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The large numbers coming from Saigon are chiefly people who have been unable to pay the poll- tax there, and who after being in prison for this reason are handled to a Chinese charitable society to be returned to their native districts. The Tung Wah Directors assist this society by receiving them on their arrival in Hongkong, and arranging for their being forwarded to their destinations, while contributions sent to the Hospital funds from Chinese in Saigon more than cover the outlay involved.

The similar work of the refuge known as the Po Leung Kuk, adjoining the Tung Wah Hospital, which while under the management of another Board of Directors works in co-operation with the other, may here be mentioned. This institution has during the past year found husbands for 30 women, secured adoption into families for 7 girls, and sent to their homes in the country 106 men and 205 women and girls.

Of the 842 deaths. 217 (176 male and 41 female) were moribund on admission, death occurring within a few hours after reception into the Hospital. Where curative treatment is hopeless, such palliative treatment as may be possible is administered by the Chinese doctors or by Dr. CHUNG using Western methods as may have been selected by the patient or his friends, and the cases are classed accordingly. Thus of the 217 moribund cases, 60 are classed in the Table showing Admissions and Mortality as having been under European treatment, and 157 as under Chinese treatment.

In addition to the above, 344 dead bodies (257 male and $7 female) were brought to the Tung Wab Hospital mortuary to await burial. An approximate diagnosis of the causes of death for the purposes of the Registrar-General's returns is made by means of inspection of these bodies and cross- questioning of the friends or relatives as to the symptoms and duration of the illnesses preceding death. Ôn account of the antipathy of the Chinese to any mutilation of the dead body, post-mortem section is resorted to as seldom as possible; but where the statements made scem to be not straightforward, or where death may have resulted from infective disease, or where medico-legal questions are involved, as in sudden death and death by accident, suicide, poisoning, &c., the bodies are transferred to the Public Mortuary for internal examination. Such internal examination was considered necessary in 20 cases during the year.

Some of those who die in the Hospital and of those brought to the Hospital Mortuary are buried privately by their relatives, but the larger proportion are buried at the expense of the Hospital funds. Large numbers of poor people also who die in the Government Civil Hospital, and abandoned dead bodies found by the Police and taken to the Public Mortuary, are buried by the charitable funds of the Tung Wali Hospital. During 1898 free burial was thus provided for 1,309 persons, as follows:- 603 from Tung Wah Hospital; 159 bodies brought in already dead; and 547 from the Government Civil Hospital and the Government Public Mortuary.

THE HOSPITAL STAFF.

The Steward who was on probation at the date of any last report proved satisfactory, and his appointment was confirmed. This carries into effect the recommendation of the Tung Wah Commis- sion that such an office should be created, and the duties assigned to the Steward are those suggested :— he is held responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the Hospital buildings and drainage, for the personal cleanliness of the patients, their bedding and clothing, for the proper carrying out of the conservancy system, for the proper ventilation of the wards, &c., and the working staff of the Hospital is under his control. The Steward along with Dr. CHUNG and a head coolie accompany me all over the Hospital daily at my morning inspection, and I am thus able at once to point out anything requir- ing attention to the person immediately responsible for it.

A second student of the College of Medicine for Chinese, named LEUNG CHIK FAN, was early in the year appointed by the Directors to assist Dr. CHUNG,

TANG KING FAI, his first student-assistant, has been appointed by the Directors, and recognised by the Government, as Public Vaccinator in connection with the institution, in addition to his clinical duties,

THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS.

All the six large wards on the ground-floor have been re-floored with wood.

The wards are now warmed by means of stoves instead of the small fire-places formerly in use, though the latter are still available in case of need.

The kitchen has been re-floored and re-constructed, with very considerable improvements in its arrangements and equipment.

A covered gangway has been constructed between the verandahs of the upper floors of the North and West Blocks of wards, facilitating communication between them.

A strong iron fence has been erected round the verandah of the upper storey of the West Block of wards, which includes the Fever Wards, to obviate risks to delirious patients.

All the drains have been examined, and where defective have been put in order, under the supervi

sion of the architect, and of officers of the Public Works Department.

The appearance of the Hospital has been materially improved during the year by a free use of paint and colour-washing, and by the placing of plants in pots all over the institution.