November 21, 1895.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. ferred to, because here we do not know weeks' pleasure trip, or to see the country, 'institutions [the College of Medicine what they are. He said, it is true, that and that the report as to the object of his and the Alice Memorial Hospital] is in the promotion of trade and commerce journey lias only surmise for its foundation, 'absurd enough to be worthy the Chi- Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR had always shown but it is also possible that when the open- nese mandarinate; for, while a coolie a constant and keen interest, but that is ing of the river is formally announced it "who poses as a native doctor, with in- little more than a truism. No one may be found that Germany has already cantations and frogs' toenails, is authorised - doubts that Sir NICHOLAS hrs shown made her arrangements for a concession at "by the Hongkong Government to practise
interest, an
but unfortunately Wuchow. Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR remarked as a doctor, the students who hold a his policy has not been calculated that the opening of the river was a matter
"licence from the College of Medicine, and to promote trade and commerce, and it the importance of which to trade and com-
"who have studied five years at the Hospital is with his policy and its results, merce was appreciated by all the Govern "under such eminent and world-renowned not the man himself and his feelings and ments interested in the development of 'men as Dr. MANSOY and Dr. CANTLIE—— wishes, that we are concerned. That the commerce. Germany is vitally Interested
"theselicentiates are liable to fine or impri- Minister has been invariably courteous and in commerce, scarcely less so than Great sonment if caught posing as medical practi attentive to one and all who have had Britain herself, and she appears to be in a tioners! No wonder the Chinese say that occasion to address him and that he has position at present to Secure com- "that even the. Foreign Government has been readily accessible we do not question, pliance with her wishes, whereas Great 'no confidence in foreign medicine. It nor do we wish to detract from the apprecia- Britain's diplomacy amounts to little sounds incredible, but it is a fact; men tion due to him on that ground, but valu- more than a beating of the air. If "who study European medicine for five able as courtesy and attention are in a England musters ber fleet and presents an years the period in England is only four public officer they will not secure success if | ultimatum demanding the degradation of an "-and who pass examinations as stiff as the policy pursued be radically unsound, already degraded official her demands are of 'any, are rigorously prohibited from practis- Another extract from Mr. Cousins's speech course complied with, but without such a 'ing, while men who have failed to earn a invites attention. Не said:"His display of force she appears unable to secure competency as jinricksha-pullers or cargo- Excellency has helped to diminish one of any attention. We notice that our Shang- Jumpers are authorised by the Hongkong "the disadvantages under which we stand in hai contemporaries unite in praising Sir 'Government to rauk as duly qualified comparison with our neighbours, namely, NICROlas O'Conor, whose policy some of 'medical practitioners!" These remarks "in regard to transit passes (which still them condemned very strongly a short time were followed up by a correspondent who “need further reform) and we trust he will ago. They confess they were mistaken inputs the matter still more tersely, thus:- impress upon the home Government the their former judgments, but fail to state the In Hongkong there is a law to punish any "vital importance that we shall in the evidence which has convinced them of their man for practising as a doctor if he is not
present or in the future la nowise and in
error. One of the points claimed in favour duly qualified; but by a special clause, no matter great or small be handicapped in of the retiring Minister, however, is, mirabile "the term duly qualified' is stretched to our friendly rivalry with other nations for dictu, that he has convinced China that "include the old fashioned impostors who "trade and commerce with this Empire." England is her friendl! China is not likely "have no training whatever, and who We do not know what Mr. Cousins had in
to do much for the sake of friendship, prescribe powdered tigers' claws and burnt his mind when he spoke of Englishmen Coercion or self-interest are the only no- Joss-paper. These men are allowed to being at a disadvantage in comparison with tives that are likely to influence her in practise in Hongkong, to decide cases of other nationalities as regards transit passes, granting concessions, to foreign trade and life or death; yet students who have been but if any such disadvantage exists at present she appears to think she can "trained carefully for five years in the and the Miner's efforts have been afford to ignore English wishes and Eng Hongkong College of Medicine, founded unavailing to remove it we fail to see howlish opinion, perhaps for the very reason
by Drs. Maxsos, CANTLIE, and HO KAI, any eulogium can be founded upon it. that she is convincel that England is her are not allowed to practise at all!" The Either there was very little to be said in friend-another illustration of the danger statements are entirely erroneous.
