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should be registered excepting those who have received a proper training in Western methods and have passed a satisfactory examination in the subject of midwifery. Registration implies recognition and to recognise ignorant women as midwives would be to countenance mal-practice.
5.
Two Chinese midwives are being trained at the Government Civil Hospital in accordance with arrangements made in November, 1902. Until more Chinese women use the Government Lying-in Hospital more pupils cannot be received but whenever any addition can be made to their number I recommend that the addition be made.
As far as can be ascertained there are at present 33 midwives practising in Hongkong. Of these 5 use the Western method having been trained at Hongkong by local Medical Practitioners.
It will therefore take some years of education before Government will be in a position to forbid unqualified women from practising as midwives.
6.
With regard to the 4th paragraph of your Despatch I have to state that the reason why the period of forty-two days was fixed in the original Ordinance was that, according to Chinese custom the child does not take his place as a member of the family until he is one month old, and the mother during that month is not supposed to leave the house.
Moreover, in a town where in the ordinary course there is no likelihood of a birth coming to the knowledge of the Authorities the earlier imposition of a fine for neglect to register would tend to induce the parties responsible to avoid registering altogether in order to escape the penalty.
7.