[LVI ]
I transferred him at his own request to this Hospital and yesterday the foot was partially amputated.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Honourable
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
J. M. ATKINSON,
Acting Colonial Surgeon.
(Extract from letter from Tung Wa IIospital to Registrar General.)
**
The name of the man referred to is WoxG YEUNG not WONG YUNG. He applied for admittance to the Hospital on the 16th. The doctor states that his leg was decayed and incurable, and that he therefore refused him admittance in accordance with the regulations. At midnight on the same day he was brought again to the Hospital by CHUNG FUK, P.C. 286, and it was impossible to refuse him admission for temporary shelter at that time of night. The next day the Colonial Surgeou ordered his removal to the Government Civil Hospital.
*
*
*
**
Have the Tung Wa authorities power to refuse admission to any sick destitute Chinaman?
I ask this question because P.C. MCKENZIE, No. 111, one of the officers on duty there, informs me that more than once he has seen sick Chinamen refused admission, the reason being because they can give no address.
September 10th.
J. M. ATKINSON,
Acting Colonial Surgeon.
(Letter from the Tung Wa Hospital to the Honourable J. H. Stewart Lockhart
***
dated the 19th September, 1895.)
*
We have ascertained that no patients are refused admission unless their illness is trifling or unless they are unable to furnish their address. Such people are given medicine and told to go to the free hospital (in the Tung Wa Hospital) for medical advice. The number of the beds in the hospital is not large, and if all applicants were admitted indiscriminately, the hospital would be soon inconveniently full. It is for this reason to prevent overcrowding that only person, suffering from serious illness. are admitted, and this is the established rule (of the hospital).
Again since the plague, it has been necessary to ascertain the addresses of patients for reference in case of future enquiries. Therefore unless applicants for admission can give their address or are accompanied by a responsible person, they are not received.
The Hospital feels bound to compassionate the sick destitutes referred to in your Jetter, but the rules of the institution prohibit them from being admitted, and we have been accordingly compelled merely to give them medicine and advice gratis.