Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 910

[ XXXV ]

If, however, it really is to be so, that in everything English practices are to be followed, it becomes the duty of petitioners to request the Registrar General to draw out a list of prohibitions, by which they may direct their actions accordingly, and may venture to act without fear of offending through blind ignorance.

Once more, the customs of the Chinese are as different as possible from those of the English, and if it is according to English principles that the hospitals are to be con- ducted, why should petitioners defray expenses and take the trouble of building another? (when there is an English hospital already).

If, however, His Worship will give permission in accordance with the regulation before mentioned to leave the conduct of affairs to the Chinese, petitioners will find no difficulty in making suitable arrangements; and should there be anything deficient in their arrangements, they must entreat His Worship to pardon it. Thus will petition- ers be eternally grateful, and hereafter their successors in office will not be hampered in their acts by apprehensions of breaking the law.

Petition presented to His Worship the Acting Registrar General, who is requested to forward it to His Excellency the Governor.

30th July, 1869.

True translation,

H. E. WODEHOUSE.

(Memo. by The Governor.)

Mr. AUSTIN,

I have seen Dr. MURRAY on this subject, and he tells me that in the case in ques- tion he had pointed out the obvious impropriety of moving a dying man into a room with persons therein already dead.

Mr. LISTER is clearly to blame for the hasty action which he has taken in this matter, and he must plainly inform the Chinese community that I do not object to removal of the dying provided they are removed with care and so as not to accelerate their end, and are carried to a neighbouring apartment as well furnished and provided with as good beds and as many comforts as though there was every hope of their ultimate recovery.

Mr. LISTER may inform the Chinese, that although I am prepared to respect their national customs and prejudices as to the removal of the dying from amongst the living, seeing that the spectacle of a man dying in their midst may exercise a very discour- aging influence on the other patients, it is nevertheless highly essential that such removal should not be accompanied by any circumstances of neglect, callousness, or cruelty discreditable to humanity, whether English or Chinese.

Dr. MURRAY had objected to a dying man being removed to a comfortless room containing a corpse. I too pronounce such conduct barbarous and discreditable, and hope never to hear of its recurrence, but I do not think the leading Chinese would them- selves permit it again.

With care it is impossible that the Chinese can now misapprehend the views of this Government, and I see no reason to apprehend any disturbance of the good feeling and mutual desire to co-operate, which at present so fortunately subsists between the Government and the Chinese community.

31st July, 1869.

R. G. McD.