Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 516

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MATERNITY HOSPITAL.

Table VII gives the admissions during each month of the year. In all there were 31 Europeans and 37 Asiaties, as against 29 Europeans, oue Indian, and 37 Chinese in 1902.

VICTORIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

This hospital, which has been built by the public of Hongkong in memory of of Her late Most Gracious Majesty Queen VICTORIA, was opened by His Excellency Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G., on November 7th.

It was then formally handed over to the Governinent by the Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G., on behalf of the Jubilee Committee.

It is situated on the Barker Road some 800 feet above the sea level, and provides accommodation for thirty-three women and eight children. A much needed want is thus supplied, as the Government Civil Hospital has only one general ward for women of all nationalities and one private ward.

On the ground floor there are four private wards, a dispensary, an office and a children's ward; on the first floor there are two general wards one for Europeans and one for Asiaties-each containing twelve beds. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese will avail themselves of the benefits of this hospital as they seem to have an objection to living on the higher levels. On the first floor there is also a small isolation ward and an operating theatre.

In addition to the hospital there are quarters for a Resident Doctor and for the Nursing staff, these being connected with the main building by a covered passage.

There is no doubt that this Hospital will prove a boon to the yearly increasing number of Government servants and residents who have to reside in the overcrowd- ed lower part of the town.

VICTORIA Gaob.

The following table gives the number of admissions to the Gaol and the daily average number of prisoners during the past ten years:

Prisoners admitted

to the Gaol.

Year.

Daily Average No.

of Prisoners.

1894,

..3,913

455

1895,

...5,014

472

1896,

.5,58%

514

1897,

..5,076

462

1898,

.5,427

511

1899,

..4,789

434

1900,

..5,432

486

1901,

.5.077

499

1902.

.5.988

576

1903,

..7.273

653

From Dr. Koch's report it will be seen that there has been and is consider- able overcrowding at the Gaol.

From the 16th May to the 4th June, there was a sharp outbreak of plague- in the Gaol; during this time 15 cases occurred.

A Committee was appointed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire into this outbreak, and a report has been submitted. In their opinion overcrowding was an important factor in the causation of this outbreak,

On the 30th May, 100 short sentence prisoners were released by order of H. E. the Governor; taking seven days from this date as the limit of the period of incubation, no more cases developed after the release of these prisoners.

With a view to relieving the overcrowding as far as possible, the Belilios Reformatory has been utilised as a temporary auxiliary prison; but the evil,. though diminished thereby, has not yet been removed.

TUNG WAI HOSPITAL.

The number of admissions was 119 less than in 1902.