376
There have been seven deaths amongst the members of the Force during the year: one European, two Indians and one Chinese dving in hospital; one In lian died on leave, one Chinese at his residence in Hongkong and another at his native place whilst on leave.
The total admissions to Hospital and deaths in the Force for the last ten years are shown in the following Table :-
Year.
1888,......
1889,..
1890,
1891,
1892,..............
1893,
1894,
1895, 1896..
·
1897,......
Admissions.
Deaths.
657
15
590
14
582
7
570
7
496
7
522
6
505
15
466
8
588
526
14 7
POLICE STATIONS.
The accommodation provided in several of the stations of the city is very inadequate. I refer more especially to Nos. V, VI, and VII Police Stations. To corroborate this statement from Table III it will be seen that the following Police were admitted from No. VII station during the year:
Europeans.
9
Indians.
43
Chinese.
25
Total.
77
Hung
more than 14 per cent of the total admissions. On the other hand at Aberdeen where the quarters have been built on an improved site there were only 14 admissions as against 27 in 1896. Hom and Yaumuti account for 42 admissions in 1897 as against 14 in 1896.
The Central Police Station leaves much to be desired as a barracks for the Police. It is much too overcrowded, and to secure the maintenance of the health and vigour of the Force the question of erecting barracks in close proximity to the city but not in its central and most overcrowded part will have to be considered.
ST. JOHN'S AMBULANCE CLASS.
Last summer I instructed a class consisting of one Inspector, three Sergeants and 15 Constables in "first aid to the injured," and of this class fifteen who presented themselves for examination passed. Surgeon-Colonel EVATI, P.M.O., very kindly acted as examiner. Every policeman should be qualified to render efficient “first aid "in case of need.
The different hours of duty of the men and the distance of many of the stations from the city render the regular attendance of members at a class of this sort somewhat difficult.
TROOPS.
From Table IV it will be seen that there was a decided increase in the sickness amongst the British Troops, the admissions to hospital being 2,973 as against 2,729 in 1896 whilst the strength has diminished from 1,470 to 1,417. All round 1897 must have been a less healthy year for the Troops than 1896 as although the total average strength of the Garrison had decreased from 2,784 to 2,645, the admissions to hospital increased from 4,274 to 4,455, against this the number of deaths. diminished from 19 to 15. However, it must be borne in mind that many more men were invalided home during 1897 than has been the custom in former years and some of these would, in all likelihood, have died but they remained in the Colony.
The average daily rate of sickness amongst the Native Troops has decreased from 59.59 to 52.71 per cent. and the rate of mortality of the strength from 6.08 to 4.07 per 1,000. The improved accommodation provided for the men of the Hongkong Regiment accounts to a great extent for this, as I surmised would be the case in my Annual Report for 1895.
The following table gives the sickness and mortality among the Troops for the past ten years:-
Admissions.
Deaths.
1888,
1,485
21
1889,
1,732
16
1890,
1,915
15
1891,
1,851
17
1892,
2,844
31
1893,
2,927
28
1894,
2,905
39
1895,
3,099
28
1896,
4,274
19
1897,
4,455
15
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