(5)
THE PRESIDENT-There should be an election under the Ordinance in the following manner :-
“6. At the expiration of the said term of two years, a permanent Board of Direction shall be formed consisting of not less than six and not more than twelve members of the Corporation, to be elected as hereinafter mentioned, who shall from time to time appoint one of their body to be President; and every member of the Board shall hold office for the term of one year only, but shall be re-eligible at the expiration thereof.
"7. The members of the said Board shall be elected from time to time as
occasion shall require by a majority of votes of members of the Corpor- ation, who shall be within the Colony at the time of such election, and every such member of the Corporation shall, until otherwise provided by any regulation to be hereafter made under section 10, be entitled to one vote only."
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Then there is a register in the Hospital of the members com- posing the Corporation or Body?
THE PRESIDENT-There should be. At any rate a list of members is published annually.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-And they contribute annually certain donations?
THE PRESIDENT--They publish every year a report of the work done in a book called the Ching Sun Luk, in which are also contained the regulations of the Hospital, the number of people treated, and the donations from the various hongs, and the names of subscribers.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-It gives the names of the donors and the amounts?
THE PRESIDENT-A subscription generally takes the shape of a hong contribution instead of an individual contribution, as is customary amongst the Chinese. I might have an epitome of that book made and circulated amongst the members.
Dr. Ho KAI-There are three Directors distinguished amongst the rest. They call them the Managing Directors. One is Chairman, another is Vice-Chairman and the third is Treasurer.
THE PRESIDENT—That is all stated clearly in the list submitted to the Governor of the new Directors, which is published in the Gazette. In the schedule of Ordinance No. 3 of 1870 are the names of the original promoters of the Hospital, twelve in number. I think a good many of them are dead or have left the Colony, but Mr. WONG SHING and Mr. LI SHING are still here. Inquiry will be made as to how many of them are actually alive, because the Commission might wish to examine those who are still in the Colony.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-You would not propose to call any witnesses until we have had an opportunity of going through the papers you are to have printed ?
THE PRESIDENT—I think that would be the best plan. We may delay for ten days or a fortnight, but I think it will make things proceed more rapidly afterwards if the members know exactly why the Hospital was established. And perhaps the Treasurer (Mr. THOMSON) might draw up for us a short statement showing the exact financial condition of the Hospital.
Dr. Ho KAI-It would be an improvement if you could give us a financial state- ment so far as you can.
Mr. THOMSON-We have nothing except assets; we have the title deeds and deposit receipts.