38 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 3RD AUGUST, 1916.
PRESENT:―
Finance
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR SIR FRANCIS HENRY MAY, K.C.MG.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. VENTRIS (General Officer Commanding Troops in China).
HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Secretary).
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney-General). HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE (Colonial Treasurer).
HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. MR. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G.
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
HON. MR. E. SHELLIM.
HON. MR. D. LANDALE.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.
HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK.
MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
Papers
THE COLONIAL TREASURER, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table report of the proceedings of the Public Works Committee held on July 27th and it was adopted.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, also laid upon the table the Medical and Sanitary reports for the year 1915, the report of the Director of Education for 1915, and a diagram of the low level dam under construction at Tytam Tuk, showing the progress up to June 30th, 1916.
By command of H.E. the Governor, the Colonial Secretary laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 18 to 19, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table report of the proceedings of the Finance Committee No. 5, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
Nursing Sisters in the F.M.S.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the following correspondence regarding the supply of Nursing Sisters in the Straits Setttlements and Federated Malay States:―
Extract from a letter from the Principal Civil Medical Officer, Straits Settlements, to the Principal Civil Medical Officer, Hongkong, dated the 14th July, 1916:―
"I have only managed to obtain one nurse since war and we have had three in order for some long time past. We get all ours through the Colonial Nursing Association except four. These we promote from amongst the probationers. Certainly two of these four are our very best nurses and especially useful on account of knowing the languages."
Extract from a letter from the Principal Medical Officer, Federated Malay States, to the Principal Civil Medical Officer, Hongkong, dated the 13th July, 1916:―
"We are not getting nurses from England to fill our vacancies. We have been very hard pressed indeed lately. Help was given by the resignation of a nurse belonging to a private association who was taken on."
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 39
From the Colonial Secretary, Hongkong, to the Colonial Secretary, Singapore:
29th July, 1916.
SIR,―I am directed to request that you will be good enough to inform me what is the number of Sisters which the Government of the Straits Settlements has been able to engage (a) through the Colonial Nursing Association or (b) otherwise for service in Government Hospitals in the Straits Settlements since the outbreak of war, and the date upon which each of the Sisters, if any, was engaged. ―I am, etc.,
(Signed) CLAUD SEVERN,
Colonial Secretary.
From the Colonial Secretary, Hongkong, to the Under Secretary, Federated Malay States:― 29th July, 1916.
SIR,―I am directed to request that you will be good enough to inform me what is the number of Sisters which the Government of the Federated Malay States has been able to engage (a) through the Colonial Nursing Asociation or (b) otherwise for service in Government Hospitals in the Federated Malay States since the oubreak of war, and the date upon which each of the Sisters, if any, was engaged. ―I am, etc.,
(Signed) CLAUD SEVERN,
Colonial Secretary.
New Tobacco Duties
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY proposed the following resolution under Section 7 of the Tobacco Ordinance, 1916: ― "Resolved that the duties imposed on tobacco under Section 6 of the Tobacco Ordinance, 1916, shall cease to be payable as from the 28th day of July, 1916, and that the following duties shall be substituted therefor:―
(a.)― Cigars valued at not less than $2.20 per lb. and snuff of whatever value―$1.50 per lb. (b.)― Cigars valued at less than $2.20 per lb. and not less than $1.60 per lb.―$0.70 per lb.
(c.)― Tobacco and cigarettes valued at not less than $1.60 per lb.―$0.70 per lb.
(d.)― Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes valued at less than $1.60 per lb. and not less than $1.10 per lb.―$0.30 per lb.
(e.)― Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes valued at less than $1.10 per lb. and not less than 60 cents per lb.―$0.20 per lb.
(f.)― Tobacco, cigars and cigarettes of any other kind not herein otherwise provided for― $0.10 per lb."
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded.
