For 25 years he has given of his best for the advancement of the public health and always without any thought of reward other than that of knowing that he had done all in his power to assist the poor.
During the four years that I have been in the Colony, I have always found Dr. Tso ready to discuss any problem connected with the public health and give his support when he was convinced that the object arrived at was worthy of support. Now that he is about to hand the Tsan Yuk over to the Government to run, I sincerely hope that he will continue to take an interest in it and will continue to give us the benefit of his advice.
With the public with us we can continue to advance, without it we will fail and if we have Dr. Tso's sympathy and support, we can be sure of success. I feel certain he will continue to help in the good work with which he has so long been associated. I conclude by wishing Dr. and Mrs. Tso long life and happiness. (Applause).
DR. TSO REPLIES
24
553
In reply, Dr. Tso said:
Mr. Wood, Ladies and gentlemen: It is extremely good of the Matron, the Sisters and the nursing staff, past and present, to have invited us all here to-day to an "At Home" or I may say, a farewell party in my honour before the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee hand over this hospital to the Government, which will take place on January. This honour I share with my colleague, Mr. Li Po Kwei, the Vice-Chairman of the Western Public Dispensary.
I greatly appreciate and am deeply touched by the kindly act on the part of the Matron, the Sisters and the nursing staff, past and present, in having a photograph of mine painted and hung on the walls of this hospital which you, Mr. Wood have so kindly unveiled, and which will serve as a memento of my long and happy association with them in our effort to make this hospital a success. For this expression of good will and appreciation, I thank you most heartily.
OBJECT OF MOVEMENT
Mr. Wood has just said that I would say something about the history of this Hospital. To do this, I shall have to carry my memory back for a number of years and make some reference to the Chinese Public Dispensaries. The Chinese Public Dispensaries were instituted with the object of (1) To dispense medical help to the poor and needy, and (2) To prevent dumping dead bodies of persons, especially of children, who died of plague or other infectious diseases. One of the three public dispensaries was in the Central District; another in the Eastern District and the other in the Western District. The city of Victoria was, for the purpose of our administration, divided into three Districts, each of which was placed under the administration of a chairman and a vice-chairman.
The Western Public Dispensary was, at first, housed in hired premises and had no permanent building of its own until the year 1909, when the kai fongs of the Western District