148
20%
45,500 Hospital and 18,000 Quarters $77,000
10,000
4,220
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY"PRESS AND Road and the site above-Bonham Road (Nos. 1 These are the main provisions, and you will see and 4 in the above list). The former was the that the only difference between the new and more airy and healthy and was markedly original plans is that for the former there are four cooler, being over 1.100 feet above ses beds less in the general wards, but the private level. It was accessible from the Tram-wards can contain two beds more; the total num.
(about minutes walk along a comber of beds being thus 41 against 43. Con paratively
• level_road)--and could also be sidering that there will be 24 beds in the gen- cached by the Magazine Gap Road, which eral wards, I think I am justified in saying
re favourably graded than any other of our that the new plans are likely to meet the re
ads communicating with the city. The lat- quirements of the colony for some time to ter that is, the Bonham Road site was strong- come. Should the necessity arise in the ly recommended by the Director of Publio future for more accommodation, this cau be Works, was within easy reach of the Govern- met by putting another storey on the wings, ment Civil Hospital and Nursing Institute, and which, you will observe, are only to be built could be served from there. It was, moreover, one-storey high at present. Quarters for an about the level indicated by your resolution. Assistant Surgeon and the requisite nursing Both sites were on Crown land and had either staff will be provided a little to the westward of to be purchased or obtained as a gift from the the Hospital and on the same level. Each of Government. The site on Barker Road was these houses will contain five rooms, besides bath- chosen by a majority of the members. Its se- rooms and the usual out-offices. &c. That is all lection obviously involved a considerable in- I need say about the Hospital. The design is grease of expenditure, as the site itself was a
before you and you can form your own opinions more expensive one to build on, and quarters as to its merits. Regarding the Nursing In- had of necessity to be provided for a doctor and stitute, the original proposal to erect a detached nursing staff. The committee, therefore felt, building has been modified to this extent-that that it must know somewhat approximately, be the accommodation required will be provided fore proceeding farther, what accommodation by extending the present building. This is not would be provided on this site with the funds at only a more economical plan in many ways, bat Lite disposal, after making due provision for the by its adoption the rooms which were devoted Nursing Institute. I mention this to show to office and like purposes can be dispensed that the task deputed to the Executive Com- with. The architects' estimate for the various ¿mittes was not without its difficulties, and though works is as follows:---- "many of you may think there has been unneces- Leveling site ...$ 3,500
Bary delay in this matter that is not the case. Hospital By the middle of October a skeleton scheme Quarters had been drawn up showing that a satisfac. Goods from England 10,000, tory hospital could be provided on the Barker
Nursing Institute Road site with the funds at the com- to which has to be added the Architects' *mittee's disposal. At this stage, before Commission of 6%, less $1,000 already
farther progress could be made, it became paid as premium. necessary to adjudicato on the designs which ' had been submitted by_architects in the begin- ning of January, 1898, for a Hospital and Nursing Institute on the Civil Hospital site. As the result, Messrs. Palmer and Turner were -awarded the lst premium, Messrs. Denison and Ram the 2nd, and Mr. Harker the 3rd, only three (designs having been sent in. An attempt was then made to obtain fresh competitive designs for the proposed Hospital on the new site from these architects, but this fell through and Sultimately it was decided at a meeting held on the 5th January last to appoint Messrs. Palmer and Turner architects and to instruct them to prepare preliminary drawings for the considera- tion of the committee, and I may tell you that Mesars Palmer and Turner, in consideration of the funds at our disposal being limited, have consented to merge the premium of $1,000 paid to them in accordance with the terms of the competition in the sum which will become due to them for carrying out this work. The preliminary drawings were submitted early in March, showing the arrangement of the wards, for staff, and other details, and, on the the information then before it, the committee instructed the architects to p-o: oood with complete plans and estimates, and in doing so to consult with the Principal Civil Medical Officer on all matters affect ing the arrangement. and equipment of the Hospital. The plans and estimates have now been completed, and it is for the pur. pose of considering them that we are met to- day. I am pleased to be able to tell you that His Excellency the Governor has signified his approval of the proposed site and of the scheme generallyThe plans which are now before you provide the following accommodation, which I will compare with what was provided in the original plans as I go along :
Now Plans,
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Gen'l Wards for Women 2 containing 24 Beds,
do Children l 4
350 Do Private Wards Isolation Ward
Day room for convalescents
Blisters rooms
Operating Theatre
Original Plans.
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8
31
1 Bed 1 No.
2
19
1
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[August 19, 1899.
a suitable time." The Executive Commi has had no opportunity of considering the questions raised, some of which do not pertain to the scheme of providing a Nursing Instituts. I hope, so far as they do affect that scheme, it may be found practicable to give effect to the sugges- tions of the Principal Civil Medical Offfoer. That is all that I can possibly set before you, and I now ask for your approval or disapproval of what we have done. If any member would like to ask any questions I should be pleased to answer.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-What is the res- sou for deviating from the original plans?
