When this larger scheme was contemplated, the Committee was strengthened by the addition of members representative of all sections of the Community, and it is noteworthy that this co-operation has been present throughout the history of the institutions.
The first problem was to secure a suitable site.
It was found that there was a site in Hollywood Road for sale, which could be purchased for $22,000 and the Society offered to give a grant of $14,000, on condition that the additional sum of $8,000 required, was subscribed in Hongkong. A ready response was given locally and the amount needed having been received, the site was purchased. Meantime, Dr. Ho Kai, (the late Sir Kai Ho Kai), had generously offered to provide the hospital building and in 1887, the Alice Memorial Hospital, named in memory of Alice the wife of the donor, was opened.
The Trust Deed provided that the London Missionary Society should manage and control the hospital; a Finance Committee of supporters in Hongkong was appointed and proved a valuable help in organising the collection of subscriptions.
The Finance Committee continued until 1923, when it was replaced by a General Committee having greater responsibility in the management of the hospitals.
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The development of the department for the treatment of diseases of women and children has been one of the most interesting features of the work; it has steadily grown since the opening of the Nethersole Hospital in 1893 and has supplied a need in Hongkong, where there are no special hospitals for these patients.
With the opening of the Nethersole, an opportunity offered for the training of Chinese women to become nurses, but some years elapsed before a sufficient number of suitable candidates applied. The idea of taking up nursing as a profession was new and there was a strong prejudice against attending on the sick; some of the duties were considered to be beneath the dignity of an educated woman. Later, the outlook brightened and young women of good education came forward, having definitely chosen nursing as a profession.
With the extension of the hospitals arose the need for a larger number of nurses, who to be housed in the hospitals as no other accommodation was available. The problem was solved by the erection of the Hostel, which was opened in 1914; the funds were subscribed by friends in Hongkong and donations were also received from England. The site was granted by the Hongkong Government in appreciation of the service given by the hospitals.
As the treatment of men in the wards of the Alice Memorial was not very satisfactory owing to the district becoming very congested, it was decided to reduce the number of in-patients as soon as arrangements could be made for a new hospital, in a district where the patients would have the benefit of sunshine and fresh air. A site at Breezy Path, which met these conditions, was given by the Hongkong Government, and Madam Wu Ting Fang, sister of Sir Kai Ho Kai, generously gave the funds for the building, which was named the Ho Miu Ling Hospital in memory of her parents. This hospital was opened in 1906.
Later it was agreed to sell the site of the Alice Memorial hospital if a good offer were made. The site was sold in 1921 for $97,000, which sum was available for a new hospital building. The London Missionary Society again helped by providing a free site adjacent to the Nethersole Hospital. The new Alice Memorial Hospital was completed in 1929 and marked a definite stage of advance in the type of building.
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