about the compulsory pas teurization of mlik, but the oppos!- tion succeeded in postponing this for the time being.

The

There is every reason to believe that this opposition is disappearing The corresponding figures for 1935 concurrently with a better apprecia were a case mortality rate of fifty-tion of the subject by the general pubile and that the necessary cgisi- centum.

of possibility

legislating As in post years pulmonary tuber- tion will be enacted in 1930. culosis formed rather more than one out of eleven deaths from all causes against spilling in public place is The overcrowded conditions under also under consideration, a similar which the poorest and most under-law having been enacted some yours nourished members of the community ugo in Malaya where there is a large five provide ideal soll for the pro-proportion of Chinese in the popula- pagation of this disease.

The greatest number of dysentery cases (111) were reported in October, a total of 570 being recorded for the whole year.

Lion.

Sewage Disposal

An Increasing number of premises in the Urban Council Area were con- nected up with the public sewers or tank Installations July to October were the months acquired septic of maximum prevalence of the enteric during the year under review. The group of fovers. No doubt the re- Public Works Department supervised fugee problem contributed to the in- the instalation of water closets in creased incidence from 418 notified 1,470 instances in private dwellings, cases and 136 deaths in 1036 to 464 the figure comparing with 004 for

the previous year. and 178 respectively in 1937.

During 1037 the major incidence

The

night soll junks form part of a of notified cases of diphtheria was conservancy system owned by the recorded from November to March Urban Council. When they have Inclusive, there being a decrease over collected their quota of nightsoil in 1036, only 308 cases with 148 deaths the steel-lined compartments of their holds, the junks are taken by sea to being nailed in 1937,

Little is known regarding the Gin Drinkers Bay. Here night-soll men standing amount of leprosy in these territories, is baled out although various estimates have been shoulder deep in excreta into other

the belief junks mudo which tend

owned by contractors. that there may be upwards of normal times the nightsoll is carried thousand or more sufferers from the disease. The possibility is under Up the Canton River by the second feel of junks and sold chiefly, for

tory,

by

conalderation of eliciting the help of the fertilization of the mulberry trees the British Empire Leprosy Relief on which the allikworms feed. Association in carrying out a survey, Since the decline in the industry. and of sending the greater number of

coastal shipping lepers to the Roman Catholle Settle and particularly since Sino-Japanese ment at Sheklung in Chinese terri-hostiles made

rather. precarious trade, there has been a tendency for the contractors Vital Statistics

owning the second fleet of junks Owing to its intimate geographical dispose of nightsoll to market gar relationship with South China and to deners and for fish ponds in

New the

con- the fact that Hongkong is a free port

Territories. This

obviously

of danger with practically speaking, no effec-stitutes a grave source tanger tive restriction on immigration or when it is remembered that typhold emigration, it is not possible to pro- vide an accurate estimate of the gene and dysentery are common in Hong-, eral population. No igures are of kong and that outbreaks of cholera value fogliding the actual number of are also not of infrequent occurrence.

Although a certain amount of ro persona, Who Cought refuge in Hong- Kun from the fighting in China ali verile accrues from the sale of night-

whom

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Medical ganhts

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Amazing

"THE

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HUMPHREY

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1st, 2nd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 20th, 22nd, 23rd.

The number of pages of "The Hongkong Telegraph" will be increased during December in order to meet the demand for space, all dates boing available with the exception of the 10th, 17th, 22nd and 24th.

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