The favour of Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR as a Minis- of giving one's friendship too cheaply. If students of the Hongkong College of Medi- ter or Mr. Cousins treated the subject very the West River is really to be opened we
cine for Chinese are not by law prohibited badly. It is clear, however, that Sir suspect that whatever diplomatic predit may from practising nor are the toe-nail mer- NICHOLAS has commanded the affection and attach to the matter will have to le accorded chants" legally recognised as duly qualified esteem of his nationals in the North in no
to the representative of some other power
medical men. common degree, and though we in the South than that of Great Britain. So far as Hong- have had less opportunity of kuowing him kong is concerned the result will be the we are bound to believe that on personal same, except for sentimental considera- grounds the affection and esteen are justly tions of nationality. We will gladly his due; but as a Minister he has not been a
welcome the boon whether it comes through the medium of German, Amfrican, or Japanese diplomacy, or is to be ascribed to the efforts of our own Minister, who ought to have secured it a dozen years ago.
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success.
THE WEST KIVER.
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CHINESE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR LEGAL STATUS.
re-
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In the interview he accorded to the Shang- hai Chamber of Commerce Sir NICHOLAS O'CONOR held out hopes that the opening of the West River might soon become an accomplished fact, not by reason of the That the Hongkong College of Medicine pressure brought to bear by England, but for Chinese is an excellent institution because the Chinese were beginning to under- deserving of the support of the Government stand the elementary principles of political and the community is, we think, generally economy better than formerly and were recognised. The College has already, in coming to the opinion that the opening of spite of many difficulties and disappoint- the West River would bring in an ia ments, done good work, and it has to all crease to the Customs revenue. A appearance a splendid future before it.
As voluntary opening would of course be yet, however, its graduates are not more satisfactory than one forced upon the cognised as duly qualified malical men on Chinese, and we sinerely hope that the the same level as the graduates of English ex-Minister's opinions may prove correct. colleges or those possessing equivalent It would not be surprising, however, to degrees issued by foreign institutions. This, learn that what the British representative it appears, is regarded as a grievance by at Peking has been powerless to gain the students and some of the friends of the has in reality been granted at the behest College. As there appears to be some of another power. From Canton we learn misunderstanding as to the real position of that the German Consul there has gone affairsit may be well to recall the history up the West River, having left about a week of medical registration in this colony. Our ago, and that his journey is reported to be attention has been directed to the subject by in connection with the opening of that im- the following statements in the columns of portant waterway. It may be that Mr. the China Mail:-" At present, the status SCHRAMEIER has simply gone for a few" of students who go through these two
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Up to the year 1884 there was no medical registration in Hongkong and anyone, European or Chinese, qualified or unquali- fied, was at liberty to hold himself out as a medical practitioner. At that time it was deemed necessary to legislate in the matter, owing to the establishment in the colony of certain European or American practitioners of doubtful qualifications, but there was no intention to prevent the native community making use of the services of Chinese doctors so-called. The Medical Registration Ordinance was accordingly passed, by which all medical practitioners with the exception of Chinese were required to prove their. qualifications and to be registered; but as to Chinese, it was provided that "This Ordin- "ance shall not operate to limit the right of "Chinese practitioners to practise medicine or surgery or to receive, demand, or recover "reasonable charges in respect of such
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practice." In 1892 it became necessary to amend the law in order to bring it into line with the law in England, and advantage was taken of the opportunity to give a recognised status to the College of Medicine for Chinese. In the clause specifying the qualifications entitling to registration, therefore, diplomas granted by the Hongkong College of Medicine for Chinese in this colony" were mentioned, with the proviso, however, which applies equally to all foreign diplomas, that the holder shall prove to the satisfac tion of the Medical Board that he has passed through a course of study and examination as thorough and efficient as he minimum required in Great Britain.
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