HIS EXCELLENCY―As was not unnatural in a free port, when we came to deal with the taxing of an article like tobacco we were working, more or less, in the dark. Therefore, it is not surprising―and I think hon. members will agree it is not surprising―that we should have had to modify the rates of duty. The reasons for the modification are that we laid, inadvertently, too heavy a hand on the cheapest form of cigarettes, and these new duties are designed, and have indeed, I believe, given satisfaction to these interested in the matter, in removing that rather severe penalty on the smoke of the Chinese coolie. I now beg to move that the resolution which has been proposed and seconded be adopted.
The resolution was then put to the meeting and unanimously carried.
Governor's Reply to Hon. Mr. Pollock's Questions
The following questions were put by the Hon. Mr. Pollock and answered by H.E. the Governor.
Q.―1. Is the Principal Civil Medical Officer responsible for
(i) The accuracy of the statements of fact which are contained in the Answers to my Questions in Council concerning Government Hospital matters, and also for
(ii) Recommending to the Government the number of Sisters which is necessary for the efficient working of the Government Hospitals, without imposing undue strain or work on the Sisters, and also for
(iii) Informing the Government in good time beforehand that Sisters will be completing their 4 years of Service in the Colony, so that steps may be taken, in plenty of time in advance, to insure that, so far as possible, Sisters shall be able to take long leave on the expiration of their 4 years of Service in the Colony?
40 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A.―1. (i) (ii). The Government takes the responsibility for the accuracy of statements of fact; it also takes the responsibility for providing a sufficient staff for the efficient working of the Government Hospitals.
1.―(iii). The Government is responsible for the making of the necessary arrangements to enable Sisters to take long leave. Sisters, in common with all other Officers in the Service, are required to give nine months' notice of their intention to apply for long leave, "in order," to quote the regulation, "that suitable arrangements for the Public Service as a whole may be devised."
Q.―2. Did the Principal Civil Medical Officer know, when the Estimates for the Government Staff at the Hospitals for 1916 were prepared:―
(1) That Sisters Craddock, Bone and Astin had recently resigned from the Service, and had not been replaced; and
(2) That Sisters Everingham and Wood would shortly be completing their 3 years' term of Service with the Government; and
(3) That Sister Millington would be retiring from the Service in 1916, and that the following Sisters would, during the course of 1916, complete their 4 years of Service in the Colony, namely, Sisters Gorham, Barlow, Barrow, Kelsey, and Sloan?
If the Principal Civil Medical Officer knew the above facts, did he communicate them or some and if so which of them to the Government?
A.―2. (i). The resignations of Sisters Craddock, Bone, and Astin were received by the Principal Civil Medical Officer in May, 1915, and were immediately reported by him to the Government.
(ii). The question of filling the vacancies, which would occur on the retirement of Sisters Everingham and Wood after their probationary period, was referred by the Principal Civil Medical Officer to the Government in June, 1915.
(iii) (a). At the date when the Estimates for 1916 were prepared there were grounds for anticipating that Sister Millington would remain in the Service until the end of the war. Miss Milling
ton decided in October that she would retire in April or May, 1916, and the Principal Civil Medical Officer reported to this effect forthwith, asking that immediate steps might be taken to fill the prospective. vacancy.
(b). The Principal Civil Medical Officer reported on the 11th, August, 1915, that Sisters Gorham and Barlow wished to take long leave early in 1916. He at the same time stated that three other Sisters would complete a period of four years' service in 1916. In the summer of 1915 Dr. Johnson put very fully and clearly before the Government the necessity for making provision for the filling of vacancies and the grant of long leave.
Q.―3. Is the Principal Civil Medical Officer responsible for the fact that the Notes appended to the Estimates for 1916 fail to disclose the fact that, in addition to the reduction of 2 Sisters in the Staff, to be replaced by 6 Probationer Dressers (which is noted in footnote (6) on page 61 of those Estimates) there is also a reduction of a third Sister, as compared with the Estimates for 1915, such reduction occurring under the following sub-heading of the Estimates, namely, "Kennedy Town Hospital"?
