Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 56

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MAGISTRACIES.

The only comment that the Commissioners have to make here is that it is unnecessary to fill the post of Magistrate's clerk at the Central Magistry with a legally qualified or legally trained officer. An officer of Class II or at the top of Class III of the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff is sufficient provided that the magisterial bench is filled by an efficient person.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

After most careful consideration the Commissioners feel unable to recommend any reduction in this department. Considering the density of the population, probably higher than in any other city in the world, it would seem that if anything too little public health work is done. At most they recommend that the extensive schemes-at any rate so far as regards those involving the expenditure of extra money--for reorganizing the Medical and Sanitary Services be deferred until more prosperous times. It is only two years since a medical man, the Hon. Dr. Wellington, was brought to the Colony for the specific purpose of reorganization. And it is still more recently that the first fundamental step towards the stamping out of malaria was taken by the appointment of a Malariologist. The Commissioners hesitate to recommend that the post should be abolished.

2. The Medical Department has for some years past employed Chinese as medical. officers. This practice should be extended to the Bacteriologist's and the Government Analyst's sub-departments. At both only the head should be an European. The assist- ants, one at the former office and three at the latter, should be replaced by Chinese. The substitution of Chinese for European Nursing Sisters should be pushed on as rapidly as suitable local recruits are obtainable.

3. In addition there are certain steps that can and should be taken whereby the Colony would receive better value than it does at present for the money spent on public health, without in any way increasing expenditure. And that is by greater co-ordination between the various medico public health authorities. There are the Government medical service, the private practitioners, the University, the Chinese hospitals and dispensaries, the Sanitary Board and the Sanitary Department. The aim of all is the same, the health of the people. Let them take counsel together as to how best they may achieve their aim. Admittedly a difficult question. But with tact and goodwill much more can be done than is the case at present.

4. The Commissioners understand that the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services has already submitted to Government his recommendations for the reorganization of the health service in Hong Kong, and that his report is being considered by a Committee. It would be idle therefore for the Commissioners to go into this matter in detail. They would however stress the point that it is wasteful to have two separate authorities within. Government for health work.

5. The Commissioners know it has been suggested that the Medical Department should obtain surgical, medical and gynecological specialists. The University already has eminent experts in each of these branches, and the Commission can see no necessity why the posts should be duplicated. The fact that Government medical officers are eligible for these posts should not be forgotten.

6. Government should take up with the University authorities the question of the ordering of 'extras' and the supply of dressings,-the cost of which has to be borne by Government, for University ward patients in the Government Civil Hospital. They are ordered far more lavishly by the University professors than by the Government prac- titioners. The practice should cease.

7. With the exception of Victoria Hospital the catering in Government hospitals is done by contract. The question of whether it would not be cheaper to do it department- ally, which it is understood has been the experience at Victoria Hospital, should be gone into.

8. The Commissioners are of the opinion that the fees at present charged in Govern- ment hospitals for medical attendance and operations are too low. They understand that their revision is already under consideration.