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The Chairman.-Do you think if you had a medical officer to help you and Dr. JORDAN, he would have time to do the Government work in Kowloon in addition ?
Dr. SWAN.-There is very little Government work to do in Kowloon.
The Chairman.-You think it could be easily done?
Dr. SWAN.-Very easily.
Dr. STEDMAN.-Might I mention that the Government has established a Plague Hospital and a Mortuary at Kowloon. The Plague Hospital is to be worked by Chi- n ese under European supervision, and the question is whether the Second Port Officer would have time to look after the Plague Hospital-to superintend it-and the Mortuary and see after the subordinate officials who live in Kowloon in addition to his other work?
I have done all the work myself.
Dr. SWAN.-I should
say so. Colonel HUGHES.-This is new work; the Plague Hospital is newly established. Dr. SWAN. He could have fixed hours to go there, and also to attend to the Mor- tuary.
Dr. STEDMAN. One of the other Medical Officers raised an objection, because he said the Mortuary work would always have to be done in the morning, and therefore the Medical Officer in Kowloon would not be able to go off to ships in the morning, and if the hours were divided up between 'yourself and the new Port Health Officer you would have to take the morning hours.
Dr. SWAN.--I prefer the morning hours to those of the afternoon.
Dr. STEDMAN. At any rate you think it would be fairly easy for him, if he was Port Health Officer, in addition to yourself, to look after the Plague Hospital and Mor- tuary at Kowloon and attend to the Government subordinate officials in Kowloon ?
Dr. SWAN.--I should say so.
Colonel HUGHES.--If you were Government Port Officer, and forbidden to engage in private practice, would you consider yourself overworked?
Dr. SWAN. Certainly not.
Colonel HUGHES.-You would be quite satisfied with your position ?
Dr. SWAN.-Quite satisfied.
Colonel HUGHES.-You don't think you would apply for a deputy or assistant ? According to your answer you would not.
Dr. SWAN.-I would not.
The Chairman.-You consider the Port work could be done by one medical officer?
Dr. SWAN.-Certainly.
Dr. R. M. GIBSON, of the Alice Memorial and Nethersole Hospitals, was then called.
Dr. STEDMAN.- Did you act as Dr. THOMSON's deputy at night during the time the latter was in charge of Kennedy Town Plague Hospital?
Dr. GIBSON.-Yes, on one occasion.
Dr. STEDMAN.-Was Dr. THOMSON living at the Peak when you acted as deputy? Dr. GIBSON.-Yes, Sir.
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