1966 — Page 275

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 275 of 279

522

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: —No, I do not think so, it depends what the programme for the mass mini-vans is. They each do about 800 cases a day, all over the place.

DR. A. M. S. BELL: - May I know, since tuberculosis is an infectious disease with the highest number of notifications every month and every year, and the greatest number of deaths occur from tuberculosis than from any other infectious disease, do we take any steps to isolate these families in Resettlement Estates when we know they have tuberculosis?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: - No, Mr. Chairman, we do not. In fact, I seem to recall having been advised by the Medical Department that any such proposal would be undesirable, as tending to give the impression that unfortunate sufferers were some sort of second-class citizen.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - I might add, Mr. Chairman, that we also carry out compassionate resettlement for a number of tuberculosis cases.

DR. BELL: - I would be surprised if, in fact, the Medical Department gave that kind of advice in those words, but I see what the Commissioner means. I should have thought the Medical and Health Department's first concern would have been isolation, because they would not want to spread it further to children in cases where you get over-crowded rooms, and when you have two families sharing a room, as you do in the urban estates, I would have thought the primary concern would have been to move at least the sufferer to somewhere where he wasn't sharing with another family?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: — Mr. Chairman, with your permission, the rate of incidence of tuberculosis in the Resettlement Estates is lower as compared to the urban areas, and I presume that that is because of the devotedness with which Urban Councillors pay attention to the health of the residents in Resettlement Estates, since we are responsible for the general welfare there. Would it not be fairer, Mr. Chairman, to residents in urban areas, if you could permit questions concerning tuberculosis in the urban areas outside of Resettlement Estates, since Government is so much concerned that there should be uniformity of attention? (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN: - I might say, on the question of questions, I have to draw a line somewhere. (Laughter).

DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, I could have answered that one for you, because you do permit questions on tuberculosis, because as the Vice-Chairman said it is a health problem. I can remember in 1956 asking questions about tuberculosis in this Council in regard to restaurants, perhaps that was again because we license them, but nevertheless, I was allowed to ask them.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

523

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this matter of tuberculosis and segregation be referred to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. (Laughter). I am surprised that such a state of affairs should exist in our Resettlement Estates. I was under the impression that the Policy Committee was very capably and well led by Dr. BELL, and I should like to see better medical service for the children in the Resettlement Estates; better treatment for the tuberculosis patients and other people there. Mr. Chairman, may I refer all these matters to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee and also offer that I would be glad to attend at any time? (Laughter).

DR. BELL: - Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. SALES for that, and I am quite happy for it to go to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. I would point out, if I may with your permission, that the figures are interesting and not unexpected, that there are fewer cases in Resettlement Estates than in the rest of the urban area, and the thing that I would like to see discussed more is how soon is slum clearance going to take place to improve the condition in the rest of the urban area? (Hear.) (Hear.).

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - There is no doubt, in my mind anyway, that less wholesome housing conditions exist in Hong Kong generally than in resettlement estates. It is also this Council which refused to allow a living space standard to be put into the Ordinance. The Council abolished it in the old Ordinance in this very room - 35 square ft. per person was abolished, and there is no housing standard left which one can enforce by law. It was left out of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance by this Council.

DR. BELL: - Mr. Chairman, I presume that was when it was only an Appointed and not an elected Urban Council. (Laughter).

MRS. ELLIOTT: - Mr. Chairman, may I just ask Dr. COOMBES if these figures would be absolutely reliable. I am not suggesting that the figures are wrong, but is it possible that in resettlement areas there are many cases that might not be reported because many of these are ex-hut dwellers and I think some of them are uneducated.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - As I stated, Mr. Chairman, these figures are based on notifications. They are nearly all notified by Government Medical Officers. Some practitioners, as you would probably expect in certain areas, notify practically none. In fact, they probably only notify less than 15%. 85% are notified by Government. There may well be cases in resettlement accommodation that are not known. I think Dr. BELL appreciated that when she said "the number of known cases", as I can only give the figures from attendances at Government Chest Clinics.

