C 11
62. The Plague Hospitals in the Eastern and Western Districts and at Kowloon City report that no cases of any kind were admitted, whether plague or ordinary cases.
The Dispensaries Committee are again indebted to Dr. Maclean Gibson (Alice Memorial Hospital) for his assistance in the matter of the issue of medicines and drugs, and in the regulation of the consumption.
63. The number of bodies considered by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to have been abandoned during the year was 1,066 as compared with 1,051 in 1916 and 467 in 1915. The monthly figure varied between 280 (in January) and 32 (in October). The percentage of these "dumpings" to the whole number of Chinese deaths was 10.41% (Table XIX).
Of the 1,066 bodies abandoned, 317 were taken to the Chinese Public Dispensaries.
The number of bodies reported by the Police as dumped during the year was 798 (Table XX).
64. Table XVIII compiled from statistics in the Sanitary Department shows the number of death certificates issued in proportion to the total number of Chinese deaths, and the number of cases in which post-mortem examinations were held.
65. The percentage of cases in which the cause of death was certified was 39.9. In 1916 it was 42.1 and in 1915 42.7.
CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERY.
(Table XXI.)
66. The accounts, which are included for the first time this year, show a substantial balance, which increased during 1917 from $6,583 to $7,394.
The interest of the Chinese permanent residents of the Colony in this Institution continues unabated. It has been necessary to open more terraces for the sale of sites: and considerable sums of money have been privately spent on the design of graves. Four "summer houses" have been given by the Hon. Mr. Ho Fook, Mr. Kwok Siu-lau, Mr. Chau Yu-ting, and Mr. Chan Kai-ming: and a scheme for a fountain with its own water supply—costing some $3,000, specially subscribed—is under consideration. The Botanical and Forestry Department under Mr. Tutcher have rendered much valuable assistance in the beautification of the site but it is regrettable that the terracing work has necessitated the destruction of several particularly fine banyan trees.