Did the Principal Civil Medical Officer point out to the Government, and, if so, when, that the Estimates for 1916 provided for a reduction of 3 Sisters in the Government Nursing Staff, as compared with the Estimates for 1915?
A.―3. The honourable member is apparently under a misapprehension. In the Estimates provision was made under "Kennedy Town Hospital" for two Sisters, one on a dollar and one on a sterling salary. The 1915 and 1916 Estimates provide for two Sisters, both on a sterling salary: but the 1915 Estimates show also, under the 1914 column, the dollar salary which lapsed at the end of 1914.
Q.―4. Did the Principal Civil Medical Officer recommend to the Government that, for the year 1916, 6 Probationer Dressers should be employed at the Government Civil Hospital instead of 2 Sisters? If the answer to the above question is in the negative, what Government Officer is responsible for the making of such suggestion?
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 41
A.―4. It was suggested by the Colonial Secretary that a system of Chinese dressers, on the lines of a system of native dressers which had worked most satisfactorily in hospitals for Asiatic patients in the Federated Malay States, should be given a trial in the Asiatic wards of the Government Civil Hospital.
Q.―5. Is it not the fact that on the 28th October last, the late Mr. E. A. Hewett, speaking in Council on behalf of the Unofficial Members, expressed their opposition to the substitution of 6 Probationer Dressers for 2 Nurses?
A.―5. This is the case. The late Mr. Hewett said that "probationer dressers, although they are very useful, cannot possibly take the place of Nurses." This Government on the other hand is of the opinion that properly trained dressers can and should take over a large part of the duties of European Nurses in wards for Asiatic patients. Arrangements have recently been made for Japanese Staff Nurses and probationer Nurses to take charge of the Asiatic wards in B Block at the Government Civil Hospital.
Q.―6. For what period of time are such Probationer Dressers engaged? Are they not constantly changing? Does not the Blue Book for 1915 (at pages J 134-6) contain the following Record with regard to Probationer Dressers, at the Government Civil Hospital, who were engaged to take the place of the said 2 Sisters, namely:―
Probationer Dressers
Li King-po, appointed 1st July.
Chan Wang-shang, appointed 1st July, resigned 31st August.
Wong Tak, appointed 1st September, resigned 15th October.
Chan Fuk-loi, appointed 16th October.
Chan Chuen, appointed 1st July, resigned 31st October.
Leung Ying, appointed 1st November.
Chan Hoi-chuen, appointed 1st July, resigned same date.
Tsang Put-ting, appointed 6th July, resigned 15th December.
Kwok Po-sum, appointed 16th December. Li Shu-nam, appointed 1st July, resigned 30th September.
Benjamin Young, appointed 1st October. Chan Man-chung, appointed 1st July, resigned same date.
Cheuk Sui-bun, appointed 9th July.
A.―6. Probationer dressers are engaged on a probationary period of six years. They are required to pass an examination at the end of the first, second, third, and sixth years, the Blue Book record of changes in the Staff of dressers is correct. Great difficulty was at first experienced in engaging a suitable class of man, but now that the system is better understood it is hoped that better material will become available.
Q.―7. With reference to that part of the statement made by the Government, in answer to my question 3 (i) at the last meeting of the Council, which reads as follows:―
"The Staff was increased, and it is considered that the present establishment, when at full strength, is ample for purposes of granting customary leave of absence," will the Government state
(i) For how many months such increase of Staff was in force, and also
(ii) Whether it is not the fact that, on the date of the last meeting of the Council, when the above answer was given, out of the 14 Sisters on the Government Nursing Staff in the Estimates for 1916 (exclusive of the 2 Sisters on the Private Nursing Staff) there were 7 Sisters only in the Colony then available for duty, of whom 3 had then already completed 4 years of Service?
A.―7. (i). The Staff of Nursing Sisters was increased in November, 1914. It was at full strength up to and including May, 1915.