Page 275

Page 276

of 279

Edit History

2026-05-14 00:25:59 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

Page 275 of 279 522 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: —No, I do not think so, it depends what the programme for the mass mini-vans is. They each do about 800 cases a day, all over the place. DR. A. M. S. BELL: - May I know, since tuberculosis is an infectious disease with the highest number of notifications every month and every year, and the greatest number of deaths occur from tuberculosis than from any other infectious disease, do we take any steps to isolate these families in Resettlement Estates when we know they have tuberculosis? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: - No, Mr. Chairman, we do not. In fact, I seem to recall having been advised by the Medical Department that any such proposal would be undesirable, as tending to give the impression that unfortunate sufferers were some sort of second-class citizen. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - I might add, Mr. Chairman, that we also carry out compassionate resettlement for a number of tuberculosis cases. DR. BELL: - I would be surprised if, in fact, the Medical Department gave that kind of advice in those words, but I see what the Commissioner means. I should have thought the Medical and Health Department's first concern would have been isolation, because they would not want to spread it further to children in cases where you get over-crowded rooms, and when you have two families sharing a room, as you do in the urban estates, I would have thought the primary concern would have been to move at least the sufferer to somewhere where he wasn't sharing with another family? MR. CHEONG-LEEN: — Mr. Chairman, with your permission, the rate of incidence of tuberculosis in the Resettlement Estates is lower as compared to the urban areas, and I presume that that is because of the devotedness with which Urban Councillors pay attention to the health of the residents in Resettlement Estates, since we are responsible for the general welfare there. Would it not be fairer, Mr. Chairman, to residents in urban areas, if you could permit questions concerning tuberculosis in the urban areas outside of Resettlement Estates, since Government is so much concerned that there should be uniformity of attention? (Laughter). CHAIRMAN: - I might say, on the question of questions, I have to draw a line somewhere. (Laughter). DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, I could have answered that one for you, because you do permit questions on tuberculosis, because as the Vice-Chairman said it is a health problem. I can remember in 1956 asking questions about tuberculosis in this Council in regard to restaurants, perhaps that was again because we license them, but nevertheless, I was allowed to ask them. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 523 MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this matter of tuberculosis and segregation be referred to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. (Laughter). I am surprised that such a state of affairs should exist in our Resettlement Estates. I was under the impression that the Policy Committee was very capably and well led by Dr. BELL, and I should like to see better medical service for the children in the Resettlement Estates; better treatment for the tuberculosis patients and other people there. Mr. Chairman, may I refer all these matters to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee and also offer that I would be glad to attend at any time? (Laughter). DR. BELL: - Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. SALES for that, and I am quite happy for it to go to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. I would point out, if I may with your permission, that the figures are interesting and not unexpected, that there are fewer cases in Resettlement Estates than in the rest of the urban area, and the thing that I would like to see discussed more is how soon is slum clearance going to take place to improve the condition in the rest of the urban area? (Hear.) (Hear.). DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - There is no doubt, in my mind anyway, that less wholesome housing conditions exist in Hong Kong generally than in resettlement estates. It is also this Council which refused to allow a living space standard to be put into the Ordinance. The Council abolished it in the old Ordinance in this very room - 35 square ft. per person was abolished, and there is no housing standard left which one can enforce by law. It was left out of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance by this Council. DR. BELL: - Mr. Chairman, I presume that was when it was only an Appointed and not an elected Urban Council. (Laughter). MRS. ELLIOTT: - Mr. Chairman, may I just ask Dr. COOMBES if these figures would be absolutely reliable. I am not suggesting that the figures are wrong, but is it possible that in resettlement areas there are many cases that might not be reported because many of these are ex-hut dwellers and I think some of them are uneducated. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: - As I stated, Mr. Chairman, these figures are based on notifications. They are nearly all notified by Government Medical Officers. Some practitioners, as you would probably expect in certain areas, notify practically none. In fact, they probably only notify less than 15%. 85% are notified by Government. There may well be cases in resettlement accommodation that are not known. I think Dr. BELL appreciated that when she said "the number of known cases", as I can only give the figures from attendances at Government Chest Clinics. Page 275 Page 276 of 279

