M 89-
# THE CHINESE PUBLIC DISPENSARIES.
430. The origin of the Chinese Public Dispensaries was a movement made in 1904 by certain leading Chinese citizens to stop the practice of dumping dead bodies by providing receiving houses for the sick and for the dead which would act also as information bureaux where the poor could obtain advice and assistance in matters connected with:
(a) the removal of patients to hospital.
(b) certification as to cause of death.
(c) removal of corpses to mortuaries.
(d) supply of coffins and arrangements for burial.
(e) the registration of births.
(f) vaccination.
431. In 1905 two depots were established, the Western and the Eastern, under a Committee, consisting of the Chairman of the Tung Wah Board of Directors and two unofficial Chinese members of the Sanitary Board.
432. In immediate charge of each depot was a Chinese doctor qualified in Western medicine and his staff consisted of an English-speaking clerk and a number of subordinates.
433. In 1908 the movement ceased to be connected with the Tung Wah and the Committee became the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee under the Chairmanship of the Registrar General, now the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
434. It was declared at the time that the work of the depots or dispensaries was not hospital work and that the Chinese doctors employed were simply to diagnose disease and not to treat it. However, treatment centres were needed and treatment commenced in a small way, gradually developed until now the principal function of the dispensaries is medical relief.
435. It is worthy of note that as far back as 1896 a Commission appointed by Government to advise regarding the Medical Department recommended the establishment under Government control of dispensaries in different parts of Victoria and Kowloon. However, none were built and the Chinese Public Dispensaries today occupy the positions which under other circumstances would have been filled by departmental institutions.
436. There are now nine Chinese Public Dispensaries, five on the island of Hong Kong and four in Kowloon. The Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital, which was formerly administered by the Committee of the Chinese Western Dispensary, was handed over to Government as a gift on January 1st, 1934.
M 89-
THE CHINESE PUBLIC DISPENSARIES.
430. The origin of the Chinese Public Dispensaries was રી movement made in 1904 by certain leading Chinese citizens to stop the practice of dumping dead bodies by providing receiving houses for the sick and for the dead which would act also as information bureaux where the poor could obtain advice and assistance in matters connected with:-
(a) the removal of patients to hospital.
(b) certification as to cause of death.
(c) removal of corpses to mortuaries.
(d) supply of coffins and arrangements for burial.
(e) the registration of births.
(f) vaccination.
431. In 1905 two depots were established, the Western and the Eastern, under a Committee, consisting of the Chairman of the Tung Wah Board of Directors and two unofficial Chinese members of the Sanitary Board.
432. In immediate charge of each depot was a Chinese doctor qualified in Western medicine and his staff consisted of an English-speaking clerk and a number of subordinates.
433. In 1908 the movement ceased to be connected with the Tung Wah and the Committee became the Chinese Public Dis- pensaries Committee under the Chairmanship of the Registrar General, now the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
434. It was declared at the time that the work of the depots or dispensaries was not: hospital work and that the Chinese doctors employed were simply to diagnose disease and not to treat it. However, treatment centres were needed and treat- ment, commenced in a small way, gradually developed until now the principal function of the dispensaries is medical relief.
435. It is worthy of note that as far back as 1896 a Com- mission appointed by Government to advise regarding the Medical Department recommended the establishment under Government control of dispensaries in different parts of Vietoria and Kowloon. However, none were built and the Chinese Public Dispensaries today occupy the positions which under other circumstances would have been filled by departmental institutions.
436. There are now nine Chinese Public Dispensaries, five on the island of Hong Kong and four in Kowloon. The Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital, which was formerly administered by the Committee of the Chinese Western Dispensary, was handed over to Government as a gift on January 1st, 1934.
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