(ii). Out of the fourteen Sisters shown in the Estimates for 1916 eight were in the Colony available for duty at the date mentioned. At that date they had the temporary assistance of four ladies, one fully and three partially trained. Of the eight Sisters referred to three had completed four years' service. Of these one has now gone on leave and the remaining two propose to sail on the 9th and 30th August respectively.
Q.―8. With reference to the following portion of the answer given to my question 2 at the last meeting of Council; namely:―
"During the period January, 1913, to June, 1916, inclusive the Nursing Staff in the Colony has been below the number borne on the Estimates during 12
42 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
months. It has been equal to or in excess of that number during 30 months," will the Government state
(i) When did the period or periods of time occur, making up the said 12 months during which the Government admits that the Nursing Staff in the Colony has been below the number borne on the Estimates? And will the Government state by how many during each of such periods such Nursing Staff has been
(ii) When did the period or periods of time, in the said 30 months, occur during which the Nursing Staff is alleged by the Government to have been in excess of the numbers borne on the Estimates, and by how many Sisters is it alleged that the Nursing Staff was in excess of the numbers on the Estimates during any and what portion of such period or periods?
(iii) When did the period or periods of time in the said 30 months occur during which the Government alleges that the Nursing Staff was equal to the numbers borne on the Estimates?
(iv) For how many months and during what months of what years, during the said period January, 1913, to June, 1916, was the same Sister attending to maternity cases at the same time as the was attending to other cases in either A or B Block? Is it admitted by the Government that such a course of procedure was undesirable? Was not such a course of procedure owing to a shortage Sisters available for nursing duty?
(v) Is it not the fact that during the said period January, 1913, to June, 1916, the Staff of Sisters available for duty was so short that different Sisters were obliged at different times to go on duty, when they were so seriously indisposed as to be in fact unfit for taking duty by reason of their suffering severely from diphtheria, gallstones, boils, acute sore throat, and dysentery?
A.―8. (i) (ii) (iii). The words "The Nursing Staff in the Colony" in the reply to the second question put by the honourable member on the last occasion should have been "The Nursing Staff employed by the Colony." The mistake, which arose through the misreading of a return furnished from the Government Civil Hospital is regretted. The exact position is as follows:―Throughout 1913
and 1914 provision was made in the Estimates for fifteen Sisters. From January to June, 1913, fifteen Sisters were in the employment of the Government and two of these were on leave. From July to October, 1913, fifteen Sisters were employed of whom one was on leave. In November, 1913, sixteen Sisters were employed of whom one was on leave. From December, 1913, to June, 1914, fifteen Sisters were employed, of whom one was on leave. In July and September, 1914, sixteen Sisters were employed of whom one was on leave. In August, 1914, fifteen Sisters were employed, of whom one was on leave. In October, 1914, fifteen Sisters were in the Colony. In November and December, 1914, eighteen Sisters were in the Colony. In 1915 provision was made for eighteen Sisters. Eighteen were in the Colony from January to May; seventeen were employed and were in the Colony in June; fifteen were employed and were in the Colony from July to September; and fifteen were employed, one of whom was on leave, from October to December. In 1916 provision was made for sixteen Sisters. In January sixteen were employed, of whom one was on leave. In February and March fourteen were employed, of whom one was on leave. In April and May thirteen were employed of whom two were on leave. In June twelve were employed of whom two were on leave.
(iv). There is no record of the Maternity Hospital being separated from the general hospital until August, 1913, when a Sister was temporarily engaged to take charge of the maternity hospital. She was assisted by a probationer nurse, or by one of the Private Nursing Staff when available. A Sister on duty in the General Hospital continued to take charge of the maternity cases at night. From October, 1914, the Maternity Hospital has been entirely separate from the General Hospital. The Government concurs that the existing system is preferable to the system which previously obtained. The former procedure was not due to any shortage of Sisters.