Baseline (Original)

1279 Page 275 of 279 522 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: —No, I do not think so, it depends what the programme for the mass mini-vans is. They each do about 800 cases a day, all over the place. DR. A. M. S. BELL:-May I know, since tuberculosis is an infec- tious disease with the highest number of notifications every month and every year, and the greatest number of deaths occur from tuberculosis than from any other infectious disease, do we take any steps to isolate these families in Resettlement Estates when we know they have tuber- culosis? COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-No, Mr. Chairman, we do not. In fact I seem to recall having been advised by the Medical Department that any such proposal would be undesirable, as tending to give the impression that unfortunate sufferers were some sort of second-class citizen. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I might add, Mr. Chairman, that we also carry out compassionate resettlement for a number of tuberculosis cases. DR. BELL:-I would be surprised if, in fact, the Medical Depart- ment gave that kind of advice in those words, but I see what the Com- missioner means. I should have thought the Medical and Health Department's first concern would have been isolation, because they would not want to spread it further to children in cases where you get over-crowded rooms, and when you have two families sharing a room, as you do in the urban estates, I would have thought the primary con- cern would have been to move at least the sufferer to somewhere where he wasn't sharing with another family? MR. CHEONG-LEEN: —Mr. Chairman, with your permission, the rate of incidence of tuberculosis in the Resettlement Estates is lower as compared to the urban areas, and I presume that that is because of the devotedness with which Urban Councillors pay attention to the health of the residents in Resettlement Estates, since we are responsible for the general welfare there. Would it not be fairer, Mr. Chairman, to residents in urban areas, if you could permit questions concerning tuberculosis in the urban areas outside of Resettlement Estates, since Government is so much concerned that there should be uniformity of attention? (Laughter). CHAIRMAN: -I might say, on the question of questions, I have to draw a line somewhere. (Laughter). DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, I could have answered that one for you, because you do permit questions on tuberculosis, because as the Vice-Chairman said it is a health problem. I can remember in 1956 asking questions about tuberculosis in this Council in regard to restau- HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 523 rants, perhaps that was again because we license them, but nevertheless, I was allowed to ask them. MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this matter of tuberculosis and segregation be referred to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. (Laughter). I am surprised that such a state of affairs should exist in our Resettlement Estates. I was under the impression that the Policy Committee was very capably and well led by Dr. BELL, and I should like to see better medical service for the children in the Resettlement Estates; better treatment for the tuber- culosis patients and other people there. Mr. Chairman, may I refer all these matters to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee and also offer that I would be glad to attend at any time? (Laughter). DR. BELL-Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. SALES for that, and I am quite happy for it to go to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. I would point out, if I may with your permission, that the figures are interesting and not unexpected, that there are fewer cases in Resettle- ment Estates than in the rest of the urban area, and the thing that 1 would like to see discussed more is how soon is slum clearance going to take place to improve the condition in the rest of the urban area? (Hear.) (Hear.) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-There is no doubt, in my mind anyway, that less wholesome housing conditions exist in Hong Kong generally than in resettlement estates. It is also this Council which refused to allow a living space standard to be put into the Ordinance. The Council abolished it in the old Ordinance in this very room- -35 square ft. per person was abolished, and there is no housing standard left which one can enforce by law. It was left out of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance by this Council. DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I presume that was when it was only an Appointed and not an elected Urban Council. (Laughter). MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I just ask Dr. COOMBES if these figures would be absolutely reliable. I am not suggesting that the figures are wrong, but is it possible that in resettlement areas there are many cases that might not be reported because many of these are ex-hut dewellers and I think some of them are uneducated. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-AS I stated, Mr. Chairman, these figures are based on notifications. They are nearly all notified by Government Medical Officers. Some practi- tioners, as you would probably expect in certain areas, notify practically none. In fact they probably only notify less than 15%. 85% are notified by Government. There may well be cases in resettlement accommodation that are not known. I think Dr. BELL appreciated that when she said "the number of known cases", as I can only give the figures from attendances at Government Chest Clinics. Page 275Page 276 of 279

2026-05-14 00:25:59 · Baseline

View content

1279

Page 275 of 279

522

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: —No, I do not think so, it depends what the programme for the mass mini-vans is. They each do about 800 cases a day, all over the place.

