THE MILITARY HOSPITAL
Occasional brief references have been made in this series to the old military Hospital, which was situated on the seafront, north of Queen's Road, and later became absorbed as part of Wellington Barracks. In old maps going back to the Forties it is marked as D'Aguilar's Hospital. The reason for this is that it was erected in substantial brick, round about 1843-44 principally owing to the insistence of Major-General D'Aguilar, who held the combined post of General Officer Commanding and Lieutenant Governor, the latter an old title, reminiscent of the East India Company, which was abolished after his time.
Prior to 1843, temporary hospital accommodation had been found in a hastily erected building: the first military hospital in Hongkong was probably put up as soon as troops landed here, in 1841, in matshed form, like some of the early barracks. Otherwise, sick troops were first accommodated, along with naval ratings, aboard the hospital ships in the harbour.
With the decision, in 1843, to build permanent barracks and a General's house, the erection of a permanent hospital was also put in hand, and D'Aguilar's Hospital resulted.
This old place with modifications and improvements from time to time was in use for a full sixty years. It was not until the beginning of the present century that the fine building at Bowen Road was commenced, and it was not completed until 1906. As early as 1894, the pathway which connects the present Military Hospital with Queen's Road had been constructed by the military.
From the available newspaper files we are able to obtain details of the new premises. In its issue of July 5, 1906, the Hongkong Telegraph states in part:
"By the courtesy of H.E. Major General Villiers-Hatton a representative of this journal recently had the pleasure of a visit to the new Military Hospital now nearing completion near Bowen Road. All who see the place, and note its magnitude, its imposing buildings, and, above all, its splendid, commanding position, at once allow that the military authorities knew full well what they were about when they chose the site. Few hospitals we have seen are so favourably and beautifully situated, and we should imagine that, in what we believe to be its comparative healthfulness of position and its reanimating beauty of environment, it starts with an undeniable asset in favour of its patients. If any breeze is going in this part of the world the new hospital is sure to get in the way of it. It catches the breeze that sweeps across the harbour from the Kowloon hills, or that swirls through Magazine Gap, or that comes from east or west across the slopes of Hongkong. The views to be obtained from the site are glorious also; there is, in short, no crampiness about the place, but a sense of the freedom of the open air.
"You pass through a porter's lodge on the Bowen Road, up a concreted path to the site on which stand the main buildings. Staff Sgt. Holohan, the foreman in charge of the work, told our representative that the site was handed over for building purposes in 1903, the contractors being Chan Wan and Chan Loong.
"The buildings have been excellently planned from both the hygienic and utilitarian standpoints. The main portion consists of two wings and an administrative block. The hospital proper is contained in the two wings, which were originally intended to contain 180 beds. Owing to slight alterations to the plans, however, this number now includes 12 beds in what is now an officers' ward, and 14 beds in a women and children's ward; so that for general purposes there are now 150 beds. Some of these are included in wards for special cases.
THE MILITARY HOSPITAL
Occasional brief references have been made in this series to the old military Hospital, which was situated on the seafront, north of Queen's Road, and later became absorbed as part of
Wellington Barracks. In old maps going back to the Forties it is marked as D' guilar's Hospital. The reason for this is that it was erected in substantial brick, round about 1843-44 principally owing to the insistence of Major-General D'Aguilar, who held the combined post of General Officer Commanding and Lieutenant Governor, the latter an old title, reminiscent of the East India Company, which was abolished after his time.
Prior to 1843, temporary hospital accommodation had been found in a hastily erected building: the first military hospital in Hongkong was probably put up as soon as troops landed here, ir 1841, in matshed form, like some of the early barracks. Otherwise, sick troops were first accommodated, along with naval rattings, aboard the hospital ships in the harbour.
with the decision, in 1843, to build permanent barracks and a General's house, the erection of a permanent hospital was also put in hand, and D'Aguilar's Hospital resulted.
This old place with modifications and improvements from time to time was in use for a full sixty years. It was not
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until the beginning of the present century that the fine building at Bowen Road was commenced, and it was not completed until 1906. As early as 1894, the pathway which connects the present Military Hospital with Queen's Road had been constructed by the military..
From the available newspaper files we are able to obtain details of the new premises. In its issue of July 5, 1906, the
Hongkong Telegraph states in part:
"By the courtesy of H.E. Major General Villiers- Hatton a representative of this journal recently had the pleasure of a visit to the new Military Hospital now nearing completion near Bowen Road. All who see the place, and note its magnitude, its imposing buildings, and, above all, its splendid, commanding position, at once allow that the military authorities knew full well what they were about when they chose the site. Few hospitals we have seen are so favourably and beautifully situated, and we should imagine that, in what we believe to be its com- parative healthfulness of position and its reanimating beauty of environment, it starts with an undeniable asset in favour of its patients. If any breeze is going in this part of the world the new hospital is sure to get in the way of it. It catches the breeze that sweeps across the harbour from the Kowloon hills, or that swirls through Magazine Gap, or that comes from east or west across the slopes of Hongkong. The views to be obtained from the site are glorious also; there is, in short, no crampiness about the place, but a sense of the freedom of the open air.
"You pass through a porter's lodge on the Bowen Road, up a concreted path to the site on which stand the main buildings. Staff Sgt. Holohan, the foreman in charge of the 'work, told our representative that the site was handed over for building purposes in 1903, the contractors being Chan Wan and Chan Loong.
"The buildings have been excellently planned from both the hygienic and utilitarian standpoints. The main portion consists of two wings and an administrative block. The hospital proper is contained in the two wings, which were originally intended to contain 180 beds. Owing to slight alterations to the plans, however, this number now includes 12 beds in what is now an officers' ward, and 14 beds in a women and children's ward; so that for general purposes there are now 150 beds. Some of these are included in wards for special cases.
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