paragraph of my despatch 1:29 of the 30th January I stated that if Dr Thomson's appointment as Visiting Surgeon to the Tung Wah Hospital was approved I hoped that it would not be necessary to add another Assistant Surgeon to the medical department on the retirement of the Colonial Surgeon on pension.
3. Since I wrote that despatch, however, I have received a representation from the Colonial Surgeon strongly urging the necessity for another Assistant Surgeon, stating that no one could reasonably be expected to undertake the responsibility of the work of the medical department unless the services of another assistant are obtained. Dr Ayres points out that although under the present arrangement, there are four surgeons, in addition to the Principal Medical Officer,