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Dr. Lowson.-No.. They must go through a sort of Customs. There must be two Stations--one opposite the Blue Buildings and one opposite the Civil Hospital-- both under the charge of a doctor; and the junks could come alongside and the patients put on board, and the junks could be towed out of the waters of the Colony; and they must not be allowed to stop within a certain limit. You have now a staff of Sanitary Inspectors who could see that these stipulations were fulfilled.
Dr. CANTLIE.-What about plague patients at Kowloon?
Dr. Lowson. During the plague epidemic there were only about one hundred and forty cases at Kowloon all the time; if it did break out over there a matshed could be fitted up.
There is plenty of ground for isolation. But patients might even be brought from Samshuipo and Yaumati to Kennedytown. They would have only as much moving about as at Kowloon. If one saw it was going to run riot over there, it would be quite easy to put up a Hospital near the Rifle Ranges.
Meeting held 19th February, 1895.
Present:-Dr. KNOTT, Deputy-Inspector General, R.N.H., Chairman.
Surgeon-Colonel A. F. PRESTON.
Hon. A. MCCONACHIE.
Dr. JAMES CANTLIE.
Mr. J. THURBURN.
The Honourable Dr. Ho KAI called.
THE PRESIDENT.-Do you know of any reason why the Chinese do not avail them- selves more of the Government Civil Hospital than they do?
Dr. Ho KAI-Because of the heavy charge that is made. I understand that $1 a day is charged for Chinese and as much as $3 for Europeans.
Dr. PRESTON.-But can not the coolie class go there as much as they like free of charge?
Dr. Ho KAI.-I am not aware of that. I remember sending a coolie down there, and they wanted to charge for him. Except a coolie be brought in by the police or is destitute I understand a charge is made. If any change has been made lately, I am not aware of it.
THE PRESIDENT.-You think it is not generally known amongst the Chinese that they can go to the Government Civil Hospital free of charge?
Dr. Ho KAI.-I do not think they know that. Some five or six years ago, before starting the Alice Memorial Hospital, we stated that a charge was made at the Civil Hospital and it was not contradicted. I think it is the general impression that they would be charged if they went to the Civil Hospital-that is so say if they went there for advice. I do not know about out-patients so much, because most Chinese patients go there to be admitted as in-patients. They do not, as a rule, consult European doctors for slight ailments.
THE PRESIDENT.-Do you know of any other reason why they do not go there ?
Dr. Ho KAL.-No.