(15)
Since you commenced to inspect the Hospital it has been the custom for you and the Registrar General to meet the Committee once a month, and several meetings have been held accordingly ?—Yes.
Certain suggestions have been made at these meetings; I should like to know to what extent they have been carried out. Certain structural alterations were to be made- the making of lavatories and receptacles for clothes?-That has been carried out to a certain extent, but they are not in use yet. Buildings have been erected, but they have not been fitted with baths or basins.
With regard to the receptacles for clothes-lockers and store rooms?—They have partially accomplished what we requested them to do.
In what respect?---One block has been supplied, and the other has not. One block has lavatories and latrines and store accommodation.
You suggested a uniform ?That has been adopted.
You suggested an improved type of night-soil buckets?-That has been introduced, but the buckets are not used properly.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Your recommendations have been only partially carried out. Have
you
drawn attention to that?-We have called the attention of the Committee to it at every meeting.
Has any reason been given by those responsible for not carrying out your suggestions?--None that I know of, but I think it was mainly on the ground of expense.
THE PRESIDENT-The lavatories have been constructed, but they have not been furnished with washing utensils, and you say one block has been fitted with lockers ?— They are not in use. The south block has been fitted.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Is the one fitted used?—No.
THE PRESIDENT-I understand that Messrs. LEIGH and ORANGE have in hand the construction of buildings in the Hospital ?—Yes; many of the suggestions made at the monthly meetings are being attended to. Some have been partially completed and others have not been carried out at all.
Which are those that have received no attention ?The supply of latrine and store accommodation to the north block. It is only the south block that has been attended to. In the north block there are about 62 persons. There was no lavatory accommoda- tion at the Hospital at all, and I drew the attention of the Government to this, and they consulted with the Committee, and the matter was referred to the architects. The Committee agreed to erect two buildings off each block for lavatories and stores, and that has been carried out so far as the south block is concerned.
Dr. Ho KAI-Is there room in the north block to build a lavatory ?-Yes, but they have objected to carry this out on various grounds.
Dr. Ho KAI-I believe they are asking for a grant for the building.
THE PRESIDENT-Have they white-washed the walls ?--Yes, they always do that.
Bed
pans were recommended; have they been adopted ?—No.
THE PRESIDENT-I believe it is now a practice at the Tung Wa for patients to be received in a receiving ward before being distributed amongst the general wards, and for the Colonial Surgeon to see all patients and diagnose the cases before they are distributed among the general wards ?--Yes; he sees all patients who are admitted and diagnoses their diseases as far as it is possible to do so.
When was that commenced ?—I cannot say when. It was before I came back, after the plague epidemic in 1894. I found the practice in existence. There has been no attempt to evade the rule. I have no ground for thinking that the rule has been evaded.