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Dr. ATKINSON.—I should think it is impracticable, there are so many ways for the Chinese to evade this inspection, by coming in junks or some of the other river steamers. It would be a great advantage if it could be carried out in epidemic times, I mean by that when plague is prevalent at Canton and Macao.
The Chairman.--Supposing that the Principal Civil Medical Officer was a purely administrative officer and his duties as regards the Hospital were only of a consultative - character, would that take up all his time?
Dr. ATKINSON.-He is at present President of the Sanitary Board as well. The administration work of these two departments would be quite enough to occupy all his time.
Colonel HUGHES-But if plague broke out would he go and visit and report upon it, or would the Medical Officer of Health?
Dr. ATKINSON. No, not necessarily, the Medical Officer of Health would do this, but he might be called upon by the Government to report.
The Chairman.-Supposing you had control of all the Health Officers of the Port, then you would be responsible for everything that takes place in the Medical Depart- ment ?
Dr. ATKINSON.-That is so at present.
The Chairman. If you were purely an administrative officer would it not be desirable to have the whole of the Medical Officers of the Department under you?
Dr. ATKINSON. Yes, it is practically so now. I think it would be advisable to have it definitely stated that all the medical officers of the Department should be under the Principal Civil Medical Officer.
Colonel HUGHES.-The Medical Officer of Health reports direct to the Governor ?
Dr. ATKINSON.-The Governor communicates with him direct, but the Medical Officer of Health is supposed to communicate ordinarily through the Secretary of the Sanitary Board.
Colonel HUGUES.-The Secretary is an officer of the Sanitary Board.
Dr. STEDMAN.-Would'nt it be more natural if the Health Officer of the Port were subordinate to the Sanitary Department, for is he not primarily responsible to the Sanitary Department ?
Dr. ATKINSON.-lle is not responsible to the Sanitary Department, but he is under the orders of the Principal Civil Medical Officer. The Medical Officer of Health was practically appointed a member of the Medical Department, and when he arrived in the Colony he was seconded for special work to the Sanitary Department, but he is still, I take it, liable to be called upon to do other duties, if exceptional circumstances should require it.
Dr. STEDMAN. He was brought out from Europe as Medical Officer of Health.
Dr. ATKINSON.—The letter of appointment stated he was an Assistant Surgeon in the Medical Department.
Dr. STIDMAN-But he had given up all his general practice in England in favour of sanitation before he left, and he was appointed to be a sanitary expert.
Dr. ATKINSON-That is so.
Mr. SHARP.-Don't you think there would be great confusion if the Medical Officer of Health for the Town was put under the Principal Civil Medical Officer ?
Dr. ATKINSON.-In what way
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