[vii]
In the same petition it is stated :--
"Once more, the customs of the Chinese are as different as possible from those of the English, and if it is according to English principles that the hospitals are to be conducted, why should petitioners defray expenses and take the trouble of building another? (when there is an English hospital already)."
P. XLI.
P. XLVII.
P. XLII.
11. The difficulties raised in this petition were overcome, and Earl GRANVILLE in Appendix November, 1869, expressed his entire satisfaction at the effective and judicious measures adopted by the Governor in relation to the Hospital. In 1870 an Ordinance incorpor- Appendix ating the Hospital was passed, and on the 14th February, 1872 the Governor assisted at the ceremony of declaring the Hospital open. In the final paragraph of his despatch to Appendix the Secretary of State, containing an account of that ceremony, he stated:-"On the whole I can conscientiously say that I look forward with cheerfulness and hope to the future of the Hospital, and feel thankful that I have been permitted to take so leading a part in extracting finally so much good from the original abuses, which disgraced the 'I Ts'z' Hospital and led to the present important undertaking which your Lordship and Earl GRANVILLE have done so much to countenance and promote.
"T
12. From a careful perusal of the correspondence from which extracts have been made above, it appears clear that the hospital was erected in place of, and to prevent a recur- rence of the abuses connected with the disgraceful "I Ts'z"; that it was established to receive moribund and sick Chinese, more especially those in indigent circumstances; that the conduct of the affairs of the hospital and the framing of regulations for its guidance were to devolve on the Chinese who were to be responsible for the management; that the treatment was to be conducted according to Chinese methods and not according to English principles, (otherwise in view of the existence of the Civil Hospital there was no reason for the erection of a Chinese Hospital); and that the hospital was intended to induce Chinese to make use of the institution instead of allowing the Chinese sick and destitute to die in their own houses and to meet certain Chinese special wants and prejudices not provided for by the Civil Hospital.
P. XLVIL
13. The objects and purposes of the institution are embodied in Ordinance No. 3 of Appendix 1870, "An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for establishing a Chinese Hospital to be supported by voluntary contributions, and for erecting the same into an eleemosynary Corporation." In section 3 of that Ordinance it is laid down "that the Corporation is erected for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a public free hospital for the treatment of the indigent sick among the Chinese population, to be supported by voluntary contributions. Provided nevertheless that it shall be lawful for the Board of Direction to admit any Chinese patients into the said Hospital upon payment of such charges and upon such conditions as may be specified in and by any regulations to be hereafter made."
14. Having carefully examined the history of the foundation of the hospital, having considered the correspondence in which the objects for establishing the institution are clearly laid down, and having heard the witnesses who are able to speak on the subject, we are of opinion that the hospital is fulfilling the object and purpose of its Incorporation. In this connection the evidence of the Colonial Surgeon (Dr. AYRES) is very important. He has been acquainted with the Hospital from the second year of its opening and has visited it constantly ever since, and he states :- "The Chinese Committee has obeyed the Evidence contract regarding the management of the Hospital." In answer to the following question by the Chairman:-"In your opinion the Committee has carried out the spirit of the Evidence Ordinance ?"-he replied "Yes; I have read the whole of the correspondence with Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL, and am well acquainted with the stipulations. The Chinese said if you are going to insist on treating the cases upon English principles you had better not call upon us to go on with the proposal to establish the Tung Wa and should content yourselves with extending the European hospital."
p. 61.
p. 62.