Enclosure C
299
state
my
of things is in my opinion most discreditable to a Government Hospital.
The Superintendent should be called on to state what instructions he has given to the Wardmasters with respect to cases admitted at night. These instructions should in future be in writing.
With regard to the Superintendent's statement that the Wardmaster at the Civil Hospital occupies a similar position to the Police Inspector on duty in the charge room who does not call the Assistant Superintendent to examine a case of petty larceny brought every night to the Central Station, I fail to see any analogy. Prisoners are taken to the Station to be locked up; patients are taken to the Hospital because it is considered that they require medical or surgical treatment.
(Signed) Frederick Stewart, Acting Colonial Secretary
Superintendent, Tung Wah Hospital to Acting Colonial Secretary.
(Copy)
Sir,
Government Civil Hospital,
Hongkong, 20th October, 1886.
C 0.
1512
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Government Order of 16th instant, No. 2313.
In reply, I beg to state for the information of the Acting Governor that the Wardmasters clearly understand that they are to attend to trivial cases, and to call me when there is a case in question. This has always been the rule, and it applies to everything, by day and by night.
The Wardmaster said they understood this, but you nevertheless reported that they stated exactly the contrary; you persisted in forwarding your misstatement.
Dr. G.R. Jordan,
Acting Colonial Surgeon