DR. A. M. S. BELL:-May I know, since tuberculosis is an infec- tious disease with the highest number of notifications every month and every year, and the greatest number of deaths occur from tuberculosis than from any other infectious disease, do we take any steps to isolate these families in Resettlement Estates when we know they have tuber- culosis?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-No, Mr. Chairman, we do not. In fact I seem to recall having been advised by the Medical Department that any such proposal would be undesirable, as tending to give the impression that unfortunate sufferers were some sort of second-class citizen.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I might add, Mr. Chairman, that we also carry out compassionate resettlement for a number of tuberculosis cases.

DR. BELL:-I would be surprised if, in fact, the Medical Depart- ment gave that kind of advice in those words, but I see what the Com- missioner means. I should have thought the Medical and Health Department's first concern would have been isolation, because they would not want to spread it further to children in cases where you get over-crowded rooms, and when you have two families sharing a room, as you do in the urban estates, I would have thought the primary con- cern would have been to move at least the sufferer to somewhere where he wasn't sharing with another family?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: —Mr. Chairman, with your permission, the rate of incidence of tuberculosis in the Resettlement Estates is lower as compared to the urban areas, and I presume that that is because of the devotedness with which Urban Councillors pay attention to the health of the residents in Resettlement Estates, since we are responsible for the general welfare there. Would it not be fairer, Mr. Chairman, to residents in urban areas, if you could permit questions concerning tuberculosis in the urban areas outside of Resettlement Estates, since Government is so much concerned that there should be uniformity of attention? (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN: -I might say, on the question of questions, I have to draw a line somewhere. (Laughter).

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

523

rants, perhaps that was again because we license them, but nevertheless, I was allowed to ask them.

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that this matter of tuberculosis and segregation be referred to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. (Laughter). I am surprised that such a state of affairs should exist in our Resettlement Estates. I was under the impression that the Policy Committee was very capably and well led by Dr. BELL, and I should like to see better medical service for the children in the Resettlement Estates; better treatment for the tuber- culosis patients and other people there. Mr. Chairman, may I refer all these matters to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee and also offer that I would be glad to attend at any time? (Laughter).

DR. BELL-Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. SALES for that, and I am quite happy for it to go to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee. I would point out, if I may with your permission, that the figures are interesting and not unexpected, that there are fewer cases in Resettle- ment Estates than in the rest of the urban area, and the thing that 1 would like to see discussed more is how soon is slum clearance going to take place to improve the condition in the rest of the urban area? (Hear.) (Hear.)

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-There is no doubt, in my mind anyway, that less wholesome housing conditions exist in Hong Kong generally than in resettlement estates. It is also this Council which refused to allow a living space standard to be put into the Ordinance. The Council abolished it in the old Ordinance in this very room- -35 square ft. per person was abolished, and there is no housing standard left which one can enforce by law. It was left out of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance by this Council.

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I presume that was when it was only an Appointed and not an elected Urban Council. (Laughter).

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I just ask Dr. COOMBES if these figures would be absolutely reliable. I am not suggesting that the figures are wrong, but is it possible that in resettlement areas there are many cases that might not be reported because many of these are ex-hut dewellers and I think some of them are uneducated.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-AS I stated, Mr. Chairman, these figures are based on notifications. They are nearly all notified by Government Medical Officers. Some practi- tioners, as you would probably expect in certain areas, notify practically none. In fact they probably only notify less than 15%. 85% are notified by Government. There may well be cases in resettlement accommodation that are not known. I think Dr. BELL appreciated that when she said "the number of known cases", as I can only give the figures from attendances at Government Chest Clinics.

1966 — Page 275

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note