Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 883

[ VIII]

Some years ago, some person or persons, made a collection among the shop-keepers, for the purpose of building a place for sick coolies.

After the money was collected, my teacher is under the impression, that on am application to the Governor, a piece of land was given for this purpose, free of taxes; (but of this he is not certain).

In Hongkong a number of men frequently work in a very small room. In this room they also eat and sleep. If one of their number is very ill, the master of the shop gets a couple of coolies, and has him conveyed to the "I-Ts'z.”

The "I-Ts'z" consists of two sinall rooms, which are in the foulest condition. Sometimes as many as thirty patients are huddled together in it. There is not, as there could not possibly be, any classification of patients. Those who are afflicted with the most contagious disease lie side by side with those who are ill, maybe, froin old age.

Before the patient is adınitted into the "I-Ts'z," the person in charge of it enquires how much he is to receive for looking after him. No money, no admission.

The sum paid varies from four or five hundred cash to three dollars, according to the master's liberality, or the coolie's means.

For this the man is allowed to die. He gets food of the worst description, and of that the smallest quantity. No medical attendance, no medicines.

My teacher is under the impression that if no such place as the "I-Ts'z" existed, many lives would be saved annually, for then the masters would be compelled to take charge of their sick. That one or other of the sick man's shop-mates or friends would look after him, and supply him with at least enough to eat. He says "the Governor ought to take it away," ie., destroy it.

I feel convinced that if this account is true, and that the case was brought before His Excellency the Governor, he would make short work of it.

F. STEWART, Esq.,

fc.,

&C..

&c.

E. J. R. WILLCOCKS.

(Enclosure 3.)

(Minute by The Governor.)

Mr. AUSTIN,

There is unquestionably something very revolting in finding suddenly that such heartless cruelty and filth could be found in any building in this City,

Nevertheless, the laws seem not so bad, and the Registrar General himself is to blame for the existence of such disreputable places as the Chinese hospital which be describes. Under Ordinance 8 of 1858 it seems to me that he is specially expected and authorised (section 4) to look after the interests of the Chinese, and that with him rests the responsibility of visiting houses and tenements of every description where Chinese coolies and others-emigrants are particularly mentioned--are harbored (not in the actual employment of the householder); and that (section 19) he is bound to see after the licensing of such houses, to inspect them, "and enforce therein the observance of good order, decency and morality, and the prevention and punishment of nuisances and other abuses" amongst the inmates of such houses.

To assist him penalties up to fifty dollars can be enforced against parties not con- forming themselves to the Regulations made by the Registrar General, or not having licences for keeping such houses as those in which the disgusting, scenes reported took place.