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Dr. BELL.-Seventeen years.
The Chairman. That is the only case you know of?
Dr. BELL. That is the only case I recollect.
Colonel HUGHES.-Were not you deputy Port Officer for some years?
Dr. BELL.-Yes.
Dr. SHARP. The present regulations simplify and expedite matters ?
Dr. BELL.-Yes, with regard to steamers coming in.
Colonel HUGHES.-When you were deputy Port Officer were you engaged in private practice ?
Dr. BELL.-Yes, afloat.
Colonel HUGHES.-None on shore?
Dr. BELL.-No-practically none.
Dr. STEDMAN. The present deputy has a private practice on shore?
Dr. BELL.Yes, at Kowloon, I believe.
Colonel HUGHES.-He lives there ?
Dr. BELL.-Yes.
Colonel HUGHES.-Why could not the new one coming out live at Kowloon and do the Port Officer's work as well as the present man? No objection has been raised to the man living there.
Dr. BELL.-We cannot raise any objection to the man living anywhere.
Colonel HUGHES.-As Principal Civil Medical Officer ?
Dr. BELL.-No. The Health Officer of the Port has been allowed to provide an assistant to help in the work, and he lives where he likes.
Colonel HUGHES.-As Principal Civil Medical Officer would you have any hold over him?
Dr. BELL.He is gazetted as a health officer.
Colonel HUGHES.-He can live where he likes ?
Dr. BELL.-It does not matter for Harbour work where he lives.
Colonel HUGHES.-Therefore, this new man could live in Kowloon ?
Dr. BELL.-Oh, yes. Personally, I am of opinion it would be a mistake to give him anything else but Harbour work, because the whole of the trouble has arisen through ships being kept waiting. Our tendency is to make more and more places infected, with the result that whereas in my days there used to be very few ships coming in from infected ports, now, when a disease breaks out, the port is immediately declared infected and ships are coming in practically all the year round flying the yellow flag.
Colonel HUGHES.-You want two Port Officers ?
Dr. BELL.-Yes.
Colonel HUGHES.-To do nothing else?
Dr. BELL. Yes, to do nothing else.
Colonel HUGHES.--And neither of them should engage in private practice?
Dr. BELL.--No, neither of the Government Port Doctors.