35
7
No. 1902
Appendix I.
HONGKONG.
COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO THE ADEQUACY OF THE STAFF OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.
We, the undersigned, were appointed by His Excellency the Governor to be members of a Committee of Inquiry into the Adequacy of the Staff of the Medical Department of the Colony.
2. We have accordingly proceeded on the lines laid down by the Government, and have conducted our inquiry with special reference to :-
(1.) The numerical strength of the staff of the Medical Department.
(2.) The position and duties of the Principal Civil Medical Officer. The following is a list of witnesses from whom we have taken evidence in the course of our inquiry :
The Principal Civil Medical Officer and Superintend-
ent of the Government Civil Hospital,............Dr. J. M. ATKINSON. The Acting Assistant Superintendent of the Govern-
ment Civil Hospital,
The Medical Officer of Health,
The Deputy Health Officer of the Port,
.Dr. J. BELL..
..Dr. F. CLARK.
............Dr. J. H. SWAN.
Dr. R. M. GIBSON of the Alice Meinorial and Nethersole Hospitals.
A copy of the evidence given by them accompanies the report, which we beg to submit below for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor.
We have taken the second question which was to be dealt with first, as it is essential to determine the position of the Principal Civil Medical Officer before dealing with his
staff.
REPORT.
Question 2. The position and duties of the Principal Civil Medical Officer.
Answer.—We are of opinion that the Medical and Sanitary Departments should be wholly separate and that the Medical Officer of Health should be independent of the Principal Civil Medical Officer. The Medical Department should be under the juris- diction of the Principal Civil Medical Officer who, however, should not be an adminis- trative officer only, but should retain his present position as Superintendent of the Gov- ernment Civil Hospital. The Sanitary Department should be under the administration of the Medical Officer of Health subject to the control of the Sanitary Board.
Question 1.-The numerical strength of the Medical Department.
Answer.-After mature consideration we have come to the conclusion that the
staff as at present constituted and consisting of:-
1 Principal Civil Medical Officer, who is also Superintendent of the Govern-.
ment Civil Hospital;
3 Assistant Surgeons ;
1 Health Officer of the Port;