CAB11-57-17 — Page 78

Page 78

Page 78

CHAPTER III (H)

46

73

(H.)—Action by Principal Medical Officer.

(i.) At the Precautionary Stage.

1. The arrangements for treating the sick, &c., at the precautionary stage are the same as exist in peace, except that certain subordinate personnel and equipment are] distributed to Sections as shown in Table H (i).

(ii.) At the War Stage.

2. The existing military hospitals are shown in Table H (iii), and give accommodation for 318 sick and wounded.

3. On mobilization, the P.M.O. will at once arrange for the establishment of dressing stations, and for the distribution to them of the officers and other ranks of the R.A.M.C. and I.M.S. according to Tables H (iii) and H (v), and of medical stores and surgical equipment according to Table H (ii). The R.A.M.C. and I.M.S. will proceed to the different sections of the defence with the troops detailed for these sections.

4. He will arrange for the increase of the accommodation in--

(a.) The Military Hospital, Victoria, by 100 beds for British soldiers, to be located in the central and east blocks of Wellington Barracks;

(b.) The Military Hospital, Kowloon, by 100 beds for Asiatic soldiers, to be located in the southern blocks of Whitfield Barracks vacated by the companies on duty.

5. A Consultative Committee consisting of-

The Principal Medical Officer of the Command. The Deputy Inspector-General, Royal Navy. The Principal Civil Medical Officer.

(the first named acting as President) will meet and review the available resources of the Colony, so far as these can be utilised in the services of the sick and wounded of all sections of the community (naval, military, and civil).

(a.) They will take steps (under the authority of his Excellency the Governor) to ensure that a sufficiency of medical supplies, medical comforts, and necessaries (including bedding and furniture) for the sick are left untouched and reserved for issue, on the demand of the Committee, by merchants, shopkeepers, and others. The Committee will regulate the distribution of supplies thus obtained between the naval, military, and civil services, as the occasion and circumstances demand.

All supplies thus obtained will be vouched for by not less than two members of the Committee, and receipts will be obtained from the officials to whom the stores are issued. (b.) The Committee will make representation to the head of the Sanitary Depart- ment concerning any matter affecting the health of the community, under the altered conditions entailed by a state of war.

(c.) The Committee will deal with all matters of voluntary aid, and will distribute aid so offered to the several branches as circumstances may demand.

(d.) They will obtain the services of an Honorary Secretary who will record the proceedings of the Committee, issue orders, and perform any clerical work required.

(e.) The Committee will deal with any matter that may be referred to them by his Excellency the Governor, or which circumstances may demand.

6. The civil medical assistance required and the sources of its supply are shown in Table H (iv). On attack being imminent, six local practitioners who have agreed to serve in the military hospitals will be distributed thereto on reporting themselves to the P.M.O. (under instructions they will receive from the P.C.M.O.).

They will receive pay at the rate of 500 dollars per mensen.

The Chinese attendants, cooks, and ward coolies will receive respectively 15 dollars,

17 dollars, and 9 dollars per mensem.

7. A stock of medicines, surgical materials, &c., sufficient for one year for the number of sick and wounded estimated for, already exists in the command."

8. Sick and wounded from the troops, including the Volunteers, after being attended to at the dressing stations, will be transferred, if necessary, to the military hospitals at Victoria and Kowloon. Sick and wounded of the Chinese Coolie Corps will be sent to the Tung-Wa Hospital.

[898]

Page 78

U

Page 78

Page 78