594
Appendix A.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH MAY, 1895.
The following is a list of the Officers who have appeared before us in the course of our enquiry:-
The Colonial Surgeon.
The Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital.
The Superintendent of the Gaol.
The Assistant Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital.
The Secretary of the Sanitary Board.
The Health Officer.
The Medical Officer of the Gaol.
The Government Analyst.
Dr. CHUNG of the Alice Memorial Hospital.
Honourable Dr. Ho KAI, and the Matron of the Government Civil Hospital.
A copy of the evidence* given by them forms an appendix to the report which we beg to submit below for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor.
For facility of reference we have drawn up our report in the form of answers to the various questions submitted to us, and corresponding numerically thereto.
REPORT.
Question 1.-The present distribution of work and the hours of duty of each mem- ber of the medical staff. What re-arrangement of duties, if any, is desirable with a view to securing the more efficient working of the Department?
Answer.
We are of opinion--
(a) That the work required of the medical staff-as at present distributed- falls to a certain extent on the Colonial Surgeon, and chiefly on the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital, and that the time of those Officers is sufficiently occupied, more especially since the additional duty of daily inspecting the Tung Wa Hospital has been imposed on them.
(b) That the Medical Officer of the Gaol has not sufficient work, but that the present occupant of the post is not competent to assist at the Govern- ment Civil Hospital.
(c) That the duties of the Health Officer of the Port fully occupy the time
of one Officer.
In view of the above it appears to us that some re-arrangement of duties is desir- able with a view to distributing the work more equally among the Officers of the Department. At present, chiefly owing to the reason given in (b) above and to the fact that the services of the Health Officer of the Port owing to his being allowed private practice are not available for the general work of the Department in time of great pres- sure or emergency, serious inconvenience is likely to arise should the Colonial Surgeon or the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital or the Assistant Superintend- ent be incapacitated for duty by sickness. Further, under the existing arrangements, it is difficult to provide for leave due to Officers of the medical staff without outside assistance and this, we understand, is not readily available owing to the lapsing pay of the absent officer or officers being insufficient to induce doctors from ships, for instance, to place their services at the disposal of the Government. The result is that when either the Colonial Surgeon, the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital or the Assistant Superintendent takes leave, his share of the work must necessarily fall on the other two officers, the Health Officer of the Port and the Medical Officer of the Gaol for the reasons stated above not being available.
Being satisfied from the evidence before us that the present numerical strength of the medical staff, although not too large, is quite sufficient for the ordinary require- ments of the Colony, it remains to us to suggest such re-distribution of the duties as may, if not effectually overcome, at least considerably minimise, the disadvantages of the present system of administration in the department. In considering what re- arrangement is necessary for this purpose we have been guided by the following facts which have been brought to our notice :-
(1) That much of the Colonial Surgeon's time is occupied at present in at- tending subordinate officers of the Government and Police Officers and their families. Also that he is charged with the duty of inspecting the Tung Wa Hospital. This work we consider should not be ordin- arily performed by the Principal Medical Officer of the Governinent and we shall accordingly recommend the performance of these duties by a junior officer.
*Not printed here.