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The existing military hospitals would be supplemented by base hospitals in Victoria and Kowloon, the former in the three lower blocks of Victoria Barracks, and the latter in the southern blocks of the Whitfield Barracks, vacated by the companies on sectional duty. Victoria Barracks will be equipped with 15 beds for officers, 92 for British soldiers, and 25 for Asiatic soldiers; total, 132 beds. The Kowloon Base Hospital will be equipped with 125 beds exclusively for Asiatics. The Govern- ment Civil Hospital will be utilized for the sick and wounded of the Chinese Coolie Corps.

The medical care of the sick will be carried on as at present by the Royal Army Medical Corps, who will proceed to their dressing stations, in only one instance more than half-an-hour from the central hospital, when their Sections are attacked. When this takes place the civil medical practitioners whose names are noted will assist in looking after the sick and wounded in the base hospitals. Although the names of six medical practitioners are noted, it is not anticipated that anything like this number would be required, in fact the aid of civil practitioners will only be resorted to when an attack is imminent or is being made. The Tables show the state of affairs if the station and base hospitals are filled to their full extent. As there will be at least thirty days of expectancy to one of attack, it would be absurd to permanently engage civil prac- titioners for what might prove hypothetical services.

A sufficient stock of medicines, medical appliances, &c., exists in the command for the sick and wounded estimated for.

On the general base hospitals being established, the wounded from the dressing stations would be transferred to them, and the ordinary sick would, as in peace-time, be sent to the station hospitals.

As the regimental stretcher-bearers would only be available for carrying the wounded out of action, dhoolies and coolie-bearers are provided in Table F (i) for the longer transport, but would only be demanded as required.

In the event of one or more Sections being reinforced from other Sections or from the Reserves to meet a threatened formidable attack, special arrangements will at once be made by the Principal Medical Officer for supplementing the medical and surgical equipment in that Section.

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Table (F.)-SURGICAL and Medical Equipment to be supplied to Sections.

Section.

I

10

50

II

10

50

III

10

50

IV

10

50

V

1

10

50

VI

1

10

50

Total

4

6

6

60

300

Remarks.

These articles will be carried to the various Sections by the detachments of the

Royal Medical Corps,

assisted, when necessary, by hired transport.

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