We hear nothing more of this until March 18, 1895, when the Commodore requests a report from the Deputy-Inspector General, R.N. Hospital, on the possibility of obtaining the services of sisters from the Government Civil Hospital. In connexion with the proposed employment of these sisters, it is pointed out in further correspondence that the question of servants arises and the following interesting paragraph appears:
"All the cooking in Hongkong is done by male cooks and I can discover no instance of cooking in a European house being done by women. It would be necessary to have a man cook and a female servant to do the housework and wait on the sisters. The usual wages are $12 per month each and they provide their own food".
There is also a reference to the possibility of employing Eurasian nurses, a suggestion which seems to have come from the commander-in-chief. In a letter, dated April 18, 1895, from the Commodore to the Vice-Admiral, he states:
"At present it would not be possible to obtain the services of two Eurasian nurses, but it may be possible in the course of one and a half or two years, as it is proposed to receive Eurasian girls for training at the Government Civil Hospital."
He also mentions that enquiries have been made whether sisters could be hired from the Civil Hospital in urgent cases, but without result, as the nursing staff of that establishment was only sufficient for their own requirements. Indeed, there is a letter from the Colonial Secretary, dated March 28, 1895, stating definitely that the nursing sisters at the Government Civil Hospital would not be available for outside duties as the staff was only just sufficient for the requirements of that institution.
Evidently the engagement of nursing sisters had not been settled up to 1897. A letter dated March 2 of that year, to Sir Alexander Buller, Vice-Admiral, from the Deputy-Inspector of the Naval Hospital has the following paragraph:
"The benefits of nursing sisters have been so amply proved and the comfort and help they give to patients is so generally recognised, that the Royal Naval Hospital here must be considered as being 'behind the times' without them. All the civil hospitals in Hongkong are well provided with them, and they stand the climate as well as other people."
The letter goes on to point out that the proposed new building at the Hospital should have ample accommodation for two nursing sisters and the necessary service.
Eventually, sisters from the Naval nursing service were obtained and are on duty at the hospital at the present time.
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