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the present Tung Wa Hospital should be used simply as a dead-house, and that a pauper hospital should be constructed either attached to the Government Civil Hospital or away from it.
THE PRESIDENT-Are you of opinion that the Tung Wa Hospital should be abolished ?--From a medical point of view, I think it should be. They have failed to carry out the object and purposes of the Ordinance, viz., the proper treatment of the indigent sick amongst the Chinese population. I do not think patients there are properly treated if they are allowed to die without receiving adequate medical attendance.
They are not properly treated from a Western standpoint ?---From a British stand- point according to Western methods.
Dr. Ho KAI-Proper treatment as mentioned in the Ordinance cannot mean Western methods seeing that this was established as a Chinese hospital.
Mr. THOMSON-It is perfectly well known that the Tung Wa was to be a Chinese hospital, and that the patients were to be treated according to Chinese methods.
WITNESS-Under section 16 of Ordinance No. 3, 1870, the Governor has power, the Committee fail to carry out the objects of the Ordinance, to deal with the Hospital.
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THE PRESIDENT--The object is clearly shown by the correspondence dealing with the history of the Hospital. It was to establish a Chinese hospital in which Chinese methods should be used, and in which the patients should be treated in a humane manner according to Chinese notions.
Dr. Ho KAI--The only thing complained of now is that they do not carry it on under Western notions.
WITNESS-I do not think it would be allowed to be carried on in this manner in any other Colony.
THE PRESIDENT-Is there any other Colony the situation of which is similar to that of Hongkong ?-There is Jamaica with a large native population.
Do you mean to compare the situation of Jamaica with that of Hongkong ?—It is a British Colony, and the treatment in the hospitals there is entirely under European medical men.
Mr. THOMSON--They do not have a floating population there of many thousands a year such as we have.
Dr. Ho KAI-Besides the non-treatment of patients according to European methods and the non-use of European medicines, is there anything else to complain of in regard to the Tung Wa Hospital, such as cleanliness, attendance, and humanity shown to the dying ?—I think it is grossly mismanaged. There is a want of cleanliness. The clothing is dirty; they have not a large enough staff and cannot keep the place clean. No doctor seems to be regularly on duty. When I go there I cannot find who has authority and who is on duty. I complain of the general mismanagement, and say that patients run risks in going there from mal-treatment.
Mr. WHITEHEAD--How many medical practitioners are there attached to the Hospital? -There are either eight or nine.
Are they on duty continuously?-We cannot find out. We asked at the monthly meetings for a list of the staff and could not get it.
Is there a certain number on day duty and a certain number on night duty?—I could not find out these particulars.
Dr. Ho KAI--So far as I know there are only attendants and no doctors on duty at night.
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