(9)
With regard to the transfer of patients from the Tung Wa Hospital I find there are nine reports.-I do not know the exact number.
With regard to the question of transfer, is there anything you wish particularly to mention to the Commission?—The whole question arises, I think, from the treat- ment of surgical cases in the Tung Wa. If you refer to the papers in your office, I wrote to the Governor on the 20th August, 1895, and requested instructions as to how see Appen- I was to deal in future with severe surgical cases admitted to the Tung Wa, and which, page .' necessarily, I had to see from time to time on visiting the Institution.
Your object was to obtain authority to transfer patients in cases where you thought the doctors of the Tung Wa Hospital were not capable of treating them?--I stated “that the Chinese doctors admit that they have no surgical knowledge, and cannot be respon- sible for the surgical enormities which have been and still will be carried on there if they are allowed to treat such cases.'
In some cases transfers were made?--It was settled that I should report these cases through you to the Governor, and the Governor would issue authority to transfer as he thought fit.
That was in cases of patients who were not willing to be removed ?--Yes.
After the decision that you should apply for permission to transfer the patients to the Government Civil Hospital several cases arose ?—Yes.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Permission was granted ?—Yes, by His Excellency the Governor."
With the acquiescence of the Directors of the Tung Wa? Were they consulted?
WITNESS-I was instructed that in surgical cases where the patients refused to be removed from the Tung Wa Hospital to the Government Civil Hospital a report should be made by the Colonial Surgeon, and that His Excellency would make such an order as he thought best, after considering the facts of the case. That was the course decided upon. Later on there were four cases in which I wanted to make the transfer, and they were transferred by the order of the Governor. I received an order to report on their condition after they had been some weeks in the Government Civil Hospital. I reported.
THE PRESIDENT-I want to come to the case where you wanted to transfer a patient and this was opposed, a lawyer's letter being written to you and another to the Colonial Secretary.
dix IV,
dix IV,
WITNESS-There is a letter dated October 20th, 1895, in which I reported two men See Appen- suffering from surgical injuries-one suffering from abscess of the knee-joint and another page Li from gangrene of the leg. An order came from the Governor for their removal, and I had them transferred to the Government Civil Hospital.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-In opposition to the wishes of the Directors ?-Not to my knowledge.
With the approval of the Directors ?—I was not aware whether the Directors approved or not.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Are you aware that the Directors were opposed to the transfer of the patients?—-Certain transfers were made, and there was no active opposition shown.
dix 17,
Dr. Ho KAI-And there was no approval?--They did not to my knowledge See Appen- oppose the removal. On the 6th November, 1895, there was a letter to the Colonial page LLL Secretary about one CHAN KAM SING. That day I got a telephone message from Govern- ment House to transfer him to the Civil Hospital the same night; and on the same evening I got a letter from Mr. DEACON addressed to the Colonial Surgeon.
Mr. THOMSON-At whose instance was the letter written ?--I do not know.
See Appen- dix IV, page LII.