The CHAIRMAN We have changed the site. The first was down below near, the Civil Hospital, and the present one is 1,100 feet above sea level; so the plans had to be altered. There are ouly two beds less in the new plans than in the original plans.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-Practically it will be a smaller building?
The CHAIRMAN-I do not think it will be smaller, but to suit the site we have had to alter the plaus entirely. They are here for your inspection. They have been deolded upon after very mature consideration and have been sabinitted to His Excellency the Governor, who has appoved of them.
The Hon. T. H, WHITEHEAD-You have the original resolution by you stating the purposes for which subscriptions wers invited?
The CHAIRMAN-I have, Mr. Whitehead, and I shall come to them immediately. I would like, with your concurrence, for these two mat- ters of the hospital and the road to be kept apart.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I refer to the Hospital and not to the road.
The CHAIRMAN—Yes.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-What did the original resolution say?
1
The CHAIRMAN-The resolution said—"That the most useful and most befitting manner of permanently commemorating the comple tion of the sixtieth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria will be to erect a Hospital for women and “ obil- dren and the training of nurses, to be hand- ed over to the Colonial Government, who have undertaken to maintain it in conjunction with and on the same footing as the Government Civil Hospital," etc. We are perfectly within the wording of our resolution, and as I was just saying, I would like, with your concurrence, to to keep these two matters-the Hospital and the road-apart. I have given full details of what we have done with regard to the Hospital, and I would like a resolution on that subject before entering into the question of the road.
Mr. L'HUBBURN thought the statement the chairman had given them was a very satisfactory one, and that they could not do better than show their approval of it. He would propose that the action of the Executive Committee be confirmed and that they be authorised to go on with the building of the Hospital.
Total........... $91,20 According to a return furnished by the Honora- ry treasurer, dated 28th Feburary last, the amount available under the Hospital section of the fund was $95, 899-92, and this has since been earning interest at the rate of 500. It will continue to do so until it has been disbur- ed, so that I think we may safely reckou on having a sum of $100,000 at our disposel. You will therefore see that there is a fair margin- practically 10 per cent,—to cover contingencies. That, gentlemen, is a statement of what we have arrived at as regards the Hospital, and we now ask your approval of the scheme. The buildings, as you are aware, are to be handed over on their completion to the Government and, as I formerly mentioned is Excellency the Governor has already signified his appro- vel of the site and of the scheme generally. I may add that only yesterday a communication was received from the Principal Civil Medical Officer regarding the Nursing Institute, to the following effect:-" In the plans provided the accommodation will only be just sufficient for our present requirements if the sitting room is turned into a probationers' room, as there are now two sisters and three probationers, in addition to the Matron. and it is necessary for each of the probationers to have a room to The CHAIEMAN-Turning now to the road, herself. In my minute dated 27.7.97, in C. O. about the end of August last a report and D. 114 of 1897, I stated “it will be sufficient to estimate which had been prepared by the begin with to provide accommodation for an Honourable Director of Public Works, after Assistant Matron, three sisters, and say five pro. the survey and plans were completed, was for. bationers. The building might be so arranged warded to me by the Government. In his as to be capable of being extended if necessary. report, Mr. Ormsby stated that he was: strong- The five-roomed house in Barker Road will be ly in favour of first constracting the road required for the Hospital staff there. The between Shaukiwan and Aberdeen and so com- bath-rooms are not very conveniently placed, as pleting a carriage road round the Island, leaving those on the first floor will have to leave their the construction of the section round Monut rooms and go down a short staircase before en- Davis for future consideration.” He then tering the bath-room. It would be a great went on to recommend that the Shaukiwan to convenience if water-closets could be erected for Aberdeen sections be undertaken and that work the whole of the sisters' quarters and a hot-be commenced at both these places simultane water apparatus be constructed, as at present all the hot water for baths, &o, has to be carried from the Government Civil Hospital; this means many of the sisters cannot have a bath when it is required. The present system of conveying night-soil by means of coolies who
Gon'l Wards for Women 2 containing 28 Beds, enter the building at the early hours of the
8
6
1. Bed.
Children 1
lescents
1 No.
1
1
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously,
onsly. After obtaining the opinions of the other members of the Executive Committee, I informed the Government that we considered ourselves bound by the resolution passed at a General Committee meeting on the 26th April, 1897, which received the approval of His Excellency the Governor (Sir Wm. Robinson). morning is a very objectionable one in quarters That resolution appeared to us to limit the where only ladies reside, besides the nuisance expenditure of any portion of the fund raised occasioned by the fact that this is only removed to the section between Kennedytown (( and once in 24 hours. I have intended drawing at Aberdeen. The resolution referred to is as tention to this requirement and the present, follows--" That the money, so collected, to- when plans are being drawn up for an ex-gether with an equal amount promised by the tension of the quarters, appears to me to be
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Colonial Government, be deposited at interest