Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 712

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Meeting held on Saturday, 18th April, 1896.

Present:-Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary (President).

Honourable A. M. THOMSON, Acting Colonial Treasurer.

Honourable C. P. Chater,

Honourable Dr. Ho KAI.

Honourable T. H. WHITEhead.

Mr. WEI A YUK, Compradore of the Mercantile Bank.

THE PRESIDENT-How long have you been resident in the Colony?-Forty-seven

years.

I believe you have lived all that time in the Colony with the exception of a few years you spent in England ?-I spent six years in England.

Do you know anything of the Tung Wa Hospital ?-I was twice Chairman of the Tung Wa Hospital Committee, and I was well acquainted with the general management during that period.

There has been a suggestion made that it would be a good thing to have a Chinese doctor trained in Western medicine placed in the Tung Wa Hospital who would look after the registration work. Do you think that would be a good thing?—Yes, if he does not interfere with the management of the Hospital, and does not interfere with the method of curing unless asked specially by a patient.

Do you think an arrangement of that kind would work harmoniously ?-With tact and time I think it would, but the Chinese are greatly prejudiced against European methods. The arrangement you suggest would work if the man you put in charge of the registration was very cautious.

Mr. THOMSON-This man would require to see every case brought into the Hospital so that he could report any cases of infectious diseases ?—Yes.

THE PRESIDENT-Then you think the Receiving Ward ought to be continued as at present ?-It does not do any harm.

Mr. WHITEHEAD-Is a Receiving Ward in use now?—Yes; it is a new ward separated from the General Ward, and when a patient is brought to the Hospital, no matter what disease he is suffering from, he is placed in this ward until the doctor comes to examine him. If it is a case of plague, the patient is sent to the Kennedy Town Hospital.

And the doctor in charge is Chinese?-At present, no. The Colonial Surgeon sees all the patients that are brought in. What I should like to know is whether in the working of the Hospital you are to continue to have the Colonial Surgeon going there to inspect the patients?

THE PRESIDENT-Under the Tung Wa Hospital Ordinance the Colonial Surgeon has power to inspect the Hospital. Do I understand from you that in your opinion it would be sufficient to continue this ward with a Chinese trained in Western science in charge of it, instead of having a European doctor there at all? Yes.

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Mr. WHITEHEAD-But under that arrangement one doctor would require to be in charge of the ward for twenty-four hours on end?-It would be a great convenience instead of the present system to keep all these patients in the Receiving Ward for the twelve hours until the doctor came to see them.