(v). The Superintendent of the Civil Hospital, the Matron, and the late Acting Matron concur that no Sister has at any time been obliged to go on duty when she was so seriously indisposed as to
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 43
be in fact unfit for taking duty. They agree, however, that Sisters will go on duty or remain on duty when they are not well, in order to prevent extra work being thrown on others. The Matron reports that on two occasions of late she discovered that a Sister was not well, and she sent her off duty at once. A Sister was recently reported as having dysentry, and on enquiry being made she said that she preferred not to go off duty, though, had the Staff not been so short handed, she would have been glad of two or three days' rest. The Superintendent states that it is largely a Sister's own fault if she goes on duty feeling too ill to do it, because the Sisters know quite well that they have only to say that they are not fit and they will be and always have been given a rest.
Q.―9. With reference to the following part of the answer to my Question 5 at the last meeting of Council, namely,
"For 10 years past one Sister has supervised the nursing on two floors in a similar manner,"
is it not the fact that for several, and, if so, for how many and what months during the said period January, 1913, to June, 1916, inclusive there has been one Sister on duty on each floor of A Block, during morning and afternoon duty?
A.―9. For some ten years one Sister was normally in charge of one floor in A Block and of C Block. Latterly one Sister has been in charge of both floors in A Block. This arrangement has not been continuous, and, when circumstances have admitted, separate Sisters have been in charge of separate floors whether in A or in C Block. One Sister was on duty on each floor of A Block during morning and afternoon for nine months in 1913 and for five months in 1914 and 1915 respectively. During 1916 only one Sister has been on duty.
Q.―10. With reference to the following part of the answer to my Question 5 at the last meeting of the Council:
"There are 48 beds in the four public Wards in A Block. The number of occupied beds in A Block, including the Private Wards, averaged during April, May, and June 37.2, 30.3, and 33.1 respectively."
is it not the fact that the work is yet harder for the Sister in B Block than for the Sister in A Block, owing to the constant stream of patients coming in and out of that Block and owing to their being more patients to attend to? Will the Government state how many beds there are in B Block, including the beds in the Private Wards, and what was the average number of beds occupied in B Block, including the Private Wards, during each of the months April, May, June, July, August, and September for each of the years 1914 and 1915 respectively, and during April, May, and June, 1916, respectively?
A.―10. The work in B. Block is harder than that in A. Block. There are fifty-six beds in the general wards of B. Block and six beds in the private wards. There is no record of the average number of beds occupied in B. Block during the periods referred to; and in any event Sisters were in charge of half only of B. Block until July, 1915, when a rearrangement of wards was made.
Q.―11. With reference to the statement, made in answer to my Question 4 at the last meeting of Council, as follows:―
"It is not the case that short leave granted to Sisters has to be taken outside of the Colony,"
has any Rule or Regulation ever been made to such effect, and, if so, when was it made, and has any such Rule or Regulation ever been notified to the Sisters, and, if so, when?
A.―11. The regulation reads "No Civil Servant has any claim to spend his vacation or half-pay leave of absence in the Colony without special sanction from the Governor, which in the case of half-pay leave will only be given in very special circumstances." The rule as regards half-pay leave dates from 1886 and as regards vacation leave from 1907. The Rules of the Service are available to the Sisters at the Matron's Office in the Civil Hospital and at the office of the Victoria Hospital. The Sisters are presumably aware of the rule in question, as several applications by Sisters to spend vacation leave in the Colony have been granted in recent years. There is no record of such an application having been refused. The following applications, all of which were granted, may interest the honourable member: ―
44 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Civil Hospital,
Hongkong, 16th May, 1912.
SIR,―I beg to apply for one month's vacation leave from the 3rd June. I would ask that permission be granted me to spend this leave in the Colony, as I am not able to incur the expense of travelling, and I feel the need of a holiday.―I am, etc.,
(Sd.) MARY A. LEE,
Sister.
The Superintendent,
Civil Hospital.
——
Civil Hospital,
Hongkong, 25th July, 1912.
