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THE PRESIDENT--If a European medical man were put in charge, do you think the Chinese community would continue their subscriptions ?--I do not think they would. The Government would require to be prepared for the stoppage of the Chinese subscriptions at least for a time.
?—I
Mr. THOMSON--How would you raise money for the support of the Hospital ?--I would levy a rate upon the Chinese. They are quite wealthy enough to raise it.
THE PRESIDENT-That would amount to imposing a differential tax upon the Chinese ?--Yes; and I know that is contrary to British ideas generally.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Are you aware that a differential tax obtains at Shanghai without a word of complaint? At Shanghai the Chinese living in the Settlements pay 2% more in taxes than the Europeans, and are glad to be allowed the privilege of doing so, and having the opportunity of deriving the advantages from living in the foreign concessions, or settlements. "Previous to 1866 the foreign house tax in Shanghai was 4%, and "the native 8%. In 1868 the foreign house tax was raised to 6%, the native remaining at 8%, and these rates continued until 1879 when they were raised to 8% and 10% respectively."
THE PRESIDENT-Yes; but this is a British Colony,
WITNESS-I do not suppose there is any one who will say that the Tung Wa Hospital should not be put in a better condition from a medical and surgical point of view,
THE PRESIDENT-With reference to your report on the Tung Wa Hospital, you received the following letter:-
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
4th April, 1895.
SIR,-I am directed to thank you for your very valuable and interesting report on the recent epidemic of plague and to state that it will be laid before the Legislative Council in due course.
I am, however, to inform you that His Excellency considers that no useful purpose would be served by the publication of your remarks on the Tung Wa Hospital, which, however, will receive attention, and that that portion of your report will, accord- ingly, be omitted from the official copies.
I have, &c.,
WITNESS-Yes; I received that letter.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
Lo CHI TIN, President of the Tung Wa Committee for 1895.
THE PRESIDENT-Last year, while you were Chairman of the Tung Wa Hospital Committee, Mr. U I-KAI was appointed visiting surgeon to the Hospital, was he not ?— Yes.
On the part of the Kai-fong, was there any objection to his appointment ?—No.
Do
you think the system has worked satisfactorily-of having Mr. U I-KAI there to look after the registration of deaths ?—It has worked very satisfactorily. The receiving ward has also been worked satisfactorily; the Kai-fong have expressed no opinion regarding it.
Dr. Ho KAI-Did you have any difficulty, during your term of office, in getting subscriptions for the Hospital ?—No. After Mr. U I-KAI's appointment the Kai-fong subscribed as they had done before.