CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946 — Page 109

-

- 5 -

149

was fortunately little damaged. Words, however, would fail to describe the utter chaos which existed within,where the building had apparently been converted into a combina- tion of barrack-room and store-house. Heaps of the most unimaginable commodities littered the floors of the building. Military equipment, Japanese bedding, parts of

ron bedsteads, innumerable utensils, drugs of every description (Many of them pro- prietary medicines), useful and useless items, indiscriminately mixed into an indes- cribable jumble filled the whole hospital and its associated hostels and residences. Stacked in the yard between the Hospital and the Nurses Home was a heap consisting of an estimated 50,000 empty beer bottles. The elaborate kitchen fittings of the hospital had been allowed to rot and make-shift wooden huts were erected behing the hospital to serve as cook houses. In the operating theatres sterilisers, glass cup- boards, wash basins, operating lights, etc., had in many instances been want only torn from their connections. Not a single refrigerator remained in use; one complete floor of the hospital had evidently been left open to weather of typhoon violence. The task of reducing all this chaos to some sort of order, and of restoring things to their rightful place, was a huge undertaking. Then came the problem of determining what damage to essential structures and fittings needed first attention, and finally the marshalling of such facilities as remained to form the nucleus of a Hospital which could be opened for early service. These problems were all tackled with vigour and commendable enthusiasm bya group of former hospital and nursing staff immediately upon their release from the Internment Camp. The first officers of the Civil Affiars Admini- stration Medical Branch landed in Hong Kong on 7th September, and by 1st October the first beds were opened for occupation on the fourth floor. An early arrangement was made with the Royal Navy whereby the 6th and 7th floors were temporarily loaned to them, as the former Royal Naval Hospital was unfit for use. Considerable technical assistance was received from the Navy in restoring to the Hospital its electrical and heating plant, Lifts and boilers are now working again, telephones have been installed and hot and cold water and electric light are available throughout the building. At the present time beds have been opened on the third, fourth and fifth floors, totalling 200, and this number will be increased to 250 inside a week. Medical and surgical facilities are fully available. The X-ray plant is functioning and the Physio-therapy Department has been started. Plans have been formulated for the early opening of a maternity wing, for the provision of some special beds for the penicillin treatment of disease and for the admission of a class of 20 probationer nurses who have already been examined and selected. By the beginning of the new year it is hoped to admit a group of final year medical students for clinical instruction. The present staff of the Hospital includes 3 European Medical Officers, 5 Chinese Medical Officers, 6 House Officers, one European Matron, 48 Chinese Sisters and Nurses, 9 Dressers, 2 Lady Almoners and the usual cleriaal staff, and the requisite number of cooks, boys and amahs.

KOWLOON HOSPITAL. The story of the Kowloon Hospital is similar, but with somewhat less elaborate detail. At the present time 153 beds are available. The maternity wing has been restored, the upper floor being used in the main by maternity cases and the lower floor by women add children. A temporary arrangement has been made with the Commandos to loan them 59 beds in the hospital, with the use of operating room and other facilities. The time has now been reached when the civilian medical work in Kowloon is of sufficient volume to demand the exclusive use of the Kow- loon Hospital. The hospital is at present staffed by 2 European Medical Officers, 3 Chinese Medical Officers, 3 House Officers, 1 Chinese matron, 12 Chinese Sisters and Nurses, 16 Dressers and the usual subsidiary staff.

TSAN YUK MATERNITY HOSPITAL. Under the efficient guidance of the Matron and a Chinese Lady Medical Officer this hospital of 60 beds, which was closed by the Japanese, has been re-estabished. In a most commendable manner the matron had contrived to save most of the essential equipment, as wellas specimens of all the forms and records used in the hospital, many of which had been worked out with considerable care over a number of years. The work has steadily grown since the opening day, and approximately one half of the beds are now occupied. The staff of the Hospital now consists of 2 Chinese Medical Officers, one Matron, 3 Chinese Nurses and Midwives and 8 pupil midwives.

MENTAL HOSPITAL. This hospital, which remained in use throughout the Japanese occupa- tion, has continued to function and its number of patients has increased from 72 to 107.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITALS. The Kennedy Town Hospital was entirely destroyed, and the Lai Chi Kok Hospital was in large part rendered unfit for use. On the island a