SIR,―I have the honour to apply for two weeks' vacation leave from the 1st proximo, and to request permission to spend it in the Colony.―I have, etc., (Sd.) ELLEN LUCKMAN,
Sister.
The Superintendent,
Civil Hospital.
——
HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY, ― Sister Barrow applies for leave of absence from December 31st until January 15th, 1915, and wishes to be allowed to spend it in the Colony. I recommend that the application be granted.
(Sd.) J. T. C. JOHNSON,
P.C.M.O.
21st December, 1914.
Q. ― 12. Are there not now 2 Chinese Wardmasters employed at the Government Civil Hospital in the place of 2 European Wardmasters?
A. ― 12. This is the case. The European Wardmasters referred to, one of whom is an ex soldier and the other an expoliceman, have been given leave of absence for the duration of the war in order that they may serve in the Army.
Q.―13. Was there not for some months, and, if so, during what months, in the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, a shortage of drugs and disinfectants in the Government Civil Hospital? Is not the Principal Civil Medical Officer responsible for the ordering of a sufficient quantity of drugs and disinfectants for use in the Government Hospitals?
A.―13. It should be explained in the first place that under General Order 137 all members of the Civil Service have the privilege of getting their prescriptions made by their medical attendants compounded at the Government Civil Hospital. It should also be explained that
it has always been the practice to purchase locally necessary drugs and disinfectants of which the Government stock may have run short. In 1914 there was no shortage in drugs and disinfectants required by the Government Civil Hospital, which could not be supplied by local purchase. In 1915 a shortage occured in the Government supplies in the months of June, July and August owing to the non-arrival of supplies requisitioned from England. Here again necessary articles were purchased locally. Early in the current year owing to a loss of a consignment of drugs, some of which were specially required, in the unfortunate Yasaka Maru, inconvenience was caused, but the supply of drugs was supplemented as far as possible by local purchases. I may interpolate here that drugs for the hospital which were ordered last October were received only the other day. The reason, of course, is obvious; it is, due to the state of war. The Principal Civil Medical Officer is given a full discretion to order from England such articles as in his opinion will be needed and he has full authority to replenish stock, where he thinks fit, by local purchase. Fashions change in drugs, and there may be in one year a heavy demand for some article which in the following year is neglected. The Government is satisfied that Dr. Johnson uses his discretion wisely in deciding what articles, in what quantities, are to be bought. It may be mentioned that the Government Civil Hospital stocks some 600 different articles.
Q.―14. Is not the clothing of Asiatic patients in the Government Civil Hospital changed only once a week? Has not the Principal Civil Medical Officer sent round Minutes to the Sisters, urging that the Washing Bill should be kept as low as possible? Is it not the fact that Sisters have experienced a difficulty in procuring sufficient clean clothing and clean bedding for the patients in the said Hospital?
14.―There is no hard and fast rule about changing clothing and bedding. Normally in the Asiatic wards clothing is changed weekly, but in many cases clothing and bedding have to be changed daily. The clean-liness of the beds and patients is under the discretion of the Sister in charge of the ward. The Principal Civil Medical Officer under date the 28th June,
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 45
23rd August, and 8th December, 1915, issued three minutes in which he called particular attention to the general rise in prices and the consequent necessity for the very careful supervision of expenditure under the various heads, including expenditure on washing.
I trust that the very full and detailed information which has been given will prove of value to members of this Council. The compilation of it has given several very hard-worked officers a vast amount of labour. The position at the Government Hospitals now is this. Owing to circumstances wholly attributable to the state of war in which we unhappily find ourselves we are short of our highly trained Nursing Staff. In this, as you will have learned from the correspondence with the Federated Malay States and Singapore, we are not singular. We have failed to replace those shortages and we have had recourse to the Hospitals of Japan; and I have now after a personal investigation arranged that the Block shown as B Block at the Government Civil Hospital shall be entirely removed from the charge of the Sisters and placed under the care of Japanese Staff Nurses and Probationers. As the ward is entirely occupied by Asiatics I am following in this organisation the example set in the Straits Settlements, and elsewhere, in not providing highly trained European Sisters for the care and nursing of Asiatics, and I am sure that the Chinese members of Council will recognise that the change is reasonable.
