139
Happy Valley, new and old Central British School, Shamshuipo and subsequently Lai Chi Kok. A public address system, which greatly facilitated communication between the office and somewhat distant dormitories, was installed at Happy Valley, at new Central British School and at Lai Chi Kok. The cost of installation alone of this telephonic apparatus amounted to nearly $1,700 while rentals for the period required would undoubtedly have exceeded $500. All these charges were waived.
76. Passages to Singapore at a reduced rate were kindly granted by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Company, Limited in the few cases where refugees were sent there to find work. These passages were paid for from Welfare funds.
77. I have already mentioned that a great many of the refugees were taken into the free wards of the Government Hospitals. The services of Dr. Lilias Dovey, Dr. G. H. Henry and Dr. G. R. Nash were lent by Government without charge. No charge has been made by Government as rent for the occupation of new or old Central British School, nor for Lai Chi Kok, and all water charges have similarly been waived. A great deal of equipment, etc., for the dispensary was kindly lent by the Director of Medical Services and all drugs supplied were charged for at cost price. No debit entry has been made for my salary for the six months during which I have been wholly occupied on this work.
78. An office in Exchange Building was kindly lent free of charge by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited for the accommodation of the Records Office.
79. There is also the great band of voluntary helpers who did yeoman service, particularly at the beginning when the first arrivals of distracted mothers and children had to be soothed and comforted after their distressing experiences in Shanghai and on the voyage to Hong Kong. To begin with there was perhaps some lack of co-ordination but the Ladies Welfare Committee was soon formed and quickly took charge. They rendered magnificent service in the cause of the welfare and comfort of the refugees. My duty was to house and feed those placed in my charge but there were many real necessities of life which it was impossible for me to provide. The Ladies Welfare Committee have submitted a separate report which is attached. (Appendix 8).
80. In addition to the Welfare Funds placed at the disposal of the Ladies Welfare Committee various sums were subscribed and administered by me as Chairman.
These totalled $2,227.84, the main contributions coming from the South China Morning Post $513, the Lido Dance Hall $401, the First Church of Christ Scientist $100, and Mr. Percy Gaunt $315 and an anonymous donor in Manila. through H.M.'s Consul-General there, $100. A further sum of over $500 was paid into my account by the Ladies Welfare Committee mainly for passages which I had arranged on their authority. $690 was spent on passages, about $680 ex- pended in relief mainly for the men, $175 in loans, $165 for purchase of rm cardigans for the men, over $60 in providing spectacles and nearly $200 in mer an extra charge for maintenance of certain old people who could not be placed Centres.
81. Lastly I cannot praise too highly the magnificent voluntary work done in the early days by Mr. J. H. Taggart. He had fully studied the problem another aspect and he had a great organization behind him but it was only his foresight and personal energy that enabled us to be ready for the initial batch o refugees less than forty-eight hours after the first step was taken to prepare for their reception.
82. I attach a list of voluntary workers who rendered excellent service time of great emergency and who deserve the thanks of the Community for willing co-operation. (Appendix 9).