CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12] — Page 361

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Sheklung and Shek Ha was damaged 4 days later, also on the 14th the track was broken in the neighbourhood of Shek Ha, and, as the unsettled conditions continued until the end of October, the morn- ing down and the afternoon up through expresses did not run from October the 6th, until the 2nd of November; and the afternoon down, and the morning up expresses were cancelled between the 24th of October and the lat of November,

The running of the two slow through trains had to be discon- tinued for 10 days during this period; and it was not until the 2nd November, that the full train service was resumed.

The Local Traffic Earnings have improved. The receipts amounted to $194,041.14 against $179,434.14 or $14,607.00 more than the previous year, the increase being under passenger receipts. In May, it was decided that the Railway should discontinue its custom of debiting other departments for the transport of Govern- ment passengers travelling on duty and other services rendered, and accordingly the eum of $4,577.77 is not included in the Rail- way earnings.

Through and Joint Sectional Traffic Receipts were $318,345,37 an increase of $10,017.63 when compared with 1919,

The Gross Receipts for the year were $520,176.10 as against $490,092.77 for 1919 an increase of $30,083.33.

The balance after paying working expenses stands at $33,032.06. The Through and Joint Sectional Passengers carried were ne follows:

Pesangers booked by Stations in British Territory to Stations in China

1918. 1918. 1920.

307,401 344,716 365,005

Passengers booked by Stations

in China to Stations in British Territory

323,842 354,699 373,776

1018. 1919.

1920.

296,379 345,314 392,206

45,187 48,917 47,787

The Local Passengers carried were as follows:-.

Fanling Branch

Main line...

VL-GOVERNMENT AND AIDED INSTITUTIONS. (a.) HOSPITALS.

Government Hospitals consist of the Civil Hospital, to which is attached an isolated Maternity Hospital, the Victoria Hospital for Women and Children, and the Kennedy Town Infectious Dis- eases Hospital. There is an Observation Station capable of accom- modating 1,500 persons in the event of an outbreak of infectious disease on board a ship arriving in the Harbour.

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The Civil Hospital contains 168 beds in 21 wards. 4,701 in-patients and 31,100 out-patients were treated during 1920 £5 againat 3,926 and 22,148 respectively in 1010. 243 cases of malarial fever were admitted as against 218 in 1919 and 211 in 1918. The total cases of malaria for all Government Hospitals and the Tung Wa Hospital shows an increase of 240 cases ns compared with the year 1918. The Maternity Hospital contains 9 beds for Europeans and 8 for Asiatics. 52 confinements occurred during the year as against 460 in 1919. The Victoria Hospital at the Peak contains 41 beds, and during 1919, 208 patients were under treatment there. At Kennedy Town Hospital, which contains 20 beds, 51 cases were treated in 1919, all being infectious.

(b).—LUNATIC ASYLUM.

The Asylum is under the direction of the Superintendent of the Civil Hospital. European and Chinese patients are separated, the European portion containing 14 beds in separate wards and the Chinese portion 18 beds. 224 patients of all races were treated during 1920 and there were 3 deaths.

(c.) THE TUNG WA AND OTHER CHINESE HOSPITALS. The Tang Wa Hospital, opened in 1872, is mainly supported by the voluntary subscriptions of Chinese, but receives an annual grant of $8,000 from the Government. Only Chinese are treated in this institution. Various other services not appertaining to a hospital are performed by the institution, such as the free burial of the poor, the repatriation of destitutes, the maintenance of free vernacular schools, and the organisation of charitable relief in emergencies. Chinese as well as European methods of treatment are employed in accordance with the wishes expressed by the patients or their friends. Over half the number are now treated by Western methods. The hospital is managed by a committee of Chinese gentlemen annually elected, their appointment being sub- mitted to the Governor for confirmation. It is under the supervi sion of a visiting physician, who is a member of the Medical Department, whilst two Chinese house surgeons, trained in Western inedicine, are members of the hospital staff. There are 330 beda in the buildings, and 7,301 patients were accommodated during 1920.

The Tung Wa also maintain a branch hospital for small-pox Cases (Chinese only) at Kennedy Town. It contains 60 beds and during 1920, 6 cases were treated.

The Alice Memorial and Affiliated Hospitals are managed and controlled by the missionaries resident in Hongkong, agents of the London Missionary Society, and cousist of the Alice Memorial Hospital opened in 1887, the Nethersole Hospital opened in 1893, the Alice Memorial Maternity Hospital opened in 1901, and the Ho Miu Ling Hospital opened in 1908. The number of in-patients in 1920 was 1,740 and the expenditure $24,475.50. The number of labours in the Maternity Hospital was 447. The Government makes a grant of $300 per annum to these Hospitals.

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