This change with the engagement of additional assistance in the Maternity Hospital enables me to allocate these Sisters as follows:―
A Block
Morning, 1 sister on each floor.
Afternoon, 1 sister on both floors.
Night, 1 sister on both floors.
Operating Theatre, 1 sister.
Maternity, 1 sister in the morning, 1 sister in the afternoon,
leaving two Sisters and one Probationer for the Victoria Hospital.
This disposition makes no provision for the 2 Private Nurses which the Government is bound to supply to outsiders if called for. To provide for such contingency I have engaged Mrs. Mac-Ewen from about 20th August for the Maternity Hospital. I have telegraphed to Japan for two more Japanese Nurses
and I am trying to arrange for one or two Volunteer Aid Detachment Nurses to devote the whole of their time to Nursing at the Government Civil Hospital instead of their mornings only. And here I would like to record my thanks to the Misses Gordon for the excellent work they have done at the Government Civil Hospital and for their unselfish sacrifice of their time in the public interest.
For whole time Volunteer Aid Detachment Nurses in the present emergency I am prepared to pay salaries either as Sisters if qualified or as Probationers if unqualified, and I trust I may get some applications on these terms. I trust, gentlemen, that these dispositions will be regarded as satisfactory as far as circumstances permit. There are some other minor matters to which my attention has been directed in the course of interviews with the Sisters and investigations arising out of the many questions put by the honourable member. These will be sympathetically and carefully dealt with, and if their solution redounds to the greater efficiency of the Public Service I shall not forget to give the credit of suggesting improvement to the honourable member.
Revenue Officers Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the second reading of the Bill intituled. "An Ordinance to amend the Revenue Officers' Power of Arrest Ordinance, 1913." In doing so he said:―One object of this Bill is to bring the schedule to the principal Ordinance up to date. The Military Stores, Post Office, Opium and Pharmacy Ordinances have been amended or repealed and the Tobacco Ordinance has just recently been placed on the Statute Book, and the effect of the second section of this Bill will be to incorporate these changes in the schedule to the principal Ordinance. The other object of the Bill is to give the Governor-in-Council power to amend the schedule in future in order to avoid the necessity of passing amending ordinances when further changes occur in the Statute Book. I beg to move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, on Council resuming,
46 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the Bill be read a third time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was then read a third time and passed.
HIS EXCELLENCY―Council stands adjourned sine die.
——
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
——
A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
Telegraph Services
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of thirty-two thousand dollars ($32,000) in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, Telegraph Services, Telegrams sent and received by Government.
THE CHAIRMAN―Of course, this could not be anticipated.
The vote was agreed to.
Sanitary Department
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of four thousand nine hundred and twenty-one dollars ($4,921) in aid of the following votes:―
Sanitary Department, Other Charges:―
Sanitary Staff
Bath-houses, Fuel ......................................... $ 600 Disinfectants ................................................. 1,300 Fuel for Blacksmith's Forges ....................... 56 Launch, Steam Barges, and Lighters:―
Coal ...................................................... 285 Repairs ................................................. 2,500
Veterinary Staff
Animal Depots and Slaughter-houses:―
Light...................................................... 180 ——
Total ..................................... $4,921
THE CHAIRMAN―This is due to the great increase in the price of coal, disinfectants, etc. The price of Sanitas Okol has gone up from 2s. 6d. per gallon last year to 3s. 3d. The price of chloride of lime has also increased three times more than it was last year. Kerosene oil is of double the price it was last year. There has also been a large increase in the cost of materials which are required for the exorbitant requirements of the steam barge of the Sanitary Department, No. 3. Light at the slaughter-houses accounts for $180, and there has been an increase here in the price of gas.
The vote was agreed to.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.