| from the wages of Police, and others of that description, while unfit for duty, which would help towards the support of the establishment. In pointing out the necessity of providing for the accommodation of, and attendance upon, public servants requiring Medical treatment, I would take the liberty of suggesting the propriety of continuing any establishment for that purpose with the Seamen's Hospital.
Your Excellency is aware that a Hospital for Lascars had been kept up for some years in Macao, and that the sum of $12,000 was given by Wm. Heerjeebhoy Rustomjee for the purpose of assisting to form a similar institution in Hong Kong; of this sum $5,500 has been already expended in erecting the present building upon the site granted by Your Excellency for that purpose, and the remaining $3,500 will be required to complete the establishment. The expenses of the Institution have hitherto been defrayed by the charges upon ships for seamen admitted from them, and the payments made by Government for the maintenance of distressed British subjects requiring hospital treatment.
These charges, however, though very heavy, would not have been sufficient, had not the establishment been freed from the expense of house rent by contributions from the community, and the Surgeon to the Superintendents been enabled to give the necessary medical attendance without any charge upon the institution. In Hong Kong, however, this will be out of the power of the Colonial Medical Officer, even were two attached to the Government; unless by some arrangement for the reception of Government servants, the labour of attending upon them in remote quarters be lessened.
The situation granted by Your Excellency for the Seamen's Hospital is one well adapted for the purpose; being lofty and airy, and as far...