CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 135

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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Government contributes X2,000 per ammum) is the Chinese

Public Dispensaries which were instituted in 1905 with the

special object of familiarising the people with Western

methods and gaining the confidence of women and children

with the least possible friction. Only European methods are

employed, and the idea takes the shape of establishing out- -patient Departments in every district, under the charge of a Chinese Doctor with Western qualifications. The duties of

the staff, beyond those of attending patients, cover attend-

-ance at all disinfections by the Sanitary Board, and the

visiting of out-patients at certain hours of the day is permitted. Much very valuable work has been done through this medium in the struggle with epidemics where Wester methods were essential, and the whole cost, less the £2,000 already mentioned, and amounting to 40,000 per annum has been met by voluntary subscriptions. Broadly speaking, each Dispensary is supported by its om district, although in- -squalities in the matter of resources necessarily exist; but the policy of demanding some local effort even in a poor district before giving it assistance has helped to preserve the feeling of independence and responsibility, and to popularise the whole scheme.

(a).

The Po Leung Kuk is a refuge for women

and girls: and does work in the Colony and through Chinese channels far up country in a manner which would be im- -possible to a more formally official organisation. The Government makes no contribution and the manual expenditure

amounts to 89,000.

3.

The Committees of all these charities are elected annually by the Chinese concerned. They are independent of each other, but are all under the Chairman- -ship of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.

4.

The methods of collecting subscriptions

-

are many and various all purely Chinese, and varying from

special

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